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Autopano-SIFT by Sebastian Nowozin automatically creates control points for groups of overlapping photographs, it can be controlled from within the Hugin GUI front-end. See autopano sift page for details.
Functionally, autopano-sift is very similar to autopano and the two can be used interchangeably to a certain extent.
There are both command-line and GUI versions of autopano-sift. There is a tutorial for Using Autopano-SIFT With PTGui.
Autopano-sift is Open Source and written using C# and mono. The use of the Scale-invariant feature transform algorithm is restricted by a patent owned by the University of British Columbia.
Autopano-sift has been largely superseded by a C port called autopano-sift-C, available from the hugin project.


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Panasonic has been top of the picture-quality pile for the past five-plus years, ever since the Pioneer Kuro (now known as the "K-word") bowed out of the frame. Panasonic inherited technology and engineers in Pioneer's shakeup and has been inching toward beating the K-word ever since, but never quite got there. I would argue that 2013 is the year Panasonic has finally cracked it.
The VT60 is an excellent plasma with the best dark-room image quality you'll see this year not powered by light-emitting diodes. It is a shade better than the Kuro we've been using as a reference these long years, it beats the Samsung F8500 in critical dim-room viewing situations, and it's demonstrably better than the outstanding ST60. It boasts industry-leading black levels, illuminating shadow detail, and rich, saturated colors.
There are a couple of problems, however. The first is price: the VT60 is exactly twice the cost of the ST60, and its picture is by no stretch of the imagination twice as good. In other words, this is a TV not just for videophiles, but, like the Kuro and the F8500, it's a TV for relatively wealthy videophiles.
Another problematic decision looms for those who can afford it: Panasonic's own ZT60, a step-up model that outperforms the VT60 in brighter rooms. In dark rooms the two are dead even, but videophiles in this tax bracket who simply want the best picture quality they can get, money no object, won't bat an eye at the extra $500 the ZT60 demands.
The VT60 is the better value, however, and offers better features and sound quality, as well as availability in a 55-inch size. And its silver medal in the all-time picture quality Olympics is still no mean feat.
Editors' Note, November 15, 2013: Panasonic has announced that it will no longer manufacture plasma televisions after 2013, making these TVs the last of their kind. That fact doesn't negatively affect our buying advice; in fact, just the opposite. We have confidence Panasonic will remain a viable company, and continue to support its plasma TVs, for years.
Series information: I performed a hands-on evaluation of the 60-inch Panasonic TC-P60VT60, but this review also applies to the other screen sizes in the series. All sizes have identical specs and according to the manufacturer should provide very similar picture quality.
|Models in series (details)
|Panasonic TC-P55VT60
|55 inches
|Panasonic TC-P60VT60 (reviewed)
|60 inches
|Panasonic TC-P65VT60
|65 inches
The Panasonic VT60 rises to the top (pictures)See all photos
Design has never been Panasonic's strongest point, and the VT60 looks like every other top-of-the-line plasma TV the company has made for the past four years: piano-black bezel, flush glass, silver trim, and a silver stand. You could argue that the stand's new V (for VT! Viera!) shape is distinctive, and you could also convincingly argue that it's somehow lost in time. It's covered in chrome and would look better appointing the hood of a '59 Buick ("Vuick"?) than the base of a '13 television. The stand is also fixed, so it won't swivel, but it does come with plastic clips to hide the cabling.
The TV comes with two remotes: the familiar, simple-to-use wand with its large, friendly buttons and a smaller touch pad with a few select keys. The touch pad is upgraded from the one that shipped with the VT50 last year to include a microphone for voice search. It's relatively easy to use, though it lacks some essential buttons such as Menu.
The television has two sets of menus -- one for Smart TV and the other, accessible via that little Menu key, for more-mundane TV settings like picture and network options -- and there's no way to get from one to the other using the menus themselves (update There is but it's still tough to find; select the Menu icon from top row of the main Viera Connect apps page). The Settings icon from within the Smart TV Home system takes you to a configuration page for Smart TV itself. Once you find them, though, Panasonic's 2013 settings offer easy navigation and sleeker design compared with what you got in previous years.
|Key TV features
|Display technology
|LED backlight
|Screen finish
|Standard, touch pad
|Smart TV
|Internet connection
|Built-in Wi-Fi
|3D technology
|3D glasses included
|Two pairs
|Refresh rate(s)
|96Hz, 60Hz, 48Hz
|Dejudder (smooth) processing
|Other:Integrated camera and voice control; Optional touch pen (model TY-TP10U, $79); additional 3D glasses (model TY-ER3D5MA, $79)
Panasonic has traditionally been about picture quality first, features second, and while the VT60 acquits itself well enough on the first front, the company has also tried to counter the competition's ever-expanding lists of extras with the VT60. This is Panasonic's first real attempt at a plasma TV Swiss Army Knife.
On the other hand the higher-priced ZT60 cuts back on the features, losing the onboard camera and front-facing speakers. Otherwise the two have basically identical feature sets..
The VT60 and flagship WT60 LED are the first and only Panasonic TV to offer an onboard camera. It pops up from the top center of the screen, and when active, it serves two main purposes. The most important is Skype, eschewing the need for an expensive aftermarket camera like the $90 TY-CC20W, while another is facial recognition (more on that below). The camera opens automatically when you access Skype, and also pops up when you use the My Home Screen voice command. The camera stays engaged when up, so if you're nervous about having an open camera on your television -- or simply don't want to spoil the aesthetics of your TV -- you need to manually lower it.
Skype worked as well as you'd expect, and the camera gave about two seats' worth of coverage from a distance of 6 feet. The camera includes color and brightness settings, but sadly no zoom feature. As most Skype conversations I've ever had have had fairly lousy video quality, including a digital zoom wouldn't affect call quality in any meaningful way and would enable people to see your face much more clearly. For that reason, Skype on a laptop, phone, or tablet, which allows close-ups much more easily, is often preferable.
New for 2013, Panasonic finally includes 3D glasses in the box; you get two pairs, compared with four with the Samsung PNF8500. The included glasses, model TY-ER3D5MA, are much nicer than Samsung's throw-ins but not quite as good as Panasonic's own separately sold 2012 TY-ER3D4MU ($75 each). The latter are also rechargeable, while the included ones require a coin battery. Panasonic told me additional pairs of the new 5MA glasses would sell for $79 each, or $149 for a two-pack. The VT60 complies with the full HD 3D standard, so it will work with third-party glasses like the aforementioned Samsungs ($20).
One unique extra for all 2013 Panasonic plasmas is a touch-pen accessory ($79), which allows users to draw on the screen, though this is more of a business tool than an in-home one.
If you have a smartphone, Panasonic's improved Viera Remote app enables some functions like basic control if you misplace the remote and "swipe and share" to display photos on the big screen. It also allows direct access to relatively advanced calibration functions, although I didn't test this feature.
Smart TV: The most noticeable change to Panasonic's smart TV suite is the brand-new interface. It lacks the dynamism of Samsung's Smart TV offering and with the default inclusion of a calendar and an analog clock on the main screen, it looks downright frumpy. Not even HTC is doing analog clocks anymore.
As with last year, the interface offers multiple "pages," and all show the currently playing input in an inset window along with the grid of apps. You can place any app anywhere you want on the grid, a welcome change from interfaces from makers like Samsung that offer only partial customization. Panasonic ups the custom ante further by offering three different templates for new pages you can create, custom backgrounds (including your own pictures), and the ability to name pages -- for example, each member of a particularly tech-savvy family could set up his or her own page.
The onboard camera comes back into play here, and the TV can switch to your customized screen after recognizing your face. However, depending on the lighting it could take several goes to find your face, so it's usually easier to just navigate to your page yourself. Unfortunately you have to press the Home key twice to switch between pages, rather than simply navigating among them directly.
The app selection is superb and very similar to last year's with Netflix, Amazon Instant, and Hulu Plus all present. If you want to dive into the nonpreinstalled selection in the Viera Marketplace, there's also Vudu, Pandora, TuneIn radio, Rhapsody, and full episodes and photos from a Panasonic-sponsored series on National Geographic TV about World Heritage sites. There are also apps for use with the optional touch pen, a smattering of kids apps, and the requisite crappy games.
The TV does include a Web browser, but with better browsers on phones, tablets, and laptop PCs, who really needs one on their TV? Navigation is a little better with the touch pad, but sometimes pages don't render properly, and using voice search results in a two-step process that is frustrating at best -- especially when it mishears your search terms!

subset: commoncrawl


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This brand new Toslink cable provides a digital optical connection between audio devices. It can provide you with the cleanest possible signal, even at extreme volume levels. This cable use 1mm low-loss core, low-jitter synthetic fiber and heavy metal connectors to dampen vibration, giving you the ultimate listening experience. Connect to your DVD, CD, Mini Disc, DAT or other audio applications for excellent performance.
- 6 feet in length (about 1.8m)
- Toslink to Toslink Connection
- Includes protective cover for ends (remove before installation)
- Flexible construction allows for fast, easy installation
- Designed for: DVD, CD, Mini Disc, DAT or other Dolby Digital audio applications


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Trailer Towing Guides
Welcome to our towing guide section. Here, you'll find all our towing guides going back to 1999 in digital PDF format. Each digital guide is packed with setup tips, additional equipment, and a full list of the model year's towing enabled vehicles. These guides will assist you in vehicle towing for your camper, RV, travel trailer, 5th Wheel, and more. You will learn about towing capacity, ratings, and more!


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RLT Industries has gone above and beyond with its Desktop Trebuchet kit. Each piece of wood is carefully chosen and precisely computer-cut. All the required tools can be found around your house or at a hobby shop, and the instructions are very detailed. However, as instructed, I used wood glue on the main frame and supports, but it didn't hold well. So I resorted to a hot glue gun, which worked perfectly. The build took about four hours.
The Desktop Trebuchet kit comes with four wooden balls to fire, and it shoots about 15 feet. I showed it to my engineering club, and we fired circus peanuts with it. (One of my club members ate all the peanuts.) It's a great kit for the model hobbyist who's just starting out. Overall, RLT has done a great job with this one!


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The Leafs weren't going to run the table anyway, right? (But they do have a decision to make Saturday night)
- at 11:00 PM
17 comments:
I'm expecting a tough game for the Leafs vs the Jets. I'd guess they'll start Bernier, because that's pretty much the way it's going when there's a day off. Tonight's game certainly can't be hung on our goalies - it was obvious within the first 15 minutes we weren't ready to play.ReplyDelete
As I said a while ago, I see the Leafs as a middle-of-the-pack team this year (perhaps that's why the O'Malley glass is half full or half empty so often!) and a blow-out like tonight is just going to happen from time to time. Our challenge will be to not let this turn into a slide that negates the ground we've picked up. A solid game on Saturday will at least allow a glimmer of hope that the Leafs may yet find their mojo this season. But if we're going to continue dishing up giveaways in our zone and leaving our goalies on their own, we really can't expect much more than we've seen, pretty consistently, to date!Replies
If that was an isolated off-night, no issue. As you say, we'll see how they respond in Winnipeg. Thanks Gerund.Delete
The streak might be over, but nonetheless, it is a building block for the Leafs this season. A time when the Leafs' fans could have a little swagger and such. I'd go with Reimer against the Jets. Just feels right!ReplyDelete
What is it, btw, with the Minny / Dallas Stars ending The Streaks with 7-1 wins. That's the score they stopped the Flyers streak with (36 games without a loss, coached by Pat Quinn!) back in 1979/80.Replies
The Leafs earned some big point during that six game stretch. One loss should not change much. We'll see if Carlyle lets Reimer have a shot.Delete
You've got a great memory, Scott, harkening back to that long ago Flyers streak! Thanks for visiting.
- AnonymousJanuary 24, 2014 at 8:05 AM
Since neither goalie did much in Dallas, Randy can do whatever he likes without being questioned.ReplyDelete
But I'd be surprised if Bernier wasn't allowed a do-over.
Following the Leaf sure can't be called dull! Not enough to lose a game after putting together an impressive win streak - they have to have one of their worst games in a few years.
It is hard to predict what this team will do next.Replies
Yes, it would be difficult to make much money betting on Leaf games, Steve. Tough to anticipate how they're going to play most nights!Delete
If Carlyle is smart (insert your own jokes here) he walked into the room and said "we all know what went wront tonight. It is over. Winnipeg is next" and they totally ignore the game tape. As you said Michael, some times you have to just ignore the analysis as fans, media AND as coaches. This is one of those times.ReplyDelete
There is no question this team has issues with highs and lows. They get too down on themselves and things spiral when they get into a bit of a slump and when things go well they seem to start to think we got this, we don't have to work hard anymore. A very very dangerous mental state either way.
I would start Reimer. RC tends to go back to Bernier right after he has a bad game to put him back up on the horse so to speak.Replies
Thanks Pep. I think Bernier will get the start, but if Carlyle truly wants to have two goalies who feel they are a part of this, Reimer will get the nod in his home province.Delete
- AnonymousJanuary 24, 2014 at 10:25 AM
Hi Michael.ReplyDelete
I expected a loss was coming with fatigue building up. It's concerning that the Leafs regressed and stopped doing the things that helped them win. Again we saw defense bringing the puck out with no support from the forward line and no options other than a long pass to a stationary forward. Dallas did a good job covering them but it's not that hard to cover someone who is standing still. In the games the Leafs have won two forwards were curling back into the zone supporting defense with pass options and giving fore-checkers three players instead of one to worry about.
As for the goalies, they weren't sharp and were left wide open for attacks. The travel required for this road trip is brutal and takes a toll whether you play or not.
Hopefully, this game is just one to put behind them. C.NReplies
Hi Colleen- your line about "standing still" reminds me of a comment longtime Leaf Dave Keon made many years ago. He essentially said standing still always makes you look slower! That's no doubt why he spent most of his career on the move, never stationary. As you say, covering a guy who is not moving is not too tough. Thanks Colleen.Delete
- WillburJanuary 24, 2014 at 12:31 PM
I'm kind of puzzled by everyone seeming to suggest that this is a one off. In the last 11 games they have been blown out in three of them. Now granted they had a six game winning streak in between so it might seem like a long time ago but really its not. If you look back at the winning streak I don't remember one game that they dominated from start to finish. Maybe the Habs game. The last two for sure against the Coyotes and Avalanche were won only because the goalies posted a .950%. The Leafs really haven't changed much in their style of play all year. The formula is outstanding goaltending and a great powerplay. When either one dries up, they lose. The Leafs kind of play like Kessel does. Never really changes, just sometimes it goes their way and sometimes it doesn't.ReplyDelete
As for starting goaltending on Saturday, it has to be Bernier. I'm a huge Reimer fan and don't like Bernier as you know but management has made him number one and its his net to lose. Besides, Reimer didn't do anything to deserve the start. He had a chance to go on a run with his great game in Colorado followed by Bernier being pulled in the next game. But he came in, replaced Bernier and crapped the bed. He had a chance and he blew it. That really hurts me to type because I would rather have Reimer in net any day of the week.
Buckle up it is going to be a wild ride to the finish.Replies
I have a different perspective eon this one, Willbur. I hope to find the time to post on that subject later today...Delete
- AnonymousJanuary 24, 2014 at 12:43 PM
The guy took a run at Kadri and high sticked him. He deserved a whack. That's the way I see it. If Kadri walks away there THATS a problem.ReplyDelete
- TML__fanJanuary 24, 2014 at 1:07 PM
The only comment I have about last night's game, is when the media conducted their post-game interviews with the players. One of them started off asking a player "is this a game that you just flush it and forget about it", and given the out, of course the player agreed. Soon enough each of the players was using the "flush" expression in their interviews. Would have preferred they just take ownership, admit they were awful, and show some honest determination to not let it happen again. Go back and listen to Lupul's comments after the January 4th loss to the Islanders (7-0) http://video.nhl.com/videocenter/embed?playlist=529468&ReplyDelete
"We got to take something out of it, which I said is we don't want to have this feeling again". Just three weeks later and flush! Wonder when we can expect the next flush? (a rhetorical question for now).
So next game is the statement game, against a team who wants to prove their worth to their new coach, their GM, and their fans. They are trying to claw themselves into a wildcard spot. They will be very hungry to play the Leafs on HNIC.
As for starting goalies, I'd probably get Reimer back in there. He's a Manitoba boy and will want to do well in front of friends and family. It gets him back on the horse so to speak. Also it is a bit of an audition for him, just in case he's ever in the situation where he might want to get back to Manitoba and be more than just a "1B". He'll want to do well.
All that being said, RC will probably start Bernier. ;-)Replies
I hear what you're saying on player reactions, Don (TML_fan). I just always struggle to worry too much about what players say in public. We know that everything they really think is filtered before they speak, so whether they sound ticked after a game or not, I probably don't pay as much attention as I should. (I just smile when players say "that wasn't acceptable" after games- what does that even mean?)Delete
For me, the best way to make post-game interviews unimportant is to play hard and well when you have the chance during the actual game. That way, you don't have to explain your team's performance afterwards. Thanks Don.
- leafdreamerJanuary 24, 2014 at 3:10 PM
One of the differences between last year's Leafs and this year's edition is that the last year`s team didn`t seem to get blown out by random teams (Columbus, Carolina, Dallas, Rangers) and was a lot more predictable. You knew they`ll have trouble against the good teams and you could count on them to beat bad teams. This year`s team on the other hand - you never know - one night they are slaying the Blackhawks, the next they are getting destroyed by Carolina. I don`t know what that means. I just wish they were more consistent.ReplyDelete
I don`t think Bernier deserved to get pulled last night and I think Reimer was awful in relief but I`d still let Reimer play in front of his congregation tomorrow. Games against Winnipeg tend to be like the ones against Buffalo - very physical and close, grinding battles. I think those kind of games suit Reimer. I hope the Leafs can stay in it and maybe snatch a point or two.Replies
Consistency seems to be that elusive quality/ingredient for sure, leafdreamer!Delete


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• JUST $75,000 DOWN to own this Business!• Semi-Absentee Ownership - perfect for Investors/Newbie• Recession Resistant• High ROI• Absolutely no prior Laundromat experience is needed and is required to oversee & own this Business, GREAT for the NEWBIE/INVESTOR just getting started in this Industry• Long-term training and support are provided by the seller.• Multiple Revenue Streams that create high, ongoing, and reliable profits for you - Residential & Commercial Pick-up & delivery accounts for Wash/Dry/Fold Services & Drycleaning Services, etc.• Top of the line High Speed, High-efficiency Coin & Credit Card Operated Washers and Dryers• Loyalty Laundry card program for your customers• Clean/Well Lit & Well-Maintained• Children's Fun Play area• Full & Part-Time uniformed Attendants• Free Wi-Fi for customers and much, much more!!• E-2 or EB-5 Visa eligible/approved~ As a Side Note: During this Covid-19 Coronavirus Outbreak, All Laundromats were/are considered an ESSENTIAL BUSINESS that will/have remain OPEN even in the Counties with the most restrictive LOCK-DOWNS!!!No Brokers Please*** Please Download online NDA below under "DOCUMENTS" to get the Ball Rolling to Receive More Information - THANK YOU!! ***
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Store size is approximately 1,600 plus sq. ft., great long-term lease w/extensions, Large Parking Lot with plenty of parking, high traffic count, a densely populated area with plenty of apartment complexes. Asking price includes All High-Speed Top of the line Laundry Equipment (washers/dryers), Top of the line POS System, bill/coin changers, assorted Laundry carts, Vending machines for Snacks, Laundry Detergent & Softeners, etc., Best of the Best Surveillance and Security System, Laundry tables, Chairs, Benches, Signage (interior and exterior), all leasehold improvements and much more.
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>>> Recession Proof Business - Consistent demand allows for continual long-term growth <<< Today's coin laundry industry is a strong and vibrant one. Even more appealing is the fact that this dependable public service industry continues to grow and thrive. The public will always need this basic health service – "people always need to wash clothes!"
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After more modest-than-expected opening for Paramount's 3D toon, the question facing DreamWorks Animation is whether "How to Train Your Dragon" will be able to hold onto screens long enough to build a blockbuster-caliber audience.
While films like "Dragon" generally have a long life in theaters, particularly in advance of school holidays, the 3D phenom is challenging that assumption because of upcoming releases fighting for digital screens.
Those fears seemed to have landed on Wall Street Monday where shares of DreamWorks Animation SKG Inc. dropped 9.2%. But exhibs don't seem overly concerned. .
According to Par, the 3D toon, which launched with $43.7 million, will retain all 2,178 3D locations as it goes head-to-head this weekend with Warner Bros.' 3D actioner "Clash of the Titans." But while it will maintain an even number of multiplexes, the toon could lose screens within the plexes to "Titans."
Imax is contracted to a six-week engagement of "Dragon" on 186 3D runs.
Warners is expected to launch "Clash" at fewer than 2,000 3D locations, leaving the remaining screens for Disney's holdover "Alice in Wonderland." "Alice" played at a total 1,450 3D locations last weekend, about 640 fewer than the week before, with that figure expected to drop substantially on Friday.
So what does this mean for "Clash"? Tracking for the film has been extremely positive, especially among males. Yet, with early negative reviews, the film could face an uphill battle among broader demos in repeat frames.
As of January, the National Assn. of Theater Owners reported a total of 3,378 3D-equipped screens in the U.S., and recent funding from the Digital Cinema Implementation Partners (DCIP) has helped screen count rise to a current 4,100.
"Dragon's" 3D engagements repped 65% of the toon's total weekend domestic gross at about 60% of total locations. Leading up to the toon's release, some exhibs increased 3D ticket prices by as much as 8%, one factor that may have affected the toon's modest earnings.
But "Dragon" could follow the pattern of some non-franchise toons which have built a following more gradually.
"Dragon's" hold on its 3D count, positive reviews and strong word-of-mouth could still lead to a healthy run. Toon should also benefit from spring break and Easter.
DWA stock fell $3.47 to close Monday at $39.34.
The studio saw similar results in 2005 after "Madagascar" launched with a disappointing domestic take of $47 million, driving stock prices down 9%. But the toon played steadily for many weeks and went on to cume $556 million worldwide.
Disney's "Ratatouille," which launched with $47 million in 2007, saw similar tracking as "Dragon," with a little-known voice cast and no added support from a franchise. The pic went on to earn $629 million worldwide.
DWA is set to release its latest 3D "Shrek Forever After" on May 21.


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Voltage supply flat cable
The flat cable is used for the voltage supply of ConveyorControl and MultiControl. The outer contour of the line corresponds to the standard of AS interface. The shell of the line covers holes that were created by piercing contacts. This means that the cable maintains the protection rating even after disconnecting a control.
Technical data
- Temperature range: –28 to +40 °C
- Strand insulation: Brown for voltage, blue for ground
- Length: 25 m
- Cross section of braids: 2.5 mm²
- Maximum voltage: 60 V DC
- Protection rate: IP54 in contacted state
- Halogen-free


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As far as rumors go, this one has been pretty persistent.
UFC pioneer Royce Gracie – at 44 years old – wants desperately to have one last fight in the octagon, a venue he helped establish, at this August's "UFC: Rio" event.
UFC president Dana White has admitted that talks are taking place, but he's thus far remained noncommittal to Gracie's potential return. In our latest MMAjunkie.com/"Inside MMA" poll, we asked our readers to decide who would make a suitable opponent should the original UFC champion make his way back to the cage.
The results of which were revealed on Friday's new episode of the weekly HDNet show, and the results appeared to surprise Gracie, who was a guest on the show.
B.J. Penn secured the largest portion of the vote with 39 percent of the response.
For Gracie, a fight with "The Prodigy" might have some appeal in terms of family honor. While Penn never met Gracie in MMA competition, the Hawaiian did defeat Royce's brother Renzo and cousin Rodrigo in fights contested under the K-1 banner.
Fans hoping for a Graice-Penn matchup would certainly be hoping for a jiu-jitsu-heavy affair, though Penn has certainly relied more on his striking skills in recent outings. Additionally, Penn has fought as low as lightweight, and his 5-foot-9 frame might not be quite as large as some of the other options on the list, providing a more equal contest in terms of relative strength with the 175-pound Gracie.
If Gracie returns at "UFC: Rio,"
who should he fight?
39% – B.J. Penn
19% – Other
16% – Matt Serra
14% – Matt Hughes
6% – Jon Fitch
6% – Chris Lytle
Despite the option to vote for five different potential opponents, the second most popular response was the "Other" selection, with 19 percent of the vote.
While it's difficult to say exactly who these voters had in mind, perhaps it's a rubber match between Gracie and the famed "Gracie Killer," Kazushi Sakuraba.
A 41-year-old Japanese superstar and two-time UFC veteran, Sakuraba spent nearly two hours of ring time with Gracie in a pair of matches that saw each fighters claim victory once. Would a final fight provide a fitting sendoff for both aging legends? Or could the "Other" vote be for some other Gracie rematch, one against the likes of another UFC Hall of Famer such as Ken Shamrock or the ageless Dan Severn?
Former UFC welterweight champion Matt Serra claimed third on the list with 16 percent of the vote. Serra provides another favorable size matchup for Gracie in a bout that would also provide the potential for a grappling superfight.
But it was the fighter in fourth place, UFC Hall of Famer Matt Hughes, that most appeared to pique Gracie's interest. While he wouldn't call out the legend's name directly, fellow panel members Jorge Santiago and Gilbert Melendez made the claim for Gracie, and he could hardly contain a wide grin at the mention. It was Hughes, of course, who defeated Gracie in his May 2006 comeback fight at UFC 60, and it appears the Brazilian submission ace wants to get that one back against the 37-year-old former champ.
Rounding out the results were Jon Fitch and Chris Lytle, who each received six percent of the vote.
So, did the voters get it right? Is Penn really the best matchup for Gracie? And who should fit into that "Other" role? Make your case below.
Also, don't forget in this week's new poll on the MMAjunkie.com homepage. We want to know if Randy Couture comes up short at UFC 129, should the 47-year-old hang up the gloves for the final time?
For the latest on the "UFC: Rio" card, stay tuned to the UFC Rumors section of MMAjunkie.com.
(Pictured: Royce Gracie)
HDNet's "Inside MMA" and MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com) run a weekly poll thanks to a partnership between the two news outlet. Catch new episodes of "Inside MMA" on Fridays at 9 p.m. ET. For more information on "Inside MMA" and HDNet Fights,
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Hot on the trails of this morning's Galaxy Nexus confirmation comes yet another leak of the device, but this time it includes some eye candy. It looks like it's a Japanese magazine ad of some kind, but all the important parts are in English, including hardware specs and Android version number. Have a look:
Here's a rundown of what this ad does tell us:
- 4.7-inch HD Super AMOLED display (possibly rounded up from the rumored 4.65)
- 1.2GHz OMAP4460 Processor (likely underclocked from 1.5GHz)
- Ice Cream Sandwich will indeed be Android 4.0
- Galaxy Nexus is the official name
All this information lines up with what we've been hearing for the past couple of weeks, so it's more of a confirmation than anything else. Still, the Galaxy Nexus news should be pretty thick all day long leading up to tonight's event. Let's get this party started!
[Thanks, Alex!]


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The Schwinn Continental eBike
Electric bikes, or electric assist bikes, are hugely popular in certain parts of the world. During a recent trip to Beijing I was amazed at the number of electric bikes and electric scooters zipping around on every street, they out-numbered gas powered 2-wheel transport by about 3/1 and most of them had relatively small removable battery packs so people could take the battery into their home or office with them to recharge it. Lanjut →


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Just how many soft, squishy things can one kid own? Toy makers are hoping the answer is a whole lot of them.
Last week, the retailers took a crack at picking the hot toys for the upcoming Christmas holiday season, and this week, it's the publications that write and review toys that are taking a crack at it. But ultimately, the only lists that matter are the ones children write with their wishes.
Still, those industry lists offer a good guide for the toys that will be sought after this holiday season. They often feature the items that will be promoted heavily by the toy manufacturers, and they certainly provide a glimpse of the big trends.
Toy Insider released its Hot 20 list on Monday, which lays out the hottest items from its larger toy guide that runs in the Nov. 17 issue of Woman's Day magazine. Time to Playreleased its favorites at a media event in New York on Tuesday.
Based on those lists, there are a few toys that are already emerging as favorites. They include LeapFrog's Leap Pad, a tablet computer for kids, WowWee's Lite Sprites, fairy dolls that have a wand that can transfer color; Spin Master's Redakai, a card game with eye-catching 3D images; and Hasbro's Let's Rock Elmo, an animated Elmo doll that plays several musical instruments.
Also receiving accolades were ThinkwayToys' Lazer Stunt Chaser, a toy car that can chase a ray of laser light; Mattel's Radica Fijit Friends, an interactive robot; Hasbro's Poppin' Park Elefun Busy Ball Popper from Playskool, and Activision video game "Skylanders: Spyro's Adventure."
Several of the toys speak to larger trends in the industry, according to Laurie Schacht, publisher of Toy Insider. For example, the Leap Pad fits into a trend Schacht calls "stealth learning." Kids will think they are playing with their own tablet computer, but the games they play incorporate educational elements, and parents can track their progress.
Schacht also said there will be lots of products that are influenced by the entertainment we use. These range from the Angry Bird app, which has inspired plush toys and a board game, as well as Justin Bieber dolls and microphones that adjust your voice as you sing.
But every year there are surprise hits. Lalaloopsy was one of those last year, and judging from this year's lists, many expect the magic has not worn off the brand yet. However, depending on which list you look at, a different Lalaloopsy toy is highlighted. Although the brand should do well in general, I'd bet on Time to Play's pick, the Lalaloopsy Silly Hair Jewel Sparkles.
Why? Girls have been smitten with Lalaloopsy. The brand puts a twist on the concept of a rag doll, and the Silly Hair doll is no exception. Its main draw is its long strands of bendable plastic hair, which offer girls the ability to do something they love: style a doll's hair.
Monster High, a line of fashion dolls from Mattel, and Lego's Ninjago and Alien Conquest also have had strong sales in recent years, and the experts expect that to continue this holiday season.
But that's not to say that the lists are identical. There are a few unique additions. For example, Toy Insider picked Scene It's latest edition, a Harry Potter trivia game, and THQ's uDraw Pad, a drawing pad that works with video game consoles.
Time to Play highlighted Mega Brand's Break Through 3D puzzle and i-Star Entertainment's FyrFlyz. Both are pretty classic toys, and parents are likely to see them as good values — a factor that will continue to be important this holiday season in this challenging economic environment.
The big unkown is will there be a toy that comes out of nowhere and forces moms to camp out in the aisles for new shipments this holiday season.
At the Time to Play event, toymakers were showcasing many products that didn't make any of the lists, but nonetheless caught my eye.
One example is Maya Group's Orbeez, which aleady is a top-seller in the limited number of stores where it is sold. For this holiday season, the company has five new toys that incorporate the Orbeez's balls, as well as Xploderz, a blaster that uses the squishy orbs to recreate paintball play without the pain. (If you've played paintball, you know what I'm talking about.)
The orbs start off as very tiny pellets, but when they are soaked in water they expand into squishy balls that feel wet to the touch. If they stay moist, they will stay expanded, but if they dry out or touch heat, they will shrink or crack.
Maya has designed a jewelry maker, a perfume blender, a foot spa and a mood lamp, all of which use the brightly colored balls. And there are several different versions of the Xploderz blasters as well.
Orbeez and Xploderz are not the only squishy playthings. There are a number of collectibles that can be squeezed and scrunched. Most of these are in the same vein as another one of last year's surprise hits, Squinkies.
Toys 'R Us already touted the Trash Pack, little squishy, and slightly slimy "Trashies" that are sold in miniature trash cans. The characters are based on the items you might find in the garbage, and the hope is that boys will want to collect them. A company spokeswoman said the garbage truck playset and metal storage cans in the product line are already strong sellers.
Also competing in the race is Ickee Stickeez, which is from Zing. Like Squinkies, these miniature characters are sold in vending-machine-type balls, but their appeal comes from a little suction cup on the bottom. This means you can stick them around your computer monitor, inside a locker, or together to create jewelry, tops, and other configurations.
It also means — and this will likely be the big draw — they make a suction sound when you put them down and pick them up. It's sort of like bubble wrap on steroids.
Collecting is a big trend, and has been for several years. There is an attraction to the trend in a tough economy: Parents can buy as many or as few as their budget will allow.
"Value is still key," said John Frascotti, Hasbro's chief marketing officer. "If Mom has a fixed budget, she's going to want to know that her child is going to play with it for a long time."
That usually means Mom will turn to trusted brands she knows, or yes, maybe, to some of these hot toy lists.
Time to Play Holiday 2011 Most Wanted Toys List
Angry Birds Knock on Wood Game (Mattel)
Beyblade: Metal Fusion (Hasbro)
Big Action Construction Site (Fisher-Price)
DaGeDar (Cepia)
FyrFlyz (i-Star Entertainment)
Hot Wheels Wall Tracks (Mattel)
InnoTab (VTech)
Lalaloopsy Silly Hair Jewel Sparkles (MGA Entertainment)
Lazer Stunt Chaser Dragon Fire (Thinkway Toys)
LeapPad Explorer (LeapFrog)
LEGO Alien Conquest (LEGO)
LEGO Ninjago (LEGO)
Lite Sprites (WowWee)
The Logo Board Game (Spin Master)
Monster High Dead Tired (Mattel)
Nerf Vortex (Hasbro)
Redakai (Spin Master)
Spy Net Stealth Video Glasses (Jakks Pacific)
3D Break Through Puzzle – Classic Mickey Mouse (Mega Brands)
Toy Insider List
Elefun Busy Ball Popper (Playskool)
Let's Rock Elmo (Hasbro)
Little People Zoo Talkers Animal Sounds Zoo (Fisher-Price)
Pocoyo Swiggletraks (Bandai)
3-5 Years
Chuggington Interactive Railway (Learning Curve)
Lazer Stunt Chaser (Thinkway Toys)
Mini Lalaloopsy Treehouse (MGA Entertainment)
LeapPad (LeapFrog)
Lite Sprites (WowWee)
PlasmaBike (PlaSmart)
6-8 Years
Angry Birds Plush (Commonwealth Toy & Novelty Co.)
Justin Bieber Rockin' Tour Bus and Concert Stage (The Bridge Direct)
Nerf Vortex Proton Blaster (Hasbro)
Radica Fijit Friends (Mattel)
Redakai Championship Tin (Spin Master)
Skylanders Spyro's Adventure (Activision)
9+ Years
Alien Conquest: Alien Mothership (Lego Systems)
Paper Jamz Pro Series Microphone (WowWee)
Scene It? Harry Potter: The Complete Cinematic Journey (Screenlife)
uDraw Game Tablet (THQ)
Questions? Comments? Email us at email@example.com. Follow Christina Cheddar Berk on Twitter @ccheddarberk.


text:
Harriet Ritvo, Noble Cows and Hybrid Zebras: Essays on Animals and History (Virginia, 2010)
Harriet Ritvo, The Dawn of Green: Manchester, Thirlmere, and Modern Environmentalism (Chicago, 2009).
Harriet Ritvo, The Platypus and the Mermaid and Other Figments of the Classifying Imagination (Cambridge, MA 1997).
Harriet Ritvo, The Animal Estate: The English and Other Creatures in the Victorian Age (Cambridge, MA 1987).
Among Animals," Environment and History. 2014.
"How Wild is Wild?" Edges of Environmental History, ed. Christof Mauch and Libby Robin, Rachel Carson Center, 2014. Portuguese translation 2014.
"Going Forth and Multiplying: Animal Acclimatization and Invasion," Environmental History, February 2012. See article here.
"Making Animals Real," in BioSocieties, 2008. See article here.
"Review of Jonathan Smith's Charles Darwin and Victorian Visual Culture," Science, 4/6/07, volume 316, page 54. Click to see the article or the summary.
"Discipline and Indiscipline," Environmental History, January 2005. Click to see the article.
"Animal Planet," Environmental History, April 2004. Click to see the whole article.
"The Fight for Thirlmere: The Victorian Roots of Environmentalism," Science, 6/6/03, volume 300, page 1510. Click to see the whole article or the summary.
"Ordering Creation, or Maybe Not," Literature,
Science, Psychoanalysis, 1830-1970: Essays in Honour of Gillian Beer, ed. Helen Small, Oxford University Press, 2003.
"The News from the Hills: Environmental Reporting in Victorian Periodicals," in Culture and Science in Nineteenth-Century Media, eds. Geoffrey Cantor and Sally Shuttleworth. Ashgate, 2004.
"History and Animal Studies,'" Society and Animals, December 2002.
"Destroyers and Preservers: Big Game in the Victorian Empire," History Today, January 2002.
"The Natural World," in The Victorian Vision:
Inventing New Britain, ed. John MacKenzie. V and A Publications, 2001.
"Understanding Audiences and Misunderstanding Audiences: Some Publics for Science," in Science Serialized: Representation of the Sciences in and Sally Shuttleworth, MIT Press, 2004.
"Animal Consciousness: Some Historical Perspective," American Zoologist, 2000.
"Science as Literature, Science as Text," Journal of Victorian Culture, 2000.
"The Roast Beef of Old England," in Mad Cows and Modernity: Cross-disciplinary Reflections on the Crisis of Creutzfeldt-Jacob Disease, ed. Iain McCalman. Humanities Research Centre (Canberra), 1998.


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The Central Connecticut baseball team earned a 3-1 victory over Rhode Island on Wednesday afternoon in New Britain. Freshman Brett Susi tossed five innings to earn his first collegiate victory. The Blue Devils are now 7-7 on the season and will host Mount St. Mary's on Friday to open Northeast Conference play.
Making his first collegiate start, Susi tossed five innings and limited the Rams (4-19) to one run on four hits in his five innings of work. He struck out one and walked one, while facing just 21 batters.
Susi was followed by senior Nick Boyd, freshman Austin Salnitis, freshman Kevin Connolly and freshman Matt Blandino who each pitched one scoreless inning.
Boyd entered the game in the sixth after Susi allowed the first two batters to reach base. Boyd worked out of the jam by picking off the lead runner at second base. Sophomore catcher Connor Fitzsimons then threw out the trail runner trying to steal.
Salnitis pitched the seventh and Connolly the eighth to set up Blandino for his first career save. Blandino allowed the first batter to reach, but then recorded a pair of strikeouts and a fly out to end the game.
Offensively, the Blue Devils plated a pair of runs in the bottom of the third. First, freshman Franklin Jennings scored senior Anthony Turgeon with a single to center field and then with two outs senior Josh Ingham pushed in a run with a bunt single.
CCSU scored its final run in the eighth inning as Fitzsimons doubled to score junior Nick Coro who had led off the inning with a triple.
Jennings finished the game three-for-four at the plate, while Turgeon picked up two hits in four at bats.
The Blue Devils scored three runs on nine hits, while limiting the Rams to one run on seven hits.
CCSU will open NEC play against Mount St. Marys's this weekend. The Blue Devils will host the Mountaineers for a single game on Friday, a doubleheader Saturday and a single game on Sunday.


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As results trickle in from Tunisia's first democratic election, the broad strokes are clear: The moderate Islamist Ennahda party is likely to win far more seats than any of the other more than 80 political parties that contested the vote. Yet who forms the majority in the Constituent Assembly, a 217-seat body that will write a new constitution and name a government, may depend on a much smaller party: the secular and centrist Ettakatol, which the most recent polling predicts will win between 10 to 15 percent of the votes.
The choice for Ettakatol is between a coalition with Ennahda or the numerous parties who oppose it on the secular left. Who Ettakatol sides with could determine who wins a charged debate over the role of Islam in the state. If Ettakatol binds with secular groups, they could challenge Ennahda's hegemony – or even overtake it. But if Ettakatol sides with the Islamist party, Ennahda's dominance – and its role in crafting the identity of Tunisia's democracy – will be sealed.
On Monday in Tunis, Abou Yareb Marzouki, Ennahda's candidate in Tunis's first district, said that his party had an agreement to govern with Ettakatol and one other smaller, secular peer, the Congress for the Republic (CPR). "[These] two parties who have accepted to govern with us," he told the Monitor.
"[The coalition] was a decision made even before the elections," said Sayid Farjani, a member of Ennahda's policy committee. "It is only left to be implemented."
But Mohamed Bennour, a spokesman for Ettakatol, said by phone on Monday that there was not yet a decision about whether to join Ennahda. "We won't make any decision until we have the results," he said today. And on Thursday, he suggested another coalition, with fellow secularists: the Party for Democratic Progress (PDP) and the Modern Democratic Pole.
[ Video is no longer available. ]
Unlikely kingmaker
Ettakatol is an unlikely kingmaker in what has been a complicated election so far. More than 100 political parties formed after a Jan. 14 revolution that ousted former President Zine el Abidine Ben Ali. Ennahda dominated the so-called Islamist right with sophisticated organization and broad membership. A plethora of smaller parties and independent candidates have split the secular middle and left. Results are expected Tuesday.
Yet now, just a day after millions of Tunisians went to the polls, it may decide the ruling majority in the coming stage of Tunisia's democratic transition. Ennahda is unlikely to be able to lure any other secular parties into its camp. Nor could the secularists form a majority coalition without Ettakatol on board.
As Ettakatol considers its options, weighing in Ennahda's favor is the lure of simplicity. If the two parties joined forces, they would require very few other parties to gain the majority. By contrast, a coalition of secular parties would likely include a handful of parties all of a similar size and each with their own leadership, raising the possibility of gridlock and internal conflict. Ennahda and Ettakatol have also maintained contact throughout the campaign, according to members of Ennahda and independent candidates who declined to be named for the political sensitivity of the ongoing negotiations.
The two parties are also among the few political organizations that existed under Mr. Ben Ali. That has given them stature. "I chose my party for their credibility," says Iman Issawi, a voter from the Tunis suburbs. "I would rather vote for someone who said no to the dictator when he was in power" than a party that has just formed.
In the name of national unity, both parties have suggested that they would be interested in forming a technocratic initial government that is led not by politicians but by nationally respected figures who could rise above the daily debate. Ettakatol first proposed this idea in early October. And speaking on Thursday, Ettakatol spokesman Mr. Bennour said in an interview that it would govern with Ennahda "only if there was a government of national unity."
On Monday, Mr. Marzouki, the candidate in Tunis's first district, confirmed that Ennahda was in favor of appointing major national figures – not party figures – to important posts.
Meanwhile however, if Ettakatol chose more secular partners, such a coalition would share a closer ideological proximity on the role of religion. While Ennahda has based its campaign around the idea that Islam should be enshrined in Tunisia's state – while still protecting the country's pluralism – Ettakatol has argued strictly the opposite.
"Our priority is social justice," Bennour said last Thursday, "the Islamists' [Ennahda] priority is culture." He called Ennahda "militant Islamists" and complained about their allegedly provocative rhetoric during the campaign.
What these tensions suggest is that Ettakatol's demand for a national-interest government may be the most likely scenario. Further proponents of this would likely come from the plethora of independent candidates and smaller parties who are likely to gain seats here and there and will have to join one political group or another once the politicking begins.
A move to the middle?
Such a government would also portend a move to the middle, where the national debates of the day, including the makeup of the state, could be decided separately from pressing needs such as economic growth.
"In 2012, we really have to get back into growth," says Bechir Bouraoui, president of the youth foundation Generation Tunisie Libre, who spent the past three months touring the country and speaking with the country's often-unemployed youths. "There are lots of young people who are lost. They see that their regions are not developing well. They see that there are three, four, or five members of their family who are all jobless."
Of course, a big tent government could also be problematic, given the very real differences between the parties. Because of strict campaigning rules, major political parties have had only a limited space to debate their differences out loud thus far, so it's unclear how well they can cooperate.
Air of hope
Yet on the streets of Tunis today, hopeful anticipation is palpable as people go about their work. The calm that pervaded voting booths yesterday remains, albeit with a hint of emotional expectation.
Mr. Bouraoui shakes and says he is still emotional awaiting the result. He went to the streets in January and quit his job to help educate voters for the campaign.
No matter where the vote falls, he says, he has already seen proof of one thing in this country, which ignited the Arab Spring: "In Tunisia – we can only move forward," he repeats. "We cannot do anything but progress."


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He wasn't near the river
When Banastre Tarleton came to Charlottesville in 1781 to capture Thomas Jefferson, he did not camp at the Tarleton Oak or by the Rivanna River as stated in your story, "Hujavision" [cover, July 1, 2004], explaining how Huja tried to save the venerable oak tree.
Tarleton camped at "The Farm," owned at that time by Nicholas Lewis, half-way between those two locations. The history books attest to this fact, as does the state marker on East Jefferson Street. All that remains from the estate is the 1770 cook's house on 12th Street NE, the oldest extant house in the city.
Michael Bednar