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501st Legion Founder Albin Johnson started something incredible 10 years ago when he decided to show up at a local movie theater in full Stormtrooper armor just for fun. Although he would never admit it, Albin has an amazing sense of vision and his passion drives him to succeed. I would like to state now, for the record, that I think he's doing it again. The formula is similar to that which fuels the ever-growing 501st Legion, but replace the fans in costume with an army of good-willed robots.
The result is the story of R2-KT, the "Pink Imperial Droid with a Heart of Gold."
When Albin's daughter, Katie, was diagnosed with brain cancer, the network of friends that Albin had built over the years rallied around the brave little girl. The fan community showed a tremendous outpour of support including the construction of a scale remote control droid to watch over Katie while she slept (her sister Allie's idea). The droid was dubbed "R2-KT" (as in "Artoo-Katie"), and despite the loss of Katie, the pink robot now serves to educate, entertain, and bring awareness to pediatric cancer. She's even inspired Hasbro and Lucasfilm to donate $100,000 to the Make-A-Wish Foundation.
My prediction: R2-KT's robot friends (namely the R2 Builders Group) will join the cause. Awareness will spread amongst children's hospitals and charitable organizations across the world. More fans (perhaps parents of sick children) will be inspired to build replica droids for the same purpose. A new Legion will be born. In fact, with a trading card, embroidered patch, and Hasbro action figure already on the market, the future looks bright pink for R2-KT.
For more information about R2-KT, please visit r2kt.com.
Wednesday, July 25, 2007
We Love R2-KT
501st Legion Founder Albin Johnson started something incredible 10 years ago when he decided to show up at a local movie theater in full Stormtrooper armor just for fun. Although he would never admit it, Albin has an amazing sense of vision and his passion drives him to succeed. I would like to state now, for the record, that I think he's doing it again. The formula is similar to that which fuels the ever-growing 501st Legion, but replace the fans in costume with an army of good-willed robots.
Posted by DEAN (TK-899) at 3:08 PM 0 comments
Labels: miscellaneous
Saturday, July 21, 2007
Rose Parade Audition Flashback
It's been one year since troopers around the globe were asked by Lucasfilm to submit videos of themselves marching in military-style formation. During the grueling summer practice sessions, troopers were asked to state their name, 501st Legion ID number, and unit affiliation. At the time, nobody knew just why Lucasfilm wanted the footage...was it an audition for the Star Wars live-action TV series? Was this an underhanded way of gathering names for a large-scale cease-and-desist order to all owners of bootleg Stormtrooper armor? Speculations ran rampant, but it was finally announced at San Diego Comic-Con that George Lucas himself wanted to recognize and reward the 501st Legion for their volunteer service as goodwill ambassadors of the Star Wars franchise by inviting 200 troopers to the Star Wars Spectacular in the 2007 Rose Parade. Many of the training videos can be seen on this YouTube playlist. The training I participated in on July 8, 2006, in Greensboro, North Carolina, happened to be one of the only times I've been captured on video skateboarding in my armor.
Posted by DEAN (TK-899) at 11:17 AM 0 comments
Labels: rose parade, tours of duty
Wednesday, July 11, 2007
Now Featuring Polls and Frappr!
It seems Google's Blogger.com can't stop adding new features to make things easier for me. The latest addition is the ability to run polls on this blog so I've added one about how visitors find tk899.com. Please vote in the poll at the top of the right column to help me test this new feature. And while you're at it, scroll all the way to the bottom and map yourself!
Posted by DEAN (TK-899) at 7:22 PM 0 comments
Wednesday, July 4, 2007
Tega Cay 4th of July Parade
The community of Tega Cay, South Carolina, loves the 501st Legion! In 2006, the Carolina Garrison marched in this city's 4th of July parade and even had 501st Founder Albin Johnson as the Grand Marshal. The troops were such a hit, the Mayor invited us back this year and extended every courtesy imaginable including changing space at his own home office, a special 501st cake, a pre-parade dinner, breakfast, tickets to the afternoon fish fry, a personal trolley and parade vehicles...even a banner advertising our appearance posted at a major intersection! The best part is that the city is making a $500 donation to Make-A-Wish in the name of the 501st Legion. I'm not sure how many laws were broken during the 3.5-mile route, but standing in moving pickup truck beds and shooting spectators with a super soaker water gun was just too much fun. The neighbors (some with signs that read "Squirt Me!") shot back with their own water guns and even garden hoses! It's a good thing I didn't install my ROMFX voice amp system yet---the water might have ruined something. Maybe an E-Web water cannon is in order for 2008 (maybe I'll have a Snowtrooper costume completed by then). More photos can be seen here, here, and here.
Posted by DEAN (TK-899) at 1:47 PM 0 comments
Labels: accessories, tours of duty
Monday, July 2, 2007
Super Soaker Water Blaster
The upcoming Fourth of July parade in Tega Cay, SC, presents a unique opportunity to "blast" spectators with water as I ride in the back of a flatbed truck with other costumed participants. The organizers have given the approval to do this, and as a summertime event, the cool streams of water should be welcomed (and relatively harmless). I picked up a Water Warriors "TigerShark" super soaker water gun at Big K this past weekend for a sale price of just under $12. To make the colorful water gun look a bit more like a Star Wars weapon, I removed the stickers and used Krylon Fusion black spray paint which bonds with plastic and doesn't require primer before painting. I had fun testing range, power, and the longevity of the water supply with the kids in the backyard and this particular model seemed to be a good compromise between price and performance. The TigerShark even comes with a shoulder strap to support the weight of 67 ounces of water, although refilling will require an assistant (as well as a lot of water) along the parade route. The LED you see lit up in the photo is supposed to be a "ready light" that indicates how much air pressure you have in the super soaker, but it's more for show than anything else.
Posted by DEAN (TK-899) at 11:06 AM 0 comments
Labels: accessories


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Hide Forgot
Description of problem:
When migrating a guest across hosts, the paravirt vnc console does not get
activated on the destination. The VNC feature does not appear set on the
destination xend data, the VNC daemon is not started, and the vnc port is not
present in xenstored
Version-Release number of selected component (if applicable):
How reproducible:
Steps to Reproduce:
1. Find a paravirt guest running the VNC console
2. Verify the VNC console is active & working
3. Migrate the guest to an alternate host
4. Try and connect to the VNC console
Actual results:
No VNC server is available for the migrated guest
Expected results:
VNC server is available on the destination host
Additional info:
Very likely a similar root cause to bug 211911 (VNC missing after
suspend/restore cycle).
This request was evaluated by Red Hat Product Management for inclusion in a Red
Hat Enterprise Linux major release. Product Management has requested further
review of this request by Red Hat Engineering, for potential inclusion in a Red
Hat Enterprise Linux Major release. This request is not yet committed for
The migration codepath does indeed go through the same path as restore, so
fixing the restore problem, should fix VNC for migration too.
This should now be operating correctly, as a result of the PVFB upgrade tracked
by bug 218050.
A package has been built which should help the problem described in
this bug report. This report is therefore being closed with a resolution
of CURRENTRELEASE. You may reopen this bug report if the solution does
not work for you.
*** Bug 229016 has been marked as a duplicate of this bug. ***

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Fitness has become more than a random task for most health conscious people today. It can be a way of life for those wanting to fight off father time and keep as much of their youthfulness as possible.
The number of fitness programs out there is mind-boggling and it is a multi-million dollar industry. The funny thing is you don't need to spend a lot of money to keep fit. A simple walking regimen will do nicely for starters and you can work your way up to more advanced programs.
How young is too young to start a fitness plan? There is no age minimum when it comes to health and the younger you start the better. But there is also no age maximum either, so don't think if you are a senior citizen you are too old to start a program. If Jack LaLanne at age 70 could tow 70 boats with 70 people a mile and a half in the water while being handcuffed and shackled, you shouldn't have any excuses.
The best time to start a fitness plan is now. Procrastination is the bane of many people who want to get into better shape. There are a thousand excuses why people keep putting off a fitness plan. They are too busy with work, family, or they just haven't found the right plan.
Take the first step and start walking – even a few block to start out if you have health issues. Of course it is important to consult with your doctor if you have health issues so you don't overdo it or do some activities you shouldn't be attempting.
Brainstorming what kind of program you want is a great idea that could open up new possibilities for you. Seek input from friends, athletes or do some research online. Find a plan that is right for you. You can always change it and that is a good idea because many people get bored with the same routine and end up cutting back or completely quitting. Then its back to the couch potato life with chips and sweets.
Do you know what your resting heart rate is? How long does it take you to walk or jog a mile? How many push-ups and sit-ups can you do? These are questions you need to know and then try and improve on them.
Stop now and take the time to make a commitment to start a fitness program tomorrow. Your body and your mental outlook will thank you.


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The New Jersey Appellate Division for the Superior Court, Mercer County, recently held that the New Jersey False Claims Act, N.J.S.A. 2A:32C–1 to –15 and N.J.S.A. 2A:32C–17 to –18, which was enacted on January 1, 2008 and made effective on March 13, 2008, does not apply retroactively to allegedly false claims submitted prior to the statute's effective date. See State of New Jersey ex rel. State ex rel. Hayling v. Correctional Medical Services, Inc., --- A.3d ----, Case No. A-5575-09T2, 2011 WL 4770453 (N.J.Super.A.D., Oct 11, 2011).
In Correctional Medical Services, the relator, Leslie A. Hayling, accused Correctional Medical Services's subcontractor, AllCare Dental Group, of submitting false claims relating to a period which the court held to be before the NJ FCA became effective on March 13, 2008. Quoting the New Jersey Supreme Court case, Gibbons v. Gibbons, 86 N.J. 515, 521–22 (1981), the Appellate Division stated:
It is a fundamental principle of jurisprudence that retroactive application of new laws involves a high risk of being unfair. There is general consensus among all people that notice or warning of the rules that are to be applied to determine their affairs should be given in advance of the actions whose effects are to be judged by them. The hackneyed maxim that everyone is held to know the law, itself a principle of dubious wisdom, nevertheless presupposes that the law is at least susceptible of being known. But this is not possible as to law which has not been made.
The Appellate Division further held that no exception applied in Correctional Medical Services, finding the legislative intent clear: "In the present case, the fact that the Legislature postponed the Act's effective date provides clear evidence that it envisioned only prospective application."


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SWAROVSKI SRE320 ReveaLED OPEN Triple-Colour Options ID 1781
Introducing the 'Swaroski ReveaLED' triple pendant.
Understatement with a surprising effect: ReveaLED by Andre Kikoski plays with contrasts, the styling of which can be individually configured. As the playful reversal of a chandelier's function, a familiar language of forms made of squares and rectangles only shines subtly to the outside- the true light radiates from the inside.
An incredible piece using either warm white 3000 kelvin or cool white 4000 kelvin LED's to illuminate thousands of tiny Swarovski crystals.
Available in 'Earth Black', 'Pristine White' or 'Glimmer Silver' and in numerous size and shape configurations.
This model features an 'Open' bottom with crystals visible on the underside. Also available 'Closed'.
This item is from our Bespoke range. Please visit our Guildford showroom to discuss the purchase of a Swarovski ReveaLED.
1872 x 0.075 watt LED
Individual frame size: 32 x 32 x 11 cm
Ceiling plate size: 77 x 15 x 6 cm
Maximum height: 241 cm
Weight: 31.5 kg
This item is not suitable for use with a dimmer switch.
Price: £10794.00
There are no other views of this item
If you have any questions relating to this product, just enter them into the box below and we'll get back to you as soon as soon as we can.
Other items in this range and similar itemsView full range
SWAROVSKI SRE120 ReveaLED OPEN Medium Pendant-Options ID 1757
SWAROVSKI ReveaLED OPEN Small Pendant ID 1777
SWAROVSKI SRE130 ReveaLED OPEN Pendant -Colour Options ID 1778
SWAROVSKI SRE180 ReveaLED OPEN Pendant -Colour Options ID 1779
SWAROVSKI SRE170 ReveaLED Horizontal -Colour Options ID 1780
SWAROVSKI ReveaLED OPEN Triple Pendant-Colour Options ID 1782


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5 Tips for Throwing an Outdoor Movie Party
This week I've been sharing the latest Gatherings from The Kitchn event — a cozy outdoor movie party I hosted with my friend Beth in her small but charming backyard — and by now you might be daydreaming about hosting your own movie party before summer ends. I say go for it! And here are my top five tips for making sure it is a success.
Tip #1: Recruit help to figure out your tech set-up.
I was lucky enough to host the party with the help of a DJ, who set up one speaker in front of the screen and one speaker in the back, so we didn't have to blast the volume of the front speaker. You could use your indoor speakers or a few smaller portable speakers for the same effect. (Again, this is a great time to ask around and borrow equipment from friends.)
Here are a ton of tips and specific product recommendations from Apartment Therapy on setting up sound and video for an outdoor party:
Whatever your set-up, make sure to test it before the party, giving yourself enough time to fix any issues that arise.
Tip #2: Have guests bring their own blankets and pillows.
Depending on the nighttime weather in your area, you may also need to remind people to bring bug spray or layers of clothing to keep away the evening chill. I reminded all of my guests to bring an extra sweater — it gets surprisingly cold at night where I live, even in the summer.
Tip #3: Make a lot of popcorn.
After too many years spent working in offices and smelling the fake-butter odor of microwave popcorn, I have a hatred of the stuff, but in order to save time I ended up using a good quality plain, unseasoned microwave popcorn to make homemade Cracker Jack. (I used my usual stovetop method for the rest of the popcorn at the party.) I grudgingly admit it saved a lot of time and effort. Bottom line: microwave popcorn can be your friend when prepping for a movie party.
Tip #4: Be respectful of your neighbors.
Tip #5: Pick a crowd-pleasing movie.
- The Muppets Take Manhattan
- Pee-Wee's Big Adventure
- The Princess Bride
- Coming to America
- Labyrinth
Do you have any tips for throwing an outdoor movie party? What are your picks for crowd-pleasing movies?
(Images: Leela Cyd Ross)


text: Spring has definitely arrived in the Canal Fulton, Ohio and North Canton, Ohio areas. And you know what that means! The weather is nice enough to enjoy an evening of cold beverages, pleasant conversation, and delicious food out on your patio. While we may have a ways to go until it's actually considered "bbq season," you can certainly get a head start by dusting off your outdoor grill and cranking up the heat. Unfortunately, if your current grill is past its prime, you may need to invest in a new one. But since Fireplaces & More is conveniently located near Barberton, Ohio, you don't have to go far to find a high-quality propane or natural gas grill. Why not take this opportunity to check out their inventory of Kamado Joe, MHP and Broilmaster grills so you can get cooking this spring?


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A Plantation construction firm has been cited for a serious violation of federal safety regulations in a Sept. 10 accident at the Town Center Mall in which two workers almost drowned.
The two men were swept into a drainage pipe under the mall parking lot when a collapsing dike loosed a flood of lake water into a trench where they were working. One of the men, Alex Randall of Pompano Beach, was carried more than 200 feet under the mall parking lot.
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration cited the contractor, Conduit and Foundation Corp., for failing to protect workers by shoring up the walls of the trench.
OSHA area Director Jose Sanchez said the company has been fined $550. Company officials have 15 working days either to request an informal hearing with Sanchez or file notice of their intent to contest the citation.
Sheldon Arnold, supervisor of the Town Center project, was out of town Wednesday. Other company officials would not comment on the citation.
OSHA still is investigating a similar but fatal accident that occurred the same day at a Village of Boca Rio construction site.
Paul Edgar, 32, of Pompano Beach, died when a ditch collapsed and a boulder crushed him.
Hallandale-based Utility Systems Inc., contractor on the site, previously had been cited for safety violations at another project in the Lantana Square Shopping Center.


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Porsche Boxster
From Porsche press: In 1948, the 356 was the first sports car to bear the Porsche name, and in July that year the lightweight mid-engined roadster achieved its first motorsport victory. In 1953, the Porsche 550 Spyder was launched. This agile, lightweight race car was powered by a high performance 'boxer' engine which took it to countless international victories.
Through 60 years of automotive evolution so much has changed. Yet every Porsche Boxster is built on these first principles. Sports performance, lightweight construction, agility and pure driving pleasure. The technology Porsche use may have developed, but the company's ability to produce a two-seat, mid-engined sports car unlike any other on the road remains. This week, Porsche is presenting the second generation of the mid-engined Boxster roadster at the Los Angeles Motor Show (November 21 – 30).
The highlight of the new generation is the new flat-six 'boxer' engines, developed with new technical features from the ground up, providing not only more power, but also significantly greater fuel efficiency.
A further improvement of both fuel economy and performance is guaranteed by the Porsche Doppelkupplungsgetriebe (PDK), the new double-clutch gearbox now available as an option on both the Boxster and Boxster S.
Displacing 2.9-litres, the engine of the Boxster develops 255 bhp (188 kW) in the Boxster, an increase of 10 horsepower over the prior 2.7-litre model. The 3.4-litre power unit in the Boxster S now features Direct Fuel Injection, and delivers 310 bhp (228 kW), up by 15 bhp. An impressive power-to-weight ratio imbues the two Boxster models with optimum driving dynamics.
For example, with the new six speed manual transmission fitted as standard, the Boxster accelerates from 0-62 mph (100 km/h) in 5.9 seconds. And the Boxster S, when fitted with PDK transmission and Launch Control (featured in the optional Sports Chrono Package Plus), accelerates from 0-62mph (100km/h) in 5.0 seconds. When combined with PDK, the new 2.9-litre engine fitted to the Boxster clearly breaks through the 30.0mpg fuel consumption boundary. Indeed, the figure of 31.0mpg (9.1 litres/100km) is approximately 10 per cent better than the previous model with the Tiptronic S automatic transmission.
Increasing fuel economy by an even more significant 15 per cent to 30.1mpg (9.4 litres/100km), the 3.4-litre Boxster S with PDK offers an even greater saving over its predecessor with Tiptronic S. In parallel with the improvement in fuel economy, so emissions of the engines have decreased also. Depending on model, emissions have been reduced by up to 16 per cent.
The Boxster with the standard six-speed manual gearbox emits 221g/km CO2, and 214g/km CO2 when fitted with PDK. The Boxster S manual emits 223 g/km CO2, and 221 g/km CO2 with PDK. Significantly, these developments move every Boxster model – whether manual or PDK – into Band F for Vehicle Excise Duty and company car taxation purposes.
The driver benefits from a further advantage of direct injection every time they touch the throttle pedal: with fuel being injected fractions of a second prior to combustion, the engines respond more directly and spontaneously to even the slightest movement of the driver's right foot.
This is not only the case when accelerating, but also when lifting off the throttle, for engine speed drops more quickly and smoothly since there is no residual fuel left in the intake manifold which might otherwise prolong the combustion process. Depending on engine load and speed, fuel is injected into the combustion chamber at a pressure of 120 bar. The big advantage is that unlike conventional intake manifold injection, direct fuel injection serves to form the fuel/air mixture directly in the combustion chamber. This better mixes the air and fuel in the cylinder, establishing an important prerequisite for clean and complete combustion.
This ensures the 'homogeneous' operation of the power unit with a consistent balance of the fuel/air mixture in the combustion chamber at all times and under all running conditions. Such smooth operation guarantees optimum combustion and maintains low emissions, across a range of fuel qualities.


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I have been busy making and swapping ATCs. On the left is a mosaic of the ones I have made.
I have also been busy and made a holder to display all the lovely ATCs I have received from the trades.
Have been experimenting with different ways to use all the photos that I take. Here are some pictures of an accoridan book that I made about my holiday to Barcelona.


text:
Volume discounts
discounts for adding items to your order
Do you want a pleasure toy made specifically for men? The Renegade Pleasure Rocker Black is the perfect toy. This anal toy has a special design made to stimulate the prostate gland. The internal shaft has a special shape that places precise pressure against this gland. This stimulates pleasure for men. An external piece provides extra pleasure by riding along the perineum, under the testicles and beneath the penis shaft. The toy comes with an internal bullet that allows you to apply four levels of vibration throughout. The external controller gives you complete command of the level of vibrations. The Renegade Pleasure Rocker Black is made from body safe TPR. This means it is safe to use with almost all lubricants. You will need two AA batteries to have this toy running at top speed. You and your partner will enjoy the vibrations and deep pleasure that this toy delivers.
No mention of this website on your credit card
Plain packaging wrap
If it's shown on our website, it's in stock!
On orders over $200
Australia wide flat-rate express post shipping
Available from 8am–5pm Mon–Fri


text:
- Ficha Técnica
- 978-1-63135-023-8
- 9781631350238
- Páginas:
- 234
- Derechos eBook:
- Copiar/pegar: Prohibido.
Imprimible: Prohibido.
- Si
Have you ever seen a "work of art" worth millions that looks like something your child just brought home from school? The dual perspective of "Beauty is in the Eye of the Beholder" and just a little bit of "The Emperor?s New Clothes" is evident in this clever artwork story of a child who paints a fingerpaint print in class and then loses it in the wind on the way home. Illustrated from the point of view of a child, whose identity is left to the imagination of the reader since all of the illustrations are what the child sees, the fingerpaint print is interpreted by official "judges" as well as bystanders. Should people be influenced by what others see, or use their own knowledge to make their judgments? This is the sixth rhyming children?s book by this award-winning author, whose other bestselling books include Manner-Man, Gimme-Jimmy, The Magic Word, Peter and the Whimper-Whineys, and Santa?s Birthday Gift.


text:
1 Min Read
Dec 28 (Reuters) - Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co Ltd :
* SAYS ORDERS MACHINERY EQUIPMENT WORTH T$1.2 BILLION ($40.26 million) Source text for Eikon: Further company coverage: ($1 = 29.8060 Taiwan dollars) (Reporting by Hong Kong newsroom)
All quotes delayed a minimum of 15 minutes. See here for a complete list of exchanges and delays.
© 2018 Reuters. All Rights Reserved.


text:
> Henkel Adhesives Australia & New Zealand > Industrial > Brands > Automotive Body and Glass Repair Products for Aftermarket
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text:
Walgreens has been ordered to pay $16.5 million in damages, to settle a lawsuit that accused the company of illegally dumping pharmaceutical and biohazardous waste in California.
The suit was filed by district attorneys who represented more than half of the counties in the state. It claimed employees of the drugstore chain illegally dumped the drugs and waste into regular trash bins, instead of sending it to authorized disposal sites, the Contra Costa Times reports.
According to Walgreens, the company admits no wrongdoing, and settled the case to avoid the time and expense of lengthy litigation. "All hazardous materials are shipped by licensed environmental haulers to a hazardous waste disposal facility, where they are incinerated," spokesman Jim Graham said. "We are continuing to strengthen our programs to ensure that these procedures are properly followed."
Walgreens will pay $16.5 million in penalties and costs, and will fund environmental projects to advance consumer protection and environmental enforcement in the state, the article notes. The company will also create new procedures for employees, including having hazardous waste stored in separate, labeled containers.
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text:
To some Internet users, a little link that says add your comment here actually reads as anything goes! They feel as though they have carte blanch to carry on in any manner they see fit. Sometimes, thats a great thing -- after all, you want people to feel open and honest and to share, or you wouldnt have added a comment feature in the first place.
But at other times, a comment free-for-all can create serious problems. It can also seriously affect the way users look at your site. If youre going to invite them to write, youre going to have to consider every aspect of this type of user interaction. Youre going to have to ask yourself a question only a Web master can answer: where do you draw the line on user comments?
But wait. How hard can controlling comments really be? After all, you already know that spam (random advertisements for other sites, text thats nothing but links, garbage you cant really read) can be automatically deleted. When an actual user has something to say, why shouldnt their words be showcased the same as anyone else?
Learn more about the good, the bad and the downright horrible that just may come up on your site when you open the door for user-created comments, and find out why you should establish a set of guidelines right now.
User Comments
Has any link looked more fun, friendly or benign as the add-a-comment link? This little button often beckons to traffic in a siren song of sharing. Tell everyone what you think, it cries, we really need your opinion on this subject! Many Web writers find comments to be a mark of success: the more they have, the better their content. After all, it takes something pretty darned compelling to get the jaded Internet public to start sounding off and virtually shouting out
Not true. Sometimes, traffic will comment on content and never once mention the subject matter of the content itself. Some users may choose to comment only to say they like or dislike a person, place or thing mentioned in the content. Not every user comment is going to be deep and meaningful. In fact, even hoping that every user comment will have anything to do with the content itself is going to be pushing it.
Remember, youre inviting every single one of your users to add words at random and at will. Sometimes when they do so, the results range from wonderful
to disastrous.
Next: Comments in Black and White >>
More Website Content ArticlesMore By KC Morgan


text:
The Allan's have become a full-force monster-fighting machine. But as they retaliate against the vampires for the attack on their home, they are struck by a tragedy that will change their family forever.
Bullet points:
" The stunning conclusion!
I truly enjoyed this series, over the past year and a half. Feels like a part of me now, and I dont tire of re-reading the issues. The readability of the story is always a bonus with any series you read. See you all in October! Read Full Review
If I had a negative it would simply be things sometimes feel a bit too fast, the sudden use of a teleport spell shifts the pace up a gear or two and the action sequence with the vampires feels rushed. But it's an atmospheric read and at least the vampires don't bloody sparkle. Read Full Review
Be the first to rate this issue!
Click the 'Rate/Write A Review' link above to get started.


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Donald Trump was not my first choice for the Republican nomination. He often makes intemperate statements, and comes across as his own worst enemy during the campaign. He might not be the best person lead the United States down the right road to a secure and prosperous future, but he is at least on the right road. If we're on the wrong road, as represented by Hillary Clinton and the Democratic National Committee, we have no chance whatsoever of reaching any destination except national ruin.
Robinson, Breasted, and Smith's most recent edition of Earlier Ages was written in 1965, more than 50 years before the current issues it describes with uncanny precision. These issues are, quite simply, as Michael Savage describes them: "Borders, language, and culture." Donald Trump has shown clearly that he wants to choose the road that leads us away from the Roman Empire's fatal mistakes while Hillary Clinton wants to repeat them.
One of the discussion questions for the chapter on "A Century of Revolution" is, "The racial change which took place in the population was the greatest single cause of the downfall of Rome" (page 366).
Page 355 makes it clear, however, that "racial" does not refer to skin color or ethnicity as it does today, but rather to attitudes, values, and culture. Rome benefited enormously from ethnic diversity while foreign, inferior, and non-Roman attitudes and values were the principal causes of its destruction.
Desirable Immigrants Helped Build Rome and the United States
Hillary Clinton and the Democratic Party support unrestricted immigration while Donald Trump welcomes only immigrants who have job skills along with American values, or who are at least willing to adopt our values. The roles of desirable and undesirable immigrants in Rome are object lessons here.
Greece played a major role in civilizing Rome, just as Rome later civilized most of Western Europe along with Britain. Romans were the classical world's greatest engineers, and they built roads and aqueducts to last forever; Europeans still drive on Roman roads today. The Romans, however, owed most of their natural sciences and fine arts to desirable immigrants from Egypt, the Near East, and especially Greece. These immigrants' role in building Rome was similar to that of equally desirable immigrants in the growth of the United States.
The Greeks were, after all, the people whose stories described assault robots (Talos), industrial robots (Hephaestus' mechanical helpers), and flying machines (Daedalus and Icarus) roughly 2000 years ago. Modern experiments leave it open to question as to whether Archimedes used a heat ray from a parabolic array of mirrors to incinerate Roman warships, and modern solar furnaces use similar arrays of mirrors. Heron of Alexandria proved that steam could perform useful work while Dionysius of Alexandria built the contemporary equivalent of a machine gun. The Greeks were, in summary, the people who taught the Western World how to think.
The Greeks who wrote stories about Hercules could have even been said to have invented hydraulic mining because the hero diverted a river to wash excrement from the Augean Stables. The Romans put into practice the idea that water could remove other soft materials like dirt to reveal desirable ores and metals. This legacy from the Greeks is why the Western World and Westernized World (e.g. Japan) are still the sources of almost all patents and Nobel Prizes while the Third World and especially the Islamic world lag far behind.
Many of Rome's desirable immigrants were admittedly involuntary immigrants (more commonly known as slaves), but their influence on Roman society was nonetheless positive. The presence of a Greek tutor in a Roman household was a status symbol. Wealthy Romans might even purchase a Greek physician, who was then obviously treated as a valuable household retainer rather than as a domestic animal, the usual fate of unskilled slaves on farms or in mines.
The United States benefited similarly from desirable immigrants who included our own ancestors, unless we are Native Americans. The bottom line is, however, that all these immigrants either brought with them values and attitudes similar to ours, or they adopted ours in a process that used to be called "assimilation."
When Diversity Becomes Perversity
Diverse and dysfunctional values and culture, rather than ethnic diversity, ruined Rome roughly 1900 years ago the way they are ruining Europe today, and are likely to ruin the United States.
"Moreover, slaves were constantly gaining their freedom, and they frequently retained slave ideas of conduct even after they were freedmen. This change in the nationality of the citizens, and the subsequent change in ideals, conduct, and government, were perhaps the chief causes of the downfall of Rome."
This is happening very openly in Germany, France, Sweden, the United Kingdom, and several other European nations that have not only permitted but welcomed an influx of fundamentalist "Muslims" substantial numbers of whom have nothing whatsoever in common with the advanced societies they now infest. They lack the Euro-American work ethic, Euro-American (originally Greek) inventiveness and creativeness, and indeed anything else of value to an infidel nation. They produce little and invent nothing except for particularly cruel ways to murder those who are unlike themselves.
An alarming share of the young males do believe they have the Allah-given right to kill, rob, rape, and/or enslave those who do not share their depraved ideology, which is why European governments are urging women to dress according to the standards of the 19th rather than the 21st century. After all, a woman who does not wear a sack over her head is "uncovered meat" whom any militant "Muslim" has the right to "take." Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton, and most of the Democratic Party wants to welcome this flood while Donald Trump wants to admit only those who have job skills along with values that are consistent with our society.
Slavery was eradicated from our country more than 150 years ago, but the Democratic Party is nonetheless infusing elements of African-American society with "slave ideas of conduct" in the 21st century. The Democratic National Committee wants to keep Black people in a state of dependence on government programs because, while Black lives might not matter, Black votes do. While it was never proven that Lyndon B. Johnson said that he would have the N-words voting Democratic for the next 200 years, there is audio of Johnson using the N word along with an ethnic slur for Poles. Hillary Clinton's reliance on somebody like Al Sharpton to deliver the Black vote, or a substantial portion thereof, shows clearly how little she thinks of African-Americans.
This is not the only area where Obama, Clinton, and the Democratic National Committee seek to lead us down the same path that led the world's greatest civilization to ruin. The other issue is economic.
Excessive Government Regulation Ruined Rome
Earlier Ages (pages 359 to 360) describes how the Roman government ruined itself economically by spending far more than it could collect in taxes, the same way our government increases its deficit every year. A progressive income tax system, in which Rome looked to its "one percent" for revenue, resulted in a situation in which "there was no incentive to hard work when success in business meant ruinous over-taxation."
Rome's most productive citizens therefore "went John Galt" long before anybody ever heard of John Galt, with the result that Emperor Diocletian tried to force people to continue to practice their occupations. He added wage and price controls that reduced the ordinary Roman to a condition "just where the peasant on the Nile had been for thousands of years." Diocletian's modern incarnation, Hillary Clinton, wants similarly to raise taxes not only on the one percent but also on the middle class, and the middle class can meanwhile attest to how Obama's so-called "Affordable" Care Act has affected its finances and access to health insurance. Hillary also made it clear that she believes that the estates of wealthy people somehow belong to the government even though the government had no hand in creating them.
The United States is at a crossroads where one road leads to a prosperous and secure future while the other leads to the ash heap of history where the Roman Empire already resides. Donald Trump may or may not be the best person to lead us down the former path, but we know for certain that Hillary Clinton will take us down the latter. This leaves voters with only one viable alternative in November.
William A. Levinson is the author of several books on business management including content on organizational psychology, as well as manufacturing productivity and quality.
By William A. Levinson
Source: American Thinker
industrial gold


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Elementary School
Middle School
High School
Excellent collaboration has led to the development of a culture
of meaningful change that positively impacts the achievement of
students attending Bozeman Public Schools. This report is intended to
give the reader both an overview and detailed information of the
progress accomplished in year 3 of the Long Range Strategic Plan (LRSP).
This report contains:
I hope the reader finds this report an illustration of how the
work of our education team aligns with the purpose of our schools: "Bozeman
Public Schools exist to provide an outstanding education that inspires
and ensures high achievement so every student can succeed and make a
difference in a rapidly changing world community."
Kirk. J. Miller, Ed.D.
Establishing the Long Range Strategic Plan (LRSP)
has created energy and enthusiasm in our schools focused on performance
and a culture of meaningful change. The LRSP is new and bold and will
require time to become meaningful and embraced by all, i.e., becoming
the culture of our school district. In year 3 of LRSP implementation we
are focused on continued effort having long lasting positive
ramifications on our children and community! Thank you to all who have
committed their knowledge, time, energy and heart to this process.
A glossary of terms for the Long Range Strategic Plan (LRSP) is available if the reader clicks on any text that is green. Text with red underline are links to web pages allowing the reader to drill down to information they want to review deeper.
2010-11 was a year of substantial achievement and success in
academics, activities and volunteerism for Bozeman Public Schools.
Reviewing the Balanced Scorecard,
an overview of progress on 27 key indicators, provides the reader with a
sense of the climate of our schools. A brief list of successes
Further, we continue to make great progress on many important
issues that will continue a bright future for the students in our
schools. Some examples are:
Our entire community contributed a great deal to the success of
our students in 2010-11 and we are thankful for the outstanding
The LRSP has four goals, Strategic Objectives under each goal, and Action Plans
for Strategic Objectives that were developed by school or department
teams. Action Plan teams generally have a leader responsible for
monitoring and reporting performance on the Action Plan. Each Strategic
Objective has one or more Action Plans depending on the work of the
school/department team in choosing a given Strategic Objective as
meaningful work aligned to the Core Ideology.
An Action Plan Matrix with Strategic Objectives listed horizontally
and school/department listed vertically gives the reader easy access to
the Action Plan as created by the teams. The Action Plan Matrix can be
found in Appendix B or on our district website by clicking LRSP Action Plan Matrix 2010-11. You can look at any Action Plan by clicking the X in the cell on the matrix.
In order to grasp the depth of what has been accomplished with
our LRSP this school year, Action Plan team leaders, with input from
each school/department team, used Status Reports to indicate progress on
the 157 Action Plans. The Status Reports are organized by
school/department in a standard format that includes:
The short-hand name for the files tells you a lot about the report; an example is 1.01 C&I P+ Communications SR 2011.
This stands for: Strategic Objective 1.01 (Goal 1, Objective 1) in
the Curriculum and Instruction Department (C&I), Strategic Objective
short title is P+ (Proficient Plus) Communications, Status Report (SR)
2011. Each Status Report is concise (about a page long) but when
reviewed as a compilation will certainly give the reader a feel for the
breadth and depth of the LRSP and the impact it is having on our
A Status Report Matrix, organized by Strategic Objective and
school/department, gives the reader easy access to the Status Reports.
The Status Report Matrix can be found in Appendix C or on our district
website by clicking LRSP Status Report Matrix 2010-11. You can review any Status Report by clicking the X in the cell on the matrix.
Substantial progress has been made on all 157 Action Plans
during the 2010-11 school year. You can have an overview of 20 Status
Reports that would provide you with context for all Status Reports by
clicking LRSP Status Reports Top 20 2010-11. A quick review shows the following breakdown of Action Plan Status Reports under the four goals of the district.
This is the work of the district intended to support and improve
student learning. The four goal areas encompass plans to make progress
on the 3-5 year planning horizon while aligned with 5-10 year planning
horizon, Envisioned Future, and the Core Ideology of the district. This
helps us to measure progress in incremental steps while keeping our eye
on the big audacious goal and our future in a thoughtful, cultural way.
Bozeman Public Schools launched a new strategic planning
process in the fall of 2007 to bring more rigor to the process of
setting goals; to ensure the wants, preferences, and needs of our
community are well understood; and to strategically focus our resources.
We initiated this process to build a stronger and more vital School
District that is widely recognized as delivering outstanding education
to our students.
The Board and Staff Leadership Team followed a knowledge-based
decision-making process. In so doing, we reviewed and updated existing
mission, vision and goal statements for the District. This type of
systematic review will be an ongoing element of our strategic planning
and evaluation process.
We also established an Envisioned Future
to guide us over the next 20 years. We then developed interim five-year
goals and identified trends and issues that are likely to have
significant impact on achieving those goals. The Board has committed
itself to studying and analyzing these issues in a proactive manner to
ensure the District is best positioned to accomplish its long term
vision. The Bozeman Board and Staff Leadership Team used "Above &
Beyond" (a community engagement process in 2006-07) and various other
input mechanisms to ensure this process reflected community needs and
Bozeman Public Schools' Board and Staff Leadership Team view
strategic planning as an ongoing process within Bozeman Public Schools.
This is not a "strategic planning project" that is simply completed and
put on a shelf. Adoption of the plan is an affirmation of the general
intent and direction articulated by the Core Ideology, Envisioned Future, Goals, Strategic Objectives
and a guide to decision-making in the district. The Board and
Leadership Team will assess the strategic objectives annually in
collaboration with the community.
Progress 2008-09
In the fall of 2008-09 this work was shared with the entire
education team with the charge to begin LRSP implementation by
establishing Action Plans for the 46 Strategic Objectives.
This charge to the education team resulted in 161 Action Plans intended
to bring rigor and a culture accepting of change in the best interest
of students. Emphasis was placed on doing thoughtful, quality work in
developing the Action Plans while thinking about the long range nature
of the plans to align with the Goals, Envisioned Future and Core
Ideology of our district. Making this work available to our community in
a variety of formats (web-based, brochures and posters, presentations
and dialogue with organizations) was a big part of the effort throughout
the year.
LRSP Committee
The LRSP Committee was formed in 2008-09 (as part of the Implementation Framework
2008-09) to establish strategies for governance of the LRSP. The
original committee in 2008-09, made up of Trustees Sarah Glover, Martha
Collins, and Carson Taylor, and Leadership Team members Kirk Miller and
Marilyn King, met on December 11, 2008 to review and discuss the
Conceptual Framework, Goals, Action Plan Matrix, and Action Plans. The
meeting led to dialogue about governance of the plan, including using
assessments and other measures to focus on performance of students,
monitoring progress on the plan, and how to best simplify the
information in ways that will help the Board and community use the plan
to make decisions.
The 2009-10 LRSP Committee, made up of Trustees Denise Hayman,
Bruce Grubbs, Carson Taylor (until April), and Ed Churchill (started in
April), and Leadership Team members Kirk Miller and Marilyn King, met to
research strategic plan governance structures to provide information
about and accountability for the LRSP for the Board and public.
Committee meetings on August 8, 2009, September 24, 2009, November 5,
2009, and December 15, 2009 allowed review of tools called Data
Dashboards or Balanced Scorecards intended to determine and define key
indicators, establish baseline information and set targets 3-5 years
into the future. The Committee used the meetings to determine and
define the key indicators and set baseline and targets under the four
goals of the district. The Committee presented recommendations to the
Board at a retreat on January 21, 2010 and discussed the Balanced Scorecard
concept at the Board meeting on February 8, 2010. On February 9, 2010,
the Balanced Scorecard went live on the district website with
advertising in the community to make the public aware of this easy to
use governance tool.
Progress 2009-10
In the fall of 2009-10, under the governance of the LRSP
Committee and Board of Trustees, an Implementation Framework to guide
the continued progress of the plan was developed. The entire district
education team has been involved in the dialogue about the importance of
the LRSP and participated in the development of Action Plans
for schools and departments for 2009-10. The Action Plans were posted
on the district website using a matrix to allow individuals easy access
to any Action Plan for any school or department. Status Reports
for 166 Action Plans for 2009-10 were developed by the school and
department teams. The district has made great strides in creating a
culture of meaningful change as a result of the Action Plan and Status
Report framework that allows every area of the school district to
consistently establish a plan and report on progress in the 3-5 year
planning horizon.
Progress 2010-11
The LRSP Balanced Scorecard was updated in the fall of 2010-11. An Implementation Framework
for 2010-11 guided the LRSP work for the school year. The Board of
Trustees at its meeting on July 12, 2010, approved the LRSP Annual Report 2009-10 (including the LRSP Implementation Framework
Report 2009-10) and went live on the district website and was
advertised to keep the public informed about the progress of the
district. Action Plans
for the 2010-11 school year were developed by school and department
teams during the student achievement related day in the fall and posted
on the district web site. Plans were monitored for progress throughout
the school year by the school and department teams. The Executive
Summary (see above) provides the reader with point and click access to Status Reports
for 157 Action Plans for 2010-11. The district has made great strides
in creating a culture of meaningful change as a result of the Action
Plan and Status Report framework that allows every area of the school
district to consistently establish a plan and report on progress in the
3-5 year planning horizon.
The Board of Trustees of Bozeman School District #7 endorsed this implementation framework for 2010-11 to continue progress on the Long Range Strategic Plan (LRSP). The following are components of the framework:
1. Continued development of a culture of meaningful change.
Looks Like…
2. Professional Development for the Bozeman Public Schools Education Team.
Looks Like…
3. Seek and provide opportunities to build effective relationships.
Looks Like…
The Bozeman Public Schools Team launched year 3 of the Plan and
energized our team to remain committed to long-term strategic change
that inspires and ensures high achievement so every student can succeed.
The report of progress on the Implementation Framework 2010-11 can be found in Appendix A or on our district website by clicking LRSP Implementation Framework Report 2010-11.
The Superintendent's office and Board of Trustees of School
District #7 thank our education team and community for embracing the
Long Range Strategic Plan. A quality product is dependent on a quality
process. We know that lasting, exceptional progress takes time. We
appreciate the effort of all in the past and continued effort in the
future to provide the very best opportunities for our students. It is
not a race to the finish, but a journey to excellence! This report is
evidence of our commitment to move from "Great to Greater" in educating
the next generation of students in Bozeman Public Schools who will
become the bright future of our community, state, nation and world!
Respectfully submitted on behalf of the Bozeman Public Schools Education Team, June 30, 2011, by
Kirk. J. Miller, Ed.D.
Superintendent, Bozeman Public Schools


text:
Detecting Plug-ins Installed in iManager
Novell Cool Solutions: Tip
By Talekar Nagareshwar
Digg This -
Slashdot This
Posted: 17 Jan 2007
This tip explains how to quickly detect if your plug-in is installed on iManager.
Often when you want to check whether a specific plug-in is installed in iManager, you have to log in to iManager first. However, there is clever and quick way to do the same thing with less effort.
Checking for Installed Plug-ins
Assume that you have iManager running on a remote machine, such as 192.168.0.100. Let's say you want to check whether the NMAS plug-in (nmas.npm) is installed on this iManager.
For that, open up Firefox or Internet Explorer and then browse to the following location:
If the NMAS plugin is installed, then you will be prompted to save this file. If it is not, installed then you will see the error message saying that the specified object was not found. You can check for any plug-in this way, provided you know its file name.
Checking for Uninstalled Plug-ins
A similar technique can be used to find out if a plug-in is uninstalled from iManager.
First, open your browser and then browse to this location (with the IP address we used earlier):
If the NMAS plugin is uninstalled, you will be prompted to save this NPM file. Otherwise, you will see the "Object not found" error on your browser.
This technique enables you to determine the status of a plug-in without logging in to iManager.
Novell Cool Solutions (corporate web communities) are produced by WebWise Solutions. www.webwiseone.com


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Ram Charan's 'Dhruva' first look teaser releaseOct 05, 2016 07:17 AM
Ram Charan's 'Dhruva' was initially scheduled to release for Dussehra. But the film has been postponed to December. Now Allu Aravind, the producer of the movie, is planning to release the first look teaser of the film on the eve of Dussehra.
The Surender Reddy directorial is the remake of Tamil film 'Thani Oruvan'. Hip Hop Tamizha are scoring music for the movie.
Aravind Swamy is playing the villain. Rakul Preet is romancing Charan in this movie.


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Anglers traveling to the Outer Banks will be able to keep a red snapper for the first time in years.
It will be one of the shortest fisheries ever, with a total of six open days. The "season" will be Nov. 3-5 and Nov. 10-12. Anglers are allowed one fish per day and are asked to report their red snapper catches at MyFishCount.com.
The Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission will meet in Baltimore on Nov. 13 to decide the future of menhaden management. The Chesapeake Bay Foundation will provide bus transportation for local anglers to attend the meeting. Bus departure locations include the Brock Environmental Center in Virginia Beach, Bass Pro Shops in Hampton and Green Top in Ashland. Lunch, snacks and t-shirts will be provided. Visit cbf.org/menhaden for more information.
The Virginia Institute of Marine Science is conducting several studies on cobia, and anglers can help without leaving their homes. The economic impacts of Virginia's recreational cobia fishery are being explored through an online survey at vims.edu/anglersurvey.
Here's a look at what is happening at some of our local fishing spots:
Back River Reef: The tautog bite continues to improve as the water cools down. There are some flounder around the reef.
Beaverdam Reservoir: The winners of the Big Bash Bass Classic were Bubba West and Kevin Brooke with 12 pounds, 8 ounces. The big fish of the tournament was a 5-pound, 13-ounce bass caught by Chris Eckstein.
Buckroe Pier: The action slowed down this week. There have been some good puppy drum runs. Some speckled trout and striped bass are being caught.
Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel: Tautog catches are excellent. There are still some triggerfish on the structure, and some red drum continue to hang around.
Chickahominy: Conway's River Rat Guide Service said some crappie are being caught. Both yellow and white perch are being caught on minnows. Pickerel are active in the creeks. Bass fishing remains good, with some citation-sized fish being caught.
Eastern Shore: Speckled trout and puppy drum catches are at their seasonal peak.
James River: Wilcox Bait and Tackle said very few spot are still being caught. Speckled trout catches have picked up. There are some nice puppy drum in the catches. Striped bass are in the river.
Little Creek Reservoir: Striped bass are becoming a more common catch. Walleye fishing remains good. More crappie are being caught.
Mobjack Bay: Speckled trout fishing remains very good. Some nice puppy drum are being caught, and small striped bass are available.
Offshore: Bishop Fishing Supply said some tuna are being caught. Wahoo are hanging on the temperature breaks. Anglers trying for swordfish continue to have success. Sea bass and triggerfish are abundant on the coastal wrecks.
Poquoson Flats: Speckled trout fishing remains very good, and some nice puppy drum continue to be caught.
Waller Mill Reservoir: Small striped bass are being caught along with some largemouth bass and crappie.
York River: Grafton Fishing Supply said speckled trout catches remain strong. Puppy drum continue to be available. Small striped bass are in the river, with some nicer fish beginning to show.


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Seniors are at an increased risk for falls and other injuries around the home for a variety of reasons. In some cases, depth perception is not what it once was while in others bones are more brittle and there is a minimized level of mobility. Fortunately, around a third of all falls that seniors have are related to easily preventable risks in the home. You can protect your aging loved one and minimize their risk for injuries at home by fixing each of the following common problems, presented by the Las Vegas home care experts at Home Care Assistance.
– Probably the most common home tripping hazard, rugs are typically placed in high-traffic areas near doorways, and in kitchens and hallways. Make sure that all of the rugs in your loved one's home have a slip-resistant backing or that rubber matting cut to the correct size of the rug is placed beneath it.
Hot Water Heaters
– Our skin becomes more sensitive with age, and it can be easy for your loved one to burn his or herself when performing simple activities like washing the dishes or even taking a shower. Most hot water heaters have a default setting of 140 degrees, but turning it down to 120 degrees will not only save money but also decrease the chance of burns.
– Having proper lighting installed will help your loved one see where he or she is going and will highlight any obstacles that might cause a trip hazard. There should be a light switch near any doors to the outside so the home can be illuminated as soon as your loved one comes in the door. There should also be proper lighting such as extra lamps or nightlights in hallways and over stairs to help ensure maximum safety. Consider motion sensor lighting in one or more high-traffic areas as well.
You will find that the most hazardous spots in your home or apartment are typically the kitchen and bathroom, where your aging loved one spends a great deal of time on his or her feet. In addition to keeping these areas free of rugs and trip hazards, you may also want to consider hiring a part-time caregiver in Las Vegas. Professional and expertly trained, these caregivers can assist your loved one with personal care activities such as bathing and dressing and can also help with other household chores such as cooking and cleaning.
To learn more about the benefits of an in-home caregiver, reach out to Home Care Assistance of Las Vegas today. We provide flexible hourly and live-in care in Las Vegas and have a team of dedicated and friendly Care Managers who are available to answer questions and assist you 24/7. Call (702) 550-3185 and schedule a complimentary consultation today.


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Thursday, September 27, 2007
Zen Again: AT-43
My wargaming buddies will vouch for the fact that I'm a devout fantasy wargamer at heart. I've been collecting & painting miniatures for close to 30 years and have a fairly large and eclectic collection of fantasy minis from a wide range of manufacturers. Part of my collection also includes historicals, usually from the medieval or ancient periods where my main interests lie. But aside from an oddball figure here & there and some HeroScape stuff (robots), I don't own too much in the way of science fiction miniatures.
Don't get me wrong, I think sci-fi wargaming is a cool, especially for skirmish games. But what has been stopping me from getting into that period all of these years has been a combination of time and money.
I have a rabid fascination with nicely painted fantasy miniatures and enjoy collecting them and forming them into sizeable armies for use in mass-battle games. But without a doubt, you can sink mucho money into this hobby if your aim is to collect high quality, professional looking toy soldiers. Many gamers decide that rather than spend gobs of cash to buy pro-painted figures, they'll paint the minis themselves. This is a much more affordable route to go, but the tradeoff here is time. I really enjoy painting, since it lets me use my artistic talent in a fun way. But I simply don't have as much free time as I used to. I would guess that I spend 20 to 24 hours to complete a unit of soldiers to my level of satisfaction. That's a good chunk of time; as you can see I'm not a speed painter!
So unless you're independently wealthy or retired, you're limited in the number of periods & genres that you can get into. Fortunately, the wargaming hobby is starting to undergo a major change. From HeroScape to Reaper's new Legendary Encounters range to Rackham's AT-43 and revamped Confrontation game, the era of "pre-painted" miniatures is upon us. In my opinion, this is a great thing for the wargaming hobby. It will bring more outsiders into the hobby because the barrier to entry has really been lowered. With pre-paints, it doesn't cost as much to acquire painted minis and you don't need to spend any time painting them. For those of us diehards who still love buying traditional metal minis, oogling expert paint-jobs, and the self-expression that comes with the painting/modelling hobby, we now have a cheap & fast way to expand our wargaming interests into other periods & genres which were previously too costly or time consuming to get into.
That brings me squarely to the topic of AT-43, Rackham's science-fiction skirmish game that features pre-painted models. I've read several reviews of this game online and in wargaming magazines and it seems pretty promising.
AT-43 doesn't appear to have the tactical depth and strong command & control feel of the fantasy wargames that I most favor (especially when compared to my own Sword of Severnia game). But you know what, that's okay with me. There's room for all kinds of different games, with varying degrees of depth & weight. While I may love to really dive into a deep wargame as my main pastime, a light game of HeroScape with its very simple rules is a hell of a lot of fun. My guess is that AT-43 will fit into the medium/light category of skirmish wargames. And for me, that's exactly what I'm looking for: a fun complement to the deeper games that I play.
But what makes AT-43 most attractive to me are its pre-painted models. Rackham is known for its cool sculpts. While these sci-fi models don't have the crazy French-flair of their fantasy range, they're very cool in their own right. Here are some of my favorites:
I don't know about you, but I think these are really cool looking figures. The space apes are just awesome!
I doubt that the factory paint jobs will meet the standards of these showcase minis, but I've heard they're very solid "tabletop quality" miniatures. That's all you can ask for in a mass-produced range.
It won't be long until I take the plunge and pickup some boxes of these babies.
If you haven't heard, Rackham has been in the news recently, and the news wasn't all that good. From the sound of things, it seems like they're experiencing some financial troubles and are in the process of restructuring the company and refining their long-range business plans. I sincerely hope that they get things turned around, as their move to pre-paints is a bold move and one which many gamers are clamoring for.
On the plus side, they recently made a deal with Fantasy Flight Games here in the USA. Fantasy Flight is one of the most popular board game publishers around and their excellent range of games is growing quite rapidly. If you've never heard of Descent, War of the Ring, Citadels, Tide of Iron, Arkham Horror, Runebound, Fury of Dracula, Blue Moon, Wings of War, then where in the heck have you been the past 4 years? They are also starting to distribute the fine World Tank Museum miniature tanks from Japan, and are coming out with a 54mm collectible minis game called Mutant Chronicles soon. So I don't think Rackham could have picked a better partner to team up with than FFG. That move will ensure that these fine minis get plenty of exposure in North America.
Anyway, do yourself a favor and check out AT-43. It may be just the game to get you fantasy, ancients, napoleonics, and WWII wargamers into the world of sci-fi in a way that won't kill your pocketbook or eat up too much extra time.
Tuesday, September 25, 2007
Game Finds on eBay
My buying frenzy usually ends once my Catholic guilt kicks in and I begin to worry about how much I just spent. That $50 I just plunked down for a unit of beautifully painted lizardmen could feed a homeless person for a week you know! But damn... There just aren't many material things that fire off the excitement center in my brain like the beauty of well-painted toy soldiers or the allure of a well-designed, richly themed, and thought provoking board game. Everyone has their guilty pleasures. Games, especially those with a high toy factor and artistic flair, really hit my soft spot.
Recently, I succumbed to the Siren's Call of games as I was browsing through the voluminous pages of goodies that are sold on eBay every day. I've got roughly 80 games on my wishlist of boardgames, card games, and wargames to acquire. So there are plenty of games to hunt for. While it's true that you can buy just about anything on eBay, where it really shines is in the hard to find, lesser-known, and older games that have gone out of print or have been relegated to the backshelves in most game stores.
Of the 4 games I bought recently, only 2 of them really fall into the hard-to-find or lesser-known categories. These games included:
- Monkeys On the Moon ($7.50 + ship, ranked 878 on BGG)
- Battleball ($10 + ship, ranked 827 on BGG)
Don't get me wrong, there are plenty of really good Euros out there which mix good design with a good theme. I'm not anti-Euro by any means. Games like Tikal, El Grande, Through the Desert, Blue Moon, Manhattan, and Modern Art are all on my wishlist because they merge cool themes with elegant game play. But when push comes to shove, I'm probably an American gamer at heart. The lure of immersing myself in a theme and the "game as storytelling" is something that I crave and which American style games and wargames typically do better than Euros.
Thanks eBay... I'll be seeing you again soon!
Monday, September 24, 2007
Wake Me Up When September Ends
On the plus side, I made the HARL fantasy baseball playoffs again and my team, the Sevy Rhinos, were hanging onto a razor-thin lead after 2 weeks of play. After 21 seasons of playing rotisserie baseball, I still feel the excitement of September baseball. But man, watching the nightly highlights of your pitching staff's performance can leave you with a queasy stomach. Pepcid AC has become my best friend. Hello Tom Gorzelanny, why did your arm fall off last week at a time when I desperately needed you? Sheesh. There's only 1 week of major league baseball left to play... Can the Horned Ones pull another league championship out of their magic cap? And can my beloved Phillies catch the Mets or grab the NL Wild Card and make the real playoffs? We shall see soon enough.
I saw The Mousetrap at Allenberry Playhouse this month. It was a great little play, with some eccentric characters (Mr. Paravicini, Christoper Wren, and Mrs. Boyle were particularly weird and captivating) and excellent performances by the cast members. You just gotta love those Agatha Christie mysteries! I've been going to Allenberry for many years and always enjoy it. If you live in Central PA and have never ventured out to Boiling Springs for a night of theatre, what the hell are you waiting for? Do yourself a favor and go see some plays!
Anna and I got to see Genesis play at the Wachovia Center in Philly on September 20. Although the concert tickets ($200+ apiece), along with everything else ($40 T-shirts and $7-$8 for a beer), were outrageously over-priced, it was still a really good time and I'm glad that I went. These guys have still got the musical licks, and Phil Collins is not only a very likeable showman, but the man still plays a mean set of drums! As a drummer myself, I was delighted at hearing the really cool sounds that the Phil Collins / Chester Thompson drumming duo generated during that evening's performance. After seeing the Police earlier this summer at HersheyPark, it's quite clear to me that the number of current rock bands that generate the kind of excitement and musical variety of these classic groups is few and far between.
September has, however, had its downside. Development work on the Sword of Severnia wargame project has gone a bit slower than I had hoped this month. While some good stuff was accomplished (I completed the rules for 1-on-1 duels and they seem to have a pretty neat flavor to them), I'm about 2-3 weeks behind the schedule that I set out for myself in mid-August. Part of that is due to some vacation days messing up my workflow. Another hiccup has been that I took an unexpected development detour and have been roughing out some campaign rules over the past week or so. I have good reasons for doing this, but when a Version 2 task suddenly gets thrust into the Version 1 workflow, things get jumbled a bit and you're left feeling like you're behind the curve. I'll get back on track soon.
Perhaps the biggest disappointment is the lack of communication that I've had with my design consulting team of late. I've tried to stir the pot a little, but they've been too busy with personal tasks to really keep up with things project-wise. I understand the nature of these things, but the simple fact is that a 2-month "down period" really hurts the momentum of the project from a team perspective. I hope these guys can rekindle their enthusiasm soon or it's going to be an even longer road to project-completion that I anticipated & planned for at the start of 2007.
Aside from work worries, the most frustrating thing about September has been the lackluster start to the launch of the GODS game club. It all started with much enthusiasm. We even got together for a really fun, 5-player game of Ticket to Ride on September 9. But then I realized that biweekly Wednesday sessions were not going to work schedule-wise for most folks, and so I cancelled them and stuck to a 1-game per weekend gaming schedule. Unfortunately, we had to cancel our very next weekend game session due to lack of participation. That got me a little down in the dumps to be honest. I quickly came to the realization that despite my excitement and initial efforts, getting this club to work would require some re-thinking. Expanding the core group of regular gamers seems like a necessity. I'm considering reaching out to some local folks on BGG to see if I can get another 2-4 gamers to participate. That could be a little dicey since the GODS is meant to be a private club, rather than a public group which plays at a game store, library, or other civic center. Anyway, I'm using this late-September downtime to let some ideas percolate through my mind. I know I'll get this club working, it's just a matter of time and patience... plenty of patience.
All I can say is.... can't wait for October!
Thursday, September 13, 2007
Game Club -- Sign-Up Deadline for Weekly Games
- If SATURDAY game, sign-up by Midnight on THURSDAY night.
- If SUNDAY game, sign-up by Midnight on FRIDAY night.
I need to impose these deadlines so that I can plan my weekend activities around whether we are or are not going to have a game session, and I also need to work my prep-time in there as well (reviewing the rules, getting drinks/snacks if needed, etc.).
Thanks in advance for your cooperation!
Wednesday, September 12, 2007
Overwhelmed and Underpaid
Hmmm... You're still not convinced eh? You're one of those people who love the uber-difficult challenges in life. Well, that's a start at least. Because in the wide world of independent software development where so many smart, creative, and well-educated people end up becoming overwhelmed and underpaid, you've got to possess the will to soldier on at a bare minimum.
I came across an old blog-post that I wrote in 2005 for my now defunct Mad Rhinoceros blog. I wanted to re-post it here for two reasons. First, it does a nice job of capturing the essence of the "overwhelmed" feeling that we software entrepreneurs often experience on a regular basis. And secondly, it clearly shows that sometimes the best laid plans fail to work out. In this particular case, the failure was simply due to lack-of-time, the arch nemesis of all micro businesses.
Read on...
[From the Mad Rhinoceros, Sep 1, 2005]
The life of a small, independent software developer is one where you wear many hats. So many hats in fact, that I ought to open my own damn hat store. By the way, if anyone knows where you can buy one of those cool hats the Pope wears, let me know.
The most enjoyable part of my job is brainstorming ideas for cool software products, creating the functional specs for them, and then actually creating the database and programming & testing the software. For those of you who don't know, creating quality software is a long and arduous process. Even with rapid application development tools, there are scads of steps in the process and zillions of places to screw up. But there's nothing quite like the feeling of spending your time doing mental gymnastics and communing with the spirit of Einstein, and to then see your creation come to life. It's a Frankenstein moment of utter excitement.
Unfortunately, just like Dr. Frankenstein, there's a monster to deal with. And that monster rears its ugly head in the shape of all the things you DON'T really prefer spending your time on. There's business planning and marketing. There's web site maintenance to tend to. There's pre-sales inquiries to address, and after-sale customer service and technical support to provide. And there are business dealings to consider and consultants to manage. All of these things are vital to running a successful company and can't be ignored. But let's face it, most software entrepreneurs would rather be creating their next digital golem and nurturing it to life.
So what's the point of all this? The point is that there are just too many things vying for your attention. The trick of not going completely insane is to periodically figure out how you can eliminate the loser tasks and how to streamline your operation. It occurred to me shortly after starting this blog that it could help me streamline Rhino Software's web site.
For a long time I've wanted to find a reasonable way to stay in touch with faithful customers and site surfers that didn't require too much of hit on my time (which there is never enough of). I've thought about writing a periodic newsletter to share tips about Rhino Baseball, Rhino Hockey, and other software applications. I wanted to share comments & insights on fantasy sports, games, and the software business for small/micro companies. Basically, I just wanted to do a better job of reaching out to people and providing a deeper sense of community between us all.
So far, that reaching out has been mostly limited to helping folks with their customer support issues. And while customers always praise me for the excellent help that I provide them, I only really get to talk to a small percentage of you guys. So I thought, why not incorporate news, tips, commentary, and surveys into various pages of the RhinoSoftware.com site? Wouldn't that be cool?
Well... Okay maybe it didn't turn out to be so cool after all. Despite my best intentions, I haven't made the time to write software tips articles for the Ask Reggie Rhino page, provide ongoing commentary on the Sports Buzz page, or squeeze in ideas about software development on the Tech Talk page. About the only thing I do stay current with is the What's New stuff on the front page. So here's what I've decided. All of those things (except for the news on the front page) are going away. They will be put out to pasture to frolic in the Land of What Might Have Been. This blog is going to take their place. I am going to divide & conquer. Reggie Rhino will bring his bat, stick, and technical sports brain right here. Everything that needs or wants to be talked about, will be talked about in the blog and combined into one place. Isn't streamlining wonderful?
The real beauty of a blog is that by its very nature, it's great for posting snippets and short commentary on a regular basis. I can write down what's on my mind without worrying that I need to compile a volume of writing that rivals War & Peace in sheer size. So I'm optimistic that this will work out in the long run. BLOGGER comes to the rescue again!
That post was written 2 years ago. Obviously, I had good intentions and had the foresight to realize that blogging was a good way to reach the audience that I wanted to communicate with.
But too many other work-tasks got in the way.
Between the continued development of Rhino Baseball, running 2 stats services, and jumping into the development of a new wargame project with both feet and trying to muster assistance & input from a part-time group of consultants who needed lots of prodding, my plate was full. Not to mention that I had to make a painful decision to suspend work on a product (Rhino Hockey) that was very nearly complete after several years of work, but which wasn't generating enough pre-release buzz.
As you can see, it's easy for a micro ISV to become overwhelmed since every little thing falls on your shoulders. "Lifers" who have spent their entire careers in Corporate America have absolutely no concept of what this is like. They're insulated in their own little worlds, with very specific tasks to work on, and a steady paycheck that mitigates the frustration an independent developer feels of working his/her ass off only to see a small amount of revenue dribbling in.
The desire to blow everything up, quit, and move on to another job (perhaps getting out of the software development field altogether) is a personal demon that I wrestle with quite frequently. It's counter-balanced by my love of the "software creation process" which feeds my innermost desire to be challenged and express my personal creativity. Plus, once you've put 10+ years of your blood, sweat, and tears into something, it's extremely difficult to just walk away from it. It becomes part of you. Some people might say it's like being married. You put up with lots of crap only because the things you love about it are so special.
Anyway... At least I've committed myself to blogging on a regular basis now. I suppose that once this becomes a habit, I won't have to think twice about firing up Blogger or my email program and jotting down passing thoughts, observations, or sharing interesting information with everyone. In some perverse sort of way, it's good to get things off your chest and write about them. It really is cathartic, and helps with the sense of being overwhelmed. Now if I can just find a good way to solve the underpaid problem!
Saturday, September 8, 2007
Zen Again: Otherworld Miniatures
For those of you who were gaming in the good old days when Dungeons & Dragons was in its infancy and you didn't need a PHD to learn how to play it, you will be simply amazed when you see these minis. Not only is the sculpting absolutely beautiful, but they are dead ringers for those classic images of devils, giants, and orcs that graced the pages of the early editions of the D&D Monster Manual.
The pig-faced orcs are particularly cool. When it comes to orcs, I'm partial to more traditional-looking goblinesque orcs such as those made by Games Workshop, Foundry, or West Wind.
The snout-faced nasties from Otherworld have a style all their own, and really deserve to be considered as a separate entity from standard orcs. They're truly irresistable, and so neat that I'm contemplating creating a separate race of pig-men creatures for the Sword of Severnia tabletop wargame so that players can field units of these unique and colorful creatures in their battles. Check out some of the images of these critters:
The only downside of these minis for American wargamers is that they're priced in British Pounds rather than US dollars, and the price-per-figure cost is on the high-end of the pricing spectrum.
That said, the sculpting quality of these figures appears to be top-notch and the uniqueness of these figures makes them an attractive buy for collectors and veteran gamers looking for a nice change of pace from Games Workshop world domination. It's always good to support the smaller companies in our great hobby.
You can purchase the minis from the company's web site: http://www.otherworld.me.uk/store.html
Wednesday, September 5, 2007
Zen Again: Scapeliciously Good!
In mid-to-late August, the newest 4-set expansion pack for HeroScape called Fields of Valor was released. This set includes:
- Templar Knights = 3 mounted Knights with a strong "crusader" feel to them.
- Fiends & Vampires = 3 very nasty looking Gargoyles and some deadly blood-sucking Vampires.
- Spearmen & Riflemen = 8 Ashigaru soldiers (Japanese); 4 spearmen and 4 gunners armed with arquebuses.
- Heroes of Elswin = an eclectic mix here of Elven Sorceress, Ninja, Vampire heroes, and a Soulborg hero (Cyborg).
Swarm of the Marro (Master Set 2)
Just released about a week ago was the brand new Swarm of the Marro master set. The new set includes a couple of refurbished heroes (Sgt. Drake and Raelin to name two popular characters), a few new characters, and a whole lot of Marros (aliens).
In my opinion, Master Set-2 isn't nearly as cool as Master Set-1, but I would have wanted the 2nd set anyway for the additional terrain. But geez, that giant Marro behemoth is just too damn cool to pass up. I'm not sure what his stats are yet, but he looks like he'll kick some serious valkyrie booty.
But wait, there's more! Coming this Fall to a toy store near you is the Wave-8 expansion set for HeroScape called Defenders of Kinsland. This 4-set packs includes Elves (4 elven magicians including one riding a hippogriff), Marro Cavalry, Militia & Wolves (English musketmen from the Revolutionary War and a wolf-pack), and Heroes of the Molten Sea (assorted heroes including a Samurai leader, Templar lord, and Elf wizard among others).
This looks like another winner, especially for those of us who like to use our HeroScape figures in other tabletop wargames as well.
Ticalla Jungle Set
Another terrain set is also planned for a late-2007 release. You'll soon be able to augment your forests, bridges, lava, tundra/glaciers, and castle with jungle terrain. Very cool indeed.
And finally...
For those of you who want to scratch your superhero itch, the new MarvelScape game was released this summer. I enjoyed comic books as a kid and love comics-inspired movies such as Spiderman and the X-Men. But I never got into the whole HeroClix thing mainly because collectible games are not really my bag. I like to know what I'm getting ahead of time. That makes MarvelScape, a non-collectible game, a very interesting & tempting little game. Plus, the quality of the pre-painted figures will surely be top-notch.* I think given time, this game will equal and perhaps even surpass the popularity of HeroClix in superhero gaming circles.
*[Mini Rant] -- Yes, yes I know, I know... Pre-painted minis are never as good-looking as what most experienced wargamers can produce with their own paints & brushes. But people who complain about pre-paints are really missing the point. I enjoy painting, but with my free time at a premium, I don't get to do it nearly as much as I'd like. So I welcome the chance to augment my own painted creations with pro-painted stuff that I buy at shows or on eBay. And I certainly don't mind adding some pre-painted stuff to my collection if it's "tabletop quality" as well. It's a huge time-saver.
But listen up wargaming elitists, there's a large throng of gamers who could care less whether they ever touch a paint-brush in their life. For those folks, pre-paints are the perfect solution. They're affordable and look a hell of a lot better than bare-metal minis! The opportunity to buy toy soldiers and game with them right out of the box will help expand the wargaming hobby into sectors of the gaming world that were heretofore untouched. Reaper and now Rackham are starting to take the hint. And I'll bet that the huge success of HeroScape had a lot to do with their decisions to introduce pre-paints into their own product lines.
[End Rant]
PS: My favorite place to buy HeroScape stuff online is House Mouse Games (http://www.housemousegames.com). Check out the site when you get a chance.
Peace out!
Tuesday, September 4, 2007
Weekly Gaming at Sevy's
- Regulars = those people who seem most interested in playing games on a regular basis, coming to several sessions per month and playing just about any type of board game, card game, or war game that I toss out there.
- Light Gamers = those people who plan to come only very sporadically, or who are interested in only very specific types of games (such as Party games or Card games).
Secondly, it gives the light-gamers a little sense of relief. They may only show up to play a game once every 4-to-8 weeks. That's fine with me. I'm happy to have them as part of the game club. Since they're classified as a light-gamer they know that my expectations for them are low (participation-wise), so they don't need to feel like they're making me spend lots of time gearing sessions specifically towards them when they're not going to be coming on a regular basis. I don't want anyone to feel guilty about any of this; the game club is meant to be fun and certainly not stressful. We've all got enough stress at work!
Onto the breakdowns...REGULARS
- Steve Severino
- Wally Wenklar
- Kevin Sarnowski
- Kenny Alfery
- Mayer Foner
- Joe Foner
- Hunter Wenklar
- Alton Whittle
- Drew Whittle
- Geoff Kyper
- Anna Severino
- Greg Hagins -and- Janelle Hagins
- Pat Noll -and- Carol Noll
- Ed Chance
- Mike Hoover
The name for our little local game club is The GODS. GODS stands for Games On Darius Society. Since I'm hosting these events at my place on Darius Drive, I thought this fit quite nicely and was easy to remember.
I worked up the official schedule of gaming sessions for the month of September 2007. I will notify you guys if the schedule changes (dates, times, or games), but for now the schedule is as follows:
- SEP 9 (SUN @ 7 PM) = Ticket to Ride
- SEP 12 (WED @ 7 PM) = Feudal
- SEP 16 (SUN @ 7 PM) = Pirate's Cove
- SEP 23 (SUN @ 7 PM) = Cash N' Guns
- SEP 26 (WED @ 7 PM) = HeroScape
- SEP 29 (SAT @ 7 PM) = Citadels
Game On!
Monday, September 3, 2007
September Schedule for the GODS
I'm going to list the DATES/TIMES for the September gaming sessions first, and then follow that with several comments.
- SEP 9 (SUN @ 7 PM) = Ticket to Ride
- SEP 12 (WED @ 7 PM) = Feudal
- SEP 16 (SUN @ 7 PM) = Pirate's Cove
- SEP 23 (SUN @ 7 PM) = Cash N' Guns
- SEP 26 (WED @ 7 PM) = HeroScape
- SEP 29 (SAT @ 7 PM) = Citadels
The Schedule of Game Sessions
The session dates and games listed above could change. I will notify the game group at least 4-5 days in advance of an upcoming session if the date, time, or game to be played is going to change. I will do my best to limit the changes, but as everyone knows unexpected events always crop up from time to time and affect your best laid plans.
Inviting People to Play in a Game Session
I'm still contemplating how to best accept players for each particular gaming session. For now, I'll handle things as follows:
- One week prior to each game session, I'll post here regarding the upcoming game to be played, a quick synopsis of what it's about and a link to its entry on BoardGame Geek (for those wanting detailed info), the maximum number of players, expected playing time, and anything else that I think you should know.
- I will then accept players on a First-Come, First-Served basis for that particular game. All you need to do is email me saying you want to play in the upcoming session.
I'll do some more thinking about this simplistic system. My concern is to be fair to everyone and make sure different people get to play and join in the fun. I may even consider doing an "invitation only" thing for certain games. If anyone has any great ideas on this, I'd love to hear them!
Length of Gaming Sessions
Some games (such as simple card games like Guillotine or Saboteur) are so fast-playing that we may be able to play 2 or 3 games of them during a session. Other complex games may run into the 3+ hour range (especially during a 1st time play where the learning curve comes into play). I'll do my best to accurately gauge the expected playing time (including rules explanation) in each of my pre-session posts. That said, you should expect to set aside 3 hours for each game playing session to be safe.
If I expect a given game to take longer than 3 hours, I will likely set an earlier Starting Time for that game session, including scheduling some sessions for SAT or SUN afternoons.
Concurrent Games
I know some game clubs have so many people in their club that they run multiple games at the same time. I hope that we can get to that point some day. I do have two 6' x 2.5' foot tables in my house and could probably handle two small games going on at once. I'm not sure, however, of how the "noise factor" would work out in that case. We might try it sometime down the road to see what happens. Anyone have any input on this?
I know that I really don't have adequate space for 10 people to show up and play 2 large games at once. We'll cross that bridge when we come to it. For now, I'm not going to schedule two games to be played at the same time. We'll start with the One Group / One Game philosophy.
That's it for now. I'll have more later on this week. Stay tuned!


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The Magical Fourth Basic Circuit Component : MEMRISTOR
The Ground Breaking New Circuit.Rewrite the textbooks??
The missing-link in electronics, the memristor is discovered!!!!!!
Since the dawn of electronics ,we have had only 3 types of circiut components-resistors,inductors,and capacitors.But in 1971,UC Berkeley researcher Leon Chua theorized the possibility of a fourth type of components,one that would be able tp measure the flow of electric current: THE MEMRISTOR.Now ,just 37 years later,Hewlett -Packward has built one.
Memristor Will Lead To:
1)Instant-on PCs
2)Tera Bytes of Massive data storage
3)Artificial Intelligence
4)Improve battery life
What is it?
As it's name implies,the memristor can "remember" how much current has passes through it.And by alternating the amount of current has passed through it.And by alternating the amount of current passing through it,a memristor can also become a one-element circuit component with unique properties.Most notibaly it can save its electronic state even when the current is turned off,making it a great canidate to replace today's flash memory.Memristors will theoritically replace today's flash memory.
Memristor's will theoretically be cheaper and faster than flash memory.and allow far greater memory densities.They could also replace RAM chips as we known them,so that,after you turn off your computer,it will remember exactly what you were doing when you turn it back on,and return to work instantly.This lowering of cost and consolidatong of components may lead to affordable,solid-state computers that fit in your pocketand run many times faster than todays pcs.
Someday the memristor could spawn a whole new type of computer ,thanks to its ability to remember a range of electrical states rather than the simplistic "on" and "off" states that today's digital processor recognize.By working with a dynamic range of data states in an analog mode,memristor based computers could be capable of far more complex tasks than just shuttling ones & zeros around.
Memristor Guide
The Memristor Symbol
When is it coming?
Researchers say that no real barrier prevents implementing the memristor in circuitry immediatly.But it's up to th business side to push products through to commercial reality.Memristors made to replace flas memory(at a lower cost and lower power consumption) will likely appear first;HP's goal is to offer them by 2012.Beyond that,memoristors will likely replace both DRAM and hard disks in the 2014-2016 time frame.As for memristor-based analog computers,that step may take 20-plus years.
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Meet The Experts DVD - Beyond the Face Of Birth
This dvd is part of the three " The Face Of Birth " series. We stock all three.
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Be informed about the important issues surrounding childbirth, be empowered… Meet the Experts today!
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by Missy Brewer, who gratefully acknowledges Spessard Stone's contribution of data on the life of Laura Fredonia Redd. The c.1889 Tatum-Rawls House at Crowley is one of the oldest examples of pioneer Florida architecture still standing in Sarasota County. The building is a record of southwest Florida's rural history. The Center's volunteers have helped restore the house … Continue reading The Tatum Rawls House
Jasper Crowley – An Introduction
Crowley, Jasper (William Jasper), 1900-1976 Jasper Crowley, grandson of pioneer settler John Crowley, donated Crowley lands to the community in 1974. Jasper was a teacher at the Old Miakka one-room Schoolhouse from 1931-1943. In those days, people lived on enough land to keep a garden and some chickens, and the children had chores to help run the farms. Jasper believed that if … Continue reading Jasper Crowley – An Introduction
Miakka or Myakka?
Which spelling is correct? The answer is not simple. Background: According to 16th century Spanish Mission reports, an indigenous hunter/gatherers tribe along the St.Johns River called themselves the Mayaca. Since they had no written language, there was no specific spelling of that name. The name "Mayaca" referred to both the principal village and the chief … Continue reading Miakka or Myakka?