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Technical Problem With This Chapter?
Author: Antonia East
Part: 1: Friend or Foe?
Rating: Young Teens
Setting: Pre-HBP
Status: WIP
Reviews: 9
Words: 4,194
Updated: August 15, 2004, 6:35pm
1: Friend or Foe?
James's stomach gave a lurch as he ran through the barrier to platform nine and three-quarters for the very first time. There it was, the famous Hogwarts Express, the same red steam engine that had taken members of the Potter family to school for over a century. The platform was a riot of excited, though at times rather tearful, students and their parents; the air rang with the sound of raised voices, mewling cats, croaking toads and hooting owls. Above that could be heard the wails of demonstrative mothers, lamenting the imminent departure of their little darlings; James felt very sorry for the small mousy-haired boy whose mother was sobbing dramatically on his shoulder. He was glad that his mother would not resort to such hysterics.
He turned to the barrier; his mother and father were walking towards him through the crowd, his father pushing the cart with James's trunk and owl before him. James looked at the large clock that hung above the platform. It was ten to eleven. In ten minutes the train would be leaving for Hogwarts, with him on board. For as long as he could remember, James had been awaiting this moment. His name had been on the list from the day he was born (no Potter had ever been a Squib), and the anticipation had reached fever pitch when he'd finally received his letter. In fact, he'd destroyed a lot of the spacious kitchen in his euphoria. Luckily, Ketterleigh Castle (in Muggle terms, a rather run down yet architecturally interesting National Trust building visited by bus loads of pensioners; in Wizarding terms, the ancestral seat of one of the oldest, richest and most prestigious wizarding families), had been constructed with much more than bricks and mortar, and he had not inflicted any lasting damage.
During the subsequent trip to Diagon Alley to collect his school things, James's mother had threatened to Floo him straight back home if he didn't calm down, so excited was he at the prospect of his new robes, potion ingredients, books, owl and, best of all, his wand. He felt for it in his pocket now, just to check that he had it. Mahogany, 11 inches, pliable. Mr Ollivander had said it was good for Transfiguration. James hoped so.
He hadn't really thought about his lessons, other than the amazing tricks he'd be able to learn. He didn't know whether he'd be good or not. He'd better be good, he thought resolutely. He wanted to be a talented wizard, as both his parents were. As his father returned from hoisting his luggage onto the train, panic briefly welled up in James' chest. What if he was hopeless? What if he didn't make any friends? What if (horror of horrors) he wasn't sorted into Gryffindor, where his parents and a long line of Potters had been? Then, James's natural confidence reasserted itself. He was James Potter; he was not going to be hopeless. For the same reason, there would be plenty of people wanting to be friends with him, and just let them try to put him anywhere but Gryffindor.
Five minutes to eleven. The witch nearby was crying even more violently on her dazed, and now rather damp, son. James's mother pulled him into a hug, which he wriggled out of after an acceptable amount of time had passed. He was proud of her for not crying, though.
"Goodbye, dear," she said. "You'll have a wonderful time; everybody does at Hogwarts."
"Do try to do a bit of work, though," added his father, a twinkle in his eye. James had loved hearing tales of his father's trouble-making days at school. He, however, was going to do even better.
"And remember to be nice to your cousin, and to wear clean socks, and comb you hair," his mother's lip was trembling. James recognised the danger and hoped she wasn't about to cry.
James tried not to look too eager as his father clapped him on the shoulder, and he accepted his mother's kiss with good grace. He headed towards the train. Once more the rush of panic rose in his chest, and he turned back to his parents; for once in his life he felt hesitant and unsure. They were watching him, his father's arm round his mother's waist.
James Potter squared his shoulders, and boarded the train.
When he got to the free compartment where his father had stowed his trunk, James wasn't entirely sure what to do. He gazed out of the window, and waved enthusiastically at his parents, who were standing with the Walkers, and who had noticed him. His mother's eyes were red now. They beamed and waved back. James then thought it might be considered unmanly to be waving from the train, and shrank back out of view. He reached up to the luggage rack, and pulled from his trunk a bag which he had packed himself. The house-elf had done the rest. He was jolted back down into his seat, as the train suddenly started moving. Turning his head, he caught a last glimpse of his parents as the Hogwarts Express whooshed away from the platform. He was off.
Just then, the door opened. A tall, dark-haired girl stalked in, followed by an equally tall, blonde boy, who had held the door open for her. They looked very grown up. Both were already dressed in school robes, and both, James noticed, wore the green and silver colours of Slytherin House. Both also had silver badges with a P on them fastened over their chests.
"You're a first-year." It was not a question. The girl's voice was clear and authoritative. Both the boy and girl were eyeing him, taking in his good-quality clothes, the bulging moneybag at his belt, the monogrammed trunk on the rack, and the glinting cage which housed his large, sleek owl, Archimedes. James decided that if they were wearing Slytherin robes then he didn't like them.
"Brilliant, we're first-years, too. I'm Sirius, and this is my cousin Narcissa." The rushed and enthusiastic voice startled James. For the first time, he noticed the two younger children standing behind the Slytherin prefects. Both were tall for their age. The boy was dark-haired, the girl blonde, but they had the same grey eyes that gave the curious impression of being both light and dark. Like the older students, they had a natural air of elegance and insolence, although the boy who had introduced himself as Sirius had marred the effect by bouncing on the balls of his feet.
"Shut up!" snapped the girl who had spoken before,
"What's your name?" asked the tall boy, speaking for the first time. His voice was drawling and languid.
"James Potter," James answered, a hint of aggression in his tone. He was not sure why he felt the need to defend himself, but he did. His name obviously meant something to the four people before him, yet their reaction wasn't the usual one he got from members of the wizarding community. The elder girl looked disappointed and disapproving. The elder boy had drawn his face into a contemptuous sneer, as though he could smell something disgusting in the compartment. The younger girl drew herself up, and eyed him coldly, her expression one of disdain. However, the bouncing boy's face contained a mixture of excitement and defiance.
"Another of the prestigious Potter line," the sneering boy commented in his mocking voice. James bristled. The older children exchanged a glance.
"A pity," murmured the girl, still eyeing James almost hungrily. As one, the Slytherins made to leave the compartment. The girl turned to follow. The younger boy did not move.
"Come, Sirius." commanded the girl. Sirius was glowering, his chin stuck out.
"I think I'll stay here, thanks, Bella," he said in a decided tone. His expression was mutinous. Bella's eyes seemed to flash. For a second, James thought she was attempting wandless magic. But then, she spoke in a collected voice that was as firm as Sirius's had been.
"You are coming with us."
"No, I'm not!"
"He can stay here if he likes!" James jumped up, and glared at the girl.
"Keep out of matters that do not concern you, Potter," the sneering boy said in a smooth voice. "Sirius, you should know that it is only acceptable to mix with certain families." James felt the contempt radiating from him. "Your cousin and I are merely acting for your own good by keeping you away from the wrong sort."
"Why can't I decide for myself which are the wrong sort?" Sirius demanded. "Andromeda does."
"You would associate with a Potter, and tarnish the reputation of the House of Black?" screamed Bella, her eyes wide with rage. The mention of Andromeda, whoever she was, seemed to have unhinged her.
James understood. They were Blacks, a pureblood family as old and rich as the Potters. His father had told him about them. They were obsessed with blood, he'd explained, believing that magical blood should be kept pure by not marrying Muggles or Muggle-borns. They were always members of Slytherin House, just as the Potters were normally sorted into Gryffindor, and the rivalry was extended out of school. It was no longer a mystery why they had reacted to his name like that. There was a look of shame and hatred on the younger boy's face. James found the fact that he was so ashamed to have tried to be friends with a Potter rather insulting. But then again, the boy was a Black.
The younger boy opened his mouth to say something, but before any words came out, a wand was pointing at his chest.
"Come along, Sirius," the blonde boy said with a smirk on his face, using his wand to push Sirius towards the door. Bella stalked out of the compartment, closely followed by Narcissa, who copied the elder girl's way of walking. The boys followed, Sirius still showing signs of unwillingness.
"D'you mind if we sit here?" The compartment door had not been long shut before it was opened again, and two boys entered. James eyed them with interest.
"Go ahead," he said, glad to have some company. "I'm James Potter." Maybe it was better to warn them.
"A Potter!" one of them squeaked in awe. James recognised the chubby boy from the platform; he still had the damp traces of tears on the shoulder of his jumper. The other boy was taller and thinner. He looked rather sickly, but had only reacted with mild interest when James had introduced himself. Perhaps he was Muggle-born.
"I'm Remus Lupin," said the boy, sitting down on a seat opposite James. "And this is Peter Pettigrew." The plump boy still seemed rather awestruck, but smiled shyly at James. He, too, sat down, and James was just about to ask whether either of them supported Quidditch when the door burst open.
"Ha! I escaped!" The boy from before was breathless, but triumphant. "Sorry about that," he said, turning to James. "Bellatrix and Malfoy" (his eyes narrowed) "are seriously evil." James grinned at him. He might be a Black, but he didn't seem to like the others very much, and he looked like fun.
"Shall we start again?" he asked, standing up and holding out his hand in mock formality. "James Potter, pleased to meet you."
"Sirius Black," said the other boy, seizing James' hand and shaking it violently. "Very pleased to be away from that lot."
As if to prove it, he flung himself into the seat beside James. Remus and Peter introduced themselves, and Sirius insisted on shaking their hands too.
"So..." Sirius said, after Peter had been released and had sunk back down into his seat, massaging his right hand. "Do any of you like Quidditch?"
James and Sirius' discussion of the Falmouth Falcon's Beaters ended only by the arrival of the witch who sold sweets up and down the train.
"Anything off the trolley, dears?" she asked, beaming at them.
James and Sirius leapt up eagerly, each producing bulging moneybags. Remus' pale cheeks turned slightly pinker as he muttered something about having eaten a large breakfast, while Peter looked sadly from his handful of Knuts to the large range of sweets available. Once James and Sirius had made their selections, however, the trolley appeared considerably emptier. James saw Peter staring at his mountainous pile of sweets.
"Help yourself," he said, through a mouthful of pumpkin pasty. Next to him, Sirius nodded, his mouth too stuffed with the three cauldron cakes he'd managed to fit in at once to say anything intelligible. Peter cautiously reached for a chocolate frog, and after a few nibbles gathered momentum, eating more and more. A minute later, the effects of Remus' large breakfast seemed to wear off, and soon a contented silence descended on the carriage.
A dark head poked cautiously through the door.
James took in the greasy, long hair, sallow skin, hooked nose and bad-tempered expression with increasing dislike.
Sirius made a mammoth effort, and swallowed.
"Get lost, Snape." he said, thickly.
The head didn't move.
"He told you to get lost," James said, annoyed.
"Sirius, Bella says you've got to come back, or she'll report you to your mother."
Sirius ignored the boy, who looked to be a first-year, too, and continued to eat, mechanically, stuffing food into his mouth so that he could not answer.
"She'll send Lucius in to hex you again." The face sneered in imitation of the blonde Slytherin boy. Sirius unwrapped a chocolate frog. Peter looked rather afraid, while Remus was watching the greasy-haired boy with disdain.
"Or we could hex you. Now," James replied, deciding he really did not like this boy. The boy laughed maliciously.
"I'd like to see you try, Potter!"
Sirius' mouth had stopped chewing. James turned to the others.
"Which one shall I try?" he asked. He was standing up now, and had pulled his wand from his pocket. Behind his back he reached into the bag he had taken from his trunk earlier.
"I don't know." Remus pretended to be thinking hard. "There are several quite nasty ones."
"You don't know any hexes," the boy jeered. James thought he looked rather worried, though.
"Oh, don't I?" He swished his wand in the boy's direction, at the same time hurling an exploding firecracker at him, so that it blew up in the boy's startled face.
"He's hexed me, Potter's hexed me!" wailed the boy, and they heard him running off down the train.
Sirius' hand had dropped to his side, holding a half eaten pumpkin pasty.
"Good riddance." piped up Peter.
"Who was he, anyway?" asked Remus.
"Severus Snape," Sirius answered. "He's one of the right sort, according to my family." His voice was heavy with contempt.
"Looked a right wimp to me," James said. "He was crying like a baby."
Suddenly, a blissful expression crossed Sirius's face. "Snivellus," he breathed.
As the four of them got off the boats which had carried them across the lake, James began to feel nervous. The view of the castle had been breathtaking. He couldn't believe that he was here at last. The rest of the journey had passed without further incident. On descending from the train, he, Remus and Sirius had been delighted, and Peter rather unnerved, to be met by a huge giant of a man, who'd grinned at them cheerily. He had made three friends, and he thought, smirking at Snape, had found someone to be the target of his pranks. Sirius, it seemed, also planned to wreak havoc at Hogwarts, and James was sure that they could cause some serious mischief together. But first, the sorting was coming up, and he had to be put in Gryffindor.
"If I get put into Slytherin, I'm going home," he whispered to Sirius.
"Almost my entire family's in Slytherin," Sirius muttered. Around them, many of the first years look terrified, Peter included. James nodded to his distant cousin Alice, a round-faced blonde, who was biting her lip so hard that she'd drawn blood, while the girl next to her chewed at her pigtail. Another group of boys were talking in half-horrified, half-enthralled whispers of the gruelling tests that they would have to undergo, and a tall boy was pacing, as though unable to stand still. The stern-faced professor who had met them arranged them into alphabetical order, and, quaking, the line processed into the Great Hall.
There were gasps along the line as the new students entered the room. There were four house tables, and one staff table, all crammed with students and teachers. The ceiling was a stormy grey.
"It's enchanted to look like the sky outside," a girl further up the line informed them in a hushed voice.
James craned his neck to see who had spoken: the girl who had been chewing her flaming-red pigtails. The line advanced. A teacher appeared with a hat on a stool. James's parents had explained to him about the Sorting Hat, and he was rather disappointed by its bedraggled appearance. Suddenly a rip in the brim began to move.
"Over one thousand years ago, when my cloth was new…"
His parents hadn't told him that the hat sang. James listened, enthralled, and for a few seconds forgot about the imminent Sorting.
"Then Gryffindor enchanted me so I could help them see
In which of all four houses, a pupil ought to be.
For those who delight in labour were dearest to Hufflepuff,
Whereas for gallant Gryffindor, great courage was enough.
Ravenclaw liked intelligence, and those who loved to test,
But in the eyes of Slytherin, the ambitious were the best…"
The mention of Gryffindor made James feel huge pride in his family, who had proven themselves of "great courage," but also made him even more fearful that he would fall short of his family tradition. He decided that the Sorting Hat's song was incredibly stupid, and concentrated on looking suitably nonchalant.
"Alden, Rebecca" was the first name to be called. She shuffled up to the hat and pulled it over her head, where it fell down over her nose. There was a pause.
"Hufflepuff," the Hat announced, and the room exploded into applause, as Rebecca scuttled off to join her new house.
"Bassett, Terence" became a Ravenclaw, before "Black, Narcissa" was announced. The blonde girl who James had last seen marching off after Bella approached the stool. He glanced at the Slytherin table. Bella was staring at the pale girl intently.
Sirius watched Narcissa saunter up to the hat. Her air was deceptive; he knew how fervently she wanted to be in Slytherin. He knew without looking that Bellatrix was watching like a hawk. However, she didn't have long to wait. The hat had only come within an inch of Narcissa Black's head before it shouted "SLYTHERIN." Bellatrix's fond smile, as she proudly welcomed her little sister to the house table, made Sirius' stomach churn.
"Black, Sirius." Ice tingled down Sirius's spine. He pulled himself together. His cousin Andromeda had avoided being a Slytherin, to the fury of the family, so why shouldn't he? He stuck his chin out, and strode towards the hat, trying to ignore the warning look in Bella's eyes.
Sirius was walking up to the hat, face set. James held his breath. 'Please let him be in Gryffindor,' he willed.
The Hat descended around Sirius' eyes, surrounding him in darkness.
'Please let me be in Gryffindor,' he thought.
"Gryffindor, eh?" came a voice in his ear, making him jump. "Well, you're a Black, which would normally mean Slytherin, but there are exceptions."
'Not Slytherin; I'll go anywhere, but please not Slytherin.'
"Not Slytherin?" The voice sounded amused. "But you do have such a thirst to prove yourself. Ah, but you want to be different, you want to break away from your family. You possess great loyalty…"
'Not Hufflepuff!' Sirius thought in a panic. The Hat did laugh this time.
"No, Hufflepuff is not the place for you. GRYFFINDOR!"
Blank glances were exchanged around the hall; at their table the Slytherins looked menacing. Bellatrix's look could have melted the golden cutlery before her. The murmuring began. It took Sirius a moment to realise that clapping was coming from the centre of the staff table. More members of staff joined in, as did the Gryffindors, Hufflepuffs and Ravenclaws. A girl on the Ravenclaw table had stood up, and was cheering at the top of her voice, to the surprise of her friends. Sirius glanced gratefully at Andromeda, the only other Black since Uncle Alphard not to be sorted into Slytherin. The Slytherins remained silent, arms folded.
Bellatrix was livid, and Mother would probably never speak to him again, but he was in Gryffindor House. Sirius didn't care that the Gryffindors were also regarding him warily. He slid into a seat, legs shaking with relief, as "Boot, Richard," was sorted into Ravenclaw. He was a Gryffindor now, he thought happily, watching the sorting with interest, and clapping with enthusiasm when "Evans, Lily" joined their table.
James was clapping, too, even though the unsorted first years hadn't clapped any of the others. He'd better be in Gryffindor now, he thought.
Remus Lupin approached the front of the line. His parents were not of great consequence in the wizarding world, and he had grown up in a remote area. 'Which was because of me,' he thought, knowing that his father had given up a good position in the Ministry in order to lead the out-of-the-way existence they thought their son required. Still, he had read that all Blacks went into Slytherin, and all Potters into Gryffindor. Now that Sirius was in Gryffindor, he decided that was where he wanted to be. With his friends. He savoured the word. His secluded life so far hadn't included friends, or even siblings. Now he was at Hogwarts, a place he never thought he'd be, surrounded by people of his own age, amongst which three, he hoped, were going to be his friends. Longbottom, Frank was walking proudly to the Gryffindor table. Remus felt a pang of jealousy. He approached the hat.
"Ah, now where shall we put you? Slytherin is probably where a werewolf would find most acceptance. No, I can tell you don't like that. Eager to work hard, and lots of talent. Ravenclaw would help you with that."
Remus focused his thoughts on Gryffindor.
"Yes, Gryffindor. There's no need to show me, I already know. Yes, I think perhaps, that would be best."
Applause broke out.
"I bet they don't have anywhere for me." Peter whispered to himself as he shuffled gloomily forward, as "McKinnon, Marlene" became a Gryffindor. Sirius and Remus were already in Gryffindor, and James was bound to get in. But it was a surprise he was at Hogwarts at all; even now he had shown only a few signs of magical abilities. The line of students in front of him diminished.
"Pettigrew, Peter"
He heard James wish him luck behind him, before making his way up the hall, and pulling the hat on.
'Go on, tell me I'm not good enough,' he muttered. The voice made him jump.
"All are good enough; each has a place, Mr Pettigrew. Let me see…"
'Bet I'm in Hufflepuff.'
"No, you do not have the qualities for Hufflepuff."
Peter felt put out. He thought Hufflepuff was the one where all the leftovers were put. If he couldn't even get in there…
"You might do quite well in Slytherin…"
Slytherin! He thought of the mean looking students on the Slytherin table. They'd eat him for lunch.
"No? Well, I'm afraid it's not going to be Ravenclaw. Better be GRYFFINDOR."
In a daze, Peter walked toward the table, remembering to remove the hat after a few steps. Gryffindor. He was in Gryffindor, the bravest house! He couldn't wait to tell his mother.
James stared. He hadn't really expected Peter to become a Gryffindor. In that case, he should be all right. He walked forward, all of a sudden feeling very conscious of his limbs. Sirius, Remus and Peter were smiling at him with easy confidence from the Gryffindor table. He fervently wished he were joining them already. He sat down, the hat in place.
"A Potter. It doesn't seem long since I Sorted your father. He had the same concerns you do. But there is no need to worry; you are a typical Potter and a true GRYFFINDOR."
Well, he couldn't imagine why some people got so worked up about the Sorting. He glanced at the trembling line of students yet to be Sorted and shook his head indulgently, beaming as he sat down and was clapped on the back by Sirius, and congratulated by his new housemates.
They watched as the Sorting continued, getting ever hungrier, booing when "Snape, Severus" became a Slytherin, and cheering as "Walker, Alice" became the last new Gryffindor.
The Headmaster stood up. Albus Dumbledore, the best thing that's happened to Hogwarts in a long time, as James's father described him, thankfully kept his speech down to five words.
"Welcome to Hogwarts. Tuck in."
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I initially installed Ubuntu 11.04 and used KMail for my email. All well and good.
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For 2009, BMW X5 gets some changes in nomenclature that has no bearing on the vehicles themselves. All three X5 models officially add xDrive to the name, reflecting the marketing label for BMW's fulltime all-wheel drive system, which was already standard equipment. For example, the entry model is now called the BMW X5 xDrive30i, while the V8 model is called the xDrive48i. Hey, don't blame us, we are merely the messengers here.
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The X5 emphasizes the sport half of the sport-utility equation, even with the diesel engine. While it offers more utility than ever, it comes up short in cargo-passenger flexibility compared to many luxury SUVs. As opposed to hauling acres of equipment and gear, the X5 provides the equipment enthusiast drivers expect when they want to enjoy the art of driving as much as they're able. Just plan to travel light.
All three X5 engines deliver plenty of usable torque for good acceleration. The gasoline engines also feature turbine-like smoothness. The 4.8-liter V8 in the xDrive48i is the chest-beater, but the inline six-cylinder in the xDrive30i still delivers the kind of response we expect in a sports sedan, and it shouldn't leave owners pining for the V8.
The X5 is styled in obvious BMW fashion, only taller, with traditional Bimmer cues like the twin-kidney grille and dual-beam headlight clusters. Inside, it offers plenty of room for five, with a nice, rich finish and nearly all the bells and whistles one expects in a high-line luxury sedan. The back seat is more than roomy enough for two adults, three in a pinch, and there's enough cargo space in back for a two-day family outing. The X5 can expand to seven-passenger capacity with an optional third-row seat, but that third seat won't look particularly inviting to anyone asked to ride in it, and it wipes out the cargo space.
The X5 is not a traditional SUV. BMW shuns the SUV tag entirely, describing the X5 with it own copyrighted label: Sport Activity Vehicle, or SAV. With all seats lowered for maximum cargo capacity, it offers less space than do most competitors, from Acura to Volvo. The gas-powered models aren't class leaders in fuel economy. And Sport in the X5 context does not mean off-road capability. The xDrive all-wheel-drive system was developed for slippery roads and sporty driving characteristics rather than sand dunes and rutted hillsides. Indeed, the X5's strength is its ability to get down the road in the step-on-the gas, shove-through-corners fashion of a genuine sports sedan.
Yet the X5 can tow a substantial 6,000 pounds, and the all-wheel-drive can be a great friend in a blizzard. Those sound like the credentials of an SUV.
The X5 gets high marks for safety. It performs well in both government and insurance industry crash tests, and it has been designated one of the Top Safety Picks by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.
Model LineupBMW X5 xDrive30i ($47,500); xDrive 35d ($51,200) xDrive 48i ($56,200)
Walk Around
The X5 sport-utility vehicle is BMW through and through. On the road, that means an emphasis on sporty driving dynamics, even if it comes at the expense of utility. Sitting still, it means the X5 looks like a taller, ganglier BMW sedan. The diesel-powered X5 xDrive35d, new for 2009, looks the same as its gasoline-powered siblings from its twin-kidney grille to the clamshell hatch in back.
There's no mistaking the X5's classic BMW look. It starts in front, with that trademark grille and familiar dual-dual lamp clusters. Super-bright adaptive xenon headlights come standard. On the X5, they're ringed with LED circles that serve as the daytime running lights (and look really cool). These headlights level themselves when the X5 bounces over bumps, and turn slightly with the steering wheel. The standard fog lights also work as cornering lamps, lighting when the corresponding directional signal is selected.
In profile, the X5's big wheels and short overhangs promote an agile look, while the roof and taillights trail into a slightly flanged lip. These so-called separation edges smooth air as it rushes over the back of the vehicle. That means a slight improvement in fuel economy, and probably more significantly, less wind noise inside the X5.
Indeed, with a drag coefficient of 0.34, the X5 is an aerodynamically efficient vehicle, as tall, boxy SUVs go. Its underbody is smoothed with various fairing devices. The front spoiler directs air around the front tires, reducing resistance as the X5 punches a substantial hole in the air.
BMW tried to increase the X5's utility when it redesigned it for 2007, stretching it seven inches to add rear legroom and cargo space. By wheelbase and overall length, the X5 now sits mid-pack among key competitors: Slightly larger than the Acura MDX, Land Rover LR2, Mercedes M-Class and Volvo XC90, and quite a bit smaller than the Audi Q7, Cadillac SRX, and Lexus GX470.
The clamshell tailgate is a mixed bag, in our view. The lower third drops down, once the upper portion has been lifted up. On the plus side, the split design is handy for dropping smaller packages in the back. The little tailgate keeps items from falling out when you open the hatch, which can be a problem on some SUVs with a single liftgate, and it provides a nice (though high) bench for changing shoes or just resting a moment. The problem is that the upper portion includes not only the glass, but also half the metal that comprises the rear of the vehicle. In other words, it's the heavier, more substantial portion of the gate. It takes more effort to operate than it would if only the glass opened up and down. The optional power tailgate helps in this respect, and we recommend getting it.
The X5 cabin has typical BMW ambience: a combination of sporting, character, wood-trimmed luxury and lots of things to adjust.
Nothing inside the X5 makes it feel like an SUV, beyond its relatively high seating position. Measured by overall fit and finish, the X5 compares favorably to luxury brands such as Infiniti and Mercedes.
Panels and pieces inside the X5 fit impeccably. Most surfaces have a rich feel, and the seats are perforated to enable the active ventilation option. Every X5 is available with one of three wood-trim packages: dark-stained bamboo (almost black), dark-stained poplar (the most traditional), and light-stained poplar (essentially blond). The vinyl dash and door panels in our test X5 were a single, dark tone, rather than the two-step dark/light treatment increasingly common in BMWs and European brands in general. We liked the overall appearance, though the monotone creates a serious, no-frills feeling.
The front seats are excellent: comfortable and exceptionally supportive, once they're tailored to whoever is sitting on them. The optional Comfort Seats have a lot of side bolstering for this type of vehicle, and that's a double-edge sword. It's great for drivers about to take a spirited run through the canyon, but less so for passengers, and particularly the elderly, who have to climb up into the X5 and then slide over the bolsters into a front seat. Seat adjustment comes via BMW's usual extensive array of controls, including double-hinged, articulated seat backs and various bolsters that can be squeezed or pumped up. They all work well, but there are so many that fine tuning takes time and some trial and error. The memory feature, which comes standard, is handy once the driver has found a comfortable position. It can take a while.
The dashboard applies a taller variant of BMW's stepped or stacked design, and it looks tidy in the X5. It certainly isn't cluttered, as it can be in some vehicles in this class, thanks partly to BMW's point-and-click iDrive control. Now going on a decade after its introduction, we still don't care for the iDrive user interface, though we've talked to BMW owners who have mastered it and like it. From the aesthetic perspective, we like the dash layout. We also like BMW's elongated navigation screen, which sits high in the center of dash. It allows you to keep the map showing on the right third of the screen, regardless of what's displayed on the primary portion.
Measured by its ergonomic packaging, the X5 is very good. Forward visibility is excellent; armrest height and window-switch placement are just as we like them. Everything, including the mirrors, can be adjusted with the driver in driving position, meaning back against the seat rather than leaned forward to reach a switch or the rearview. The switches generally have a nice, precise feel.
Our only gripe with the packaging relates to the fat rear roof pillars. They limit visibility just behind the vehicle, and demand an extra dose of caution when the X5 is backing up. The available rearview camera helps, and we recommend it, though we found the camera is slow to turn off once you've started forward again.
One of the best things about the iDrive-equipped X5 is that it has conventional switches for temperature adjustment, fan speed and airflow, and for some audio functions, with a genuine volume control. In other words, you can make these frequent adjustments easily without fishing through i-Drive. There are also phone and redundant audio controls on the steering wheel spokes. Cruise-control functions are located on a third stalk on the steering column, with wipers on the conventional, right stalk and a trip computer button on the left, turn-signal stalk. We find BMW's electronic turn signals among the most cumbersome in any luxury brand, to the point where you're tempted to do the wrong thing and switch lanes without using them.
The iDrive is the computer interface that manages nearly every system in the X5. The master control is a big aluminum knob on the center console between the seats, easy to locate from the driver's seat without a glance. The driver (or preferably the front passenger) turns and presses the knob to wade through menus and sub-menus on the display screen, and finally set whatever needs to be adjusted. BMW has tried to simplify iDrive over the years (primarily by adding more shortcut buttons), but we've never grown to like it. More accurately, we've become resigned to its existence.
Unfortunately, there are still too many things you can't adjust without delving into the iDrive menus. Audio tone, for example. The optional premium stereo sounds fantastic, but we were discouraged from taking full advantage of its sound processing features because of the tedious, distracting i-Drive sequence required to set them. Those who frequently switch between talk radio and music may find this inconvenient.
The center console is wide, almost massive. Besides the iDrive controls, it sprouts BMW's video-game-style, electronic gear selector and a hand brake. A sliding plastic blind exposes an ashtray and the cupholders. Those cupholders aren't terribly deep, though they do have little tension devices that snug around the bottom of a cup. The console box opens down the middle, clamshell style, and it measures about six-by-six-by-ten inches, lined with a rubber mat. Its houses a power point and headphone-type auxiliary jack.
Storage options inside the X5 are fair: Much better than the typical European vehicle a few years ago, but not up to the best in this class. The glovebox opens with a remote switch in the center stack, closer to the driver, and it's large enough to hold small items beyond the extra-thick portfolio for owner's documents. The door bins are molded into the door panels, and split into two compartments. They're wide and deep, so anything you put here is likely to stay when you open or slam the door, and lined with rubber so contents aren't prone to sliding and making noise.
When BMW stretched the X5 seven inches (starting with the 2007 models), it did wonders for rear passenger room. Space is now competitive with the roomiest mid-sized luxury SUVs. A five-foot, nine-inch rear passenger has inches of headroom to spare, and enough legroom to stretch feet up under the front seat (assuming the driver is six feet or less). There's a reasonable array of accoutrements for rear passengers, too, including vents, a power point and small storage bin on the back of the center console. There's also temperature control and a fan switch on models so equipped. The dropdown center rear armrest offers no cupholders or storage, but it reveals the optional, locking pass-through port for long items such as skis or fly rods.
Cargo space still ranks at or near the bottom of the class. There is nearly 22 cubic feet for stuff behind the second seat: about the same as the trunk in a large sedan, though the space is tipped up on its end, with a much smaller load floor. Adding the optional third-row seat expands passenger capacity to seven, but it also eliminates most of that cargo space. BMW claims adults up to five-feet, four-inches tall will be comfortable in the third row, though we can't verify that from experience.
A standard cargo blind opens and retracts over the carpeted area behind the second seat, which features several tie-down points and a rail system that accommodates slide-out accessories offered by BMW dealers. The rear seat backs fold forward easily, but not completely flat, so there a slight change in the angle of the load floor created. The bottom cushion for the rear seats can be removed completely, as a single piece. That levels the load floor, but then you have to find a place for the seat bottom.
Even with cargo space maximized, the X5 offers less capacity than most competitors. With 75.2 cubic feet available, the X5 is surpassed by the Acura MDX (83.5), the Volvo XC90 (93.2) and a host of others. There is some additional storage under the X5's load floor, enough for a tool kit or a six pack, in the bin with the temporary spare.
Driving Impressions
On the road, the BMW X5 comes closer in character to a well-tuned (if large) sedan than all but a few of the sport-utility or crossover vehicles currently available. The X5 is a heavy vehicle, but it can get down the road with more alacrity than the typical SUV. That even applies the diesel-powered X5 35d, which is new for 2009.
The 4.8-liter V8 in the X5 48i delivers 350 horsepower and 350 pound feet of torque. The inline six-cylinder in the X5 30i produces 260 horsepower and 220 pound-feet. Both engines are matched to an efficient six-speed automatic transmission.
The X5 48i we tested was extremely quick to take off, in spite of its substantial 5,300-pound curb weight, with torque coming in a smooth, steady wave. You won't find an engine that delivers its power more evenly than BMW's V8. Acceleration builds quickly when you step on the gas, regardless of how fast you're already going, but it's never rough or intrusive. Deep dips on the gas pedal generate a distant growl that reminds a driver of the capability under the hood, but the growl doesn't intrude on conversations or create more vibration inside the X5. The 48i V8 makes the X5 as smooth as any luxury SUV for freeway travel, and quieter than many.
The V8 makes the X5 feel quicker than competitors such as the Lexus RX or LX or Audi Q7. We'd wager that it's the quickest vehicle in the class, with the exception of the Porsche Cayenne S and Turbo models. The X5's speed is emphasized by its quick-reacting gas pedal, which is tuned for pavement driving, while those in many competitors have more pedal travel for more precise modulation off road. Some drivers may find the X5's sensitive throttle annoying during a stop-and-go commute after a long, stressful day.
The X5 30i isn't as absolutely quick as the 48i, but its inline six-cylinder engine feels just as responsive. In some respects it feels lighter, perhaps more spry, than the big V8. BMW's inline-6 is almost as smooth as the V8, with even power across its rev range, and in typical driving it doesn't leave us craving more power.
The EPA rates the X5 48i at 14/19 mpg City/Highway, though we haven't done that well in different tests over varying circumstances. The 30i improves to an EPA-rated 15/21 mpg City/Highway, but you can still do much better with sedans that deliver comparable acceleration. By the official ratings, you can also find better mileage in comparably sized SUVs and crossovers, including BMW's new diesel X5.
The 35d has an ultra-high tech, 3.0-liter inline six-cylinder diesel engine, with features such as all-aluminum construction, high-pressure direct fuel injection, and a turbocharging system that employs both a small and larger turbocharger for optimum response at low and higher speeds. It's eligible for a federal tax credit for extra efficient cars (up to $1,550, depending on the model), and it actually produces fewer exhaust emissions than many gasoline engines. It also generates less carbon dioxide.
Fuel economy ratings for the X5 35d are an EPA-estimated 19 City, 26 Highway, which is nearly 20 percent higher than the gasoline-powered, six-cylinder X5 30i. The current price of diesel fuel (15 to 20 percent higher than gasoline) limits any reduction in operating cost, however.
The 35d diesel engine provides a lot of power: 265 horsepower, with a whopping 425 pound-feet of torque. There's so much torque, even a casual jab at the gas pedal can squawk tires pulling away from a stop sign. (Torque is that force that you feel when accelerating). Once a driver gets used to the throttle, however, the 35d can really haul. It's substantially quicker to 60 mph than the gasoline X5 30i, and not much slower than the V8-powered X5 48i, despite the substantial improvement in fuel economy. In short bursts of say 100 ft, the 35d will accelerate more quickly than just about any vehicle of its size. And it has none of the smoky, oily, stinky quality that old-time diesels might condition buyers to expect. The same diesel engine has been introduced in BMW's 3 Series sport sedan, but we like it better in the X5. That's partly because it better suits the X5's bigger, heftier character, and partly because the diesel's shortcomings seem less prominent in the X5.
The diesel engine clatters a bit when idling, especially when it's cold. It's louder and rougher in general than the X5 gasoline engines, and also some of the other new-age diesels from Mercedes-Benz and Audi. It requires urea to meet 50-state emissions standards. This ammonia-like substance is stored in an onboard reservoir, much like windshield washer fluid, and the urea tank is more than large enough to be filled only at typical oil change intervals. Still, if the tank runs dry the X5 35d won't restart until it's replenished with urea.
Handling is impressive given the mass of this SUV. The X5's front suspension breaks with BMW's 45-year tradition of familiar strut design by adding an extra pivot point in the lower control arms. This change is significant to the typical buyer because it plays to the X5's stock-in-trade among luxury SUVs: its exceptional on-road driving dynamics.
How exceptional? On familiar, low-traffic stretches of curving roadway, we can get the typical SUV right up to the point where its tires will lose consistent grip and its mass is ready to slide. We couldn't safely get near the limits of the X5 on public roads because its limits come at speeds far too high for public welfare. It will handle bends that leave Lexus SUVs plowing like tractors, or where the Mercedes ML and Volvo XC90 are leaning toward the outside of the curve like used-up Marathon taxis. The optional 19-inch wheels and high-performance tires grip pavement tenaciously, and the level of stick seems more impressive given the high seating position of the driver. The X5 is a sport-utility for Germany's famed Nurburgring racing circuit, and we suspect BMW engineers spent a lot of time on the Nurburgring tuning it.
In short, the X5 lives up to BMW's well-earned reputation for great handling vehicles. Its on-pavement potential exceeds whatever the vast majority of drivers are likely to exploit, and its strength might be the very reason some buyers should consider a slightly less capable competitor. The emphasis on performance is the source of the X5's compromises as daily transportation.
The X5 features full-time all-wheel drive, but it has no low range and rides closer to the ground than many SUVs. Its AWD system usually sends most of the engine's torque to the rear wheels, promoting the sporty driving feel. It can shift engine power almost instantaneously, and it's a valuable aid in a snow storm or on sloppy pavement. But we'd keep the X5 on the road or at worst on gravel or smooth dirt roads.
Ride quality is firm. It's not obtrusively stiff, in our view, but certainly stiffer than competitors, and probably less comfortable than many buyers want for the handling payoff. The standard steering is heavy at low speeds, surprisingly so. Factor in the sensitive gas pedal, and you might end up with more aggravation than a hockey dad or soccer mom needs.
It's almost as if BMW has gone overboard trying to turn a tall, heavy SUV into a sporting, exhilarating BMW. This BMW-building process seems to take a bigger toll than it does in a sedan, measured by how the improved dynamics detract from the X5's performance in the daily tasks most drivers undertake. Put another way, the X5 may lack the integrity of the typical BMW sedan. In this vehicle, the various bits that add up to sporting driving dynamics seem to be just that: bits, somewhat disjointed, without the holistic, organic quality that characterizes a 3 Series or 5 Series sedan.
The six-speed automatic contributes to this effect. In fairly aggressive driving, it works well, with firm, satisfying upshifts and quick kickdown shifts when you slam the accelerator at 45 mph. But with light-throttle operation, through suburbia or winding into a subdivision, the transmission can be less then smooth. At times it feels rough or balky in its gear selection, almost clunky. BMW's electronic gear selector doesn't help much, either, requiring familiarity to use efficiently.
The gearchange is a tall, oblong device that reminds us of the paddle control for a video game. There's a button on top to release or engage Park; Drive or Reverse come with a quick flick fore or aft. There's also a separate slot for sequential manual shifting. That's the only improvement in the design, and it fits into the fun/livability conflict throughout the X5.
When the driver wants to shift manually, it works great, changing gears immediately with a quick movement of the wrist, up or down. But this definitely is not a shifter you want to rest your hand on when its set in Drive and you're profiling or going with the flow around town. Even during a moderately hard stop, the momentum and weight of the hand will slide the selector into neutral, and you may not even know it. At a stoplight you might even engage Park inadvertently. When the light turns green, you'll wonder why you're not going anywhere, and then scramble in embarrassment to figure it out.
Stopping power is superlative. Yes, this big sport-utility dips forward more prominently than BMW's sedans might under hard braking, but it pulls to a stop like a sports car. In typical daily rounds, we never came close to exploiting the stopping potential built into the X5. Moreover, the electronic controls allow a driver to maintain full steering control in full-panic stops. The electronics also help keep the X5 balanced when braking hard through a turn, and they now include a feature that compensates for brake fade as the brakes heat up with heavy use. Yet like the throttle, the brake pedal can feel a bit sensitive. It might require some practice to modulate for smooth, even stops.
Think of the BMW X5 as a tall sports sedan with reasonable towing capability and a great view ahead. It's by no means an off-road vehicle, and in terms of utility, the X5 lacks the cargo-passenger flexibility and ultimate cargo capacity of many competitors. If sporting, on-pavement driving dynamics are the priority in a luxury SUV, the X5 is a great place to start. If family friendly utility and minimal aggravation are most important, it may not be.
J.P. Vettraino reports to NewCarTestDrive.com from Detroit, with Phil Berg contributing from rural Michigan.


text: Job Discussion Forums :: View topic - Dear Glenski, thank you. Get TEFL Certified & Start Your Adventure Today! Job Discussion Forums"The Internet's Meeting Place for ESL/EFL Students and Teachers from Around the World!" FAQ Search Memberlist Usergroups Register Profile Log in to check your private messages Log in Dear Glenski, thank you. Job Discussion Forums Forum Index -> Japan View previous topic :: View next topic Author Message ALXJoined: 19 Sep 2012Posts: 36Location: The Big Hill Posted: Wed Oct 03, 2012 3:31 am Post subject: Dear Glenski, thank you. I just want to show my apprciation. You might not remember this, but 4-5 years ago I sent you my resume to review and it got me the job. Now I'm coming back to JP but I couldn't have done it without your past guidance. Basically, what I'm trying to say is that you're the man! (and a real teacher!) I'm glad to see that you're still around. Cheers, NS Back to top Rooster_2006Joined: 24 Sep 2007Posts: 984 Posted: Wed Oct 03, 2012 12:43 pm Post subject: Re: Dear Glenski, thank you. ALX wrote: I just want to show my apprciation. You might not remember this, but 4-5 years ago I sent you my resume to review and it got me the job. Now I'm coming back to JP but I couldn't have done it without your past guidance. Basically, what I'm trying to say is that you're the man! (and a real teacher!) I'm glad to see that you're still around. Cheers, NS I'll add to that: I have respect for Glenski. I don't always agree with him, and sometimes we have had conflicts, but overall, he is balanced and a good source of information who really does help people. Back to top OneJoelFiftyJoined: 06 Oct 2009Posts: 463 Posted: Thu Oct 04, 2012 12:57 am Post subject: I'll third that. He is helpful, and I've come to understand why he's so particular, what with people coming here and asking the same questions over and over again. He's like the grandad of these forums. Back to top ALXJoined: 19 Sep 2012Posts: 36Location: The Big Hill Posted: Thu Oct 04, 2012 2:48 am Post subject: Yeah, he's like the white Mr. Myagi. Back to top Display posts from previous: All Posts1 Day7 Days2 Weeks1 Month3 Months6 Months1 Year Oldest FirstNewest First Job Discussion Forums Forum Index -> Japan All times are GMT Page 1 of 1 Jump to: Select a forum Where to Begin----------------General DiscussionNewbie ForumCurrent Events ForumTechnology ForumOnline Teaching Forum Africa Forums----------------General Africa Forum Asia Forums----------------CambodiaChina (Job-related Posts Only)China (Off-Topic)Hong KongIndiaIndonesiaJapanMalaysiaPhilippinesSingaporeTaiwanThailandGeneral Asia ForumVietnam Caribbean Forums----------------General Caribbean Forum Europe Forums----------------Czech RepublicFranceGermanyGreeceItalyMacedonia and the BalkansPolandRomaniaRussia & C.I.S.SpainTurkeyUkraineUnited KingdomGeneral Europe Forum Latin America Forums----------------ArgentinaBrazilChileColombiaCosta RicaMexicoMexico (off-topic)PeruGeneral Latin America Forum The Middle East Forums----------------BahrainEgyptIsraelKuwaitOmanQatarSaudi ArabiaUnited Arab EmiratesGeneral Middle East Forum North America Forums----------------General North America Forum Oceania----------------Australia/New Zealand You cannot post new topics in this forumYou cannot reply to topics in this forumYou cannot edit your posts in this forumYou cannot delete your posts in this forumYou cannot vote in polls in this forum This page is maintained by the one and only Dave Sperling. Contact Dave's ESL Cafe Copyright © 2018 Dave Sperling. All Rights Reserved. Powered by phpBB © 2001, 2002 phpBB Group Teaching Jobs in China


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On Nov 9-11th, a group of 5 students attended the Association for Computing Machinery (ACM) Mid-Southeast Chapter Fall Conference. At the conference, students may enter a paper presentation competition which gives undergraduate students and graduate students an opportunity to gain recognition by presenting their work.
Each student is given a 20 minute time slot in which to present his/her research. Judges will be present in the audience and the contestants will be graded on clarity, content, organization. The best presentations are awarded a plaque and a small cash award in each category. This year there were 6 awards in the Undergraduate category, 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 3 Honorable Mentions.
There were 32 Undergraduate presentations along with many Master and Ph.D. student presentations. Four students from High Point University entered the competition with the following presentation titles:
Some of the other Universities participating in the competition include Columbus State University, Armstrong Atlantic State University, University of Tennessee-Martin, Samford University and UNC Asheville.
"I thought the HPU presentations were excellent," says Roger Shore, associate professor of Mathematics and Computer Science who serves as the advisor to some of the students. "It was an invaluable experience for our students." Apparently the judges agreed. HPU won 3 of the 6 undergraduate awards. We took 1st, 2nd, and a Honorable Mention.
A group of 12 select students from High Point University's Mathematics and Computer Science Department recently had the chance to exercise their brain power for representatives from IBM by competing in the 36th annual IBM-sponsored Association for Computing Machinery Collegiate programming contest- better known as "The Battle of the Brains." The regional competition was held at Duke University on Nov. 5.
HPU was up against 165 teams from top schools around the region, including Duke University, Johns Hopkins University, Lafayette College, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and Wake Forest University - all competing for a chance to attend the World Finals roster, which will be held in Warsaw, Poland. Only 100 teams world-wide will compete in the final contest.
Each team of three students was given eight problems to solve in five hours using only one computer. The problem set was difficult, and only six teams solved more than three problems. Ultimately, HPU ranked 47th out of 165 schools, putting them in the top 28 percent of teams participating.
"The ACM contest is a prestigious contest," says Roger Shore, associate professor of mathematics and computer science who serves as adviser to the HPU teams. "We hand select students from HPU to participate. The contest fosters creativity, teamwork and innovation in building new software programs."
The four HPU teams consisted of: Samantha Allen, Alex Miller and Zachary Shore; Thomas Langford, Kevin Sanders and Christian Weigandt; John Czaplicki, Leroy Hunter and Andrei Makhanov; Thomas Douglas, Ryan Joiner and Michael Messer.
HPU has participated in the competition since Shore arrived at HPU in 1988.
Thomas Brinegar joined Beacon Technologies as an intern web software developer in June.
Beacon Technologies is a web marketing and development company founded in 1997 geared towards small and large scale web projects. Since working for Beacon, he has assisted in developing web sites for Sealy Mattress Corporation, Texas A&M, and burton+Burton.
Three Computer Science students will be spending their summer utilizing and advancing their skills in research programs and internships.
Andrew Proctor, a rising Senior, will be at an NSF Research Experience for Undergraduates
(REU) Site program on Pervasive and Mobile Computing to be held at Auburn
University. This is an 8-week program in which students will study with a professor at Auburn University. Most students will have the opportunity to continue their work into the Fall semester where they will complete their work and publish a paper.
Alex Palmer, a rising Sophomore, will be interning with SpringBoard Networks in Toronto, Ontario. His internship will include developing, testing, and debugging applications for their computer shopping cart and iPhone/Touch/Pad.
The department of Mathematics and Computer Science at High Point University was awarded a grant from the CUDA Teaching Program at Nvidia Corporation. The grant includes five GeForce GTX 260 graphic processors. Each processor contains 896 megabytes of memory and 192 streaming processors. According to the NVidia website, an owner of one of these graphic cards would, "Experience high definition worlds, lifelike characters, and forces of nature so powerful that your palms sweat and your heart races with every frame. Beyond games, watch Blu-ray movies and transcode video up to 7X faster than traditional CPUs1."
The department plans on using the cards in a different capacity than the normal user. In the Fall 2010 semester, a new course will be offered titled CSC-4310 High Performance Computing. The underlying focus of the High Performance Computing course will be to explore the suitability of various parallel architectures for implementing cellular automata, genetic and combinatorial optimaztion algorithms. The GeForce GTX 260 with 192 cores coupled with the Nvidia's CUDA technology will be exploited in this course as well as our upper level, graphically intense coruses.
The department would like to thank a couple of individuals for alerting the department about the Nvidia Program. Specifically, thanks to Dr. Robert Geist, Professor at Clemson University and Mr. Zachary Jones, PhD student at Clemson University and alumnus from High Point University.
A team of Computer Science students from High Point University win 3rd place in the 2010 Triad Programming Contest held on April 10th. Three teams from High Point University competed with other teams from Universities in the Triad.
Each team is presented with 8-10 word problems that must be solved using either the C++ or Java programming language. To solve one of the problems, students must utilize knowledge from areas such as Computer Science, Mathematics, and Physics and Business.
The A team is composed of 3 students. Each team is given one computer and 4 hou
rs to work. The team that has solved the most problems, wins the competition.
High Point University had three teams in contest.
Heading to IBM by the end of the Year. Congratulations!
Several students from High Point University recently took part in the "Battle of the Brains" contest - a computer science competition.
Four teams participated in the competition - Bill Frasure, Andrew Proctor and Aaron Robinson; Kathlyn Arca, Ben Stewart and Sal Pezzino; Samantha Allen, Zachary Shore and Thomas Bringer; and Keri Ives, Alex Palmer and Austin Bason.
The competition, which took place on Nov. 7 at Duke University, tested each team's math knowledge by giving them eight problems to solve within five hours.
Several universities from the region took part in the competition alongside HPU, including Christopher Newport, Duke University, Howard University, George Washington University, Johns Hopkins University, Radford University, Shippensburg University, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Washington College and Wilkes University. HPU has participated in the event yearly since 1989.
A team of computer science students from High Point University took first place in a programming competition held at A&T University on April 4. The competition was sponsored by Math Strategies, Inc., and Intuit, Inc.
Each team of three was presented with a collection of seven computational problems to solve within a specified period of time. Solutions had to be written in either Java or C++ programming languages.
Thirteen teams representing four institutions participated in the competition, including A&T University, the University of North Carolina at Greensboro and Guilford Technical Community College. HPU took first place by solving five of the seven problems in three hours. UNCG came in second, with four correct solutions, and GTCC was third, with three correct solutions.
The first-place team from HPU included students Bill Frasure, Aaron Robinson and Andrew Proctor. The team was awarded $300 from Math Strategies and software from Intuit.


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Species In-Depth
At the Aquarium
Due to the space requirements for these intelligent and dynamic animals, we do not exhibit live whales or dolphins. The humpback whale, is featured in Whales: a Journey with Giants (a large-scale multimedia presentation). The songs of humpback whales can be heard in the interactive kiosk's i>Whales: Voices in the Sea.
Geographic Distribution
All regions of the world ocean to the margins of ice packs with distribution changing seasonally. Non-migrating population in the Arabian Sea.
During summer months these seasonal migrants are found near oceanic islands, coastal areas, and over the continental shelf,or at its edges feeding in relatively shallow temperate and cold waters. They migrate to tropical waters during the winter where they breed and calve. They may travel across deep ocean waters during their migrations.
Physical Characteristics
Humpback whales have a rounded bulky body ending in broad, deeply notched flukes that have irregular knobby trailing edges and pointed tips. There are fleshy knobs called tubercles on their head forward of their two blowholes and on the leading edge of the lower jaw. Each contains a single bristly hair that scientists believe may have a sensory function. No other whale has these tubercles. There may also be clusters of barnacles on the head and a protuberance at the tip of the lower jaw. There are 12-50 throat grooves or pleats on the ventral side of their body extending from the tip of the lower jaw to just beyond the navel. This is a smaller number of throat grooves than most rorquals have. Their long, narrow, wing-like flippers (pectoral fins) have knobby trailing edges. The shape of the dorsal fin is variable ranging from low and stubby with a broad base to high and falcate (curved). There is often a prominent hump in front of the dorsal fin.
Their baleen is made of keratin, (the same material as human hair and fingernails and cattle horns) and consists of 270-400 usually all black or grayish-black, thin, coarse, and stiff plates that hang from each side of the upper jaw. The plates are up to 0.6 m (25 in) long and 34 cm (13.4 in) wide.
The body of humpback whales is usually blue-black or black overall with irregular white coloration on the throat and sides. The belly may be black, entirely white, or mottled. The undersides of the extraordinarily long flippers are usually white whereas the color of the top depends on the geographic location of the whale population. Those found in the North Atlantic and Southern Hemisphere have mostly white dorsal surfaces and North Pacific whales, mostly black. Flukes are black above and black and white patterned on the underside which is usually visible when the whale dives. The ventral coloration is as distinctive and unique in these whales as fingerprints are in humans. There may be a number of scars on the body.
Adult females are 13.7-15.2 m (45-50 ft) in length. They are slightly larger than males which are 12.2-14.6 m (40-48 ft) long. Mature humpbacks weight 30,000-48,000 kg (66,000-106,000 lb). Southern Hemisphere whales are slightly larger than Northern. Flukes can be as wide as 5.5 m (18 ft) and flippers 1/2 to 2/3 the length of the whale's body, the longest of all the whales.
It is estimated that adult humpbacks eat 1360 kg (2998 lb) of food each day.
Northern Hemisphere humpbacks prefer a diet of small fishes (herring, capelin, mackerel, and sandlance), and krill, small shrimp-like crustaceans while the diet of Southern Hemisphere whales is primarily Antarctic krill, Euphausia superba. They lack teeth to grip and tear large prey into small easily swallowed pieces, so items on their menu must be small.
Humpbacks are filter feeders. Their baleen plates have bristly inner edges that intertwine to form a strainer or filter. Although their large mouth opens to an angle greater than 90o, like most baleen whales, their throat is so small that they cannot swallow large prey. Normally feeding in the top 100 m (330 ft) of the water column, they lunge at their meal, plowing through concentrated swarms or schools of prey with huge mouth open and throat grooves expanding to form a large sack to take in as much as 10,000 liters (2642 gal) of food-laden water. The water is expelled through the baleen and the whale uses its large rasping tongue to maneuver the food retained on the inner surface of the baleen to its throat to be swallowed whole.
In addition to lunging, humpbacks have several other unique feeding behaviors some of which involve blowing bubbles by one whale or by several hunting cooperatively.
- Bubble netting: One or more whales dive beneath a school of fish and swim upward in ever smaller concentric circles as they release streams of air from their blowholes to create bubbles. The bubbles rise in a net around the fish seeming to form a barrier that the fish will not pass. The whale(s) then swim up through the middle of the net, mouth wide open to feed
- Bubble feeding: Pod exhales columns of bubbles to herd prey into a ball, then lunge feed in formation
- Bubble cloud: Burst of bubbles up to 20 m (66 ft) across traps prey between the surface and the rising cloud for lunge feeding.
Humpback whales reach sexual maturity between six and ten years of age. Their breeding areas are fairly well known, unlike those of most other baleen whales. Males court females with song. (See Adaptation for information about vocalization of humpbacks.) They also engage in vigorous, even violent competition, for mates. On the breeding grounds there may be two to more than 20 males around a single female with the group composition changing periodically. When a male, called a joiner, approaches a singer and tries to get close to the female being courted, the males lunge at each other, lash with flukes, flippers, and tails, and blow clouds of bubbles. Head slapping, butting, and serious push and shove behavior is exhibited.
The gestation period is 11-12 months. When ready to give birth, the female seeks a relatively shallow inshore area where she may be safe from sharks, boats, and aggressive males. The calf is 4-4.6 m (13-15 ft) long at birth and weighs about 680 kg (1500 lb). The calf nurses for 8-11 months, supplementing its milk diet with seafood when it is six months old. It gains weight rapidly consuming milk that is 45-60% butterfat.
Often a cow-calf pair is accompanied by another adult known as an escort. Escorts can be of either sex but are most often males seeking to breed. The escort remains with the pair for only a few hours.
Migration: Depending on starting and ending points, humpbacks may have one of the longest migrations of any mammal, traveling as many as 16.000 km (10,000 mi).They usually travel in small groups of three to four whales. Different populations follow definite paths, usually the same route each year, as they migrate from summer feeding grounds in cold and temperate waters to warmer water winter breeding and calving areas. Immature whales do not always make the entire migration, stopping at points along the way. The populations in the various parts of the world ocean are all genetically separate subspecies and, while they may co-mingle in breeding grounds, they rarely if ever interbreed. The group inhabiting the Arabian Sea does not seem to migrate.
In the western North Pacific the whales that breed and calve around Japanese islands probably travel to the Bering Sea and the Aleutian Islands to feed over summer/fall. The coastal Central America and Mexican whales feed off of the coast of California to southern British Columbia. Hawaii's breeding/calving population migrates to northern British Columbia, southeast Alaska, and Prince William Sound west to Kodiak.
The North Atlantic populations feed between the Gulf of Maine, Iceland, and Greenland and off the coast of Norway. The western Atlantic whales migrate to the Caribbean to winter although recently juveniles have been sighted from Delaware to North Carolina. The eastern Atlantic humpbacks breed and calve off the coast of Africa and the Cape Verde Islands. During the austral summer the Southern Hemisphere's six main humpback populations intermingle while feeding in the Southern Ocean around Antarctica. However, they usually return to their home areas on each side of Australia, Africa, and South America to breed and calve.
Blow: The blow of humpback whales is low, rounded, and more bushy than other rorquals. In preparation for a deep dive they take 4-8 breaths at 1-2 minute intervals and then dive to a depth of 150-210 m (492-689 ft). In the breeding grounds (where they do not usually feed), they blow 3-6 times between dives. The average dive lasts up to 15 minutes. When feeding, they usually swim 1.9-5.6 km/hr (0.2 -3.5 mph). Otherwise their swimming speed is 4.8-14 km/hr (3-9 mph).
The Acrobatic Whales: Humpbacks have a repertoire of spectacular acrobatic behaviors. Many of their displays seem to be involved in courtship and breeding, while reasons for others are still not well explained. .
- breaching: lifting as much as two thirds of the body out of the water and landing on the surface belly down or on the side with a thunderous splash. The breach of a humpback is the most dramatic of all whales. Is this to get rid of parasites, communicate with other whales, a courtship display, a temper tantrum, or just for fun?
- spyhopping: lifting the head out of the water vertically, usually clearing the eyes above the water surface to scan for about 30 seconds, then slowly sinking down. The whale does not swim when spyhopping but relies on exception buoyancy control and position with its flippers. Why look around? Perhaps, to see who is in the area, where obstacles are, to navigate, or just out of curiosity.
- head lunging : thrusts head toward another whale in a threatening posture, often butting it. An aggressive mood to chase away competitors for attentions of females?
- head slap: head forcefully hurled onto surface of water. Another aggressive move?
- flipper slap: slapping surface of water forcefully with a flipper. Communication?
- flipper waving: while lying on its side, lifts entire flipper above the water for as long as an hour. Attract a mate? Occurs in or near breeding areas.
- tail lobbing: raising fluke out of the water and then slapping it on the surface. Aggressive temper tantrum or communication?
Known as the singing whales, male humpbacks are the vocalists, not females. The singing male positions himself vertically in the water head down and sings a song that is loud, repetitive, and the most complex sung by any animal in the world. It is made up of grunts, chirps, violin-like sounds, rumbles, whoos, and eees. Phrases are organized into themes and the themes into songs that may be sung over and over being repeated for hours. The low frequency noises can travel 30-35 km (18.6-21.8 mi). Although the songs of individuals may vary somewhat, all whales in a group sing essentially the same song which differs from that of other populations, i.e., there is a regional dialect. A portion of the song is changed each breeding season with some parts deleted and new ones added. All males in the group make the changes.
In the breeding grounds the singing is to attract a mate and singing decreases markedly when the whales start their migration to feeding grounds. In addition to mate attraction as a reason for singing, other reasons may be to show dominance or aggression, a way to stay in touch on the migration or give information about the journey, or to let others know the location of prey, important in cooperative feeding.
The life span of humpback whales is estimated to be 45-50 years.
In late December 2012, NOAA announced that beginning in 2013, shipping lanes along the California coast would be adjusted to protect feeding and congregating humpback, blue, and fin whales from ship strikes. The lane changes include the approaches to San Francisco Bay, Santa Barbara Channel, and the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach. In November 2012 the International Maritime Organization which governs shipping worldwide adopted the proposed changes
Slower swimming than most of the more streamlined great whales and frequenting coastal waters in predictable breeding and feeding areas, humpbacks were targeted by whalers before the advent of faster ships made pursuing blue whales and other fast deep-water swimmers feasible. They were facing extinction when a moratorium was placed on catching them in the North Atlantic in 1956. 1963 in the Southern Ocean, and 1966 in the North Pacific. It is estimated that more than 250,000 had been killed by 1966. Recovery since the moratoriums has been steady for most, but not all populations to a total number believed to be between 35,000 and 40,000 worldwide today. NOAA Fisheries estimates that there are about 17,000 "American" humpback whales.
Although these whales are not presently hunted commercially, they still encounter human generated threats of noise pollution caused by shipping and military SONAR testing affecting their communication, entanglement in fishing gear, biological effects of chemical pollution, ship collisions, overfishing of krill, and potential effects of global climate changes on the supply of krill in the Southern Ocean. Disturbances caused by whale watch boats may be a factor in New England's coastal feeding habitats and Hawaii's breeding grounds where seasonal boat traffic is high. The NMFS has in place both a recovery plan that focuses on ways to help the whales recover from detrimental human impacts and a plan to reduce the number of entanglements in fishing gear. Both seem to be effective.
Humpback whales are protected under the U.S. Marine Mammal Protection Act. They are listed as endangered under the Endangered Species Act and as vulnerable on the IUCN Red List. The IWC permits the Bequians of St. Vincent and the Grenadines in the eastern Caribbean to take four humpback whales each year from 2003-2007. The meat and products are to be used exclusively by the Bequians, and not sold.
Special Notes
SPLASH!: How many humpbacks are there across the North Pacific? What are there migratory routes and destinations? What is their genetic diversity? How are humans impacting them? SPLASH! Is an international cooperative effort among U.S., Mexican, Canadian, and Japanese researchers, academic and private institutions, NOAA Fisheries, and the National Marine Sanctuary Program to study humpback whales in an effort to find definitive answers to these and other questions. The research began in January 2004 and reported in 2008 indicated that the number of humpback whales in the North Pacific Ocean has increased since international and federal protections were enacted in the 1960s and 70s.However, some isolated populations of humpbacks, especially those in the Western Pacific Ocean, have not recovered at the same rate and still suffer low numbers.NOAA report
Humpback Whales and Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home: An alien spaceship appears over 23rd century Earth, transmitting unidentified sounds toward the planet. Authorities on Earth, unable to decipher the message, do not respond so the alien ship begins storms on Earth that threaten to destroy humankind. Captain Kirk and Mr. Spock finally figure out that the sounds are humpback whales singing. They were not recognized initially because humpbacks became extinct in the 21sr century. The aliens had apparently visited Earth long before man's technological development and recognized humpbacks as intelligent, feeling (sentient) beings. The fact that a sentient species had been allowed to die indicates to the aliens that the current top dogs have no business running a planet. Kirk and crew have only one choice to save humankind and that is to attempt to time travel back into the 20th century, locate a breeding pair of humpbacks, and bring them back to 23rd century Earth to communicate with the probe. So back they go. Fortunately, they locate a pair of humpback whales that, when brought back, communicate with the probe and Earth is saved.


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B. Stenger, A. Thayananthan, P. H. S. Torr, and R. Cipolla
Sept. 2006
This paper sets out a tracking framework, which is applied to the recovery of three-dimensional hand motion from an image sequence. The method handles the issues of initialization, tracking, and recovery in a unified way. In a single input image with no prior information of the hand pose, the algorithm is equivalent to a hierarchical detection scheme, where unlikely pose candidates are rapidly discarded. In image sequences a dynamic model is used to guide the search and approximate the optimal =02filtering equations. A dynamic model is given by transition probabilities between regions in parameter space and is learned from training data obtained by capturing articulated motion. The algorithm is evaluated on a number of image sequences, which include hand motion with self-occlusion in front of a cluttered background.
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I have decided to convert to a cleaner programming style, (code re-usability)
Thus, I am relearning class structure and inheritance/polymorphism and all the great protection and clarity they provide
My program in many ways will be like a chess game program.
Everything inside a JFrame
The JFrame will be split into 2 JPanels.
The only other objects will be mini JPanels I will call Pieces.
These Pieces are mouse drag and drop-able between JPanels
Breaking bad habits begins here.
I will have a Pieces Class.
Pieces will be a parent Class to two children Classes that extend it. (names not important yet)
I will be making a "Movable Class"
Movable Class will handle the graphics and mobility of my "mini panels"
Movables will be an Interface and Pieces will use this Interface.
Skeleton code of how this all looks would be an amazing and appreciated gift!
Things I think I know.
child1 extends Pieces and child2 extends Pieces
Pieces Implements Movable ?
then this will force Pieces and all children of Pieces to have the methods from Movable correct?
Hope I am correct so far,
The next part gets more confusing for me, mostly because I am very new to GUI's
I am assuming I have another class which will probably use the program name
"BattleGrid" BattleGrid will have the main method, as well as most of the GUI framework? (calling, creating, and storing Pieces as needed) please set me strait here.
Thanks a lot for any involvement!


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1995 Ford Ranger - All-Ter Ranger
1-Ton Romper
All the military axle mega trucks that we feature in each issue of Mud Life are extremely badass in their own individual styles. Some are 2½-ton, some are 5-ton. Heck, we've even seen a 20-ton mega truck out at mud events. These monster-sized rigs are extremely fun to watch or ride in, but the question remains: Does it really need to be that big? Sure it does if you want to go through the deepest mud hole in the park, but what if you just want to have a good time slingin' muck all afternoon? That's exactly what Rick Briggs from Ft. Pierce, Florida, wanted to do. After he explained it to his wife Lori, she was all for it!
You may remember a few issues back when we featured Rick's old Ford Bronco named Caution. The old Bronco was Rick's first time building a mud rig ,so he knew exactly what needed to be accomplished the second time around. The only thing that stopped him from building a newer, better mud rig was the cash for the parts. This is a problem that a lot of enthusiasts have, but luckily for Rick, his wife was saving for a rainy day. Over the last few years Rick and Lori have spent nearly every weekend playing in the mud or doing something off-road. Lori knew how much he loved wheeling, so she made him an offer he couldn't refuse. She would buy the parts if he would build the truck. That's all Rick needed to hear. Soon after that, new parts starting arriving at their door and Rick cleared out the garage. The plan was to build a truck that could fit in the garage with the wheels off, and after it was all said and done he had about a half an inch of height to spare. The process took a little over six months, an unknown amount of cold beers, and even some extremely late nights with helpful friends. It's a job that couldn't have been done alone, and Rick is extremely grateful for the support.
Rick's 1995 Ford Ranger is his new toy, and it's powered by a 393ci Ford big-block engine that was factory built in 1999. Bobby's Machine out of Ft. Pierce helped rebuild the block, installing horsepower adders like J&E pistons, Crowler connection rods, AFR heads, and a Comp Cams camshaft. Headers through the hood give the exhaust zero restriction when leaving the engine, and the sound they make is intense. An '89 Ford C-6 transmission with a DK shift kit and a Pro Torque converter transfer the power through the factory-installed M50D gearbox to the 1-ton Dana axles. A Dana 60 up front and a Dana 70 in the back are installed using a triangulated four-link suspension setup, and both axles have 4.56 gears. FOA shocks take the impact up front while a set of shocks and springs from an '01 F-250 are in the rear. The 24x12 wheels fabricated by Custom Truck Shop in Ft. Pierce are wrapped in 14.9x24 BKT tires, which have a 49-inch overall diameter. Other than some Auto Meter gauges and a Cheetah SCS shifter, the 1995 Ford Ranger interior is essentially stock.
The final modification Rick and Lori decided on for the 1995 Ford Ranger was a full color change. They wanted something extremely loud and dramatic that the mud would contrast with, so a ton of metalflake was added to the PPG green paint. Every panel shines in the sun, but that doesn't stop Rick from covering it with thick Florida mud.
This is a rig that anyone can accomplish in a matter of months if you put your mind to it. So if you are ready to start building your own mud truck but you need a little extra cash, Rick has one solid piece of advice for ya: Just ask your wife for the money!
1995 Ford Ranger
Owner: Rick and Lori Briggs
Engine: 393ci Ford V-8
Transmission: '89 Ford C-6
Transfer case: Factory Ford M50D-R1
Suspension: Subframe with triangulated 4-link
Axles: Front Dana 60, rear Dana 70; both have 4.56 gears
Shocks: 16-inch FOA coilovers
Wheels: 24x12 rims by Custom Truck Shop
Tires: 14.9x24 BKT tractor tires


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My Bookings
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I have spoken to a few people about this topic, and some people seem to actually believe that you need to be Christian, or be some denomination of it, to be a good person.
I don't understand this logic at all. Why is it, that if I choose to reject to Christianity that I am labelled as evil.
Taishi Ci, even said himself, that if not for his god, why would he choose to be good. For myself, I know it's an innate feeling inside me that wishes to help my fellow ciitzens of earth, through whatever means possible.
I work and live in a small city in Ontario, (until tomorrow ) and Taishi Ci's view is mirrored here a lot, if you are not Christian, you must be of poor character. Still my actions are within the legal guidelines of a law based on Christian morals, and I choose to do them, not to stay out of jail or to appease my god, but to make myself feel good, does anyone else think that you need to be Christian to be good. I honestly don't think that is the case at all, but do.. correct me if I am wrong.


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Sure, it was all fun and games to make fun of Latrell Sprewell for turning down a $21 million contract a few years ago because he "had to feed his family." Well, that family, which has apparently been floating around on a Milwaukee boat, is about to get hungrier.
Turns out, Spree's boat has been repossessed
Armed with an order from U.S. Magistrate Judge William E. Callahan Jr., a federal marshal seized the $1.5-million, Italian-built vessel in Manitowoc, Wisc., where it sat in storage, Milwaukee's Journal Sentinel reported. A New York bank is claiming the yacht's owner, a company run by Sprewell, 36, has defaulted on a mortgage loan.
The firm, LSF Marine Holdings, hasn't made monthly payments of $10,322 on time and hasn't maintained the necessary insurance on the 6-year-old vessel, North Fork Bank alleges. It wants the yacht, "Milwaukee's Best," sold to pay off the $1.3 million it says is remaining on the loan.
To think, it was only a year ago that Sprewell was being accused of choking someone on that boat. Memories!
Maybe We Shouldn't Have Laughed At Sprewell's "I Got My Family To Feed" Comments [The Smittblog]


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OWC 6G Mercury Aura Pro Express SSD
Speedier solid-state storage for your MacBook Air
Easy to install
Given that you can't buy a MacBook Air without an SSD, you're probably wondering what to do with the expensive slab of silicon you've just taken out. As luck would have it, OWC also sells an external caddy that will take the old SSD and turn it into a speedy USB 3.0 external drive, although the lack of USB 3.0 support on the Mac means you'll be accessing through the slower USB 2.0 standard.
This kit can be yours for an extra $30 (£19) when you order it with a replacement SSD and it's definitely worth opting for as it makes setting up the new drive so much easier.
The MacBook Air case uses five-point Torx screws, rather than regular crossheads, and the SSD is held down by a different Torx screw. You can argue about Apple using non-standard screws in the comments section, but screws do hold the screwdriver much more securely and as a result at no point did the head slip out and scratch my MacBook Air during installation, as has happened to me on MacBooks with crosshead screws in the past.
OWC includes all the necessary tools, so you can get going straight out the box.
In terms of performance, the news is good and bad. First the good: for some things, the drive is blazingly fast, even compared to the Samsung SSD in my MacBook Air. Turns out I won the SSD lottery after all.
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