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Royal Greenwich Observatory
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- Notable Works:
- "The Nautical Almanac"
Royal Greenwich Observatory, astronomical observatory and, until its closure in 1998, the oldest scientific research institution in Great Britain. It was founded for navigational purposes in 1675 by King Charles II of England at Greenwich, and the astronomer in charge was given the title of astronomer royal. Its primary contributions were in practical astronomy—navigation, timekeeping, determination of star positions, and almanac publication. The observatory began publishing The Nautical Almanac (1766, with data for 1767), which established the longitude of Greenwich as a baseline for time calculations. The almanac's popularity among navigators led in part to the adoption in 1884 of the Greenwich meridian as the Earth's prime meridian (0° longitude) and the starting point for the international time zones.
The observatory was gradually transferred from Greenwich to Herstmonceux in Sussex from 1948 to 1957, in a search for clearer skies, and it was moved to the Institute of Astronomy of the University of Cambridge in 1990. A controversial cost-cutting measure, announced by the Particle Physics and Astronomy Research Council in 1997, brought about the shutdown of the observatory in October 1998. The institution's equipment and operations, including the William Herschel Telescope and other instruments located on La Palma in the Canary Islands, were consolidated under the UK Astronomy Technology Centre, headquartered at the Royal Observatory Edinburgh. Some historic instruments and resources at Cambridge were returned to the Old Royal Observatory, which was renamed the Royal Observatory Greenwich. The old observatory is open to the public and is administered by the nearby National Maritime Museum.


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Sparking Interest in Science and Science History for the Read Aloud Crowd
When reading to your children, look to the great range of science-inspired titles to infuse your read aloud time with exciting science themes and people from the pages of science history.
Children of all ages love to be read to, and reading to your students, and encouraging older students to read every day, is especially important during summer months. Library and bookstore shelves are full of wonderful and imaginative titles, and picture books to share with the youngest of audiences blend rich illustration with lyrical narration designed to bring the words and stories alive for readers and listeners. This includes stories about science, technology, engineering, and math—and the people who have worked, innovated, and made discoveries in those areas!
As young listeners begin to follow and understand longer stories, sometimes the true stories are the ones that create the most excitement, stories that are incredible and awe-inspiring because they really happened. Is she real? Did that really happen? She spent all of her days doing that? He lived his whole life thinking of numbers? These stories often simplify biographical details, but in making a scientist accessible to young readers, they offer examples of what it means to be a scientist.
As you make your reading lists for summer (and anytime) reading with your children, consider adding some of the titles below to the mix. Each tells the story of a person in science history, someone who was once a child, once had a question, a dream, a hobby, an interest in tinkering, or an insatiable curiosity. As you share these stories with your students, you might find you learn something new about these familiar figures as well!
Blockhead: The Life of Fibonacci
From pineapples to shells to the centers of an apple, the numbers in the Fibonacci sequence surround us. But it took the curiosity and persistence of one mathematician to make the world begin to see the ways in which the pattern of numbers recurs over and over again in nature. That mathematician was once a boy, and as this quasi-biographical account of his life suggests, he was a boy with a head for numbers and a love of counting, but a boy that many people overlooked and discounted—hence the nickname "blockhead." Though the book, written by Joseph D'Agnese and illustrated by John O'Brien, offers an imagined account of many of the details of Fibonacci's life, it does a great job of introducing and illustrating the discovery of the Fibonacci series and the prevalence of the pattern in the world around us. This is a charming title for a young mathematician and a good introduction to an important concept in math history for middle readers.
The Watcher: Jane Goodall's Life with the Chimps
The Watcher, written and illustrated by Jeanette Winter , introduces children to Jane Goodall and her fascination with animals and the natural world from the time she was a child. The story follows Jane to Gombe where she searches and waits for the chimpanzees that she hears but, for many months, never sees. Jane's fieldwork, and slow acceptance by the chimpanzees, is depicted in sparse text that accentuates the solitude of the story and the work. The importance for Jane of documenting her story and the chimpanzee behavior is highlighted in the book, and one image shows Jane surrounded by years and years of notes. When Jane leaves the forest to go and speak to the world on behalf of chimpanzees, readers of all ages feel the separation and her desire to be back in the place she calls home—the forest. (Older readers may enjoy Goodall's autobiography aimed at a young audience: My Life with the Chimpanzees.)
Manfish: A Story of Jacques Cousteau
This story about Jacques Cousteau, written by Jennifer Berne and illustrated by Éric Puybaret, begins with Cousteau's childhood interest not only in water but also in engineering and movies and then follows his life as he first finds a way to see underwater, develops a way to breathe underwater, reconditions a ship, and begins making movies of underwater life. The story ends with Cousteau's growing awareness of the impact of pollution on marine life and a call to readers of all ages to be aware of environmental problems—to help save the sea.
Odd Boy Out: Young Albert
This story of Albert Einstein, written and illustrated by Don Brown, begins with his birth—and everyone's dismay at the size of his head. As the story shows, Einstein's childhood didn't follow all typical expectations. He was a late talker. He was temperamental. He was not a great student. But when it came to things of interest, he was focused and determined, a point the book illustrates beautifully. When he discovers math, the world opens up for Einstein in new ways. The story moves quickly through Einstein's life, only touching in the final pages about the contributions he goes on to make to understanding of space, time, and energy. The focus here is, largely, on Einstein's isolation and difference, his outsider status. To some extent a sad story of one of the world's greatest minds, it is touchingly told and illustrated and helps bring to life one of the world's most pivotal thinkers.
On a Beam of Light: A Story of Albert Einstein
On a Beam of Light, written by Jennifer Berne, author of Manfish, and illustrated by Vladimir Radunsky, also chronicles the story of Einstein. With whimsical illustration, On a Beam of Light traces Einstein's development from early childhood to adulthood, years in which his curiosity continued to drive and guide him. Einstein's famous question about what it would be like to travel on a beam of light, a question inspired by a ride on a bicycle, is wonderfully depicted. As with Odd Boy Out: Young Albert, students will find the scientist come to life in this book.
The Boy Who Drew Birds: A Story of John James Audubon (Outstanding Science Trade Books for Students K-12)
This book about John James Audubon, written by Jacqueline Davies and illustrated by Melissa Sweet, is an instant classic for anyone with a soft spot for birds and a love of art. The story starts when Audubon is eighteen, recently sent to live and learn in America, and has discovered an empty pewee bird nest in a nearby cave. Audubon waits and watches. He sees birds return to the nest and begins to wonder about migration. Are these the same birds that used the nest the year before? Where do they go in the winter? The book skirts the history of scientific thought on migration, and then follows Audubon as he puzzles over questions and comes up with a way to test and see if the same birds return to the nest. The story of his first bird banding is charmingly told, and young readers will cheer along when the birds return in the spring. If you are encouraging your students to draw every day or keep nature journals throughout the summer or year, the illustrations throughout this book of Audubon's notes and observations offer excellent examples and inspiration. Note: this is a longer book and certainly appropriate for middle and older readers as an entree into the life of the famed naturalist.
Stone Girl Bone Girl: The Story of Mary Anning
As this title by Laurence Anholt, illustrated by Sheila Moxley, shows, Mary Anning got a 'shocking' start—she was struck by lightning at a young age and survived. Mary's father sold curios, small fossils, to tourists. Mary grows up searching for fossils in the cliffs above her home in Lyme Regis, and as a young girl, she discovers a fossilized full skeleton of an Ichthyosaur. The presence of the Philpot sisters, two female scientists Mary met, offers a reminder of the importance of mentors and role models on students—and future scientists! For additional reading about Mary Anning, the first female paleontologist, see also: Mary Anning and the Sea Dragon, and Rare Treasure: Mary Anning and Her Remarkable Discoveries.
The Boy Who Invented TV: The Story of Philo Farnsworth
The Boy Who Invented TV, written by Kathleen Krull and illustrated by Greg Couch, documents the story of an engineer who changed the world—with the development of a working television. Farnsworth's story is one from the farmlands and a story that begins during the early 1900s when electricity was new (and scarce) and the phonograph and talking pictures first appeared. The book balances Farnsworth's early habit of asking questions, tinkering with equipment, and interest in engineering with the responsibilities of his life on the farm. Readers follow along as he tackles the idea of television and, over a period of several years, works on the development, creating prototypes, testing, and then making changes and trying again. Aimed at middle readers, this longer story reminds readers that even teenagers can invent something revolutionary!
More to Come
We will be sharing reading suggestions throughout the summer here on the Science Buddies Blog. The above list is just the beginning! For additional science-themed reading suggestions and book lists, see these other posts from Science Buddies:
- "A Picture Book Look at the Engineering Spirit"
- "Calling Naturalists of All Ages: Citizen Science Projects for the Whole Family"
- "Summer Science Reading" (for adult and older readers)
- "Making Room for Math"
- "Hooked on Manga: Comic Science"
- "Encouraging and Inspiring Female Student Engineers"
If you have a favorite science-themed book—for any age—let us know!
You Might Also Enjoy These Related Posts:
- Book list for science-filled summer reading!
- New Series of Science Buddies Books
- Look Up: Bird and Astronomy Summer Reading
- Blending Science and Art with Paper Inventions
- Special Effects Fun with Nick and Tesla
- Nick and Tesla Build a Gadget Glove: Science Reading
- The Most Magnificent Thing: Science Reading
- Do Even More with Your Raspberry Pi Projects Kit

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A new cloud version of SAP's Afaria mobile device management software offers IT departments a more convenient way of controlling mobile devices.
As with its other cloud-based offerings, SAP hopes to attract enterprises to the cloud-based version of Afaria with improved installation speed and cost, compared to traditional software. Enterprises gain all the benefits and features of on-premise mobile device management without the capital expenses, the company said Tuesday at its Sapphire conference in Orlando.
Using the offering, IT departments can provision in-house apps and revoke privileges without limiting access to personal information. Employees can handle routine tasks such as configuring their smartphones and downloading enterprise apps, but if they make changes and become noncompliant with corporate policies, they are blocked from accessing enterprise resources.
Analytic dashboards from the BusinessObjects portfolio, which allows IT staff to keep track of device compliance and usage, are bundled with the package.
The software is now available on Android, iOS and Windows Phone 8 for €1 (US$1.30) per month and device. For IT departments that want to try the product first, there is a 30-day free trial available.
The German company is far from alone in offering mobile device management in the cloud. AirWatch, Fiberlink and MobileIron already offer cloud-based solutions. But Afaria is the first that has been approved by Amazon Web Services
SAP also announced a partnership with mobile security vendor Mocana to offer the Mobile App Protection software by Mocana. It allows enterprises to use app-wrapping technology to secure existing corporate and third-party applications without having to write any code.
The IT department can customize policies that include authentication, encryption and per-app VPN to help protect data, according to SAP. The MAP software is compatible with Google's Android and Apple's iOS and can be used across managed and unmanaged devices, including those that employees bring to work. SAP didn't provide pricing.


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Five main types of organizers
Graphic organizers are valuable instructional tools. Unlike many tools that just have one purpose, graphic organizers are flexible and endless in application. One common trait found among graphic organizers is that they show the order and completeness of a student's thought process - strengths and weaknesses of understanding become clearly evident. Many graphic organizers show different aspects of an issue/problem - in close and also the big picture. Since many graphic organizers use short words or phrases, they are ideal for many types of learners, including English Language Learners with intermediate proficiency.
Although five main types of organizers are mentioned in this piece, many others exist, or will soon be created. See examples below.
Graphic organizers
Historical and Cultural Context - provides an overview of art movements and the context in which they developed. We have not covered every movement or period, rather selected snippets to help provide students with an opportunity to explore the elements that have influenced other artists in their quest for expressing personal voice. As with all of our work, this site remains a work in progress.
Check out edHelper.com to find more educational resources, lesson plans, news updates, and more.
Melissa and I would like to


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1- Sound Cloud
SoundCloud is the world's leading social sound platform, with over ten hours of music & audio posted every minute by the world's largest community of artists, bands, podcasters and other creators. With the SoundCloud app for iPhone and iPad, you can hear anything, wherever you are.
2- Keynote
Keynote is the most powerful presentation app ever designed for a mobile device. Built from the ground up for iPad, iPhone, and iPod touch, it makes creating a world-class presentation
3- Google Drive
Get started with 5GB for free to safely keep all your stuff in one place and then access it from any device, anywhere. Store documents, pictures, or other files – even the big ones – using Google Drive and easily share them with anyone.
Search the web faster and easier with the latest Search app from Google. Get new features available only in this app. Now, with streaming voice search.
5- Evernote
Evernote is an easy-to-use, free app that helps you remember everything across all of the devices you use. Stay organized, save your ideas and improve productivity.
6- iBooks
iBooks is an amazing way to download and read books. iBooks includes the iBookstore, where you can download the latest bestselling books
7- Dropbox
Dropbox lets you bring all your photos, docs, and videos anywhere and share them easily. Access any file you save to your Dropbox from all your computers, iPhone, iPad and even the Dropbox website!
Now anyone can create stunning iBooks textbooks, cookbooks, history books, picture books, and more for iPad. All you need is an idea and a Mac. Start with one of the Apple-designed templates that feature a wide variety of page layouts. Add your own text and images with drag-and-drop ease. Use Multi-Touch widgets to include interactive photo galleries, movies, Keynote presentations, 3D objects, and more. Preview your book on your iPad at any time. Then submit your finished work to the iBookstore in a few simple steps. And before you know it, you're a published author.
9- Pages
Pages is the most beautiful word processor you've ever seen on a mobile device. This powerful app has been exclusively designed for the iPad, iPhone, and iPod touch. Create, edit, and view documents wherever you are.
10- Skitch
Use shapes, arrows, sketches and text annotation to get your point across fast. Mark up photos, screenshots, maps, and webpages then share them with anyone you like.
11- Penultimate
The original and most popular handwriting app for iPad. Penultimate gives you the natural experience of writing on paper, with the added power and availability of Evernote. Take notes, keep sketches, or share your next breakthrough idea — in the office, on the go, or at home on the sofa.
12- Skype
Say "hello" to friends and family with an instant message, voice or video call on Skype for free. There's so much you can do, right from the palm of your hand.
13- Evernote Peek
Evernote Peek is a learning app designed for the iPad 2 Smart Cover. No Smart Cover? No problem! The new Virtual Cover lets any iPad get in on the fun. Studying with an iPad has never been more natural. Simply peek under the cover to prepare for a quiz, practice a language or strengthen your memory.
14- Book Writer
Innovative application to make books with iPhone/iPad!Book Writer will help you make a magnificent book, which you may read through iBooks.
15- Google+
Stay connected and share life as it happens with Google+ for iPhone and iPad. Join a Hangout, post a photo, or see what friends are sharing while you're on the go.
16- ShowMe
ShowMe allows you to record voice-over whiteboard tutorials and share them online. It's an amazingly simple app that anyone can use, no matter how young or old!
17- Notability
Notability powerfully integrates handwriting, PDF annotation, typing, recording, and organizing so you can take notes your way! Discover the freedom to capture ideas, share insights, and present information in one perfect place on iPad.
18- ScreenChomp
A simple doodling board, markers, and one-click sharing tools make spreading your ideas and know-how easy and fun!
Socrative brings smart clickers, student response and ease of use to a whole new level. Engage the entire classroom with educational exercises and games while capturing student results in real-time.
Educreations turns your iPad into a recordable whiteboard. Creating a great video tutorial is as simple as touching, tapping and talking. Explain a math formula… Create an animated lesson… Add commentary to your photos… Diagram a sports play
21- VoiceThread
Create and share dynamic conversations around documents, snapshots, diagrams and videos — basically anything there is to talk about. You can talk, type, and draw right on the screen.
22- CloudOn
CloudOn brings Microsoft Office® to your iPhone & iPad and links it to your Box, Dropbox, Google Drive and SkyDrive accounts.
23- Book Creator
The simple way to create your own beautiful iBooks, right on the iPad.Read them in iBooks, send them to your friends, or submit them to the iBookstore.Ideal for children's picture books, photo books, art books, cook books, manuals, textbooks, and the list goes on.
24- iTalk Recorder
iTalk Recorder is a full-featured recording app with a streamlined and intuitive user interface. Press the big red button to record; press it again to stop.
25- iStudiez Pro
A student's life is a dizzying mix of activity and just plain craziness! Take charge of your schedule and put iStudiez Pro to work for you! Take advantage of iStudiez Pro easy navigation and never miss another course, lecture and lab, track tasks and deadlines, plan homework, arrange assignments and much more!
26- GoodNotes Free
GoodNotes lets you take handwritten notes, sketch diagrams, mark-up PDFs and organize them on a beautiful bookshelf. Turn pages with a swipe, highlight or add notes to any page, and share your notes with anyone.
Turn your photos into stunning, professional-quality videos, complete with music and text, with Animoto's free app! Parties, holidays, trips and family events – you've got a ton of photos on your phone just waiting to be turned into something incredible.
28- StudyBlue
This app is made for serious studiers; flip online flashcards for fast feedback on what you know, then re-study concepts you've not yet mastered using Study Filters.
29- Join.me
With the join.me mobile app you can join an online meeting no matter where you go. Or get the most out of mobile meetings by using your join.me pro account and your iPad to host meetings and present files from your device.
30- iMovie
iMovie helps you turn the HD video you shoot on your iOS device into a thrilling trailer or masterpiece worthy of the red carpet (even if it's just the one in your living room). And since iMovie is designed for Multi-Touch, all you have to do is tap, swipe and drag to make some movie magic.


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Midwest Living March/April 2013 Recipes
Peach Cordial Mini Bundt Cakes
The memory of a childhood orchard trip inspired Melinsa Murphey of Olathe, Kansas, to create this recipe. The cakes are moist and sweet and quite generously proportioned, so you may want to serve a half-cake to each person (or bake them in muffin cups instead).
Squash Ribbons with Parmesan and Crisp Prosciutto
This toss-together recipe from BelGioioso Cheese in Wisconsin makes a pretty side dish in summer, when zucchini and yellow squash abound.
Berry-Balsamic Vinaigrette
The sweet tang of this rosy dressing pairs nicely with nuts, cheese, avocado or grilled chicken breast in a mixed green salad. A full 2 cups of strawberries boost the dressing's vitamin C and fiber; the olive oil is high in omega-3 fatty acids, a healthy fat that fights inflammation and protects against heart disease.
Meat and Potato Pizza
Chalk this recipe up as an occasional indulgence. It's topped with a totally mouth-watering combo of thin-sliced potatoes, bacon, sausage and a delectable garlic-rosemary butter. The recipe comes from Hidemi Walsh of Plainfield, Indiana.
Roasted Cherry Tomato Chutney on Squash
Annie France of Mission, Kansas, invented this beautiful summer dish. Juicy cherry tomatoes are roasted and served over spaghetti squash with herbs and mozzarella balls. Annie says she serves it as a side dish, but we think it would make a fantastic meatless main.
Honeyed Lemonade Tea Punch
Using Darjeeling tea imparts floral notes beyond what you find in ordinary black tea, which makes it a more interesting base for this refreshing, honey-laced drink. Keep the punch virgin, or add a tablespoon of vodka, gin or bourbon to each glass.
Ricotta and Parmesan Spread
Fresh herbs season this ridiculously simple spread from BelGioioso Cheese in Wisconsin. It keeps well in the fridge and is delicious with cherry tomatoes or other vegetable dippers, as well as crackers or baguette slices.
Asian-Style Vinaigrette
Toss this light soy-ginger dressing with a bag of slaw mix and roasted peanuts for a nutritious side dish on stir-fry night. The recipe uses canola oil and sesame oil, which are both good choices as part of a balanced diet.
Salted Caramel, Chocolate and Peanut Cracker-Stack Bars
These fantastic potluck bars come from Patrice Hurd of Bemidji, Minnesota. She won the grand prize in a Best of the Midwest® Recipe Contest. Patrice says they're a twist on her grandmother's cracker bars. They cut beautifully and brim with salty-sweet-nutty-chocolately flavor.
Any-Flavor Mini Quiche
Talk about easy! You can prep these delicious little quiches the night before, or make them in the morning while the oven preheats. They're perfect for brunch parties, and you can use whatever meat, cheese and veggies you have on hand.
Lemon Ricotta Pancakes with Warm Blueberry Compote
Rise and shine with these special-occasion pancakes from chef Mindy Segal of Mindy's HotChocolate Restaurant and Dessert Bar in Chicago. Ricotta makes them moist and rich; lemon curd gives sweet-tart punch.
Very Cherry Hazelnut Coffee Cake
David Dahlman of Chatsworth, California, says this yeasty coffee cake reminds him of the old-fashioned, down-to-earth treats on his grandmother's farm table. It takes time because it's a yeast-leavened dough, but there's no kneading required.
Green Tea Ice Cream
Look for matcha, or powdered green tea, at specialty stores or online. It looks a little like eye shadow and gives this ice cream its gorgeous color and subtle tea flavor.
Smyth Steak Sandwiches
Crumbled blue cheese adds salty punch to these indulgent but easy-to-make sandwiches served at The Iron Horse Hotel in Milwaukee.
Buttermilk Pesto Dressing
Try this creamy blend on a green salad with chicken or shrimp, or use it in a pasta salad with cherry tomatoes. We also like it drizzled over grilled or steamed asparagus. Although this dressing tastes creamy, the rich flavor comes from the pesto; Greek yogurt adds protein and calcium.
Italian Dinner Soup
Gail Gladding-Pullara of Oregon, Wisconsin, created this simple, crowd-pleasing soup. "My family loves this recipe," she says. "It's easy and tastes like you've been cooking for hours."
Jen's White Burger
This sandwich looks a bit plain, but appearances can be deceiving. It's packed with flavor. Mustard, herbs and lemon zest season the meat, which is topped with wine-poached pears, sharp cheddar and pepper jelly. The recipe comes from Jen Smallwood of Portsmouth, Virginia.
Spinach-Mushroom-Sausage Pierogi Bake
You don't get much easier than this recipe from Jan Valdez of Chicago! Saute a few ingredients, stir in cream cheese to make a sauce, and dump it all over frozen pierogis in a casserole dish. (You don't even need to thaw the pierogis!)
Mascarpone Flan Cake with Marinated Berries
Wine-marinated berries top this showy cake created by chef Debbie Gold of the American Restaurant in Kansas City, Missouri. The sweet, nutty crust is thicker than an ordinary cheesecake, giving the dessert a dramatic presence.
Walleye Wild Rice Cakes with Wasabi Dressing
Cindi Rockwell of Berkley, Michigan, says this recipe, which has two signature Minnesota ingredients, was inspired by the resort her grandparents owned there.
Chai-Spiced Compote
Inexpensive chai tea bags infuse Chai-Spiced Compote with the tongue-tingling flavors of ginger, cloves and cardamom. Because the recipe calls for frozen peaches and cherries, you can make this colorful fruit dessert year-round. If you're watching fat or calories, leave off the pecans and coconut and just enjoy the flavorful fruit.


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Comparative Empirical Evaluation of Reasoning Systems
June 30, 2012
Programme, Proceedings, and Invited Speakers
The programme is now available. We are happy to feature invited talks by:
You can download the proceedings of the workshop (single PDF file). We also have CEUR-WS proceedings (bibtex entry).
Motivation and Goal
Benchmark libraries and competitions are two popular approaches to comparative empirical evaluation of reasoning systems. It has become accepted wisdom that regular comparative evaluation of reasoning systems helps focus research, identify relevant problems, bolster development, and advance the field in general. The number of competitions has been rapidly increasing lately. At the moment, we are aware of about a dozen benchmark collections and two dozen competitions for reasoning systems of different kinds. We feel that it is time to compare notes.
What are the proper empirical approaches and criteria for effective comparative evaluation of reasoning systems? What are the appropriate hardware and software environments? How to assess usability of reasoning systems? How to design, acquire, structure, publish, and use benchmarks and problem collections?
The issue has received a new dimension recently, as systems that have a strong interactive aspect have entered the arena. Three competitions dedicated to deductive software verification within the last two years show a dire need of comparative empirical evaluation in this area. At the same time, it remains largely unclear how to systematically evaluate performance and usability of such systems and how to separate technical aspects and the human factor.
The workshop aims to advance comparative empirical evaluation by bringing together current and future competition organizers and participants, maintainers of benchmark collections, as well as practitioners and the general scientific public interested in the topic.
Furthermore, the workshop intends to reach out to researchers specializing in empirical studies in computer science outside of automated reasoning. We expect such connections to be fruitful but unlikely to come about on their own.
Important Dates
The scope of the workshop includes (but is not limited to) topics such as the following. All topics apply to comparative evaluation of reasoning systems. Reports on evaluating a single system (such as case studies done with a particular system) are not in scope of the workshop.
Submissions and Proceedings
Papers can be submitted either as regular papers (6-15 pages in LNCS style) or as discussion papers (2-4 pages). Regular papers should present previously unpublished work (completed or in progress), including proposals for system evaluation, descriptions of benchmarks, and experience reports. Discussion papers are intended to initiate discussions, should address controversial issues, and may include provocative statements.
All submitted papers will be refereed by the program committee and will be selected in accordance with the referee reports. The collection of accepted papers will be distributed at the workshop and will also be published in the CEUR Workshop Proceedings series.
Submission upload is now closed.
Program Committee
You can reach the workshop organizers at firstname.lastname@example.com. With all other questions about this page, contact Vladimir Klebanov.


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If you've ever entered one of the game contests of the past decade, you'll know the feeling after you submitted your entry at 23:50. It's that feeling where suddenly all the stress has gone, the feeling that at last you can go to bed again at decent hours, and the joy of awaiting the first reactions under the relevant newspost. Us presenting this whopping new website to you gives us the same feeling, pleasure and energy. On your screen is the all-new MSX Resource Center, at last! And the words 'at last' are truly there for a reason: it wasn't an overnight process, far from it.
It started with snout and Wolf chatting about which aspects could be improved towards the old website (which we refer to as MRC2k2). The concept of making an MRC2k7 was born. The first internal version of the new MSX Resource Center actually looked like MRC2k2, with the old menu at the right being wider and the difference between large newsposts and small newsposts gone. Years went by; MRC2k7 became MRC2k8, and later on it was renamed to MRC2k9. Sander van Nunen noticed that even activity at concept level had stalled and suggested to talk Jorito into the project. Sander started sketching his vision about the revamped MRC and quite soon his sketches looked somewhat like what you're seeing now. From that point Jorito started implementing these sketches, step by step, with admins looking over his shoulder and sometimes steering a bit. While admins have had their role in all of this, it's only fair to point out where credits are due: Sander van Nunen for the visual and functional design, and Jorito for all the hard work coding this new place and tactically ignoring further feature requests that would have moved this project to the year 2014. As game developers will know: sometimes just being a coder isn't enough, you need a manager too who knows when to pull the right strings, and these two gents certainly showed their management skills during the process.
So, obviously a lot of new things for you to discover here, let's introduce you to some of these!
- An all-new look, warping the MSX Resource Center to present day standards. The news is represented using headlines rather than having all the news on a large page, a big conceptual change.
- There is YouTube integration which presents you the latest MSX-related videos automatically.
- There is a new CMS for the admins (yay!), and there is wysiwyg editing for everyone - no need to learn the classic html tags any more!
- We have added a spotlight section for news which we consider important. Typical examples are fair announcements, contests, and major releases of products. This way, MSX fans that don't visit us daily (why?!) don't have to miss out on the most significant MSX news.
- News tweets. These are basically one-liners for news facts that would've been too small to write about, or would've been ignored on the previous website for not being 100% relevant or interesting for a wide MSX audience. In short: anything goes, and thus the news tweets should result in more news than before.
- You can finally have your own avatar.
- There is a new ranking. If you'd hoped to, at some point, reach the status of MSX Legend, MSX Guru, MSX Master and such, then you're too late. Long live the new ranking!
- We have added new search functionality. Try it, you'll love it.
- We have added a wiki. Once again: try it, you'll love it. The wiki is perfectly in line with our wish to preserve MSX information, and frankly: it's simply great fun too. The brand new scene wiki has been Wolf's wish for many years and was in fact the original reason why he joined the team. There are over a hundred scene groups already, and that's probably not nearly the end of it. A lot of articles are stubs however, as some groups have been lost in obscurity. If you know things about such groups or if you are or were actually part of such groups, by all means: make the wiki complete. Add trivia, add funny stories, complete the credits, make the wiki an interesting read for newcomers and old MSX people who might return to the MSX scene.
- Manuel Bilderbeek kindly donated his MSXFAQ to us, with the intention to have people converting all the information into separate and 'living' articles. Also present in our wiki are new articles about creating content, making it a place where both experienced and novice MSX developers could take a look. NYYRIKKI deserves a fair credit for adding his vast technical programming knowledge to our wiki. Designer and crew member Robert Vroemisse is currently working on articles about drawing for MSX, aimed at both experienced and novice artists. Some of our admins will moderate the wiki and keep things tidy and structured. There are stubs everywhere, the wiki is a big place and we could surely use your help. It's Christmas soon, how about you adding something to the wiki during these days? A wiki update is automatically placed onto the frontpage, so your efforts will be seen!
- We have a twitter page now. News which we consider relevant will be tweeted around the globe.
- The photo section has been improved greatly, with higher resolution versions of photos where possible.
- No more individual language pages, but everything together, cosy! Speaking of languages: you can now provide translations to newsposts - just click a dark flag in the header of a newspost and off you go. If your hands are itching to translate something, feel welcome to do so!
- We've added Japanese, Korean and Arabic to our set of languages.
- New versions of our smileys.
Without doubt, you may encounter a bug here and there. Don't worry, it will get repaired, and the best way to have it fixed is when you report these. Don't forget to mention the URL, your OS and browser (+version). And now: enough with the talking. Have a look at our brand new website and most of all: we hope you enjoy it!


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An SSD can read and write data many times faster than the best mechanical hard drive. On the downside, flash memory is many times more expensive than the innards of a typical hard drive, so manufacturers have limited their SSD capacities to hit reasonable price points: A 128GB SSD costs about $130, and for that same price tag, you can buy a 3.5-inch desktop hard drive that delivers 2TB of storage, or a 2.5-inch laptop drive that provides 1TB of storage.
Two years ago, Seagate (quickly followed by Samsung) introduced a drive that married a small SSD with a mechanical drive. The objective was to deliver the superior speed of an expensive SSD, while retaining the higher capacity and lower cost of a conventional hard drive. Now that Toshiba and Western Digital are joining the party, it's a great time to explain in more detail what hybrid drives are and how they operate.
Hybrid drives work much in the same way as the current dual-technology configurations in many gaming and power-user PCs, as well as some ultraportable laptops. Such systems have a small, discrete SSD to hold the operating system and frequently used data, augmented by a more capacious conventional hard drive for less frequently accessed data and large collections of documents and digital media.
Current hybrid drive designs, in contrast, deliver both technologies within a single physical unit, and they employ software caching algorithms (rather than relying on the user's brain) to decide which data belongs on the SSD portion and what goes on the drive's platters.
These caching algorithms reside in the hybrid drive's firmware, not the device driver. To the computer's operating system, a hybrid drive appears as a single unit with the SSD portion acting strictly as a large cache. The cache is nonvolatile, so the data doesn't disappear when power is absent.
You can find several hybrid designs on the market, but the most common is a 2.5-inch version meant for laptops, Seagate's Momentus XT SSHD. Seagate refers to the caching logic it uses on the Momentus XT drives as Adaptive Memory technology. The thinner 7mm, 2.5-inch drives that Toshiba and Western Digital recently announced are destined for Ultrabooks. They will likely use similar technologies with similarly suitable names, although either company might opt to skip caching and produce a dual SSD/hard drive in a single physical package. In any case, a caching algorithm will track the files you load the most often (operating system files, applications, and the like), and store them on the SSD portion of the drive. From that point on, these files will load into memory much faster than they did from the mechanical drive, although some overhead will be involved as the computer determines whether the file in question resides on the SSD. No caching will have occurred the first time you use a hybrid drive, so its initial performance will be the same as that of a mechanical hard drive, but the speed will increase over time.
To test a current implementation and to determine how much improvement you can expect over the long term, we ran a special version of WorldBench 7 six times using a 750GB Seagate Momentus XT hybrid drive with its 8GB internal SSD.
Over the course of the six runs, system boot times dropped from 35 seconds to 31 seconds, and the WorldBench 7 score rose from 112 to 116. That's about a 12 percent improvement in boot times, and a 4 percent jump in WorldBench. However, the WorldBench 7 score of a nonhybrid, 5400-rpm drive also climbed by 4 percent—most likely due to Windows 7's own caching technologies. The standard drive showed no decrease in boot times, so the current Seagate hybrid drives do offer some benefit.
WorldBench 7 measures application performance, not the load times of the applications themselves, though subjectively the load times seemed only slightly faster after the first pass in my hands-on tests when I eliminated the Windows prefetch and swap file. Let's call that further, marginal evidence that a hybrid can make a positive difference in your everyday computing. Just for comparison's sake, a good SSD scored more than 40 points higher on WorldBench 7 on the same system.
The specs for the upcoming Toshiba and Western Digital hybrid drives weren't available at the time of this writing; however, you might see models with 16GB or even 32GB SSD portions that provide a greater increase in performance. The larger the SSD in the hybrid drive, the more data you can cache and the less often you'll need to load data from the hybrid's slower mechanical drive. Integration and interaction with operating systems could also boost hybrid performance, assuming of course that a significant drop in SSD prices doesn't render the technology moot.
As of October 10, 2012, a standard 750GB, 2.5-inch hard drive was about $80, a 750GB Momentus XT SSHD was about $130, and a brand-name 128GB SSD also cost about $130. Given those prices, current hybrid drives really make sense only in laptops, and only when you want high performance and more storage capacity than an SSD can provide.
In a desktop PC with unoccupied drive bays, you'll get much better bang for your buck with a stand-alone SSD combined with one or more mechanical hard drives. Even for a laptop, a smaller, more affordable SSD supplemented by an external conventional hard drive might better deliver the performance and the capacity you're looking for.


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Women for Murphy take aim at McMahon
Hartford — With a recent poll showing Republican U.S. Senate candidate Linda McMahon gaining ground with women voters, female supporters of Democratic nominee Chris Murphy are warning of the dangers they see in supporting the wrestling mogul this November.
"Anyone who thinks Linda McMahon represents a typical Connecticut woman trying to hold down a job and raise a family in this economy just doesn't get it," Lt. Gov. Nancy Wyman said today.
She was one of about two dozen women supporters for Murphy at a news conference outside the Capitol. Others included Shannon Lane, a board member of NARAL Pro-Choice Connecticut and Jacqueline Kozin, a representative for Connecticut's chapter of the National Organization for Women.
The group's main criticism of McMahon is her support of the "Blunt amendment," a measure that would allow employers with moral objections to opt out of providing their employees services in the 2010 Affordable Care Act, such as birth control.
They also dislike her desire to repeal that national health care law. As of Aug. 1, the law requires most new health insurance plans to offer free preventative care services to women including contraception, breast feeding supplies and domestic violence counseling. The law grants an exemption to nonprofit religious organizations and schools.
"Linda McMahon has spent so many millions of dollars on ads and commercials, so she has no problem worrying about getting her own health care," Wyman said. "She can pay for her visits and she can afford the insurance she has. The problem is: Is she worrying about the rest of working women?"
McMahon's campaign dismissed the news conference as a "Murphy campaign stunt imported direct from Fantasyland."
McMahon, who would be Connecticut's first female U.S. Senator if elected, is in favor of abortion rights, although she opposes "partial birth" procedures and federal funding of abortions except in cases of rape or incest or when the mother's life is at risk.
The chairwoman of McMahon's "Women for Linda" group, Kathy McShane, said in a statement that "he and his allies want you to believe Linda opposes women's health issues… we can call them wrong."
She added: "Congressman Murphy has never undergone a pap smear, a mammogram, or childbirth. Linda has."
An Aug. 28 Quinnipiac University poll showed Murphy with a four-point lead over McMahon among women and McMahon with an eight-point lead among men. Overall, McMahon led Murphy by three percentage points.
Numerous polls showed that McMahon lacked support among women in 2010 during her unsuccessful race against Richard Blumenthal.
"For Linda, the Blunt amendment was not about birth control. She supported it because it was about religious freedom, over-regulation of business and the government imposing its will on individual citizens," her campaign spokesman Todd Abrajano said recently.
During today's Women-for-Murphy rally, Nancy DiNardo, chairwoman of the Connecticut Democratic party, attributed McMahon's recent gains in the polls to her onslaught of campaign advertising.
"She had a summer of buying millions of dollars for TV ads misrepresenting Chris Murphy and trying to change her image into this nice, lovable women," DiNardo said. "She nowhere talks about the fact of how she made her millions when her treatment at WWE was very abusive towards women…now that it's after Labor Day and people are paying attention, they're going to see a big contrast between Chris Murphy and Linda McMahon."
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Illustrator Eugene Yelchin's first novel, Breaking Stalin's Nose, is a brilliantly conceived expose of the horrors of life in Stalin's Russia, seen through the eyes of a very naive young boy. And since the book was recently recognized with a Newbery Honor, it is likely to make it onto the shelves of school and public libraries around the country.
Ten-year old Sasha has been dreaming of being a Soviet Young Pioneer ever since he can remember, and he can recite all the Young Pioneer laws by heart. He loves Comrade Stalin like a revered grandfather, but when the long-anticipated ceremony to be inducted into the Young Pioneers is finally to take place, everything seems to go wrong. When his father is taken away by the police, arrested as an enemy of the people, Sasha slowly begins to wonder if everything he has learned about Stalin and the Soviet state is a lie.
With its naive, optimistic narrator, this book reminded me very much of Morris Gleitzman's Once, John Boyne's The Boy in the Striped Pajamas, and Jerry Spinelli's Milkweed. Like the heroes in those novels, Sasha's naivete manages to be somehow funny and heartbreaking at the same time. Through his eyes, we see the incongruity of the Soviet propaganda and the realities of life in a society where even children were encouraged to inform on their parents.
Although there are many novels for children about World War II, there are few about Stalin's Russia, and this book definitely fills a gap in the literature. Despite the sophisticated subject matter, the simplicity of the language in the book is suitable for children in elementary school, and would work well as discussion for a book club as well. Yelchin provided the dramatic graphite black and white illustrations for the book as well as the text.
An author's note provides some background on Stalin's reign of terror, and, paradoxically, how few people of Yelchin's generation (he grew up in the Soviet Union in the 1960's) were aware of the scale of Stalin's crimes, which were carried out in secrecy. There is also an excellent website for the book, which allows users to click on various images to learn more about Stalin, Sasha's dad, the Young Pioneers, Sasha's school, Lubyanka Prison, and other topics dealt with in this slim but powerful book.


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Chapter VIII.
The last general direction, Rev. iii. 10: Watch against temptation by constant "keeping the word of Christ's patience"—What that word is—How it is kept—How the keeping of it will keep us from the "hour of temptation."
The directions insisted on in the former chapters are such as are partly given us, in their several particulars, up and down the Scripture; partly arise from the nature of the thing itself. There is one general direction remains, which is comprehensive of all that went before, and also adds many more particulars unto them. This contains 138an approved antidote against the poison of temptation,—a remedy that Christ himself hath marked with a note of efficacy and success; that is given us, Rev. iii. 10, in the words of our Saviour himself to the church of Philadelphia. "Because," saith he, "thou hast kept the word of my patience, I will also keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell in the earth." Christ is "the same yesterday, today, and for ever." As he dealt with the church of Philadelphia, so will he deal with us. If we "keep the word of his patience," he will "keep us from the hour of temptation." This, then, being a way of rolling the whole care of this weighty affair on him who is able to bear it, it requires our peculiar attention.
And, therefore, I shall show,—(1.) What it is to "keep the word of Christ's patience," that we may know how to perform our duty; and, (2.) How this will be a means of our preservation, which will establish us in the faith of Christ's promise.
(1.) The word of Christ is the word of the gospel; the word by him revealed from the bosom of the Father; the word of the Word; the word spoken in time of the eternal Word. So it is called "The word of Christ," Col. iii. 16; or "The gospel of Christ," Rom. i. 16, 1 Cor. ix. 12; and "The doctrine of Christ," Heb. vi. 1. "Of Christ," that is, as its author, Heb. i. 1, 2; and of him, as the chief subject or matter of it, 2 Cor. i. 20. Now, this word is called "The word of Christ's patience," or tolerance and forbearance, upon the account of that patience and long-suffering which, in the dispensation of it, the Lord Christ exerciseth towards the whole, and to all persons in it; and that both actively and passively, in his bearing with men and enduring from them:—
[1.] He is patient towards his saints; he bears with them, suffers from them. He is "patient to us-ward," 2 Pet. iii. 9,—that is, that believe. The gospel is the word of Christ's patience even to believers. A soul acquainted with the gospel knows that there is no property of Christ rendered more glorious therein than that of his patience. That he should bear with so many unkindnesses, so many causeless breaches, so many neglects of his love, so many affronts done to his grace, so many violations of engagements as he doth, it manifests his gospel to be not only the word of his grace, but also of his patience. He suffers also from them in all the reproaches they bring upon his name and ways; and he suffers in them, for "in all their afflictions he is afflicted."
[2.] Towards the elect not yet effectually called. Rev. iii. 20, he stands waiting at the door of their hearts and knocks for an entrance. He deals with them by all means, and yet stands and waits until "his head is filled with the dew, and his locks with the drops of the 139night," Cant. v. 2; as enduring the cold and inconveniences of the night, that when his morning is come he may have entrance. Oftentimes for a long season he is by them scorned in his person, persecuted in his saints and ways, reviled in his word, whilst he stands at the door in the word of his patience, with his heart full of love towards their poor rebellious souls.
[3.] To the perishing world. Hence the time of his kingdom in this world is called the time of his "patience," Rev. i. 9. He "endures the vessels of wrath with much long-suffering," Rom. ix. 22. Whilst the gospel is administered in the world he is patient towards the men thereof, until the saints in heaven and earth are astonished and cry out, "How long?" Ps. xiii. 1, 2; Rev. vi. 10. And themselves do mock at him as if he were an idol, 2 Pet. iii. 4. He endures from them bitter things, in his name, ways, worship, saints, promises, threats, all his interest of honour and love; and yet passeth by them, lets them alone, does them good. Nor will he cut this way of proceeding short until the gospel shall be preached no more. Patience must accompany the gospel.
Now, this is the word that is to be kept, that we may be kept from "the hour of temptation."
(2.) Three things are implied in the keeping of this word: [1.] Knowledge; [2.] Valuation; [3.] Obedience:—
[1.] Knowledge. He that will keep this word must know it, be acquainted with it, under a fourfold notion:—1st. As a word of grace and mercy, to save him; 2dly. As a word of holiness and purity, to sanctify him; 3dly. As a word of liberty and power, to ennoble him and set him free; 4thly. As a word of consolation, to support him in every condition:—
1st. As a word of grace and mercy, able to save us: "It is the power of God unto salvation," Rom. i. 16; "The grace of God that bringeth forth salvation," Tit. ii. 11; "The word of grace that is able to build us up, and to give us an inheritance among all them that are sanctified," Acts xx. 32; "The word that is able to save our souls," James i. 21. When the word of the gospel is known as a word of mercy, grace, and pardon, as the sole evidence for life, as the conveyance of an eternal inheritance; when the soul finds it such to itself, it will strive to keep it.
2dly. As a word of holiness and purity, able to sanctify him: "Ye are clean through the word I have spoken unto you," saith our Saviour, John xv. 3. To that purpose is his prayer, chap. xvii. 17. He that knows not the word of Christ's patience as a sanctifying, cleansing word, in the power of it upon his own soul, neither knows it nor keeps it. The empty profession of our days knows not one step towards this duty; and thence it is that the most are so overborne under the power of temptations. Men full of self, of the world, of 140fury, ambition, and almost all unclean lusts, do yet talk of keeping the word of Christ! See 1 Pet. i. 2; 2 Tim. ii. 19.
3dly. As a word of liberty and power, to ennoble him and set him free;—and this not only from the guilt of sin and from wrath, for that it doth as it is a word of grace and mercy; not only from the power of sin, for that it doth as it is a word of holiness; but also from all outward respects of men or the world that might entangle him or enslave him. It declares us to be "Christ's freemen," and in bondage unto none, John viii. 32; 1 Cor. vii. 23. We are not by it freed from due subjection unto superiors, nor from any duty, nor unto any sin, 1 Pet. ii. 16; but in two respects it is a word of freedom, liberty, largeness of mind, power and deliverance from bondage:—
(1st.) In respect of conscience as to the worship of God, Gal. v. 1.
(2dly.) In respect of ignoble, slavish respects unto the men or things of the world, in the course of our pilgrimage. The gospel gives a free, large, and noble spirit, in subjection to God, and none else. There is administered in it a spirit "not of fear, but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind," 2 Tim. i. 7; a mind "in nothing terrified," Phil. i. 28,—not swayed with any by-respect whatever. There is nothing more unworthy of the gospel than a mind in bondage to persons or things, prostituting itself to the lusts of men or affrightments of the world. And he that thus knows the word of Christ's patience, really and in power, is even thereby freed from innumerable, from unspeakable temptations.
4thly. As a word of consolation, to support him in every condition, and to be a full portion in the want of all. It is a word attended with "joy unspeakable and full of glory." It gives supportment, relief, refreshment, satisfaction, peace, consolation, joy, boasting, glory, in every condition whatever. Thus to know the word of Christ's patience, thus to know the gospel, is the first part, and it is a great part, of this condition of our preservation from the hour and power of temptation.
[2.] Valuation of what is thus known belongs to the keeping of this word. It is to be kept as a treasure. 2 Tim. i. 14, Τὴν καλὴν παρακαταθήκην,—that excellent "depositum" (that is, the word of the gospel),—"keep it," saith the apostle, "by the Holy Ghost;" and, "Hold fast the faithful word," Tit. i. 9. It is a good treasure, a faithful word; hold it fast. It is a word that comprises the whole interest of Christ in the world. To value that as our chiefest treasure is to keep the word of Christ's patience. They that will have a regard from Christ in the time of temptation are not to be regardless of his concernments.
[3.] Obedience. Personal obedience, in the universal observation of all the commands of Christ, is the keeping of his word, John xiv. 15. 141Close adherence unto Christ in holiness and universal obedience, then when the opposition that the gospel of Christ doth meet withal in the world doth render it signally the word of his patience, is the life and soul of the duty required.
Now, all these are to be so managed with that intension of mind and spirit, that care of heart and diligence of the whole person, as to make up a keeping of this word; which evidently includes all these considerations.
We are arrived, then, to the sum of this safeguarding duty, of this condition of freedom from the power of temptation:—He that, having a due acquaintance with the gospel in its excellencies, as to him a word of mercy, holiness, liberty, and consolation, values it, in all its concernments, as his choicest and only treasure,—makes it his business and the work of his life to give himself up unto it in universal obedience, then especially when opposition and apostasy put the patience of Christ to the utmost,—he shall be preserved from the hour of temptation.
This is that which is comprehensive of all that went before, and is exclusive of all other ways for the obtaining of the end purposed. Nor let any man think without this to be kept one hour from entering into temptation; wherever he fails, there temptation enters. That this will be a sure preservative may appear from the ensuing considerations:—
(1.) It hath the promise of preservation, and this alone hath so. It is solemnly promised, in the place mentioned, to the church of Philadelphia on this account. When a great trial and temptation was to come on the world, at the opening of the seventh seal, Rev. vii. 3, a caution is given for the preservation of God's sealed ones, which are described to be those who keep the word of Christ; for the promise is that it should be so.
Now, in every promise there are three things to be considered:—[1.] The faithfulness of the Father, who gives it. [2.] The grace of the Son, which is the matter of it. [3.] The power and efficacy of the Holy Ghost, which puts the promise in execution. And all these are engaged for the preservation of such persons from the hour of temptation.
[1.] The faithfulness of God accompanieth the promise. On this account is our deliverance laid, 1 Cor. x. 13. Though we be tempted, yet we shall be kept from the hour of temptation; it shall not grow too strong for us. What comes on us we shall be able to bear; and what would be too hard for us we shall escape. But what security have we hereof? Even the faithfulness of God: "God is faithful, who will not suffer you," etc. And wherein is God's faithfulness seen and exercised? "He is faithful that promised," Heb. x. 23; his 142faithfulness consists in his discharge of his promises. "He abideth faithful: he cannot deny himself," 2 Tim. ii. 13. So that by being under the promise, we have the faithfulness of God engaged for our preservation.
[2.] There is in every promise of the covenant the grace of the Son; that is the subject-matter of all promises: "I will keep thee." How? "By my grace with thee." So that what assistance the grace of Christ can give a soul that hath a right in this promise, in the hour of temptation it shall enjoy it. Paul's temptation grew very high; it was likely to have come to its prevalent hour. He "besought the Lord, that is, the Lord Jesus Christ, for help, 2 Cor. xii. 8; and received that answer from him, "My grace is sufficient for thee," verse 9. That it was the Lord Christ and his grace with whom he had peculiarly to do is evident from the close of that verse: "I will glory in my infirmity, that the power of Christ may rest upon me;" or "the efficacy of the grace of Christ in my preservation be made evident." So Heb. ii. 18.
[3.] The efficacy of the Spirit accompanieth the promises. He is called "The Holy Spirit of promise;" not only because he is promised by Christ, but also because he effectually makes good the promise, and gives it accomplishment in our souls. He also, then, is engaged to preserve the soul walking according to the rule laid down. See Isa. lix. 21. Thus, where the promise is, there is all this assistance. The faithfulness of the Father, the grace of the Son, the power of the Spirit, all are engaged in our preservation.
(2.) This constant, universal keeping of Christ's word of patience will keep the heart and soul in such a frame, as wherein no prevalent temptation, by virtue of any advantages whatever, can seize upon it, so as totally to prevail against it. So David prays, Ps. xxv. 21, "Let integrity and uprightness preserve me." This integrity and uprightness is the Old Testament keeping the word of Christ,—universal close walking with God. Now, how can they preserve a man? Why, by keeping his heart in such a frame, so defended on every side, that no evil can approach or take hold on him. Fail a man in his integrity, he hath an open place for temptation to enter, Isa. lvii. 21. To keep the word of Christ, is to do this universally, as hath been showed. This exercises grace in all the faculties of the soul, and compasses it with the whole armour of God. The understanding is full of light; the affections, of love and holiness. Let the wind blow from what quarter it will, the soul is fenced and fortified; let the enemy assault when or by what means he pleaseth, all things in the soul of such a one are upon the guard; "How can I do this thing, and sin against God?" is at hand. Especially, upon a twofold account doth deliverance and security arise from his hand:—
143[1.] By the mortification of the heart unto the matter of temptations. The prevalency of any temptation arises from hence, that the heart is ready to close with the matter of it. There are lusts within, suited to the proposals of the world or Satan without. Hence James resolves all temptations into our "own lusts," chap. i. 14; because either they proceed from or are made effectual by them, as hath been declared. Why doth terror or threats turn us aside from a due constancy in the performance of our duty? Is it not because there is unmortified, carnal fear abiding in us, that tumultuates in such a season? Why is it that the allurements of the world and compliances with men entangle us? Is it not because our affections are entangled with the things and considerations proposed unto us? Now, keeping the word of Christ's patience, in the manner declared, keeps the heart mortified to these things, and so it is not easily entangled by them. Saith the apostle, Gal. ii. 20, "I am crucified with Christ." He that keeps close to Christ is crucified with him, and is dead to all the desires of the flesh and the world; as more fully, chap. vi. 14. Here the match is broken, and all love, entangling love, dissolved. The heart is crucified to the world and all things in it. Now the matter of all temptations almost is taken out of the world; the men of it, or the things of it, make them up. "As to these things," says the apostle, "I am crucified to them," (and it is so with every one that keeps the word of Christ.) "My heart is mortified unto them. I have no desire after them, nor affection to them, nor delight in them, and they are crucified unto me. The crowns, glories, thrones, pleasures, profits of the world, I see nothing desirable in them. The reputation among them, they are all as a thing of nought. I have no value nor estimation of them." When Achan saw the "goodly Babylonian garment, and two hundred shekels of silver, and a wedge of gold," first he "coveted them," then he "took them," Josh. vii. 21. Temptation subtly spreads the Babylonish garment of favour, praise, peace, the silver of pleasure or profit, with the golden contentments of the flesh, before the eyes of men. If now there be that in them alive, unmortified, that will presently fall a-coveting; let what fear of punishment will ensue, the heart of hand will be put forth into iniquity.
Herein, then, lies the security of such a frame as that described: It is always accompanied with a mortified heart, crucified unto the things that are the matter of our temptations; without which it is utterly impossible that we should be preserved one moment when any temptation doth befall us. If liking, and love of the things proposed, insinuated, commended in the temptation, be living and active in us, we shall not be able to resist and stand.
144[2.] In this frame the heart is filled with better things and their excellency, so far as to be fortified against the matter of any temptation. See what resolution this puts Paul upon, Phil. iii. 8; all is "loss and dung" to him. Who would go out of his way to have his arms full of loss and dung? And whence is it that he hath this estimation of the most desirable things in the world? It is from that dear estimation he had of the excellency of Christ. So, verse 10, when the soul is exercised to communion with Christ, and to walking with him, he drinks new wine, and cannot desire the old things of the world, for he says "The new is better." He tastes every day how gracious the Lord is; and therefore longs not after the sweetness of forbidden things,—which indeed have none. He that makes it his business to eat daily of the tree of life will have no appetite unto other fruit, though the tree that bear them seem to stand in the midst of paradise. This the spouse makes the means of her preservation; even the excellency which, by daily communion, she found in Christ and his graces above all other desirable things. Let a soul exercise itself to a communion with Christ in the good things of the gospel,—pardon of sin, fruits of holiness, hope of glory, peace with God, joy in the Holy Ghost, dominion over sin,—and he shall have a mighty preservative against all temptations. As the full soul loatheth the honey-comb,—as a soul filled with carnal, earthly, sensual contentments finds no relish nor savour in the sweetest spiritual things; so he that is satisfied with the kindness of God, as with marrow and fatness,—that is, every day entertained at the banquet of wine, wine upon the lees, and well refined,—hath a holy contempt of the baits and allurements that lie in prevailing temptations, and is safe.
(3.) He that so keeps the word of Christ's patience is always furnished with preserving considerations and preserving principles,—moral and real advantages of preservation.
[1.] He is furnished with preserving considerations, that powerfully influence his soul in his walking diligently with Christ. Besides the sense of duty which is always upon him, he considers,—
1st. The concernment of Christ, whom his soul loves, in him and his careful walking. He considers that the presence of Christ is with him, his eye upon him; that he ponders his heart and ways, as one greatly concerned in his deportment of himself, in a time of trial. So Christ manifests himself to do, Rev. ii. 19–23. He considers all,—what is acceptable, what is to be rejected. He knows that Christ is concerned in his honour, that his name be not evil spoken of by reason of him; that he is concerned in love to his soul, having that design upon him to "present him holy, and unblamable, and unreprovable in his sight," Col. i. 22,—and his Spirit is grieved where he is interrupted in this work; concerned on the account of his gospel, 145the progress and acceptation of it in the world,—its beauty would be slurred, its good things reviled, its progress stopped, if such a one be prevailed against; concerned in his love to others, who are grievously scandalized, and perhaps ruined, by the miscarriages of such. When Hymeneus and Philetus fell, they overthrew the faith of some. And says such a soul, then, who is exercised to keep the word of Christ's patience, when intricate, perplexed, entangling temptations, public, private, personal, do arise, "Shall I now be careless? shall I be negligent? shall I comply with the world and the ways of it? Oh what thoughts of heart hath he concerning me, whose eye is upon me! Shall I contemn his honour, despise his love, trample his gospel in the mire under the feet of men, turn aside others from his ways? Shall such a man as I fly, give over resistings? It cannot be." There is no man who keeps the word of the patience of Christ but is full of this soul-pressing consideration. It dwells on his heart and spirit; and the love of Christ constrains him so to keep his heart and ways, 2 Cor. v. 14.
2dly. The great consideration of the temptations of Christ in his behalf, and the conquest he made in all assaults for his sake and his God, dwell also on his spirit. The prince of this world came upon him, every thing in earth or hell that hath either allurement or affrightment in it was proposed to him, to divert him from the work of mediation which for us he had undertaken. This whole life he calls the time of his "temptations;" but he resisted all, conquered all, and is become a Captain of salvation to them that obey him. "And," says the soul, "shall this temptation, these arguings, this plausible pretence, this sloth, this self-love, this sensuality, this bait of the world, turn me aside, prevail over me, to desert him who went before me in the ways of all temptations that his holy nature was obnoxious unto, for my good?"
3dly. Dismal thoughts of the loss of love, of the smiles of the countenance of Christ, do also frequently exercise such a soul. He knows what it is to enjoy the favour of Christ, to have a sense of his love, to be accepted in his approaches to him, to converse with him, and perhaps hath been sometimes at some loss in this thing; and so knows also what it is to be in the dark, distanced from him. See the deportment of the spouse in such a case, Cant. iii. 4. When she had once found him again, she holds him; she will not let him go; she will lose him no more.
[2.] He that keeps the word of Christ's patience hath preserving principles whereby he is acted. Some of them may be mentioned:—
1st. In all things he lives by faith, and is acted by it in all his ways, Gal. ii. 20. Now, upon a twofold account hath faith, when improved, the power of preservation from temptation annexed unto it:—
146(1st.) Because it empties the soul of its own wisdom, understanding, and fulness, that it may act in the wisdom and fulness of Christ. The only advice for the preservation in trials and temptations lies in that of the wise man, Prov. iii. 5, "Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding." This is the work of faith; it is faith; it is to live by faith. The great [cause of] falling of men in trials is their leaning to, or leaning upon, their own understanding and counsel. What is the issue of it? Job xviii. 7, "The steps of his strength shall be straitened, and his own counsel shall cast him down." First, he shall be entangled, and then cast down; and all by his own counsel, until he come to be ashamed of it, as Ephraim was, Hos. x. 6. Whenever in our trials we consult our own understandings, hearken to self-reasonings, though they seem to be good, and tending to our preservation, yet the principle of living by faith is stifled, and we shall in the issue be cast down by own own counsels. Now, nothing can empty the heart of this self-fulness but faith, but living by it, but not living to ourselves, but having Christ live in us by our living by faith on him.
(2dly.) Faith, making the soul poor, empty, helpless, destitute in itself, engages the heart, will, and power of Jesus Christ for assistance; of which I have spoken more at large elsewhere.
2dly. Love to the saints, with care that they suffer not upon our account, is a great preserving principle in a time of temptations and trials. How powerful this was in David, he declares in that earnest prayer, Ps. lxix. 9, "Let not them that wait on thee, O Lord God of hosts, be ashamed for my sake: let not those that seek thee be confounded for my sake, O God of Israel;"—"O let not me so miscarry, that those for whom I would lay down my life should be put to shame, be evil spoken of, dishonoured, reviled, contemned on my account, for my failings." A selfish soul, whose love is turned wholly inwards, will never abide in a time of trial.
Many other considerations and principles that those who keep the word of Christ's patience, in the way and manner before described, are attended withal, might be enumerated; but I shall content myself to have pointed at these mentioned.
And will it now be easy to determine whence it is that so many in our days are prevailed on in the time of trial,—that the hour of temptation comes upon them, and bears them down more or less before it? Is it not because, amongst the great multitude of professors that we have, there are few that keep the word of the patience of Christ? If we wilfully neglect or cast away our interest in the promise of preservation, is it any wonder if we be not preserved? There is an hour of temptation come upon the world, to try them that dwell therein. It variously exerts its power and efficacy. There 147is not any way or thing wherein it may not be seen acting and putting forth itself. In worldliness; in sensuality; in looseness of conversation; in neglect of spiritual duties, private, public; in foolish, loose, diabolical opinions; in haughtiness and ambition; in envy and wrath; in strife and debate, revenge, selfishness; in atheism and contempt of God, doth it appear. They are but branches of the same root, bitter streams of the same fountain, cherished by peace, prosperity, security, apostasies of professors, and the like. And, alas! how many do daily fall under the power of this temptation in general! How few keep their garments girt about them, and undefiled! And if any urging, particular temptation befall any, what instances almost have we of any that escape? May we not describe our condition as the apostle that of the Corinthians, in respect of an outward visitation: "Some are sick, and some are weak, and many sleep?" Some are wounded, some defiled, many utterly lost. What is the spring and fountain of this sad condition of things? Is it not, as hath been said?—we do not keep the word of Christ's patience in universal close walking with him, and so lose the benefit of the promise given and annexed thereunto.
Should I go about to give instances of this thing, of professors coming short of keeping the word of Christ, it would be a long work. These four heads would comprise the most of them:—First, Conformity to the world, which Christ hath redeemed us from, almost in all things, with joy and delight in promiscuous compliances with the men of the world. Secondly, Neglect of duties which Christ hath enjoined, from close meditation to public ordinances. Thirdly, Strife, variance, and debate among ourselves, woful judging and despising one another, upon account of things foreign to the bond of communion that is between the saints. Fourthly, Self-fulness as to principles, and selfishness as to ends. Now, where these things are, are not men carnal? Is the word of Christ's patience effectual in them? Shall they be preserved? They shall not.
Would you, then, be preserved and kept from the hour of temptation? would you watch against entering into it?—as deductions from what hath been delivered in this chapter, take the ensuing cautions:—
1. Take heed of leaning on deceitful assistances; as,—
(1.) On your own counsels, understandings, reasonings. Though you argue in them never so plausibly in your own defence, they will leave you, betray you. When the temptation comes to any height, they will all turn about, and take part with your enemy, and plead as much for the matter of the temptation, whatever it be, as they pleaded against the end and issue of it before.
(2.) The most vigorous actings, by prayer, fasting, and other such 148means, against that particular lust, corruption, temptation, wherewith you are exercised and have to do. This will not avail you if, in the meantime, there be neglects on other accounts. To hear a man wrestle, cry, contend as to any particular of temptation, and immediately fall into worldly ways, worldly compliances, looseness, and negligence in other things,—it is righteous with Jesus Christ to leave such a one to the hour of temptation.
(3.) The general security of saints' perseverance and preservation from total apostasy. Every security that God gives us is good in its kind, and for the purpose for which it is given to us; but when it is given for one end, to use it for another, that is not good or profitable. To make use of the general assurance of preservation from total apostasy, to support the spirit in respect of a particular temptation, will not in the issue advantage the soul; because notwithstanding that, this or that temptation may prevail. Many relieve themselves with this, until they find themselves to be in the depth of perplexities.
2. Apply yourselves to this great preservation of faithful keeping the word of Christ's patience, in the midst of all trials and temptations:—
(1.) In particular, wisely consider wherein the word of Christ's patience is most likely to suffer in the days wherein we live and the seasons that pass over us, and so vigorously set yourselves to keep it in that particular peculiarly. You will say, "How will we know wherein the word of Christ's patience in any season is likely to suffer?" I answer, Consider what works he peculiarly performs in any season; and neglect of his word in reference to them is that wherein his word is like to suffer. The works of Christ wherein he hath been peculiarly engaged in our days and seasons seem to be these:—
[1.] The pouring of contempt upon the great men and great things of the world, with all the enjoyments of it. He hath discovered the nakedness of all earthly things, in overturning, overturning, overturning, both men and things, to make way for the things that cannot be shaken.
[2.] The owning of the lot of his own inheritance in a distinguishing manner, putting a difference between the precious and the vile, and causing his people to dwell alone, as not reckoned with the nations.
[3.] In being nigh to faith and prayer, honouring them above all the strength and counsels of the sons of men.
[4.] In recovering his ordinances and institutions from the carnal administrations that they were in bondage under by the lusts of men, bringing them forth in the beauty and the power of the Spirit.
Wherein, then, in such a season, must lie the peculiar neglect of the word of Christ's patience? Is it not in setting a value on the 149world and the things of it, which he hath stained and trampled under foot? Is it not in the slighting of his peculiar lot, his people, and casting them into the same considerations with the men of the world? Is it not in leaning to our own counsels and understandings? Is it not in the defilement of his ordinances, by giving the outward court of the temple to be trod upon by unsanctified persons? Let us, then, be watchful, and in these things keep the word of the patience of Christ, if we love our own preservation.
(2.) In this frame urge the Lord Jesus Christ with his blessed promises, with all the considerations that may be apt to take and hold the King in his galleries, that may work on the heart of our blessed and merciful High Priest, to give suitable succour at time of need.
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Why Monday Will Be Huge for Bank of America
I can't emphasize enough how important this upcoming week is for Bank of America and its millions of shareholders.
On Monday, the nation's 19 largest banks prostrate themselves before the Federal Reserve in the annual stress test, a rite of passage for lenders seeking to return capital to shareholders. If B of A fares well and gets the go-ahead to increase its dividend payout or repurchase shares, then it's safe to assume that its shares will skyrocket. But if not ... well, you can probably do the math.
Are you stressed yet?
The stress test is part of the Fed's Comprehensive Capital Analysis and Review, which evaluates the "capital planning processes and capital adequacy of the largest bank holding companies." Its purpose is to determine "whether firms would have sufficient capital in times of severe economic and financial stress to continue to lend to households and businesses."
It works like this. The Fed assumes a high-stress scenario -- last year, this included a peak unemployment level of 13%, a 50% drop in equity prices, and a 21% decline in housing prices. It then determines whether the institutions at issue would maintain capital ratios above the regulatory minimum levels. Those that are able to do so, assuming they've requested it, are allowed to increase the amount of capital they return to shareholders via dividends and/or stock buybacks.
In 2012, the majority of institutions, 15 out of 19, passed the test, with many -- including JPMorgan Chase and Wells Fargo , among others -- getting the all-clear to distribute more of their earnings. Suffice it to say, the four that failed the test -- Citigroup , Ally Financial, SunTrust Banks , and MetLife -- weren't among the latter group.
While B of A was among the banks that passed, it hadn't requested approval to increase its dividend and therefore didn't receive it. The reason it didn't ask probably had something to do with the Fed's demoralizing "rejection" of its analogous request in 2011. I use quotation marks because the Fed didn't formally reject B of A; it simply asked the company to resubmit the request later that year, which B of A prudently chose not to do.
So what about this year's tests?
This go-around, it's anticipated that virtually every bank will seek approval to increase the amount of capital they return to shareholders. According to sources cited by The Wall Street Journal, Citigroup will ask for permission to initiate its first share buyback since 2007 -- though the request is expected to be "minimal." Both JPMorgan Chase and Wells Fargo will move to pony up. As will Fifth Third , an Ohio-based regional lender that had a similar request denied last year.
The only one that's almost certainly not among these is Morgan Stanley , which has intimated that it'll use any excess capital to consummate the purchase of Smith Barney, a brokerage unit that it jointly owns with Citigroup.
While many analysts, myself included, assume that B of A is among the banks that will seek to return more capital, its CEO, Brian Moynihan, has been tight-lipped about whether it will, in fact, request approval to do so. He's declined to comment on the matter in multiple interviews with the media.
Working in its favor is that it's now the best capitalized too-big-to-fail bank, with a Basel III Tier 1 capital ratio of 8.97% -- JPMorgan comes in at 8.4%, Citigroup at 8.6%, and Wells Fargo at 8.02%. Working against B of A, however, is its erratic earnings stream, which Moynihan says the bank is "working to get through." In the third quarter of 2012, for example, B of A reported a mere $340 million in net income. A year earlier, it booked $6.2 billion in quarterly earnings.
Will B of A raise its dividend?
At least in the opinion of Meredith Whitney, the noted bank analyst who presciently predicted that Citigroup would have to slash its dividend in 2007, B of A will up its payout. Referring to B of A recently on CNBC, Whitney noted that she "hadn't seen an opportunity like this in four or five years." According to her, the bank's strong capital position and projected earnings will allow it to "quadruple" its dividend payouts this year -- though, to be fair, its dividend currently stands at only $0.01 per share.
For what it's worth, moreover, I agree completely -- though I wouldn't venture a guess about the magnitude of a potential increase. In the third quarter of this year, my stance on B of A changed dramatically, going from a reluctant apologist to an unabashed bull. In my opinion, and even in the face of its recent run-up in price, this bank is a buy all day long.
To learn more about the most-talked-about bank out there, check out our in-depth company report on Bank of America. The report details Bank of America's prospects, including three reasons to buy and three reasons to sell. Just click here to get access.
The article Why Monday Will Be Huge for Bank of America originally appeared on Fool.com.
John Maxfield owns shares of Bank of America. The Motley Fool owns shares of Bank of America, Citigroup, and JPMorgan Chase. Try any of our Foolish newsletter services free for 30 days. We Fools don't all hold the same opinions, but we all believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes us better investors. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
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Opening a pizza restaurant franchise isn't exactly the most original business idea. But James Markham found a way to make his business, Project Pie, stand out in the franchise world.
Franchises are often considered to be "cookie cutter" businesses. But Project Pie is the "anti-chain chain," according to Markham. Instead of using the standard franchise model, Markham encourages all of Project Pie's franchisees to create their own unique restaurants.
No two Project Pie locations look the same. The restaurants just use the same ingredients, pizza ovens, and training manuals.
Markham's goal is to have each Project Pie location look, feel, and smell like its own independent restaurant. But that doesn't mean that he isn't involved in the development of each franchise location.
While he does ensure that each location upholds the Project Pie brand, he also wants each franchisee to be involved in the creative process. And because of that, he is very deliberate in selecting franchisees. He said in a phone interview with Small Business Trends:
"Consumers want authenticity. And the authenticity in our brand carries through to each of our franchises. We get a lot of people who come to us and want to open 20 stores, and they might have a big checkbook but they don't really get the feel we're trying to create. We want to find the right people and the right personalities that really mesh with our brand."
Because of that selectiveness and authenticity, Markham said there's a certain unexplainable quality that holds each of the locations together, even though they aren't run by the same people and don't feature the same designs.
That overall feel, he said, is what truly sets Project Pie apart from the myriad competitors in the fast casual pizza market. Markham is no stranger to the pizza business after opening Mod Pizza in Seattle and Pieology in California. He said the biggest compliment he can receive is when someone can't explain exactly what it is that they like about Project Pie.
Project Pie currently has 5 franchise locations in the U.S. and 6 in the Philippines, with 20 more expected to open by the end of 2014.


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A group that's looking for the first Red Planet colonists received applications from more than 200,000 prospective astronauts vying for a spot on a one-way trip to Mars.
The non-profit Mars One Foundation hopes to send teams of four spaceflyers on one-way Mars colony missions starting in 2023. Its initial 19-week application window closed on Aug. 31, with a final tally of 202,586 volunteers.
The applicant pool is quite diverse with more than 140 countries represented, Mars One said in a statement. Nearly a quarter of the aspiring Mars colonists are from the United States. Ten percent of the applicants are Indians, the second largest group in the pool.
Mars One, based in the Netherlands, will face some major technical and funding challenges in the years ahead. It has not yet picked a spacecraft or rocket for the long voyage. The project also estimated it will cost about $6 billion to send its first crew to the Red Planet and $4 billion for each of the following missions.
The group started raising money through its application fees, which ranged from $5 to $75 depending on the applicant's country of origin. Mars One also hopes it will be able to raise funds with a reality TV show tracking the astronaut selection process and training.
Martian hopefuls who missed the deadline or were too young to apply this time around will have future chances to be considered. Mars One says it will start regular recruitment programs as the search for future Red Planet crews continues.
Follow Megan Gannon on Twitter and Google+. Follow us @SPACEdotcom, Facebook or Google+. Originally published on SPACE.com.


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text: Front Wheel Drive VS. AWD What is the Difference What is the difference between front wheel drive and all wheel drive?When you are looking for a new car, one of the decisions you have to make is whether to get a front wheel drive (FWD) or all wheel drive (AWD) vehicle. Both options have their pros and cons, so which one should you choose? Here is a look at the pros and cons of each option:How Do Front Wheel Drives Cars WorkFront wheel drive cars are powered by the front wheels, while the back wheels simply rotate and provide traction. This is different from rear wheel drive cars, which are powered by the back wheels. Front wheel drive cars are more stable and easier to control than rear wheel drive cars, making them a popular choice for many drivers.Another way to explain it would be to say that a front wheel drive vehicle transfers power from the engine to the front wheels, while a rear wheel drive vehicle transfers power from the engine to the back wheels.What are the pros of front wheel drive vehiclesFront wheel drive vehicles are better for fuel economy because only the front wheels are used to power the car. This means that less power is needed, and you will save on gas money.Rear wheel drive vehicles are better for getting through tough terrain and handling curves. The weight of the engine is at the back of the car, which gives it more stability when driving on winding roads or in slippery conditions.What are the cons of front wheel drive vehiclesFront wheel drive vehicles can sometimes be less stable than all wheel drive vehicles, especially when cornering or braking. This is because the weight of the engine is pushing down on the front wheels, which can cause them to lose traction. Additionally, front wheel drive vehicles can be more difficult to control in icy or snowy conditions.How does all wheel drive work?All wheel drive is a system that sends power to all four wheels of a vehicle. This can help improve traction and handling in slippery or challenging conditions. AWD systems vary in complexity, with some relying on sensors to detect when the car needs more traction and distributing power accordingly. Others use a center differential to split the power between the front and rear wheels.Regardless of the system in use, all wheel drive can provide a safer and more sure-footed driving experience. If you're looking for a car that can handle any condition, consider an all wheel drive model.What are the pros of all wheel drive vehiclesAll wheel drive vehicles are better in slippery conditions because all four wheels are used to power the car. This gives you more traction and prevents you from slipping and sliding. If you live in an area that gets a lot of snow, an AWD car is a better option. They also provide more stability and control than FWD cars when driving on slick surfaces.What are the con's of an all wheel drive car?All wheel drive cars can be more expensive than front wheel drive cars. They also require more maintenance, as all of the components need to be working properly in order to distribute power evenly. AWD cars can also be less fuel-efficient than FWD cars, and they take up more space on the road.So Which Type Of Car Car Should I Get?That's a question that can only be answered by you. Consider the pros and cons of both front wheel drive and all wheel drive vehicles to see which option would be best for your needs. If you live in an area with lots of icy or snowy conditions, an all wheel drive vehicle might be a better option. But if you live in a warmer climate and don't need the extra traction, a front wheel drive vehicle could be a better choice. Ultimately, the decision is up to you! Posted 05/17/2023 in Car Buying Tips


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Israeli leaders are urging the international community to stop Iran's pursuit of nuclear weapons after a U.N. agency said Tehran's nuclear program was not just for peaceful forces. There is debate in Israel about a possible military attack against Iran, but many opinion leaders say that should be a last resort.
The Israeli reaction came one day after a report by the International Atomic Energy Agency [IAEA] that said there is credible information that Iran was working to develop nuclear weapons.
Opposition leader Tzipi Livni said the IAEA report makes clear where Iran is heading.
"Iran threatens not only the interests of the free world, but the values of the free world. And this is something that needs to be defended. And we expect the international community, the free world, to stop Iran and prevent Iran from having a nuclear weapon," said Livni.
Iran postures, Israel prepares
Iran says its nuclear program is for civilian purposes only and that the U.N. report was based on lies.
Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak told Israel radio Tuesday that tougher sanctions should be imposed. He said it appears the international community is at "the last opportunity to impose drastic, internationally coordinated sanctions that would force Iran to stop" its nuclear weapons program.
Barak indicated that military attacks on Iranian nuclear installations, however, should be the last option.
In the days before the U.N. report was published, there was a flurry of media speculation that Israel's government was considering a military strike on Iranian nuclear facilities. Senior Iranian military officials warn that any attack against Iran will bring a severe response.
But Israeli President Shimon Peres said that such an attack was becoming more and more likely.
Focus on military option
Last week, the Israel military test-fired a ballistic missile. Israeli rescue and medical workers also held a drill near Tel Aviv to respond to a simulated foreign missile attack.
Media reports in Israel and Western countries said Netanyahu and Defense Minister Barak were trying to convince a divided Cabinet of the need for a military strike against Iran. There reportedly was resistance, though, from many ministers and senior military officials.
Israeli analyst Yossi Melman said the benefits from any Israeli attack against Iran would not justify the repercussions, which could include Iranian missile attacks on Israel and possibly a regional conflict. But he said tougher economic sanctions are not likely to work.
"I believe that it's not going to change the reality. Iran would continue with its efforts to have nuclear weapons. The sanctions would not be tough enough, and diplomatic measures are going to be exhausted. And we are, once again, in the same place, arguing about the military option," said Melman.
Barak said a military attack on Iranian nuclear facilities remains an option, though the least desirable one. And he said that while Israel prefers an international response, the country is, in his words, responsible for its own safety.