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Buckminster Project FAQ
(Converted from the old material at Tigris...)
What is there to know about Buckminster?
- 1 What is there to know about Buckminster?
- 2 What is the Buckminster Project about?
- 2.1 Background
- 2.2 Functionality Scope
- 2.3 Technology
- 2.4 What external components or systems does Buckminster require?
- 2.5 What SCM products does Buckminster support?
- 2.6 Benefits
- 2.7 Legal and Stuff
- 2.8 How is Buckminster licensed?
- 2.9 Why is the project called "Buckminster"?
What is the Buckminster Project about?
Developers are increasingly working with complex component structures comprising code artifacts from a variety of sources implemented in disparate technologies. The Eclipse Plug-In Development Environment (PDE) currently provides an outstanding framework for developing componentized plug-ins and feature-sets. However, Eclipse provides only limited support for materializing a workspace — i.e. so that all component dependencies are fulfilled — a problem which is particularly acute in team-based development. Moreover, the PDE's component management support is available only to components implemented as Eclipse plug-ins, which limits its applicability to other types of development projects.
The objective of the Buckminster, Component Assembly Project is to leverage and extend the Eclipse platform to bring mixed-component development comparable to Eclipse plug-in development in terms of efficiency and ease of use, as well as to extend the Eclipse component dependency model to allow component materialization based on match rules. Buckminster can accomplish this objective by introducing a project-agnostic way of describing the component structure and dependencies of an arbitrarily complex development project, plus a mechanism for materializing all corresponding source and binary artifacts.
Buckminster is implemented as a set of Eclipse plug-ins that complement existing Eclipse infrastructure. Functionality within the project's initial functional scope includes the following:
- Complex dependency resolution, providing recursive resolution of dependencies leveraging existing Eclipse "Team Providers," with the addition of new retrievers, for exemplary purposes, covering source and binary artifacts that are not version-controlled in a traditional sense. Resolution will use a variety of versioning schemes and will be based on match rules similar to those found in the Eclipse plug-in framework. This allowes comparison of current and prior dependency resolutions to support update impact analyses.
- Uniform component dependency format, using a component-type agnostic mechanism for describing components and their respective targets and dependency requirements. Most Eclipse projects, and many other component types, have some level of dependency information that can be leveraged. Extensions can be added to provide additional strategies for dependency pattern recognition.
- Intelligent retrieval mechanisms, leveraging the Eclipse "Team Project Set" mechanism by separating the bill of material needed for a given configuration from its actual materialization. This is important since dependencies may appoint software that is locally installed on one machine but lacking on another. The bill of materials is typically shared between team members, although the materialization information may vary.
- Flexible project workspace binding, allowing components materialized on disc to be bound to a workspace in different ways, including "Proxy Projects" consisting of links to physical artifacts and auto-generated Eclipse project information. These capabilities are helpful when sharing code or other artifacts that are not eclipse projects.
The Buckminster Project's initial scope focuses primarily on materialization of components based on dependencies and rules, although this scope may be expanded over time, to the extent appropriate and consistent with its objectives. One of a number of requirements that may be addressed in the future is tighter integration with Eclipse build systems. For example, this would allow fulfillment of pre-built artifacts by actually building source artifacts and then caching the results for group access.
What is Buckminster?
Buckminster is a set of frameworks and tools for automating build, assemble & deploy (BA&D) development processes in large, complex or distributed component-based development projects. Buckminster allows development organizations to define fine-grained "production lines" for the various stages in software production - for example, unit testing, integration testing, field deployment, staged migration, etc. - and to automate the execution of the relevant BA&D processes.
Why does Buckminster exist?
Manual execution of BA&D processes is hugely resource-intensive in large and/or distributed development organizations. The burden expands exponentially with the size and complexity of the development organization and component base and as the frequency of system change increases. In the past, resource costs associated with BA&D processes have acted as a check on the ability of development organizations to respond to changing technical, market or customer requirements. Moreover, BA&D overhead has made true component-based development costly to the point of impracticality, forcing development organizations to collapse componentized code bases back into monolithic structures.
Existing IDEs and source code management (SCM) systems take a fragmented approach to managing BA&D processes in component-based development, leaving ISVs and large development organizations to either smith their own tools or do without.
Buckminster exists to address these problems. Its goal is to achieve manageable reuse of software in distributed development environments where components originate in diverse, independent and frequently changing code streams.
What is the history of the Buckminster Project?
Buckminster results from well over a decade of developing component-based systems in multi-site environments and a deep interest in software configuration management. Initially, we just set out to solve the typical process problems we encountered working with monolithic code bases' patch problems, lengthy builds, version incompatibilities, difficulties tracing bugs and design flaws.
Perhaps because we assigned more senior architectural resources to the problem, or perhaps because we just developed a "passion" for process perfection (or both), we went farther and deeper with these issues than the typical development organization. Software CM products generally did a poor job when it came to managing code bases comprising merging component streams. So we essentially built our own component configuration management (CCM) domain comprising some code and lots of process on top of the leading commercial CM product.
The real breakthrough was when we started a venture in early 2000 to build a platform for next-generation software production that has evolved into The Frameworx Project. We wanted to simplify and rationalize the process of producing and changing applications that were a specialization of a more generic set of functional components. For example, this would allow an application vendor to deeply customize its application for individual customers without having to manage each customer as a separate code base. Similarly, an ISV could swap out components in a SOA in a controlled fashion, without undue disruption to its installed base.
We realized that the investment we had made in automating our own internal development processes - sophisticated BA&D frameworks, software CM and a heavy investment in our own CCM - provided the blueprint of the solution, and was something that resonated with almost everyone that we presented it to. Buckminster is essentially a further generalization and productization of that investment.
What exactly is Component Configuration Management?
Component Configuration Management (CCM) is traditional configuration management interwoven with component-based thinking.
Service-oriented (or component-based) development requires version and configuration control not just of individual files, as in traditional CM, but also of the components - structured groupings of files - comprising the larger product or system. Components undergo repeated transformations or "state changes" throughout the development and maintenance lifecycle. The larger system or product is repeatedly reassembled and deployed as components are transformed. The result is configuration complexity and organizational and operational overhead.
The CCM discipline addresses this complexity by promoting recurrent values of architectural quality, reuse & repeatability, flexibility and scalability.
What is the scope and ambition of the Buckminster Project?
The Buckminster Project's mission is to create open source frameworks and tools that:
- complement the existing IDE and software CM domains
- to support an integrated, comprehensive and low-overhead approach to BA&D aspects of software production
- providing support for large, distributed development organizations producing complex and frequently changing component-based systems.
How does Buckminster relate to The Frameworx Project?
Buckminster has no technical dependencies on other components originating in the Frameworx Project, and can be used to build, assemble and deploy nearly any multi-component system.
However, Buckminster goes hand in hand with the objectives of SOA frameworks such as the Frameworx Project. True SOA and BA&D efficiently are inseparable in practice. Service-oriented architecture implies fine-grained componentization, which is impractical without BA&D efficiency.
Functionality Scope
What functional units does Buckminster comprise?
Buckminster currently comprises two key functional elements which work together to automate complex, distributed component-based BA&D processes.
The first is the Materialization framework, an elaborated build tool that implements component CM ideas and processes and uses the Ant tool for the build-related tasks. The key concept in AM is an "assembly line" approach to maintaining a stepwise build process, with support for persistent and reusable component states after each step. The AM framework is intended to support automation of nearly any conceivable BA&D process, from unit test to staged production migration.
The second functional element is Component Configuration Broker (CCB), which is essentially an intelligent repository of versioned component dependencies and compatibilities used to generate valid configurations of components (i.e. those that are known or tested to result in buildable and fully function systems). Configuration Broker manages the complexity that arises when assembling frequently changing, n-dimensional component streams, typically from multiple sources, into one or more production configurations.
What exactly does Buckminster do?
Following is a summary list of the basic functionality Buckminster can support:
- Concise handling of configuration descriptions — Buckminster has a succinct, extendable and very flexible way to describe a given mix of components. It can describe use of volatile component mixes directly in a file system, as stable/unstable versions of components residing in an SCM tool, or as components available through the web.
- Version control tool integration — Buckminster can help extract components from an SCM tool based on the configuration description.
- Repository integration — In addition to integrating with version control tools, Buckminster also handles a growing and expandable set of other types of repositories such as download sites, Maven repositories, etc. This leverages existing repositories and technologies without having to impose a new structure on used components.
- Unique assembly line paradigm — Buckminster can manage a build/transformation of many components through an "assembly line", or sequence of steps. The process can be stopped after any step and restarted a different time or site, without loss of component state or other context. (One example would be a continuous process that pauses when an installation CD is burned and resumes when field installation begins.) Moreover, tracking information can be recorded to help backtracking in case of later problems.
- Minimized component coupling — Components follow simple rules that control their behavior. They can express dependencies, and be assured that Buckminster will run them separately in the correct order. By adherence to build rules, and support for build instructions by external reference, components remain location-independent. This allows the user/Buckminster to switch states in the background - for example, to present a pre-built state instead of materializing a source state and compiling. This cuts build times, and makes repeatability much more achievable.
- Minimize impedence mismatch between IDE and the rest of the software factory — while the IDE is an excellent tool for the developer, the needs of the rest of the software factory; automated (headless) builds and assembly, autmatic (nightly) testing and other batch oriented tasks often require two separately maintained structures. Buckminster brides the two - the same materialization and build steps can be executed both in the IDE and in headless mode. When using separate environments it is difficult to catch such errors that are normally captured by the Eclipse internal build process when using general purpose batch oriented tools.
- Integration with ANT and ANT plugins — leverages the plethora of plugins for the poluar ANT build tool, while providing an additional layer of managment and control on top. Buckminster seamlessly integrates ANT tasks with Eclipse internal build tasks.
What is OUTSIDE the scope of the Buckminster project?
Buckminster tries to be as agnostic as possible to other environments and tools that already provide valuable functionality. Buckminster will not include functionality for:
- repository management (i.e. the storage of components) - Buckminster reads or writes (via actions) in repositories but do not provide a repository.
- development process management - here Buckminster is intended to be used as an integral part, or indeed be used to drive an assembly line as part of an overall (business) software development process
- tracking issues or bugs - however if you need to include release documentation as part of your build process, you can use Buckminster (or Ant) plugins to retreive information, and the Buckminster action based asmbly line to transform it to the shape wanted in the end result.
- versioned storage of artefacts (such as CVS or SVN) - but Buckminster works well with these tools, adding an additional layer of management, control, and ease of use.
What products or technologies are most comparable to Buckminster?
A large number of both commercial and open source build tools are available. Some are narrower in scope and ambition than Buckminster, other are larger, but overlap Buckminster partially.
A newer tool, Maven, raises the abstraction level above that of the typical build tool, and aims to add development process management support throughout the entire project. Recently, the Maven project and Buckminster has started to cooperate as the two technologies are complementary.
However, we believe that Buckminster is more ambitious in architectural and functional scope and extensibility in the area it covers – from tight integration in the Eclipse IDE to management of unattended builds - and will in many cases be more adaptable for larger scale development projects.
What are the key technologies on which Buckminster depends?
Buckminster is implemented in Java on the Eclipse platform, and thus depends on a Java environment - with JDK 1.5 currently required as a minimum.
Important to note is that Buckminster has NO dependency on any specific implementation technology (i.e. language) for the components on which it operates.
Buckminster embeds two other open source projects: Ant, as one build engine along side Eclipse internal builders; and Log4j, for logging purposes. Depending on Ant tasks used, builds may have other dependencies.
What external components or systems does Buckminster require?
Depending on viewpoint, Buckminster requires a lot...or a little.
First, Buckminster requires some effort from users to become truly useful, although it is possible to start off small & simple. A detailed understanding is required in order to design and produce reusable components and create relevant assembly lines, etc.
Although not a formal dependency, use of some SCM system will be essential to attaining practical benefits from Buckminster in any significant development effort.
What SCM products does Buckminster support?
Buckminster uses a plug-in implementation that handles integration with SCM system. Currently, Buckminster comes with handlers for a plain file system, URL-based repositories, CVS, Subversion, Perforce P4, as well as also handling Eclipse repositories (update sites), and Maven repositories.
Specialized handlers may be needed for development organizations with proprietary wrappers around CM systems that would otherwise be supported, although such handlers generally should be straightforward to write.
Who is Buckminster for?
Buckminster was designed for large or complex development projects, measured in terms of number of developers, number of development sites, number of production installations, size of the component base and frequency and degree of component change, as well as frequency of running more complex build and configuration tasks. In theory, anyone could use it, although the benefits to individual developers on quick one-off self contained development projects (where everything can be built by the Eclipse IDE itself) would probably not justify the effort.
Note that our definition of "large or complex" is qualitative, rather than tied to any specific numeric thresholds. The best litmus test for whether Buckminster is a fit is whether the development organization (or indeed the individual developer) believes that BA&D process efficiency is an issue. If it is, then we would hope that Buckminster can help.
Legal and Stuff
How is Buckminster licensed?
Buckminster is available under the Eclipse EPL license.
Why is the project called "Buckminster"?
Like other projects originated by the Frameworx Project, Buckminster is named after a "famous dead architect". In Buckminster's case, this is R. Buckminster Fuller, an architect, engineer and visionary best known for inventing the geodesic dome. In contrast to conventional architects, Fuller was more interested in structural efficiency, mass-producibility and utility than aesthetics. We felt that this best fit the scope and vision of the Buckminster Project.
"When I'm working on a problem, I never think about beauty. I think only how to solve the problem. But when I have finished, if the solution is not beautiful, I know it is wrong." R. Buckminster Fuller.
For more on Buckminster Fuller, see http://www.bfi.org.


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VGPS Receives 2nd Recycling Grant
Top HeadlinesDate: January 22, 2010
For the second year in a row, Andrews University—thanks to the Village Green Preservation Society (VGPS)—has received a grant to support waste reduction and recycling projects. This year's grant, in the amount of $867, will be used to lower waste production in the Administration Building by placing recycling containers, as well as several other large containers, in each workstation by late January or February 2010.
Founded by Ben Oliver, a 2009 Andrews University graduate, VGPS is a student-led group dedicated to taking action against environmental issues on campus. Formed in 2008, VGPS has since organized student assemblies, discussions about environmental issues, various clean-up projects and other campus events.
"We started in February 2008. Several of us were passionate about doing something to get our campus involved and see what we could do to improve environmental practices," says Oliver. "We organized an Earth Day event and had a petition with approximately 400 signatures from faculty and students pledging that they were serious about the environment."
Looking for ways to accomplish their goals and spread the message of VGPS, Oliver learned of the Berrien County School Recycling Grant the following school year. The grant was designed to provide schools with monetary support for waste reduction and recycling projects. It could be used to purchase recycling equipment and supplies to carry out projects involving the 4 R's: reducing, reusing, recycling and/or re-buying.
"We wanted to get the University going in a direction of better environmental practices and one of the most basic ways to do that would be to have recycling on campus," says Oliver. "The grant was a great tool to help us reach those goals."
Hoping to provide the dormitories with recycling bins and trash dumpsters, the VGPS decided to apply for the grant with the support of the administration and provost. In the end, they received even more funding than expected.
"We chose the dorms because they are a large concentration of campus and the heart of the campus is the students. We hope that students will leave this place being used to recycling. Maybe they can continue doing that throughout their lives later on and in their families," says Oliver.
"We think this will raise the profile of environmental efforts at Andrews given the central role that the Administration Building plays on campus," says Tom Goodwin, VGPS faculty sponsor. "In my judgment, the VGPS has been the most effective 'voice' for environmental awareness I've ever seen on campus (and I came 15 years ago). They've moved beyond raising awareness to initiating concrete action. The recycling program in the dorms initiated last year, followed by this year's project in the Ad Building, illustrates that action most clearly."
To learn more about the VGPS and find out how you can become a club member, visit www.andrews.edu/services/studentlife/clubs/clubpages/village-green-presen. The society also has a Facebook page available to the public.


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PSB Imagine B
Crutchfield Customer Review (What's this?)
Nice design and sound.
Item # 760IMGNBB | MFR # Imagine B BK
In Stock
$1,099.99 pair Earn up to 1,100 Rewards points
Our VA-based experts can help.
Despite their simple appearance, PSB's Imagine B speakers pack a powerful punch that'll impress even the most discerning of listeners. They work great on their own in a high-performance two-channel system, or you can add one of PSB's HD subwoofers for even better bass. The Imagine line borrows technology developed for PSB's higher-end Synchrony series, so you get audiophile-quality performance in a high-value speaker. The Imagine Bs also feature seamless, curved cabinets that are finished with stunning, hand-picked real-wood veneers — a stylish addition to any listening room.
"The Imagine B [has] both clarity and listenability in spades. It also [has] remarkable bass extension and volume..."
—John Marks, Stereophile, February 2009
The Imagine Bs each feature a highly accurate 1" titanium dome tweeter that produces smooth, sparkling highs. The 5-1/4" woofer uses a proprietary ceramic-filled polypropylene cone, which makes it very stiff and light. The resulting midrange is clean and balanced, with tight bass response. A highly efficient motor structure with a unique compound magnet helps reduce audible distortion.
All Imagine speakers have smooth, 1-1/2" thick front baffles that blend almost seamlessly with the seven-layer laminated MDF side, top, and bottom panels. Plus, the heavy internal bracing ensures an impressively solid, acoustically inert enclosure. The top, side, and bottom panels are clad in real wood veneer that's hand selected for its beauty and quality.
Most speakers don't include any. Learn about choosing and installing speaker wire at the Crutchfield Learning Center.
Shop our selection of speaker wire.
Beautiful speakers with great sound right out of the box
RonT, Tennessee
Average Customer Review(s):
Nice design and sound.
As a long time serious audiophile, I've listened to many sound components and loudspeakers over the years. Took a chance on the little Imagine B's to replace my older, large floorstanding speakers. Right out of the box these little things blew me away. Turn your back to them and you would think you are listening to speakers much larger. The clarity and spaciousness of the soundstage is incredible. They are beautiful also and the fit and finish are top notch. The best cable connectors I've ever seen on a speaker. Recommend using fairly heavy stands and top quality components to bring out their best. May seem like a lot of money for a small bookshelf speaker but to me, it was money well spent.
Pros: Beautiful speakers, clarity & soundstage second to none. Bass is very good for such a small speaker.
Cons: Need a heavy stand with a larger than 6 x 6 top plate as their light weight risks them tipping over. Wish PSB made a dedicated stand like the do for the Imagine B Mini.
Has this ever happened to you? One thing leads to another. I replaced my 15 + year old NSD receiver/amp with a new Yamaha RX V 475. Big improvement in sound, plus loads of techno improvements to play with. Then I begin to wonder if I should replace the old front speakers which were PSB Alpha B's. So I read all the reviews and decide to kick it up a notch to PSB Imagine B's, another improvement. With the Alpha B moved to the rear and the Imagine B's up front, I am getting a noticeably better sound. I am not an audiophile, so can't go into the finer variation of sound, but I can say that the violins in the Berlin Philharmonic digital concert hall are crisper, the flutes sound smoother and When Marie Claire Alain plays Bach Toccata and Fugue in D minor it blows my socks off. Now if only I can stop there, or do I want to upgrade those old rear speakers?
Pros: clean crisp sound
Cons: The Price
Beautiful speakers with great sound right out of the box
Pros: Sound and cabinetry
Cons: None so far
I bought a pair in gloss black when they were being discontinued. Based on the closeout price, the value is spectacular. The speakers look and feel expensive, with nice looking cabinetry, drivers, and connectors (dual bing posts per speaker). I played them for a week of 2 off and on before making any judgements. I first played them with a Sony ES receiver during the break-in period and found they could be a little reserved. While they had a good sound, they were not very dynamic and a bit polite. I then had to work out of town and played them again when I returned. While they seemed better even with the Sony - they changed appreciably when i played them with my Yamaha A-S2000 integrated amp. They now take on the character of whatever the music has in it - if dynamic, they are dynamic (asf far as a bookshelf speaker can be) - if there are strong highs, the speakers show it - if there is strong bass, the speakers do a pretty good job playing bass. They will also play quite loud without distortion or compression. In comparison with my ancient (but still excellent) Infinity Infinitesimal 0.1s, the PSBs are less bright and airy in general, but the bass is better and the mids are pretty close. For me, that is strong praise. For the money I paid, they are spectacular - for the regular price, they are still a good value.
Pros: Beautiful Gloss Black, Small Size, Big Sound
Cons: Can be a little reserved with the wrong amp
Replaced Bose AM 5 set with this PSB set. Well worth the extra money. Only complaint is we should have done it sooner.
So far I really like these speakers. They handle the power from my AMP really well. They look great and sound very rich. I use them in a second zone, the kitchen and they fill the open room with a lot of crisp sound. They pack a punch.
Pros: Sound good, Look good. Seems like they're getting better as I listen to them more.
Cons: None so far.
The PSB Imagine B Bookshelf Speakers are expensive but they provide full robust audio in a reasonable amount of space. The speakers produce crystal clear highs without shrill overtones. Even at high volume levels, these speakers perform exceptionally well. The bass produced by the Imagine B is quite respectable and suitable for most music (except maybe classical organ). The cabinets are beautifully made with real woods (no veneers). Amazingly, there are no sharp corners on the cabinets; corners are smooth and absolutely seamless. The binding posts, too, are of excellent quality. If you are looking for a quality bookshelf speaker system, give the PSB Imagine B's a listen. Highly recommended.
Pros: Audio quality, materials.
Cons: Price
Replaced a pair of 25 year old Energy speakers nearing the end of there lives. Hooked up the Imagine B's and the difference was incredible. Seriously considering a powered sub by PSB.
Pros: Wiring options, finish and sound.
Cons: None so far.
The reviewers who mentioned that these speakers need around 40 hours to break-in are absolutely right. Right out of the box they are harsh and undisciplined but don't give up. I have around twenty plus hours on mine and am beginning to see results. Now when I turn them on, after thirty or forty minutes, I noticed they really start to sing. I'm sure as I get closer to forty hours they will sound good when I first turn them on. I just burst out laughing last night. I had never heard a loud speaker sound so good. It was truly stunning! Also, I highly recommend using these with a turntable as well. It is incredible how much detail you can get from these speakers by pushing them with a decent system. (I'm using a moderate NAD amp that is about 20 years old.)
It took about 40 hours of use to achieve their great transparent sound. I also found that the quality of the audio source is very important because you hear seemingly everything whether it is background noise of a poor recording or the nuances of intricate music passages. Because these speakers are so accurate and transparent I can now hear details that were not present through my previous speakers. Very impressive.
Pros: Very transparent sound. Look great.
Cons: None
My speakers had to go back to the factory for refurbishing and would have no speakers for a month. My nephew let me borrow his PSB imagine B so I could get by. Totally 110 percent impressed! So impressed that I purchased the Imagine T2.
Pros: Together with 24" stands (sand-filled), these speakers are formidable! They will go toe to toe with speakers costing 3 times as much.
Love them !!
Indisputably the finest, cleanest-sounding speakers I have ever owned.
wow what a speaker , best sounding bookself ive ever heard, awsome & jazz, rock ,ect it can handle any sound ............. they even look awsome , im very happy ......................
These speakers are well worth the money. I did a considerable amount of research and visited a number of audiophile sites and learned that the experts rated these speakers very highly, particularly for the money. The speakers sound wonderful, are neutral and produce surprisingly good bass for such small speakers. PSB is known for its high quality speakers at a reasonable price and these speakers certainly fit that description.
I had Dahlqist DQ-10 speakers for 30 years and have enjoyed them tremendously. We are refurnishing our home and my interior designer said they had to go, as the DQ-10's were much too big for the room. After selling them I purchased the PSB Imagine B speakers. Wow! The richness of the sound is awesome and they are not even broken in. The speakers exceed my expectations. I am powering these with a PS Audio amp. On a side note, my lovely bride (and my interior designer) are happy with the size of my new speakers. I would highly recommend these speakers. The sound that comes out of such a small speakers is amazing.
Using these with a Peachtree Nova. These sounded boomy out of the box and I was afraid I would have to return them. After about 48hrs of playtime they have calmed down alot and now sound neutral and clean. Couldn't ask for a better pair of bookshelf speakers.
|Bass Reflex
|Video Shielded
|Tweeter Type
|Tweeter Size (inches)
|Midrange Size (inches)
|Woofer Size (inches)
|Woofer Composition
|Woofer Surround
|Power Range
|89 dB
|Impedance (Ohms)
|Frequency Response
|52-23k Hz
|Connector Type
|5-way post
|Bi-amp Inputs
|Height (inches)
|Width (inches)
|Depth (inches)
|Weight (pounds)
|Mounting Bracket Included
|Recommended Stand Height (inches)
|Parts Warranty
|5 Years
|Labor Warranty
|5 Years
Driver Technology
Enclosure Design
Cone Design: The woofer cones are ceramic filled polypropylene and use rubber surrounds. The aluminum phase plug mechanically smoothes the response and acts as a heat sink for the voice coil, reducing power compression.
Tweeter: The 1" titanium, Ferrofluid cooled dome tweeters' light yet rigid diaphragm and over hung voice coil, combined with a computer optimized magnetic circuit produce an extended high frequency response that remains distortion free even at extreme volume levels. The front baffle is designed to eliminate mid and high frequency diffractions, maximizing three dimensional realism.
Crossover Network: The crossover is a 2-way acoustical fourth order Linkwitz-Riley type with a 24 dB/octave slope. Tight tolerances were used when choosing the crossover components; heavy multi-laminated iron cores are used for large value inductors, high gauge wire air core inductors are used for medium and small values, all the capacitors are low loss and film capacitors are used for the midrange and treble frequencies. The tweeter and woofer are crossed over at 1,800 Hz.
Cabinet: The cabinet is an integral part of speaker design and has a dramatic effect on the overall sound of a speaker. PSB's 7-layer laminated construction results in a solid, acoustically inert enclosure. The side and top panels are curved for added stiffness, with a wood veneer exterior.
Dual Binding Posts: The dual binding post input terminals are located on the lower rear of the speaker cabinet. The two sets of binding posts are shorted together by a gold-plated jumper. With the jumper removed the Imagine B can be bi-wired or bi-amplified. The binding posts will accept spade connectors, single banana plugs, pin connectors, and bare wire up to 8 gauge.
Frequency Response:
At Crutchfield, you'll get detailed, accurate information that's hard to find elsewhere. That's because we have our own in-house Product Research team. They verify what's in the box, check the owner's manual, and record dimensions, features and specs. We stay on top of new products and technologies to help people make informed choices.
I own and use these speakers for studio use and these speaker are a great bargain for the sound and price point. [ Kyle May 15, 2018 ]
Recommended by Cosmo at Crutchfield as good match for my amplifier. His recommendation corresponded with positive comments about these speakers on several home audio websites as good matches with NAD amplifier. [ James Jul 20, 2017 ]
i'm in the last quarter of my life and these will be the best speakers i have ever owned and i have owned manypairs in 65 years. [ norman Jun 25, 2017 ]
Input from the advisor, Rex, regarding compatibility with my existing components. [ Rob Jan 24, 2017 ]
The PSB imagine B speakers are absolutely great speakers for the price point and size. The speaker offers an absolutely beautiful, transparent, and very well rounded sound dynamic of lows, mids, and highs. [ Kyle Apr 07, 2018 ]
Great speakers for the money...clear and precise. Plenty of bass so a sub isn't mandatory. [ PETER Feb 16, 2017 ]
Use sturdy stands that are well damped (non-resonant). Wood can work well as well as sand or lead shot damped metal stands (what I use). I have resonance suppressing mounts on the speaker stand base (which also protects the finish of the speakers). As for pads or spikes, it depends what the floor surface is. Use absorbing pads if on hardwood or concrete floors. Spikes for carpeted floors (although I opted for the soft pads on my carpeted concrete floor). Be sure to use high quality speaker cables - I used AudioQuest speaker cables purchased from Crutchfield. Be sure to experiment a bit with speaker location - almost all bookshelf speakers are designed for mounting away from walls by a foot or so. Avoid placement in corners where speaker is equidistant from the two wall surfaces. Hope this helps. [ ROBERT Dec 04, 2013 ]
I prefer the rubber feet they stop the speakers from sliding. [ RICK Nov 29, 2013 ]
The rubber feet that come with these speakers will work great for placement on most speaker stands. [ Jeff Nov 27, 2013 ] Staff
Sides are curved so they won't lay flat. Bottom has a rubber piece to help it stand. On its side that will be visible. Up side is they look like furniture. [ Greg Feb 18, 2017 ]
No [ LEE Feb 17, 2017 ]
I haven't tried this but you can easily remove the fabric grille which has the logo. [ Simon Oct 03, 2016 ]
The logo is plastic and it looks like there are tabs behind the logo that are pressed through the front cloth mesh and the perforated metal grid behind it, then the tabs are melted behind the metal mesh to hold the logo in place. It appears that there might also be glue behind the logo, but I can't tell for sure. In any case, I suspect that removing the logo would show holes (and maybe glue residue) through the cloth mesh, and it wouldn't be pretty...However, you can easily remove the whole front grille leaving the speakers exposed (see above picture). Some people like it that way... AndyG [ Andy Oct 02, 2016 ]
No [ Michael Oct 01, 2016 ]


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We think few doors are closed to the rich and famous. But for celebrities aspiring to buy co-op apartments in New York City, that isn't necessarily true.
Buying a co-op — or cooperative apartment — differs from buying a regular apartment or condo. In a co-op, the buyer's bid is subject to approval from the building's board of directors. Each candidate is bidding to become a shareholder, buying a membership in a cooperative. Consequently, new members are rigorously screened.
Carol Levy, a broker specializing in high-end co-ops and condos for Carol E. Levy Real Estate in New York City, compiled a list of reasons for co-op board rejections. It includes common criteria co-op boards consider such as financial status, job history and bad credit. But there are more opaque factors such as lifestyle, which Levy said, includes a "paparazzi prone rock star" and disruptive lifestyle. Even a poor interview (or "pet interview," a meeting with a potential neighbors' animal, required by some boards) can ruin a potential buyer's chances.
And even CEOs and a former U.S. President haven't been immune to a co-op board's scrutiny. Why are they rejected? While gossip-column speculation inevitably follows such rejection news, co-op boards don't specify their reasons, lest they be sued.
Click ahead to see who has been turned down from upscale residences.
By Colleen Kane
Posted 6 November, 2012


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Someone to count on
Today, a little white-haired lady came to my cash register. In the course of ringing up her purchases and visiting with her, I learned that she is 84 years old.
As the conservation continued, my elderly customer stated that she is driving to Nashville tomorrow, though the weather forecast predicts a cold day. "Oh, my
," I said, marveling at the independence of this senior citizen. "Could you not go another day when the weather will be nicer?"
"No," she said. "I'm driving my friend to her cancer treatment."
I asked if she had a good set of directions to the medical center.
"I know exactly how to get there," she said. "I've been driving her to her treatments for four and a half years."
My amazement was probably evident. "Your friend is very fortunate that she has you," I said.
"She knows that she can count on me," my customer said.
In a few moments, she left with her purchases, but she remains in my thoughts. I wonder -- is any ingredient of friendship more important than loyalty, when the chips are down?
A friend in need
Is a friend indeed.
|Photo by StuSeeger


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As established, we're dangerously close to the start of the NBA season, with all its drama storylines and sturm und drang and months of madness. To us, part of the beauty of the NBA is that its focus, while ultimately on the team, falls on the individual. The plight of one player becomes an epic tale in the shadow of Jordan; who is the real alpha dog? It's this source of expression and personal comedy/tragedy that makes the game so compelling. There's nowhere to hide out there.
No site captures this feel more than the great Free Darko, which we read like a doctor's chart every day during the NBA season. They understand the dichotomy between individual achievement and collective glory, and how those are not mutually exclusive. And they've got a way with letters too.
Therefore, we've asked them to look at the arcs of certain players going into this season, what 2006-07 means to them, their teams and their legacies. They'll be previewing a player a day, up to tipoff next Tuesday.
Today: Carmelo Anthony. Your author is Brown Recluse, Esq. His words are after the jump.
The '05-06 season was a breakthrough of sorts for Carmelo Anthony, who upped his scoring average nearly six points (to 26.5 per) and led the Nuggets to the top of the Western Conference Northwest Division. Yet, whatever advances 'Melo made during the regular season were soon forgotten after his scoring dropped back down to 21 ppg in the playoffs, as Denver went down 4-1 to the historically woeful Clippers in the first round. The haters in the media began voicing the same doubts about whether he was a truly elite player, whether he belonged in the same class as his homies Bron Bron and D-Wade, both fresh off virtuosic playoff performances, with Wade's garnering him both the Larry O'Brien and Finals MVP trophies.
Enter the Land of the Rising Sun: the birthplace of sushi, Hello Kitty, my grandfather, and Phase 2 of Melo's career. It may be a bit hyperbolic to state that, at only age 22, the man's career was already in need of resuscitation, but with all the hype surrounding 'Melo, it's easy to forget that he has yet to make an All-Star Game or lead his team out of the first round of the playoffs. Going into the FIBA World Championships, Anthony's stock was lower than anyone else on the squad, relative to expectations. Would anyone trade Carmelo Anthony for Shane Battier? Of course not, but no one's ever expected Sugar Shane to carry an NBA team either. Although Team USA fell short of the gold medal, Anthony emerged as the team leader, being selected a tri-captain, then leading the Americans in scoring and making first team all-tourney.
While he has often suffered in comparison to his 2003 Draft classmates, 'Melo has always been the People's Champ, rocking cornrows, getting in bar fights and appearing in hood documentaries while the clean-cut James and Wade carefully cultivate their off-court personae. His minor scrapes with the law (and, really, they've been very minor, barely requiring a Band-Aid, no Neosporin needed) have only served to make him appear more human and more relatable to the jersey-buying set. Fresh off his summer success, Anthony looks ready to become a genuine NBA folk hero, with his newly mature game paired with that million dollar smile. It's a prospect that must have opposing coaches drawing up new defensive schemes and his agent test driving Maybachs.
But, let's be real. Even if he's a new 'Melo, they're basically the same Nuggets. He's still got to do battle with the giants of the Western Conference playing with an oft-injured frontcourt, no proven shooting guard and for a notoriously moody coach. Winning with this crew should prove a substantially bigger challenge than playing with a group of All-Stars, as he did in Japan. I realize it's pretty absurd to criticize a 22-year-old (did I already mention he's only 22?) for failing to lead his team to postseason riches when he won a NCAA championship as a college freshman and then carried Team USA to what would have been a gold medal, had it not been for a Herculean long distance shooting display from the Greeks. Still, the fact remains that 'Melo has yet to take over in big games on a consistent basis. Until he does, he'll always be in the shadows of Lebron James and Dwyane Wade. Maybe just slightly obscured, but in the shadows all the same.
The harsh reality of today's NBA is that Anthony might have failed by succeeding. If he can't follow up his impressive performance in Japan with at least a spot on his first All-Star team and an appearance in the second round of the playoffs, the same old doubts will come creeping up. It'll be like going from being the Bird to Lebron's Magic (or was it the other way around?) back to those hated Glenn Robinson comparisons all over again. The flipside is that if Anthony does finally fulfill his potential and emerge as a mature, dominant player, will he lose his populist appeal in the process? You can't please all the people all the time. Buena suerte, 'Melo, buena suerte.


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CHICAGO (AP) White Sox manager Robin Ventura has been ejected for the first time this season.
Ventura got tossed after White Sox catcher Adrian Nieto was called out for leaving the basepath while trying to avoid a tag in a rundown in the second inning of Saturday's game against the Yankees. Nieto was originally ruled safe at second, but New York manager Joe Girardi came out to argue, and the call was changed after the umpires huddled in the middle of the infield.
Ventura then jogged out of the dugout and was thrown out after a short argument. It was his eighth ejection since he became White Sox manager before the 2012 season.


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Revista Cubana de Salud Pública
versión impresa ISSN 0864-3466
LOPEZ PUIG, Pedro et al. Criteria and indicators for the characterization of integration in the national health care system. Rev Cubana Salud Pública [online]. 2011, vol.37, n.4, pp.394-415. ISSN 0864-3466.
Introduction The integration of the Cuban health care system may be conceived as management and delivery of services in such a way that the people will receive a permanent flow of promotion, prevention, diagnosis, curing, rehabilitation and social reinsertion services to meet their needs in the course of time, through the various levels of the health system and with the highest possible quality according to the historical and social moment and the technological environment in question. Studying the integration means to identify and to validate those criteria that characterize it and to create the indicators to this end. Objectives to identify the criteria and the indicators of integration in the Cuban health care system. Methods An expert workshop was held to discuss the familiarization with the conceptual basis of the so-called Renovation of the Primary Health Care and the Integration of Networks and Systems of Health Services as an operational strategy. The attributes for the integration were grouped in pursuant to the inherent functions of the health systems, that is, delivery, management and financing. The experts were divided into groups on the basis of their professional profile and research experience in each function. One instrument was used to determine the suitability of criteria added to each attribute and function and another for the design of process and outcome indicators. Results The submitted criteria were considered suitable. Several process and outcome indicators were created for the dimensions delivery, management and financing of health services. Conclusions The development of research works in the field of integration of the Cuban health care system is possible on the basis of criteria added to the attributes for such integration in conformity with the basic functions of the health systems. A first approach to the body of indicators that will allow conducting these studies was attained.
Palabras clave : Integration of health service networks; indicators; attributes for integration.


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Prank Resulting In 2 NFL GMs Talking To Each Other Results In Up To 5 Years Of Prison, $500k Fine
from the it-was-just-a-joke,-guys dept
And now we can add to that list the case of Joshua Barber and Nicholas Kaiser, who are looking at up to 5 years in prison and/or a half-a-milliion dollar fine for the crime of getting two NFL general managers to talk to each other on the phone and recording the conversation. Their prank consisted of calling the office of Buffalo Bills GM Buddy Nix, claiming to be Tampa Bay GM Mark Dominik, hanging up, then dialing Dominik. The confused Nix called back using the redial function on his phone (many, many times), and the pranksters finally called Dominik as well, just as Nix called them back, hit the conference button, joined both GMs on the line and recorded the ensuing conversation. It's worth noting that conversation was about as innocuous as it gets. No real embarrassment was to be had from the recording, which was then sold to Deadspin. The result of the prank is far less innocuous.
[The] two Plymouth, Mass. men were charged Wednesday with intentionally intercepting a wire communication and with making a telephone call without disclosing their identity with the intent to annoy or harass the person at the called number. The complaint further states that after the conversation was recorded, Barber and Kaiser sold the unauthorized recording to the website deadspin.com. If convicted, Barber and Kaiser face a maximum penalty of five years in prison, a $500,000 fine or both.And yes, here are your tax dollars at work, with the FBI/DOJ gloating about taking those darn prank callers off the street and ruining their lives with extended jail time and fines. Half a million and half a decade in jail for a prank phone call? Shall I assume The Jerky Boys are currently dropping soap in barred showers, or is the safer assumption that someone in the legal system sees this high-profile prank as a way to further their career?


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Enrollment Management
The Division of Enrollment Management centers on a vision of working collaboratively with faculty, staff, and students to provide participation and success in higher education to a diverse population. The division focuses on attracting, enrolling, retaining, and graduating students to empower them to be productive citizens. Through across-campus teamwork the division envisions the enrollment process to be one that involves the cooperation and enthusiasm of faculty and staff to effectively administer and track programs that will result in more students enrolling at the institution and helping them to attain their educational objectives, while also nurturing future loyal alumni who will contribute to the life of the institution.
The mission of the Division of Enrollment Management at Sam Houston State University is to provide affordable, quality education to a diverse population by recruiting and enrolling qualified undergraduate and graduate students for admission. To assist other offices on campus with the students' academic progress through their graduation. To provide financial assistance within guidelines, to provide new and prospective students with a comprehensive introduction
View the Enrollment Management Organizational Chart.
View the Enrollment Management Communications Organizational Chart.
Physical Address
Estill Building, Third Floor
Phone: 936.294.1345
Fax: 936.294.1199
Office Hours
M-F 8 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Mailing Address
1903 University Avenue
Suite 314
Huntsville, Texas 77341-2419


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Cart Summary
Boating >> Marine Electronics >> Fish Finders
Fish Finders
BrandFishHunter Inc (2)
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Lowrance (7)
Price$50-$100 (1)
$100-$200 (5)
$200-$500 (6)
$500-$1,000 (3)
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Reg: $349.99
Fish Finders Buyer's Guide
Fishing has been and will continue to be a sport based on your skill and knowledge. Fishermen use every advantage they have in order to land whatever they are after. If you've been looking at upping your advantage then you might want to look into fish finders. You might be accustomed to the fish finders of yester year and haven't looked into how new technologies have made it easier than ever to setup and use a fish finder.
What You Get with Sonar
This is where fish finders got started; using sonar fishermen were able to spot approximately where fish were below them. If you're looking for a more budget friendly option, or you want to ease into the world of fish finders then sonar is a great place to start. Sonar works by sending out an electronic signal in the form of a sound wave and receive it again through a transducer, this is then interpreted by the fish finder and displayed on an LCD screen. Some things to consider when looking at a fish finder are: wattage, type of transducer, screen resolution, frequencies and cone angles and beams.
When looking at wattage you'll want to know how many watts you need and how many you can afford to have. In general the more watts your fish finder has, the more powerful and efficient it will be. If you want to scan some deep depths then be sure to get as many watts as you can afford. Watts are measured as "peak to peak" and most fish finders should have at least 3000 watts.
Frequencies have a lot to do with cones and cone angles. As a basic rule of thumb the higher the frequency the better it will work in shallow water, while the lower the frequency the better it will work for deeper water. If you want more detail you'll need to use a higher frequency, in order to have a higher frequency at a lower depth you're going to need more watts.
Transducers are the units that send and receive the sonar signals. The signals head down into the water, bounce off of whatever is down there then come back. The data comes back and the unit interprets it to what you see on your screen. These are typically mounted to your boat through a transom mount, though other transducers can be mounted in various ways including thru-hull mount.
Screen Resolution
The higher resolution your screen is the more accurate detail you'll be able to see. If you really want to see what is down there then you'll want to have a nice large display with a high resolution. Color also comes into play as you'll be able to see more detail with a color display as opposed to black and white because of the extra definition that color can bring. Color screens are also easier to see as they are brighter. This means that on that cloudy day or early in the morning you'll be able to actually read the display.
Cone Angles and Beams
Fish finders offer a variety of different beam options, the standard is single beam while there are dual, triple, side and even quadruple beam options. Each beam option will cover more water and make the sonar more efficient. Each of these beams throws down a cone into the water at a specific angle. The cone angle refers to how wide of a beam you send, as you go deeper into the water the cone gets wider, when a cone gets wider it becomes less effective at showing detail. A twenty degree cone is a good place to start and will be decently versatile enough for most anglers getting into fish finders.
Why to Own a GPS Fish Finder
Fish finders come in two sorts these days: those with GPS and those without. Having a GPS enabled fish finder is a great way to understand depths, potential hazards, plot courses or create a trail of your boat's path. Having a GPS fish finder will give you some extra information about what you're in for and what you've been doing. Wouldn't it be nice to remember exactly which part of the lake you were in when you had a super successful day? A GPS fish finder will show you all the dips, bumps drops and channels that might be holding fish. I'm not saying that you need to have a GPS enabled fish finder, but think about it, does your car have GPS? Does your phone have GPS? You might not need those things, but once you've grown accustomed to having them around they sure are nice to have.
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Acquisition of the J G Ballard archive
Growing the Library's world-class literary collections
"A remarkable insight into one of the 20th century's most visionary British writers."
Jamie Andrews
Head of English and Drama
One of the year's most important literary acquisitions was the archive of J G Ballard, widely regarded as one of the most visionary British writers of the 20th century. The collection of manuscripts, notebooks, letters, photographs and ephemera spans 50 years in Ballard's life.
Among the highlights is the first draft of Empire of the Sun, the best-seller inspired by Ballard's childhood experiences in a wartime internment camp run by the Japanese in Shanghai, which was made into a film by Steven Spielberg.
Originally contained in 15 large storage boxes, the archive will occupy approximately 12 linear metres of shelf space at the Library. It was acquired for the nation through the Acceptance in Lieu Scheme.
"We look forward to making this fascinating collection accessible to a wide public," said Jamie Andrews, Head of Modern Literary Manuscripts. "The Acceptance in Lieu scheme has provided us with a wonderful opportunity to grow our world-class English literary collections."


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Studying for the LSAT / Anyone who has taken the lsat at Univ. of West LA Law 9527« on: March 19, 2012, 08:52:40 PM »
I am registered to take the LSAT June 11 at Univ of west LA and I know these LSAT test venues vary on whether or not they allow students to go outside and smoke. Was wondering if anyone who has taken the test at UWLA Law knows if they do let you go outside and smoke or if I should bring some other kind of nicotine supplement.


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Q. What are the AFCI protection requirements for dwelling units?
A. All 15A or 20A, 120V branch circuits in dwelling units supplying outlets in family rooms, dining rooms, living rooms, parlors, libraries, dens, bedrooms, sunrooms, recreation rooms, closets, hallways, or similar rooms/areas must be protected by a listed AFCI device of the combination type [210.12(B)]. The 120V circuit limitation means AFCI protection isn't required for equipment rated 230V, such as a baseboard heater or room air conditioner.
FPN 3: See 760.41(B) and 760.121(B) for power-supply requirements for fire alarm systems.
Smoke alarms connected to a 15A or 20A circuit of a dwelling unit must be AFCI protected if the smoke alarm is located in one of the areas specified In 210.12(B). The exemption from AFCI protection for the "fire alarm circuit" contained in 760.41(B) and 760.121(B) doesn't apply to the single- or multiple-station smoke alarm circuit typically installed in dwelling unit bedroom areas. This is because a smoke alarm circuit isn't a fire alarm circuit as defined in NFPA 72, National Fire Alarm Code. Unlike single- or multiple-station smoke alarms, fire alarm systems are managed by a fire alarm control panel.
Ex 1: AFCI protection can be of the branch circuit type located at the first outlet if the circuit conductors are installed in RMC, IMC, EMT, or steel armored Type AC cable meeting the requirements of 250.118, and the AFCI device is contained in a metal outlet or junction box.
Ex 3: AFCI protection can be omitted for a branch circuit to a fire alarm system in accordance with 760.41(B) and 760.121(B), if the circuit conductors are installed in RMC, IMC, EMT, or steel sheath Type AC cable that qualifies as an equipment grounding conductor in accordance with 250.118.


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Yeti, Turn Out the Light! by Greg Long and Chris Edmundson, illustrated by Wednesday Kirwin
A yeti might not be an obvious choice for the subject of a children's book, but this particular yeti comes across as somewhat vulnerable and innocent. Plus, he has one trait that many a child can relate to: he is afraid of the dark.
There is something very endearing about a mythical beast who eats spaghetti, has family portraits hung throughout his lair and flosses every night before bed. Coupled with the fact that he is afraid of nighttime shadows, even after they continually prove to be benign, and this yeti begins to seem almost cuddly. A cuddly yeti. Who knew?
Sharp and modern images make each page of Yeti, Turn Out the Light pop, and quirky little details (such as the copy of Yeti Life magazine on the coffee table) make even the fiftieth time through a pleasurable one.
Title: Yeti, Turn Out the Light!
Authors: Greg Long and Chris Edmundson
Illustrator: Wednesday Kirwan
Publisher: Chronicle Books (2013)
Age group: Two to five
Best for kids who: love nature and interesting/odd animals
Find the book at your local library, independent bookstore, or Amazon:
Yeti, Turn Out the Light! by Greg Long and Chris Edmundson, illustrated by Wednesday Kirwin
Apartment Therapy Media makes every effort to test and review products fairly and transparently. The views expressed in this review are the personal views of the reviewer and this particular product review was not sponsored or paid for in any way by the manufacturer or an agent working on their behalf. However, the manufacturer did give us the product for testing and review purposes.


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Canis lupus Linnaeus, 1758
Gray Wolf
Click to enlarge
Canis lupus lycaon
Basis for Former Listing
Prior to European settlement, the gray wolf, sometimes called the timber wolf, inhabited most of North America south to at least 20° latitude (Mech 1995). Human persecution, habitat deterioration, and the reduction of prey populations led to the decline of wolves. Wolves were almost completely eliminated from the western United States by the 1930s. In Wisconsin and Michigan, wolves were eliminated by the mid-1960s. At that time, only a small number of wolves survived in northeastern Minnesota and on Isle Royale in Michigan, although large populations remained in Canada and Alaska.
Basis for Delisting
The current density of the gray wolf is approximately 1 per 10 square miles. Alaska is the only U. S. state with a higher population of gray wolves than Minnesota. Minnesota's gray wolf range has expanded from a 12,000 square mile area in the 1950's to over 27,000 square miles. As of 2013, the population is estimated at 2,200, which exceeds the federal delisting goal of 1,250-1,400. Minnesota's gray wolf population has remained stable over the last 10 years, with most areas of suitable habitat in the state now occupied. These data suggest that the population has fully recovered and special concern status is no longer necessary. The gray wolf was removed from Minnesota special concern status in 2013.
Adult female gray wolves in Minnesota weigh 22.7-38.6 kg (50-85 lbs.) and average 1.4-1.8 m (4.5-6 ft.) long. Adult males weigh 31.8-49.9 kg (70-110 lbs.) and average 1.5-2.0 m (5-6.5 ft.) long. Average height at the shoulder in both sexes is 66-81 cm (26-32 in.). Their pelage is gray, black and/or buff with reddish coloring, but they can also be all black. Wolves have rounded and relatively short ears, and a large, blocky muzzle. The size of wolf tracks is dependent on the age and size of the wolf, and whether it is a front or rear paw, but the average size of an adult wolf track is 11.4 cm (4.5 in.) long and 8.9 cm (3.5 in.) wide.
Gray wolves are habitat generalists and populations can thrive in any type of habitat in the Northern Hemisphere (forests, prairies, swamps, mountains, deserts, tundra, and barren lands) from about 20° latitude to the polar ice pack, as long as there is abundant prey and controlled human-caused mortality (Young and Goldman 1944). They were once considered a wilderness animal, but have expanded into areas previously considered uninhabitable by wolves (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 1978, 1992; Berg and Benson 1999). In the early 1950s, Minnesota's primary wolf range encompassed a 31,080 square km (12,000 square mi.) area in northern Minnesota. Since the winter of 1997-98, regularly-occupied wolf range in Minnesota has been estimated at 88,325 square km (34,102 square mi.) in the forested portions of central and northern Minnesota. However, dispersing individuals have been documented in southern Minnesota.
Biology / Life History
Female gray wolves reach sexual maturity at 22 months of age, or older, but social standing influences breeding status (Mech 1970). Generally, only the alpha (top ranking) pair in a wolf pack breeds. However, in areas of high prey numbers, there can be multiple litters in a pack. Wolves breed from February to March in Minnesota, but breeding period varies among regions. Gestation period is usually around 63 days, with 4-7 pups born in April and May. Pups are born in a den and will live there until they are 6-8 weeks old. At this time, the pups are moved to rendezvous sites. Various rendezvous sites may be used by a pack throughout the course of the summer. Pups remain at or near these sites while the adults hunt and bring back food. The pups join the pack by September or October, and the rendezvous sites are abandoned. Gray wolves generally disperse from their pack at 1-2 years old (Fuller 1989), and commonly disperse 80.5-161 km (50-100 mi.) from their natal pack (Fritts and Mech 1981; Fuller 1989). However, wolves have been known to disperse up to 885 km (550 mi.) (Fritts 1983).
Conservation / Management
The greatest long-term threat to wolf conservation is habitat reduction and destruction (Boitani 2003). Human population growth and subsequent increases in human dispersion on the land are contributing to the decrease of available habitat for large ungulates, and hence wolves. This growth also increases the chance of human-wolf encounters, which usually end poorly for wolves. Depletion of prey, however, has not currently seriously threatened any wolf populations (Boitani 2003). Gray wolves have a demonstrated ability to adapt to human pressures, and human intolerance of their presence may be the limiting factor for wolves in Minnesota.
Conservation Efforts in Minnesota
There has been extensive research on wolves in Minnesota, resulting in a wealth of information on the ecology of wolves. Sigurd Olson's field studies of wolves in the 1930s were some of the first in Minnesota. Milt Stenlund studied wolves in the Superior National Forest during the late 1940s and early 1950s. In the mid-to-late 1960s, L. David Mech began his studies in the Superior National Forest, research that continues today (Mech 2000). Wolves have also been studied in several other regions of northern and north-central Minnesota
References and Additional Information
Berg, W., and S. Benson. 1999. Updated Wolf population estimate for Minnesota, 1997-1998. Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, Grand Rapids, Minnesota.
Boitani, L. 2003. Wolf conservation and recovery. Pages 317- 340 in L. D. Mech and L. Boitani, editors. Wolves: behavior, ecology, and conservation. University of Chicago Press, Chicago, Illinois.
Erb, J. 2008. Distribution and abundance of Wolves in Minnesota, 2007-08. Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, Grand Rapids, Minnesota. 11 pp.
Fritts, S. H. 1983. Record dispersal by a Wolf from Minnesota. Journal of Mammalogy 64:166-167.
Fritts, S. H., and L. D. Mech. 1981. Dynamics, movements, and feeding ecology of a newly protected Wolf population in northwestern Minnesota. Wildlife Monograph No. 80. 79 pp.
Fritts, S. H., W. J. Paul, L. D. Mech, and D. P. Scott. 1992. Trends and management of wolf-livestock conflicts in Minnesota. United States Fish and Wildlife Service Resource Publication 181, Washington, D.C. 27 pp.
Fuller, T. K. 1989. Population dynamics of wolves in north-central Minnesota. The Wildlife Society Wildlife Monographs No. 105. 41 pp.
Fuller, T. K., W. E. Berg, G. L. Radde, M. S. Lenarz, and G. B. Joselyn. 1992. A history and current estimate of Wolf distribution and numbers in Minnesota. Wildlife Society Bulletin 20:42-55.
Harper, E. K., W. J. Paul, and L. D. Mech. 2005. Causes of Wolf depredation increase in Minnesota from 1979-1998. Wildlife Society Bulletin 33(3):888-896.
Kreeger, K. J. 2003. The Internal Wolf: Physiology, Pathology, and Pharmacology. Pages 192 - 217 in L. D. Mech and L. Boitani, editors. Wolves: behavior, ecology, and conservation. University of Chicago Press, Chicago, Illinois.
Mech, L. D. 1970. The Wolf: the ecology and behavior of an endangered species. Natural History Press, Garden City, New York. 389 pp.
Mech, L. D. 1974. Canis lupus. American Society of Mammalogists, Mammalian Species No. 37. 6 pp.
Mech, L. D. 1977. Wolf-pack buffer zones as prey reservoirs. Science 198:320-321.
Mech, L. D. 1988. Longevity in wild wolves. Journal of Mammalogy 69(1):197-198.
Mech, L. D. 1995. The challenge and opportunity of recovering Wolf populations. Conservation Biology 9:270-278.
Mech, L. D. 2000. Wolf research in Minnesota. Pages 37-49 in L. D. Mech, editor. The wolves of Minnesota: howl in the heartland. Voyageur Press, Stillwater, Minnesota.
Mech, L. D. 2001. Managing Minnesota's recovered wolves. Wildlife Society Bulletin 29:70-77.
Mech, L. D., and E. K. Harper. 2002. Differential use of Wolf, Canis lupus, pack territory edge and core. Canadian Field Naturalist 116:315-316.
Mech, L. D., E. K. Harper, T. J. Meier, and W. J. Paul. 2000. Assessing factors that may predispose Minnesota farms to Wolf depredations on cattle. Wildlife Society Bulletin 28:623-629.
Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. 2001. Minnesota Wolf management plan. Division of Wildlife, Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, St. Paul, Minnesota. 36 pp. + appendices.
Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. 2012. Statement of need and reasonableness. Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. Division of Ecological and Water Resources. St. Paul, Minnesota. 337 pp.
Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. 2013. Distribution and abundance of wolves in Minnesota. Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. St. Paul, Minnesota. 11 pp. + appendices.
Paul, W. J. 2000. Wolf depredation on livestock in Minnesota annual update of statistics 1999. United States Department of Agriculture, Grand Rapids, Minnesota.
Treves, A., L. Naughton-Treves, E. Harper, D. J. Mladenoff, R. A. Rose, T. A. Sickley, and A. P. Wydeven. 2004. Predicting human-carnivore conflict: a spatial model derived from 25 years of data on Wolf predation on livestock. Conservation Biology 18:114-125.
United States Fish and Wildlife Service. 2003. Gray Wolf eastern distinct population segment. United States Fish and Wildlife Service, Twin Cities, Minnesota.
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. 1978. Recovery plan for the Eastern Timber Wolf. United States Fish and Wildlife Service, Washington, D.C.
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. 1992. Recovery plan for the Eastern Timber Wolf. United States Fish and Wildlife Service, Twin Cities, Minnesota. 73 pp.
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. 2008. Post-delisting monitoring plan for the Western Great Lakes Distinct Population Segment of the Gray Wolf. U.S. Fish and WIldlife Service, Twin Cities Field Office and Midwest Region. Bloomington, MN and Ft. Snelling, MN. 13 pp.
Young, S. P., and E. A. Goldman. 1944. The wolves of North America. The American Wildlife Institute, Washington, D.C. 636 pp.


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The SOPA/PIPA Protest Shows Why There Needs To Be Complete Transparency With TPP
from the keeping-stuff-secret-is-simply-not-an-option dept
However, as Band notes in his paper, the problems with excessive copyright legislation that impacts the internet is becoming a big issue with the public, and that shouldn't be taken lightly. Most of the paper goes through the specific problems of SOPA and PIPA, as well as the public's response to the attempts by the MPAA and US Chamber of Commerce to push through such a ridiculously bad bill that would impact internet sites worldwide. It then uses that to explain why the USTR simply needs to be more transparent:
The transparency surrounding TPP must increase. If the public feels that the provisions included in TPP jeopardize the openness of the Internet, it will strongly oppose the adoption of TPP. To prevent this from happening, the negotiations concerning the IP chapter must become more transparent. Drafts must be made available online for public comment. The fact that in the past some trade negotiations have had little transparency is irrelevant. The SOPA experience demonstrates that a new era of public engagement in IP policy has begunFurthermore, Band makes the point that the USTR (and any government, really) can no longer pretend that copyright laws are obscure laws that do not impact the public. The public has hopefully now clearly established itself as a very important -- if not the most important -- stakeholder in any debates around copyright issues going forward.
Internet users care deeply about its vitality. The overwhelming public opposition to SOPA and PIPA generated by just one day of online protests indicates that the members of the public will take strong and immediate political action to protect this medium which has become a central part of their lives at home, school, and work. IP, at least to the extent it intersects with the Internet, is no longer an issue of only narrow technical interest.Finally, the paper makes it clear that, no matter how many times the lobbyists backing these bills and trade agreements like to pretend that they don't impact US sites, that's simply laughable, and the public knows it:
IP rules can have a significant impact on legitimate websites. The Internet democratizes commerce and communications. Platforms such as eBay or YouTube allow individuals and businesses of all sizes to reach large audiences and markets. But IP rules that place too heavy a legal burden on the platforms for user activities, as do SOPA and PIPA, will constrain the growth of this Twenty-First Century medium of trade and discourse.These points seem obvious to many of us. The real question is whether or not the administration and the USTR recognize it yet. The fact that it's still been negotating the TPP agreement in secrecy suggests not. That it thinks it can get away with such blatant rent seeking for Hollywood interests, in the face of a public that is now paying attention to these issues shows an incredible disrespect for the public's best interests. It's a shameful statement on whose interests the USTR is really representing -- and the nature of crony capitalism in the US government these days.
IP rules can affect international trade. The Internet does not recognize national boundaries. IP rules in one country can affect the operation of websites in another country. SOPA and PIPA would not only impose liability in the United States on non-U.S. websites that may be legal in their host countries; they also would interfere with the operation of these websites in their host countries. Provisions like SOPA and PIPA would allow countries – and indeed, individual companies – to erect trade barriers without following multilaterally agreed procedures with notice and due process.


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This is quite a find by Cabel Sasser. Apparently, Apple is still hosting an article dedicated to arguing the Macintosh is a better platform for computer-generated video content than the Amiga (part 1 and part 2). It does so by explaining how easy it supposedly was to create Pencil Test, a short 3D animated video made on the Macintosh II.
Some have seen non-Apple solutions that include a single, Amiga-based package with automated, three-dimensional, frame-by-frame generation of NTSC video sequences. The package also handles the problems of hiding window boarders/title bars, genlocking, and so on.
Most have seen the "Pencil Test" video and feel that the quality of this video is acceptable, but they were told from one of the other vendors that Apple invested incredible resources into creating "Pencil Test" and that the process used for "Pencil Test" was very time-consuming and inefficient.
What was the exact process for the creation of "Pencil Test"? How many people worked for how long to produce the video?
The publish date at the bottom of the currently published version of the two-part article is 2012, but this is clearly just the result of some automated migration process from an old database to a new one. The actual publishing date of the article is probably around from when Pencil Test was published - so somewhere between 1988 and 1990.
The Amiga had carved out a decent niche for itself as a 3D animation and special effects platform in the late '80s and early '90s. Famously, the science fiction TV series Babylon 5 used Amiga Video Toasters for its special effects in its first few seasons, making it one of the first TV series to move to digital special effects over the use of models. Apple clearly wanted in on this market, and the support article is part of that effort.
And the article is bizarre. In it, Apple argues the merits of the open, modular system, the Macintosh, and condemns the integrated, hardware-and-software-designed-together approach of the Amiga.
There are advantages and disadvantages both to the totally integrated systems and the open modular systems. Totally integrated system's advantages include having hardware and software tied directly together and having one place to get support. Disadvantages include being locked into the one company's point of view about how to do things, working only with their tools, and, often, being locked into that company's software. An integrated solution on non-Macintosh systems is most likely pieced together from a variety of third-party products.
I can't value the merits all the technical claims being made about the capabilities of the Macintosh and its software at the time compared to that of the Amiga, since that's way beyond my area of expertise. Still, this article is a deeply fascinating relic from a bygone era, and I can't believe Apple is still hosting it.
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Wednesday, December 31, 2008
Being Assaulted On The Road
I was preparing a happy and chipper post to usher in the New Year and talk about what I've been up to during this little break, like tandem riding with my girl and my first time at the velodrome. I thought it would be a nice way to break the ice after my short hiatus from the blogosphere. As the title of this post suggests however, the nice things are put on hold for a bit.
Anyone who has really spent time cycling in this city has either been subject to some form of harassment or knows some one who has. Usually this takes non physical forms, like aggressive honking, buzzing or passing with little room, or shouting obscenities. Less often is the occasional thrown garbage usually with poor aim and thus not physical. Sometimes it's with no real provocation or reason other then being a cyclist on the road.
Well in a rather frightening fashion I encountered some sickening individuals in a car who felt they would get physical with me last night. I had heard stories of cyclists being attacked, usually at dead hours in shady parts of town, but my encounter was at about 10:30 pm on the busy road of Santa Monica Blvd. while going through West Hollywood. Traveling through there is something I do often as I live in Santa Monica and my girlfriend Meghan lives in Hollywood and she gets off work at 11.
I was traveling east bound and went through the intersection of Santa Monica & Fairfax as the light turned green, hustling along as I always do, when a car pulled up beside me scarily close. I thought this was a driver trying to buzz me for a scare, since they surely saw at least one of the 4 (yes 4) tail lights I had on. Then it happened, I saw hands reach out of the rear passenger window and grab my messenger bag. The assailant tugged on the bag hard and I tugged back and amazingly shook him off without losing my balance. I noticed it looked like it was a fully loaded car 4 or 5 people, white or silver 4 door sedan, all males either white or light colored Hispanic.
I screamed fuck at them at the top of my lungs when it sunk in what just happened, and started pedaling at sprinting speed to try and catch the license plate. When I really push it I can get going over 30 mph, but apparently the scream was intense enough they felt compelled to floor it and started weaving between vehicles probably close to the 45-50 mph range. With a series of synchronized greens and light traffic to their advantage all my strength wasn't enough to catch up.
After burning out and giving up the chase, I pondered if they were seriously trying to steal the bag right off my back or just trying to fuck with me because they could. When I got to Meghan's place I discovered yellow sticky gunk, presumably egg, was on the side of my bag. This made it pretty clear to me their intent was to fuck with someone, and I just happened to be the convenient target.
What really had me burning with anger though was that had I not been such a strong cyclist, I easily could have been knocked off balance and fallen in the middle of the road way, which could have led to more serious injury, potentially even death if the following car could not avoid collision. These are people with no qualms about jeopardizing the lives of others because they fucking can, and can get away with it.
I filed a report with the police of West Hollywood, but without a license plate number there is little I can really do. I'm a pretty easy going guy who rarely wishes ill will on others, but I'd be lying if I didn't start envisioning some U-lock justice on their vehicle. I don't know what else to say other then it was really fucking scary and I hope karma catches up with them one of these days.
12 comments:
I swear the dumbest/most intoxicated of all drivers somehow end up on Santa Monica Blvd at night. I've run into some real assholes on that road, some even dared to step out of their vehicle once I confronted them at a light about how close they came to grazing me.
Sometimes during that quiet time at the end of a yoga session when you're supposed to relax, my mind drifts to a happy place where I beat the shit out of ignorant drivers like that.
- December 31, 2008 at 6:32 PM
Glad you came out of it in one piece, anyway. Having been in similar situations, I more than understand the frustration and anger. All you can do is take comfort in knowing that you were stronger than their best efforts to fuck with you.
Situations like this are exactly why I've been looking for a camera like Will's, but small enough to mount on a helmet so it records anything I look at. Then the jerks can try to argue with -- and the cops try to ignore -- photographic evidence.
- December 31, 2008 at 10:51 PM
- Rev. Joe H. Borfo said...
I dont ride on or near new years as a rule. glad you are ok.
- January 1, 2009 at 3:39 AM
You know, I was kind of bummed I didn't go out for a ride last night. Reading your story makes me think twice - glad to hear you made it through without serious injury.
- January 1, 2009 at 11:44 AM
- Gary said...
I thought it would be fine since it wasn't new years eve, but the night before or new years eve eve. After this I've also been giving some thought to a camera mount like Will's when I am doing lone commuting across town. I want an accurate vehicle description and license plate of every car that passes me now.
- January 1, 2009 at 2:38 PM
Wow Gary, that sucks.
I added your tale to my newly developing page over at Rearview Rider - "Collected Tales of Insanity"
It's too bad you didn't get those plate numbers...reminds me of my own experience in Ass-Slap Alley...
Glad you didn't fall down!!
- January 1, 2009 at 3:23 PM
- ephemerae said...
ugh, fuckers.
glad you are ok man.
- January 1, 2009 at 10:45 PM
- Enci said...
Gary, I'm glad you didn't catch up with them! It could have gotten ugly.
A few months ago I was riding west on Hollywood Blvd. and on the junction of Vermont some people in a car threw something big and heavy at me, which hit my leg. I almost fell off, the bag was heavy, but I somehow kept my balance, and I heard them laugh their asses off as they swerved and sped off. I heard a woman's drunk laughter the loudest.
I was so pissed off, I chased after them. I ran red lights blindly, I was in a furious rage. After about a mile I stopped to catch my breath and I realized that I just put myself in danger because of them. I should have just stopped and picked up the bag which could have had some evidence, if nothing else some store receipt or something.
Anyhow, I'm glad you didn't catch them. They could have had a gun. 4 guys against 1 wouldn't have been a good sight.
- January 2, 2009 at 12:54 PM
- ubrayj02 said...
Don't let this stupidity get you down. The next few weeks you'll likely feel hyper sensitive to car noises, but in time that will fade.
Keep riding, and I'm happy that you're okay.
We're in this fight for our rights together.
- January 2, 2009 at 2:46 PM
- Will Campbell... said...
Holy shit. I'm late to this, but no less sorry or outraged to read of your encounter. And VERY relieved to hear you're physically OK.
Every time I go to Home Depot of late I linger a little while longer at the stack of 2-foot long/1=inch thick PVC pipe pieces thinking what an excellent carry-along weapon it would make in the event of such a confrontation -- or worse -- that you suffered.
So far my rationale for not making such a purchase is that I don't want to give in to the fear. It helps that it's been about 18 months since my last potentially violent encounter.
I like to think that streak is helped by the fact that that for as affable a guy as I like to imagine I am, I put off a vibe of someone in the saddle who shouldn't be fucked with... or at least someone who might leave a mark if such warnings are ignored.
As to the cam I have rigged to my bike, it serves a record-keeping purpose up to a point, but since I record in timelapse mode there's much reoom for blurred images, or just outright not capturing something like a license plate.
Bikinginla has the right idea in wanting a less obtrusive helmet-mountable one. Something like the lipstick-sized cams I've seen extreme athletes wear.
- January 5, 2009 at 11:53 AM
- Gary said...
I think most of those helmet cams have fairly limited memory except at low resolutions (which makes spotting little details difficult)and I spend a lot of time riding.
With the right camera, a high iso setting and the ability to control shutter settings (prevent the blurry) and keep the time lapse duration fairly tight I think I could get a setup that could pretty reliably get license plate numbers for every vehicle that passes in front of me. I'm planning to get a fairly good point and shoot as a back up and lighter alternative to my heavy and large SLR, and I'd like to do a test run of license plate recording.
Will, how do you have your camera mounted, was it a setup you bought or did you build it?
If I do this and it's a success I'll post details on my setup and camera settings.
- January 7, 2009 at 10:46 AM
- Will Campbell... said...
Gary, My cam mount is a total homebrew DIY that utilized an old headlight handlebar clamp mount. Basically, what I did was drill a hole in it, run a tripod-mount-sized screw through it and then tighten the camera down with the aid of a washer to get a snug fit. I actually mount the cam upside down on my bars, so it's a little more out of the way and a bit more protected if I spill.
Here's a pic:
- January 12, 2009 at 12:37 PM


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This Is What a Speaker Looks Like
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Ms. is proud to be the first magazine to feature on its cover Nancy Pelosi, the first woman and first self-identified feminist Speaker of the House. This 2002 Ms. Woman of the Year gives Ms. an exclusive interview in our cover story, "This Is What A Speaker Looks Like," by Marie Cocco, in which we focus on her substance, rather than her clothes and jewelry.
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Consolidation Therapy for Ovarian Cancer
Dear OncoLink "Ask The Experts,"
I have Stage IIIC ovarian cancer, had optimal debulking and then 9 rounds of IV/IP carbo/Taxol, the first three of which were all IV due to port problems. The oncologist is asking me to consider 24 weekly IV treatments of Taxol, which is said to have few side effects and may increase the disease-free interval. What is your opinion of this? I know it is controversial, but increasing disease-free interval seems valuable to me, and I am wondering if it may increase overall survival.
Christina S. Chu, MD, Assistant Professor of the Division of Gynecologic Oncology at the University of Pennsylvania Health System, responds:
In the large Gynecologic Oncology Group phase III trial of 3 months vs. 12 months of Taxol given every 4 weeks, patients randomized to the 12 month arm experienced a 7 month improvement in time to relapse. However, because the trial met the stopping rules at the interim analysis, the study was terminated early, so no conclusion regarding effect of consolidation therapy on overall survival can be made. The results of this trial remain controversial for this very reason. Patients in the 12 month arm also experienced significantly more side effects, peripheral neuropathy in particular, and on average only tolerated 9 months of therapy before discontinuing treatment altogether. Stated another way, it is unclear if patients who undergo 12 months of consolidation actually derive an overall survival benefit, but they certainly do incur greater side effects at a time when they only have occult disease, and would otherwise be feeling well. If there is truly no survival benefit to consolidation, it may be that those patients who receive treatment at the time of an actual documented recurrence may still respond as well to chemotherapy as those who receive treatment when the disease is occult. Because of these results, the use of consolidation therapy remains a good option, though it cannot yet be considered standard of care.
At this point, the Gynecologic Oncology Group's current randomized phase III consolidation trial for patients achieving complete remission after initial surgery and chemotherapy consists of 3 arms: 1) routine follow up with observation with periodic CA125 and physical exam, 2) monthly Taxol for 12 months, or 3) monthly Xyotax for 12 months. Xyotax links paclitaxel to a polyglutamate polymer, and has been shown to become preferentially trapped in tumor blood vessels allowing localization of the chemotherapeutic moiety in the tumor. Monthly Xyotax may also be an option for consolidation.
There are a few studies using weekly Taxol for this purpose as well. The therapy seems to be well tolerated, but there is yet to be any proven benefit in overall survival, though the therapy may give similar benefits in time it takes for disease to recur.