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Well, following on from my previous post, my Day of Archaeology turned out to be rather different than planned. This is certainly not an unusual occurrence; working in archaeological computing in a commercial environment, all manner of things can crop up and cause the most carefully planned day to head off in another direction altogether.
Firstly, my LiDAR data didn't arrive so that bit went out of the window. And a whole bunch of meetings were convened, so a big chunk of the day was spent planning upcoming projects and working on management topics. I did end up doing a bit of survey support, preparing some survey instruments for the following weeks work and helping one of the Wessex Archaeology fieldwork teams with a GNSS problem they were having. I also devoted some time to preparing a submission for a metric survey project which will include some Terrestrial Laser Scanning (TLS) and some Polynomial Texture Mapping (PTM), a form of Reflectance Transformance Imaging (RTI). I also looked at the final specifications for another TLS project due to start fieldwork imminently. TLS is rapidly becoming the most efficient and cost effective means of capturing 3D metric data for recording and analysis of archaeological sites, structures and landscapes and one aspect of my job is managing such projects. I also currently do much of the processing, analysis and visualisation work on the resulting point clouds (and watch out for some videos of previous projects coming soon to the Wessex Archaeology Computing Blog).
But by far the best part of the day was spent doing one of my favourite activities: Systems design and development. I am currently building an integrated GIS & database application for managing and interpreting marine geophysics data. As with any good software application, it needs to effectively support the processes applied by the users, in this case the marine geophysics team. The data structure needs to be based around a solid and robust model of the information recorded; it needs to record not only the raw and interpreted data but the necessary Quality Assurance and metadata needed for analysis and reporting. I do enjoy this kind of work as it is creative and logical at the same time and to get it right, one needs to understand the detail and nuances of the processes being developed for, a good opportunity to find out more about different areas of archaeology (I have previously developed context recording systems for archaeological fieldwork, diver recording systems for marine archaeology and a variety of recording and analysis systems to support projects such as Environmental Impact Assessments and Conservation Management Plans).
My evening was indeed spent as planned finishing off a paper for publication. Whilst my main interest is in archaeological spatial technologies, I also have research interests in the application and development of data standards, thesauri and ontologies. My paper was based on how these various strands are coming together to support and arguably change the way in which archaeological theory is formulated, giving archaeologists the tools to discover information more easily and then develop more data driven theoretical assertions.
So a little bit different to what I had planned but I do hope still of interest to some.


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You are here: Hunting > Ask The Biologist > Articles
By Bob Humphrey
Just like in the cartoons, coyotes keep coming back for more.
QUESTION: We try to remove coyotes whenever possible on our hunt club, but someone suggested we might be doing more harm than good. How can this possibly be?
ANSWER:It seems intuitive that removing predators like coyotes would be beneficial to deer, but things are seldom as simple as we would like. Taking out one coyote has the immediate effect of removing one predatory mouth, potentially reducing deer mortality by whatever amount that single coyote might have consumed in the immediate future.
But predator populations are typically density dependent. Lower predator numbers means more available prey for those that remain. That means remaining individuals are healthier and may produce more offspring, resulting in higher predator densities and greater mortality in subsequent years.
Which coyotes you remove can also influence social structure. Taking out transient males that are just passing through or even younger residents would have less impact than removing one of the dominant pair, assuming the coyotes in your area even have an integral family group. But removing an alpha male could result in several new males coming into the area.
As an objective biologist I can't advocate single species management like predator control unless a particular prey species or population is so imperiled that controlling predators is the only way to prevent their demise. However, as a deer hunter I tend to take a more short-term and direct approach. One less mouth to feed means more food for me.
What's Up, Doc? Deer maladies are tough to diagnose without a hands-on examination.Find Out The Answer!
Bob Humphrey is the Biology & Deer Behavior field editor for Buckmasters Whitetail Magazine and holds similar titles with other major hunting publications. He currently lives in Maine with his wife and two children. Click here to email your questions to "Ask the Biologist."
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After two weeks in Iceland, Utah State University geologist Nik Smith intones a convincingly accurate pronunciation of Eyjafjallajökull.
The undergraduate was among a group of 12 Aggies who traveled July 26-Aug. 7, 2014, to the North Atlantic island nation for a study abroad tour and, yes, the volcano with a 16-letter name, whose eruptions wreaked havoc with European air travel in 2010, was on the itinerary.
"The trip was amazing," Smith says. "Iceland lies directly on a hotspot and a rift zone — it's really a mecca for geologists."
USU geology professor Mary Hubbard began brainstorming plans for the trip almost a year ago with Study Abroad director Kay Forsyth. Students she queried expressed strong interest in the trip, so she and Forsyth continued with budget planning and curriculum development.
"Like most USU study abroad experiences, students bear their own costs, but the Study Abroad office helped us iron out lodging and transportation arrangements," Hubbard says. "Iceland is quite an exceptional place for geology study because of its location on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, the presence of active volcanoes and the abundant glaciers."
In addition to a round-the-island tour of Iceland's geologic wonders, the USU students met with Icelandic President Ólafur Grímsson, who hosted the Aggies at his official residence, Bessastaðir. The meeting was arranged by Utah's Honorary Icelandic Consul Brent Haymond.
"I thought we would simply greet the president for a few minutes and be on our way, but he actually sat down and met with us for more than an hour," says undergrad Myka Curtis. "He was very easy-going and funny, asked a lot of questions about our geological studies and offered a tour of his home."
In addition to the presidential visit, the Aggies met with Andres Thorainsson of Iceland's Vista Engineering, a company that works closely with Cache Valley data logging manufacturer Campbell Scientific.
During the course of the trip, each student pursued a specific research topic, collected data during the tours, presented to the group and prepared a final report.
"With my partner, Nik, I studied glacial striations," Curtis says. "We usually found them on rounded rocks protruding from the ground and that's where we used a Brunton compass — a type of magnetic compass — to take measurements. We'll use that data to try to determine glacial movement."
Trip participant Shawna Olsen studied the island's volcanic activity. With partner Tyler Rasmussen, she took temperature measurements in hot springs and mud pots.
"We plotted GPS locations to see if there's a correlation between temperature and where the hotspot is located," she says.
Beyond tours of "breathtaking" sights, the students enjoyed Icelandic culture, including local cuisine.
"Icelandic food is amazingly fresh and delicious," Olsen says. "We were offered a lot of seafood, horse, whale and puffin — some of it was strange, but you have to open yourself up to new experiences."
Lamb was also a frequent menu choice — not unfamiliar to Olsen, a Wyoming native, nor to Curtis.
"I'm Native American and I'm used to eating a lot of lamb," she says. "And I loved the fish."
During free time following daily research activities, Olsen visited several cemeteries around the country and discovered graves of her ancestors — the oldest dating back to 1724.
"It brought me to tears," says Olsen, who was granted permission by President Grímsson to search a cemetery on the grounds of his home.
Curtis says her favorite part of the trip was viewing the "phenomenal" geology, including "actually walking on a glacier and through an ice cave."
"I loved being with people who share my love of geology and talking about what we were seeing and experiencing," she says. "Getting out of the classroom and participating in hands-on learning in that kind of environment is something I'll never forget."
Aggies participating in the trip, in addition to Smith, Hubbard, Curtis, Olsen and Rasmussen, were geology instructor Blair Larsen and students Trevor Atkinson, Dan Curtis, Kenny Kehoe, Zach Johansen, Katelyn Miles and Zach Williams.
To view photos from the tour, visit the photo gallery on the USU College of Science Facebook page.
Related links:
- USU Department of Geology
- USU College of Science
- "When Life Gives You Ashes, Give Guest Lectures," USU College of Science
- USU Office of Global Engagement: Study Abroad
- Utah Public Radio: "The Brink of Eruption: Icelandic Volcano Could Halt Air Travel, Cause Floods … Or Not"
Contact: Mary Hubbard, 435-797-3686, firstname.lastname@example.com
Writer: Mary-Ann Muffoletto, 435-797-3517, firstname.lastname@example.com


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Spring bloom: 25 years of beautiful <I>Iris</I>es
Some of Charlottesville's greatest charms are its hidden treasures. Take, for instance, the April 14 release party at the Gravity Lounge, where the women's literary magazine Iris celebrated its 50th issue.
For the past 25 years, Charlottesville has been home to the magazine for progressive young women by progressive young women, featuring the work of local writers, scholars, and artists that has garnered national and international acclaim.
Sponsored by the University of Virginia Women's Center and the Studies in Women and Gender Program, Iris has been published every April and November since 1980, each issue based on a theme such as "passion" or "shattering the myth." Iris includes interviews, fiction, poetry, art, and reviews in addition to regular departments. Three editors and 15 student interns make up the all-female staff.
Although you may have missed the food, film, and live music of the release party, it's not too late to check out Iris for yourself. Grab a copy of the 50th full-color issue, "Milestones."
We misordered the names of the three Iris editors in last week's "Photophile" feature. The caption should have read: "The Dynamic Trio (from left): Iris Associate Editor Pamela Hetherington, Layout Editor Katherine Shirey, and Coordinating Editor Gina Welch.
[In our print edition, the above caption accidentally tranposed two names; it has been corrected in this online edition.–editor.]
What's a party without a movie? Iris shows its first movie, which includes UVA professors and Charlottesville writers reading selections from back issues.
Marketing interns Morgan Whitaker and Lauren Millette show off "Milestones."
Young movers and shakers unite!
Katie Yrazabal and Betty Shumaker scan the pages of their complimentary copy of magazine.


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Noshes for a New Year's Day brunch
Whether you're hosting a New Year's Day brunch or looking for fun hors d'oeuvre ideas for the celebratory midnight hour, may we suggest waffles?
Served hot off the waffle iron, those large dimpled squares beg to be drizzled in syrup, topped with berries or slathered with whipped cream. Go classic with a buttermilk batter or turn those waffles savory by adding sharp cheddar and crumbled bacon to the batter.
Make them small - an inch or two across - and those tiny waffles become a whimsical, late-night appetizer with savory toppings. Chris Borges, the executive chef at San Francisco's Taste catering, tops tiny waffles with maple-glazed bacon, pickled pears and a tangy, sweet-spicy chile jam for cocktail parties, brunches and brunch cocktail parties.
Don't worry if your waffle iron makes large waffles. That's what knives are for, Borges says, "Cut up the waffles and put anything on them - maple, bacon, a savory jam."
Or you can follow the suggestion of San Francisco food writer and waffle expert Dawn Yanagihara: "By spooning small dollops of batter onto the center of each section that makes up the waffle-iron grid, you can make several minis at once."
Big or small, sweet or savory, you'll want Champagne - or better yet, a clementine mimosa or another sparkling cocktail to wash it all down.
Throwing a New Year's brunch? Champagne, cava or sparkling wine are always appropriate, but if you're looking for something more colorful, consider setting up a mimosa or Bellini bar.
Mimosas: This classic brunch cocktail is simply equal parts sparkling wine and fresh orange juice, but you can dress that up by varying the juice choices. Offer carafes of fresh-squeezed blood orange and clementine juice, in addition to the OJ.
Bellinis: To make the traditional Venetian cocktail, pour 2 to 4 tablespoons of peach puree into a Champagne flute and top it with prosecco. For winter libations, Giada De Laurentiis suggests pureeing a thawed, 16-ounce bag of frozen peaches with a teaspoon of grated orange zest. Sweeten the mixture to taste with simple syrup. You can use the same technique with frozen strawberries, blueberries or blackberries, but be sure to strain out any seeds before serving.


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A 29-year-old Pontiac woman was arrested at 7-Eleven, 2891 Crooks in Troy, after squirting ketchup on the store clerk.
Troy police responded to the store shortly before 1:30 a.m. Wednesday and learned that the woman was upset that the store did not have hot sauce for her nachos.
The clerk did not want to press charges, but the woman was arrested when police found that she had two outstanding traffic warrants for her arrest.
Contact staff writer Dave Phillips at 248-745-4631 or firstname.lastname@example.com. Follow him on Twitter @dave_phillips1.


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Given a group of order $n$ where $n$ is either a specific number, or a number of a particular form, e.g. square-free, when does $n$ completely determine a particular group property among all groups of that order? Vipul's group theory wiki has several stubs on this topic, and in the language of his wiki, I will call this a $P$-forcing number, where $P$ is a particular group theoretic property.
We already have quite a few easy examples, for instance, orders $pq$, $pqr$, and $p^2q$ force solvability, and $p^2$ forces abelian. Then there are more specific results like 99 is an abelian-forcing number.
I am interested in general, in any results of this flavor beyond what would be considered a common result in a standard graduate-level group theory book.


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2020 Can-Am Maverick 900 X3 X rs Turbo RR
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When you're in the middle of the perfect ride, know you're able to glance down and quickly see what's going on. The all-new 7.6-in wide digital display is lighted and readable in all conditions, with vehicle information and controls at your glovetips. This also means a new keypad to ease mode selecting. All in the comfort of your Ergo-Lok cockpit with four-way adjustable seats.
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If you watch this and don't feel joy in your heart for the world and everything in it, your punishment is to watch it 500 more times until you complete your transformation into pure evil. Clockwork Orange-yourself into an nonergonomic chair and staple your eyes open and watch this woman shake a tail feather.
She's the reason we're supposed to dance like everyone's watching. Or nobody's watching. Whatever, this is fucking wonderful, and I can't wait to be her.


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Uncyclopedia:Imperial Colonization/Science fiction
- Colonisation
See talk page for more. Start writing below this line. Thursday, 12:41, May 6 2010 UTC
Science Fiction offers readers and viewers conceptions of alternate realities; realities which are more realistic than reality itself. Science fiction is largely based on writing rationally about these real alternative possibilities, because it is extremely rational to believe that on every second planet capable of sustaining life there is an idyllic society that is only kept in peace due to a dogmatic justice system wherein even the slightest idle deviation from the norm will result in instant death. A death rarely rationed out to a small ratio of the population until real drama becomes possible when the main character justly poses an unpopular social problem with dog-like determination.[1]
Sci-Fi uses scientifically derived scenarios, such as:
- A setting in the future, in alternative timelines, or in a historical past that contradicts known facts of history or the archaeological record. In short, anything which takes the reader's mind off of the present day mess that our species has made of our home planet.
- A setting in outer space, on other worlds, or involving aliens, who are usually attractive and are just itching to make love to human starship captains.
- Stories that involve discovery or application of new scientific principles, such as time travel, or new technology, such as nanotechnology, faster-than-light travel, robots, or Pop-Tarts.
- A storied setting in which the hero dodges lasers, giant insects, or alien husbands.
"Science fiction is what science fiction editors publish"
Science fiction is difficult to define, as it includes a wide range of subgenres and themes. So outside of saying that it's a bunch of made up stories which include some elements of scientific theory or fact, any published attempt to define science fiction is clearly incorrect and is blowing smoke where the nuclear furnace which we orbit at a rate of approximately once every 365 days don't shine.
The history of science fiction[edit]
A long long time ago in a galaxy far far away, Science mythology was invented by a man named Plato, who surmised that the stars were tiny candles in the sky, and were actually the spirits of his ancestors who had somehow turned into wax. Wax continued to play a big part in sci-myth, as seen in the story of Icarus, the first Superman. Icarus a dull and impressionable lad, was persuaded by his father that human flight was possible if one attached feathers to ones arms with wax. Needless to say, Icarus found that flight was indeed possible for a short time, but due to the underdeveloped nature of the technology used, the wax melted as it was heated by the sun, the feathers fell out, and Icarus plunged to his death. This forever branded the Sun as history's first arch-villain.
Throughout the centuries nerds read Plato's sci-myth stories with serious and deep intent, and Icarus conventions attracted other nerds and one or two women from all corners of the province. Relics of these Ic-cons, sold on e-bay, provide us with many waxen clues to the ancient world.
Sci-myth rested on its laurels until Jules Verne, a silly Frenchmen who got tired of smoking Gauloises and scorning the English, decided to dazzle the world with his ludicrous visions of traveling hither, thither and yon. Alas, as much as he tried, he could not stop his habit of scorning the English. Pfffft.
H.G. Wells then came along, scared the bejesus out of everyone with his War of the Worlds, and thus lit a Plato-like candle under Orson Welles' career many decades later. Orson Welles' instant fame and subsequent career became the premier accomplishment of the literary genre of Science fiction. Later Edgar Rice Burroughs upped the ante on Verne and Wells, put Mars on the map, inspired many new SF authors, and paved the way for all of the super-heroes to come.
After the era of Verne, Wells, and Burroughs, a shimmer in the air appeared in downtown London. In a flash, an old police box materialized out of nothingness. Bystanders report that the door banged open, five men were tossed out onto the pavement, and the police box once again disappeared. The men, when questioned, claimed they had been commissioned by a doctor to travel through time and write science fiction that would far surpass that of the legends who came before them. The five giant's names were Robert Heinlein, Isaac Asimov, Ray Bradbury, Kilgore Trout, and Arthur C. Clarke.
Isaac Asimov, the Nerd[edit]
"The Zeroth Law of Robotics is - you don't talk about the laws of robotics" ~ R. Daneel Olivaw
Isaac Asimov decided to write about robots and only robots. He wrote a Robot Series, the collection of stories "I, Robot" (which has since been perverted into a rape of classical literature), the Foundation Series, the Laws of Robotics, the Guidelines of Robotics, the Wax Robots, the Suggested Instructions to Follow if You are a Robot, and various other novels and short stories that had only robots as their characters. His publisher noticed the overabundance of the mechanical beings in his writings and changed a portion of them into humans before publication. Luckily, Asimov never noticed these changes as he was in a constant state of dementia, forgot that he had written the books that were published, and continued to write at a frenzied pace only later equaled by Stephen King and Nora Roberts.
Robert Heinlein, the Dean[edit]
Robert Heinlein settled comfortably into the science fiction world, and eventually dominated it with books about his favorites pastimes--drugs, orgies and totalitarian regimes. His epic and complex stories of sex in totalitarian societies occurred while the lovers were waging war against intergalactic space insects won the hearts of millions. Some of them were even made into movies[2], depicting scenes of intertwined sex and violence supervised by a totalitarian military organization. His other works included classics such as Stranger in a Strange Land--a drug and orgy filled tale of a young man from Mars who transforms human society into Hippie Heaven)--a series of books about longevity and how living longer leads to new and innovative ways to incorporate drug use into your orgies, and a strange series of volumes concerning the futuristic use of melted wax in exotic totalitarian governmental experimentation.
Ray Bradbury, the Geek[edit]
The Sci-Fi Heavyweight fight of the 20th Century--Bradbury vs Heinlein--occurred in Las Vegas on November 29, 1958. As the bell rang Robert Heinlein came out of his corner, looked at the bespeckled and quivering Ray Bradbury, drew back his right fist, then clocked Bradbury with his left, thus winning the fight at 9 seconds of the first round.
As a child Ray Bradbury apparently grew up in ravines, where sticks and stones did break his bones. He later grossed out the world with his horror fiction, and inspired thousands of scientists and space explorers with his sci-fi. While taking his readers to Mars, or transporting them via time machines to their inner child and inner arsonist, Bradbury's honoring of the human psyche defined sci-fi in new and emotional ways.
Kilgore Trout, the Bard[edit]
Kilgore Trout, nicknamed "The Bard" by his jealous colleague Robert Heinlein, is the author of the Nobel Prize winning sci-fi opus Venus on the Half-Shell. One of his several hundred pulp novels, "Venus" tells the story of humanity on the brink, ready to topple at the touch of a feather but saved by the love of a good woman. Trout's other accomplishments range from the creation of the annual "Sci-fi Parade for Peace", which is held in hundreds of major international cities, to the invention of the word "quagmire" to describe the world's present situation regarding religious fundamentalism.
Arthur C. Clarke, the Visionary[edit]
Arthur C. Clarke, a proper Sri Lankan-born Englishman who wrote 2001: A Space Odyssey, invented the satellite communication network, and brought the Sci-fi literature on wax into the 21st Century with his Waxmen of Jupiter trilogy, personified the prophetic branch of science fiction. He is also known for what came to be known as "Clarke's Three Laws" which stated that "elderly scientists are always wrong", "all possible things are impossible", and "magic exists."
Sub genres of science fiction[edit]
One of the reasons why there are varied definitions of science fiction is due to science fiction being broken up into various sub-genres. A listing of these (and accompanying examples) is as follows:
Hard SF[edit]
Hard Science Fiction consists largely of books that have never been finished, due to the extreme technical and specific nature of their texts. Most Hard Sci-Fi books go so far into every tedious process that is happening that no plot or story ever breaks thru. It wasn't until 1961, after twenty straight years of writing, that Arthur C. Clarke published the first Hard Sci-Fi book A Fall of Moondust. This book was written in three volumes, with the first 200 pages explaining the respiratory system of every being on Earth and how the constant conversion between Oxygen and Carbon Dioxide affected the weather which in turn affected the launch of the rocket which in turn...
See? Clarke couldn't help but bore us and drive us to drink. Heinlein couldn't write hard Sci-fi if his wife depended on it. Bradbury, don't even go there. Even Ben Bova and Charles Stross have tried it, only to be rebuffed at the geeky sci-fi conventions and at the fancy-dan bookstores. In fact, in the annals of science fiction only four of these books have ever been completed and published. And because of the sheer immensity of these books, they are normally used to counterbalance elevators or alter gravitational fields.
There are some people who actually read these four books, but they don't read them for any reason other than to find the smallest possible fallacy in the writer's calculations. The readers of these books call this "The Game".
One example of "The Game" is the number of fans who spend lifetimes examining top-soil erosion charts just to announce to the world that in Larry Niven's novel Ringworld, the entire landmass would have long been washed away. Luckily these people use their massive amounts of time and intelligence finding fallacies in works of fiction instead of doing unimportant tasks like solving the energy crisis, saving the environment, or abolishing world hunger.
The same fans also point out that the Ringworld was not in a stable orbit, and would crash into the sun without active stabilisation. Niven fixed these errors in his sequel, The Ringworm Engineers, by explaining that the world was stabilised by copies of A Fall of Moondust being place at significant points, and the sheer weight of the the tomes was enough to keep the world in balance.
Soft SF[edit]
Soft Science Fiction generally refers to Science Fiction that is more focused on plushy, soft or cuddly things. The most famous man to write in this sub-genre is Philip K. Dick, mainly because people like to make fun of his name. Another major writer in this sub-genre is Ray Bradbury who epitomized the ideal "soft and cuddly" by writing stories with tiles such as "The Long Plushy and not Irritating to the Point of Insanity Rain", "The Smiling People", "The Soft, Plushy, Cuddly and not Homicidal Illustrated Man", "Here There be Soft and Cuddly Tygers", "Bang! You're Dead! But Soft and Plushy!", and many more.
Soft Science Fiction draws much criticism from Hard Science Fiction readers/writers on account that it contains a plot and is readable. Because of this closer connection to regular fiction, many more Soft Sci-Fi books are published than Hard Sci-Fi; however the fans of each type number roughly the same. The differences between these two groups can be seen at many different Sci-Fi conventions where the Hard Sci-Fi zealots act in a similar manner to the IRA. Well, they use lengthy papers full of incomprehensible theorems and large, strange diagrams instead of bombs and guns; but the hate is still there.
Bradbury's Influence on Soft Sci-Fi[edit]
Due to his early acceptance as a "Soft Sci-Fi Master", many publishers stopped actually reading Ray Bradbury's work but just accepted his submissions. After twenty years of this negligence it was discovered that many of Bradbury's short stories, which had been printing faster than Deutsch Marks during the Weimar Republic, did not actually meet even the loosest criteria for Science Fiction; as they were about aliens of the Earthly sort, men who don't like the advancements in technology (which tends to be the opposite of Science Fiction), and believing himself to be a metaphorical Captain Ahab. To hide their mistake, publisher's criteria for Soft Sci-Fi was all but obliterated, making almost every book ever printed technically fall under this category.
Brave New World[edit]
Brave New World was a Soft Science Fiction book that supposedly takes place in 2011, in which the two main characters Ridley Scott and Leonardo DiCaprio ingest large amounts of Soma and have a shared hallucination. In this hallucination, they see men who have apparently all become letters of the Greek Alphabet as they all classify themselves as Alphas, Betas, Deltas, Upsilons, Kappas, and Plutos. Everyone in this hallucination also ingests soma, and the "Brave New Worlds" that each creates through their hallucinations are what the title refers to. Throughout this book, the men and women all realize that if everyone pitches in together and works to help the government and global elites, then everyone will be happy and joyful. Realizing that "joyful" and "government" were antonyms, this book was immediately labeled as Heinleinian fiction, and later "Soft Science Fiction" under the Bradbury loophole.
Cyberpunk sci-fi, like most things now considered passé, emerged in the early 1980s[3]. It's name is a portmanteau combining "cyber" (an abbreviation of Cybersex) and "punk" (an archaic term relating either to a prostitute or a male used for unwilling sexual congress, or alternatively, a modern term relating to a person with anti-establishmental tendencies who doesn't follow societal rules).
"If this was a real article you'd all be dead" ~ Hiro Protagonist
The first use of the sub-genre's name was coined by author Bruce Bethke in his 1983 self-named "Cyberpunk" short story set one hundred years into the past. By cleverly relating old west prison inmates having virtual sex by use of the then futuristic Morse Code the foundations of the franchise were set for all future would-be hacker-wannabes to obsess over. As can be gleaned from the name, the genre usually relates to dark, oppressive societies, and often included advances in pre-internet (Internet-like) information technology infrastructure meshed with advanced "gotta-have" commercial products. Nihilism, post-modernism, and film noir themes and techniques are commonly used, often repeated endlessly to a point of redundancy.
Although noted for its focus on "high-tech and low-life" themes, Cyberpunkology is best experienced in a "low-tech, high-life" comic-book form. Primarily known through radio and film, CSF is no longer available through government programs, but now easily accessible to its fanbase through the ironic courtesy of Megacorporations[4].
|It was a cold musky morning in William Gibson's head when the terms Cyberpunk and Cyberspace were coined. The draft coming from the cerebral cortex cleared the clouds of billowing smoke typically obscuring Gibson's conscious thought. A crowd of semi-conscious hackers, wearing slacks covered with machine oil and stray Ethernet cables, were nodding their head gloomily as they listened to Gibson laying out his plan to conquer the world of Science Fiction by force.
"Don' 'stand you, mon, but we mus' move by Jah Love, each one" said one of the nodding hackers. Just remember - I no come to hear about how horse dead an' cow fat. Jah love man, Jah love".
Gibson, completely oblivious of the Rastafari proverb, and busying himself by hacking the pentagon, took the Rastafari's words as a vote of confidence. He let his busy mind fly, thereby bringing about--by the grace of Jah and Jah's honored prophet Neal Stephenson--cyber-sci-fi.
—Philip K. Dick, on the birthing manual of what many call Cyberpunk - Neuromancer
The Matrix Trilogy[edit]
The first film of The Matrix Trilogy featured a reluctant hero, Neo, who discovers he has been subjected to a virtual universe created by sentient robots who had taken over the world, but then escapes by using extreme violence. It was followed by the groudbreaking second movie which is set predominantly in a virtual world where the reluctant hero, Neo, has to use extreme violence on sentient robots in order to escape. The third movie in the series, a real nailbiter, centers on Neo escaping from a virtual world created by sentient robots by using extreme violence.
The series has been hailed as one of the most original trilogies of all time.
Time Travel[edit]
The Time Travel sub-genre of Science Fiction derives its name from a multitude of overly complex discussions, correspondences, and fireside chats which eventually were encompassed in two easy to say words. Thus, the sub-genre of Time Travel was formed.
Sci-fi's Time Travel books and movies adhere to some of the most rigid criteria of all time, which state: "Something must move or interact with time in some way within a work of known literature." It was quickly noticed that everything was always moving through time, including the books and movies themselves. This led this outlet to be defined as just another sham sub-genre, although it became, and has remained, the most popular form of science fiction.
Doctor Who[edit]
Doctor Who is a well known "British" television series that involves a crazy man who flies through time and space in a police box
abducting picking up hookers women and saving the world with a screwdriver. Largely believed to have started around the mid 1900s, the television show "Dr. Who" has actually been being beamed to earth by some form of alien intelligence since before mankind could walk up-right. The motives behind this broadcasting are highly unknown, but are thought to be some sort of plot against Earth which results in large delays between the airing of each season while the episodes are being checked for any sort of harmful presence. The main character of the alien show, called "The Doctor" most times, has been seen bringing worlds to their collective planetary knees using only semi-witty banner and the afore mentioned screwdriver; which is believed to be a "show of strength" by the aliens who are beaming the programme.
Alternate History[edit]
"He who controls custard, controls the universe" ~ Paul Atreides
The majority of alternate history science fiction centers around three main concepts.
- What if someone else won a war. The earliest example of mainstream alternate history science fiction followed theme 1, it was written by a patriotic Frenchman Louis Geoffroy, in which France won the Napoleonic Wars, this prompted the British Empire to write a strongly worded letter claiming the story was 'A pile of bloody crap', the Russian Czar on the other hand took matters further, forcing Yakov Smirnoff to abandon the famed Russian Reversal debating technique and claim that "Russia beats YOU!!!" This caused a minor international incident, resulting in a huge dent in the popularity of the genre.
- After this early setback most writers opted for a new theme, What if someone went back in time and killed Hitler, resulting endless repetitions of the idea that:
- Someone even worse took over and the Nazis won the war. (A potentially dangerous overlap with theme 1)
- The rise of an even more powerful Soviet Union and the Cold War escalating into a real or 'hot' war.
- The resulting controversy prompted many authors to abandon any attempt at seriously thinking about major world politics and turn to the far more intriguing idea of What if you went back in time and changed your past.
Though a great deal of authors began by toying with the idea of protagonists accidentally becoming their own fathers, this was widely rejected by the mainstream as being far too Freudian.
Back to the Future[edit]
Back to the Future is considered to be the archetypical example of this sub-genre. This series centres around the idea that the protagonist could go back in time and get his mother liquored up and become romantically involved with her in his car, while his father becomes slowly rejected and feels that he has been visited by and alien from another galaxy who tortures him by playing heavy metal at him in his sleep.
Due to the social mores of the time the storyline instead was twisted instead so the protagonist helps his father sleep with his mother instead of doing it himself, despite the obvious Freudian sub-text. This concept combined with vaudevillian humour, something never before seen in a sci-fi film, resulted in a block buster success.
Apocalyptic Science Fiction[edit]
Apocalyptic science fiction deals with the end of the world and usually the bit that happens after the end of the world as well. At the heart of every apocalyptic fiction novel is the struggle of the angst ridden protagonist to deal with unending loneliness and a desperate attempt to preserve what little remains of their society.
Before 1945, all apocalyptic science fiction attributed the end of the world to an act of God, but after the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki humanity realised that they could do it themselves. Modern apocalyptic science fiction sees humanity destroying itself through the frenzied use of, viruses, nuclear weapons, weather manipulation and Zombies.
The Bible[edit]
- Cool Main article: The Bible
The first example of apocalyptic science fiction to enter popular culture was the Bible, which featured not just one, but two apocalyptic events, which could go some way to explaining its enduring popularity and the cult-like following that surrounds it.
Most readers enjoy the first half of the book, in which the descendants of Noah and his family (survivors of the first apocalypse) struggle to re-establish civilisation and populate the world aided by God, doves, and wax. The second half of the sci-fi novel introduces two of the most popular characters, Jesus and his his mom. Soon Jesus and God embark upon a quest to save the world from itself, a common sci-fi theme, and in an unexpected twist this quest results in both the death of the hero and humanities slow decline into oblivion. What did the human race do wrong? They failed to accept the hero as their lord and saviour! This bleak message has often led to critics describing the final chapter of the sci-fi classic, entitled Revelations, as being 'too preachy', 'too confusing', or, recently, just 'too trendy'.
Soylent Green[edit]
One of the most famous, most used as a parody base, and most used examples of apocalyptic science fiction, second only to the Bible, Soylent Green is set in 2022 in an overcrowded city. It is about a detective who is investigating a murder, and discovers that Soylent Green is PEOPLE!
Military S.F.[edit]
Military science fiction is an important sub-genre of Sci-Fi as its purpose is to warn and prepare humanity for the inevitable war with the first Aliens we come across. Most military sci-fi is written by ex-soldiers, and so their books tend to focus on the military values of loyalty, bravery, duty, and hardcore porn rather than on mundane things such as an original plot. Inspired by the worldwide military policy of taking whatever they want, most military sci-fi authors lift their plots from historical wars (such as the American Civil War or the Battle of the Bulge).
Starship Troopers[edit]
Starship Troopers is often referred to as the original book in the sub-genre of Military Sci-Fi. It centers around the story of armoured infantry in a war against Arachnids, otherwise known as Bugs, who have destroyed Buenos Aires. The novel has been criticised as being overtly political, militaristic or pro-military, fascistic, utopian, and racist.
The book was made into a motion picture by legendary sci-fi director Paul Verhoeven, who made major changes to the story to remove many of these elements while exaggerating others. The movie has been widely criticised as being craptastic. [5]
Space Opera[edit]
The Space Opera sub-genre, which focuses on portraying space battles, inherits its name from the musical storytelling form that is normally associated with Mozart, Vivaldi, and fat women with loud voices. The term "Space Opera" was coined when William Shatter, who played Captain James T. Kirk on Star Trek, sang through the entire first episode of the series (although some say he was just talking in a strange speech pattern). The sub-genre is know for large, flashy battles, main characters with strange speech patterns, and music composed by John Williams.
Star Trek[edit]
- Main articles: Star Trek, Star Trek: The Next Generation, Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, Star Trek: Enterprise, Star Trek: Voyager, Star Trek: Series Guide, Red Dwarf (which is, contrary to popular belief, part of the British version of Star Trek) and many, many more
The original 1960s Star Trek, which pioneered the advance of Sci-Fi onto television, was a prime example of the Space Opera sub-genre due to it's focus on flashy effects over any discernible plot. Due to Mr. Spock's logic and mutated ears, Captain Kirk's broad muscles and suicidal disregard for himself and his crew, and storylines which broke new ground solely because television was in its infancy and just starting to get around to some of the really good stuff, twenty-thousand men and twenty-five women across America have since adapted the show into a religion. Filmed on a measly budget of $47 and change, and using only thrown out cardboard boxes for scenery, the show was able to "wow" Americans by having William Shattner rip off his shirt before killing a red-shirted minor character, or a piece of rock, or a mop, or a barely describable patch of fog. The afterthought of a plot in each episode was so full of holes that male fans would dispute what actually happened until they went on enraged killing sprees, while its female fans would understand that Kirk was only trying to do his best.
After a half a dozen movies, four more television series, and thirty or so stars on the walk of fame in Hollywood, the Enterprise enterprise is still going strong. The same can't be said for William Shattner, whose career has plummeted like a Klingon war vessel.
Star Wars, Stargate, The Last Starfighter, etc.[edit]
Take one part Edgar Rice Burroughs' Mars' princess in distress, two part's Heinlein's militaristic nightmare, a dash of Shakespeare here and there, some cool sound effects, and mix them together with any good sniffing glue and out pops Star Wars. Geeks left their basements in the millions to witness the spectacle of a midget, a Jonas Brothers wannabe, and two automated can-openers defeat the Lord of the Universe-- a guy with breathing problem dressed in a cape. After the merchandising cashflow windfall from the first movie, the special effects money flowed and the first true trilogy was formed. The only things of importance that lasted after the first three movies (labeled 4-6) was the promise of six more movies, and Starship captain Harrison Ford (we told you earlier how much alien women like starship captains) going on to be featured in his own line of dusty hat and surprised look pseudo-Sci-fi series, and a endless amount of other Sci-Fi movies with "Star" in their titles.
The dangers of science fiction[edit]
The tendency of science fiction to predict the technology of the future, such as the automatic sliding door (first featured in the visionary program Star Trek) or Human flight (pioneered in the flight of Icarus), has often lead to disasterous attempts to use the proposed technology before it is fully developed.
Though most accidents that occur due to science fiction are harmless (such as running headfirst into closed doors), occasionally tragedy can strike. The first victim of applied science fiction, as mentioned above, was a young Greek boy named Icarus. However death by sci-fi is not just an occurrence of ancient history. Misunderstood science fiction continues to claim victims even into the present day, perhaps the most chilling example is the 1995 JATO Rocket Car incident.
The bad new always comes at the end of the party, or in this case, both this article and human history. We are all going to die in 2012, and this can be directly blamed on the Science Fiction genre. This inevitable date with destiny, long seen and admired by Aztecs, psychics, and people on good mushrooms (as well as some of those on middling quality mushrooms), involves a "perfect storm" of science fiction themes turned deadly.
We can pin this on Frank Herbert, the creator of the classic Dune series. Starting with Herbert, and working its way through Roddenberry, Greg Egan, and Rudy Rucker, nanotechnology came about because writers wrote about it and unsrupulous scientists then went ahead and patented it. Then what's going to happen is the 2012 sunspots and particle storms will sweep over the Earth's electrical grid and let loose all of the nanobots into the world's drinking supply (damn you Ice-9!), turning our innards to waxlike machine-goo. And there is nothing that can be done about this. Machine goo, all of us. All we are is guck in the wind.
So live it up until late 2012 (some people, those who have the really good mushrooms, will live a little bit into 2013, but don't count on seeing Valentine's Day). And if you meet one of those sci-fi geeks, all dressed up like some damn alien or minor player in a two-bit movie, punch their lights out. It's their fault, for encouraging the writers.
Machine guck. God damnit!
See also[edit]
- ↑ The extreme terminal nature laid down by these plots will sustain most pop Sci-fi writers.
- ↑ Terrible movies with Hollywood glitter morals replacing insightful cometary on society, government, war, and of course, interaction with innumerable species in intergalactic space reduced to one other stereotypical instance. Ooh! And co-ed naked showers!!!
- ↑ As long as you discount the 1927 movie Super-Metropolis.
- ↑ Such as Disney or AOL-Time Warner
- ↑ But with co-ed showers.


text:
The future of life in the solar system has never looked so bleak. Gargantuan asteroids are on a collision course with five planets and the evil Professor Schaumund is launching an unprecedented act of interstellar revenge.
Launching your spacecraft, your only hope is to leave the stratosphere and stop all incoming danger. Quick, accurate piloting and weapon skill is demanded to clear the cosmos of the impending danger to the planets.
You'll need to make use of every available weapon - Rock Crushers, Ice Splitters, Gold Melters and Antimatter Bombs - if you want to protect the indigenous life below and save civilisation from annihilation.
During your heroic blasting of asteroids, power-ups will increase your weapon's power, giving you more spectacular explosions as debris is reduced to space dust with further rounds of fire.
This title is exclusive to the PlayStation Network and available for download to your PlayStation 3 via the PlayStation Store.
3D Compatible
Dolby 5.1
1-2 Players
Network Features
Dolby 8
Dolby 7.1
Network Play
See it in action


text:
T – minus 8 days and counting until launch…
I am now in final preparations for my motorcycle trip through Central and South America. Mixed emotions for sure as it's going to be an exciting trip, yet I am leaving behind my family and my blog for an extended time – four months. From this point until I return I will be concentrating less on this blog and more on my Twisted Edge Adventure blog (latest article I wrote on tire selection for the trip). Please bookmark this blog and you can follow along the trip with me.
I have considered delaying this trip as I see what could be a very turbulent time this fall. I have, however, postponed trips in the past with such thinking and have always regretted it later - I do tend to be early in my thinking after all! This particular trip must be done this time of year so that I arrive in the southern part of South America in their summer, our winter.
I will be traveling with my riding friend, Arno. He and I both enjoy taking pictures and reporting on our adventures, so it's going to be fun in that regard. When I have time (and internet connection) I will be checking in and posting to this blog occasionally. I will also be writing economic articles along the way as I have time and inspiration (it will be difficult doing this after traveling long days). My focus will be on the formation of capital and economic development within the countries I'm traveling. If anyone reading this along my route of travel has an economic story they would like to share or investigate, please email me at email@example.com, thank you. I'm also open to invites from my readers in Central and South America who wouldn't mind simply sharing their culture!
This blog is far too important to me to just abandon it for so long. It's important because people need someone to cut through all the B.S. that is propagating from the mainstream media and our own government. Thankfully there are people who are tough skinned enough to stand in the heat of the fire and call it for what it is. Sherman (screen name Davos) from Chris Martenson's site has graciously agreed to help keep you informed. THANK YOU DAVOS!
I can think of no finer site that Chris Martenson's. Chris writes very meticulously in a manner that is understandable by most, and more importantly he is just correct when he speaks. You will remember that Chris is the author of The Crash Course so I'm going to encourage you to bookmark and view Chris's blog on a regular basis. His latest article, Unemployment and Government Jobs, is a terrific example of the fine work that Chris does.
Davos has written the "Daily Digest" for quite some time, performing nobly for both Chris and for the people who visit his blog. In my absence, he will be performing basically the same service for you here that he does there. I have given him full reign to post articles as he sees fit and to editorialize at his discretion. His posts, "Davos on the Edge" will provide a thread that I encourage everyone to comment on, and to keep the running market commentary going.
He is the boss while I'm gone and I appreciate everyone jumping in and providing the same good observations that you do while I'm here. Don't ride him too hard for his inflationist viewpoint, he will be right eventually, just not now, LOL! Okay, forget that, give him a hard time, he is a pilot like me after all! Seriously, be sure to thank him for stepping up and filling in, he does it because he cares and is a proud and true American.
Pete Townsend - Won't Get Fooled Again (Meet the New Boss - Acoustic version):
Schedule for Week of December 6, 2020
2 hours ago


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A defiant Joe Hockey says he won't apologise for an authorised biography that reveals he believed his first budget was too soft and in which cabinet colleagues Malcolm Turnbull and Ian Macfarlane are criticised.
But several of Mr Hockey's Liberal colleagues have criticised the timing and content of the book as "unusual" and "unhelpful" in making the government's case for a budget that broke a series of pre-election promises and delivered deep cuts to health, education and pensions.
On Thursday, Mr Hockey distanced himself from the timing of the publication of Hockey: Not Your Average Joe, written by journalist and broadcaster Madonna King but praised the book for articulating his values.
"I don't agree with every word that has been written in the book but you would not expect me to," he said at the launch of the book.
"Nor did you [Ms King] even broach the subject of me re-writing chapters. I didn't seek to change the book at all because either it is fair dinkum or it's not and it is fair dinkum.
"There are things that I wish were rather not said in the book but they are said, and I in no way apologise for the book."
In the book, Ms King reports that: "In reality, the budget was much softer than Joe would have liked. He wanted changes to pensions made earlier and the deficit levy to net more taxpayers … But Abbott, who chaired each of the expenditure review committee meetings, was taking a much more cautious approach than his Treasurer, no doubt with one eye firmly on the reaction of voters."
It also quotes Mr Hockey's wife, Melissa Babbage, asserting the Treasurer "won't trust Malcolm again" following the 2009 leadership challenge and reveals a deep-seated enmity with Industry Minister Ian Macfarlane.
But Mr Hockey distanced himself from his wife's comments about Mr Turnbull, declaring "I trust Malcolm Turnbull, yes" and refused to speculate on whether he might be the next leader of the Coalition government.
"We'll leave that to destiny, whatever that may be," he said before adding that suggestions his colleagues were critical of the timing of the book and its contents were "just rumours".
Mr Abbott's powerful chief of staff, Peta Credlin, also declares in the book Mr Hockey has "got his head above every other contender" to be the next Liberal leader, though she cautions he is not yet the "heir apparent" to replace Mr Abbott.
Mr Hockey also revealed Ms Babbage had initially urged him not to co-operate with Ms King, but after consulting Mr Abbott and others he had decided to do so because it documented his family's immigrant history, of which he was immensely proud.
"There is not a day I don't reflect on the importance of immigration to Australian, including accepting refugees," he said.
"After 18 years of being involved in politics, it is a rewarding experience to know that I have been consistent and true to the values I have held through my life."
Mr Hockey also defended Ms Credlin from criticism for weighing in on the debate about who the next leader of the party would be.
"Peta Credlin is an outstanding individual and if we had three Peta Credlins in federal politics it would raise the level of the quality of public debate,'' he said.
Asked how much tougher he had wanted his first budget to be, Mr Hockey said the balance was "about right".
"The bottom line is, every Treasurer as you would expect would prosecute the case for greater savings or every treasurer worth their salt."
"On the one hand they said Joe didn't have the ticker to do what needed to be done and when Joe was part of a team that lays down a plan that needs to be done, they say otherwise."
However Liberal Senator Ian Macdonald told Fairfax Media the timing of the book "did seem unusual, though I'm unaware of who makes those decisions and the reasons for it".
Asked if he believed the budget was too soft, Senator Macdonald said: "There are other measures that could have been taken, in fact I understand that - doctors tell me – there are many obvious ways that the runaway health budget could be brought back into line without the sort of measures contemplated in the budget."
"Tough decisions had to be made, I accept that. I have for some time now been saying that I thought the pre-release selling of the budget was very poorly done and that I also believe that some of the harsher elements were determined without consultation of the Treasurer and Prime Minister's colleagues, who are at the coalface," he said.
"There are inconsistencies in the budget which are obvious to me and most Australians that don't seem to be as obvious to those who put the budget together."
Senator Macdonald said the leadership was a "non-issue" in the party room as Mr Abbott had been a "marvellous" opposition leader and prime minister.
A cabinet colleague of Mr Hockey, who asked not to be named, was critical of Ms Credlin's suggestion the Treasurer was in line to be the next leader.
"The leadership of the Liberal Party is decided by the party room," the cabinet minister said.
And a third MP said the book was "really unhelpful" and "sounded like the sort of thing you do after a life in politics".
Labor has seized on the revelation Mr Hockey had pushed for a tougher budget, with Treasury spokesman Chris Bowen arguing it was a "stark reminder of just how out of touch Australia's Treasurer is".
"He doesn't know what it is like to sit around a kitchen table and to frame a family budget. That's the only conclusion the Australian people can reach if the Treasurer is boasting that he would have liked to go further."
James Massola is south-east Asia correspondent based in Jakarta. He was previously chief political correspondent, based in Canberra. He has been a Walkley and Quills finalist on three occasions, won a Kennedy Award for outstanding foreign correspondent and is the author of The Great Cave Rescue.


text: Poplar is an Augmented Reality marketplace that aims to make AR content creation easier. We are activating a new generation of talented creators to produce amazing AR content on behalf of brands, faster and cheaper than an agency. The vision is to automate the marketplace and provide democratised AR creation tools, as well as integrate within the whole AR landscape: social platforms, branded apps, web browsers and eyewear.


text:
You are here
If you are using PR 1.1 then you can simply enable zoom during video recording.
Just create a file /etc/camera.conf and add the following lines:
recording-zoom = true
restart camera, enjoy and send postcards to the Harmattan camera team :)
I hope someone will create an Ovi store app for that ;)
doesn't work for me
Are you using PR 1.1 ? Are you sure the file is /etc/camera.conf ? Are you sure the contents are identical to what I wrote ?
Yea it works. Create the file on pc using a txt file. Show file extensions and change the extension to .conf. Copy to phone. Copy from mydocs to etc in root folder using xterminal using following command cp /home/user/MyDocs/camera.conf /etc/camera.conf
you may have to gain root first
i cant copy the file yo etc it says i dont have the permission


text:
Analyzing prior research, University of Tennessee researchers drew several conclusions about shortening yellow lights at intersections.
Researchers at the University of Tennessee have drawn several conclusions about traffic signal length and how it relates to red light cameras, in a new study published by Transport Journal.
According to a report on Phys.org, a Web-based science, research and technology news service, professors Lee Han, Chris Cherry, and Qiang Yang in the university's Civil and Environmental Engineering Department found that shortening a yellow light, lengthening the period when all lights are red, shortening the traffic cycle length and increasing the speed limit in an intersection all increased the chance of drivers running red lights.
Municipalities with red light cameras often pay for them by splitting the revenue from citations issued through the technology or through a monthly fee. That can pose ethical questions for traffic engineers who are responsible for adjusting the traffic signals.
Red light cameras have been a hot issue for the public and governments since they were first introduced. Some have objected due to privacy concerns, while others have contended they serve merely as a government fundraiser.
Each city adjusts traffic signal timing based on a number of factors, but according to Saeed Nowkhasteh, signal operations supervisor for the Seattle Department of Transportation, shortening the yellow is not an option in many cases because cities must adhere to standards put in place by the Institute of Traffic Engineers (ITE).
Some cities look for ways to adjust the traffic lights to increase revenue from red light tickets. But there are limited parameters within which traffic engineers can work. One of the changes they can make is to increase the all-red time. Nowkhasteh said that in Seattle, the all-red time depends on the geometry and size of an intersection. The city is permitted to make the all-red time zero, but they often make that time one second.
When it comes to increasing all-red time, however, Nowkhasteh added that there are two schools of thought. Some believe it makes intersections safer by creating a longer buffer between cross-traffic, but in intersections that don't have red light cameras, it can increase drivers running red lights once they realize that the long all-red allows them extra time to get across the intersection.
Another finding made by University of Tennessee researchers was that manipulating traffic lights to increase volume to an intersection led to more traffic congestion, but did not affect the chances of drivers running red lights or crashing.
"One of the major challenges with implementing red light camera policy is the conflict of matching incentives of tangible revenue for industry and the municipality contrasted with external cost savings such as safety and congestion, the value of which is not easily captured," Cherry said to Phys.org. "We hope the public sector and the public use our research to reflect on the motivations for changing signal operations."
Looking for the latest gov tech news as it happens? Subscribe to GT newsletters.


text:
Myanmar records one million tourists, surge in tourism income
Myanmar's newly released tourism statistics for 2012 show dramatic increases in visitor numbers and revenue from inbound travel.
More than a million travelers flocked to Myanmar last year, compared with approximately 816,000 visitors in 2011.
The country's tourism income showed startling year on year growth, recording a 67 percent increase in earnings. The total tourism income for 2012 was US$534 million, compared with US$319 million in 2011.
Foreign investment
Despite reports of infrastructure overwhelmed by the sudden surge in visitors, officials say they aren't worried, and remain optimistic about foreign investment in the industry.
"Since the new investment law was enacted last year, many foreign investors have been asking about the situation," Myanmar Ministry of Hotels and Tourism director Khin Than Win told CNN, adding that the ministry is focusing on human resource development, transportation and hotels.
More numbers
According to official statistics, there are currently 28,291 hotel rooms in Myanmar. The ministry is working on a five-star hotel development project with Vietnamese company Hoang Anh Gia Lai.
Thais beat out the Chinese for most visitors by nationality. Approximately 90,000 Thais, 70,000 Chinese and 37,000 U.S. tourists visited Myanmar last year.
Visitors are overwhelmingly male, with the male-to-female visitor ratio at 62 percent to 38 percent.
Higher hopes
The ministry expects even greater numbers in 2013.
"We expect the growth of tourism to further continue and forecast to receive 1.5 million tourist arrivals this year," said Khin Than Win, citing the new on-arrival visas as an additional reason for the rapid rise.
More on CNN: 52 things to do in 2013


text:
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text:
The Situation of Political Yard Signage
Posted by The Situationist Staff on October 2, 2012
For The Conversation, Shannon Callahan wrote an interesting piece on the social psychology of political yard signs.
As the November elections draw nearer, front yards across America are sprouting campaigns signs broadcasting their chosen political candidates.
These lawn signs have been a traditional part of politics in the United States for well over 60 years, and have remained commonplace even in the age of Facebook and other new media. Lawn signs can often feel ubiquitous in the build-up to major elections, yet in actuality most Americans don't display them. However, more than enough voters are posting signs for Barack Obama and Mitt Romney on their front yards – and apartment balconies and businesses and dorm windows and roadsides – to keep the tradition alive and well.
Some communities seem to be a sea of signs all supporting the same candidate, perhaps with the odd sign here and there that defiantly displays a contrary opinion. Other communities are more divided politically, and in places such as these lawn signs are a critical way of showing just what side you stand on. Yet whether people live in an area that is strongly in favour of one party or one that is more contested, displaying a lawn sign is more than just campaigning for a specific politician, doing one's civic duty, or even conforming to neighbourhood norms.
Lawn signs are also about communicating our group membership to others, something that fulfils some very basic psychological needs. People want to feel accepted, and putting up a lawn sign literally symbolises that they are part of a group. What's more, they gain strength from their group memberships and symbols. For example, Chris Miller at the University of Minnesota found that after the 2008 election, signs supporting the victorious Obama stayed up longer than signs supporting his defeated opponent John McCain. This suggests that people use lawn signs to "bask in the reflected glory" of their group's success and "cut off the reflected failure" of their group's losses. Thus, lawn signs can help us feel accepted and feel good about ourselves.
Yet despite their widespread usage and the psychological advantages just described, whether or not lawn signs are effective in winning elections is not clear. For presidential campaigns, lawn signs are all about social influence: capturing the all-important swing voters and motivating supporters to actually turn up at the polls come Election Day. Unfortunately, there is little direct evidence supporting that lawn signs can achieve these goals. However, recent research from the Attitudes and Group Identity Lab at the University of California, Davis, indirectly suggests lawn signs can be an effective source of social influence, though that this effectiveness may depend upon how far away the election is.
With my collaborator Alison Ledgerwood, we found that temporal distance – whether something will happen in the near future versus distant future – influences the degree to which people are affected by majority opinions versus single individuals. In our experiments, undergraduate students read about proposed changes to a political issue that they were told would go into effect in the near or distant future, as well how the majority of other students ostensibly felt about these changes.
When the changes were expected to occur in the distant future, our participants' own opinions on the issue were more influenced by group opinion; that is, they conformed to the majority. But when the changes were expected to occur in the near future, participants' opinions were less susceptible to group influence. These results complement findings from an earlier paper by our lab that suggest as events draw nearer in time, people are more influenced by the opinion of a single individual.
But what does this mean for lawn signs? As the election is currently over a month away, a large bloc of signs for Obama is likely to have more of an effect on a person's vote than a lone sign for Romney. However, as the weeks fly by and the election draws nearer, a single sign on a specific person's yard may start to have more of an effect.
Of course, this doesn't mean that large numbers of signs for one candidate will ever be meaningless, even if Election Day is close. Distance affects the information people attend to for a reason: distance can lead to abstract, big-picture thinking ("why") whereas proximity can lead to concrete, fine-details thinking ("how"). Even as the election draws close, encouraging people to think about the big picture can put them in an abstract mindset that pays more attention to the majority of lawn signs.
Thus, there's more to lawn signs than tradition and a candidate's name. It's not simply an issue of which side has more signs posted, but also the mindset of the person viewing the sign. And lawn signs may not only help the candidate, but also may help the person posting the sign meet some of their basic psychological needs.
Not bad for laminated cardboard.
Related Situationist posts:
- Situationist Political Science and the Situation of Voters
- Voting for a Face
- Implicit Associations in the 2008 Presidential Election
- The Situation of Political Animals
- Your Brain on Politics
- The Situation of the Obama Presidency and Race Perceptions
- Racial Attitudes in the Presidential Race
- The Racial Situation of Voting
- The Interior Situation of Undecided Voters
- On Being a Mindful Voter
- Implicit Associations in the 2008 Presidential Election
- What does an Obama victory mean?
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This entry was posted on October 2, 2012 at 12:01 am and is filed under Ideology, Politics, Social Psychology. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.
One Response to "The Situation of Political Yard Signage"
Roberta Brownie said
Well signs, even if it's a simple "No smoking" sign, calls for attention. If signs can be used to prohibit an action like smoking, it can be used to induce one too. Moreover, lawn signs are the first thing people spot while entering a property and the last thing they notice while leaving. So, they are really effective in spreading the word.


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Textbook of Limnology
Waveland Press, 1994 - Science - 412 pages
This updated edition offers new information on the subject of limnology while still remaining a classic.
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A Limnologic Perspective
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acid algae algal alkalinity amphipod anaerobic animals annual aquatic atmosphere autotrophic bacteria basin beneath benthic benthos biomass biota bluegreens body of water bogs bottom CaCO3 calcium carbon cells chlorophyll cladocerans copepods crustaceans curve density depth detritivores detritus dissolved ecology ecosystem energy epilimnion eutrophic example factors fauna fish flow forms freshwater genus habitats heat herbivores Hutchinson hypolimnetic hypolimnion inland waters invertebrates ions lake surface larvae layer light limnologists littoral lotic marine material meromictic meromixis metabolism mg/liter nekton nitrogen North America nutrients occur oligotrophic organic matter oxidized oxygen particles periphyton phosphorus photosynthesis phytoplankton plankters plankton plants ponds predators primary production profundal ratio regions relatively respiration result river rotifers saline sample sediments seiche shallow solar soluble species square meter stratification stream studies sulfate summer temperature terrestrial Textbook of Limnology tion trophic level typical vertical volume waves wetland wind winter zone zooplankton


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But for professonal photographers, shooting large format colour transparency film at $5 or more per exposure, the paypack time is measured in either months, or at most a year or two.
Boy, did someone get up on the wrong side of the bed today!
Sorry, it's just a reaction to continual talking up the capabilities of digital here (and elsewhere) and the blind eye that some seem to have to the sticker price. I've got expensive hobbies too but this is really over the top. Some for the invites to buy a H2D that land in my inbox. I think Nick has astutely identified the market segment for such a product and how restricted it is ... but more power to those who can afford to play here. I just wish the industry would make something I can see myself buying.[a href=\"index.php?act=findpost&pid=57742\"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a]
the target market for both of these (p45 and horseman) are not hobbists (although i'm sure they'd take anyone's money). the target market is professional... and most professionals who push a lot of film thru their studio ( measured in boxes per day, not sheets), will not have a hard time justifying the purchase. there's a large industry specializing in architecure and indusrial photography that wouldn't have to think twice about buying (well.. they'd need to first make sure the quality and workflow was adequate)[a href=\"index.php?act=findpost&pid=57746\"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a]
For fine art photographers? No. It's a matter of want not need for them. Commercial, products, fashion, architectural, industrial, scientific, yes, and more.[a href=\"index.php?act=findpost&pid=57781\"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a]
.....10,000 images on its counter already, and is not yet a year old. Just the cost of this approach, if it was done with film, would probably pay for the camera. Alain[a href=\"index.php?act=findpost&pid=57806\"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a]
When you refer to "the" camera is it the 1DSMKII or the "Phase One P45 back coupled to a Horseman SWD camera body fitted with a Schneider 24mm Digitar lens" kind of camera? If the later, it's still simple economics if the 1DSMKII gives you 99% of what you want, what's that last 1% worth? 20 - 30 - $40K?[a href=\"index.php?act=findpost&pid=57810\"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a]
I know quite a few of these who will regularly shoot 400-500 sheets of 4X5 a month. For them a medium format back is a money saver, because after 12-18 months the savings start to escallate.Add to that the capital depeciation vs the expensing of supplies, the savings of time running back and forth to the lab, the time and energy spent doing high-end scans, and frankly the equaition is a no-brainer.Michael[a href=\"index.php?act=findpost&pid=57781\"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a]
You going to tell me if you spend $ 5.00 dollars here and $ 5.00 dollars there will be ok? even so you don't know if those shot are ok!
However, it is precisely because we are working professionals that I would like to see future developments in MFDBs leaning towards things like high ISO/low noise, decent screen, faster shooting, better profiles, better software and so on, rather than just a push for more pixels.[a href=\"index.php?act=findpost&pid=57824\"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a]
I think Alain has the right idea, he uses the best tools for the job in hand- Canon for scouting and smaller image uses, 4x5 film when high res is needed.[a href=\"index.php?act=findpost&pid=57824\"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a]
The tax aspect is interesting. I'm not sure about the States but here in Australia I cannot claim camera gear over about AUD1000 as a tax deduction directly. It is a capital cost and only the depreciation of it's value can be claimed against tax. Or, if it is leased, the full lease payments may be claimed directly.The tax office generally allows a 100% depreciation on camera equipment over 3 years ie 33% per year. The problem is that digital equipment has a shorter product cycle than previous camera equipment and the tax office has yet to catch up to this.[a href=\"index.php?act=findpost&pid=57824\"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a]
In the US it's called section 179. It used to be 20k maximum, but it was raised much higher a couple years ago. In my eyes its one of the most important tax breaks made available to small businesses. Plus, it encourages investing in one's equipment. Finally, as you say, there's no point amortizing over a longer period of time than the equipment is going to last. Alain[a href=\"index.php?act=findpost&pid=57837\"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a]
This also relates to Bernard's comments about the richer you are the richer you become - a truism if I ever heard one..[a href=\"index.php?act=findpost&pid=57854\"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a]


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Mister Wilfredo Rosado makes jewelry that is Excellently Outstanding. Paris Vogue agrees. Perhaps so will you. To view the collection, please click HERE.
"Excellence is to be 52 and not ashamed by the choices I made. Excellence is being wary of money, because all the rich people I know are really fucked up. Excellence is saying what you want to say in a world in which you become a pariah if you dare to say what you think. Excellence is being able to die when you want, how you want. It's finding a way to go through life without going to the shrink." —Didier Lestrade
Um, ahem (clearing throat). Doctor, we couldn't agree more, really, with Didier Lestrade, founder of Magazine, the legendary, still-influential-today, queer cult 'zine from the '80s, and the man who launched ACT-UP, Paris as well as TÊTU, France's number one gay publication. We have a previously professed fondness for remembrances of great things past here at The Excellent People world headquarters, and Lestrade, along with Magazine, were but two of the French delights that astounded us with Outstanding Excellency during our all-too-brief coming-of-age period in Europe, oh so many years ago. At the time, we were big fans (still are) and readers of Magazine. Feeling nostalgic, we decided to catch up with Didier Lestrade. Now let's focus on his long overdue close-up. To read the full interview, please click HERE.


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PORTSMOUTH — Witches, ghosts, and werewolves haunted the historic Strawbery Banke grounds last Friday night.
The annual Ghosts on the Banke brought many families to the famous Portsmouth site for a night of Halloween frights and fun. Many traditional monsters from the spooky holiday could be seen walking around the grounds.
The moonlight along a jack-o-lantern lit path allowed safe trick or treating from house to house, something volunteer Amy Cairy said attracts attendees.
"It's safe for the kids," Cairy said. "Everything is really safe. It's not too scary, It's a good way to introduce them to Halloween events."
Unlike trick or treating in a neighborhood, the event is constrained to one location. Parents don't have to worry about dangerous elements interrupting their night.
Kim Martin, of Eliot, Maine, liked its unique way of using Halloween to appeal to younger kids.
"It's a really different, nice way of celebrating the holiday," Martin said. "It's trick or treating in an old fashioned way."
Martin hopes to keep her family's tradition of attending Ghosts on the Banke by attending next year.
One of the most popular attractions was the haunted maze with kids returning multiple times to try and find their way out. Surrounded by ominous scarecrow figures, the maze was the highlight for many kids.
"We had a great time," Shannon Bosworth, of Raymond, said. "That was probably the scariest moment for them without being really scary."
Apple crisp, wood-fired pizza, and fried dough were munched on while crowds of people sat around a bonfire. Of course, candy was the most anticipated treat for kids.
"The kids just have so much fun," Cairy said. "We saw a lot of kids hopping up and down before we opened. It's fun to watch the kids pick out the candy."
A screening of the film James and the Giant Peach was projected onto the back of one of the houses and drew a large audience. Bosworth said she and her kids, Conor and Addison, were having a great time taking in all the different activities and relaxing for the movie.
"It's quaint, content and well-lit," Bosworth said. "It's a great atmosphere."
Bosworth added that she looked at other Halloween venues and was turned away from the high prices. At $6 per person the Ghosts on the Banke was the more appealing option.
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Going to Strawbery Banke for Halloween has become a multigenerational hit for many families.
"There's something for everybody," Cairy said. "Families come year after year. It keeps on getting bigger and bigger and I think that's something to look forward to."
Seacord believes that the numbers in attendance to Ghosts on the Banke will be high due to the impending storm. She heard from several people they are going to the event in case Hurricane Sandy disrupts trick or treating next week.
People who attend the event become interested in the history of Strawberry Banke Cairy added.
"It's just a great time for families to spend together," Cairy said. "What's really nice is Mother Nature bringing a natural fog."
Strawbery Banke ghost night was a-maze-ing
PORTSMOUTH — Witches, ghosts, and werewolves haunted the historic Strawbery Banke grounds last Friday night.


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No one's going to reach for seconds of the mashed potatoes if they're gluey or cold or tasteless. Start out with your favorite recipe (this is a great one!), avoid these common pitfalls, and your guests will be begging you to make mashed potatoes.
1. Using the wrong type of potatoes
Choose higher starch potatoes (like Russets or Yukon golds) for the fluffiest, smoothest mash. They also absorb flavorings more easily. Waxy potatoes (such as red or white varieties) require more mashing to become creamy, which could lead to the dreaded "potato paste."
2. Not salting the water
When potatoes cook, the starch granules swell and absorb water and — if you've added it — salt. You won't need to add as much at the end, and your final product will be well-seasoned, not bland.
3. Starting them in hot water
Cover them with cold water, add salt, then heat to boiling and reduce to a simmer. If you start in hot water, they'll cook unevenly, with the outside falling apart before the inside is cooked.
4. Under-draining
Make sure to drain well after cooking. You want them to taste like potatoes, not water. If you'd like, gently reheat the drained potatoes on the stovetop to dry them out slightly before mashing.
5. Adding your flavorings straight from the fridge
Let your butter come to room temperature before melting it into the hot potatoes, then mash in the warm milk or cream. It will be absorbed more easily, and won't cool everything down.
6. Overworking
The swollen starch granules in your cooked potatoes are in a delicate state. Mashing them too vigorously — say, in the food processor — or for too long releases lots of starch, which can make them gluey and unappetizing. (Need help choosing the right tool? Our Institute experts weigh in.) Be gentle with your potatoes, and you'll be rewarded with light, fluffy spuds, and happy, well-fed guests.
7. Making them too far ahead
We're big fans of preparing food ahead of time, especially when there's lots of cooking involved, but potatoes don't take kindly to sitting around for long periods. Refrigerating them overnight sounds like a no-brainer, but they'll start to taste like cardboard. Want to make them ahead anyway? You can hold the prepared potatoes in a heat-proof bowl, with the surface covered with plastic wrap, over a pot of simmering water for up to 2 hours. If you have a slow-cooker with a Warm setting, that will work too. Fluff 'em up again before serving.
NEXT: The 8 Biggest Mistakes You Make Cooking Turkey »
Catherine Lo is an associate editor in the Good Housekeeping Test Kitchen. This article originally appeared on GoodHousekeeping.com.
Photo: Getty Images
PLUS: The Answers to All Your Turkey Questions
From: Good Housekeeping US


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International Standards and Conformity Assessment for all electrical, electronic and related technologies
Optical radiation safety and laser equipment
TC 76 Scope
To prepare international standards for equipment (including systems) incorporating lasers (and light emitting diodes) or intended only for use with lasers, including those factors introduced by the use of lasers which are needed to characterize equipment and/or which are essential to safe use.
The scope includes the preparation of standards applying limits as determined by organizations such as ICNIRP and CIE, to human exposure to optical radiation (100 nm to 1 mm) from artificial sources. Group Safety Function: Aspects of laser radiation pertaining to human safety.
Further information
|United States of America
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| 4.5°C Belfast
Manchester United striker Dimitar Berbatov is undergoing a medical at Fulham.
The 31-year-old was widely expected to leave Old Trafford following the signing of Robin van Persie and now appears to be close to a reunion with Martin Jol, who was his manager at Tottenham.
If the deal, believed to be worth as much as £5million, is completed without any issues, Jol hopes to include the Bulgarian in his squad for Saturday's trip to West Ham.


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We are continuously working to improve the reliability of electricity supply to our customers and each year we aim to meet the reliability targets set by the Australian Energy Regulator (AER).
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