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Study Finds "Extreme" Climate Change in National Parks
Global warming threatens visitor experience and national treasures, scientists say.
Many national parks in the United States have already experienced "extreme" climate change over the past few decades, and the trend is likely to accelerate unless bold steps are taken, government scientists warn in a new study.
Those changes are likely to disrupt visitor experiences and damage natural and cultural resources.
"This report shows that climate change continues to be the most far-reaching and consequential challenge ever faced by our national parks," National Park Service Director Jonathan B. Jarvis said in a statement.
For the study, published in the peer-reviewed journal PLOS One Wednesday, National Park Service scientists studied weather records from 289 U.S. parks for the years 1901 to 2012. They then compared the historical trends for that period with the trends over the past few decades.
The results show that "many of our parks have been changing in extreme and dramatic ways over the past 10 to 30 years," says study lead author Bill Monahan, a parks service scientist based in Fort Collins, Colorado.
The study authors wrote that "parks are overwhelmingly at the extreme warm end of historical temperature distributions" for several key variables, including annual mean temperature, minimum temperature of the coldest month, and mean temperature of the warmest quarter.
Eighty-one percent of the parks studied have seen such extreme heat in the past few decades, Monahan says. Notable examples include Grand Canyon in Arizona, Sequoia and King's Canyon in California, Mammoth Cave in Kentucky, and Appomattox Court House National Historical Park in Virginia.
Precipitation has been more variable across the parks over the past 112 years, although Monahan notes that 27 percent of the parks have seen extreme drought in recent decades. Mojave National Preserve in California and Lake Mead National Recreation Area in Nevada and Arizona have been unusually dry, while Cape Lookout National Seashore in North Carolina and Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area in New Jersey and Pennsylvania have been extremely wet.
Looking into the near future, the study suggests that "everything in the parks is affected by climate change, from glaciers melting at Glacier National Park to the lack of tree propagation at Joshua Tree National Park," says Stephanie Kodish, the clean air program director for the nonprofit National Parks Conservation Association. (See "10 Most Visited National Parks.")
Parks as Climate Laboratories?
The new study "saw a strong correspondence to the results that came out in [the Obama administration's May 2014] National Climate Assessment," says Monahan. But the new study provides more granular detail of local conditions within parks than that broader report.
"What's important for us is that parks experience climate change at the local level, so managers need climate data at that scale so they can factor it into their plans," he says.
Kodish says the parks data is especially useful because it is based on a "long, unbroken chain of information." That's because parks officials have kept detailed records on what's happening on their lands for more than a century.
Kodish calls the study "another piece of information that tells the story of what things look like and how important it is to manage and mitigate climate change."
Visitor Impacts?
The study warns that future visitors to national parks may have to contend with hotter, drier weather (or in some cases wetter weather); loss of scenic glaciers; disruptions to vegetation and wildlife; and rising sea level.
For example, the report warns that rising seas and more severe storms threaten the cultural and archaeological sites in Jamestown, Virginia. At Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park in Maryland, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia, increased flooding may damage historic bridges, locks, and monuments.
In the Grand Canyon, drier conditions may result in loss of natural springs that sustain wildlife.
"With an eye on the approaching National Park Service centennial in 2016, the report highlights the need to provide up-to-date scientific information to park and neighboring land managers, and for sufficient climate science to be disseminated to the general public so that parks are positioned to protect their resources for future generations," the agency said in a statement.
"The longer the delay in mitigating greenhouse gas emissions that lead to climate impacts, the more exacerbated the effects will be on national parks," says Kodish.


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Monday, April 08, 2013
Both Sides Claim Victory in Montenegro Vote
Associated Press
PODGORICA, Montenegro April 7, 2013 (AP)
Both the incumbent and the opposition candidate claimed victory in Montenegro's presidential election Sunday, fueling political tensions in the small Balkan country which is striving for European Union membership. State election authorities had yet to release any official results in the race for the largely ceremonial post.
President Filip Vujanovic, from the ruling Democratic Party of Socialists, said that based on his camp's own, full count of the votes, he had won 51.3 percent of ballots, while opponent Miodrag Lekic won 48.7 percent.
"I want to inform the public that I have achieved a victory," Vujanovic announced. "I would like to thank the citizens of Montenegro."
Lekic's camp, however, said it had counted 97 percent of the ballots and that their candidate had won 50.5 percent of the votes, compared to 49.5 for Vujanovic. The opposition said it expected the result to remain the same until the end of the counting process.
Lekic described his opponent's declaration of victory as "resembling an attempted coup d'etat."
"The citizens of Montenegro have trusted me to become the president," Lekic said. "I urge the other side to act in a serious and responsible manner. We will demand that each ballot be counted."
A contested vote could raise political instability in Montenegro, which opened European Union accession talks last year and needs to move ahead with the necessary reform process.
The presidency, which comes with a five-year term, does not have much power, but the tight result in the election still deals a blow to Montenegro's governing coalition, which has ruled the country virtually unchallenged for more than two decades.
Vujanovic is after his second presidential term since Montenegro became independent in 2006. He is an ally of Montenegro's powerful prime minister Milo Djukanovic and a strong advocate of Montenegro's integration into the EU as well as NATO.
Djukanovic appeared by Vujanovic's side on Sunday. He said Vujanovic's victory is indisputable and urged the opposition to "accept reality."
"The government will not allow anyone to jeopardize the legal order and stability in Montenegro," the prime minister warned.
Lekic is a former ambassador-turned-opposition leader whose candidacy won backing from most of Montenegro's otherwise divided and diverse opposition parties. Lekic has campaigned strongly on allegations that Djukanovic's government is plagued with corruption and crime.
He also has urged a referendum on NATO membership and an apology from the alliance for the 1999 bombing of the country while it was still part of Serb-led Yugoslavia.
For most of Montenegro's more than 600,000 people, the most important issue is the economy. The average salary in the country is less than 500 euros per month, while the unemployment rate officially stands at around 20 percent.
"We have had enough," said Radmila Pavicevic, an elderly resident of Podgorica. "They (authorities) have nearly choked us pensioners to death, and I feel sorry for the young too."
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Emotional, dramatic and catchy background music includes hip hop beats, clean piano, orchestral strings, electric guitar, synth, hats, snares or crash. Best for cinema, movie trailer, corporate videos, commercials, advertisement or as web page music.
If you want to re-adapt music or you need some special effects for your project, please, contact me by email: email@example.com not hesitate to contact me if you have any question. I will reply your question/request within 24hrs.


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Remember when? Way back when it was called the Infinity Open (and then the Mercedes Benz Cup), an American named Michael Chang snatched the Los Angeles title twice — in 1996 and 2000. 1996 was quite the summer for Chang, who shrugged off a first-round loss to Albert Costa at Wimbledon and take titles in both DC and LA before making a run to the US Open final where he lost to Pete Sampras. Including Flushing Meadows, Chang would rack up a 22-3 record that summer, helping boost him to his career-high no. 2 in September. 2000 was somewhat of a different story for the 1989 French Open winner, taking the LA title with a surprise run that saw him beat Jan-Michael Gambill in the final (remember him?!). Chang also downed Justin Gimelstob in the semis to win what would be the last of 34 career titles.
TSF Vault: Michael Chang | More Flashbacks
Off-topic: The "other" Michael Chang
(Getty Images photo)


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BTC homepage
Beginning on April 1, 2023, proof of COVID-19 vaccination will no longer be required for entry into the country.
Voted the World's #1 Best Beach by TripAdvisor's Travelers' Choice awards, Grace Bay is 12 miles of sweeping white-sand beach on the north shore of the island of Providenciales in Turks and Caicos. Located on the best stretch of this famous beach, all-inclusive resort Beaches Turks & Caicos is lapped by the calmest and clearest turquoise waters, perfect for every type of water sport.View All Awards
For everyone who has ever dreamed of getting away from it all and finding a tropical hideaway far removed from all the hustle, bustle, fuss and muss of modern life - Beaches all-inclusive resort in Turks & Caicos is that rarest of discoveries, a true island escape.
The ocean is your playground with watersports and scuba diving. Only Beaches all-inclusive Caribbean resorts offer the most comprehensive resort diving program, and best of all, it's all included.LEARN MORE
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In the Xbox Play Lounge, guests of all ages can enjoy unlimited free play! Test your skills, play with friends or challenge your own family on a variety of Xbox games - from racing and sports to adventure and fun, there's sure to be a game for everyone to enjoy!LEARN MORE
The sleek new hotspot gives tweens and teens another a great place to make new friends and one more reason to brag about their Beaches Resorts vacation. Adults take over later at night, when the champagne bottles are uncorked and premium spirits are poured.LEARN MORE
Now you can enjoy creative street food concepts in between laps on the lazy river or waterslides with Beaches new waterpark food trucks. From the Mac Daddy of cheese food trucks to the chilliest ice cream food truck.
Don't take our word for it...
see what our guests are saying about their recent resort stay!


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WASHINGTON – The Philippines needs up to four squadrons (48) of upgraded Lockheed Martin F-16 fighter jets, more well-armed frigates and corvette-size, fast to surface combatant vessels and minesweepers and four to six mini submarines, possibly obtained from Russia, to build a credible defense force in the face of China's increasing belligerence in the South China Sea, the Center for a New American Security (CNAS) said.
This level of capability would far exceed current Philippine planning and finances and it would be in Washington's interest to make it easier for Manila to acquire excess US fighters, frigates and other weapons system and encourage other countries such as Japan and South Korea to help modernize the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), it said in an article "Defending the Philippines: Military modernization and the challenges ahead."
The CNAS article on Thursday written by Richard Fisher said the AFP's modernization program was estimated to cost about $1 billion over the course of President Aquino's six-year term – an amount that pales in comparison to China's 2012 official military budget of more than $100 billion.
A high-level Philippine delegation led by Foreign Secretary Albert del Rosario and Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin was in Washington this week for discussions on each other's needs to ensure freedom of navigation in the South China Sea.
A Hamilton-class frigate, now the flagship of the Philippine Navy, was turned over by the US last year and a second one is forthcoming. A third frigate is being sought.
The article lauded Aquino's determination to build up his country's military forces and said he has spent more than $395 million on AFP modernization since coming into office, compared with $51 million annually in the previous 15 years.
It said he is seeking to purchase a small number of F-16s supported by six to 12 Surface Attack Aircraft (SAA)/Lead-In Fighter Training (LIFT) aircraft such as the subsonic Italian Aermacchi T-346 or the supersonic Korean Aerospace Industries (KAI) T/A-50, both of which could be modified to perform secondary combat missions.
A considerable investment in training, logistical support and basing will have to precede the aircrafts' service entry, estimated to be in 2016, the article said.
In 2011, the Philippine Navy (PN) restored a program to acquire two multi-role vessels in the form of 5,000-to-10,000-ton Landing Platform Deck (LPD) ships capable of supporting Marine amphibious operations supplying outposts in the Spratly Islands or conducting disaster relief operations.
The PN is also looking for a land-based anti-ship cruise missile like a version of the US Boeing AMG-84 Harpoon which has a range of 120 kms and could also be used by frigates and F-16s, said Fisher, a senior fellow with the International Assessment and Strategy Center, in his article.
"Finally, the PN would like to acquire a submarine by 2020, which would become its most ambitious and expensive program to date," the article said.
Given the economic and political stakes in ensuring that all East Asian countries maintain unimpeded access to the sea lanes near the Philippines, both those nations and the United States now share a real interest in the success of the AFP modernization.
The timing is also fortuitous, the article said, because "the United States now has a pragmatic partner in President Aquino who has proved his intention to invest in national defense and is willing to rise above nationalist resentments from the bases era."
The left wing Communist party dominant in the Philippines booted the biggest Americans Airbase in the Pacific in 1992.
USA real-time satellite surveillance assistance over maritime territory to the Philippines
The three-week standoff between the Philippines and China at Panatag Shoal (Scarborough Shoal) in the West Philippine Sea (South China Sea) has led the US to agree to provide the Philippines, its old ally, with satellite surveillance assistance, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said on Friday.
US Defense Secretary Leon Panetta in Washington announced the American assistance after a Philippine delegation conferred with him.
"In a meeting with the Philippine delegation at the Pentagon, Secretary Panetta agreed to intensify Philippine-US cooperation on real-time information-sharing to enable the Philippines to know what is happening in its maritime territory on a 24/7 basis and enforce its laws within its territory," a DFA statement said.
Panetta also gave assurance the US "will do everything possible to work with the Philippines."
The DFA also added that the US, one of the most advanced countries in intelligence gathering via surveillance satellites, will be sending PHL "real-time" information about territorial intrusions to assist the country in addressing and preventing similar incidents in the West Philippine Sea.
Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario and Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin had met this week with Panetta and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton in Washington.
The US has declared that it will be aiding the Philippines once it is attacked to honor its 60-year-old defense treaty with Manila, but until then it shall not take sides.
It also pledged to increase its foreign military financing allocation for the Philippines to $30 million from just $15 million last year, said Assistant Secretary Andrew Shapiro, head of the State Department's Bureau for Political-Military Affairs.
"The State Department will explore additional creative funding streams for the Philippines," Shapiro added.
A second Hamilton-class cutter will also be transferred by the US to PHL for use in monitoring the West Philippine Sea and other maritime territories.
The standoff between the Philippines and China began on April 10 when Chinese fishermen were said to have intruded and poached at Panatag Shoal. The Philippine Navy tried to arrest them but two Chinese government ships intervened which started the standoff.
Both countries regard Panatag Shoal as their territory with the Philippines claiming it to be part of its Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) which is within 200 nautical miles of the nearest Philippine land mass. China said the shoal, which it refers to as Huanyang Island, has been theirs since the Yuan dynasty in the 13th century.
However, the Philippines pronounces its claim based on the United Nations Convention of the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) rule, which gives it the exclusive right to explore and develop Panatag Shoal, a part of its EEZ. UNCLOS was approved by both countries.
The shoal is a coral reef surrounding a lagoon located 124 nautical miles from the Philippines' Zambales province and 472 nautical miles from China's Hainan province.
Composed of more than 200 islands, rocks, reefs and coral outcrops, West Philippine Sea has always been a place of uneasy conflict where the Philippines, China, Brunei, Malaysia, Taiwan and Vietnam are all claiming part of it. The sea is home to immeasurable natural resources


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Sure, there's no air in space. But once you've overcome that rather urgent deficiency, you've got to deal with another one: no water. Thanks to science, astronauts can solve that problem by just drinking pee. Zero-G YouTuber and ISS astrodinaire Chris Hadfield explains.
Meet Microsoft's New Surface Laptops
Until a few years ago, water had to be shipped up to spacestronauts in bags, alongside their food, but a fairly monstrous centrifugal distiller has changed all that, and the result is purified pee that's cleaner than any water you've had in your mouth recently. Good to know we'll be ready to mine for spice on Arrakis when the opportunity presents itself. Hopefully by then the distiller will be a tad smaller. [YouTube]


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Lester Holt was named Principal Anchor of "Dateline" in September 2011. Holt serves as the weekend anchor for the flagship broadcast "NBC Nightly News," and is also the co-anchor of the weekend edition of "Today." In addition, Holt serves as fill-in anchor and correspondent for "NBC Nightly News with Brian Williams" and the weekday "Today" program. He also contributes to MSNBC, NBC's 24-hour cable news network.
Holt joined the NBC News family in 2000 and has reported from many of the world's hot spots. In 2003 he reported from the Kuwait/Iraqi border as US forces prepared to launch their invasion of Iraq. In 2006, he reported from the front lines in Lebanon on the war between Israel and Hezbollah and from London on the terror threat to U.S. bound-airliners from the UK. In early 2010, Holt traveled to Haiti where he reported on the immediate aftermath and response to the devastating earthquake. In early 2011, Holt reported from the streets of Cairo on the latest political and civil unrest in Egypt. In March 2011, Holt travelled overseas to cover the earthquake and nuclear crisis in Japan. Other major international stories he has covered include the mysterious 2009 crash of an Air France jetliner over the South Atlantic. Holt was also among the early wave of reporters to cover the oil leak disaster in the Gulf of Mexico. He was in the same region in 2005 when both hurricanes Katrina and Rita came ashore.
Over the last year, Holt has covered a wide range of stories for "Dateline." In August 2011 – telling the story of the larger struggle in the American economy to lower unemployment – Holt reported from Millen, Georgia, a small industrial town so devastated by the Great Recession that its unemployment numbers were more than twice the national average. In January of this year, Holt conducted an exclusive interview with Oscar and Grammy winner Jennifer Hudson, and the following month, he anchored a special "Dateline" tribute to legendary singer, actress and producer Whitney Houston, who had died suddenly the day before. In March 2012, Holt reported from Sanford, Florida on the latest in the Trayvon Martin case and in June 2012 – as part of "Dateline's" Emmy award-winning series, "America Now" – Holt reported on suburban poverty in America, sharing the shocking and personal stories of families confronting poverty for the very first time.
Before becoming co-anchor of "Weekend Today," Holt anchored "Lester Holt Live," a daily news show on MSNBC in which he covered breaking news and provided news updates and analysis. Holt has also served as the lead anchor for daytime news and breaking news coverage on MSNBC. He has served as a primary anchor for MSNBC's coverage of the biggest news events of the last several years, including Operation Iraqi Freedom and the war in Afghanistan, and he was the lead daytime anchor for MSNBC's coverage of Decision 2000. Holt also served as anchor of "Countdown: Iraq," a nightly news telecast concentrating on the latest developments surrounding the war with Iraq, from October 2002 through March 2003.
The award-winning broadcast journalist came to MSNBC from WBBM-TV in Chicago, where he spent 14 years. His duties at WBBM-TV included anchoring the evening news. Holt not only worked at the anchor desk in Chicago, but he also reported extensively from trouble spots around the world including Iraq, Northern Ireland, Somalia, El Salvador and Haiti. He has contributed to the CBS News broadcast "48 Hours," earning a 1990 Robert F. Kennedy Journalism award for his work on "48 Hours: No Place Like Home." In 2010, Holt was part of the "Today" anchor team that won the Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Morning Program.
Previously, Holt worked as a reporter at WCBS-TV in New York City from 1981-82. In 1982 he transferred to sister station KCBS-TV (then KNXT) in Los Angeles as a reporter and weekend anchor and returned to WCBS-TV a year later as a reporter and weekend anchor.
Holt studied government at California State University in Sacramento. He resides in New York City with his wife.
Lester Holt
Lester Holt was named Principal Anchor of "Dateline" in September 2011. Holt serves as the weekend anchor for the flagship broadcast "NBC Nightly News," and is also the co-anchor of the weekend edition of "Today." In addition, Holt serves as fill-in anchor and correspondent for "NBC Nightly News with Brian Williams" and the weekday "Today" program. He also contributes to MSNBC, NBC's 24-hour cable news network.


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The most successful people in the world are the most motivated – correct? Not entirely. In this article Chad Howes shares some insightful ideas on how you too can be successful.
It isn't motivation that creates success, but habit and action. The most successful people in the world definitely have passion for what they do, but passion that isn't accompanied by action is rendered useless. It is your habits, more than anything, that will lead to your eventual success.
20 habits that will make you highly successful
If your days are dominated by habits that help you on your journey to success, you'll one day find yourself exactly where you want to be, doing what you want to be doing, earning what you want to be earning.
- Don't define success with a dollar amount, but in relation to your happiness.
The habit of defining success with a dollar amount will lead you to constantly chasing a higher price point. It's a chase that will never end, and a view of success that will never be attained. Get in the habit of seeing your success and your happiness in the same light.
- Read before you write or work.
Reading a good book will get the creative juices flowing, the brain learning, and your knowledge base growing. Try reading for 30 minutes to start your day.
- Wake up at the same time everyday.
Having a good sleep routine will help you have more energy to do more work during the day.
- Always finish your to do list.
Get in the habit of never leaving anything that you wanted to finish at the beginning of the day, incomplete at the end. If you simply do what you set out to do, it will be hard for success to elude you.
- Keep your to do list small and scaled.
Have 1 or 2 things that are important to finish, and make sure you finish them first. The rest of your tasks should be tended to only after your most important ones have been completed.
- Keep two journals; one for your planning, scheduling, and work.
The other for your big ideas, thoughts, and goals. Writing stuff down makes it real and tangible. A to do list, a goal, or a dream, that isn't written down isn't yet real.
- Measure everything.
Every goal you set needs to be measured. Every sales page you create, needs to be measured. If you measure everything you'll have a blueprint for exactly what does work, and what doesn't.
- Stick to 90-minute work sessions.
Few people actually work as much as they say they work. Their time is usually made up of distractions. They Facebook, Tweet, and surf the interwebz. Time your work sessions. Keep a stopwatch. Focus for 90-minutes, take an active break, then get back to the beautiful grind.
- Take active breaks.
A work break should enhance your working experience. It can't – at all costs – take away from it. So do something active that will get your blood pumping and your mind working as effectively as it was when you first started working in the wee hours of the morning.
- Wake up early.
The list of successful people who wake up before the rest of the world is far too long to list. This isn't a coincidence. Get up before 6 am, 7 days a week and get a head start on your day and your dream.
- Put your family first.
Success can't exist without family – even if that "family" is simply loved ones and friends. You need to be working for a greater purpose than your own monitory gain if you're going to accomplish true success.
- Work harder than your competition.
If you work harder than everyone else, success can't hide from you. You will find it. And you will enjoy it.
- Use a board.
Use a big white board to keep your goals visible and close.
- Share your dream.
Get in the habit of talking to others who have a similar dream, even if the similarity is the enormity of your goals, and the audaciousness of your plans. Napoleon Hill coined this relationship "a mastermind", and it's one of the most important factors in your eventual success.
- Only surround yourself with successful people.
That is, don't have "suckers" in your midst – people who will tear you away from your work, and destroy your dream. If you have friends that do this, stop hanging out with them. Are they worth you living a mediocre life when greatness can be in your future?
- Keep a healthy body.
Without a healthy body it becomes evermore difficult to maintain a healthy mind.
- Spend your money only on things that will propel your dream.
Cars, "things", are only good for boosting your image in an effort to impress people who you really don't want to impress. Spend money, instead, on your own development and your business to fuel your growth.
- Make a sacrifice.
Get in the habit of sacrificing things that you may like in your life, for things that will help you become a success. The road to greatness isn't one of excess spending and easy living. Hustle. Focus. Sacrifice. Succeed.
- Review your journals every month.
A journal can bring you clarity when you write in it, but it's far more powerful when you get in the habit of reviewing it.
- Write down 3 things you're thankful for every day.
What you'll find is that success is often in your midst if you look at it from the right perspective. And study after study has shown that happy people achieve far greater things than pessimistic, unhappy individuals. This habit, combined with hard work, is as simple a recipe for success as you can create. It's also an effective one.
If your habits are those of a successful, happy, productive, hard-working person, there's no way that you can't be successful. Make your success unavoidable by changing your habits.


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While many photographs from space highlight the view of Earth from above, a new video showcases the sight of the stars from a higher vantage point than usual: the International Space Station.
Photographer and aspiring astronaut Alex Rivest compiled a time-lapse video of night sky imagery from the space station, showing the glowing sweep of stars rotating overhead, as well as the misty sight of the Milky Way and other celestial wonders.
"Time-lapse sequences of the stars remind us, not only of our constant movement in space, but in the back-drop of un-imaginable depth," Rivest told SPACE.com in an email. "On a lucky night living in the city, you can maybe see 5 stars if you are lucky, so to be able to get away from light pollution and be reminded of how many stars there are is always a humbling experience."
Most of the photographs featured in the video were taken by NASA astronaut Don Pettit, who is currently living and working aboard the orbiting laboratory as part of the long-duration Expedition 30 mission.
Pettit's photos feature the familiar circular arcs produced in extended exposures of stars. In photos taken from the ground, the effect is caused by Earth's rotation. However, Pettit recreated these star trails from his perch in space — often from the station's panoramic Cupola, which offers a 360-degree view through seven windows. [Video: Stars From Space Station - Brilliant Views]
"I got the idea to do the same thing from Space Station; however, the physics of orbit adds a special twist," Pettit wrote in a NASA blog posted Monday (March 26). "As Space Station orbits, it keeps one side always facing the Earth (the nadir direction from our point of view). This requires the Station to complete one revolution about its axis each orbit, just like the Moon."
Many of the shots are illuminated by the green and purple glow of auroras, or northern and southern lights, created when charged particles from the sun slam into Earth's magnetic field.
"Having seen some of the amazing compilations that had been put together of the Aurora and the Earth at night recently, I found myself drawn to the glimpses of the stars in each shot, and wanted to create a video for myself that was a compilation of the best star shots," Rivest said.
He was also interested in getting a better idea of what it's like to see the universe from space, since he recently applied to NASA's 2013 Astronaut Candidate Class.
"Part of the reason I made this video is because I wanted to imagine what it would be like to sit in the Cupola during a research break and watch the stars," Rivest said.
Follow SPACE.com for the latest in space science and exploration news on Twitter @Spacedotcom and on Facebook.


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Outdoor Wildlife Learning Sites (OWLS)
OWLS Guidelines
Click on the PDF below to view all guidelines and procedures to start your OWLS project.
Site Features
Learning sites vary in size and character as each is tailored to the school grounds/area being considered.
Contact Us for Information
For more information contact the Education Section at:
KS Dept. of Wildlife and Parks
ATTN: Wildlife Education Service
512 SE 25th Ave.
Pratt, KS 67124
(620) 672-5911
Or use the Education Email Form.


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Do you need a code to buy Airtime, top-up, or to recharge your mobile phone directly from ECOBANK, SKY BANK or FCMB? Do you want to recharge your phone without stressing yourself looking for somewhere to buy physical recharge card?
All the banks in Nigeria are gradually rolling out easy top-up code. So, you no longer have to stress yourself searching for airtime vendors or ATM machine to buy physical recharge card.
In my earlier posts, I showed you;
• the airtime recharge code for Access bank.
• the airtime recharge code for GTbank.
• the airtime recharge code for Fidelity bank, Firstbank, UBA and Zenith bank.
Today, I will show you;
• How to buy airtime from ECO Bank using a simple ussd code
• How to recharge your phone from your Sky Bank Account
• Airtime recharge code for First city monument bank (FCMB)
Here below is quick mobile recharge code for buying airtime directly Eco Bank, Sky Bank and FCMB
• ECO BANK recharge code
The Eco bank recharge code is *326*Airtime amount#
Example; if you want to top-up your phone with N500 using Eco bank recharge code, dial *326*500# and your phone will be credited instantly.
• SKY BANK airtime recharge code
The Sky bank airtime recharge code is *389*076*1*Airtime amount#
Example; if you want to recharge your phone with N1000 using Sky bank recharge code, dial *389*076*1*1000#
• FCMB bank recharge card code
The FCMB bank recharge card code is *389*214*1*Airtime Amount#
Example; if you want to buy N1000 airtime using FCMB bank recharge code, dial *389*214*1*1000#
Requirements for using these Codes to Buy Airtime from the Banks
a. Code should be dialled from the phone number that is tied or link to the bank account.
b. These banks may require a sought of activation before you can begin to use the service even if your phone number is tied/linked to your bank account. You will receive an error message or one like this; YOU HAVE NOT BEEN PROVISIONED FOR THIS SERVICE. PLESAE CONTACT YOUR BANK FOR MORE INFORMATION if your phone number has not been activated to use the service. However, if you have previously receive a message from your bank telling you that you can use the service then you don't need any sought of activation.
Is there any hidden Charge Attached to Recharging Phone via Bank Recharge Code
Any Benefit Buying Airtime using bank USSD Code
i. YES! It is quick and convenient.
ii. You can recharge from the comfort of your home, office, anywhere.
For questions and comments, you can use the comment box below


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ATLANTA – Andrew McCutchen dropped a flyball and Pedro Alvarez flubbed a grounder.
The two errors in a span of three at-bats in the third inning led to an unearned run for Atlanta that was the difference as the Pittsburgh Pirates fell to the Braves 4-3 on Sunday.
The errors helped Atlanta's Tim Hudson a win in his season debut and helped give Kevin Correia his first loss.
The Pirates led 2-0 after a two-run single in the second inning by Jose Tabata, who had three hits.
The two errors helped launch Atlanta's comeback.
With one out in the third, McCutchen dropped Hudson's fly ball to center field for the first error. After Michael Bourn walked, Alvarez bobbled Martin Prado's grounder at third base for another error. Hudson scored on Freddie Freeman's sacrifice fly, cutting the Pirates' lead to 2-1.
McCutchen couldn't explain why the ball didn't stick in his glove. The sun glared off his sunglasses, but he appeared set for a routine catch.
"I don't know what really happened," McCutchen said. "Routine fly ball. Just missed the ball. You shake your head.
"I hate that it happened. We had two errors that inning. ... We didn't get the job done. I didn't get the job done. (Correia) doesn't deserve that loss. I wish I could take it for him."
Added Alvarez: "We have to make the plays behind him. If we make the plays, it's a different story."
Pirates manager Clint Hurdle said it was an uncharacteristic defensive lapse for his team.
"We had been rolling for over a week playing really good defense," Hurdle said. "It was just today we put two on in one inning. You give a team five outs, you're lucky to get out of it with just a run."
Hurdle called McCutchen's drop "just a miss."
"The ball gets in the sun a little bit but you think you've got it," Hurdle said. "It doesn't happen very often but it does happen, even up here."
Hudson (1-0) pitched in the majors for the first time since his operation last November to repair a herniated disc. The right-hander threw 96 pitches while giving up two runs on six hits and two walks. He allowed at least one baserunner in every inning.
Hudson gave a mixed review of his performance.
"It wasn't a great day from me, stuff-wise, but I feel like it was step better from me than my last time out, my last rehab start," Hudson said.
Hudson's return was especially important to the Braves' rotation after Jair Jurrjens' struggles earned him a demotion to Triple-A Gwinnett on Tuesday.
"Everybody was pumped up," said Martin Prado, who hit his second homer off Brad Lincoln in the seventh.
The Pirates stranded 10 runners, including eight against Hudson.
"We were 1 for 13 with runners in scoring position and seven innings we had runners in scoring position, so there were plenty of opportunities to come up with more than three runs," Hurdle said.
Craig Kimbrel gave up one run in the ninth before earning his eighth save. Tabata hit a one-out double, advanced to third on McCutchen's groundout and scored on Kimbrel's wild pitch. Kimbrel struck out Garrett Jones to end the game.
Michael Bourn had three hits and a walk for the Braves.
Correia (1-1) gave up two earned runs on four hits and five walks in 4 1-3 innings. He walked three batters in the fifth, including a bases-loaded pass to Dan Uggla that snapped a 2-all tie.
The Pirates loaded the bases in the second on singles by Alvarez and Michael McKenry and a walk to Alex Presley. Tabata drove in two runs with a single down the right-field line.
Tyler Pastornicky's double to left-center off Correia in the fourth drove in Uggla, who walked.
Jonny Venters, Atlanta's third reliever, ended the eighth by striking out Josh Harrison with two runners on.
NOTES: Presley was 0 for 4 as his 12-game hitting streak ended. ... The Pirates ended their streak of seven straight wins when scoring more than one run. ... Braves C Brian McCann returned after missing only one game with a strained muscle in his right side. ... The five walks were one below Correia's career high. ... Braves LHP Mike Minor will look for his third win when he faces James McDonald in Monday night's final game of the four-game series. The Braves, who have won two of the first three, will try to win their sixth straight series since losing three straight at the Mets to open the season.


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Find out how E.ON is pioneering energy efficiency with light
E.ON had high hopes for its new office. The goal was to make the site as energy efficient as possible, with an appearance that would please visitors and employees. To accomplish this, a 100% LED lighting solution was chosen. E.ON commissioned the project through an ESCO (energy service model), ensuring that the investment would be recouped through electricity savings.
The latest LED fixtures were installed across the site, bringing glare-free illumination to the workspaces, communal areas and toilets. The primary luminaire used was CoreLine recessed, which provides refreshing lighting while meeting all office norms. In addition, Dynalite controls create further energy savings through natural light detection and presence activation. By automatically dimming the overheard fixtures when there is enough natural light, or when there is nobody in the area, the controls keep unnecessary energy use to a minimum.
The upgrade exceeded all expectations. Environmental needs have been met, and as a result, this building is the first in the area to be awarded a class A energy rating. The lights have also helped to make the office a productive workspace while minimizing costs. EON have since announced plans to introduce LED technology into its other buildings – a proud moment for Philips lighting.
Thanks to the new lighting system, E.ON is achieving energy savings of more than 83%, leading to reduced energy bills.


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WASHINGTON -- Staying the course on bariatric surgery, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) eliminated a certification requirement for facilities that provide bariatric procedures.
According to a decision memo posted on the agency's website, CMS "determined that the evidence is sufficient to conclude that continuing the requirement for certification for bariatric surgery facilities would not improve health outcomes for Medicare beneficiaries. Therefore, CMS has decided to remove this certification requirement."
The decision affirmed a tentative ruling CMS announced last summer -- a decision opposed by the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery (ASMBS) and the American College of Surgeons (ACS) that jointly manage a certification program.
In response to the CMS final decision, ASMBS president Jaime Ponce, MD, of Hamilton Medical Center in Dalton, Ga., said in a statement, "We are disappointed and in strong disagreement with a ruling that appears to disregard overwhelming scientific evidence and medical opinion that bariatric accreditation programs save lives, improve patient outcomes, and enhance quality of care."
In the same statement, ACS executive director David B. Hoyt, MD, said, "The standards required for accreditation provide important life-saving safeguards for patients, particularly for Medicare beneficiaries, who have a higher risk of morbidity and mortality than the general bariatric surgery population. We encourage Medicare patients to continue to select an accredited center for bariatric surgery."
Joining the ASMBS and ACS in expressing disappointment with the CMS ruling were the Obesity Society, Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, American Society of Bariatric Physicians, American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists, and the Society of American Gastrointestinal and Endoscopic Surgeons.
In a letter to CMS last summer, ASMBS, ACS, and other supporters of accreditation cited 10 studies relevant to bariatric surgery outcomes and the CMS certification proposal. Results from seven of the 10 studies supported accreditation.
Two studies were co-authored by ASMBS president-elect Ninh T. Nguyen, MD, of the University of California Irvine and showed higher perioperative mortality associated with bariatric surgery procedures at non-accredited facilities. The studies involved data from more than 300,000 bariatric procedures performed from 2006 to 2010.
'Serious Problems with Access to Care'
The CMS decision appeared to hinge on evidence provided by representatives of the Michigan Bariatric Surgery Collaborative, which initiated the motion to lift CMS's certification requirement for bariatric surgery facilities.
John Birkmeyer, MD, Nancy Birkmeyer, PhD, and Justin Dimick, MD, MPH, all of the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, cited data from three studies published from 2009 to 2013, showing no significant differences in mortality or complications between accredited and non-accredited facilities.
Restricted access to bariatric surgery services in rural areas was cited as another reason to end the certification requirement. Patients whose nearest hospitals lacked certification for bariatric surgery were forced to travel long distances in some cases to undergo procedures at accredited facilities.
"The studies that we published used national data, hospital data from 12 states outside of Michigan," Dimick told MedPage Today. "Those demonstrated that the accreditation program by Medicare didn't really have benefit for safety and outcomes for patients in those 12 states. They also demonstrated serious problems with access to care."
Better Outcomes, Better Safety
Accreditation supporters remain convinced that accredited facilities achieve better outcomes and have better safety records.
"We think the CMS decision is premature," ASMBS past president Robin Blackstone, MD, of Scottsdale Healthcare in Arizona, told MedPage Today. "We agree that safety has improved since accreditation was put in place during 2004 and 2005. We know that is multifactoral, but we believe strongly that accreditation contributed to it."
Facilities accredited by ASMBS/ACS pay $6,400 a year for the services, which raises questions about the extent to which money figures into the discussion.
"It's important to realize that we did not do accreditation for the purposes of coverage of care. We did accreditation because we believe that patients are best taken care of within a system of care. That is really well defined by the accreditation program," according to Blackstone.
Initially, fees for the certification program were handled through a third-party vendor that applied the funds toward building the infrastructure necessary for the accreditation process, she added. The ACS has since taken over responsibility for manging finances of the program.
"The college of surgeons is probably the last group anyone would accuse of being money motivated," Blackstone said. "They have accreditation programs in oncology and trauma, and every single one of those programs grew out of the need to provide a platform for safe care for the patients."
Impact on Private Payers?
Taken at face value, the CMS decision would appear to have a modest impact on the bariatric surgery field at large. Medicare beneficiaries account for a small percentage of bariatric surgery volume in the U.S. The decision does not affect private payers' certification requirements.
"My conversations with [representatives of private payers] have left me with the sense that they are very supportive of accreditation," Blackstone said. "For them, it provides a shorthand way to say that they are working with really committed providers. I think it helps them a lot in terms of making decisions about programs to partner with."
Dimick isn't so sure.
"We know from other policies that everyone trusts the process that Medicare goes through when they make coverage decisions," he said. "Everyone trusts their review of the evidence. They know that Medicare has the best professionals available to review the evidence, weigh the evidence, and decide which evidence to make decisions on.
"I think many private payers may follow suit and recognize that these accreditation programs may not be having as large a benefit; we may not need them as much as we did 10 years ago and they also may recognize that they're causing problems with access to care."
The impact of the CMS decision remains to be seen and will depend on providers' reactions to the end of the certification requirement for Medicare patients, said Bruce Wolfe, MD, another ASMBS past president.
"If providers of bariatric surgery carry out all of the components that are required to establish certification ... then there may not be much, if any, effect on outcomes in bariatric surgery," Wolfe, of Oregon Health & Science University in Portland, told MedPage Today.
Avoiding a Step Backwards
"On the other hand, if there is a shift back toward what was happening in 2006 -- with multiple hospitals doing small numbers and having poor outcomes -- then that could have a negative impact on the outcomes," Wolfe added.
The accreditation programs were set up to correct problems, not to serve as primary resource projects, he explained. Given the improvement in safety and outcomes since the programs were put in place, making data-driven decisions is not possible because of the small numbers of events that occur, a point CMS acknowledged in its decision.
"We will do our best to accumulate data to determine what impact is occurring, but it will take time because the numbers are not great and there is some delay in getting the numbers together," Wolfe said. "Since the complication rates are so low now, it does make it more challenging to determine whether small differences in outcomes are occurring."


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Big plans for small nuclear reactors
Cover story: U.S. nuclear power plant outlook: new designs, safety, plant openings are part of the nuclear energy spotlight in 2014. Speakers at a recent American Nuclear Society meeting discussed more efficient nuclear reactor designs with simpler controls, nuclear plant safety, small modular reactors, and timeline for next new nuclear power plants.
More efficient nuclear power plants, small modular reactors, safety, timeline for next new nuclear power plants, and nuclear power were among topics discussed at a recent American Nuclear Society (ANS) meeting. See images and related links. Nuclear energy in the U.S. continues to progress with a mix of positive and some negative developments. An update on recent progress follows, including a summary of current issues related to the U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE) nuclear energy programs, presented on Feb. 6 by Dr. Peter B. Lyons, DOE's assistant secretary for nuclear energy.
The American Nuclear Society (ANS) presented Dr. Peter B. Lyons as the speaker for a February 2014 meeting of its Chicago Section. In "Current Issues: DOE's Nuclear Energy Programs," Lyons noted that the federal Omnibus Budget (FY'14) has treated nuclear energy quite well, to the tune of $888 million. Dr. Lyons is DOE assistant secretary for nuclear energy and a former commissioner of the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC).
DOE has a multitask mission to develop technologies for current and new nuclear reactors. Programs to improve reliability, sustain safety, and extend useful life apply to current reactors—while work to develop "improvements in affordability" targets new reactor technology. Other related DOE activities noted by Lyons include reducing regulatory and technology risks, managing nuclear waste, and understanding and minimizing risks of nuclear proliferation and terrorism.
Several areas of nuclear energy received substantial increases in the latest federal budget funding. One example was "advanced nuclear fuels," an initiative that plans to develop meltdown-resistant fuels, Lyons noted. Driven by the Fukushima Dai-ichi power plant incident, the accident-tolerant fuels program seeks to reduce hydrogen generation and mitigate hydrogen explosions. Only at a research and development (R&D) stage, this longer range program includes methods to improve cladding properties of fuel rods.
Advanced reactor technologies, such as high-temperature reactors, represent another area of increased funding. Current focus is on gas- and sodium-cooled reactor designs. An adjunct area is research into how to make aging nuclear power plant components last longer. It's difficult to replace concrete structures, cables, and pressure vessels in aging plants, some of which soon will be more than 60 years old, Lyons explained.
However, the overall longevity of U.S. nuclear power plants attests to their design integrity, which has allowed license extensions and safe operation well beyond their original design life.
Thermal cycles, computational tools
Current nuclear reactors operate on the Rankine cycle, which provides about 33% thermal efficiency. Work is ongoing to develop reactors that will operate using supercritical thermodynamics based on the Brayton cycle, allowing greater than 40% efficiency. Lyons also mentioned dramatic turbine size reduction and more efficient thermal conversion obtainable with Brayton cycle power plants.
High-performance computing and advanced modeling and simulation play a crucial role in managing the complex physics and control requirements of nuclear energy. A number of further initiatives are being pursued to advance existing and new reactor designs. New computational tools will allow researchers to focus on details not previously practicable. This is seen as enabling solutions applicable to wide areas ranging from nuclear fuels to the operation of complete nuclear power plants, according to DOE.
SMR technologies
Small modular reactors (SMRs)—typically under 300 megawatt electric (MWe) output-represent a relatively new approach for nuclear energy. Industry experts consider such smaller reactor designs as a key element for the resurgence of U.S. nuclear energy. Lyons listed several benefits of SMRs.
— Factory-built SMR units can be transported intact to the plant site. As a result, associated capital costs can be lower and small reactors could be a more economically feasible investment for more power companies.
— Modularity means reactors can be brought online in "bite-sized" chunks-as determined by power demand. SMRs also pose potentially less strain on the electric grid.
— Small modular reactors offer further attributes to the market. For example, they could more easily live up to construction schedules, fit well into smaller electricity grids of many countries, and can be air cooled, according to Lyons.
"Overall, small modular reactors could represent a new paradigm for nuclear energy," Lyons said. "Cost per kilowatt will be key."
DOE has entered into cost sharing agreements with industry to develop SMRs. Two recent programs are noteworthy. One agreement, awarded to mPower America—a partnership of Babcock & Wilcox Co., Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA), and Bechtel—has the goal to support commercial operation of a 180-MWe reactor by 2022 to be built at TVA's Clinch River site in Oak Ridge, Tenn. Lyons mentioned that mPower's reactor design is based on 60-year life and a 4-year refueling cycle. The rail-shippable integral pressurized water reactor modules will feature passive safety systems.
Commercial operation in 2021
mPower America has developed a plan that expects to achieve a commercial operation date of October 2021, according to DOE. Key program activities include:
- Submitting design certification application to the NRC by late 2014 for approval by 2018.
- Performing geological characterization at TVA's Clinch River site.
- Submitting a construction permit application to the NRC by mid-2015 for approval by 2018.
A second SMR initiative announced in December 2013 was with NuScale Power LLC. It's described by DOE as offering a mix of safety, scalability, transportability, economics, and advanced state of design maturity. This cooperative agreement with DOE is forecast to achieve commercial operation in the 2025 timeframe. NuScale Power's reactor design intends to implement smaller 45 MWe modules that feature natural circulation (gravity, convection, and conduction) for normal operations and safe shutdown-without the need for pumps, Lyons noted. The integral pressurized water reactor design allows scalability for up to 12 modules at one plant site with maximum 540 MWe output.
Key activities include:
- Complete the preliminary design by the first quarter of 2015
- Execute testing programs in support of design development and NRC review requirements
- Submit design certification application to the NRC by mid-2015 for approval by late 2018
- Complete primary system final design by the end of 2018.
Nuclear energy has its opponents, whether those reactors are of traditional utility scale or small and modular. SMR opponents pose arguments of distributing nuclear facilities to more sites and associated potential for terrorism. The counterpoint is the exceptional safety record of larger U.S. nuclear reactors, sometimes referred to as the "platinum standard." Safety can be expected to be further leveraged into future small modular reactor designs.
Control aspects of small modular reactors
Reduced physical size allows implementing simpler instrumentation and control (I&C) systems for small modular reactors (SMRs) compared to large light-water reactors. Simplicity includes use of natural circulation through the reactor—eliminating the need for pumps in some designs—as is the case for NuScale Power's development. Reactor safety remains the paramount consideration.
SMR plant I&C architecture is composed of two main system types: one for safety-related functions and one for non-safety-related functions. Safety-related I&C architecture will be a new hardware logic based system, incorporating multiple layers of diversity to enable simplicity of the overall plant protection system architecture, according to NuScale Power. Choice of the non-safety I&C system platform will be left to a site license applicant and will not be specified for design certification.
I&C system functions and process variables to be monitored will be similar to those for a typical pressurized water reactor—for example, pressure, temperature, flow, level, and neutron flux. Number of sensors per reactor module is yet to be determined, but will be proportionally less than the number for a typical large light-water reactor, NuScale noted.
As for I&C system communications and/or bus networks, a custom and proprietary design will be used for safety-related functions; for non-safety-related functions this area will not be specified for SMR design certification.
State of the industry
The good news is that five new nuclear power units are presently under construction after a 30-plus-year hiatus (see reference online). New construction comprises two reactors at the A.W. Vogtle power plant (units 3 and 4) in Georgia, being built by Southern Co., and two reactors under construction at South Carolina Electric & Gas Co.'s V.C. Summer plant (units 2 and 3) located in that state. An additional, partially built reactor is being completed at TVA's Watts Bar unit 2 plant in Tenn.
Expected operating dates for these new reactors are presently on the following schedule: Watts Bar 2 by late 2015; Vogtle 3 and 4 in 2017 and 2018, respectively; and Summer 2 and 3 in late 2017 and 2019, respectively. Over a longer time frame (2022-2025) another four to six reactors may come online.
Meanwhile, five reactors have been shut down recently due to various reasons other than safety problems. Flat electricity demand and low natural gas prices, along with age-related issues are the forces that could cause further reactor shutdowns. One example of the above market forces leading to an early closing is the case of Dominion's Kewaunee (Wis.) plant. This otherwise well-performing nuclear plant with many years of scheduled operation remaining was closed in 2013. As the DOE's Lyons puts it, the U.S. market situation is such that "The nation doesn't currently value nuclear energy."
The U.S. still has the largest number of nuclear reactors operating (99 as of this writing), but as a result of recent closings, nationwide electric power generation from nuclear sources has dropped to 18%-down from just above 20% where it stood over a substantial time period. Although 18% of total U.S. electricity production represents a huge energy resource, it does indicate a serious trend.
"Impact of nuclear energy plant retirements could have a dramatic future effect on power availability," Lyons said. One possible scenario being reviewed by DOE is the potential closure of one-third of the U.S. reactors by 2035 due to end of design life. Without sufficient replacements, such a development would pose serious concerns.
In comparison, 70 nuclear units are under construction worldwide, with China, South Korea, and Russia among prominent participants.
Some people have referred to the recent new plant construction in the U.S. as a nuclear renaissance. "I don't call it a nuclear energy renaissance," Lyons concluded. "The nation will need far more nuclear power in the future for which we have to be ready."
The American Nuclear Society is a not-for-profit, international, scientific and educational organization headquartered in Washington, D.C. The core purpose of ANS is to promote awareness and understanding of the application of nuclear science and technology.
– Frank J. Bartos, P.E., is a Control Engineering contributing content specialist. Reach him at firstname.lastname@example.com.
Key concepts
- U.S. Department of Energy has a mission to develop technologies for current and new nuclear reactors.
- New technologies aim at improving efficiencies and safety.
- Five nuclear power reactors are under construction in the U.S.
Consider this
Without expansion of U.S. nuclear development, a baseload power shortage seems likely as the last-generation of power plants retire.
– See related articles at the bottom of this posting.
Advancing Technology: 'American Idle' – Nuclear Power
Reference – U.S. nuclear power update: A 2012 overture?
Do you have experience and expertise with the topics mentioned in this content? You should consider contributing to our CFE Media editorial team and getting the recognition you and your company deserve. Click here to start this process.


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Event details
- January 2, 2028
- 2:30 pm
- 317-201-5669
We meet every Sunday at the back parking lot of ACLU across the street from Hardees, at 1031 E. Washington Street, Indianapolis 46202, between 2:30 – 2:45 pm every Sunday. We go over some ground rules and safety tips to our volunteers, then pray together as a group (we've had some 80+ people holding hands and praying together, it's awesome). We have a short church service at 3 pm then serve a hot meal and fellowship. Make sure to confirm the location with us before you show up!


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EVH 5150 III 50-Watt Amp Review
Fender has once again joined forces with Eddie Van Halen to expand the 5150III amp family. This time the result is a smaller 50-watt version of the master's signature amp.
Tubes: Two JJ 6L6 power tubes, seven JJ ECC83 preamp tubes
Output: 50 watts at 4, 8, or 16 Ω
Channels: Clean, crunch, and lead
Controls: Master presence and resonance; channel 1 and 2 share gain, 3-band EQ, and volume; channel 3 independent gain, 3-band EQ, and volume
Additional Features: 4-button footswitch, FX loop, MIDI switching
Pros: Crunch channel delivers brown sound tones with ease. More than enough gain to handle the heaviest of tones. heaps of available volume.
Cons: Occasionally weak clean tones. Lead channel's strident attack limits it to mostly
aggressive tones.
Ease of Use:
Street: $999
Fender has once again joined forces with Eddie Van Halen to expand the 5150III amp family. This time the result is a smaller 50-watt version of the master's signature amp. It's driven by two 6L6s and seven 12AX7s, which glow inside the amp's ivory shell (black is also an option), and the three channels are configured to deliver clean, crunch, and molten lead tones. The clean and crunch channels share EQ, gain, and volume knobs, and a pair of presence and resonance knobs adjusts the high-end cut and low end. An included footswitch controls channel-switching and engages the amp's serial effects loop. And in a classic Fender-inspired design move, there are two metal plates with thumbscrews mounted to the bottom of the head, which securely lock it to the EVH 2x12 cab when it's leaned back on its tilt-legs.
Using a Stratocaster on the clean channel with the preamp gain set just under 10 o'clock delivers a clean tone that works well with arpeggios and rhythmic interludes, but doesn't have quite as much girth or sparkle as you might expect. Paired with a Les Paul, the crunch channel delivers a thick, woody midrange and snappy low end that sounds closer to Eddie's famous brown sound than just about any previous 5150 model. Crunch is easily the most versatile channel of the three, with enough range of gain to pull off everything from classic to modern hard rock.
With a Les Paul, the third channel delivers a raucous and sizzling overdrive with more gain on tap than most players will ever use. In fact, there's not much of an audible difference in tone when the gain is turned up past 1 o'clock. The snappy attack is very intense, and perfect for modern thrash metal. But it's nearly impossible to reign in that aggression without sacrificing a lot of high-end character, and this limits the amp's ability to pull off more dynamic lead work while keeping the tone robust.
Watch Ola Englund demo the amp:
See more Monsters of High Gain 2013 reviews and videos:


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Now, time to gear up for 2011. You have been warned!
The essentials:
• Godawful Poetry Fortnight runs from the 19th to the 31st August.
• Our Patron Saint is William Wordsworth.
And he gets this signal honour for saying that poetry "is the spontaneous overflow of powerful feelings." Way too many aspiring poets have rallied behind that banner, too few going so far as recollecting those emotions in tranquillity, let alone reading the rest of the preface to Lyrical Ballads (which can be found on Bartleby, for those interested).
• To join in, all you have to do is post on your blog*, Facebook or Google+ a godawful poem you have written, with—all totally optional—a brief note about GPF, a bit about what godawful poetry means to you, and a link to this post.
• Post godawful poems as often as you like during the Fortnight. (The True Believers Challenge: post thirteen godawful poems, one on each day of the Fortnight.) Squeeze your muse like a boil. Get it all out. Pester your friends to post too. Once GPF is done, you will write good poetry for the rest of the year, yes?
• Technorati is pretty much dead now. So just use a Godawful Poetry Fortnight tag or label on your post, and maybe a #GodawfulPoetryFortnight Twitter hashtag as well.
• To those who feel the need to point out this Fortnight lasts only thirteen days, we draw our cape around us, and say, in a marked manner, "Poetic license."
* I'd be happy to link to you if you tell me where your poem is.
If you don't have a blog, you're welcome to use the comment space here or, if you know me and have my address, email me your poems and I'll post them as guest posts.


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For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
May 9, 2002
President Urges Senate to Act on Judicial Vacancy Crisis
Remarks by the President After Meeting with Members of Congress on Federal Judicial Nominations
The Roosevelt Room
Fact Sheet: Judicial Vacancy Crisis
THE PRESIDENT: I want to thank the senators for being here today; we're talking about a judges. We have a vacancy crisis in America. There are too many seats that aren't filled with judges and, therefore, America hurts, America is not getting the justice it needs.
Ours is a system that relies upon an independent court system, and when there is vacancies, the American people suffer. And I call upon the Senate to approve -- at least give hearings to people we've sent up to the Senate. There are 30 circuit court vacancies in America, and they've approved seven. This is a bad record, and it's a record that's bad for the country.
Over a year ago I submitted the names of 11 qualified, well-qualified Americans, and the Senate has only dealt on three of them. These senators here bring stories about circuit courts in their own states, in their own districts that because of vacancies, good, honest Americans aren't getting their hearings. And this isn't right.
For the good of the country, the Senate needs to act and act expeditiously on the nominees I've sent up. It's important that our judiciary be full.
I'll be glad to answer a couple of questions.
Q Mr. President --
THE PRESIDENT: You're second, Sonya.
Q Mr. President, do you think this is just -- do you think this is just raw politics on the part of the Democrats?
THE PRESIDENT: Well, you can ask the senators here. But, yes, I do. I think it's bad politics. These are well-qualified -- you know, they've relied upon the American Bar Association in the past. These nominees have been given well-qualified or qualified ratings. Yes, I think it's raw politics and I think it's bad for the country.
Q Mr. President, the CIA --
THE PRESIDENT: Is this going to have anything to do about judges?
Q -- launched a missile attack against an Afghan warlord. Is this now U.S. policy --
THE PRESIDENT: What was that, again?
Q Near Kabul, an Afghan warlord survived a missile attack, and this has been acknowledged today by government officials. I'm trying to -- what my question to you is, is whether this is now the policy to pursue with missiles anyone that's -- I mean, why are we firing at this man? Is he suspected to be Taliban or al Qaeda?
THE PRESIDENT: I can assure you when we go after individuals in the theater of war, it's because they intend to do some harm to America.
Q Mr. President, last night your budget director said that he had, in his words, grave doubt whether the deficit can be erased by 2004, as your administration previously said that it would be. Does it give you any concern that you might be facing a reelection campaign at a time when the budget would still be in red ink?
THE PRESIDENT: Well, first of all, I'm not thinking that far ahead about my election. I am thinking about how to win a war, how to get this country's economy growing and how to deal with a national emergency.
When I ran for office I said the only way we'd have a deficit, as far as I was concerned, if any of those three happened. All three happened. And I firmly believe that we need to spend what it takes to protect our freedoms, and we're going to do that. We need to make sure our military has got the best equipment, the best training, the best pay possible to win this war.
And it's going to take a while to win the war. This isn't a war that's going to end tomorrow. It's a war that is going to require a steady, patient, united country going after people who still want to harm America. It's going to require money to make sure our national security, homeland security is intact.
And in terms of the economy, the economy is beginning to come back -- but certainly not as strong as I would like. And until the economy comes back as strong as it can, revenues aren't going to be as good as they should be.
Q Mr. President, Israeli officials told me yesterday that you weren't against the idea of moving Yasser Arafat out of a position of power in a reformed Palestinian Authority as long as he was neither hurt nor exiled. Is that an accurate reflection of your opinion?
THE PRESIDENT: No, it's not. No, it's not an accurate reflection of what went on in the Oval Office, as the Secretary of State has made clear -- who was in the meeting, as well.
What is an accurate reflection of my opinion is that Mr. Arafat has let the Palestinian people down. He hasn't led. And as a result, the Palestinians suffer and my heart breaks for the Palestinian moms and dads who wonder whether or not their children are going to be able to get a good education and whether or not there's going to be a job available for their children.
And one of the things that we did talk about was how to put institutions in place so that a potential Palestinian state can be a peaceful neighbor with Israel. Reforms, such as making sure there is a single command security force that can be held accountable for arresting terrorists; reforms such as having a kind of economic system that would help promote rule of law and defeat corruption; reform so that if there is ever a rebuilding campaign -- which we've expressed an interest in doing and the Europeans have -- that the money is actually spent on the projects that we intend them to be spent on. And that's what we did discuss.
Q Do you have any confidence that the Hamas members arrested today, sir, will stay in jail?
THE PRESIDENT: We'll have to see. But what I said was -- I said I was pleased that Chairman Arafat spoke in Arabic against terrorism. That's good. That's a positive development. Now it's up to Chairman Arafat to perform, to keep them in jail; arrest them and keep them in jail. In order for there to be peace, there must be -- we must rout out terror. And the answer to your question, time will tell.


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Episode 190: Lean (Software) Development
Recording Venue: WebEx
Guest: Christof Ebert
Christof Ebert, managing director of Vector Consulting Services talks with Frances Paulisch on his insights to how lean applies to product development. The interview centers around five key principles of lean development, namely end-to-end focus on creating value for the customer, eliminating waste, optimizing value streams, empowering people, and continuously improving. This IEEE podcast addresses lean software development as opposed to management or manufacturing theories. In that context, we sought to address some key questions: What design principles deliver value, and how are they introduced to best manage change? Many practical examples illustrate how to introduce lean without strangulating development.
- IEEE Software special issue on lean development
- Guest editors' introduction
- Vector Consulting Services on efficiency improvement
- Lean development presentation of Christof Ebert
Podcast: Play in new window | Download
Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | RSS


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The world's top security and encryption experts who spent time last week at RSA Conference 2016 trying to figure out how to keep devices and communications secure yet also enable criminal investigations came up with nothing except to punt the issue to the U.S. Congress.
And Congress will take up the issue this week with Attorney General Loretta Lynch scheduled to testify to the Senate Judiciary Committee. The panel is looking into the Justice Department in general, but the topic is expected to come up.
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She told RSA that what's needed is dialog between the two sides of the encryption question, which has come to a head over Apple's refusal to write software to help the FBI crack one of its iPhones that was used by one of the terrorists who shot up a San Bernardino public health facility in December.
At the same time, Lynch was also unyielding on the need for investigators to gain access to encrypted devices in order to track-down crime.
Again and again in panels and keynotes at RSA some of the industry's top talent acknowledged the difficulty of making both sides happy, but did agree that the decision properly belongs with federal legislators after public debate that thoroughly views the matter from all sides first.
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U.S. Rep. Michael McCaul of Texas, who also spoke at the conference, is pushing just such a course. He has written a proposal to create a federal commission on encryption with a mandate to write a report and recommend what to do. "This issue is one of the greatest law-enforcement challenges and a challenge to privacy and security of data," he said during his talk at the conference. "Encryption works for us but when turned against us can be a threat."
A panel of lawyers at the conference said a new law is needed that specifically addresses the issue of encrypted communications and whether and to what extent law enforcement should be able to compel parties to decrypt it.
In trying to get Apple's help to break into the terrorist's phone the government drew on a law called the All Writs Act, which gives courts power to issue orders to help investigators with court orders when no other remedy is specified in other laws.
They lawyers noted that when the government wanted phone companies to install devices to capture what numbers were called from rotary-dial telephones, a new law called Communications Assistance for Law Enforcement Act (CALEA) was enacted. "No one was thinking about the All Writs act when CALEA was written," says Stewart Baker, a partner in law firm Steptoes & Johnson.
He questioned whether the All Writs Act actually covers the Apple case as the FBI says it does.
Congress may have a tough time passing a law that protects encrypted communication, says James Lewis, director and senior fellow at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, who also spoke on the panel. That's because it would be too easy to say a politician failed to protect the country in the face of threats. "I voted for terrorism," he says. "That's how it will be spun. This will never come to a vote."
But if nothing is done before another act of terror that might have been prevented with a backdoor law, then Congress will act without reflection and come up with a bad law, says McCaul. "We cannot wait for the next attack," he says. "After the attack rationality will be thrown out the window."
He summed up the current options facing Congress: support creation of the study commission, amend CALEA to address encrypted communications, do nothing.
Meanwhile, cryptologist Adi Shamir, who helped develop the RSA public-key cryptosystem, said during an RSA panel that in the absence of any new law, Apple and other vendors of encryption devices ought to make ones that even they could not decrypt. That way they could say their products are secure and that they would be unable to comply with court orders like the one facing Apple.
Speaking on a different panel, former CIA Director Mike McConnell said that while he favored such backdoors 20 years ago, now he doesn't. "The nation is literally being raped for its intellectual property," he says. And one way to help stop that is strong encryption properly applied.
He was once an advocate of the Clipper Chip, encryption hardware where the keys to decrypt were held in escrow so law enforcement could crack the communications. Since then he has come to see that the country is digitally dependent and that its corporate secrets must be kept. "Ubiquitous encryption is something our nation needs to have," he says.
Trevor Hughes, president and CEO of the International Association of Privacy Professionals who sat on the same panel, says that privacy and security isn't an either-or proposition. Rather it's a situation where both have to be addressed, but it also has to remain open to renegotiation. The conversation has to continue indefinitely to respond to new technology as it is developed, he says.


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NPR "Best Books of 2013"
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Library Journal Best Books of 2013: Memoir
Flavorwire 10 Best Nonfiction Books of 2013 A vivid, funny, and poignant memoir that celebrates the distinct lure of the camaraderie and community one finds drinking in bars. Rosie Schaap has always loved bars: the wood and brass and jukeboxes, the knowing bartenders, and especially the sometimes surprising but always comforting company of regulars. Starting with her misspent youth in the bar car of a regional railroad, where at fifteen she told commuters' fortunes in exchange for beer, and continuing today as she slings cocktails at a neighborhood joint in Brooklyn, Schaap has learned her way around both sides of a bar and come to realize how powerful the fellowship among regular patrons can be. In Drinking with Men, Schaap shares her unending quest for the perfect local haunt, which takes her from a dive outside Los Angeles to a Dublin pub full of poets, and from small-town New England taverns to a character-filled bar in Manhattan's TriBeCa. Drinking alongside artists and expats, ironworkers and soccer fanatics, she finds these places offer a safe haven, a respite, and a place to feel most like herself. In rich, colorful prose, Schaap brings to life these seedy, warm, and wonderful rooms. Drinking with Men is a love letter to the bars, pubs, and taverns that have been Schaap's refuge, and a celebration of the uniquely civilizing source of community that is bar culture at its best.
- Publisher: Riverhead Books
- Publish Date: January 2014
- Dimensions: 8.2 x 5.2 x 0.9 inches
- Shipping Weight: 0.55 pounds
- Page Count: 288
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