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Borderlands: The Secret Armory of General Knoxx – Cheats
PlayStation 3
Enemy/Boss Tips
Solo Crawmerax the Invincible with any character.
Crawmerax is the secret final boss who you face during the mission You. Will. Die.,which is unlocked from the bounty board after completing the main story. If your character is not strong enough to survive Crawmerax's devastating attacks, there is an easy method to defeating him. After the elevator brings you up, you will see Crawmerax appear in front of you. Run to the left side of the area and drop down onto a small ledge and make your way up to the corner against the high wall and the step up to the main area. From here, Crawmerax and his minions won't be able to attack you. Instead, they will all turn to face you and roar, allowing you to easily target the bright purple weak spots and kill him. It is highly recommended to have a powerful sniper rifle and a method of regenerating ammunition, but it is absolutely necessary to have a rocket launcher with you because the weak point on Crawmerax's back won't be visible from this angle. You will have to aim your rockets at the spikes on his shell so that the weak spot is caught in the explosion. This is also an excellent method to quickly level since killing Crawmerax's minions earns you a considerable amount of experience.
Contributed By: Tarrun.
Know Something We Don't?
You can submit new cheats for this game and help our users gain an edge.
Have We Been Fooled?
You can submit a problem report for any non-working or fake code in the lists above.


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Hanimura CupCake~Little cups full of surprises
Hanimura CupCake has developed a strong reputation for exquisite custom designed cupcakes in which flavor, design and quality are equally important.
Known throughout Putrajaya, Puchong, Hanimura CupCake creates innovative and creative designs tailored for a variety of events including weddings, engagements, parties, or simply as gifts.
Hanimura CupCake is made from butter cream, fondant, or a combination of the two. Hanimura CupCake can be adorned with delicate hand made sugar flowers, edible ribbons and bows, or other items that will certainly add even more surprise in each cup. Hanimura CupCake caters any size and design based on your request and are made fresh to order. To ensure availability, please place your order as early as possible.
Monday, May 4, 2009
White & Pink
1 comment:
- ♥BabyLady♥ said...
Ooooh my Wedding Cake...
Nice design...
i like it very2 much...
thanx so much wawa
- May 6, 2009 at 5:19 PM

subset: commoncrawl


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Increase Employee Productivity and Engagement with a Digital Workplace Initiative
Employees crave the same user experience at work that they enjoy in their personal lives. Smartphones. Social media. On-demand everything. Enterprise organizations that rise to the occasion and meet these new employee expectations within the workplace stand to win big.
In this new eBook, we share insights from top industry experts and offer you a 5-step countdown to launching a digital workplace. We will show you how to:
- Spark a need for digital change
- Uncover employee needs with user personas
- Assemble a change team
- Align people, process & tech
- Spread the word within your enterprise
Read the eBook for tools and tips for retaining top talent and increasing employee productivity and engagement today.


text: Hey all! This is the new home of the Droid 4 Utility! There are (still) no fastboot files as of writing this (2/28/2012) so use Safestrap at your own risk Once they come out I will be making a full version that includes fastboot restore. For now, the utility is only a few MB compared to a GB+. From this point forward I will be taking charge of updating the Droid 4 Utility for Windows/Mac/Linux This way mattlgroff has a little less work on his hands and can focus more on IMPORTANT things like bootloaders, ICS, etc... MAC/LINUX: Be sure to read the instructions below (or README file) if you are not familiar with using terminal as root or executing bash scripts! -Changes ~~as of 2/18/ 11:30PM PST Fixed bug where Superuser.apk was pushed to /data instead of /system/app/ Fixed unroot script to properly remove Superuser.apk ~~as of 2/19 4:30 PM PST Fixed chmod in root method from 4775 to 6775 ~~as of 2/28 6:15PM PST Added Safestrap recovery!!! ~~as of 3/2 fixed script to chmod +x ./files -R so that you can actually run the files on mac and linux (that would be important huh?) DOWNLOADS WINDOWS Size: 7.75 MB MD5: f82bf8d8a085ff95b696712b8caa0f1b Link: http://tinyw.in/KKB8 MAC Size: 7.19 MB MD5: dc8468d051d59963914a0b8a054b83b8 Link: http://tinyw.in/vx2A LINUX Size: 7.26 MB MD5: 0c082efbff48e614b9d8ebffc7eca3eb Link: http://tinyw.in/tpt0 Here's how: Windows: Simply Unzip the files, and run Droid4Windows.bat as administrator (right click>run as administrator) Mac/Linux: Simply extract the zip then Open terminal and run: Code: su Then enter the root password NOTE: This is not YOUR password, this is the ROOT password. If you dont know it, you can always use Code: sudo passwd to reset the root password Next run: Code: cd /the path to where you extracted the files/ for example, heres what I have to type: Code: cd /home/skylar/Desktop/Droid4UtilityLinux/ next run the appropriate bash script: Code: bash Droid4linux OR Code: bash Droid4mac DONE! Have fun and I hope you enjoy! SCREENSHOTS View attachment 47547 View attachment 47546 View attachment 47549 View attachment 47548 View attachment 47917 CLICK HERE TO DONATE


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White Sox fall short after rallying in the cold
De Aza, Rios homer; Quintana struggles after fielding error
CHICAGO -- With a first-pitch temperature of 34 degrees Friday night at U.S. Cellular Field and a closing reading below freezing, there really was only one way to describe the twists and turns of Seattle's 8-7 victory over the White Sox in 10 innings.
"The good part about tonight is it's over, basically," said White Sox designated hitter Adam Dunn, who finished 1-for-5 with a run scored and a stolen base. "It was miserable out there for everybody and we had our chances and it didn't happen."
"I don't know anybody that really enjoys hitting in this weather," White Sox manager Robin Ventura said. "You know it might just be one of those nights. Usually weather like this favors the pitcher."
So Friday became the exception that proved the frigid rule.
Twenty-two hits were knocked out between the two teams, including three home runs, and neither White Sox starter Jose Quintana nor Mariners starter Blake Beavan made it past the fifth inning. Ultimately, this game came down to the Mariners taking advantage of their scoring chances in the 10th against Nate Jones, in his second inning of work, and the White Sox failing to capitalize.
After Kendrys Morales' double and Jesus Montero's single scored two runs off Jones, who lost for the first time in his career after eight victories, the White Sox scored one in the bottom of the frame and loaded the bases with two outs against closer Tom Wilhelmsen. They loaded the bases with just one hit, a run-scoring single from Dewayne Wise, but took advantage of three walks.
Wilhelmsen (second save) threw only 17 of his 34 pitches for strikes. But when Tyler Flowers swung through his third strike, the Mariners (3-2) somehow had escaped.
"Obviously, I couldn't find the zone, walking just about everybody that got up there," Wilhelmsen said. "I got lucky on the guys that swung early and in a game like that, you've just got to buckle down and keep fighting. We can't lose that game. It was just bear-down time of the utmost importance."
"One thing that I can say about this team and the last few years, I feel like no matter what the score is, that we somehow, some way grind out at-bats and give ourselves an opportunity to win it or tie it up," Dunn said. "We did that tonight. He just shut the door."
Dunn actually looked as if he tied the game after Wilhelmsen walked Alex Rios with one out in the 10th, but his high fly ball to right was caught at the warning track by Michael Saunders. Ventura pointed to Saunders' inning-ending running catch in the seventh on Dunn's line drive, with Alejandro De Aza as the go-ahead run at third, as the key moment of the contest.
Rios' run-scoring groundout in the seventh completed a five-run comeback, after Quintana fell apart during a five-run fifth.
Jason Bay opened the frame with a double and moved to third on Quintana's error on Dustin Ackley's grounder to Paul Konerko. The first baseman made a toss slightly behind Quintana on the move, but Quintana dropped it when he elected to go with a barehand catch.
That mistake seemed to affect Quintana, who gave up five straight hits before Ventura removed him. Brendan Ryan started with a spinning liner over drawn-in third baseman Jeff Keppinger, and Franklin Gutierrez added a two-run double down the left-field line. Beginning with Gutierrez's extra-base hit, Quintana allowed hits on four straight pitches.
It was a center-cut curve to Gutierrez, followed by a slider down the middle to Saunders that went for a run-scoring triple. Morales singled home Saunders on a 90-mph fastball, and Michael Morse followed with a single to right on a 92-mph fastball. That brought in Matt Lindstrom to replace Quintana, who yielded five earned runs on eight hits in four-plus innings.
"That kind of took the wrong turn for me with that error," said Quintana, through translator and White Sox coach Lino Diaz. "After that I looked at the video and some of those pitches were right there. They were good pitches but they were right on them."
Hector Santiago threw three innings and 48 pitches in Thursday's loss, so the job fell upon Lindstrom to bridge the gap to the later innings. He did so without allowing a baserunner over 2 1/3 innings, matching a career high.
While Lindstrom held down the Mariners, home runs from De Aza and Rios contributed to a four-run fifth for the White Sox to cut the lead to 6-5. Unfortunately for Ventura's crew, they only had the one comeback on this night.
This sort of survival doesn't usually happen for the Mariners against the White Sox (2-2), with the White Sox holding a 33-11 head-to-head advantage since 2008 and a decisive 19-4 edge at home. The biggest number on Friday was the temperature, which is forecast in the 60s for Saturday.
"Obviously, it was tough conditions but for the most part, I think we had some good at-bats," said Dunn, who joked the only way to simulate the cold is going to a local restaurant and taking flips in its cooler. "We just couldn't get the big hit to really break it open, especially in the 10th inning."


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Dixie Center Convention & Visitors Bureau
The Dixie Center at St. George a premier convention destination has always maintained the highest quality service while providing an outstanding value for our customers. Schedule an event at the Dixie Center and you have single-point of contact for all services. The Dixie Center offers in-house audio visual, full decorating services, high speed internet, event management and "white glove" on site catering.
The Dixie Center is designed with maximum versatility to accommodate groups from 5 to 5000. Featuring a 46,000 sq ft column free exhibit hall, 32,000 sq ft of flexible meeting room space in 19 Meeting Rooms ranging from 185 sq ft to 13,205 sq ft, 2 Board Rooms and a state of the Art Theater/Auditorium. The round atrium style Garden Room situated in our North Lobby, elegant rotunda, spacious indoor lobby and pre-function area are all ideal locations for receptions, banquets and vendor displays.
- 47,500 square feet column free convention hall
- 32,000 square feet in 21 functional meeting rooms
- 5 small meeting rooms or 9 luxury suites overlooking exhibition hall (mezzanine level)
- 3 separate pre-function area – plus indoor/out door areas to enjoy the great year round weather
- Full production and staging capability for a wide spectrum of events and entertainment
- Seating for up to 6,200 at special events or concerts
- Full-service in house catering providing excellent food and beverage services
- Concession areas in Exhibition Hall
The Dixie Center is located just 7 minutes and three miles south of the St. George Historic District and Best Western Coral Hills.


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Managing Director & Senior Partner, Chief Marketing Officer
Miki Tsusaka is Chief Marketing Officer and a founder of the global Marketing, Sales & Pricing practice at Boston Consulting Group. She is responsible for leading the firm's global marketing function. Prior to her current role, Miki held the role of BCG's global Marketing, Sales & Pricing practice leader and post-merger integration topic leader.
Since joining BCG in Japan in 1984 and later spending 20 years in the firm's New York office, Miki returned to Japan in 2008 to work with a wide range of clients, primarily in the consumer goods and retail sector as well as other consumer-facing B2C businesses, including financial services, insurance, and technology and media companies.
In her work with clients, she has consulted on a wide array of issues, such as growth, profit enhancement, transformation, digitization, and organization redesign.


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Frito-Lay Reshapes the Tostito
PepsiCo's Plano, Texas-based Frito-Lay division has come up with a new delivery system for those who love to immerse their Tostitos in salsa, chili, cheese or spinach dips but dislike it when they break during the process.
Tostitos Dipping Strips can stand up to the thickest dips because they are made in a rectangular shape that is longer and stronger, preventing both breakage and your finger accidentally plunging into the bowl or bottle of dip along with the chip. As an added benefit, you can easily scoop out the last of the dip for your snacking pleasure, as did my grandson Templar, who wanted to know why no one thought of this idea before.
They're free of trans fat, gluten, casein, lactose, MSG, onion and additives and are Kosher.
"We are really proud of this product, as the team took the time to make them just right for consumers," says Frito-Lay representative Deana McKinley.
An ad for the Strips in a number of women's and consumer food magazines shows a Tostitos Dipping Strip with cheese on it along with the slogan, "The time geometry got useful."
Suggested retail price for a 13-oz. bag is $3.99.


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How to Deal with Missing Files in Windows 8 Folders
When you open a folder in Windows 8 — or even look at your desktop — you expect to see everything it contains. But when something's missing or there's nothing inside it at all, check these things before panicking:
Check the Search box. Whenever you type something into a folder's Search box — that little box near the folder's top-right corner — Windows 8 begins looking for it by hiding everything that doesn't match your search. If a folder isn't showing everything it should, delete any words you see in the Search box.
Make sure that the desktop isn't hiding things. To make sure that your desktop isn't cloaking your icons, right-click an empty part of your desktop, choose View, and select the Show Desktop Icons check box.
If everything's really gone, check out the previous versions of that folder. Windows 8 not only tracks previous versions of files and folders but it keeps track of your desktop's past life, as well.
For more information about Windows 8 and its features, explore Windows 8 For Dummies, available online.


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Measuring your head:
While fitting your head is not an exact science, use this guide and size table below to determine which size/style is right for you. Using a flexible tape measure, start at your forehead above your eyebrows, bring the tape measure around the back until it comes together at your forehead again. If you don't have a flexible tape measure, a string and ruler can be used instead. Once you have your measurements, refer to the chart below for sizing.
Keep in mind, This is only a guide, and not a guarantee of fit.
21 1/2" - 21 7/8"
6 7/8 - 7
55cm - 56cm
22 1/4" - 22 7/8"
7 1/8 - 7 1/4
57cm - 58.5cm
23" - 23 5/8"
7 3/8 - 7 1/2
59cm - 60.5cm
Cap fit Definitions
Our shallowest cap profile, this fit is great for people who wear small to medium size hats. It's also a prime choice for those who prefer a cap that sits above the ears. The adjustable styles start at 58cm, and can be sized smaller and larger.
Coal's mid crown is all about being right in the middle, not too deep, not too shallow. This fit allows for a little more space between your noggin and the top of the hat if you want to sit it up off your head, or it sits nicely at the ear if you pull it down snug. The starting size is 58.5cm, and can be sized smaller and larger.
Our most accommodating silhouette, this is fit is ideal for those with large and extra-large hat sizes. It is also an excellent choice for people who enjoy a bigger looking crown shape. The starting size is 59.5cm, and can be sized smaller and larger.
Cap Style Definitions
The hallmark of a trucker cap is mesh sides and back panels. Truckers come in all shapes and profiles, but the thing that they all have in common is wonderfully breathable mesh.
5 Panel
As the name suggest these caps are constructed out of 5 pieces of fabric. Formed from two curved side pieces, two upper panels and one arched front, the signatures of a 5 panel cap are to have a low profile when worn and a rounded crown that hugs the shape of the head.
Dad Hat
Dad hats are for everybody! Made of 6-pizza slice shaped wedges of fabric, these caps feature a rounded silhouette, and are unstructured for easy, comfortable wearing.
7 Panel
Coal's 7 panel is built off a low profile pattern, but unlike its 6 paneled—dad hat cousins—it has a 7th panel across the lower front. The front panel is a perfect surface for our signature patches.
Our vintage fit has a slightly square shape. These styles are offered as unstructured caps or with mesh inserts at the front. Maybe as a kid you thought the mesh was make shift sunglasses, or a clever way to keep bugs out of your eyes. We employ the mesh as an old-school front panel backing, giving soft shape, with out the rigid feel of other backing materials.
Our athletic fit has a tall front crown, with a slightly rounded yet squared off front profile. The front panel is backed in sturdy material, which gives the cap its crisp shape.
Knit Style Definitions
Low Profile
Our shortest fitting beanie profile, this fit is great for people who wear small to medium sizes. Ideal for those who prefer a beanie that is the perfect length to just covers the ears, closely hugging the top of the head.
Mid Length
Our mid length fit is the happy medium between low profile and our tall Uniform beanies. These beanies have a little extra room at the top for extra style points and coziness.
The tallest of 'em all, these beanies have the most extra length past the cranium when worn. Squish it down or wear it high and proud.
Easy fitting and slightly roomy, our slouchy beanies have a relaxed fit and a gentle drape at the top.


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MADILL, OK - Not guilty. That's the plea Joshua Scott entered at his formal arraignment Wednesday morning.
He is charged with the murder of three people. One of them is Tara Woodlee's daughter, Ashleigh Lindsey. Woodlee was among the family members of the victims who filed into the courtroom one-by-one.
"I just have a lot of faith in God that he will provide justice for my daughter," said Woodlee. "And I want to see justice done for her and her baby."
Deputies say on July 13th Scott shot and killed Chad Page, stole his car, then picked up his friend Joshua Mahaffey. Scott drove Mahaffey to Mahaffey's ex girlfriend, Ashleigh lindsey's home.
There, they said Mahaffey killed Lindsey and her unborn baby, then himself.
They said Scott gave Mahaffey the gun used in the crimes.
The state said Scott faces three counts of first degree murder,
for which they'll seek capital punishment if he's convicted.
"It's called a Bill of Particulars and it's a document that was filed in the case," said district attorney Craig Ladd. "It sets forth exactly why we believe the death penalty would be appropriate in this case."
The Bill of Particulars was filed this past Friday and cites two reasons for seeking the ultimate punishment.
The document states that Scott "created a great risk of death to more than one person" and that there's a possibility of Scott being a future threat to society.
Woodlee said this is the first step toward justice for the victims.
"I just want to see the court prosecute him to the fullest extent of whatever the law says," she said.


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0% Finance Now Available Over 6-12 Months!
Minimum basket value £300
Golf Digest 2017 Hot List Gold Medal Winner! The O-Works 2-Ball Putter is a mallet design with 2-Ball alignment, Versa high contrast alignment, a Microhinge Face Insert, a double-bend shaft, full-shaft offset, and a Superstroke grip.
This new technology will change the way people look at roll off the putter face forever. Our Microhinge Insert Technology provides incredible gains in topspin and roll at impact regardless of your stroke. The stainless steel Microhinge plate is co-molded into our Thermoplastic Elastomer Feel Layer, providing great feel and the new geometry of the hinges and urethane together help to get the ball into a better roll at impact.
Major championships…check. This revolutionary high contrast alignment technology allows your eyes to key in on the linear designs to highlight the proper face angle from address to impact for alignment throughout your putting stroke. The new red highlight lines give you an additional aid to make sure you're lined up exactly to your target.
These are some of our most prolific models that have dominated Tour events and major championships for years. As the #1 putter across the major tours, we're constantly working with the best players in the world to develop and tweak shapes for ultimate performance.
An Odyssey Putter is a promise made. Sure, we design each of our putters to help you slay more demons and sink more putts. But we also design them to withstand any kind of punishment you can dish out and we back them up with an Odyssey assurance of quality. We rarely see a putter returned, but if you find a defect within a two-year period, we'll repair it or replace it. No questions asked. And that's a promise kept.
Golf Club Trade In
We offer a trade in service in-store and it is now also available through the website.
Bring your unwanted clubs in-store to receive a trade in value, we would take all leading brands - The figure given depends on age of clubs, quality of brand and condition. We reserve the right to refuse any trade in.
Please use our online trade in for here: https://www.tonyvalentine.com/trade-in
If you have any questions about this service please call us on 01249 714466 9am-6pm Monday-Friday or email us at email@example.com
We offer a full custom fit service in-store with our in-house PGA pros and experienced golf technicians. The benefits of custom fit are that you will make the best of what you have which in short means you will maximise your swing and enable you to maintain and improve your overall game and consistency. Hopefully you will enjoy an already enjoyable game even more when you are using the optimum equipment and playing better!
We have demo irons from all the leading brands in our massive customising centre which is also equipped with high tech analysis equipment and projectors. We have lots of custom specs in stock which you can take away on the day but if something does need to be ordered it would usually take 7-10 business days. Custom fitting is charged at £15 for woods and £25 for irons but this charge is waived when you are purchasing clubs and after one.
Putter fitting is upstairs on our in-door puttting green. Booking lines are listed below:-
Corsham: 01249 714466
Swindon: 01793 644448
(please note we are unable to offer custom fitting on reduced or sale items, but we are more than happy to check that they would be suitable for you)
0% Finance available over 6, 10 or 12 months
- Basket must be £300 or more
- We can accept a deposit but the remaining amount to pay must be £300 or more
- We are unable to accept finance on purchased of gift cards
- To enquire about finance or to place an please email us at: email@example.com
- For more info about finance or terms and conditions please email us at: firstname.lastname@example.com or you can pop in-store to discuss in person with a member of staff.
This is currently not integrated into our website shopping cart, its being worked on but in the meantime we can sort any finance orders through email. We are more than happy to assist you with any orders or queries. Office hours for help on this would be Monday-Friday 9am-6pm.
Use this calculator to see which finance option suits your purchase.
Choose your finance options
What period would you like to pay over?
What deposit would you like to make?
Total amount repayable . APR
Finance is subject to status. Terms and conditions apply.
Shop with us and enjoy the best selection and service available online!
Browse our massive selection of products online.
FREE next business day UK delivery on orders over £50.
FREE European delivery on orders over £150.
(EU countries only - Excludes islands. Calculate your postage costs at checkout for more info)
We have PGA Pro's on hand to give expert advice.
Request a call back or send us a message


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Advertise with Us!
Media Kits
Online Media & Advertising KitsFor advertising on Bridesclub.com
Get a Free 90-Day Listing
Add yourself to Brides Club (FREE for 90 days), and contact when you are ready to reach local brides!
- Home of over 1.2 million registered brides nationwide and growing!
- New discussion forums to interact with and gain the trust of brides
- Top Search Engine placement
- Weekly list of direct leads!
- Personal Blog!
Get our badges here if you are not a preferred partner of Bridesclub.com, or if you are not sure.
With over 80% of brides now shopping online for her wedding, and the countless number of wedding professionals online, it is important for a bride to know that she is dealing with a reputable wedding professional.
By distinguishing yourself as a Preferred Wedding Professional of BridesClub.com, you tell her that you've got a reputation and you can prove it. Review our Business Standards.
We have setup a partner link for you. If you prefer to modify the font choice or color that is permitted.
If you have any questions about putting this link on your web site, please give us a call at
(425) 922-7924.


text: Iconic designer Valentino redefines the look of handbags with his signature Rockstud range inspired by the inimitable and exotic African culture. The current collection of Valentino Garavani bags is heavily infused with African motifs and symbols coupled with bright and alluring designs. Using a flourish of animal prints, Valentino Garavani features butterfly themed tote-bags, shoulder bags with Jamaican guitar straps, tie-dye clutches, among many more. The Valentino Garavani handbag collection merges the glamour of the Rockstud range with an earthy African essence. Various innovations come together in the latest Valentino Garavani handbag collection at Neiman Marcus, which includes crossbody bags, clutch bags, shoulder bags, and more available in stunning colors and designs.


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SAN DIEGO, Calif. (November 26, 2012) The Algae Biomass Organization, the trade association for the U.S. algae industry today hailed the findings of a University of California at San Diego study that concludes, for the first time, that marine (saltwater) algae can be just as capable as freshwater algae in producing biofuels. The research is documented in a peer-reviewed paper published online in the current issue of the scientific journal Algal Research.
"What this means is that you can use ocean water to grow the algae that will be used to produce biofuels. And once you can use ocean water, you are no longer limited by the constraints associated with fresh water. Ocean water is simply not a limited resource on this planet," said Stephen Mayfield, Ph.D., a professor of biology at UC San Diego, who headed the research project.
The availability of significant saltwater environments for algae production has been documented in recent years. According to a Pacific Northwest National Laboratory's (PNNL) report, algal fuels grown in saline water from existing aquifers and recycling nutrients would be able to provide up to twice the goal for advanced biofuels set under the Energy Independence and Security Act (roughly 40 billion gallons or 20 percent of annual transportation fuel demand).
Yet until today's report, no public research had demonstrated the capability of algae to thrive in a saltwater environment.
"The results of Dr. Mayfield's research should remove concerns about the exclusive use of fresh water to scale commercial production of algae for fuel and other co-products," said Mary Rosenthal, ABO's executive director. "Although leading algae production companies are already leveraging saline aquifers and ocean water, this publicly-available paper will update the current body of research on the topic of sustainability of algae production.
Dr. Mayfield estimates that there are about 10 million acres of land in the United States alone that are no longer suitable for traditional agriculture given high salt content in the soil, but that could support algae production facilities.
The paper's authors also believe their research will determine how algae grown in these environments could also be used for animal feed, noting: "We hope to eventually determine whether whole algae, post-oil extraction, may be used as a feed additive to improve animal feeds. Animal feed is a relatively high volume market that may be able to benefit from algae-produced proteins as a feed additive."
The UC San Diego biologists collaborated on the research with scientists from Sapphire Energy, Inc., an algae company that is operating a saltwater algae farm in Columbus, New Mexico that is expected to be producing 100 barrels per day of Green Crude oil in 2013.
|Contact: John Williams
206-625-0075 x1
Scoville Public Relations


text: To prevent data loss from failure, error, or disaster, HP StorageWorks Storage Mirroring software provides replication of your valuable Windows data, Exchange data, and SQL Data to another server. Proactive replication is a key strategy that can be coupled with tape backup and/or snapshot technology for continuous data protection and point-in-time copies of data. Having replicated data located at two locations, customers can recover their static and transactional data in seconds without loss of productivity. Storage Mirroring can also be utilized for remote availability, centralized backup, data distribution/mining, and server/storage migration. HP StorageWorks Storage Mirroring provides host-based, continuous replication for Enterprise and Midrange customers seeking a low-cost alternative to expensive fabric or array-based replication.


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How Much Rain Does Wichita Falls Need to End the Drought?
It's no secret that over the past few years rain has been scarce in and around Wichita Falls. Mother Nature has been quite stingy with the rainfall in North Texas since the beginning of 2010 forcing us into stage four drought disaster with stage five drought catastrophe very close on the horizon. (UPDATE: As of 5/17/2014 Wichita Falls is under stage 5 drought catastrophe).
So just how much rain has Wichita Falls missed out on during this 3-year drought? The answer: almost 41 inches.
According to the National Weather Service in Norman, Oklahoma, the average precipitation from October 2010 to April 2014 is 100.6 inches and Wichita Falls has only received 60 inches. That puts us at a 40.6-inch deficit.
In other words, Wichita Falls needs almost three and a half feet of rain to get back to normal.
The current levels of our source water lakes are as follows: Lake Arrowhead is at 23.8 percent and Lake Kickapoo is at 31.3 percent, and the combined total is 25.8 percent. Wichita Falls will enter stage five drought catastrophe if the combined lake levels fall below 25 percent.
According to KFDX Meteorologist Bryan Rupp, May is a very important month for rainfall in Texoma as it is normally one of our wettest months. So here's to that remaining true.


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Heading into his senior season with No. 4 Oklahoma, there isn't much starting quarterback Landry Jones hasn't done.
He has started 37 games, thrown for more yards and touchdowns than any other Sooners quarterback and brought home a Big 12 championship and three bowl game victories. There's still one last bit of unfinished business and that's win a national championship.
Unlike Sam Bradford, Jason White and Josh Heupel since 2000, he hasn't even had the chance to play for one.
Jones skipped the chance to enter the NFL early to take one final crack at winning it all, and he'll start his pursuit Saturday night at UTEP.


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Freedom Walk Plans Shaping Up Worldwide
By Samantha L. Quigley
American Forces Press Service
WASHINGTON, July 28, 2008 - Individuals and organizations around the globe are planning special commemorations to mark the quickly approaching seventh anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.
So far, nearly 185 America Supports You Freedom Walks are scheduled to take place on and around Sept. 11. Of those walks, eight are scheduled overseas, in Heidelberg, Germany; Santa Rita, Guam; Baghdad; Vicenza, Italy; Iwakuni, Japan; Moron, Spain; and Seoul and Daegu, South Korea.
America Supports You is a Defense Department program connecting citizens and companies with servicemembers and their families serving at home and abroad.
"The America Supports You Freedom Walk continues this year as a national tradition to commemorate the lives lost on 9/11 and honor our veterans past and present," said Allison Barber, deputy assistant secretary of defense for internal communications and public liaison. "This will be a special year for Department of Defense employees, as the National America Supports You Freedom Walk begins a week of commemorations culminating in the opening of the Pentagon Memorial on 9/11."
Colton Lockner, 11, who organized his first America Supports You Freedom Walk two years ago, is organizing two this year. One will be held in Sebring, Ohio, and the other in Lake Milton, Ohio.
Joey Rizzolo, 13, is organizing Paramus, N.J.'s second America Supports You Freedom Walk. This walk comes on the heels of Rizzolo's recently published guide to organizing a Freedom Walk, "20 Steps to a Freedom Walk."
The national America Supports You Freedom Walk will be held on Sept. 7. The walk, which has become a national tradition, calls on people to reflect on the lives lost on Sept. 11, remember those who responded, honor veterans past and present, and renew commitment to freedom and the values of the United States.
The fourth annual national walk will begin at the Women's Memorial in Arlington National Cemetery at 9 a.m. About one mile later, the walk will conclude in the Pentagon's south parking lot, adjacent to the site where American Airlines Flight 77 crashed into the building. A musical tribute is being planned immediately after the walk.
Freedom Walk Plans Shaping Up Worldwide [ http://www.defenselink.mil/news/newsarticle.aspx?id=50622 ]


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4ft6 Extra Long Mattresses for taller people. These models are all 135cm x 200cm which is approx 4'6" by 6'6" and therefore longer than the Standard UK length.
These Mattresses are popular for people replacing a long Double which was perhaps a Euro Mattress or perhaps from Ikea or somewhere similar where the Mattresses are Non- Standard sizes.


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Fuze: is this the "best" one for my needs ...?
I'm in the "grandmotherly" age, so bear with me. I like (sorry about this -) soft rock to listen to from my favorite local, high-powered, radio station. I can't afford nor desire to buy lots of mp3's - just want to record from fm and play back my music. I have a new laptop pc and a 1 year old imac desktop. I get by doing what I want to do, but I'm not real sophisticated in my computer knowledge. My lovely boys bought me for Mother's Day an ipod touch, 4G, 8gb - which has many other wonderful features that I will use, but doesn't have fm nor fm recording, as you probably know. Apps for it don't seem to allow individual song recordings if I were to get one with FM streaming. Since I was originally considering the Fuze (not the +) I'm STILL considering it. I would record the individual songs I hear on fm, convert the wav files to mp3's and then hopefully D/L back to the ipod. (How's THAT for knowledge?) Is this the best way for me, considering my objectives? Or, is there a better piece of hardware/software that would be even better? And, assuming that my fav. radio station is coming in at very good quallity, would I basically be happy with the recordings or are they going to be only so-so while listening back to them? I DO like good sound,. ANY help or advice would be greatly appreciated. Boys are just "too busy" to do all this research & probably wouldn't be objective.
Re: Fuze: is this the "best" one for my needs ...?[ Edited ]
05-27-2011 03:24 PM - edited 05-27-2011 03:33 PM
If you are converting .wav to .mp3 you are definitely one sophisticated grandma.
The Fuze will record from its FM, but you are dependent on the quality of the reception. And all that conversion is going to get tedious.
Here's what I suggest instead: do it on your computer with Dar.fm.
It is a TIVO-like recorder for radio onto your hard drive. Price: FREE. Pick Adult Contemporary or whatever you want as your music genre. Then transfer the mp3s to any player you want. The Fuze has excellent sound and battery life, and its advantage over the doPi players, besides price and FM on the go, is that it has a card slot for additional storage.
Last I looked, you could still find the real Fuze at Toys R Us for about $69. Probably elsewhere too.
Also, I've never used it, but you might want to look into SlotRadio, a microSD card with 1000 songs for about $35. If they are the songs you want, it might be worth it to you. It's obviously compatible with the Fuze.
Re: Fuze: is this the "best" one for my needs ...?
I was hoping that someone with your knowledge might answer - thank you! To clarify, I've never converted a music file to mp3 but already knew from research that I would have to learn how to do this. I did go to Dar, at your suggestion. However, it appears to be no different from the other, mulitple fm streaming apps and sites that are available. The downside to those, as far as recording is concerned, is that you have to "batch record" multiple songs for a pre-determined amount of time, having no choice in the specific songs that *I* want to record and play back - basically a hit and miss opportunity, including, I presume, all the station breaks and advertisements recorded, too. I assume I can't "cherry pick" the few I might like and then delete the others. I was hoping, with the Fuze, to be able to hear the announcer state the next song, or two, or three, and then quickly record it if it's one that appeals to me and then to stop the recording at the end ...listen some more, and record again another song I like. Can't seem to do that with Dar, et al.
I might mention I have in the house an xln't-quality fm tuner and if there was an "easy" way to tape from that and then edit my recordings down to the ones I want and then convert to mp3's, that would be fine, too. Does such a "recorder" exist like that? Anyone?
Re: Fuze: is this the "best" one for my needs ...?[ Edited ]
05-27-2011 09:42 PM - edited 05-27-2011 09:45 PM
Dar.fm seems to offer exactly the cherry picking you want.
"Many radio stations transmit the names of the songs and bands they're playing. DAR.fm captures that information and detects song breaks. In other words, if you record a day or so of a music station, you've suddenly got a tidy list of songs, identified (and sortable) by title or band. You can listen to individual songs, skip the turkeys and otherwise enjoy your totally free song collection. It's crazy cool, like a hybrid of iTunes and satellite radio."
As an alternative, there are many, many inexpensive digital recorders that could record from the XFM radio station of your choice--right out of the headphone jack into the recorder. While the Fuze is a great playback device, it's cumbersome and low-fi for use as a recorder. But you can get a superb digital recorder for $100-$200, like one of the Tascams on this page:
They have built-in mics because they are for musicians and journalists, but just doublecheck that they also have a line-in jack--connect the XFM headphone out to the line-in and record. There are also little dictation gizmos, like the Sony ICD series, that would probably also do the job.
Just make sure they record mp3, not some weird proprietary compressed format (like the cheapest ones) , and that they have a stereo line-in jack.
The thing is, recorders are larger and not as convenient as playback gadgets like doPi players and the Fuze. You generally have to choose one or the other function to concentrate on--players have better displays and make it easier to find songs or albums or artists, etc.
But really, check out dar.fm. From the description, it seems like that would work for you without going to all the trouble you expect.
Re: Fuze: is this the "best" one for my needs ...?[ Edited ]
05-28-2011 08:19 AM - edited 05-28-2011 08:21 AM
Hey, thanks Black-Rectangle, great info.
I've been using a standalone PC app, RadioTracker ($30 from this link, $40 from other links), to do the same thing, i.e., scour the internet for songs. I've been very satisfied, and will describe it here, just in case it might fit someone's needs, or in case DAR.fm costs too much when it gets out of beta, or if you're not in the U.S.. But DAR.fm for free? Why not try that first and see if it works for your needs?
RadioTracker 8 gets you separated, tagged songs that you request, either by specifying a genre, or an artist or song or album (requesting a specific artist/song/album is called a wishlist in RadioTracker). You also specify a minimum streaming rate (I usually choose 192kbps--the higher the kbps, the less number of stations it scans), and an output format, like 320 kbps MP3 CBR or high quality VBR (by specifying "keep original quality"), or high quality WAV or various quality FLAC or AAC or WMA or OGG. Then let it go for a few hours and you have maybe 2 GBs of songs, individually separated and tagged as best as they can. You'll wind up with folders by artist, containing songs.
I had been using an older version, RadioTracker 6, and have been pleased with it. RadioTracker 8 adds timed station stream recording, but so far, for this timed recording feature, I can only get output in 320 kbps CBR MP3 format. Another downside to this feature is that you must schedule individual dates and times, e.g., no "Every Friday" nor "Weekdays".
I haven't yet recorded a bunch of songs in the new version 8 (I've got a backlog--it's easier getting songs than listening to them all!), but it's supposed to have improved tagging and song separation. Some experiences with the older version:
- It'll get songs from all over the world, in different languages. You might not like this. Dar.fm is only
- Despite quality settings, you'll get some static/bad quality in some songs.
- "Oldies" genres by year only goes back to the '60s, so if you want '50s, you're stuck with the general "Oldies" category, which will get you '40s and '30s music.
- tagging didn't work perfectly in some players. Sorry, I haven't analyzed why or with what players yet. Maybe the new version 8 tags more compatibly with my players.
- the GUI is shared with the upgraded audio/video Audials program, so you'll see video settings. The video upgrade doesn't have great reviews, and I was only interested in recording music, so I didn't upgrade.
- it's an ambitious program, having music management (so be sure to not let it scan your hard drive), CD burning, etc.
Re: Fuze: is this the "best" one for my needs ...?[ Edited ]
06-04-2011 02:46 PM - edited 06-04-2011 02:47 PM
Here's my two cense on the subject... I'm pretty sure that Screamer internet radio has the ability to start/stop recording when the user tells it to (I believe it uses MP3). Of course, I've only played with it for a short time, and that was months ago. But still, It's worth a try, right?
-PS: You remind me of my own grandmother
Tired of the Sansa Media Converter? Try Video4Fuze! It can create smaller videos than SMC, and is WAY more reliable!!!!
Re: Fuze: is this the "best" one for my needs ...?
Pandora + Replay Media Catcher. Reord away.


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2: Drawing Sprites
written by WolfCoder (2012)
Related source code and files are attached to this tutorial: tutorial.2.tar (120K)
Number of downloads: 130
Most of you will be happy with starting out making 2D games, others would want to jump right in to 3D. How about both!? Unlike many tutorials involving SDL out there, we're going to go directly into drawing textured quads on the screen. You won't actually need to know 3D graphics quite yet to do this, but we will technically be working in 3 dimensions. Modern 2D engines are simply textured quads with shader effects here and there, the old idea of "blitting" or bitmap image transfer is obsolete. Interfaces such as DirectDraw are relics of the past, everything has been generalized into simply DirectX/OpenGL. Don't worry, OpenGL is extremly easy to use when compared to DirectX and OpenGL is the thing for Linux games.
You've seen images all over the place, in various formats (.BMP, .PNG, .JPG, .TGA, .PCX, etc.). 2D games are made up of drawn bitmaps full of pixels. A rectangle array of colors, also known as pixels or "picture elements", or a picture map of bits, or a "bitmap". The goal is to load a bitmap and draw it using OpenGL (and hopefully it means with our video card). You've read files into a program before (I assume), so this isn't actually that much different. You open the file, read the data, close and there you go.. Of course then you must move it into your video card (I keep saying "hopefully", it all depends on your video card driver and implementation of OpenGL). From there, it can be used to be drawn on the screen.
/* Color */ typedef struct { unsigned char blue; /* Red component */ unsigned char green; /* Green component */ unsigned char red; /* Blue component */ unsigned char alpha; /* Alpha component */ }color; /* Image */ typedef struct { int width; /* Width of image */ int height; /* Height of image */ color *data; /* Data for image */ }image;
So that's really just it, a rectangular array of colors. You can't ask more from a bitmap. This is the data we actually care about and want to extract from any given .BMP file.
Yes, I know SDL has a SDL_LoadBMP function, but you won't really learn much if you just pull tools off the self without knowing how to make your own. Actually, if you want to load and convert more advanced formats, I recommend The SDL_Image Library. Remember how you locked surfaces to read/write pixels? That's how you would get at the data to send it to OpenGL (which we will learn later).
The Windows BMP format is very simple with the only strange quirk of the images being.. upside down. This is what happens when you let mathmaticians define file formats, you get things upside down! In computers, we go from 0 at the top left and read right and down.. Which is ironic since when we move to 3D, it's all linear algebra anyway. Let's start a new short program that can load and print out basic information about a bitmap.
Included with the tutorial is image.c and image.h, you'll notice right away something is odd about the way I load bitmaps:
/* Load image */ image *image_load_bmp(char *filename) { FILE *f; int w,h,x,y,bypp; unsigned short bpp; char tag[2]; image *im; unsigned char *data,*ptr; unsigned char header[IMAGE_BMP_FILE_HEADER_SIZE+IMAGE_BMP_INFO_HEADER_SIZE-2]; color *col; /* Open file */ f = fopen(filename,"rb"); if(!f) { fprintf(stderr,"Could not open %s\n",filename); return 0; } /* Read tag */ if(fread(tag,1,2,f) != 2) { fprintf(stderr,"Error reading image tag for %s\n",filename); fclose(f); return 0; } if(tag[0] != 'B' || tag[1] != 'M') { fprintf(stderr,"%s is not a valid WIN32 bitmap file\n",filename); fclose(f); return 0; } /* Read the rest of file header */ if(fread(header,1,IMAGE_BMP_FILE_HEADER_SIZE+IMAGE_BMP_INFO_HEADER_SIZE-2,f) != IMAGE_BMP_FILE_HEADER_SIZE+IMAGE_BMP_INFO_HEADER_SIZE-2) { fprintf(stderr,"Error reading image header for %s\n",filename); fclose(f); return 0; } w = *((int*)&header[IMAGE_BMP_FILE_HEADER_SIZE-2+4]); h = *((int*)&header[IMAGE_BMP_FILE_HEADER_SIZE-2+4+4]); bpp = *((unsigned short*)&header[IMAGE_BMP_FILE_HEADER_SIZE-2+4+4+4+2]); bypp = bpp/8; /* 24 or 32 bit */ if(bpp != 24 && bpp != 32) { fprintf(stderr,"%s is not a 24 or 32 bit bitmap (%dBPP)\n",filename,bpp); fclose(f); return 0; } /* Warning: if the image data doesn't evenly lay on a 4-byte alignment, the data may be askew */ /* This doesn't happen in 32-bit bitmaps because each pixel is 4 bytes */ /* You should be aligning your images to 8x8 blocks of pixels anyway */ if(w%8 != 0 || h%8 != 0) { fprintf(stderr,"%s doesn't have width or height a multiple of 8\n",filename); fclose(f); return 0; } /* New image */ im = image_new(w,h); /* Read it in */ data = (unsigned char*)malloc(bypp*w*h); if(fread(data,bypp,w*h,f) != w*h) { fprintf(stderr,"Error reading image data for %s\n",filename); fclose(f); return 0; } fclose(f); /* Read pixels */ for(y = 0;y < h;y++) { for(x = 0;x < w;x++) { /* Find pixels */ ptr = &data[(x*bypp)+((h-y-1)*w*bypp)]; /* Don't ask me why WIN32 bitmaps are upside-down */ col = &im->data[x+y*w]; /* Copy data */ col->red = ptr[2]; col->green = ptr[1]; col->blue = ptr[0]; /* Alpha channel */ if(bpp == 32) col->alpha = ptr[3]; else col->alpha = 0xFF; /* Opaque */ } } /* Done */ free(data); return im; }
I know what the more experienced of you are thinking, "why didn't you just write BITMAPFILEHEADER and BITMAPINFOHEADER structs and fread those?". Well, go do that and see what happens. Yeah that's right, those structs have special compiler directives around them disabling struct alignment somehow. It gets even worse on this 64-bit system since it pads things out to 8-byte wide boundaries! You're better off trying to avoid compiler directives, it makes porting and compiling in other systems that much harder. Besides, this isn't a function meant to be called many times a frame, so we can do with the overhead of all the I/O calls it makes (the system has to halt your program/thread until the data is read from disk, though if it's smart it had cached the entire file already so the rest of the calls return quickly).
I label all the fields in comments even if I only use a few, the format seems pretty strange because it's an artifact from the 90s. Nobody even uses 8-bit palette images anymore for space concerns, we just have so much space to spare. Anyways, this will load the bitmap, so let's write our actual program:
/* Image Show Loads and displays the given image written by Sayuri L. Kitsune (2012) */ /* Include */ #include <stdio.h> #include "image.h" /* Main */ int main(int argn,char **argv) { image *im; /* Error */ if(argn < 2) { fprintf(stderr,"No input .bmp file specified\n"); return -1; } if(argn > 2) { fprintf(stderr,"Too many command line arguments, only specify input .bmp file\n"); return -1; } /* Open */ im = image_load_bmp(argv[1]); /* Print */ printf("%s is %dx%d pixels\n",argv[1],im->width,im->height); /* Yeah I know, should use method access instead of direct access */ /* Done */ image_delete(im); return 0; }
And the makefile:
test: make build ./imgshow firefoxtan.bmp build: -rm imgshow gcc -c imgshow.c image.c gcc imgshow.o image.o -o imgshow
The mentioned firefoxtan.bmp file is included in the download. If we run it we should get:
firefoxtan.bmp is 128x128 pixels
Now that the bitmap is loaded, we just need to draw it to the screen using OpenGL. From our previous tutorial, we already know how to get an SDL window going:
/* Open SDL window made to fit image */ SDL_Init(SDL_INIT_VIDEO); SDL_GL_SetAttribute(SDL_GL_RED_SIZE,8); /* Configure OpenGL */ SDL_GL_SetAttribute(SDL_GL_GREEN_SIZE,8); SDL_GL_SetAttribute(SDL_GL_BLUE_SIZE,8); SDL_GL_SetAttribute(SDL_GL_ALPHA_SIZE,8); SDL_GL_SetAttribute(SDL_GL_DOUBLEBUFFER,1); SDL_GL_SetAttribute(SDL_GL_BUFFER_SIZE,32); screen = SDL_SetVideoMode(im->width,im->height,0,SDL_HWSURFACE|SDL_OPENGL); /* Handle */ active = 1; while(active) { /* Events */ while(SDL_PollEvent(&ev)) { if(ev.type == SDL_QUIT) active = 0; } /* Drawing */ } /* Done */ SDL_Quit();
.. no, we don't. SDL has a built-in way of starting OpenGL for you, so this is why the code looks different now. All those calls to SDL_GL_SetAttribute are mostly to use a typical 32-bit display, you can adjust this for all the many other possible modes. Since we're using OpenGL, it's the one that needs to be told to use a double buffer this time. Don't forget the SDL_OPENGL flag in SDL_SetVideoMode, but apart from that it's just like before. You'll have to change the makefile to include the OpenGL libraries too:
test: make build ./imgshow firefoxtan.bmp build: -rm imgshow gcc -I"/usr/include/SDL" -I"/usr/include/GL" -c imgshow.c image.c gcc imgshow.o image.o -lSDL -lGL -o imgshow
Running the code, a blank window the size of the bitmap should appear. Guess what goes there next?
OpenGL is one of the most newbie friendly APIs I've seen for 3D graphics.. But then again I've only ever written OpenGL and DirectX programs, the competition isn't exactly diverse. OpenGL has more than just a color framebuffer (buffer, surface) like SDL, but for now we're going to deal with just colors. Let's clear the screen to MAGENTA and be sure that we're clearing the screen. When using 3D APIs, its a good idea to make the clear color something striking so the graphics are easier to debug.
/* Open SDL window made to fit image */ SDL_Init(SDL_INIT_VIDEO); SDL_GL_SetAttribute(SDL_GL_RED_SIZE,8); /* Configure OpenGL */ SDL_GL_SetAttribute(SDL_GL_GREEN_SIZE,8); SDL_GL_SetAttribute(SDL_GL_BLUE_SIZE,8); SDL_GL_SetAttribute(SDL_GL_ALPHA_SIZE,8); SDL_GL_SetAttribute(SDL_GL_DOUBLEBUFFER,1); SDL_GL_SetAttribute(SDL_GL_BUFFER_SIZE,32); screen = SDL_SetVideoMode(im->width,im->height,0,SDL_HWSURFACE|SDL_OPENGL); /* Set up opengl */ glClearColor(1.0f,0.0f,1.0f,1.0f); /* Magenta, note the colors are now 0.0~1.0 floating point. */ /* Handle */ active = 1; while(active) { /* Events */ while(SDL_PollEvent(&ev)) { if(ev.type == SDL_QUIT) active = 0; } /* Erase old picture */ glClear(GL_COLOR_BUFFER_BIT); /* Clear the color buffer */ /* Flush out the commands (possibly pointless for a single-machine setup, but you never know) */ glFlush(); /* And flip the buffers, note this is different for OpenGL! */ SDL_GL_SwapBuffers(); } /* Done */ SDL_Quit(); image_delete(im); return 0;
You call clear and the buffer gets wiped out to whatever clear color you set. You might not need glFlush there, but it's just to be safe. The one important thing to remember is that the buffer flipping function to display the resulting picture is now SDL_GL_SwapBuffers, different than normal SDL. Now, let's draw some lines. Let's work in 2D for now. How does OpenGL work in 2D? You'll find OpenGL is very flexible and can work in whatever coordinate mode you feel like! I'm not going to load your mind with the MODEL/WORLD/PROJECTION matrix system yet, but we need to tell OpenGL to change these. Don't worry if you have no idea what I'm talking about, you'll understand when we actually use them. Consider the following snippet:
/* Prepare to draw a 2D scene */ glMatrixMode(GL_PROJECTION); /* This is how your stuff gets transformed for the screen */ glLoadIdentity(); /* Clear matrix */ glOrtho(0,im->width,im->height,0,-1,1); /* Left,Right BOTTOM, and then top, and then near and further */ glMatrixMode(GL_MODELVIEW); glLoadIdentity(); /* Clear matrix. Note this means a point here just gets directly put on screen */
Do you know your linear algebra? No? You'll need a refresher when you move on to the 3D stuff, but for now this setting takes any point in 3D space and directly takes the X and Y positions and puts them on screen. I've mapped the points to the actual pixels and we don't need the Z position. X and Y are the horizontal and vertical positions on your screen as you may be used to. However, the Z axis is pointing directly out of the screen and at your face.
Let's put an ugly green line on the screen:
/* Draw some lines */ glColor3f(0.0f,1.0f,0.0f); glBegin(GL_LINES); glVertex3f(8,8,0); glVertex3f(32,8,0); glEnd();
And there you go. I'm not going to do them in this tutorial, but I recommend you play around with more than just GL_LINES and see what shapes work. However, we're here to make graphics further beyond the original StarFox game, we need pictures.
Texture / Image
Loading our image into OpenGL as a texture is a little involved. Let's step carefully through the process. For 2D games, we just want unfiltered, 32-bit pictures. OpenGL refers to textures with just numbers. You can use any number you want, but there's a function that lets you ask OpenGL for numbers not currently in use. I'm worried at the amount of quick guides and tutorials that don't do this. Anyways, it's just glGenTextures. Doing this doesn't actually load the texture yet. You need to select the texture so that the next series of OpenGL commands modify it using glBindTexture. It makes your life easier to create a texture variable, something like this:
/* Texture */ typedef struct { int width,height; /* We still want to know the size of texture */ GLuint tex; /* Integer referring to texture */ }texture;
Then through the following series of commands, we specify the texture to be unfiltered and that the data is made up of bytes:
/* Configure texture */ glPixelStorei(GL_UNPACK_ALIGNMENT,1); glTexParameteri(GL_TEXTURE_2D,GL_TEXTURE_WRAP_S,GL_REPEAT); glTexParameteri(GL_TEXTURE_2D,GL_TEXTURE_WRAP_T,GL_REPEAT); glTexParameteri(GL_TEXTURE_2D,GL_TEXTURE_MAG_FILTER,GL_NEAREST); glTexParameteri(GL_TEXTURE_2D,GL_TEXTURE_MIN_FILTER,GL_NEAREST);
GL_REPEAT will make sense later when you specify texture coordinates for each point, but it means if you set them outside the texture box that the texture will simply repeat. GL_NEAREST is the part that actually makes the texture unfiltered and get that pixel look if you draw them scaled up or rotated. If for some reason you don't want that, you can put other settings in these two calls. The difference between "MAG" and "MIN" mean when you shrink the image for "MIN" or stretch it out for "MAG". This only set the settings, next we must load the data:
/* Load pixel data */ glTexImage2D(GL_TEXTURE_2D,0,GL_RGBA8,tex->width,tex->height,0,GL_BGRA,GL_UNSIGNED_BYTE,(unsigned char*)im->data);
There are many different settings here. I recommend you look up the documentation for glTexImage2D, but for now this is what the call looks like to load image data in the format our sample program does and make a generic 32-bit texture out of it. You don't have to understand the settings here yet as long as you know there's tons of combinations you could do. This is it, usually the picture should now exist in your video card and you can even delete the original image from normal memory if you want. Deleting the OpenGL texture is as easy as glDeleteTextures.
/* Just delete */ glDeleteTextures(1,&tex->tex);
Before we go ahead and draw firefoxtan.bmp like we were going to, let's draw a smaller sprite to make sure we can move it around and control it.
/* Load test */ sim = image_load_bmp("sayuri.bmp"); stex = imgshow_new_texture(sim); image_delete(sim);
This texture is much smaller and we can fit it inside the window. Drawing the texture is just like drawing regular things, except we add calls to add texture verticies. Imagine if the square picture had coordinates (0,0) on the top left, (1,0) on the top right, (1,1) on the bottom right, and (0,1) for bottom left. It's always 0~1 no matter the actual resolution of the texture, which doesn't make that much sense for our 2D games but much more sense for 3D texturing purposes. Let's write a function that draws a textured 2D quad wherever we want- you know the purpose of this tutorial!
/* Draw a texture simply */ void imgshow_draw_texture(texture *tex,int x,int y) { float w2,h2; /* Measure the half size of the texture (why are we doing this?) */ w2 = (float)(tex->width/2); h2 = (float)(tex->height/2); /* Select the texture */ glBindTexture(GL_TEXTURE_2D,tex->tex); /* Select.. a white color!? */ glColor3f(1.0f,1.0f,1.0f); /* Draw the quad */ glBegin(GL_QUADS); glTexCoord2f(0.0f,0.0f); /* Top left */ glVertex3f(-w2,-h2,0.0f); glTexCoord2f(1.0f,0.0f); /* Top right */ glVertex3f(w2,-h2,0.0f); glTexCoord2f(1.0f,1.0f); /* Bottom right */ glVertex3f(w2,h2,0.0f); glTexCoord2f(0.0f,1.0f); /* Bottom left */ glVertex3f(-w2,h2,0.0f); glEnd(); }
And then:
/* Draw */ imgshow_draw_texture(stex,0,0);
..but then, it's just a white square half off of the screen at the top-left! Yes, you could directly add the positions yourself to make it match, or you could let OpenGL do all the hard work:
/* Transform */ glPushMatrix(); glTranslatef(w2,h2,0.0f); /* Convert from center anchor to top-left anchor */ glTranslatef((float)x,(float)y,0.0f); /* Move into user-defined position */ /* Select.. a white color!? */ glColor3f(1.0f,1.0f,1.0f); /* Draw the quad */ glBegin(GL_QUADS); glTexCoord2f(0.0f,0.0f); /* Top left */ glVertex3f(-w2,-h2,0.0f); glTexCoord2f(1.0f,0.0f); /* Top right */ glVertex3f(w2,-h2,0.0f); glTexCoord2f(1.0f,1.0f); /* Bottom right */ glVertex3f(w2,h2,0.0f); glTexCoord2f(0.0f,1.0f); /* Bottom left */ glVertex3f(-w2,h2,0.0f); glEnd(); /* Return to old matrix */ glPopMatrix();
You'll notice now there's glPushMatrix and glPopMatrix. This lets us save whatever mode was before and modify things. Think of a given sprite as its own thing, like a model. This helps you localize all these transformations to each sprite. If you didn't use the matrix stack, each drawing function would mess with the next ones since the matrix would be stuck in whatever mode we had before for the model view matrix (notice how we don't set the matrix mode since we should only be working in model mode). Too confusing? It will actually make more sense and become more important when you move to 3D. For 2D games, a draw textured quad function is most of what you need. This code still draws a white square, we actually have to turn on textures with:
And now the little sprite is drawn! We can move it about too:
Since they're all at the same z-value, the pictures appear in the order you draw them. Just to show you, let's draw the original picture first:
/* Load as texture */ tex = imgshow_new_texture(im);
Ah! AAAH! You realize the magenta background from the sprite is still there! You didn't notice it before because the clear color was also magenta. You're going to have to "color key" the image. Thanks to our OpenGL texture format, it's as simple as going to every magenta pixel in the original image and replacing it with alpha value 0 before we pass it off to OpenGL:
/* Key a image */ void imgshow_color_key(image *im) { int x,y; color col; for(y = 0;y < im->height;y++) { for(x = 0;x < im->width;x++) { col = im->data[x+y*im->width]; if(col.red == 255 && col.green == 0 && col.blue == 255) col.alpha = 0; im->data[x+y*im->width] = col; } } }
Apply it to:
/* Load test */ sim = image_load_bmp("sayuri.bmp"); imgshow_color_key(sim); stex = imgshow_new_texture(sim); image_delete(sim);
One final important thing is that we need to enable "alpha blending". Without it, this code does nothing when the texture is drawn. For the most basic blending that does what you expect, replace the single glEnable call with this:
glEnable(GL_BLEND); glEnable(GL_TEXTURE_2D); glBlendFunc(GL_SRC_ALPHA,GL_ONE_MINUS_SRC_ALPHA); glTexEnvf(GL_TEXTURE_ENV,GL_TEXTURE_ENV_MODE,GL_MODULATE);
And now the background is gone! Finally!
Rotation, Scaling, and Fading
These three effects are quite non-trivial in pure SDL. You'll begin to realize why I started right away with OpenGL. For rotation and scaling, we can just stick the matrix functions at the end of the previous transformation. Now for the important note, the transformations work from last call to first:
/* Draw a texture simply */ void imgshow_draw_texture(texture *tex,int x,int y,float sx,float sy,float r,float a) { float w2,h2; /* Measure the half size of the texture (why are we doing this?) */ w2 = (float)(tex->width/2); h2 = (float)(tex->height/2); /* Select the texture */ glBindTexture(GL_TEXTURE_2D,tex->tex); /* Transform */ glPushMatrix(); glTranslatef(w2,h2,0.0f); /* Convert from center anchor to top-left anchor */ glTranslatef((float)x,(float)y,0.0f); /* Move into user-defined position */ glRotatef(r,0.0f,0.0f,1.0f); /* Rotate the image */ glScalef(sx,sy,1.0f); /* Scale the image */ /* Select.. a white color!? */ glColor4f(1.0f,1.0f,1.0f,a); /* Draw the quad */ glBegin(GL_QUADS); glTexCoord2f(0.0f,0.0f); /* Top left */ glVertex3f(-w2,-h2,0.0f); glTexCoord2f(1.0f,0.0f); /* Top right */ glVertex3f(w2,-h2,0.0f); glTexCoord2f(1.0f,1.0f); /* Bottom right */ glVertex3f(w2,h2,0.0f); glTexCoord2f(0.0f,1.0f); /* Bottom left */ glVertex3f(-w2,h2,0.0f); glEnd(); /* Return to old matrix */ glPopMatrix(); }
Not "simply" anymore. OpenGL actually uses degrees for rotation, which is nice. Notice how the image gets multiplied with whatever the current color is, so if you keep it white but adjust the alpha, you can also make the image fade in and out. Neat, take a look at it with:
It makes the sprite twice as big, rotated a bit clockwise and partially faded out. Like I said, last call to first. The image is scaled and rotated first before translating. If we did it the other way around, the image would go flying off since its center is not longer.. actually its center! Go ahead and mess with the code included in this tutorial and see what you can get it to do. Next time, we're going to get a character to walk around the screen using user input. This would combine the objects and time from the first tutorial, the sprites from this tutorial, and add input.
If you need to, you can download all the source code and Makefiles involved in this tutorial here: tutorial.2.tar (120K)
Number of downloads: 130


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54 results
Bring your SketchUp models to the augmented reality of the Microsoft HoloLens
Add spreadsheet capabilities to SketchUp and use powerful edit and report functions
Photorealistic SketchUp rendering bundled with lots of extras to create renderings, reports, and informative client presentations.
AB3DPlugin for SketchUP is a component with special attributes that allow for more advanced functionality. it turns any two or more 2D drawings into a perfect 3D model
Save SketchUp model from version 8 to 2019 in a single click.
Fake ambient occlusion inside SketchUp.
1-Click Rendering & Animation
Extension allows to rotates view around specified element.
Bring your models to life in augmented reality
Apply front face color to back face automatically.


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Grass & Grass Seed
How to Plant & Grow a Zoysia Grass Lawn
Get easy tips on how to plant and maintain this drought-tolerant grass.
Grow a Zoysia Grass Lawn
If you live in the Transition Zone -- an area that stretches from Kansas to the Carolinas -- then a zoysia grass lawn may be a good option for you. Zoysia is heat- and drought-tolerant, and produces a thick green lawn during the growing season. Zoysia is a popular grass for golf-course fairways and tees, since it makes the ball sit up high for an easy hit.
Planting Zoysia Grass
Zoysia grass can be grown from seed, sod, or plugs. Zoysia is a slow grower so sod or plugs are most commonly used. However, there are innovative seed products on the market, such as Scotts® Turf Builder® Zoysia Grass Seed and Mulch that make seeding zoysia a good option. Before laying sod or after planting plugs or grass seed, apply Scotts® Turf Builder® Starter® Lawn Food for New Grass to help your zoysia lawn get off to a good start by providing the right nutrients young grass seedlings need to grow. Water your newly planted lawn frequently until the plants are established.
Maintaining Your Zoysia Grass Lawn
You can begin to mow your new zoysia grass lawn when it reaches mowing height. Zoysia grass prefers a middle mower setting that provides a 2 to 3 inch cut. Feed your lawn 6-8 weeks after planting with Scotts® Turf Builder® Southern Lawn Food. Continue to feed every 6-8 weeks until the lawn goes dormant in the fall.
Things to Remember about Zoysia Grass
As soon as the weather gets chilly, zoysia grass goes dormant. You'll see a brown lawn until some time around March. If you live too far north, you'll have a dormant lawn for much of the growing season, which is why this grass type is typically not recommended for cooler climates.


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(WHM >> Home >> Account Information >> List Accounts)
The List Accounts interface displays your server's accounts and allows you to perform certain actions on them.
Account information
If your hosting provider enables the Create Accounts privilege in WHM's Edit Reseller Nameservers and Privileges interface (WHM >> Home >> Resellers >> Edit Reseller Nameservers and Privileges), this interface will display a link to WHM's Create a New Account interface (WHM >> Home >> Account Functions >> Create a New Account).
The list of accounts displays detailed information about each account on your server, and allows you to perform certain actions on each account.
- Click the plus icon (Actions section below. ) to view the available actions for the associated account. For more information, read the
- Click a domain name in the Domain column to navigate to that site.
Click the cPanel logo (cPanel interface for that account with the) in the cPanel column to log in to the
rootor reseller password.
- If you disabled
rootor reseller logins to cPanel user accounts, this icon does not display. You can enable this feature in the System section of WHM's Tweak Settings interface (WHM >> Home >> Server Configuration >> Tweak Settings).
- This feature uses the Internal Session Tool and Single Sign On system to generate a temporary user. For more information, read our Guide to API Authentication documentation.
- If you disabled
- Click the IP address in the IP Address column to view the contents of the user's home directory in a new browser tab.
- Click the email address in the Contact Email column to send an email to the account's owner.
Click the account's assigned package (for example, default) in the Package column to open the Edit a Package interface (WHM >> Home >> Packages >> Edit a Package).
A red warning icon () and Unknown appear in the Package column if the account does not have an assigned package.
When you use any of these actions to navigate to another WHM interface, WHM automatically selects the correct account.
When you expand the information for an account, you can perform the following actions:
Change Password — To change an account's password, enter the desired password, select the desired options, and click Change.
Select the Synchronize MySQL password with account password checkbox if you want to use the same password for the user's MySQL® account.
This option is only available for users who possess an installed
- Select the Enable Digest Authentication checkbox to enable Digest Authentication support.
Change Contact Email — To change the contact email address for the account, enter a new address in the text box and click Change.
The Reset Password feature uses this email address to verify the account user's identity. If you do not set the contact email address, the user cannot use the Reset Password feature.
- Change IP Address — Click Change IP Address to navigate to WHM's Change a Site's IP Address interface (WHM >> Home >> IP Functions >> Change a Site's IP Address).
- Change Disk Partition — Click Change Disk Partition to navigate to WHM's Rearrange an Account interface (WHM >> Home >> Account Functions >> Rearrange an Account).
Change Quota — Click Change Quota to navigate to WHM's Quota Modification interface (WHM >> Home >> Account Functions >> Quota Modification).
Important:When you change a quota, we recommend that you first examine the contents of the account to ensure that the account does not already exceed the quota. If this is the case, request that the owner of the account remove files to comply with the new disk quota.
- Change Plan — Click Change Plan to navigate to WHM's Upgrade/Downgrade an Account interface (WHM >> Home >> Account Functions >> Upgrade/Downgrade an Account).
- Modify Account — Click Modify Account to navigate to WHM's Modify an Account interface (WHM >> Home >> Account Functions >> Modify an Account).
Download records
When you click Download these records to a CSV file, WHM opens a new browser tab that displays the information from the List Accounts table as a comma-separated list. You can then copy and paste this information into a text document. If you wish to use the file in Microsoft® Excel® or another spreadsheet program, save it as a
.csv file.
.csv file lists all accounts, up to the first 999,999,999 accounts.
Additional documentation


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If we landed on Europa, what would we want to know?
(Phys.org) —Most of what scientists know of Jupiter's moon Europa they have gleaned from a dozen or so close flybys from NASA's Voyager 2 spacecraft in 1979 and NASA's Galileo spacecraft in the mid-to-late 1990s. Even in these fleeting, paparazzi-like encounters, scientists have seen a fractured, ice-covered world with tantalizing signs of a liquid water ocean under its surface. Such an environment could potentially be a hospitable home for microbial life. But what if we got to land on Europa's surface and conduct something along the lines of a more in-depth interview? What would scientists ask? A new study in the journal Astrobiology authored by a NASA-appointed science definition team lays out their consensus on the most important questions to address.
"If one day humans send a robotic lander to the surface of Europa, we need to know what to look for and what tools it should carry," said Robert Pappalardo, the study's lead author, based at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, Calif. "There is still a lot of preparation that is needed before we could land on Europa, but studies like these will help us focus on the technologies required to get us there, and on the data needed to help us scout out possible landing locations. Europa is the most likely place in our solar system beyond Earth to have life today, and a landed mission would be the best way to search for signs of life."
The paper was authored by scientists from a number of other NASA centers and universities, including the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory, Laurel, Md.; University of Colorado, Boulder; University of Texas, Austin; and the NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Md. The team found the most important questions clustered around composition: what makes up the reddish "freckles" and reddish cracks that stain the icy surface? What kind of chemistry is occurring there? Are there organic molecules, which are among the building blocks of life?
Additional priorities involved improving our images of Europa - getting a look around at features on a human scale to provide context for the compositional measurements. Also among the top priorities were questions related to geological activity and the presence of liquid water: how active is the surface? How much rumbling is there from the periodic gravitational squeezes from its planetary host, the giant planet Jupiter? What do these detections tell us about the characteristics of liquid water below the icy surface?
"Landing on the surface of Europa would be a key step in the astrobiological investigation of that world," said Chris McKay, a senior editor of the journal Astrobiology, who is based at NASA Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, Calif. "This paper outlines the science that could be done on such a lander. The hope would be that surface materials, possibly near the linear crack features, include biomarkers carried up from the ocean."
Explore further


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The Texas Department of Public Safety seized 43 pounds of marijuana from two separate traffic stops Saturday, one in Oldham County and the other in Carson County, DPS Trooper Gabriel Medrano said.
Medrano said Sean A. Rodriguez, 24, of Romeoville, Ill., and Nathan J. Thierfelder, 36, of Beaverton, Ore., were arrested in separate traffic stops Saturday on Interstate 40, both on charges of possession of marijuana.
Troopers stopped Rodriguez in a 2000 Volkswagen heading eastbound on I-40 five miles west of Vega in Oldham County on a traffic violation around 10:42 a.m., Medrano said.
He said the trooper had probable cause to search the car after a Randall County K-9 unit alerted officers.
The trooper found 13 vacuum-sealed bundles of marijuana in the car's trunk, Medrano said. The 13 pounds of marijuana is valued at $70,535, he said.
Rodriguez was arrested on a charge of marijuana possession, a third-degree felony, and booked into the Oldham County jail, Medrano said.
He is being held in lieu of a $7,000 bond, jail officials said.
Medrano said the drugs were allegedly being transported from Arizona to Chicago.
Troopers stopped Thierfelder around 6:34 p.m. on a traffic violation on eastbound I-40 near Groom in Carson County, Medrano said.
He said troopers had probable cause to search the 1991 Honda Civic, and 30 bundles of marijuana were found inside three different bags in the rear seat and cargo areas of the car.
Thierfelder was arrested on a drug possession charge and booked into Carson County jail, Medrano said. His bond information is unavailable.
Medrano said a DPS K-9 unit assisted in this search.
Medrano said the drugs were allegedly being transported From California to Austin.
He said there is no connection between the two stops.


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HyperSonic 4 is a high speed action shooting game. This is a jet game with loads of missiles, explosion and action. The player will take role of fighter jet pilot in intense story driven campaign. This game will pump your adrenaline up. HyperSonic feature both SinglePlayer campaign and teamed Multiplayer battle.
Only registered members can share their thoughts. So come on! Join the community today (totally free - or sign in with your social account on the right) and join in the conversation.


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Evan Vucci / AP
President Barack Obama talks with MSNBC's Chris Matthews on Thursday, Dec. 5, 2013.
Republicans ought to be "embarrassed" of their record low productivity during their time in charge of the House of Representatives, President Barack Obama said Thursday.
In an interview with MSNBC's Chris Matthews, the president said Republicans shouldered most of the blame for gridlock in Washington, especially as GOP lawmakers tend to the ideological concerns of their party's conservative flank.
"They've got to be embarrassed," the president said on a special edition of "Hardball" that aired Thursday evening. "Because the truth of the matter is they've now been in charge of the House of Representatives – one branch or one chamber in one branch of government – for a couple of years now. They just don't have a lot to show for it."
As the White House works to move past a rocky few weeks in which Republicans seized upon the troubled launch of key portions of Obama's signature health reform law, the president has pivoted to highlight inaction on Capitol Hill.
Obama has spent much of this week hammering Republicans in Congress for failing to take action on his agenda – or worse, even proposing a viable alternative.
"So the problem is not, generally speaking, on the Democratic side. And obviously I'm partisan here, but objectively, I think you can look at it and you can say that the big challenge we've got is you've got a faction of the Republican Party that sees compromise as a dirty word, that has moved so far to the right that it would be difficult for Ronald Reagan to win the nomination for the Republican Party at this point," Obama said of the slow pace of legislating. "And as a consequence, it is more challenging."
Republicans have sought to respond this week by highlighting the 150-some bills they have passed (ranging from repealing health care reform to tax cuts to other GOP priorities) which have languished in the Democratic-held Senate.
"Republicans continue to focus on strengthening the economy for middle-class families. That's why we've passed nearly 150 bills in this Congress. Many of them would help our economy. They're still sitting in the United States Senate," House Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio, said at his weekly press conference on Thursday morning. "Senate Democrats and the president continue to stand in the way of America's priorities."
The question of gridlock and the specter of a "do-nothing Congress" label is already emerging as a potential story line in next November's congressional elections. Republicans are looking to defend their slight majority in the House and pick up a net of six seats in the Senate to retake control of the upper chamber from Democrats.
Republicans have held control of the House since the 2010 elections, while Democrats won control of the Senate in the 2006 elections and have maintained their majority since then.
Polls testing the so-called "generic ballot" – voters' preference of a generic Republican candidate versus a generic Democratic candidate – have fluctuated throughout the fall. Democrats took an advantage amid the government shutdown in October, though Republicans have been resurgent in most polls due to the troubled launch of HealthCare.gov and other controversies surrounding Obamacare.
The most recent NBC News/Wall Street Journal poll, conducted at the end of October, found that 45 percent of Americans would prefer a Democratic-controlled Congress as a result of the 2014 elections, while 41 percent want Republicans in charge of Congress.
Frustration with Congress is also broadly reflected in most recent polls, too. And Obama hinted that voters next fall who are frustrated with the state of business in Washington should make the most of the opportunity to shuffle the makeup in Congress.
"We go through these periods where our politics gets all bollocksed up," Obama said. "But we get through it. The reason we get through it is, ultimately, the American people have pretty good instincts. And if, over and over again, they see that we're not addressing the core problems that we have, eventually they will put in place people that are serious about getting the work done."
Obama also hinted at his preference for Democratic control of Congress, which he enjoyed during the first two years of his first term. The president said it's been when one party controls Congress, throughout history, that the most progress is made in Washington.
"In our history, usually when we've made big progress on issues, it actually has been when one party controlled the government for a period of time," he said. "The big strides we made in the New Deal, the big strides we made with the Great Society – those were times when you had a big majority."
This story was originally published on Thu Dec 5, 2013 6:59 PM EST


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Blijvend vlakke wegen - CROW-werkgroep integraal wegontwerp - evaluatie van schadecases uit de praktijkEgmond-Weijburg, C. (author), Galjaard, P.J. (author), Van Gurp, C.A.P.M. (author)This report presents an inquiry into cases of pavement design, construction and maintenance in which distress has been observed instigated by deeper subgrade or by inadequate attention for the interaction between subgrade and pavement structure. Almost all cases are situated in areas with subgrade of poor to marginal bearing capacity. The cases...report 2008


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I love cheeseburgers. But people like Eric Schlosser and Upton Sinclair have to ruin everything, forcing me to consider where my burger came from. So I had to ask: What's the most powerful meat grinder in existence?
Depending on who you ask, you may get different answers. But the 5,251-pound Dominator 14 grinder by Weiler is one of the (if not the) most bad-ass meat grinders out there. It has a pre-grinding capacity of up to 2,000 pounds of meat per minute. (Pre-grinding is the first stage to making any delectable burger patty.) That's one ton of meat every minute—or about four cows' worth of meaty meatness every 60 seconds.
Let's say a typical (non-fast food) burger is around 8 ounces, and this thing's 100-horsepower engine chews through and regurgitates 120,000 pounds of meat in an hour. That's 240,000 patties, faster than even Takeru Kobayashi could eat them. Meat party!
If beef's not your thing, don't worry. It cuts up pork and poultry, too. On second thought, ick. [Weiler, Image credit: inxti/Shutterstock]
Monster Machines is all about the most exceptional machines in the world, from massive gadgets of destruction to tiny machines of precision, and everything in between.


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This resource is the only content-based guide in existence and contains the
facts you need to make informed viewing decisions for your family. Within the
web pages of the Family Guide® to TV is a brief background and thematic summary
of every entertainment television show currently appearing on ABC, CBS, Fox,
NBC, and CW.
To prepare this Family Guide® to TV, we evaluated each series on the basis of its
suitability of content for viewers of all ages, not on its artistic merits.
Every show's timeslot has been factored into our analysis.
Click here for a description of
industry ratings
The Family Guide® to TV is the culmination of thousands of hours of content analysis conducted by the Parents Television Council. Teams of researchers have scrutinized closely every prime time sitcom and drama series for offensive subject matter, employing the PTC's state-of-the-art computerized Entertainment Tracking System to provide you with the most accurate and up-to-date analysis of every show. Since 1989, we've examined more than 125,000 hours of television fare, which has enabled us to document long-term thematic developments and shifts in network programming standards. Please
contact us and let us know how the Family Guide® to TV is working for you and your family!


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Nutrition Facts
Ingredients and Preparation
Tip: For variety, try this heart-healthy fish recipe with any kind of fish.
- Preheat oven to 475° F.
- Wipe fillets with lemon juice and pat dry.
- Combine milk, hot pepper sauce, and garlic.
- Combine pepper, salt, and onion powder with cornflake crumbs and place on a plate.
- Let fillets sit in milk briefly. Remove and coat fillets on both sides with seasoned crumbs. Let stand briefly until coating sticks to each side of fish.
- Arrange on lightly oiled shallow baking dish.
- Bake 20 minutes on middle rack without turning.
- Cut into 6 pieces. Serve with fresh lemon.


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Freya Jaffke
Freya Jaffke is one of the master kindergarten teachers that I most respect and admire and learn from. As with her other books, Celebrating Festivals with Children is a fount of wisdom carried on the warm winds of love for children. As such, it is a gift and a must-read for anyone working with our very young.
Here she describes festival celebrations in relation to child development in the first seven years. She considers in detail the main festivals throughout the year—Easter, Pentecost, St. John's, back-to-school, harvest, Michaelmas, lantern time, birthdays, Halloween, Thanksgiving, Advent, Christmas, Epiphany, and carnival.
Drawing on many examples, she shows how we can celebrate festivals in a meaningful way with children, both at home and in kindergarten. Every festival is prefaced with a deeper contemplation for adults before considering preparations with children. This is followed by the actual organization of the festival—with games, craft activities and decorations, stories, songs, poems and the seasonal nature table.
Very highly recommended.
1 Review
My family didn't have too many traditions, and the ones that we did have were more mainstream sorts of things, such as opening one present on Christmas Eve, hunting for Easter eggs, having birthday cake. All of these things are fun, and grand, but as a mom who wants to embrace the more spiritual and contemplative side of the main Christian holidays, Jaffke's book is a wonder.
Advent and Christmas get the most attention, with great ideas on how to build up the excitement with your child through the use of the nature table, advent calendars, moss gardens, St. Nicholas, and more. Easter, summer, Carnival and several other holidays you've probably never celebrated before also go under the spotlight. Throughout all of the year, the nature table can reflect the changing seasons with use of different colors and decorations, and Jaffke offers specifics on that. Although this book is pretty small (only about 150 pages), so many ideas are contained within that I imagine I could refer to it many times and still not have put each idea into practice (leaving me eternal room for improvement, I'm sure).


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Online: Object of the Month
"Under the Commission of Massachusetts We Shall March Forward to the Mountain Plains of the Aztecs:" Recruiting Volunteers for the First Massachusetts Volunteer Regiment during the Mexican War
Images from the collections of the Massachusetts Historical Society. Not to be reproduced without permission.
The Sole New England Regiment
While there was wide enthusiasm for the Mexican War in Southern and Western states where the number of volunteers often exceeded state quotas, raising troops for the war proved challenging in New England. In the minds of many New Englanders, "President Polk's War" was inextricably tied to the expansion of slavery and could not be supported. The First Massachusetts Regiment of Volunteers for the War (often referred to formally or informally simply as the "Massachusetts Regiment of Volunteers") was the only unit recruited in New England between 1846 and 1848. While it was part of the national system of state volunteer regiments, the First Massachusetts was the brainchild of Caleb Cushing, a Massachusetts lawyer who saw military service in the war as a path to glory—and political advancement.
In spite of an inspiring speech to the Bay State legislature, alluding to the "mountain plains of the Aztecs," Caleb Cushing was unable to persuade the Commonwealth to appropriate funds for the unit that he planned to recruit and lead in battle. Cushing and his fellow officers struggled to fill the ranks of the regiment by appealing to the incipient nationalism of Irish immigrants. This recruiting poster, a recent addition to the collections of the Massachusetts Historical Society, is illustrated with a flag-waving eagle and an Irish harp with the inscription, "Erin Go Bragh." Although the First Massachusetts even recruited across the state border in New Hampshire, it remained understrength when it embarked for Mexico.
The service of the First Massachusetts Regiment was destined to be both inglorious and extremely costly. The Massachusetts men remained in rear-area garrison duty through most of the war, finally arriving in Mexico City after the fighting had ended, but they lost a third or more of their number to disease and desertion. Colonel Cushing was promoted out of the regiment soon after it reached Mexico, and while he paid some of its expenses out of his own pocket, the First Massachusetts became known for its undisciplined behavior and motley appearance.
Who Was Caleb Cushing?
A forty-six-year-old lawyer from Newburyport, Massachusetts, Caleb Cushing saw the active command of troops in the Mexican War as a way to advance his political career on the national stage. He had previously served in the Massachusetts legislature and the United States Congress, and had been the United States minister to China from 1843 to 1845, but his only previous military service had been as a legal officer in the state militia. Cushing's fellow officers elected him to be the commander of the Massachusetts volunteers, but only by a single vote. He already had been promised a commission as brigadier general in the United States volunteers, so his time with the regiment was limited. When the First Massachusetts straggled back to Boston in July 1848, many of the survivors blamed Cushing for their suffering. Ironically, in 1847 Cushing had run for governor of Massachusetts from Mexico with the campaign slogan, "Cushing, a well-fed soldiery, — our country against the world!" His own men hissed him when he rose to speak at a banquet held in their honor.
Perhaps in spite of his war service rather than because of it, Caleb Cushing was elected mayor of his hometown of Newburyport and appointed to the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court. He later served as attorney general of the United States, as counsel for the United States before the Geneva Arbitration Commission, and as minister to Spain until a short time before his death in 1879.
Who Was Isaac Hull Wright?
Born in Boston in 1814, Isaac Wright had been a state senator, a Democratic Party newspaper publisher and militia officer before raising a company of Irish immigrant volunteers from Boston for service in the First Massachusetts Regiment. Wright was elected lieutenant colonel, and after Caleb Cushing's promotion, became the regimental commander. Colonel Wright seems to have retained the loyalty of his men in spite of the enormous number of noncombat casualties they suffered. After the war, he became the naval agent for Boston under both Whig and Democratic presidents, and remained active in militia affairs until the Civil War when, because of his political opposition to that war, he studied and then practiced law, rather than returning to military service. He was a Boston street commissioner at the time of his death in 1886.
Some Notable Members of a Forgotten Regiment
General Cushing and Colonel Wright were not the only politically connected figures to serve in the First Massachusetts Volunteers. Edward Webster, the younger son of Senator Daniel Webster, was elected a company commander and later promoted to the rank of major, although his father and older brother Fletcher maneuvered unsuccessfully to get him command of the regiment. In February 1848, Senator Webster, whose daughter Julia Webster Appleton was dying of consumption at home in Massachusetts, received news of his son's death from typhoid fever in Mexico the same day that he heard the news of the treaty ending the increasingly unpopular war. Julia Appleton mourned her brother's death and the terrible cost of the war in a letter to her father: "… I feel nothing but that my brother in the flower of his youth was a useless sacrifice—to what? —ambition & vainglory."
Further Reading
Foos, Paul W. A Short, Offhand, Killing Affair: Soldiers and Social Conflict during the Mexican-American War. Chapel Hill: University of North Carolina Press, 2002.
Fuess, Claude M. The Life of Caleb Cushing. (2 vols.). New York: Harcourt, Brace and Company, 1923.
Johannsen, Robert W. To the Halls of the Montezumas: The Mexican War in the American Imagination. New York: Oxford, 1985.
Johnson, Tyler V. Devotion to the Adopted Country: U. S. Immigrant Volunteers in the Mexican War. Columbia: University of Missouri Press, 2012.
Merk, Frederick. "Dissent in the Mexican War," in Dissent in Three American Wars. Cambridge: Harvard University Press, 1970. 33-63.
Smith, George W. and Judah, Charles B. Chronicles of the Gringos: the U. S. Army in the Mexican War, 1846-1848: Accounts of Eyewitnesses and Combatants. Albuquerque: University of New Mexico Press, 1968.
For letters from Major Edward Webster, serving with the First Massachusetts in Mexico, and his sister, Julia Webster Appleton, to their father, Senator Daniel Webster, see:
Webster, Daniel. The Papers of Daniel Webster. Correspondence, Volume 6, 1844-1849. Hanover, New Hampshire: University Press of New England, 1984.
Manuscript Sources
The Massachusetts Historical Society holds the personal papers of Benjamin Kendall Andrews. Andrews, a former coachman for John Quincy Adams, enlisted as a private in the First Massachusetts Volunteers and quickly became an officer. As regimental adjutant, Andrews kept official records that are interspersed with more revealing personal letters to a brother at home in Boston.
The Dwight family papers contain information relating to the service of Aaron Dwight Stevens. A teenager from Connecticut who ran away from home to join the regiment, Stevens would gain fame and notoriety as one of abolitionist John Brown's principal lieutenants in Kansas and at Harper's Ferry.
The Beinecke Library at Yale University holds a collection of Mexican War Records from the First Massachusetts Regiment, Company B.