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BELIEVE ME. NO ONE wants these new snowboards in production more than Ernie and me!Read More
November 30, 2016
January 11, 2015
SBC Business
October 24, 2014
September 11, 2014
The Collection of Brooke Long
August 27, 2014
Retro Snoboard Collector's Edition
August 9, 2014
Retro Snowboard Update
March 4, 2014
Chuck Barfoot Interview
February 25, 2014
Hardcore BARF to the Bone!
February 20, 2014
Longboard Classic 2014
April 12, 2013
Chucky's Instagram Contest Winner
March 1, 2013
Carving Through History with Chuck Barfoot Part Two: BARFOOT is Back
February 20, 2013
Carving Through History With Chuck Barfoot Part One: The Old Days
August 5, 2012
Barfoot Returns
February 9, 2012
Powder And Rails - Chuck Barfoot Part 2
February 5, 2012
Powder And Rails / Chuck Barfoot Part 1
April 10, 2010
Chuck Barfoot at Powder Mountain Catskiing
March 6, 2008
Barfoot Snowboards Turns 30
September 10, 1998
Chuck Barfoot Interviewed
SBC Business
Many thanks to TWS for the awesome opportunity!Read More
This 1981-82 LIMITED COLLECTORS EDITION BARFOOT SNOBOARD is the very first of my snowboards made under the BARFOOT DESIGNS name as a company!Read More
The Collection of Brooke Long
This is a real stoker!Read More
Retro Snoboard Collector's Edition
This is the first (artist proof) 1981-82 RETRO BARFOOT SNOBOARD COLLECTORS EDITION off the press!Read More
Retro Snowboard Update
1981-82 RETRO SNOBOARD UPDATE! We just pressed the first test blank this past week and it came out PERFECT! YOU CAN BE SURE TO BE RIDING THESE PUPPIES THIS WINTER! :-0 I WILL KEEP YOU ALL INFORMED AS WE MAKE PROGRESS! KEEP YOUR SHRED ON!Read More
Chuck Barfoot Interview
My good friend Jake Des Roches just posted an interview with me over at Mountain Weekly News!Read More
Hardcore BARF to the Bone!
Don't ya love it!Read More
Longboard Classic 2014
The Woodstock of Snowboarding, The Longboard Classic in Stuben am Alberg is happening April 5th, 2014. Yours truly is the Special Guest!Read More
Chucky's Instagram Contest Winner
So many awesome #barfoot tags out there, and we have a winner. You just can't argue with @onelovebriggs collection of BARFOOT models.Read More
Carving Through History with Chuck Barfoot Part Two: BARFOOT is Back
Stoked to present Part 2 of the talk with Jake Des Roches for Teton Gravity Research.Read More
Carving Through History With Chuck Barfoot Part One: The Old Days
Stoked to do an interview with Jake Des Roches for Teton Gravity Research!Read More
Barfoot Returns
Bouncing back from some major health issues, Chucky is back with Ernie and are busy crafting new boards as we speak. Stay Tuned!Read More
Powder And Rails – Chuck Barfoot Part 2
In Part 2 of the Barfoot Snoboards tale, Chuck dusts off some classic creations, including the first ever twin tip snowboard that Neil Daffern designed for the Barfoot team.Read More
Powder And Rails / Chuck Barfoot Part 1
We find Chuck Barfoot sidewalk-surfing on one of his handmade boards in front of his Barfoot Customs Boards depot in Rincon Point, CA . Originally a surfboard-shaper, Chuck was there at the very beginning of snowboarding, first constructing boards for Tom Sims in the late 70s, and then going out on his own in the early 80s, creating Barfoot Snowboards from scratch.Read More
Chuck Barfoot at Powder Mountain Catskiing
Chuck Barfoot was up with Powder Mountain Catskiing and here's one of his runs down Cypress. Shortly after this run it was renamed after he said" That's the kind of run I like, wide open powder, perfect old man powder. Now the run is called Old Man's.Read More
Barfoot Snowboards Turns 30
Fifty-six years young, Barfoot has called the South Coast home for nearly 40 years. After relocating from the shores of New Jersey to the hippie haven of Mountain Drive in the early 1970s, the former high school wrestling champion and one-time Greg Noll surf team member has carved out a life for himself literally with his bare hands.Read More
Chuck Barfoot Interviewed
Snowboarding Pioneer Chuck Barfoot being interviewed on tv in Salt Lake City, Utah in 1998.Read More
Minnetonka, MN


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Time Magazine on Doraemon, 2002 (mostly accurate)
Hiroshi Fujimoto, Doraemon Co-Creator, dead at
The first story explains the premise of the entire series. Nobi Nobita (Nobita being the first name), is a fourth-grade boy who wears glasses and lives in a subsection of Tokyo. One day, a strange being pops up in his desk drawer --- a round, blue cat-style robot (minus ears), who fails to introduce himself and instead eats Nobita's afternoon snack and then goes back into the drawer. The matter is eventually straightened out and explained. Nobita's great-great-grandson (or something like that) lives in the 22nd Century --- except, thanks to Nobita's mistakes, the entire family is living in poverty. To rectify this, Nobita's descendent is sending his robot Doraemon (not a very high-quality robot) back to the past, to help prevent Nobita from making mistakes. Of course, this is a difficult task, since Nobita is the weakest and least intelligent child in his class. And initially, Doraemon isn't the smartest of robots, either. He does, however, have a 4-dimensional pocket on his front, which contains all manner of cool gadgets from the 22nd Century, and it is with these toys that Doraemon will try to save Nobita from a future of poverty and failure.
With this premise, Doraemon and Nobita go on to become (as I've said), one of Japan's most famous duos. Nobita, as class weakling and dunce, needs lots of rescuing, and Doraemon is obliged to give him the right gadget to fix his situation. Unfortunately, Nobita also has the bad habit of misusing the gadgets and landing himself in yet more trouble --- unless some of his school friends get their hands on the gadgets and get themselves into even worse trouble. This is usually the source of the series' comedic humor. However, Doraemon has another, more serious side; starting around Book 8, the volumes begin to close with a story that is longer and more serious than the others. Often touched with a bit of educational science, moral teaching and a hint of conservationism, these stories usually involve Nobita and Doraemon and friends working together to solve a larger problem.
(As a warning to sensitive American readers, Doraemon, even though a children's manga, does include things like nudity and streaks of traditional Japanese sexism! For example, poor Shizuka, the main heroine, starts off as the brightest of the children --- yet as the series progresses, becomes more of a bath-addict (facilitating numerous bathtub scenes) and becomes number two in intelligence to the brilliant boy Dekisugi ("Dekisugi" is a pun on the word "overbuilt" or "too good")).
For all his flaws (laziness, stupidity, and cowardice (and occasional attacks of megalomania and selfishness)), Nobita is one of the neighborhood's nicest and most sensitive children, and it is his desire to see justice done that drives the best Doraemon stories. And it is probably why Doraemon himself does not fling up his hands in defeat --- though surely it must be tempting, after so many hundreds of stories starting off with Nobita running home in tears, crying "Doraemon! Do something!"
Among some of Doraemon's most commonly produced gadgets are: the Wherever Door (you can walk through it to wherever you want to go), the air gun (a tube you slip over your finger; it produces a pulse of air to knock out your enemies), the What If phone box (allows user to enter a world in which some condition is changed "What If mirrors didn't exist?" (the name is a Japanese pun)), the personal copter (a little beanie that you stick on your head, which lets you fly), and the Gulliver Tunnel (lets you shrink). Another often used device is the time machine, which is, of course, located in Nobita's desk drawer. But aside from these frequently used devices, Doraemon always seems to have something new in his pocket. He has produced miniature spy satellites, car simulators, water-warding rope, portable holes, cardboard games that you step into to play, super food seasoning, a fashion "bug" (virus), time mirrors, ice construction sets, real-item encyclopedias, and everything else that could possibly make life a little more interesting. (Speaking of which, it's interesting to note that many Doraemon devices would be civil liberty and personal rights nightmares in the U.S.).
Of course, the gadget doesn't necessarily make the story. As far as plots go, Nobita is the protagonist, and usually makes the right decisions in really important matters.
In one story, Nobita's efforts to save a stray dog and cat eventually lead him try to save a whole group of stray animals (his mother is NOT pleased). In desperation, he and Doraemon are forced to send the animals back in time --- after increasing their intelligence and giving the animals a hamburger-making machine. Back in the present day, Nobita's friends find a newspaper article about a lost civilization that left behind miniature buildings --- large enough for maybe a dog or cat --- and even a statue of a godlike, winged creature whose face just happens to look like Nobita's.
In another story, Nobita and Doraemon decide to help a group of hunters who are tracking down a wolf family in the wilds. Nobita, disguised as a wolf, finds the wolves --- who, welcoming him as a friend, tell him about the pain of surviving in a world rapidly being taken over by humans. When his disguise wears off, the wolves try to attack Nobita --- but Doraemon rescues him. When Doraemon suggests turning the wolves in, however, Nobita refuses. Together, they somehow persuade the hunters that the area has no wolves.
Of course, there are utterly silly stories, too.
In one silly story, Nobita uses an illness-transferring device to help his sick father (who needs to go to a business meeting), and then runs around trying to find someone to give his new cold to. Unfortunately, the school bully is unexpectedly sympathetic ("Wanna come to my place? I've got medicine that'll help you"), and Nobita can't bring himself to infect him. Luckily, he and Doraemon happen to run into a man who wants his cold --- because he happens to have a crush on a local nurse. And so, in the end, everyone is happy ... strangely enough.
In another silly story, Nobita is deeply touched by his teacher's morale-raising lecture, but can't seem to convey the "touching" part of it to anyone else. Doraemon then produces for him a microphone/speaker that makes anything he says deeply inspiring. Nobita of course runs off to show it off to his friends; they are all busy watching the local videotaping of a popular idol. Nobita is determined to inspire and move them more than the celebrity can; unfortunately, he has gotten his microphone switched with a baby's toy, and has to recover it. Finally, with the microphone in his back pocket, he rushes over to his friends to impress them --- but accidently farts while trying to pull the microphone out of his pocket. There is a moment of stunned silence. The last panel shows Nobita fleeing in sheer embarrassment from a mob of pursuing people who are shouting, "What a deeply moving fart that was!"
Doraemon manages to slip in the moral teachings with a good amount of subtlety.
For example, Nobita once manages to pick up a cloning device, with which he makes clones of his "friends," the cunning Suneo and brutish Gian. The clones arrive at 4th-grade age but with the minds of babies. Nobita raises them in a trans-dimensional room, thinking of raising the clones into his well-behaved, friendly, (submissive) friends/"children." However, the clones' minds mature rapidly, and they begin to figure out that Nobita is weaker and not as bright as they are. Since they watch TV, they realize there is a world outside their room which Nobita is not showing them. So they revolt. Doraemon finds out what has happened, but explains to Nobita that since the clones are living people, they can't be arbitrarily destroyed. ("Maybe we can convince them to live on another planet," Doraemon suggests). However, the clones discover the cloning apparatus by accident, and hit the equivalent of the "Undo" button, thus un-creating themselves and saving everyone a lot of headache.
Other fun stories:
Nobita's father wants to get a driver's license, even though the mother makes the side comment that since he isn't cut out for driving, it would be safer for the world if he didn't. Nobita and Doraemon set up a miniature roadway for the father to practice with, using the Gulliver Tunnel to shrink him. (Of course Doraemon and Nobita have to test-drive the roads first). Nobita's father, deeply touched, starts using the roadway. Becoming bold, he takes his miniature car out to the real roads ("Where of course I can't hurt anyone!") and promptly has a major accident with a little boy's toy truck, demolishing the miniature car. "Maybe he really isn't cut out for driving," Nobita and Doraemon mutter.
Nobita finds an egg that Doraemon has left lying around, and adopts it. Doraemon takes too long to remember what egg it was --- a wind storm egg --- and it hatches. (Yes, future science has created a sentient wind storm). The cute little whirlpool of air, lovingly raised by Nobita and fed with hot air from candles, gradually becomes a minor menace. Nobita's parents demand that the little whirlpool leave. But that night, a major typhoon arrives off the Japanese coast and threatens the Nobi house. The little whirlpool leaps out into the howling winds and battles the far larger typhoon, subduing it and saving the house. In the morning, both storms are gone, having dissipated in the battle....
One day, Doraemon has to leave on business. Unfortunately, Nobita's parents have already left town on other business, thinking Doraemon would be around to take care of Nobita. This now leaves Nobita alone. Desperately, Nobita begs Doraemon to stay. To help him, Doraemon leaves a robot rope that can take up the shape and function of just about anything. At first Nobita doesn't like the odd-looking thing, but after it kicks out an intruder, helps him with baseball, cooks dinner, and acts as a horse, he's converted. Meanwhile, Doraemon is so worried about Nobita that he cuts short his business and returns home --- only to find Nobita engrossed in a game with the rope, and practically oblivious to Doraemon's return.
In another story, Nobita has to read a book for a class assignment. Since he hates reading books (as opposed to comic books), Doraemon produces a book-helmet that causes the wearer to recite the contents of a book. The brilliant boy Dekisugi is convinced to recite a book for Nobita (he's shown around the future as a pre-payment). He does so, and Nobita is drawn into the adventure story. Finally, late at night, Dekisugi is too tired to continue, and is allowed to go home. Nobita wants to find out what happens in the story so much that he sits down and starts reading the book himself. His parents come in and tell him not to stay up all night reading, but Doraemon holds them back. "Don't make him stop --- he's finally discovered the joy of reading!"
Apparently, Mr. Fujimoto initially came up with Doraemon in 1969 (or
1970) after tripping on his young daughter's toy, hearing a
neighborhood cat fight, and wishing he had a machine to generate a new
manga concept. Between the toy's shape, the cats' yowling, and the
longing for a machine to solve his problems, he came up with a robot
cat with a pocket containing all sorts of problem-solving gadgets.
(From a supplement to a children's manga magazine many years ago).
The maintainer would like to thank both creators of Doraemon for
writing a manga that helped the maintainer to understand and come to
terms with Japanese culture. Many times as a child, the maintainer
found the family life within Doraemon to be a mirror of the
maintainer's own home life, a home life not reflected in the American
TV sitcom shows. For a young nisei in America, the mirror and
the dreams within it were a priceless gift. Domou arigatou
gozaimashita, sensei!
Doraemon co-creator Fujimoto Hiroshi (Fujiko F. Fujio) died on Sept. 23, 1996, of liver failure at age 62; he is survived by his wife Masako and three daughters. Co-author Motoo Abiko (Fujiko Fujio A), who split off in 1987, said "We separated because we would go our own ways. But we both wanted to create the same comics." (From CNN and the Japan Times)
Back to the listing.
Apparently, Mr. Fujimoto initially came up with Doraemon in 1969 (or 1970) after tripping on his young daughter's toy, hearing a neighborhood cat fight, and wishing he had a machine to generate a new manga concept. Between the toy's shape, the cats' yowling, and the longing for a machine to solve his problems, he came up with a robot cat with a pocket containing all sorts of problem-solving gadgets. (From a supplement to a children's manga magazine many years ago).
The maintainer would like to thank both creators of Doraemon for writing a manga that helped the maintainer to understand and come to terms with Japanese culture. Many times as a child, the maintainer found the family life within Doraemon to be a mirror of the maintainer's own home life, a home life not reflected in the American TV sitcom shows. For a young nisei in America, the mirror and the dreams within it were a priceless gift. Domou arigatou gozaimashita, sensei!
Rei's Anime and Manga Page.
Back to my homepage.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Tyra Banks is everywhere in the news right now. That's because tonight the latest "cycle" of America's Next Top Model makes its debut. The season boasts new judges and mentors — fashion publicist Kelly Cutrone, male model Rob Evans, stylist Johnny Wujek, blogger BryanBoy, and some kind of Miss J. replacement named Jonte — and a new theme: College. As has been widely reported, Banks chose this theme because of her recent (and highly publicized) involvement with Harvard University.
Banks even found a way to reference Harvard in this new ANTM promotional interview with The Hollywood Reporter, which asked whether the changes in the show came about at the request of the network. In explaining that an unnamed T.V. executive called her, Banks said, "I got pulled out of a class at Harvard," to take the phone call. "Even though I went to business school, it was my boss that gave me a big lesson about rejuvenation and making something that's been around a long time fresh and exciting again."
Anyone reading that sentence would probably come away with the understanding that Tyra Banks was, at the time of that phone call, enrolled in the M.B.A. program at Harvard Business School. That's what people normally mean when they say they "went to business school," and Banks helpfully dropped the H-bomb.
But that isn't true. Banks never attended Harvard Business School in the usual sense. She does not have an M.B.A. and has never taken classes towards an M.B.A.
What Banks attended was a non-degree-granting certificate course at Harvard called the Owner/President Management Program. The O.P.M. has "no formal educational requirements" for would-be "clients" (the program doesn't refer to attendees as "students") and its classes do not count towards any university degree or qualification. It's taught in three three-week units and currently costs clients $33,000 per unit. The application form does not have a space for applicants to list their GMAT scores — it doesn't require any, because it's not a graduate program — but it does ask about their annual compensation. The head of the O.P.M. program told the Harvard Crimson it is "very different from a full-time M.B.A. degree program." Attending the O.P.M. course and calling it "going to Harvard Business School" is a little like enrolling in a night-time pottery extension class and saying you are "going to art school." It's akin to putting an honorary doctorate on your résumé as your "Ph.D."
This isn't to say that Tyra Banks is a dummy. She was reportedly an honor student in high school, and she was admitted to U.S.C. and U.C.L.A. She opted to attend Loyola Marymount. But — like many models who find that their peak earning years in an industry that fetishizes youth coincide with the years most people spend working on their education — she dropped out in her first semester to go to Milan and Paris and work. Tyra Banks never returned to college to complete her undergraduate degree. Banks has, in fact, never graduated from any university, let alone Harvard.
Nonetheless, the supermodel has a habit of making misleading public statements about her studies. For instance, earlier this year she Tweeted a photo of herself holding a certificate of completion from the O.P.M. and wrote, "Smiling ear2ear on the Harvard Business School campus w/ my diploma!"
"On stage at my Harvard Business School graduation!" the supermodel Tweeted next to another picture, for good measure. "So excited 2 finally graduate from Harvard Business School!" she added later. "Learned so much from every1 of you - my profs&classmates!" Banks has on dozens of occasions called herself a Harvard Business School "student" on Twitter and referred to herself as a "graduate" of the school.
Then there are all the examples of Banks finding ways to insinuate "Harvard Business School" into interviews. "My most difficult class at Harvard Business School would have to be finance," she told one overly credulous T.V. host. "Harvard Business School, the number one business school in the entire world — in order for my company to grow and be the best and reach these women and to serve them, I needed the best. So I went to the best," she said to another. On Jimmy Fallon, she made a big to-do about having to "move in" to the Harvard dorms for the "term."
"You're also going to college now," said Jimmy Kimmel to Banks in a 2011 appearance. "Not just to college, you're going to Harvard."
"Business school," Banks corrected.
"Harvard Business School. Is it hard?"
"Jimmy, it is so. Damn. Hard," she replied.
When Kimmel asked Tyra what kind of degree she would be receiving, Banks' reply was a disingenuous, "I don't exactly know."
The honest thing to say at that point would have been "Actually, I won't be getting a degree, Jimmy. I'm enrolled in an executive education program, but it's not the same as being a Harvard Business School student and I won't be getting an M.B.A." But Banks has never said anything to that effect. To be fair, she has occasionally made a quick mention of the fact that she's taking classes in the "O.P.M." program — but always in a rushed kind of way, and the admission always comes couched between numerous references to "Harvard Business School." And really, who can expect viewers and readers to recognize some arcane acronym for one of Harvard's pricey, non-degree-granting programs? She ought to just tell the truth.
And the media has dutifully reported the falsehood. While tabloid and entertainment sources appear to be the most easily snowed, there are some reputable outlets who've made somewhat confusing references to Banks' course of study, too. A brief sampling:
Tyra Banks Talks About Attending Harvard Business School
Tyra Banks is enrolled at THE most fashionable business school — Harvard!
Harvard's Newest Student: Tyra Banks
How time flies. It seems like just yesterday (OK, eight months ago) that we were all marveling at Tyra Banks' decision to enroll herself in Harvard Business School. Now she's been through two terms already and is set to graduate in February. So not only was she juggling her America's Next Top Model duties and writing her debut young-adult novel, Modelland, but she's also wrapping this up in three semesters?
Tyra Banks Is Set To Graduate From Harvard Business School!
As the brains behind the America's Next Top Model franchise, we already knew Tyra Banks was more than just a pretty face.
Now the model and mogul has defied any remaining doubters by graduating from Harvard Business School.
On February 17, former model-cum-entrepreneur Tyra Banks became a graduate of Harvard Business School.
Clarification that Banks did not, in fact, attend "Harvard Business School" or "graduate" from same — if it came at all — came only after misleading headlines and reporting had done the damage. News outlets that refer correctly to Banks' studies ("Since she completed a Harvard University executive-education program in February..." as the New York Times recently put it) are regrettably few and far between.
Tyra Banks is an accomplished businesswoman. There is no reason to embellish her achievements. A Harvard Business School graduate she is not.


text:
Book review: Mystery, history and the wonders of nature
Meet a bossy but super-clever schoolgirl with a mystery to solve, a boy who can't stop telling lies, a bull on the horns of a dilemma and a sparkling collection of new books that take us up close and personal to the natural world.
Age 9 plus:
The Book Case: An Emily Lime Mystery by Dave Shelton
Pack your suitcase, sharpen your pencils and try not to snigger too loudly because you're off to St Rita's School for Spirited Girls!
Author and illustrator Dave Shelton, creator of the slapstick comedy noir comic strip Good Dog, Bad Dog – as seen in the DFC, the Guardian and the Phoenix – is on laugh-out-loud form in this crazy new mystery caper series starring a crime-solving genius schoolgirl with a penchant for berets and baddies.
Award-winning Shelton is himself proving to be a 'comic' genius with his irrepressibly exuberant and vibrant illustrations proving a big hit with youngsters who like their adventure stories to come with lashings of comic-style pictures and knockabout fun.
A cross between Enid Blyton's Mallory Towers and Famous Five books, plus the anarchy of St Trinian's, Emily Lime's adventures are set in a bygone age of gymslips but with the added enjoyment of an intriguing mystery and a fine line in humour.
Daphne Blakeway is off to St Rita's, an exclusive girls' boarding school. It sounds awfully respectable and Daphne herself is awfully respectable too. She loves to read and is delighted to be offered the chance to interview for librarian's assistant's assistant immediately upon arrival.
But it turns out nothing is quite what you would expect at St Rita's… the building looks like something from a ghost story, you can't trust a padlock if the fourth graders are around, the floor has holes from cannonballs and the smell in the dining room is disgustingly foul.
And what's more, Daphne discovers that the school's large and elaborate library has hardly any books… and the librarian doesn't really exist.
But there is a librarian's assistant, Emily Lime, a small, bossy girl in wonky glasses and a beret. And she is really a crime-solving genius who is looking for a new assistant of her own. Fortunately, book-smart Daphne is just the girl for the job because mystery and intrigue are about to strike St Rita's and Emily is going to need all the help she can get as they set out to solve a break-in at the library and catch a dastardly villain.
Shelton pulls out all the stops as he dishes up lots of old school nostalgia, two super-sleuthing girls, their adorably droll and dishevelled pal George (just imagine being the only boy in the school!) and a cast of equally outlandish characters.
With rib-tickling humour, an intriguing mystery, and Shelton's own gallery of brilliant black-and-white illustrations, the school day flies when you're having fun!
(David Fickling Books, hardback, £10.99)
Age 9 plus:
Lyttle Lies: The Stinky Truth by Joe Berger
Honest truth… serial liar Sam Lyttle is guaranteed to make you laugh out loud!
Author and cartoonist extraordinaire Joe Berger turns fibbing into an art form in the second book of Lyttle Lies, a vibrant and playful graphic series brimming with wit, anarchy and plenty of porky-pies, and starring a little boy who loves telling BIG lies.
Sam Lyttle is a habitual liar. Even he admits, albeit reluctantly, that he sometimes tells the odd untruth and has been known to occasionally strrrrrretch the truth a little.
To be totally honest (well, sort of) Sam would rather skirt the truth and avoid trouble. However, he soon finds out that in trying to avoid trouble, not telling the truth gets him in to all sorts of scrapes. His mum (who thinks maths homework is the sole purpose of being a child), dad (who is happiest jazz-guitar noodling), his big sister Suzy (who thinks herself SO superior) and Grandpa (aka The Great Wonderoso) would like him to be more honest.
It's the school holidays and Sam and his best friend can't wait to see Cry Wolfe, the first movie starring their favourite crime-fighting hero. But Sam's mum has set him a challenge. He can only go and see the film IF, and only if, he can make it through the entire holiday without telling a single fib. Can Sam go six whole weeks without a single porky!?
With its bold, comic-style illustrations and marvellously mischievous humour, this pitch-perfect series is ideal for reluctant readers who like their books to come with lots of comic capers and pictures. The lively, fun-filled illustrations make the story visually exciting and bring madcap Sam's adventures and misadventures to life in all their glorious anarchy.
But be warned… this story contains fibs, farts and zumba-dancing mums!
(Simon & Schuster, paperback, £6.99)
Age 7 plus:
Explorer: Bugs! by Nick Forshaw and William Exley
You would be hard stretched to find a more original way to journey through 500 million years of natural history than in the pages of this stunning exploration of the wonderful world of bugs.
This super-clever book is part of the amazing new Explorer series developed by What on Earth Publishing in partnership with London's Natural History Museum and featuring four titles taking a close-up look at dinosaurs, bugs, plants and mammals.
This fascinating and educational series has been developed alongside experts from the museum. Nick Forshaw, a British author with a love of the natural world, provides the text while William Exley's spectacular and intricately detailed illustrations bring nature to life in all its extraordinary colour, detail and diversity.
Youngsters will love joining super-sleuth and time explorer extraordinaire Agent Eagle of the Eagle-Eyed Explorer Club as he journeys from the ancient oceans and Cambrian period 500 million years ago right through to today's Quaternary period.
Follow him as he packs his trusty rucksack and leaves no stone unturned to uncover the fascinating world of bugs, a veritable voyage of discovery that includes a unique and spectacular six-foot long, eight-page pull-out timeline featuring over 100 bugs from their first appearance about 230 million years ago through to their living descendants, and reveals how they survived and thrived.
Read Agent Eagle's compelling 38-page journal to find out why these amazing creatures were so successful, who discovered the first one, how they support our environment, and lots more.
Each title in this exciting series is packed with information and illustrations, a multiple choice quiz to test the knowledge of family and friends, and the fantastic pull-out timeline which is perfect for hanging on a bedroom, library or classroom wall.
Creepy crawly heaven for young naturalists!
(What on Earth Publishing, hardback, £9.99)
Age 7 plus:
Journeys by Jonathan Litton, Chris Chalik, Dave Shephard, Jon Davis and Leo Hartas
There are journeys of a different kind in a gorgeous new book that sweeps children away to some of history's most amazing and daring adventures.
'The world is a book and those who do not travel read only one page,' wrote Saint Augustine almost 1,700 years ago, and his words continue to resonate down the centuries.
But if you can't travel the world in person, here's the chance read your way around it instead with some of history's greatest story makers. These amazing and drama-filled journeys and expeditions – including Nobu Shirase who raced Scott and Amundsen to the South Pole, and Henry 'Box' Brown, a slave who posted himself to liberty – are utterly captivating and guaranteed to set young imaginations alight.
The stories feature some of the bravest and most intrepid travellers in history, focusing on lesser known journeys as well as those that have become familiar the world over. Female and non-European explorers also taking starring roles… ride with the pony express in the Wild West of America, climb aboard a dog sled in freezing Alaska, and head for the skies with the intrepid female flier Amelia Earhart.
And if young adventurers still need more thrills, let them set sail with the lawless Mary Bryant, an 18th century Cornish convict sent to Australia but who famously became one of the first successful escapees from the fledgling penal colony.
Written in a simple, informative and engaging style by Jonathan Litton, an author who loves using his science background to write about sea creatures, space and saving the planet, Journeys is superbly illustrated by Chris Chalik, Dave Shephard, Jon Davis and Leo Hartas with eye-catching and evocative, colour-washed, pen-and-ink pictures to help to transport youngsters to lands far and wide.
Journeys comes from 360 Degrees, a non-fiction imprint of the Little Tiger Group which offers a stimulating and creative approach to presenting facts and aims to create accessible and unique non-fiction books with the highest production values and attention to creative detail.
Beautifully designed, with each spread featuring a different adventure, Journeys is both a visual spectacle and a fascinating learning tool.
(360 Degrees, hardback, £17.99)
Age 5 plus:
National Trust: Nature Origami by Clover Robin
Spring is shaping up to be fun both indoors and outdoors with this nature-loving activity book created from an inspired partnership between the National Trust and inventive children's publisher Nosy Crow.
There is fun and learning in every fold of this stunning origami gift book which has elegant cut-paper illustrations and an extract from an animal poem on each spread as youngsters read the beautiful verse, enjoy the picture and then make the origami figure.
Nature Origami has been lovingly conceived and crafted by Clover Robin, a surface pattern designer and illustrator, who delights in nature and all things botanical after a Devon childhood of woodland walks and countryside rambles.
From squirrels and snails to foxes and flowers, these amazing origami figures are all inspired by nature and feature 13 animals and objects to create with 50 sheets of exquisitely patterned origami paper. And with three difficulty levels and easy, step-by-step instructions for children to follow and learn, the book is ideal for complete beginners as well as more experienced origami fans.
And if you need a little more help, there is a handy QR code linking to how-to-do videos which provide tips and inspiration.
Creative, hands-on play for nimble little fingers!
(Nosy Crow, paperback, £9.99)
Age 3 plus:
Secrets of the Mountain by Libby Walden and Richard Jones
Spend a day on a beautiful and serene mountain… and discover its amazing secrets.
'Our mountain watches over us – steadfast and strong. It holds the secrets of our world on its ancient slopes.'
Little ones will delight in opening the pages of this enchanting picture book and watching the world of the mountain transform as day turns to night, and the creatures who live there journey across its slopes between dawn and dusk.
Author Libby Walden and illustrator Richard Jones' gentle, enlightening picture book whisks us away to the calm plains and bathes readers in the gorgeous setting sun. With a beautiful, lyrical text and a gallery of wistfully charming creatures painted in a palette of gorgeous shades, Secrets of the Mountain is a visual and verbal feast of inspirational facts.
Explore the never-ending possibilities of nature and its ancient secrets as you travel up and down the picturesque mountain. Look out for the stretching bobcat, spot the prowling wolverine and marvel at the sleeping bears and the scampering pikas.
Watch the colours transform as the sun rises and daylight streams over the natural world and its many creatures, and witness that same light fading to black as the sun sets and night draws in. And then enjoy the gallery of amazing creatures featured at the end of the book!
A spectacular day and night in the life of a mountain and its natural wonders…
(Caterpillar Books, hardback, £11.99)
Age 3 plus:
When the Bees Buzzed Off! by Lula Bell and Stephen Bennett
Little ones are going to get a buzz out of this beautiful picture book which turns readers into busy little bees!
When the Bees Buzzed Off! is so much more than just a tale of adventure… the clever and appealing lift-the-flaps story gently encourages children to get interested in conservation and the idea of protecting our natural world.
Uh-oh! The bees have buzzed off and now the mini-beasts are in a pickle. Who will pollinate the fruit and flowers? It's up to three brave bugs – and one very grumpy snail – to bring those buzzy bees back as they follow wandering worms, scaredy-cat snails and bossy beetles.
This energetic romp through the wild outdoors is an exciting hive of activity and comes packed with large fun flaps to lift, fascinating bee facts, hilarious asides, quirky characters and an interactive story in which children can play a leading role.
When the Bees Buzzed Off! is the perfect book to explore the natural world and encourage little ones to think about important environmental issues. The imaginative picture book formula blends Lula Bell's funny but educational story with Stephen Bennett's bright and engaging illustrations and large, easy-to-lift flaps hiding witty wisecracks and some surprising facts.
A playful but powerful reminder of the fragility of our eco system…
(Little Tiger, hardback, £11.99)
Age 2 plus:
A Bear is a Bear by Karl Newson and Anuska Allepuz
Meet an adorable but baffled bear with an identity crisis!
Karl Newson provides the charming rhymes and Spanish illustrator Anuska Allepuz draws on her artistic talents for a super-cuddly and funny picture book romp to read and share with your little ones.
When a sleepy bear wakes up early from his winter sleep, he's so confused. Is he a bird? Or a moose? A fox perhaps? Or even a squirrel? No, he's definitely a bear and it's about time he went back to sleep so that he will wake up refreshed and know exactly who he is!
Allepuz's simple, uncluttered and painterly illustrations are the perfect match for Newson's short, sweet and whimsical verse which gets straight to the heart of a little bear unsure of his place in the animal world.
With its sleepy, curl-up-tight theme, this is the perfect book for winding down… and destined to become a bedtime favourite for little ones and their (tired!) parents.
(Nosy Crow, paperback, £6.99)
Age 2 plus:
AdoraBULL by Alison Donald and Alex Willmore
Farmer's boy Tom has a very best friend… Alfred the bull. He's reliable and dependable but could he ever be called adorable?
Inventive author Alison Donald and star illustrator Alex Willmore work their special magic on this bewitching picture book story about a bull on the horns of a dilemma when his best friend goes in search of a more cute and cuddly pet.
This marvellously entertaining mix-up farm adventure comes from Maverick Arts Publishing, a young and energetic publisher which started small but now has over 130 titles including board books, picture books, early readers, graphic reluctant readers, junior fiction and activity books.
They firmly believe that, with everyone leading such busy lifestyles, it is important for children to spend time with adults sharing and engaging over a picture book. Maverick also has a strong ethos of championing new authors and emerging illustrators, with a strong emphasis on supporting them once their book is published.
In the ingeniously titled AdoraBULL, we meet Alfred the bull who has an inseparable friendship with little Tom. They share everything, even their dreams, but when Tom starts school he declares that he needs a pet… one that is cute and snuggly and absolutely, totally adorable. Now bulls might be reliable and dependable but maybe not adorable. And that means Alfred will have to change if he wants to stay number one in Tom's heart. But can bulls ever be adorable, even if they put ribbons in their hair and draw pretty pictures?
AdoraBULL is the second collaboration between Donald and Willmore and certainly hits bullseye when it comes to delivering a heartwarming story with important messages about loyalty, self-confidence and being true to yourself.
(Maverick Arts Publishing, paperback, £7.99)
Age 2 plus:
Not My Hats! by Tracy Gunaratnam and Alea Marley
Also from the classy Maverick stable comes a delightful illustrated tale about a polar bear who lets her love of hats go to her head.
Not My Hats! Is the third word perfect picture book from Tracy Gunaratnam who has pooled her writing talents with the extraordinarily expressive illustrations of Alea Marley in a story that speaks loudly and lovingly about the joys of sharing and the fun of friendship.
Hettie the polar bear loves hats. She has tall hats, small hats, any size at all hats, round hats, pointy hats and fancy hoity toity hats. She wears them all, but she will NEVER, EVER share them! When a chilly Puffin turns up looking for a hat to keep him warm, Hettie tells him she shares her lollies, her dollies, her books and her brollies but never ever her hats. But Puffin won't give up in his quest to find a hat and his persistence might just mean that Hettie will have to take her hat off to him…
Gunaratnam and Marley's warm, wise and witty picture book is guaranteed to melt the hearts of readers young and old!
(Maverick Arts Publishing, paperback, £7.99)


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It's chocolate profiterole week at the food blog! My French may be abysmal, but we get to make another quick visit today to Epcot's Les Chefs de France with guest poster and photographer extraordinaire, James Chapman, from DisneyfotoBlog.com. Thanks for sharing, James!
"Eating a pastry at the Les Chefs de France restaurant in Epcot is an experience and pleasure far beyond simply finishing the dessert at the end of a good meal. The French pâtissier has provided an exceptional dessert menu that offers items ranging from rich chocolate delicacies, to sorbet with elephant ear and fruits, to their signature crème brulée.
Both my wife and I enjoy dark chocolate, ice cream, and fruit, so we decided to order and share two different desserts, Profiterolles au Chocolat and Assiette de Sorbets du jour et son palmier. Both were excellent, especially on a warm (hot) summer day in July, and we would highly recommend both desserts with a slight emphasis on the Profiterolles au Chocolat for those who really crave a chocolate treat!
The Garde Manger shown in the photo above plated each dessert expertly, and after watching her caramelize the crème brulée, I knew that there would be many visits to Les Chefs de France in our family's future! Bon appetit!"


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David Travis posts some interesting Windows 7 network file copy performance results. You may recall that I had noticed some issues with network file copies myself, and Microsoft was curious about this. In my case, the copies were all to Windows Home Server, which is based on Windows Server 2003. And sure enough, David expresses surprise about how poorly Windows 7 works with this server version as well.
One of my major complaints about Vista has been the network performance problems, or at least what seemed to be network performance problems. I worked with a couple of guys at work on testing network performance with XP, Vista and Windows 7 Beta.
I used a Windows 2003 Server and a Windows 2008 Server for testing.
I was shocked by the performance of Windows 7 downloading from Windows 2003 server. I hope that Microsoft works on this. Remember that this is a Beta and we will have to wait until RTM to determine the real performance. I am very impressed with the performance of Windows 7 and Windows 2008 server. Hopefully this does not change in the RTM.
Check out the full post for details on the test script and the full results chart.


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Rise of Immortals announced
Rise of Immortals, a new free-to-play MOBA/DotA style game, has been announced by Petroglyph Games.
The game will feature 12 heroes initially, along with persistent experience, artifacts, and skill trees that will progress with the player, rather than being reset on each match. PvE training missions will be added in addition to PvP arenas, and the game will also feature social player hubs and in-depth stat tracking and leaderboards.
Closed beta sign-ups are now being accepted at the game's website, with the game set to launch this spring.
Rise of Immortals Gameplay Screenshot
A Fresh Take on the "Multiplayer Online Battle Arena" Genre, Petroglyph Introduces Innovations Designed to Appeal to both Core and Casual MOBA Gamers
LAS VEGAS, NV – February 22, 2011 – Petroglyph Games, Inc.™ (Petroglyph) today announced Rise of Immortals™, an online, free-to-play PC game that expands on the hit Multiplayer Online Battle Arena (MOBA) genre with new, innovative features designed to appeal to both core and casual players.
Rise of Immortals is set in the world of Graxia, 300 years after the events of "Guardians of Graxia,"™ Petroglyph's fantasy-based PC game released last year. Rise of Immortals features the popular action-strategy gameplay of traditional MOBA games, but adds enhanced socialization features, along with persistent character progression – a first for the MOBA genre. Instead of an account-based leveling system, players can advance their Immortals through a diverse, persistent skill tree, customizing and upgrading the characters to unlock unique abilities that persist from match to match.
In addition, Rise of Immortals features a social hub where players can show off their enhanced Immortals, chat, emote, browse leaderboards, shop, manage friend and guild lists and more. Players also have the option of taking their Immortals through cooperative Player versus Environment (PvE) scenarios to learn the game, try out new abilities, and earn persistent experience before jumping into Player versus Player (PvP) matches online.
"Many people at Petroglyph are huge fans of MOBA gameplay, so developing Rise of Immortals was truly a passion project for the studio," said Steve Wetherill, executive producer of Rise of Immortals for Petroglyph. "We recognize that there can be a high barrier to entry in current MOBA games on the market, and we wanted to expand the genre with a title that offers new features that will appeal both to current fans, as well as those who are new to this type of game."
In addition to today's unveil of Rise of Immortals, Petroglyph also announced that signups are now open for the game's upcoming closed beta test. Players interested in trying this innovative and enhanced MOBA-style game can apply today to be part of the online testing by visiting http://www.riseofimmortals.com. Petroglyph will continue to expand the beta test over the next several weeks, prior to the game's official launch in the spring of 2011.
Features of Rise of Immortals:
- 12 unique Immortals at launch with additional Immortals released on a regular basis
- Persistent per-Immortal level progression and skill trees
- Persistent artifacts for stat enhancements
- Player versus Environment instances with collectable items
- Player versus Player instances with up to 5v5 multiplayer
- Persistent experience and leveling in both PvP and PvE instances
- Collectible pets for combat and vanity
- Account and Immortal statistics tracking
- Player hub instances for socialization
Rise of Immortals is a free-to-play, micro-transaction-based online game that will be available via direct download. The game will launch with a dozen distinctive Immortals that players can further customize as they progress through the game. Items that can be purchased from the in-game store include new Immortal skins and consumable items like in-game boosters and elixirs. Post-launch, Petroglyph plans to release new content on a regular basis, including additional Immortals, arenas, skins, sound packs, pets and more.
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An argument between a group of juveniles turned violent Christmas Eve when one pulled out a gun and fired off three shots, according to the University of California police. No one was injured in the incident.
UC police went to Lower Sproul Plaza on Dec. 24 at 7:35 p.m. after receiving a report that a gun had been fired, according to a press release. Police detained some of the juveniles, although others in the group had already fled. Police also recovered a handgun at the scene.
The person suspected of shooting the gun is described as an African-American juvenile male wearing a two tone jacket. He is also apparently carrying a dark hand gun.
The University of California police are asking anyone with information to call the Criminal Investigation Bureau at (510) 642-0472 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and (510) 642-6760 at all other times.


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Sermons preached at Laura-chapel, Bath, during ... Advent, 1799
F. and C. Rivington, 1800 - 238 pages
Selected pages
Other editions - View all
Sermons Preached at Laura-Chapel, Bath, During ... Advent, 1799
Francis Randolph
No preview available - 2016
Common terms and phrases
Abraham Adam ages allowed Almighty appear authority believe blessed blood bodies brought called cause Christ Christian church confirm consequences corrupted covenant creation darkness death destruction direct dispensation divine doctrines doubt earth eternal event everlasting evidence expectation eyes faith Father fear fire foundation give given glory God's Gospel hands hath hearts heaven heavenly holy hope human infidelity Jesus judgment kingdom language lead light LINE living look Lord means mercy mind Mosaic Moses nature never Noah object once original pass Patriarchal peace perfect person philosopher present preserved promise proofs prophecy prophetic prove Providence reason received records Redeemer redemption religion remain rest revelation righteousness salvation Saviour says scriptures seen SERMON speak spirit sure testimony things thou tion true truth universal unto voice warning whole wisdom witness worship
Popular passages
Page 36 - Hearken unto me, ye that know righteousness, the people in whose heart is my law ; fear ye not the reproach of men, neither be ye afraid of their revilings. For the moth shall eat them up like a garment, and the worm shall eat them like wool. But my righteousness shall be for ever, and my salvation from generation to generation.
Page 24 - Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord...
Page 182 - But this I confess unto thee, that after the way which they call heresy, so worship I the God of my fathers...
Page 165 - He found him in a desert land, and in the waste howling wilderness; he led him about, he instructed him, he kept him as the apple of his eye. As an eagle stirreth up her nest, fluttereth over her young, spreadeth abroad her wings, taketh them, beareth them on her wings: So the Lord alone did lead him, and there was no strange god with him.
Page 25 - And these all, having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise: God having provided some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect.
Page 81 - And the Lord spake unto you out of the midst of the fire: ye heard the voice of the words, but saw no similitude ; only ye heard a voice.
Page 163 - If thou turn away thy foot from the sabbath, from doing thy pleasure on my holy day; and call the sabbath a delight, the holy of the Lord, honourable; and shalt honour him, not doing thine own ways, nor finding thine own pleasure, nor speaking thine own words: "then shalt thou delight thyself in the Lord...
Page 146 - For, behold, I create new heavens and a new earth: and the former shall not be remembered, nor come into mind. But be ye glad and rejoice for ever in that which I create: for, behold, I create Jerusalem a rejoicing, and her people a joy.
Page 4 - Remember them which have the rule over you, who have spoken unto you the word of God: whose faith follow, considering the end of their conversation.
Page 106 - See that ye refuse not him that speaketh : for if they escaped not who refused him that spake on earth, much more shall not we escape, if we turn away from him that speaketh from heaven...


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The beautiful oak Slice tables are joined by Slice vol. 2 that consists of a bench, a bar table, a coffee table and a round table in two sizes.
The designs open up for a wealth of interior design opportunities in both private homes as well as offices and restaurants. In the design of the Slice collection, attention has been heaped on the details and proportions, giving Slice a solid expression and a visual lightness. Where the original Slice table has openings between the boards of the table top, Slice vol. 2 has an entirely smooth top, which gives a calm appearance and a practical, even surface. With its hardwearing materials and balanced mode of expression, the Slice collection offers timeless furniture design that shines with warmth and exclusivity.
The young Danish designer Hans Hornemann graduated as a Master of Engineering in Industrial Design from the University of Aalborg 2014. Hans Hornemann emphasizes the combination of aesthetic simplicity and high functionality in expressive and light-hearted design. He is fascinated by the industrial and technical solutions in design in terms of both material and mode of expression. Natural materials often inspire him, and he endeavors to strip the design to its bone and portray the honesty found in the materials.
"In my opinion design should be a balance between an aesthetic minimalism and functionality with a user friendly experience. As a designer I aim to be true to the material used in order to enhance and bring out its natural qualities and characteristics. I value clean and minimalistic lines that add a new spin to the classic design. In creating a design, I think it's important to start from scratch and bring a new contribution to the products idiom, expression or functionality."
Normann Copenhagen is a Danish design company with the mission to create original and innovative products in a simple and contemporary design that withstands the test of time. Or in other words, to challenge conventional thinking and make the ordinary extraordinary through great design.


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MUNCIE, Ind., Jan. 16 (UPI) -- The beginning of any new year is a prime opportunity to chart a path for success in the coming months. Because we at the Digital Policy Institute think a lot about technology policy, we believe now is the time for government policymakers to begin 2014 with a resolve to make wise and rational decisions affecting communications companies and the public they serve.
Below are some recommendations we think can serve as sound guideposts for the newly constituted FCC, the U.S. Congress, the Obama administration and even state regulators, on issues integrally related to our overall economy, our capacity to compete effectively against our global trading partners and our ability to connect all Americans to the communications solutions of their choosing.
1. Spectrum Auctions
Read More
We resolve to design and conduct "incentive auctions" of current broadcast spectrum that will provide substantial new spectrum for wireless services and that the auction proceeds will be maximized to ensure adequate funding levels for public safety services and to help balance the federal deficit.
We also resolve to ensure that broadcasters participating in the forward auctions will be compensated fairly and that the terrestrial television broadcast service, through equitable "spectrum repacking," will continue to be able to provide robust, point-to-multipoint, entertainment, information and emergency service to any Americans desiring their content directly through over-the-air broadcast services or via multichannel video providers.
2. IP Transition
We resolve to expedite the ongoing conversion of our country's telecommunications systems to the faster infrastructure that comes with having all-IP networks.
This resolution is based on our recognition that IP-enabled services aren't only equivalent to, but are functionality far more capable than services offered via legacy technologies.
We further resolve to authorize, and carefully review the results of, "wire center" tests of all-IP networks.
Additionally, we resolve that, whether by statute or regulation, the conversion to all-IP networks will leave no American behind or otherwise result in any American receiving less connectivity than they currently enjoy, including those with disabilities and those living in hard to reach areas.
We resolve that such a transformation of our country's communications infrastructure will not be at the expense of customer privacy or consumer protection.
3. Retransmission Consent
We resolve to recognize that effective and appropriate statutory laws and regulations sometimes result in intense battles among communications providers, and that periodic interruption of multichannel video systems' ability to deliver particular television stations' programming to subscribers doesn't necessarily indicate a failure of a regulatory structure.
In assessing the merits of parties' arguments, we acknowledge that cable television and other multichannel providers have enjoyed competitive advantages over other content providers due to the structure of copyright laws and recognize the value of stations' and broadcast networks' programming which these multichannel video providers carry.
We resolve that this is a matter where the Federal Communications Commission, rather than the Congress, should explore the concepts of mandatory arbitration and more open negotiations to help avoid future channel blackouts.
4. Broadband Adoption
We resolve to set policies that will encourage private investment in broadband technologies and better enable our citizens to realize the benefits of enhanced connectivity through broadband-based services and devices.
We also resolve that creating jobs and stimulating the national and local economies should be guiding factors in the reassessment of and elimination of government rules and policies that artificially limit the levels of broadband growth in both urban and rural areas.
We further resolve that policies once aimed at ensuring universal access to telephone service be recast to ensure similar access to the communications solutions Americans are seeking.
5. Regulatory Modernization
Noting that some aspects of federal and state regulation of telecommunications companies have imposed unnecessary, counterproductive and sometimes conflicting measures, we resolve to adopt "revise or replace" strategies that eliminate federal regulations that have become moot, that eliminate the patchwork of state regulations that impede investment while harming consumer welfare and that are otherwise not yielding public-benefitting results or otherwise are merely increasing the cost of doing business for both the private sector and the government without any increase in consumer welfare.
6. Antitrust and Media Ownership Reform
Subject to court rulings, the FCC resolves to reform its media ownership rules so that the agency eliminates antiquated restraints on broadcasters and other media companies that constrain their ability to serve their audiences with the programming and services they demand.
Similarly, federal government agencies and Congress resolve to eliminate unnecessary redundancies and conflicting assessments of media concentration and marketplace competition.
7. Ensuring Maximum Benefits from Communications Services
We resolve to help enhance communications services to maximize benefits.
Whether it's improving the service potential of AM broadcast radio or looking to a future of universal broadband and IP-based services, government policymakers resolve to foster technology-based and competition-enhancing means to improve the levels and ranges of service.
8. Network Neutrality
Subject to the rulings of federal courts, we resolve that Americans should enjoy full and lawful access to Internet services, including content and applications, and that statutory laws and regulations that protect this access shall provide internet providers with the necessary flexibility to manage, maintain, and operate their networks in an efficient manner and allow them to offer varying types and levels of broadband service in order to meet the diverse needs of consumers, service providers and content creators alike.
9. Global Vision in Benefiting America
Recognizing that U.S. industries and U.S. citizens compete in a global economy, we resolve to take steps, on state and federal levels, and in spectrum policy, copyright law and trade negotiations within the international community, to ensure a healthy economy and a healthy workforce.
We resolve to: provide our citizens with technologies, legal rights, connectivity and equipment to ensure fair global competition; provide robust telecommunications systems to give K-12 and college students, as well as older Americans training and retraining for jobs, enhanced educational opportunities; encourage expanded markets for e-commerce sales of our goods and services; and make available advanced and cost-effective electronic (onsite and remote) medical diagnosis and telemetry.
10. Reforms to the Communications Act
Now 80 years after the Communications Act of 1934, and 18 years following the statutory reforms embodied in the Telecommunications Act of 1996, we resolve to take a fresh look at revising federal statutes and to acknowledge that changing technologies, changing consumer preferences and demands and a vastly altered media marketplace have created a need to update our communications laws.
We further resolve that such statutory change shall encourage greater and more fair competition among media companies, while assuring that the public's interests, particularly of those who are disabled or in less advantaged communities, are protected and advanced.
(Barry D. Umansky and Robert E. Yadon are professors at Ball State University and members of the Digital Policy Institute. DPI is an independent, interdisciplinary research and policy development organization at Ball State University in Muncie, Ind. DigitalPolicyInstitute.org)
(United Press International's "Outside View" commentaries are written by outside contributors who specialize in a variety of important issues. The views expressed do not necessarily reflect those of United Press International. In the interests of creating an open forum, original submissions are invited.)


text:
19 October 2009
Tomra Systems ASA has today purchased 85,000
own shares at an average price of NOK 29.41 per
share at Oslo Stock Exchange. After this transaction
Tomra holds 1,648,979 treasury shares.
For further information please contact CFO Espen
Gundersen, telephone +47 97 68 73 01
Asker, 19 October 2009
Tomra Systems ASA
This information is subject of the disclosure requirements acc. to §5-12 vphl (Norwegian Securities Trading Act)
This announcement was originally distributed by Hugin. The issuer is
solely responsible for the content of this announcement.


text:
Product 5/50
Since Moncler became Italian owned its fashion output has increased heavily and it now produces a range of moncler jackets. Made from duck down, the collection is renowned for its warm but lightweight pieces which is very famous professional keep warming brand around the world. Product Features:- Two hand pockets on the two sides- A Moncler logo on the left arm- Zip front and button closure- A Pocket on the right chest- Color: Apricot- Style: Jackets- Long sleeve- Elastic cuffs with snap closures- Washing Instructions: Hand Wash/ Dry Clean


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The internet was designed to withstand a nuclear attack. But its creators never imagined that baby monitors, toasters and smart TVs could bring it to its knees. We need to make sure that the devices that make up the internet of things can't be used in the kind of attack that almost broke the internet late last month.
For reasons that I will explain later, that probably means regulating the devices.
First, though, some internet history. At the height of the Cold War, in the early 1960s, the RAND Corp.'s Paul Baran set out to design a military network that could survive a nuclear attack. He wanted to ensure that endpoints could communicate with one another in the face of catastrophic damage wreaked by nuclear weapons. His idea: build a widely distributed, packet-switching network that could route communications around destroyed hardware.
Others had similar ideas, and a lot of idealism was baked into these early internet proposals. J.C.R. Licklider wrote a series of memos laying out his vision for a world-spanning network, to be called the "Intergalactic Computer Network." The network, he said, should be "an electronic commons open to all" and "the main and essential medium of informational interaction for governments, institutions, corporations, and individuals." Based in large part on Licklider's work, the U.S. Defense Department's Advanced Research Projects Agency (ARPA) funded a packet-switched network that eventually became the internet.
Openness, anonymity and freedom from government regulation were at the core of what was built. But now, with countless IoT devices that can easily be weaponized, we're starting to suffer from that hands-off attitude. The idealism that built the internet also endangers it and opens it up to crippling attacks.
That was made clear in late October when a massive DDoS attack on DNS provider Dyn brought down wide swaths of the internet and disabled dozens of websites, including Twitter, Netflix, Spotify, Airbnb, Reddit and The New York Times. Playing a big role in the attack was a botnet composed of IoT devices infected by Mirai malware. An estimated 500,000 IoT devices, such as security cameras and DVRs, are infected with Mirai, and approximately 10% of them were used in the October attack. In all, Dyn says that 100,000 devices were used in the attack.
The Dyn incident is only the latest in a string of IoT cyberattacks. In late September, an IoT botnet composed of 145,607 hacked digital video recorders and IP cameras targeted the French hosting service OVH. Also in September, a Mirai botnet was used to attack the Krebs on Security website.
Source code for Mirai has been published online, along with step-by-step instructions on how to use it. And reports say that IoT botnets are available for rent, making it even easier for someone to launch an attack. Dale Drew, CSO of Level 3 Communications, said that in the Dyn incident, "We believe that there might be one or more additional botnets involved in these attacks. This could mean that they are 'renting' several different botnets."
IoT devices are particularly vulnerable to infection with malware such as Mirai. Users may not even realize the devices have passwords and so never change the defaults. They may not pay attention to updating the devices with security patches.
Ideally, having seen the potential for catastrophe, the makers of IoT devices would take steps on their own (or better yet, as a group) to boost security. But that isn't likely to happen. IoT devices are price-sensitive —manufacturers won't spend money on security if they don't expect to be able to compete with the companies that ignore it. In addition, makers of consumer devices such as refrigerators and video recorders don't have enough people with security expertise on staff.
The consequences of this go beyond the internet itself. Sanjay Sarma, a professor of mechanical engineering at MIT and IoT expert, told Computerworld's Patrick Thibodeau, "This is just the beginning. There's more coming, sadly — perhaps a power plant." Given that medical devices are internet-connected, they can be hacked as well, with catastrophic consequences. Former Vice President Dick Cheney told 60 Minutes that his doctors had the wireless capabilities of his heart implant disabled because they feared it could be used in an attempt to assassinate him.
For all these reasons, the government needs to step in and enact security regulations for IoT devices. Mikko Hypponen, chief research officer for F-Secure, told Business Insider, "We're regulating things on appliances anyway. They should not be able to give you an electric shock, they should not catch fire." To that list, he adds, "They should not leak your WiFi password either." Basic regulations could include a requirement that consumers must change the default password in IoT devices before they can be used, for example. Laws can be enacted that levy civil and criminal penalties on companies that build insecure devices. The devices can be required to have a base level of security built in.
Some people argue that U.S. regulation won't solve the problem because many of the devices are made by foreign manufacturers. But the U.S. is such a massive market that companies will have a big incentive to adhere to its regulations rather than forgo a chance to sell here.
Government regulation of tech should always be a last resort. But when it comes to IoT, we've already gone beyond the last resort. It's time to crack down on IoT devices for a safer internet and a safer society.


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Ultra HD 8 Ch. 1TB NVR Home Surveillance System & 6 2MP 1080p Bullet Cameras
• 8 Ch. H.265 IP NVR with 8 RJ45 PoE Ports • Pre-installed 2 TB Video Surveillance Grade HDD • 1080p Bullet Cameras with 100' Night Vision (6) • 100' Cat 5e Cable Included (6) • 4K HDMI output (Easy to connect to a 4K monitor or TV) • Supports easy firmware upgrade via Cloud (Recorder & Cameras) • Corridor View Mode – Perfect for hallways, doors, windows. • Two-Step Smartphone View Setup – iPhone and Android • Myrevocloud.com - Access your Ultra NVR from IE
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Revo America
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Why Canada Has The Best Reputation In The World
Ever wondered why Canadians put a maple leaf patch on their luggage? Perhaps it's to maintain the "loveable Canadian" stereotype, which is further validated by the Reputation Institute's new 2013 RepTrak report. Canada topped the list for the third time in a row this year with the best reputation in the world, far outpacing its neighbor to the south.
The global private consulting firm, based in New York and Copenhagen, evaluates the reputations of 50 countries each year based on online interviews with 27,000 people from G-8 countries. Its Country RepTrak report then measures the respondents' trust, esteem, admiration and good feelings toward these countries, along with perceived quality of life, safety, visitor attractiveness and attention to environment.
Other top countries in the 2013 list include Sweden (No. 2, up from No.3 in 2012), Switzerland (No. 3, up from No. 4 in 2012), Australia (No. 4, down from No. 2 in 2012) and Norway (No. 5, unchanged). At the opposite end of the spectrum are Russia, Nigeria, Pakistan, Iran and Iraq, in descending order. Nations such as Taiwan, Singapore, Peru, Brazil, South Korea, Poland and the Ukraine, meanwhile, have all averaged strong growth since 2009, of about 5.3 points, well above gains of the top five countries.
"We are witnessing the redistribution of reputation between industrialized and emerging markets, similar to what is occurring in the field of corporate brands," Nicolas Trad, executive partner at Reputation Institute, noted. "The success of corporate brands in emerging countries is inarguably helping to improve the reputation of their respective countries and the positioning of country brands."
Trad added that the annual reputation survey could be a good marketing tool for top countries, as there's a strong correlation between reputation and intent to visit. "The perceptions held by stakeholders determine their decision to visit or live and work in a country, buy national debt or purchase its products and services. Without a doubt, a good reputation will always mean greater national income for a country."
Michele McKenzie, CEO and president of the Canadian Tourism Commission, agreed. She said tourism had a vital role to play as a lever to drive trade, as well as investment in ideas, education and business.
"A country's reputation is its personal calling card and Canada's tourism board is expanding into all corners of the globe," McKenzie noted. "We're not just inviting the world to visit us, we're capitalizing on our positive reputation to open new doors and create new opportunities for Canada, such as the impact of the business events travel sector on our economy."
Canada made a big push to diversify its arrivals away from the dominant U.S. market into higher yielding international markets in Europe and Asia-Pacific last year, redirecting all of its money and terminating its media relations and social media work in the U.S. The bet seems to be paying off, thanks in no small part to its good reputation. Tourism generated revenue of $81.9 billion last year, while international arrivals rose 1.6 percent.
McKenzie said the future looked even brighter, given the World Travel and Tourism Council's latest statistics. The organization expects global tourism's contribution to direct GDP to grow 3.1 percent this year, outpacing the growth of the total global economy (2.4 percent). Annual growth in the tourism industry through 2022, meanwhile, is expected to grow by 4.4 percent.
This, said Fernando Prado, managing partner at the Reputation Institute, is why a nation's reputation stands to make a big difference in who goes where and who invests time and money in which country. "Canada's results confirm that it is only possible to maintain a strong reputation in the long term when a country has the ability to transmit its leadership globally in each of the three key criteria: an effective government, an advanced economy and an appealing environment."
Canada took top honors in this year's survey by winning categories such as best place to live and best place to study, and earning high marks as a place to visit, invest and work. Though it lacks the economic power of the U.S. to the south, the study showed that this might actually be a boon for one's reputation.
Of the world's three largest economies, the U.S. ranked No. 22, China No. 44 and Japan No. 14. The U.S.' country ranking did, however, improve this year, as it has each year under the Obama administration, thanks to "a friendly environment for doing business" and "an effective government."
© Copyright IBTimes 2023. All rights reserved.
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Fuel-cell-powered vehicles are still a long ways off. But fuel cell-powered toys? That's an awesome reality that's about to get even better with Horizon Fuel Cell Technologies new H-Rover, which includes a wireless camera streaming live video to your smartphone/remote.
The company is best known for its H-Racer RC car which has been on the market for ages now and is in dire need of an update—and that's exactly what the H-Rover delivers. An included charging station powers up a couple of fuel cells with nothing but good old H2O, keeping the rover running for about an hour between charges. And a wireless Bluetooth connection lets you control the rover and monitor its camera from your smartphone of choice. But it's important to remember the money you'll save without the need for an endless supply of Duracells, because the H-Rover will sell for around $800 when it crawls onto the market in the coming months.
[Horizon Fuel Cell Technologies via Gizmag]


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This article is more than 1 year old
Next-gen Intel mobile processors out next month
Developer Forum launch
Intel's upcoming Nehalem-class mobile quad-core processors - codenamed 'Clarksfield' - may debut a little sooner than expected.
Originally anticipated in October, the three CPUs - two mainstream parts and an Extreme gaming-centric chip - will actually be launched on 23 September, according to Intel documents website Xbit Labs says it has seen.
That date falls on the day of Intel Developer Forum on which the chip giant's executives outline their plans for mobile chippery, so it's not entirely surprising that this key release will be announced on that day.
The three chips will be Core i7 offerings: the i7-720QM, the i7-820QM and the i7-920XM, clocked at 1.6GHz, 1.73GHz and 2.0GHz, respectively. All three have four cores, though HyperThreading will make that appear to the host operating system as if the chips have eight cores.
The 920XM will have a maximum power draw of 55W - the other two will consume no more than 45W. All three connect to the P55M chipset and the combination of CPU and chipset will be branded 'Centrino 3'.
They're not cheap, mind. The Intel documents list the three chips' batch prices as $364, $546 and $1054, respectively. ®


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There is a tradition in politics that is similar to one in the legal profession: When evidence supports your position, make your argument based on the evidence, but when it argues against your position, ignore the evidence and appeal to emotion.
The evidence is piling up that "climate change," formerly known as "global warming," is losing evidentiary support, despite recent "preliminary findings" by a group of "experts" from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) that a Washington Post editorial suggests may prove, "warming has boosted the chances, in some cases significantly, that certain unwelcome weather or weather-related disasters will occur." The Post and other "true believers" ignore or ridicule a growing body of evidence rebutting their beliefs.
Most bad weather -- from hurricanes, which have been few this season, to tornadoes -- are unwelcome by those in their paths, but these weather phenomena have existed for centuries. Both sides seem to agree that CO2 levels are elevated, but they don't agree on whether that will cause dangerous climate change, including rising temperatures and turbulent weather. The Nongovernmental International Panel on Climate Change (NIPCC) argues, "The human effect is likely to be small relative to natural variability, and whatever small warming is likely to occur will produce benefits as well as costs."
Yet the climate change cultists continue to focus on melting polar ice caps and "displaced" polar bears as part of their emotional appeal for government to "fix" the problem. Now comes a report in the UK Daily Mail that "eminent scientists" have observed a record return of the Arctic ice cap as it grows by 60 percent in a year, covering with ice almost 1 million more square miles of ocean than in 2012.
In 2007, the BBC reported that by 2013, global warming would leave the Arctic "ice free." Oops!
Just how silly this is getting is an assertion by some activists that the current tensions in Syria might be linked to climate change. That's not as harebrained as a newspaper report in January 1933, which said, "Yo-Yo Banned in Syria, Blamed for Drought by Moslems." The Syrians of 1933 actually believed the up and down of a toy yo-yo affected the weather. If it went down and sprang right back up, rain. If it went down and didn't spring up, drought. Police reportedly patrolled the streets, confiscating the toy. Ridiculous? Not as ridiculous as some of the junk science coming out of climate research circles today.
Last March, the Daily Mail reported that global temperatures are about to drop "below the level that the (computer) models forecast with '90 percent certainty.'"
Marc Morano, a former staff member of the U.S. Senate Environment and Public Works Committee (whose web page climatedepot.com offers numerous scientific articles debunking climate change), emails me: "As a long observer of the global weather movement, I can say that the events of 2013 (have) been one of the most devastating to the movement. Both poles have record expanding ice. Global temperatures have failed to rise for 15 plus years, sea level rise is failing to accelerate, tornadoes are at record lows, hurricanes are near record low activity ... 2013 may be the year in which man-made global warming fears enter the dustbin of history."
I doubt it. Too many people have too much invested in perpetuating this fiction. Billions of dollars and other currencies have been diverted into "green" projects in a Chicken Little attempt to stop the sky from falling. The BBC reports it as fact in virtually every story it does on the environment. Ditto the American media. Most media ignore evidence that counters climate change proponents.
Former Vice President Al Gore has made a personal fortune promoting the cult of global warming, a cult being partially defined as a belief system that ignores proof contrary to its beliefs.
Perhaps the climate change counter-revolutionaries should adopt the yo-yo as their symbol and send Gore and his apostles a box of them.


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Retail $15,399
Estimated By E.P.A.Actual Mileage May Vary
Vehicle Options
- ABS Brakes
- Air Conditioning
- Alloy Wheels
- AM/FM Radio
- Automatic Headlights
- Cargo Area Cover
- Cargo Area Tiedowns
- CD Player
- Child Safety Door Locks
- Cruise Control
- Deep Tinted Glass
- Driver Airbag
- Driver Multi-Adjustable Power Seat
- Electrochromic Exterior Rearview Mirror
- Electrochromic Interior Rearview Mirror
- Electronic Brake Assistance
- Electronic Parking Aid
- Fog Lights
- Front Air Dam
- Front Heated Seat
- Front Power Lumbar Support
- Front Power Memory Seat
- Front Side Airbag
- Genuine Wood Trim
- Heated Exterior Mirror
- High Intensity Discharge Headlights
- Interval Wipers
- Keyless Entry
- Leather Seat
- Leather Steering Wheel
- Manual Sunroof
- Passenger Airbag
- Passenger Multi-Adjustable Power Seat
- Power Adjustable Exterior Mirror
- Power Door Locks
- Power Sunroof
- Power Windows
- Rain Sensing Wipers
- Rear Spoiler
- Rear Window Defogger
- Rear Wiper
- Run Flat Tires
- Second Row Folding Seat
- Separate Driver/Front Passenger Climate Controls
- Side Head Curtain Airbag
- Steering Wheel Mounted Controls
- Subwoofer
- Tachometer
- Telematics System
- Telescopic Steering Column
- Tilt Steering
- Tilt Steering Column
- Tire Pressure Monitor
- Traction Control
- Vehicle Anti-Theft
- Vehicle Stability Control System
Vehicle Description
All prices shown are cash prices, do not include doc fee, recon fee , state taxes and bank fees ( if applicable )
All vehicles are sold as is- warranty options are available at additional cost.
All sales are final- no refunds or exchanges.
All prices shown are cash prices, do not include doc fee, recon fee , state taxes and bank fees ( if applicable )
All vehicles are sold as is- warranty options are available at additional cost.
All sales are final- no refunds or exchanges.
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All prices shown are cash prices. Prices are subject to change without notice, dictated by market values and demand. We strive to maintain accuracy of this information. However, we are not responsible for any errors or omissions contained on these pages or text. The cash prices listed online do not include applicable state and local taxes, doc fee, title fee and emissions charges and dealer prep fee. If seeking financing, financing charges are dictated by the financial institution based on credit (oac) those applicable fees will be assessed as part of the deal along with a recon fee will be applied to each deal, which is not included in the cash or finance prices. Please contact the dealership for any additional information at 702-485-1515.


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Amy Ellen Duke-Benfield
Senior policy analyst at CLASP's Center for Postsecondary and Economic Success
Amy Ellen Duke-Benfield is a senior policy analyst at CLASP's Center for Postsecondary and Economic Success. Ms. Duke-Benfield's focus is access to and success in postsecondary education and training for low-income students. She analyzes and advocates for federal and state workforce and education policies that better serve low-income adults and provides technical assistance to federal, state and local advocates and governments in these areas. She also directed CLASP's Benefits Access for College Completion initiative, which sought to increase access to public
benefits and financial aid for low-income students at colleges across the country. Prior to this project, she spearheaded CLASP's work around the Higher Education Act and related federal postsecondary legislation, as well as Title II of the Workforce Investment Act (the Adult Education and Family Literacy Act). Previously, Ms. Duke-Benfield was a research associate at the Urban Institute where she contributed to several evaluations of state-level welfare reform and anti-poverty programs. She holds an undergraduate degree from Swarthmore College and a master's degree from Emory University.


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If rehabilitation is truly the goal/objective/mission of prison, then literally millions of people who end up there really should be elsewhere.
If you have ever carried on correspondence with prisoners, you know that what I am saying here is true.
Addiction, mental illness, physical and sexual abuse, learning disabilities and stupid choices land people in jail. To be sure, some prisoners need to remain behind bars.
But, I'm coming to the conclusion that a significant portion of our current prison population should be cared for in much less expensive environments that offer the promise of much more positive outcomes. I have a number of reasons for saying this--the experience of a number of states who seem committed to changing the system for non-violent offenders, the amazing strength of the "prison lobby" in this country, the terrible recidivism rates for ex-incarcerated persons, and personal experience with inmates and former inmates.
Today I want to introduce you to "Tony" (not his real name).
He is becoming my friend. He is currently serving a 10-year sentence for aggravated robbery.
Maybe the best way for you to "get inside his head" would be to look over my shoulder at his latest letter to me. Here it is, exactly as he wrote it.
March 14, 2006
MR. LARRY James
I Received your Letter A Few days ago and It WAS good to hear FROM YOU. I also would like to Thank you For The small The Deposit that you said you would send to my inmate trust Fund.
I also Appreciate your concern over The distress That I'M having in my Family. I don't know if my uncle has passed yet because know one has written and said anything. My uncle's NAMe is ____________. He's in parkland Hospital I donot No is Room number. I Really HAte to say This MR. LARRY James I Rather see him pass on Then to see him layed up in The hospital suffering like That he's Around Fifty or FiFty one and That's pretty young. he needed A kidney badly. Apparently it's to late to say him now.
MR. LARRY James
You ask me could I Tell you what got me to The TDCJ? And you also ask me when I Expected to be Release?
First MR. LARRY James
Let me Explain how I ended up AT The TDC?
IT First Started After I loss A Very good Job That I had For Almost Ten years. From Then I begin to Turn to bad Things That I didnot need in my life I began to Drink and use drugs. I lost everything That I ever had I TRIed to Fight For My life but I wasn't strong enough to over come most of my problems on my own, which meant I got worser I began to drink and drugs more I guess because I have so much to happen to me all at one time That I just let it get the best of me. One night I was so drunk and drug out That I Robbed A little old lady Over By Baylor hospital I don't know what made me do such a Thing. There IS A day That passes That I don't Regret What I done. I ended up being sentence Ten Years For Aggravated Robbery. I've been lock up now For Almost eight years now. You ask me when was I Expected to be Released, I come back up For my pARole Next Year NOV 2007 If I don't make parole in Nov 2007 I will Discharged Sept 17, 2008
MR. LARRY JAMes
I'm so EMbarrASSed For Sharing This with you. but I Felt in my heart that I could share this with you. I know I made some terrible choices in my life. I plan to Try And Turn My life Around once I'm Released. I know it wont be easy but nothing is easy in life, I Think I learn something From all This MR. James
I don't Think I ever Told you This befor. I grew up near The Centeral DALLAS Ministries. I also so Volunteer at Centeral Dallas Ministries A Few times in your Food Pantry. I plan to come and Volunteer agan For All The help you provided me with. In the mean Time MR. LARRy James I'M Still waiting on a Half Way house some where to Except Me.
MR. LARRy James
I wish That There were A Way That you could send me a small Deposit every month. My Family Isn't in Any Shape to send me any Funds especially After buring A Aunt A Few months ago and now they are trying to RAISe Money to burie my uncle who didn't have any insurance I know You can only do so much For Me because You have other People to help. Whatever you can do For me will be appreciated MR. Larry James
My friend needs something that the Texas Department of Criminal Justice does not currently offer.
On at least one occasion, Jesus told his followers that when they visited those who were suffering in prison, they were in fact visiting him. He identified with criminals.
Of course, he died the death of a criminal, the victim of capital punishment.
Funny how this works. Thinking of "Tony" causes me to remember Jesus. . .and vice versa.


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Last week the Post ran an article from the Michigan Audubon Society on the short-eared (barking) owl. Ranger Steve sent us a note about it:
"I noticed this week the article about Short-eared Owls. It included that people can go to Shiawassee National Wildlife Refuge or the UP to see them. People from the community do not need to travel more than 25 miles to see them. They reside during the winter by the model airplane flight area in the Muskegon Wastewater Management area off Swanson Road just south of Apple Ave.
A free permit is needed to drive the waste management roads and can be attained by stopping at the office off Maple Island Road. The Waste Management area is a popular bird watching area in West Michigan. Many waterfowl use the holding ponds and many other birds use the farm fields in the management area where treated water is used to irrigate crops."
Thank you for the info, Ranger Steve!


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Princeton undergraduates who have engineered a self-driving car designed to navigate city streets without human help have been selected as semifinalists in a hotly contested Pentagon competition with top prizes worth $3.5 million.
The Princeton team was among 36 semifinalists named last week by the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency in its "Urban Challenge" -- a competition whose purpose is to spur innovation in autonomous robotic vehicles.
In May, DARPA winnowed the field of competitors from 89 entrants to 53. Each of the remaining teams received a site visit this summer from DARPA officials. Princeton's site visit was July 9. After completing its site visits, DARPA announced the semifinalists.
During the final week of October, Princeton and the other semifinalists will compete in a National Qualification Event at an urban military training facility located on the former George Air Force Base in Victorville, Calif. Vehicles in the competition must be able to merge into moving traffic, navigate traffic circles, avoid moving obstacles and obey California traffic laws -- without any human assistance.
Twenty finalists from that competition will then go on to the final competition on Nov. 3 at the same site. DARPA will award cash prizes to the top three winners: $2 million for first prize; $1 million for second prize; and $500,000 for third prize.
The Princeton team is unique among the other competitors in that it is entirely an undergraduate-led effort and receives little assistance from outside industry, according to team spokesman Gordon Franken.
"The fabulous thing about Princeton is that it is a place where a group of undergraduates can go out and enter a national competition like this," said Franken. "At another university, we may not have had the opportunity to be involved at all or we would have been working for graduate students or professors."
The Princeton team operates on what is comparatively a shoestring budget -- so far it has spent about $75,000 while many other teams have corporate sponsorship and budgets of $1 million or more. Franken said the team will need an infusion of cash to make it to the finish line. "We are looking to raise up to $100,000 in donations and corporate sponsorship to cover upcoming logistical expenses, travel and additional technology," he said.
The Princeton team was a surprise finalist in DARPA's last Grand Challenge competition in 2005, a race across the Mojave Desert.
The Princeton effort is entirely an extracurricular activity; students must keep up with regular coursework while working at a brisk pace to meet DARPA milestones.
"Yes, we want to win, but mainly this is about enhancing the students' academic experience," said Alain Kornhauser, a professor of operations research and financial engineering who is the team's faculty adviser. "In terms of what they are learning, DARPA's site visit last month was probably worth a year of tuition."
Princeton undergraduates who have engineered a self-driving car designed to navigate city streets without human help have been selected as semifinalists in a hotly contested Pentagon competition with top prizes worth $3.5 million.


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The Bethesda Community Store will be on the auction block on Tuesday, nearly 90 years since it opened at the corner of Old Georgetown Road and Greentree Road.
The property has been foreclosed upon and will be up for sale on Tuesday at 10:30 a.m. The small cabin-like store, recognized as historic by the Montgomery County Historic Preservation Commission, has been selling goods since 1924 and is one of the few remaining commercial structures from the early 20th century in Bethesda.
It also includes a barbecue stand and patio. Store owner Arnie Fainman encountered resistance from the county and neighbors in 2001, when he tried to sell seafood at the store through a vendor who was forced to leave the NIH campus across the street because of Sept. 11 security restrictions.
Fainman won a court battle to to double the store's space. The barbecue is a lunchtime favorite of workers at NIH and nearby Suburban Hospital.
Fainman said he couldn't comment on the property's sale because he is a tenant. The property is owned by Chevy Chase-based property management company the Jaffe Group. A representative did not respond to a request for comment.
"It's out of my hands," Fainman said.
Flickr photo by voteprime