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Congrats to Fleshies and Phantom Limbs for winning the 2003 SF Weekly Music Awards !!!!
We are all amazed that 2 of our bands won considering that there are thousands of local bands in the Bay Area - many of which that are in the same category that our band's won in Punk (Fleshies) and Rock / Indie Rock (Phantom Limbs).
Phantom Limbs just returned from their US tour in support of their new album Displacement and Fleshies are on a hiatus after releasing their latest album The Sicilian in April and touring for 4 months (!) in support of that.
10/14/03: U.S. Soldiers Sending Form Letters on Iraq War ?
The Olympian Online
From : http://www.theolympian.com/home/news/20031011/frontpage/121390.shtml
WASHINGTON -- Letters from hometown soldiers describing their successes rebuilding Iraq have been appearing in newspapers across the country as U.S. public opinion on the mission sours.
And all the letters are the same.
A Gannett News Service search found identical letters from different soldiers with the 2nd Battalion of the 503rd Airborne Infantry Regiment, also known as "The Rock," in 11 newspapers, including Snohomish, Wash.
The Olympian received two identical letters signed by different hometown soldiers: Spc. Joshua Ackler and Spc. Alex Marois, who is now a sergeant. The paper declined to run either because of a policy not to publish form letters.
The five-paragraph letter talks about the soldiers' efforts to re-establish police and fire departments, and build water and sewer plants in the northern Iraqi city of Kirkuk, where the unit is based.
"The quality of life and security for the citizens has been largely restored, and we are a large part of why that has happened," the letter reads.
It describes people waving at passing troops and children running up to shake their hands and say thank you.
It's not clear who wrote the letter or organized sending it to soldiers' hometown papers.
Six soldiers reached by GNS directly or through their families said they agreed with the letter's thrust. But none of the soldiers said he wrote it, and one said he didn't even sign it.
Marois, 23, told his family he signed the letter, said Moya Marois, his stepmother. But she said he was puzzled why it was sent to the newspaper in Olympia. He attended high school in Olympia but no longer considers the city home, she said. Moya Marois and Alex's father, Les, now live near Kooskia, Idaho.
A seventh soldier didn't know about the letter until his father congratulated him for getting it published in the local newspaper in Beckley, W.Va.
"When I told him he wrote such a good letter, he said: 'What letter?' " Timothy Deaconson said Friday, recalling the phone conversation he had with his son, Nick. "This is just not his (writing) style."
He spoke to his son, Pfc. Nick Deaconson, at a hospital where he was recovering from a grenade explosion that left shrapnel in both his legs.
Sgt. Christopher Shelton, who signed a letter that ran in the Snohomish Herald, said Friday that his platoon sergeant had distributed the letter and asked soldiers for the names of their hometown newspapers. Soldiers were asked to sign the letter if they agreed with it, said Shelton, whose shoulder was wounded during an ambush earlier this year.
"Everything it said is dead accurate. We've done a really good job," he said by phone from Italy, where he was preparing to return to Iraq.
Sgt. Todd Oliver, a spokesman for the 173rd Airborne Brigade, which counts the 503rd as one of its units, said he was told a soldier wrote the letter, but he didn't know who. He said the brigade's public affairs unit was not involved.
"When he asked other soldiers in his unit to sign it, they did," Oliver explained in an e-mail response to a GNS inquiry. "Someone, somewhere along the way, took it upon themselves to mail it to the various editors of newspapers across the country."
Lt. Col. Bill MacDonald, a spokesman for the 4th infantry Division that is heading operations in north-central Iraq, said he had not heard about the letter-writing campaign.
Neither had Lt. Cmdr. Nick Balice, a spokesman for U.S. Central Command in Tampa, Fla.
A recent poll suggests that Americans are increasingly skeptical of America's prolonged involvement in Iraq. A USA Today-CNN-Gallup Poll released Sept. 23 found 50 percent believe that the situation in Iraq was worth going to war over, down from 73 percent in April.
For the rest of the article see:
10/14/03: D.O.A. Celebrate 25th Anniversary
D.O.A., Canada's most influential punk rock band, is beginning the celebration of their 25th Anniversary. Having influenced a couple of generations of punks and musicians and made a big impact on underground "people power" politics, D.O.A.will mark the occasion in a couple of special ways. Sudden Death Records (Canada's punk godfather Joey Shithead Keithley's own record label) will release the definitive D.O.A. album "War and Peace" a 26 track compilation of D.O.A.'s greatest recorded moments. War and Peace starts at the roots with "Disco Sucks", "The Enemy" and "Liar For Hire" right through to their modern blitzkrieg sound of "Dead Men Tell No Tales" and "Just Say No To The WTO".
D.O.A. will blast through live shows with their new rock solid lineup of Joey, The Great Baldini on drums and new bassist Damned Dan Yaremko (Econoline Crush, Bif Naked). This fall, Shithead's first book "I, Shithead, a life in punk" will be out on Arsenal Pulp Press. It is a definitive and raunchy look at punk and the spread of counter culture throughout western society. Sudden Death Records will also release this fall "Let's Start The Action" an electronic tribute to D.O.A. performed by 20 different artists from around the world and inspired by the anti-globalization movement. As well, Sudden Death has recently re-released D.O.A.'s first two albums "Something Better Change" and "Hardcore 81", recently picked as two of the top five Canadian punk rock albums of all time, by AMP Magazine. A full length documentary on D.O.A. "Talk-Action=0" is being developed by film maker Marcus Rogers (The Widower).
D.O.A. has travelled a long, tough road, that has taken them around the world and the raw energy continues. The band has never been more active, having recently released their second DVD, D.O.A.'s "Greatest Shits" and a split album with metal legend Thor ("Are U Ready"). Recently Mayor Larry Campbell of Vancouver declared December 21st to be " D.O.A. Day" in Vancouver. The band has also been featured in punk and political books published around the world. Come join in the power and non compromise that is D.O.A.(see tour dates on our Tour Dates page - thanks)
10/11/03: Georgia To Name Mountain 'Schwarzenegger'?
Story filed: 13:57 Friday 10th October 2003
Authorities in the former Soviet state of Georgia want to nam e a peak in the Caucasus Mountains after Arnold Schwarzenegger. But there's a catch - California's governor-elect apparently must visit the small former Soviet republic if the honour is to be bestowed.
Georgian President Eduard Shevardnadze's representative in the western Imertia region said that the regional administration is sending Schwarzenegger a letter congratulating him on his political victory.
The representative, Temur Shashiashvili, said authorities had invited the actor to visit three years ago and planned to name a mountain after him then.
He said Schwarzenegger had said he would come, but was unable to make it at the time.
"Now, congratulating him on his win, we are again inviting him to visit us. And we hope we hope that it will happen," Mr Shashiashvili said. "We want to establish close contacts with California."
He said that if the plan comes to fruition, the ceremony naming a peak after Schwarzenegger will be "a colourful show in which the leading role will be played by the renowned actor."
10/08/03: California Lay'd By Arnold
from Greg Palast's website (www.gregpalast.com)
According to a series of memoranda our office obtained today, Arnold Schwarzenegger's dalliance with boys in a hotel room just two years ago is every bit as scandalous as his manhandling of women during his career as celebrity he-man.
The wannabe governor has yet to deny that on May 17, 2001, at the Peninsula Hotel in Los Angeles, he had consensual political intercourse with Enron chieftain Kenneth Lay.� Also frolicking with Arnold and Ken was convicted stock swindler Mike Milken.
Now, thirty-four pages of internal Enron memoranda have just come through this reporter's fax machine tell all about the tryst between Maria's husband and the corporate con men.� It turns out that Schwarzenegger knowingly joined the hush-hush encounter as part of a campaign to sabotage a Davis-Bustamante plan to make Enron and other power pirates then ravaging California pay back the $9 billion in illicit profits they carried off.
Here's the story Arnold doesn't want you to hear.� The biggest single threat to Ken Lay and the electricity lords is a private lawsuit filed last year under California's unique Civil Code provision 17200, the "Unfair Business Practices Act."� This litigation, heading to trial now in Los Angeles, would make the power companies return the $9 billion they filched from California electricity and gas customers.
It takes real cojones to bring such a suit.� Who's the plaintiff taking on the bad guys?� Cruz Bustamante, Lieutenant Governor and reluctant leading candidate against Schwarzenegger.
Now follow the action.� One month after Cruz brings suit, Enron's Lay calls an emergency secret meeting in L.A. of his political buck-buddies, including Arnold.� Their plan, to undercut Davis (according to Enron memos) and "solve" the energy crisis -- that is, make the Bustamante legal threat go away.
How can that be done?� Follow the trail with me.
While Bustamante's kicking Enron butt in court, the Davis Administration is simultaneously demanding that George Bush's energy regulators order the $9 billion refund.�� Don't hold your breath:� Bush's Federal Energy Regulatory Commission is headed by a guy proposed by � Ken Lay.
But Bush's boys on the commission have a problem.� The evidence against the electricity barons is rock solid:� fraudulent reporting of sales transactions, megawatt "laundering," fake power delivery scheduling and straight out conspiracy (including meetings in hotel rooms).
So the Bush commissioners cook up a terrific scheme:� charge the companies with conspiracy but offer them, behind closed doors, deals in which they have to pay only two cents on each dollar they filched.
Problem:� the slap-on-the-wrist refunds won't sail if the Governor of California won't play along.� Solution:� Re-call the Governor.
New Problem:� the guy most likely to replace Davis is not Mr. Musclehead, but Cruz Bustamante,� even a bigger threat to the power companies than Davis.� Solution:� smear Cruz� because -- heaven forbid! -- he took donations from Injuns (instead of Ken Lay).
The pay-off?� Once Arnold is Governor, he blesses the sweetheart settlements with the power companies.� When that happens, Bustamante's court cases are probably lost.� There aren't many judges who will let a case go to trial to protect a state if that a governor has already allowed the matter to be "settled" by a regulatory agency.
So think about this.� The state of California is in the hole by $8 billion for the coming year.� That's chump change next to the $8 TRILLION in deficits and surplus losses planned and incurred by George Bush.� Nevertheless, the $8 billion deficit is the hanging rope California's right wing is using to lynch Governor Davis.
Yet only Davis and Bustamante are taking direct action to get back the $9 billion that was vacuumed out of the state by Enron, Reliant, Dynegy, Williams Company and the other Texas bandits who squeezed the state by the bulbs.
But if Arnold is selected, it's 'hasta la vista' to the $9 billion.� When the electricity emperors whistle, Arnold comes -- to the Peninsula Hotel or the Governor's mansion.� The he-man turns pussycat and curls up in their lap.
I asked Mr. Muscle's PR people to comment on the new Enron memos -- and his strange silence on Bustamante's suit or Davis' petition.� But Arnold was too busy shaving off his Hitlerian mustache to respond.
The Enron memos were discovered by the Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights, Los Angeles, www.ConsumerWatchdog.org
Greg Palast is author of the New York Times bestseller, "The Best Democracy Money Can Buy" as well as "Regulation and Democracy" (with Theo MacGregor and Jerrold Oppenheim), the United Nations guide to utility deregulation. Read Palast's commentaries at www.GregPalast.com. Reprints permitted. Contact: email@example.com.
10/07/03: Darryl to speak & sing in LA on FBI suit and Earth First!
Darryl Cherney, just off a successful lawsuit against the FBI and fresh with new musical material, will be appearing in LA at the Onion Forum, 9550 Haskell, on Tuesday night, October 14th at 7:30 pm. Donations requested. Darryl will speak on his and Judi's successful trial against the FBI and Oakland Police for violations of civil rights stemming from a 1990 car bomb attack on their lives for which they were both almost framed.
10/03/03: Anti-Bush T-shirt approved
Judge rules school can't ban teen-ager from wearing it
By David Shepardson / The Detroit News
Dearborn High School was wrong to ban a student from wearing a T-shirt that labeled President Bush an "international terrorist," a federal judge ruled Wednesday.
U.S. District Judge Patrick Duggan issued a preliminary injunction allowing senior Bretton Barber to wear the black T-shirt.
"The courts have never declared that the school yard is an inappropriate place for political debate," Duggan wrote. "Students benefit when school officials provide an environment where they can openly express their diverging viewpoints and when they learn to tolerate the opinions of others."
Barber wore the T-shirt to school on Feb. 17 and was told by an assistant principal to turn it inside out. He refused and left school for the remainder of the day.
The American Civil Liberties Union filed suit on Barber's behalf in March after the district refused to back down, fearing it might ignite tensions among students and noting the country was at war in Iraq. One of Barber's lawyers said he hasn't decided to wear the T-shirt to school.
"I don't think he's made a decision on whether or when he's going to wear it," said Michael Steinberg, who is legal director for the ACLU of Michigan.
Steinberg praised Duggan "for applying the well-established principles of free speech in public schools."
A lawyer for Dearborn Public Schools, George Butler, declined to comment because he hadn't seen the decision.
Duggan said if the shirt becomes a "substantial disruption" then the school district could return to court to ask him to reverse his ruling.
Barber will be honored by the ACLU on Nov. 8. The award will be presented by John Tinker, who sparked the landmark Supreme Court student free-speech case in 1969.
John Tinker, now 52 and living in Fayette, Mo., was expelled from school for wearing a black armband to protest the Vietnam War.
10/01/03: City Tries to Block Concert Suicide Plan
Tue Sep 30, 8:57 AM ET
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (Reuters) - City officials in St. Petersburg, Florida, passed a law on Monday banning public suicides in an attempt to prevent a rock band from carrying out a planned suicide at a concert.
The band Hell on Earth said on its Web site, www.hellonearth.net, that a terminally ill member of the Euthanasia Society would commit suicide at the concert at an undisclosed location in St. Petersburg. The band said it planned to show the event on its Web site.
"This is about standing up for what you believe in and I am a strong supporter of physician-assisted suicide," band leader Billy Tourtelot said in a statement posted on the Web site.
"This performance will go in its entirety and it will be in St. Petersburg on Oct. 4," Tourtelot said.
The St. Petersburg City Council held an emergency meeting on Monday and passed an ordinance to ban public suicides. City officials are also seeking a court injunction to stop the performance.
The St. Petersburg-based band is known for its outrageous acts. At one concert, dead rats were put into a blender and some audience members drank the concoction.
The concert featuring the suicide had been scheduled to take place at the State Theater in St. Petersburg but the manager canceled it after he learned about the planned suicide.
09/17/03: Japanese Baseball Sign vs. George Bush
On August 29, Randolph Sill headed to a Mariners game with a homemade sign decked out with slogans written in Japanese kanji, along with the number of Sill's favorite player, Ichiro Suzuki. Whenever Ichiro came up to bat, Sill would hold his sign high. Sill, who's spent time in Japan, knows Japanese television regularly broadcasts Mariners games and spotlights signs for its native son Ichiro.
Here's what Sill's sign said: On one side, the kanji read, "President Bush is a monkey's butt." On the other: "Americans are ashamed of our corrupt president." Sill, who hoped his sign would be broadcast on TV here and in Japan, says many Japanese fans at Safeco Field smiled and winked when they read his sign.
Mariners security staff, however, were not amused. When they caught on during the seventh inning, a cop escorted Sill and his sign to the security office, and seized the sign. "I haven't heard, yet, if the sign was broadcast to all of Japan," Sill says.
09/16/03: Lawmaker Wants to Put 'French' Back in Fries
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - To get international help to rebuild Iraq, Congress may have to eat some French fries and French toast, according to Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee.
Saying it is time to put aside differences with France, the Texas Democrat circulated a letter on Monday urging the U.S. House of Representatives to put back the word "French" in fries and toast on House cafeteria and dining hall menus.
Lawmakers ordered them renamed "Freedom" fries and "Freedom" toast last spring, reflecting anger at France for its opposition to the U.S.-led war to topple Saddam Hussein as Iraq's president.
But times have changed, Jackson Lee said, and now the Washington is trying to get France and other members of the United Nations to contribute money and troops to help stabilize Iraq and rebuild its devastated infrastructure.
"President Bush is now urging that all parties put aside 'past bickering,'" she said in her letter. "A symbolic start to that effort" would be reinstating foods on the House menus "with their traditional 'American' names -- French toast and French fries."
Rep. Bob Ney, head of the House Administration Committee, ordered the changes in March. The Ohio Republican took the action at the suggestion of Rep. Walter Jones, a North Carolina Republican.
08/26/03: ** Updated Memorial Service For Wesley Willis Announced
There will be a viewing on Wednesday, August 27th from 4-9pm at the John Rago & Sons Memorial Chapel in Chicago, IL.
John Rago & Sons Memorial Chapel
The memorial service will be at 6:30 pm.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to "John Rago & Sons Memorial Chapel" (check or money order) mailed to above address to help defray memorial & burial costs. Thank You.
Please check back on our website to see if any of this information has changed.
For more information see http://www.wesleywillis.org
08/22/03: Rock Star Wesley Willis Dead at 40
Dear Friends and fellow Wesleynauts, We are deeply saddened to report that one of our artists, Wesley Willis passed away yesterday, Thursday, August 21st. Wesley will be greatly missed by all that had the privilege to know him, as well as the fans who have been fortunate enough to experience his genius.
Wesley was diagnosed with Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia (CML) at the end of 2002, and had to undergo emergency surgery on June 2nd to identify the source of, and to suppress internal bleeding. It is not clear if this bleeding was related to his leukemia or not, and the exact cause of death is still unknown. Wesley had been recovering at a Hospice in Illinois, and since the surgery his health had deteriorated rapidly.
His songs were simultaneously disturbing, hilarious, blunt, and intoxicating. Wesley's sheer excitement and unaffected honesty about every cultural phenomenon, defined his music as truly individual, and truly punk rock.
Wesley released well over 50 albums - 3 of which are on Alternative Tentacles, and a 4th, entitled, Wesley Willis Greatest Hits Vol. 3 (CD) had already been scheduled for release in October of this year.
Currently there are no plans for any funeral service but we will inform you if there will be.
For more information on Wesley Willis, please see:
Indie Retailers Sue Best Buy
By Ed Christman
NEW YORK (Billboard) - A group of independent music retailers has filed a class-action lawsuit against Best Buy Co. Inc., alleging that the chain violates U.S. antitrust laws, as well as California state laws, that govern loss-leader selling, the strategy of pricing product below cost.
In the lawsuit -- filed Aug. 6 in U.S. District Court for the Central District of California, Western Division -- the plaintiffs charge that Best Buy uses its clout to receive benefits from the major labels that are not generally available to the chain's competitors. The plaintiffs in the case are Mad Rhino, Boo Boo Records, Lou's Records, Dimple Records and Rand Foster of Fingerprints.
The lawsuit says Best Buy is "able to extract from the major record companies an additional 10% discount vis-a-vis other purchasers" and receives advertising and other allowances not generally granted to other merchants. According to the complaint, these favorable prices, terms and conditions allow Best Buy to sell new albums as loss leaders, diverting massive amounts of business away from its competitors.
The complaint alleges that Best Buy has knowingly received favorable and discriminatory prices on new albums, a practice that violates the Robinson-Patman Act. Also, the complaint says that Best Buy's below-cost pricing is a way of injuring competitors or destroying competition, in violation of the California Business and Professions Code. California has a state law that merchants must price product at least 6% above cost.
The lawsuit asks for treble damages and legal fees.
Best Buy executives were unavailable for comment.
The Tale of The Brits Who Swiped 800 Jobs From New York, Carted Off $90
Million, Then Tonight, Turned Off Our Lights I can tell you all about the ne're-do-wells that put out our lights
tonight. I came up against these characters -- the Niagara Mohawk Power
Company -- some years back. You see, before I was a journalist, I worked
for a living, as an investigator of corporate racketeers. In the 1980s,
"NiMo" built a nuclear plant, Nine Mile Point, a brutally costly piece of
hot junk for which NiMo and its partner companies charged billions to New
York State's electricity ratepayers. To pull off this grand theft by kilowatt, the NiMo-led consortium
fabricated cost and schedule reports, then performed a Harry Potter job on
the account books. In 1988, I showed a jury a memo from an executive from
one partner, Long Island Lighting, giving a lesson to a NiMo honcho on how
to lie to government regulators. The jury ordered LILCO to pay $4.3 billion
and, ultimately, put them out of business. Read the
entire story at the Voice4Change webiste.
Indie Retailers Sue Best Buy
By Ed Christman
NEW YORK (Billboard) - A group of independent music retailers has filed a class-action lawsuit against Best Buy Co. Inc., alleging that the chain violates U.S. antitrust laws, as well as California state laws, that govern loss-leader selling, the strategy of pricing product below cost. �
In the lawsuit -- filed Aug. 6 in U.S. District Court for the Central District of California, Western Division -- the plaintiffs charge that Best Buy uses its clout to receive benefits from the major labels that are not generally available to the chain's competitors. The plaintiffs in the case are Mad Rhino, Boo Boo Records, Lou's Records, Dimple Records and Rand Foster of Fingerprints.
The lawsuit says Best Buy is "able to extract from the major record companies an additional 10% discount vis-a-vis other purchasers" and receives advertising and other allowances not generally granted to other merchants. According to the complaint, these favorable prices, terms and conditions allow Best Buy to sell new albums as loss leaders, diverting massive amounts of business away from its competitors.
The complaint alleges that Best Buy has knowingly received favorable and discriminatory prices on new albums, a practice that violates the Robinson-Patman Act. Also, the complaint says that Best Buy's below-cost pricing is a way of injuring competitors or destroying competition, in violation of the California Business and Professions Code. California has a state law that merchants must price product at least 6% above cost.
The lawsuit asks for treble damages and legal fees.
Best Buy executives were unavailable for comment.
The Tale of The Brits Who Swiped 800 Jobs From New York, Carted Off $90 Million, Then Tonight, Turned Off Our LightsFriday, August 15, 2003 by Greg Palast
I can tell you all about the ne're-do-wells that put out our lights tonight. I came up against these characters -- the Niagara Mohawk Power Company -- some years back. You see, before I was a journalist, I worked for a living, as an investigator of corporate racketeers. In the 1980s, "NiMo" built a nuclear plant, Nine Mile Point, a brutally costly piece of hot junk for which NiMo and its partner companies charged billions to New York State's electricity ratepayers.
To pull off this grand theft by kilowatt, the NiMo-led consortium fabricated cost and schedule reports, then performed a Harry Potter job on the account books. In 1988, I showed a jury a memo from an executive from one partner, Long Island Lighting, giving a lesson to a NiMo honcho on how to lie to government regulators. The jury ordered LILCO to pay $4.3 billion and, ultimately, put them out of business.
Read the entire story at the Voice4Change webiste.
Jack Grisham, frontman for the veteran punk group T.S.O.L., announced to MTV News on Wednesday (July 30) that he is running for governor of California in the controversial October 7 recall election to unseat incumbent Democrat Gray Davis.
"I can't afford heath insurance, so I figure if I'm governor, at least they have a good health insurance plan," Grisham joked. The charming singer made light of his first interview as a politician, but insisted his campaign is entirely serious.
"For years I was always, 'F--- the government. F--- the government. F--- the government.' I was always bitching and not doing a thing about it," he explained. "And the other day I said, 'Now I am.' I just got tired of seeing people hurt, that was the biggest thing. I got three sisters who are teachers, two brothers who are police officers, a bunch of friends who are labor workers, dock workers. I work with undocumented alien immigrants all the time and I got tired seeing what they go through and no one caring. And they put this new budget out and the first thing they slash is health care and the first thing they start screwing is the people."
Grisham, who works labor jobs when not touring, will make heath-care reform the center of his platform. Recently, the singer himself was denied health care because his income was just more than the qualifying limit. "I said to the lady, 'So if I quit my job and left my wife and kids, you could fix my back?' " Grisham said. "And she said, 'Yes.' "
As for the state's budget crisis, Grisham said he would hire top accountants to come up with solutions. "It's like being a producer, you get the best people around you to take care of business," he said.
On other issues, Grisham is for legalizing and taxing both marijuana and prostitution, and supports full amnesty for undocumented aliens.
"Another big part of my platform is volunteerism, getting the community involved," he said. "People are just taking and giving nothing in return."
Grisham believes California is ready for an everyday guy, "someone who wears sandals with his sport coat" (as he did Wednesday), to be governor.
"The average California citizen is not riding around in a limousine," he said. "A lot of these [other candidates] want to talk about drug abuse and alcohol abuse and all that, but they've never seen it. You have no idea what these people experience until you've experienced it. Since the end of 1988, I've lost 80-something friends to drugs and alcohol abuse. I've been arrested. When was the last time a politician spent the night in jail? All jails create are more animals."
Grisham, who will run as an independent ("No one will take me," he joked), decided to join the unprecedented gubernatorial race only a few days ago, after friends made the suggestion. "Someone called me and said, 'Have you ever been convicted of a felony?' And I said, 'Well, never convicted,' " Grisham recalled. "And they said, 'Well, we want you to run for governor.' So I said, 'I'm in.' "
T.S.O.L. (True Sounds of Liberty), who formed in Huntington Beach, California, in 1978, were an influence on many other California punk bands forming at the time, including Bad Religion, the Dead Kennedys and Social Distortion.
Grisham left the band in the mid-'80s, but rejoined in 1999 and recorded 2001's Disappear with the original lineup. T.S.O.L.'s next album, Divided We Stand, is due September 9, however Grisham refused to talk about the project.
"The fact that I play music has nothing to do with this," he said. "I'm willing to give that all up to take this job. This really matters, it's not a joke."
Another entertainer, Arnold Schwarzenegger, has hinted he might run as well, but a Republican Party spokesperson said Wednesday that he will not.
Davis, who was re-elected governor a year ago, has been blamed for California's $38 billion deficit and accused of being indecisive during the energy crisis. Earlier this summer, Republicans gathered the required number of signatures ? 12 percent of the total number of voters in the previous gubernatorial election, in this case, 897,158 ? for a recall, the first in the U.S. since the governor of North Dakota was removed in 1921.
To get onto the recall ballot, a candidate needs only 65 signatures and a $3,500 filing fee. Because so many names will be on the ballot and the length of the campaign period is so short, less traditional candidates have a better chance in a recall than in a normal gubernatorial election.This report is provided by MTV News


text:
David Beckham is going to be loaned from Los Angeles to Milan for a couple of months early next year, and it's a much bigger story in England than it is here. So, no change since Beckham's arrival in the summer of 2007. He's still a bigger story in England than he is here.
I keep looking for cynicism and ridicule in the English papers' on-line coverage today of Beckham's plan for a temporary move to AC Milan. I don't see it. Give 'em time.
For the moment it seems straightforward. The Galaxy is out of season until April. Beckham knows he must keep playing to keep his spot on England's national team. AC Milan figures it can use him, though his exact role isn't clear yet.
Some soccer fans here fear — and some non-fans hope — this move will lead to Beckham's permanent departure from the Galaxy. But there's no indication that's the case in anything anybody involved in the situation is saying today. Loans aren't unusual in the world of professional soccer. Only they don't often involve David Beckham, AC Milan … and the L.A. Galaxy … so speculation is natural.
For the most complete account I've found from an English paper, click here.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Neurology, Psychiatry Grand RoundsEvent Details: 8:00 a.m. - 9:00 a.m., July 14, , 1402 S. Grand Blvd., St. Louis, MO, 63104
The Department of Neurology and Psychiatry will host Grand Rounds from 8-9 a.m. Thursday, July 14, at Schwitalla Hall, School of Medicine, 1402 So. Grand Blvd., 63104. The entrance is only through the Learning Resource Center (LRC).
The speaker will be Tracy D. Gunter, M.D., who will present a program for both divisions about issues in emergency psychiatry, titled "Evaluation and Disposition of the Potentially Dangerous Patient."
Gunter is associate professor of psychiatry in the Department of Neurology and Psychiatry and holds a secondary appointment in the SLU School of Law.
She is board-certified in general and forensic psychiatry. She earned her medical degree from the University of South Carolina, where she also completed forensic psychiatry training.
Following training, she rose to the position of Director of the Forensic Evaluation Service for the South Carolina Department of Mental Health and earned the University of South Carolina Neuropsychiatry Department Chairman's Excellence Award for her work in forensic psychiatry.
She relocated to Iowa City in 2003 as Director of Forensic Psychiatry at the University of Iowa's Carver College of Medicine before coming to St Louis in 2009. For the last 15 years, she has conducted more than 1500 adult and adolescent forensic psychiatry evaluations, testified in several jurisdictions, published more than 40 articles, and presented at more than 100 national and international conferences.


text:
Dell NH118 / N743J / 71N7N / 342-1193 PERC H800 SFF-8088 External RAID Controller 512MB NV cache - New Pull
The DellTM PERC (PowerEdgeTM RAID Controller) family of enterprise-class controllers is designed for enhanced performance, increased reliability and fault tolerance, and simplified management—providing a powerful, easy-to-manage way to create a robust infrastructure and help maximize server uptime. PERC H800 also offers the following for PowerVault MD1200 and MD1220 enclosures: Increased Capacity and Scalability – up to 192 drives connected to one PERC H800
Increased Flexibility - connect both 2.5" (MD1220) and 3.5" (MD1200) enclosures to a single PERC H800
Dell NH118 342-1193 PERC H800 512MB Non-Volatile cacheThis controller has an SFF-8088 external connector.
Maxtor 8K036S0 SAS Serial SCSI Hard Disk Drives
Fujitsu MAX3036RC SAS Hard Disk
Hitachi 0B20874 SAS Hard Drive
HP 375868-B21 SAS Hard Drive
Fujitsu MAX3036RC 36GB SAS Hard Disk


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Can you pair multiple speakers from one device?
- Asked by Bill D from Essex
Philips SoundShooter Wireless Bluetooth Speaker
Product No Longer Available
1 Answer from the Community
Best Answer:
Since this is a bluetooth device you can only pair one speaker at a time. You can switch between speaker once connected.
- Answered by Alex S from Atlanta


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Having problem after you bought a product? You can find driver, manual download, and FAQ on ASUS Customer Service website. To provide you the best service ASUS provides you different ways to make a contact with us as well.
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1. Virtualization solution with RAID function, ASUS suggests to use PIKE RAID card.
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RRS Ernest Shackleton Research Ship Webcam
The webcam on RRS Ernest Shackleton is situated in the Conning Tower (see the Virtual Tour for an image of the Conning Tower). It generally looks forward, but if something of particular interest is going on, it may be moved to look aft or to either side. This is a particularly interesting webcam as (when not on long sea passages) the scenery changes regularly. During the Antarctic summer, it is possible to see stunning polar scenery, icebergs and mountains. During the Antarctic winter, the Shackleton undertakes survey work in the North Sea so you may catch a glimpse of an oil or gas platform. It updates approximately once every hour.
November 17, 2013 at 05:00
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poohcarrot wrote:swreader wrote: As to the ax—it's not when they start out that Granny stresses the importance of Oats having the ax and being willing to use it when necessary.
She had woken up and she hadn't turned into a vampire. Therefore she wasn't going to change.
They were about to set off and Oats didn't have the axe, Granny subtley reminded him, because she knew it'd be used in killing vampires - not her.
Why did she mention the axe in such a cryptic way?
Why do we spell axe differently?
Have to go back to the book, but wasn't the first thing Granny did when she "woke" in the smith was to tell Oats to always have the ax(e) near his side? This was even before they began their journey.
In case, since Granny was not a vampire, it makes MORE sense that she told Oats to bring the ax(e) as a defense against her. After all, if she thought Oats would be the Fearless Vampire Killer, she would have told him to bring along a stake and hammer. Those things, not axes, kill vampires. But, if along the way Granny had "turned evil" in some way other than becoming a vampire, an ax(e) would have been an effective tool for getting rid of her.
Thus, Granny had Oats bring the ax(e) along for his own protection against her, not the vampires.


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Assumes Role of President, Eisenhower Medical Staff
Dr. Etebar is a Board Certified Neurosurgeon specializing in the correction of spinal deformity and adult degenerative scoliosis, spinal reconstruction, diagnosis and treatment of brain disorders and tumors, and minimally invasive spinal surgery.
"Growing up, I was greatly influenced by my family physician, who became a life-long role model for me," says Dr. Etebar. "He was very compassionate, very kind and totally dedicated to taking care of people. The relationship he had with his patients and how people treated him was always amazing to me. By the age of six, I knew I wanted to be a physician...just like him."
After receiving his Bachelor of Science degree from the University of California, Irvine, Dr. Etebar earned a Master's Degree in Physiology from Georgetown University. He returned to the University of California, Irvine to attend medical school where he completed both his internship and residency in General and Neurological Surgery. Dr. Etebar then completed a Fellowship in Reconstructive Spine Surgery at the University of Florida, Tampa General Hospital.
Dr. Etebar has chaired and facilitated numerous professional courses for neurosurgeons and orthopedic surgeons addressing surgical management of the spine, both locally and nationally.


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Main advancements in new release:
- Full-width capabilities for visual presentation - no longer stuck inside a box
- Sticky navigation - provide consistent brand elements and usability
- More font options - both serif and sans-serif, in addition to the brand font are available
- Enhanced visual focus available to content - let your content shine!
Development is underway, with the intent to produce a beta version for the June WDN meeting. Launch date for the UNLedu 4.0 is scheduled for August. Exact date will be determined based on development timeframes.
Feedback and questions are welcome. We have the opportunity to work with Archrival on this design and they're available to provide suggestions as we evolve.


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More than five million people go to work every day in a Cintas uniform including employees from McDonald's, W Hotels, Royal Caribbean and many more.
Boost your profits, productivity and brand image with Cintas commercial cleaning services — and improve the comfort and well-being of your customers and employees.
Cintas can service all your first aid and safety needs and keep you informed of changes in compliance issues.
Cintas partners with our customers to provide complete Fire Protection Solutions. Our comprehensive service and innovative technologies ensure code compliance, simplify tracking and provide financial value.
Each year improper document management costs businesses like yours millions of dollars in liability and lost productivity. Let Cintas help you choose the proper document shredding, imaging, and storage program.
Cintas is a national supplier of cleanroom supplies, with an extensive network of regional distribution centers and local warehouses.
Every year 9,600 workers — just like yours — suffer electrical shock and burn injuries. Prevent your workers from becoming part of those statistics with flame resistant clothing and workwear from Cintas.
Believe it or not, one very effective way to promote your brand is to put it on someone else's product. A recent survey found that 76% of people could recall a company's name after seeing it on a promotional product.
Cintas announces Virginia Lineman as Winner & Grand Prize Finalist
Cincinnati, OH, May 1, 2010 — Carhartt and Cintas have launched its search for North America's toughest workers. The Are You Carhartt Tough? Contest is being conducted in conjunction with the roll-out of a new line of Carhartt Workwear offered for the first time in a Uniform Rental Program.
With Ducks Unlimited acting as media sponsor, contest organizers have reached out to the workforce in the United States and Canada to identify people who are strong, dependable, resilient and rugged. After hundreds of contest submissions, Cintas, Carhartt and Ducks Unlimited are proud to announce Jonathan Backus from Hampton, VA as a Grand Prize Finalist and the first quarterly winner!
Jonathan Backus- Lineman from Hampton, VA & Winner of $500 in Carhartt Merchandise!
The epitome of strength both personally and professionally, Jonathan works in dangerous high-voltage conditions in all types of weather to keep power up and running. From climbing wood poles with gaffs or steel towers upwards of 300 feet tall, to working on energized lines reaching 34,500 volts on a daily basis, Jonathan IS Carhartt Tough!
For his tough attitude and pride he takes in his work, Cintas is pleased to announce Jonathan as the first quarterly winner of $500 in Carhartt merchandise.
The Are You Carhartt Tough? Contest is still searching for North America's toughest workers. Quarterly winners will be chosen to receive $500 in Carhartt merchandise and nine additional Grand Prize finalists will be selected. At the contest's completion, two Grand Prize winners will receive a weekend duck hunt trip designed by Ducks Unlimited or a trip to The STIHL TIMBERSPORTS Series in 2011.
Check out Jonathan's story or submit your own at www.carharttrental.com.
Headquartered in Cincinnati, Ohio, Cintas Corporation provides highly specialized services to businesses of all types throughout North America. Cintas designs, manufactures and implements corporate identity uniform programs and provides entrance mats, restroom supplies, promotional products, first aid and safety products, fire protection services and document management services to approximately 800,000 businesses. Cintas is a publicly held company traded over the Nasdaq National Market under the symbol CTAS and is a Nasdaq-100 company and component of Standard & Poor's 500 Index.
Established in 1889, Carhartt is a global premium work wear brand with a rich heritage of developing rugged apparel for workers on and off the job. Headquartered in Dearborn, Mich., with more than 3,500 employees worldwide, Carhartt is privately owned and managed by the descendants of the company's founder, Hamilton Carhartt. For more information, visit www.carhartt.com.
With the help of over one milling supporters, Ducks Unlimited works on the ground to restore, manage and conserve habitats that benefit wildlife and people. Learn more at www.ducks.org.


text: Vitor has a huge speed advantage, but he doesn't use it as well as Lyoto. Vitor's blitzes usually end when he rocks/TKOs his opponent, or if they force a scramble and get out of the way. Staying in the pocket like that will get you laid out by Hendo. Lyoto does those quick karate/fencing style lunges, then gets right back out. Hendo couldn't connect as much as he wanted on the feet, but he'll have a lot more to aim at against Vitor.


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JBT - Bethel, City Landing Information
Country: United States Of America
Planning to travel to Bethel? Contact TD Business Travel for :
- business class fares to Bethel, City Landing
- economy class fares to Bethel, City Landing
- car hire at Bethel
please note: The IATA airport code is a three-letter code used in designating airports around the world. These codes are not unique with some codes used by more than one airport and a number of codes used to identify non airport locations including cities, railway stations and ports.
Please always confirm any information provided in this search with your business travel consultant.


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The Hewlett-Packard Company commonly referred to as HP, is an information technology corporation headquartered in Palo Alto, California, United States. HP is the largest technology company in the world and operates in nearly every country. HP specializes in building personal computers, notebook computers, servers, blades, switches, printers, calculators, networking products, software, telephones, PDAs, digital cameras, storage, communication platforms, and home media devices among other technology related products and services.
The company once catered primarily to engineering and medical markets—a line of business it spun off as Agilent Technologies in 1999. Today, it operates as a diverse company marketing specific products to households, small to medium size businesses and enterprises. HP sells products such as printers and printer supplies, home and business PCs, and industry-standard servers both directly, via online distribution, consumer-electronics and office-supply retailers, software partners and major technology vendors such as CDW.
HP posted US $91.7 billion in annual revenue in 2006 compared to US$91.4 billion for IBM, making it the world's largest technology vendor in terms of sales. In 2007 the revenue was $104 billion, making HP the first IT company in history to report revenues exceeding $100 billion.
HP is the largest worldwide seller of personal computers, surpassing rival Dell, according to market research firms Gartner and IDC reported in January 2008; the gap between HP and Dell widened substantially at the end of 2007, with HP taking a near 3.9% market share lead. HP is also the 5th largest software company in the world.
William (Bill) Hewlett and David (Dave) Packard both graduated in electrical engineering from Stanford University in 1934. The company originated in a garage in nearby Palo Alto during a fellowship they had with a past professor, Frederick Terman at Stanford during the Great Depression. Terman was considered a mentor to them in forming Hewlett-Packard.
The partnership was formalized on January 1, 1939 with an investment of US$538. Hewlett and Packard tossed a coin to decide whether the company they founded would be called Hewlett-Packard or Packard-Hewlett. Packard won the coin toss but named their electronics manufacturing enterprise the "Hewlett-Packard Company". HP incorporated on August 8, 1947, and went public on November 6, 1957.
Of the many projects they worked on, their very first financially successful product was a precision audio oscillator, the Model HP200A. Their innovation was the use of a small light bulb as a temperature dependent resistor in a critical portion of the circuit. This allowed them to sell the Model 200A for $54.40 when competitors were selling less stable oscillators for over $200. The Model 200 series of generators continued until at least 1972 as the 200AB, still tube-based but improved in design through the years. At 33 years, it was perhaps the longest-selling basic electronic design of all time.
One of the company's earliest customers was The Walt Disney Company, which bought eight Model 200B oscillators (at $71.50 each) for use in certifying the Fantasound surround sound systems installed in theaters for the movie Fantasia.
The company was originally rather unfocused, working on a wide range of electronic products for industry and even agriculture. Eventually they elected to focus on high-quality electronic test and measurement equipment.
From the 1940s until well into the 1990s the company focused on making electronic test equipment. A distinguishing feature was pushing the limits of measurement range and accuracy: many HP instruments were more sensitive, accurate, and precise than other comparable equipment. Amongst instruments produced were signal generators, voltmeters, oscilloscopes, frequency counters, thermometers, time standards, wave analyzers, and many others.
Following the pattern set by the company's first product, the 200A, test instruments were labelled with three to five digits followed by the letter "A". Improved versions went to suffixes "B" through "E". As the product range grew wider HP started using product designators starting with a letter for accessories, supplies, software, and components.
HP is recognized as the symbolic founder of Silicon Valley, although it did not actively investigate semiconductor devices until a few years after the "Traitorous Eight" had abandoned William Shockley to create Fairchild Semiconductor in 1957. Hewlett-Packard's HP Associates division, established around 1960, developed semiconductor devices primarily for internal use. Instruments and calculators were some of the products using these devices.
HP partnered in the 1960s with Sony and the Yokogawa Electric companies in Japan to develop several high-quality products. The products were not a huge success, as there were high costs in building HP-looking products in Japan. HP and Yokogawa formed a joint venture (Yokogawa-Hewlett-Packard) in 1963 to market HP products in Japan. HP bought Yokogawa Electric's share of Hewlett-Packard Japan in 1999.
HP spun off a small company, Dynec, to specialize in digital equipment. The name was picked so that the HP logo "hp" could be turned upside down to be the logo "dy" of the new company. Eventually Dynec changed to Dymec, then was folded back into HP. HP experimented with using Digital Equipment Corporation minicomputers with its instruments. But after deciding that it would be easier to buy another small design team than deal with DEC, HP entered the computer market in 1966 with the HP 2100 / HP 1000 series of minicomputers. A simple accumulator-based design, with registers arranged somewhat similarly to the Intel x86 architecture still used today, it was produced for 20 years, in spite of several attempts to replace it. It was a forerunner of the HP 9800 and HP 250 series of desktop and business computers.
The HP 3000 was an advanced stack-based design for a business computing server, later redesigned with RISC technology, that has only recently been retired from the market. The HP 2640 series of smart and intelligent terminals introduced forms-based interfaces to ASCII terminals, and also introduced screen labeled function keys, now commonly used on gas pumps and bank ATMs. Although scoffed at in the formative days of computing, HP would eventually surpass even IBM as the world's largest technology vendor in sales.
HP is acknowledged by Wired magazine as the producer of the world's first personal computer, in 1968, the Hewlett-Packard 9100A. HP called it a desktop calculator because, as Bill Hewlett said, "If we had called it a computer, it would have been rejected by our customers' computer gurus because it didn't look like an IBM. We therefore decided to call it a calculator, and all such nonsense disappeared." An engineering triumph at the time, the logic circuit was produced without any integrated circuits; the assembly of the CPU having been entirely executed in discretemjn With CRT display, magnetic-card storage, and printer, the price was around $5000.
Steve Wozniak, co-founder of Apple, originally designed the Apple I computer while working at HP and offered it to them under their right of first refusal to his work, but they did not take it up as the company wanted to stay in scientific, business, and industrial markets.
The company earned global respect for a variety of products. They introduced the world's first handheld scientific electronic calculator in 1972 (the HP-35), the first handheld programmable in 1974 (the HP-65), the first alphanumeric, programmable, expandable in 1979 (the HP-41C), and the first symbolic and graphing calculator HP-28C. Like their scientific and business calculators, their oscilloscopes, logic analyzers, and other measurement instruments have a reputation for sturdiness and usability (the latter products are now part of spin-off Agilent's product line). The company's design philosophy in this period was summarized as "design for the guy at the next bench".
The 98x5 series of technical desktop computers started in 1975 with the 9815, and the cheaper 80 series, again of technical computers, started in 1979 with the 85 These machines used a version of the BASIC programming language which was available immediately after they were switched on, and used a proprietary magnetic tape for storage. HP computers were similar in capabilities to the much later IBM Personal Computer, although the limitations of available technology forced prices to be high.
In 1987, the Palo Alto garage where Hewlett and Packard started their business was designated as a California State historical landmark.
In the 1990s, HP expanded their computer product line, which initially had been targeted at university, research, and business customers, to reach consumers.
HP also grew through acquisitions, buying Apollo Computer in 1989 and Convex Computer in 1995.
Later in the decade HP opened hpshopping.com as an independent subsidiary to sell online, direct to consumers; in 2005 the store was renamed "HP Home & Home Office Store."
In 1999, all of the businesses not related to computers, storage, and imaging were spun off from HP to form Agilent. Agilent's spin-off was the largest initial public offering in the history of Silicon Valley. The spin-off created an $8 billion company with about 30,000 employees, manufacturing scientific instruments, semiconductors, optical networking devices, and electronic test equipment for telecom and wireless R&D and production.
In July 1999, HP appointed Carly Fiorina as CEO. Fiorina was the first woman ever to serve as CEO of a company included in the Dow Jones Industrial Average. Fiorina resigned on February 9, 2005.
Compaq Merger. HP merged with Compaq in 2002. Compaq itself had bought Tandem Computers in 1997 (which had been started by ex-HP employees), and Digital Equipment Corporation in 1998. Following this strategy HP became a major player in desktops, laptops, and servers for many different markets. After the merger with Compaq, the new ticker symbol became "HPQ", a combination of the two previous symbols, "HWP" and "CPQ", to show the significance of the alliance. In 2006 HP outsourced its Enterprise support to countries with lower cost workers: the Spanish support (for Spain) moved to Slovakia, the German support moved to Bulgaria, English support moved to Costa Rica, etc.
EDS purchase. On May 13, 2008, HP and Electronic Data Systems announced that they have signed a definitive agreement under which HP will purchase EDS. On June 30, HP announced that the waiting period under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976 had expired. "The transaction still requires EDS stockholder approval and regulatory clearance from the European Commission and other non-U.S. jurisdictions and is subject to the satisfaction or waiver of the other closing conditions specified in the merger agreement." The agreement was finalized on August 16, 2008 and it was publicly announced that EDS would be re-branded "EDS an HP company."
HP has successful lines of printers, scanners, digital cameras, calculators, PDAs, servers, workstation computers, and computers for home and small business use computers; many of the computers came from the 2002 merger with Compaq. HP today promotes itself as supplying not just hardware and software, but also a full range of services to design, implement and support IT infrastructure.
The three business segments: Enterprise Storage and Servers (ESS), HP Services (HPS), and HP Software are structured beneath the broader Technology Solutions Group (TSG).
Products and technology associated with the Imaging and Printing Group include:
Personal Systems Group products/technology include:
TSG incorporates Managed services, HP software and Enterprise Storage and Servers Group (ESS)
With the major acquisitions of Peregrine and Mercury Interactive completed, HP has dropped the names OpenView, Peregrine and Mercury from its portfolio. The Business Technology Optimization (BTO)part of the software organization is now being referred to as HP Software & Solutions. The OpenCall branding still remains.
» HP Data Protector software
» HP Integrated Archive Platform
» HP Database Archiving
» HP Email Archiving for Microsoft Exchange
» HP Email Archiving for IBM Lotus Domino
» HP File Archiving
» HP Medical Image Archiving
» HP TRIM software (previously TOWER Software)
HP's Office of Strategy and Technology , under Executive Vice President Shane Robison:
In 2002, Scorecard.org ranked Hewlett Packard facilities in the top 10-20 percentile for total environmental releases and top 30-40 percentile for air releases of recognized developmental toxicants. It also showed that HPs factory in Puerto Rico released 246lbs of air released TRI pollutants, and had a total of 483,136lbs of production related wastes.
In July 2007, the company announced that it had met its target, set in 2004, to recycle 1 billion pounds of electronics and toner and ink cartridges. It has set a new goal of recycling a further 2 billion pounds of hardware by the end of 2010. In 2006, the company recovered 187 million pounds of electronics, 73 percent more than its closest competitor.
HP contributes to free software projects such as the Linux operating system. Some HP employees, such as Linux CTO and former Debian Project Leader Bdale Garbee, actively contribute and have Open Source job responsibilities. Many others participate in the Open Source community as volunteers. HP is also known in the (GNU/) Linux community for releasing drivers for most of their printers under the GNU GPL.
Hewlett-Packard also continues Compaq's extensive relationship with Microsoft and uses technology from most major software and hardware vendors.
Until November 2005, HP offered a re-branded version of the Apple iPod.
HP partners with many application software companies, for example SAP AG.
HP has many sponsorships. One well known sponsorship is of Walt Disney World's Epcot Park's Mission: SPACE. Others can be found on Hewlett-Packard's website From 1995 to 1999 they were the shirt sponsor of English Premier League club Tottenham Hotspur. They also sponsored the BMW Williams Formula 1 team. Hewlett-Packard also has the naming rights arrangement for the HP Pavilion at San Jose, home of the San Jose Sharks NHL hockey team.
After the acquisition of Compaq in 2002, HP has maintained the "Compaq Presario" brand on low-end home desktops and laptops, the "HP Compaq" brand on business desktops and laptops, and the "HP ProLiant" brand on Intel-architecture servers. (The "HP Pavilion" brand is used on home entertainment laptops and all home desktops.)
HP uses DEC's "StorageWorks" brand on storage systems; Tandem's "NonStop" servers are now branded as "HP Integrity NonStop".
On September 5, 2006 Newsweek published a story revealing that the chairwoman of HP, Patricia Dunn, had hired a team of independent electronic-security experts that later spied on HP board members and several journalists, to determine the source of a leak of confidential details regarding HP's long-term strategy in January, 2006. The independent, third party company used a technique known as pretexting to obtain call records of HP board members and nine journalists, including reporters for CNET, the New York Times and the Wall Street Journal. Dunn has claimed she did not know the methods the investigators used to determine the source of the leak. Board member George Keyworth was ultimately outed as the source.
On September 12, 2006 Keyworth resigned from the board and HP announced that Mark Hurd, the current CEO and president, would replace Dunn as Chairman after the HP board meeting on January 18, 2007.
On September 22, 2006 Hurd announced at a special press briefing that Ms. Dunn had resigned effective immediately from both the Chairmanship role and as a director of the Board;
On September 28, 2006, Ann Baskins, HP's general counsel (head attorney) resigned hours before she was to appear as a witness at which she would later invoke the Fifth Amendment to "not be held to answer for a capital, or otherwise infamous crime."
The committee requested, under Rules X and XI of the United States House of Representatives, information from HP by September 18, 2006:
At the September 28, 2006 hearing, Dunn and Hurd both testified extensively about the investigation. Dunn testified that until June or July 2006, she did not realize that "pretexting" could involve identity misrepresentation. Dunn repeatedly insisted that she had believed that personal phone records could be obtained through legal methods.
Other witnesses refused to answer questions due to the ongoing criminal investigations.
On October 8, 2006 Reuters ran a story describing pretexting used by Hewlett-Packard and other companies.
On October 12, 2006 HP announced the appointment of Jon Hoak as vice president and chief ethics and compliance officer. Hoak served as senior vice president and general counsel for NCR from 1993 until May 2006.
On December 7, 2006 HP paid $14.5 Million to settle civil charges brought by the California Attorney General.
In December 2006, two members of Congress requested that HP provide more information regarding CEO Mark Hurd's sale of $1.4 million of stock options on August 25, the same day he was questioned by attorneys investigating the pretexting scandal. Mark Hurd explained that the August trade was part of his normal investment strategy to diversify assets and was made during a regularly scheduled trading window for senior officers and directors. Additionally, Hurd assured the Subcommittee that the August trade had nothing to do with his interview by attorneys investigating the leak investigation and that he had initiated the trade before any such request had been made to him.
Hewlett-Packard is also involved in the NEPAD e-school program to provide all schools in Africa with computers and internet access.
Hewlett-Packard sponsors employee resource groups globally for black, LGBT, Latino, young, handicapped and other minorities.
Hewlett-Packard has undergone a number of acquisitions and mergers over the decades. For a list of notable acquisitions of companies and product lines see List of HP acquisitions.


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Sun Hats
Outdoor Research
Mountain Hardwear
Priceless than $25
$25 - $49.99
$50 and above
Recent Sun Hat Reviews
Dorfman Pacific MC50 Fishing Hat with Removable Sunshield
Like most hats, this one keeps the sun off your face. The bonus here is that it also keeps the sun off you neck with the attachable sunshield. However, the velcro sunshield is prone to detach and is far from stylish. This is an inexpensive hat that I bought at a large sporting goods store because I wanted to keep the sun off my face and neck in the summer months without having to wear something around my neck, like my Original Buff or a bandana. The hat's adjustability is generous. I have a larger… Full review
Outdoor Research Force 9 Sombrero
If you want magnets to throw your compass off, or a slight wind to blow the brim into the up position you might like this hat. I always get a hat that is sized a bit large so I can adjust how it fits on my head, and use the cord lock if wind becomes a problem. I put a compass on the cord and slide it inside my shirt. This hat would be fine except for the magnets. The magnets mean if the wind pushes the brim up at all the magnets grab hold much more often than the velcro ones. This means you are… Full review
Tilley LTM6 Airflo Hat
The USPS creed, "Neither snow nor rain nor heat nor gloom…" may have been close, but they apparently weren't referring to the Tilley LTM6, otherwise known as the Airflo Hat, when their proposition was adopted. It would have more closely resembled, "Bring on the blinding snow, drenching rain, and scorching heat…" The USPS creed, "Neither snow nor rain nor heat nor gloom…" may have been close, but they apparently weren't referring to the Tilley LTM6, otherwise known as the Airflo… Full review
Columbia Bug Me Not Cachalot
Provides perfect protection from the sun without being obtrusive. Its folding bill and lightweight material make it easy to stow away. Flap can be tucked away and convert it to a "regular" hat. Love the hat, but "bug me not" may be a bit excessive! Recently received this as a prize and I had my choice of several options; this hat was on my list. Typically when hiking I prefer wearing wider brimmed hats instead of lathering my neck, ears and my face with sunscreen. I've used the old tried-and-true… Full review
ExOfficio BugsAway Adventure Hat
Great hiking or paddling hat when you are out in the sun. It is light and breathable but I have not had any luck with it keeping away mosquitoes and have gotten bug bites on my face while wearing it. I purchased this hat for a recent backpacking trip. I knew it was going to be warm with a high potential for mosquitoes. I was also in need of a new hiking and paddling hat with a wide brim to wear in the sun. It is labeled as unisex and I was really happy with the way it fit and looked. It was fitted… Full review
Columbia Men's Schooner Bank Cachalot III
Another great product from Columbia. Kept the sun off my neck and felts light weight. Not heavy at all. Sun protection all day. Great product. Recommend highly. Full review
Kokatat Destination Baja Hat
The best sun hat I am aware of. Provides complete sun protection from all directions. For a long time I have been looking for a lightweight breathable sun hat which would provide complete head and neck protection. Sunblock creams are just not suitable for heavy athletic activities like mountaineering. Sweat will quickly wash the cream off the skin, causing burning eyes, etc. Standard sun hats cover only the top and sides of the head. Face is barely protected by most of these products. With those,… Full review
Outdoor Research Helios Sun Hat
Great hat for those sunny days in the Cascades. The first thing I'd do is size up one size when you order this great hat. I picked it up at the Seattle store and realized I had to bump up to a large. I wear this hat all summer in the Cascades while hiking. This hat provides great sun protection with its wide brim. It's lightweight at around 2.5 oz and also works great as a bucket to dip into a creek and pour over your head. I don't even realize it's on my head. Full review
Outdoor Research Unisex Sun Runner Cap
A very effective design for all kinds of uses and conditions, either as a mere cap, to full neck protection from sun. This is a very useful piece of gear. The neck drape is detachable with simple snaps on front and velcro in back. Allows use as a simple cap, or if more protection is needed, the neck drape can be attached. Very well ventilated on the sides of the cap, which can be covered up when the neck drape is attached if desired. Very lightweight and fast drying. I've used it on many multi-day… Full review
Top-Rated Sun Hats
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Space shuttle: the ultimate gadget - 30 years of service
Despite lifting off 135 times, making an appearance in a Bond film, and even its immortalisation in Lego, the famous space shuttle is taking early retirement. On 8 July 2011, the Atlantis orbiter will embark on the very last space shuttle mission bringing NASA's shuttle programme to an end after 30 years. It's the end of an era, both for space exploration and for technology, so it seems only fitting to look back over the life and times of the space shuttle, the amazing gadgets and gizmos that make her go and find out why the programme is coming to an end and what happens next.
Firstly, let's deal with the basics. What is the space shuttle? Well, it was the first reusable orbital space craft, unlike the old Saturn V rockets as used in the Apollo missions (including the moon landings) that could only be used once. The concept of a spacecraft returning and landing horizontally, like a plane, was born in the 1950s, although development of the space shuttle didn't actually begin until the 1970s, after the US National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) was given the official go-ahead by president Richard Nixon in 1969.
Some of the Star Trek cast at the Enterprise dedication ceremony
The final frontier
The very first space shuttle orbiter was named Enterprise and was designed to perform test flights in the Earth's atmosphere, so it was never actually ready for spaceflight. Construction began in 1974 and it first took to the sky in 1977. Supposedly, the shuttle was originally going to be called Constitution but was re-named following a campaign by Star Trek fans who thought that it should be named after the Starship Enterprise. Serving US president Gerald Ford said that he was "partial to the name", but that may have had more to do with the fact that he spent much of his WWII naval service on aircraft carrier USS Monterey, which served with the famous USS Enterprise, the most decorated warship in the conflict. However, adding some weight to the sci-fi story, or at least making full use of the publicity that it generated, Star Trek creator Gene Roddenberry and a fair number of the cast were present at Enterprise's dedicaton ceremony.
The next step in the saga was the construction of the first space-ready shuttle, Columbia, which took its first orbital flight on 12 April 1981 - 20 years to the day after cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin became the first human in space in Vostok 1. Columbia flew a total of 27 missions before it tragically disintegrated on re-entry to the Earth's atmosphere in 2003.
The second shuttle to join the fleet was Challenger in 1983, followed by Discovery in 1984 and Atlantis in 1985. Endeavour was added to the lineup in 1992 to replace Challenger, which was destroyed in a disaster six years earlier. Unlike the Enterprise, the space-ready shuttle fleet orbiters were all named after sailing ships from around the world and are almost identical. There are minor difference in the interiors, with the newer orbiters containing a few advanced structural elements, resulting in slighter larger cargo capacity.
Discovery taking off on its final mission
Components of the space shuttle
The space shuttle comprises three main components - two Solid Rocket Boosters, the External Tank and the Orbiter Vehicle (OV) itself. Roughly the same size and weight as a DC-9 aircraft, the orbiter is crafted mainly from aluminium alloy, measures 37.23m long with a wingspan of 23.79m and weighs a humungous 80 tonnes - and that's when it's empty. The orbiter is made up of the aft, mid and forward fuselages - the aft fuselage is home to the three main engines while the mid fuselage is where the payload (cargo) bay is located, along with the Remote Manipulator System (RMS) - a 15.2m long articulating arm, which is operated by remote control and used to manoeuvre the payload. The forward fuselage is home to the crew module which consists of the flight deck, middeck and airlock.
The orbiter is attached to the two Solid Rocket Boosters (SRBs) which provide 80 per cent of the launch thrust and contain more than 450 tonnes of propellant each. These operate alongside the main engines for the first two minutes of flight to get the shuttle off the ground. Once the shuttle is about 45km up in the air, and almost at the upper reaches of the Stratosphere, the SRBs are the first pieces of the setup to be jettisoned after which they descend on parachutes before plunging into the Atlantic. They're then recovered, returned to land and refurbished to be used again.
The orange-coloured External Tank (ET) provides the liquid oxygen and hydrogen fuel to the shuttle's main engines during liftoff which burn through 0.5 million gallons of the stuff during acceleration. The tank is ditched mid-air, after about 8.5 minutes once all the propellant is used and the shuttle has reached a speed of about 17,500 mph (7.8km/s). It's the only component not to be re-used as it largely burns up in the atmosphere after each launch.
Once the ET has been dumped, the shuttle uses the orbital maneuvering system (OMS) - which is pronounced like homes, minus the h - to adjust the orbit. This is a system of rocket engines comprising two thrusters, located in two pods in the aft fuselage, that can also be used to manoeuvre the shuttle during missions or at the end of each flight in order to drop out of orbit and re-enter the Earth's atmosphere.
En route to the launchpad on the Mobile Launcher Platform (MLP)
The three main components of the shuttle are put together in the massive Vehicle Assembly Building at Kennedy Space Center (KSC). At 160.3m high, this is the tallest single story building in the world and was originally built for the vertical assembly of the Saturn V rockets, as used for the Apollo missions. Once all three components of the shuttle are put together, it's taken to the launch pad on the Mobile Launcher Platform (MLP) - an enourmous transporter which travels on caterpillar tracks, like a tank. Once in place, this two-storey structure is also used as the shuttle's launch platform. Each MLP measures a whopping 49 x 41 x 7.6 m and tips the scales at a heavyweight 3,730 tonnes.
Most missions land back at the 4,600m concrete runway at KSC - to put that into perspective, that's the length of more than 40 football pitches put together. If weather is bad then there are two alternatives landing sites. The primary back-up site is Edwards Air Force Base in California which has seen nine landings, split between its concrete and dry lakebed runways, while one mission landed at the second backup location at White Sands Space Harbor, New Mexico, in 1982. When shuttles end up at one of the alternative landing sites, they are taken back to base by piggybacking on one of two specially modified Boeing 747 airliners, known as Shuttle Carrier Aircraft. There are also various other potential emergency landing sites around the world, which are designated as no-fly zones during each launch.
Endeavour hitching a ride home on the Shuttle Carrier Aircraft
On-board technology
Scary as it sounds, each shuttle flight relies heavily on the on-board computer system. With such a complex piece of machinery involved and with safety being of paramount concern, a five-computer system is used so that if one of them fails, the others can carry on safely. The shuttle orginally used five worryingly dated-sounding IBM 32-bit computers (model AP-101), with four running the Primary Avionics Software System (PASS). The fifth computer is there for backup and runs different software known as the Backup Flight System (BFS). All five computers together are known as the Data Processing System (DPS).
Avionic software is developed under completely different conditions to the consumer software that we all know and love (or possibly hate), with numerous engineers working on the same tiny piece of code and testing it rigorously. It's all written in HAL/S - an aerospace-specific programming language, based on IBM's PL/1 language. Despite the precision, it's still possible that a general software problem could crash all four of the main computers, leaving the backup model to do the work. Thankfully, this has never happened on a shuttle flight.
The original IBM AP-101 computers used on the shuttle had magnetic core memories of around 424KB each. There was no hard disk and software was loaded from magnetic tape cartridges. These were replaced with the upgraded AP-101S model in 1990, which brought with it a larger (but still slightly laughable) 1MB memory, along with higher processing speeds, while the magnetic core was replaced with a semiconductor memory with battery backup.
The GRiD Compass laptop on board Discovery in 1985
Earlier shuttle missions also made use of the GRiD Compass - widely considered to be the very first laptop computer. This modified laptop was catchily dubbed the Shuttle Portable Onboard Computer (SPOC). Since 1993, the IBM ThinkPad (now owned by Lenovo) has been the regular on-board laptop for shuttle missions and is the only laptop certified for use on the International Space Station (ISS), where there are around 100, although Macs and other laptops have been used on occassion for specific experiments. On the ISS, the laptops are hooked up to the station's LAN via Wi-Fi, and are connected to the ground at a speed of 3Mbps up and 10Mbps down. As far as we know there's no such capability on the space shuttle.
Tweeting from space
It was this LAN that enabled Mike Massimino (@Astro_Mike) to become the first person to Tweet from space back in 2009, when he wrote "From orbit: Launch was awesome!! I am feeling great, working hard, & enjoying the magnificent views, the adventure of a lifetime has begun!". However, it wasn't until 2010 that NASA installed new software enabling astronaut Timothy Creamer (@Astro_TJ) to send the first live Tweet from space (the previous one was "assisted", going via email to Johnson Space Center, and so not technically live). The new software also enables astronauts on the ISS to browse the web and communicate with their loved ones, although they're bound by the same rules as government employees on Earth, so accessing any 'inappropriate' sites isn't allowed.
Up until 2001, astronauts could only speak to their loved ones via the radio at mission control but all that changed when astronaut Marsha Ivin made the first phone call from space, using the Softphone. This IP system hooks up to the on-board laptop and transmissions are then sent over a distance of up to 44,810km, via satellite, with calls usually seeing a time lag of around one second.
Along with the usual laptop, the final shuttle mission will carry a pair of space-certified iPhone 4s running the experimental SpaceLab app, which you can pick up on iTunes. The phones will be dropped at the ISS, where they'll spend several months before being returned on a Russian Soyuz. Among other things, the app will let the astronauts pinpoint their location using the camera and the in-app coastline database. The data collected will also be used to assess how well the iPhone withstands the harsh environment of space flight. Although you can pick up the app and run some of the functions here on Earth, not all of them will work as they're designed for use in space. However, it's a great way for the geeks among you to get in on the action.
Naturally, the space shuttle has seen plenty of other technical upgrades over the years including the move from analogue flight instruments to a 'glass cockpit', featuring colour flat-panel displays as found on modern airliners, and allowing for all the usual readings such as altitude and speed. The flightdeck of each shuttle has the usual pilot/co-pilot set up that you'd find in a plane, so that the orbiter can be piloted from either seat and can be flown by one person in an emergency. Each seat has manual flight controls (including a games console-style joystick controller), rudder pedals and speed-brake controllers. In total, there's a baffling array of more than 2,020 separate displays and controls on the flightdeck.
The shuttle also features a forced air convection oven and water dispenser used for warming and rehydrating food. Space food has come along way since the first manned missions and astronauts can now choose their own menus in advance (although they have to be approved by a dietician). As you'd expect, a lot of the food comes in sealed packets which need to snipped open using scissors before being rehydrated or warmed up, but some of it, such as fruit, can be eaten in its natural form. Condiments, such as ketchup and mustard are supplied, along with liquid salt and pepper, designed for use in microgravity. Meals are stowed in locker trays where they're held in place using nets and velcro to prevent them from floating around the cabin. Velcro is also used to hold food packets onto trays, while magnets are used to secure cutlery.
Weightlessness effects all of the everyday tasks carried out by the astronauts, as they spend much of the time floating around in the air. However, they can use the restraints to strap themselves into seats and they're zipped into sleeping-bag style beds to sleep, while the space shuttle toilet (euphemistically dubbed The Waste Collection System) uses an airflow system, in place of gravity, to draw waste down. Liquid waste is then vented into space, while solid waste is vacuum dried and hygienically stored for disposal on return.
While the astronauts are working for the majority of the time, they do get to relax as well, although there's no TV on the space shuttle. However, major news events (including President Obama's inauguration) have been beamed up to the ISS from mission control, although a constant signal isn't possible as the station is in orbit around the Earth. A lot of the astronauts now take iPods with them on missions, although NASA apparently insists on the use of an AA battery convertor as the built-in batteries aren't approved for space travel. Before the iPod, astronauts took personal CD players into orbit with them.
Nikon's space-friendly F camera
While Hassleblad cameras were famously used on the Apollo missions, including the moon landings (in fact 12 Hassleblad cameras are still sitting on the lunar surface), all sorts of cameras have been used since - both on the space shuttle and at the ISS. Nikon developed a space-friendly F camera for NASA back in the 1970s, while its 12.1MP professional D3S DSLR is the most recent model to make it into space after the Administration ordered 11 of them for the ISS in 2009. Models from Kodak (including the 6 MP DCS760) have also been used on shuttle missions.
Possibly the least technical development in the space shuttle programme was the use of owl decoys to deter pesky birds from the launchpad after the 1995 Discovery flight was delayed due to woodpeckers making holes in the ET's foam insulation.
The International Space Station (ISS)
It all sounds very impressive, but what benefits do we get from the space shuttle missions? As well as the direct objectives of each mission, such as the building of the International Space Station and maintenance of the Hubble Space Telescope there are plenty of other innovations to come out of space travel ranging from non-scratch lenses to water filters. Contrary to popular belief, velcro wasn't created by NASA - it was actually a Swiss invention from the 1940s that was made famous by its use in the Apollo missions. Other useful developments include improvements in hydroponics and the invention of ear thermometers for instant temperature readings.
In 1973, NASA began to publish an annual report of its inventions that had made it into commercial products and in 1976 this became a magazine called Spinoff.
Safety concerns
The space shuttle may be a hive of technical innovation, but what about the ludicrous amounts of cash involved? Each launch costs around $450 million, while the newest shuttle in the fleet - Endeavour - cost $1.7 billion to build. And with the total cost of the space shuttle programme estimated to be around $174 billion, launching people into orbit isn't a cheap business and has understandably garnered a fair amount of criticism, particularly during recent recessionary times. The space shuttle has also been criticised in terms of safety - despite the fact that well over 100 successful missions have been carried out safely - the fact that two out of five orbiters have perished, killing all on board, isn't a good safety record by any margin.
The crew from the 1986 Challenger shuttle disaster
The first disaster happened on 28 January 1986 when Challenger, the second shuttle to join the fleet, broke apart 73 seconds after take-off, killing all seven crew members. The accident was caused by a defective O-ring seal in the right Solid Rocket Booster which kicked off a chain reaction of technical failures. While the shuttle was built to withstand a load pressure of 3g, it rapidly disintegrated after reaching 'Max Q' - the maximum amount of aerodynamic stress that a vehicle in atmostpheric flight can handle.
On 1 February 2003, the oldest space shuttle - Columbia - disintegrated over Texas during its re-entry to the Earth's atmosphere, once again killing all seven crew members on board. This was the result of a piece of foam insulation from the external tank becoming dislodged during take-off. This hit the edge of the left wing, damaging the shuttle's Thermal Protection System (TPS). The TPS covers the shuttle chassis and is designed to protect it from the temperatures of -121°C in space and the intense 1649°C heat of re-entry.
The crew from the 2003 Columbia shuttle disaster
Following the second tragedy, a report published by the independent Columbia Accident Investigation Board was critical of NASA's risk assessment procedures and made recommendations that included more pre-flight inspection routines. Many of the recommendations served to highlight the fact that the aging shuttle should be replaced by a more modern spacecraft.
While Discovery and Endeavour both completed their final flights earlier in 2011, Atlantis will be the star of the very last space shuttle mission. The fourth shuttle to join the fleet at Kennedy Space Center, Atlantis has made 32 flights (prior to its final mission), travelling a total distance of 120,650,907 miles and spending a total of 293 days, 18 hours, 29 minutes and 37 seconds in orbit. In its 26 years of flying, Atlantis has been home to 203 crew members, made 4,648 orbits, made 18 space station dockings (seven with the Russian Mir station and 11 with International Space Station) and deployed 14 satellites.
As with all the previous flights, the final mission (STS-135) will take off from Kennedy Space Center (KSC) in Florida, but what it's actually for? The main cargo (or 'primary payload') will be the Raffaello multipurpose logistics module which will contain supplies and spare parts for the International Space Station. Other mission objectives include investigating the potential for robotically refueling existing spacecraft as well as returning a failed ammonia pump, so that NASA can figure out what went wrong and improve the design for the future.
Atlantis on the launch pad for the very last time
Missions tend to last from 5-16 days (the longest being 17.5), with the final Atlantis trip planned to land on 20 July after 12 days. The four-man crew will take off from KSC launch pad 39A at 11.26am EDT on Friday 8 July. This will be the 82nd shuttle launch from pad 39A, while pad 39B managed to clock up just 53 launches before it was decommissioned on 1 January 2007. It is now being offered to private companies for commercial space flight, while the future of launch pad 39a is uncertain.
What happens next?
This may be the end of the road for the space shuttle, but what happens next? The initial plan was to replace the shuttle with the Orion spacecraft, which was to be paired with the rocket-shaped Ares 1 launch vehicle. Developement on Orion began in 2005, as part of the Constellation programme - the plan being to send astronauts to the moon, then Mars and beyond. However, when President Obama signed the NASA Authorization Act 2010 on 11 October 2010, the Constellation programme was brought to a halt. Despite promising NASA $6 billion over five years, the Obama administration has received a substantial amount of criticism (most notably from ex-astronauts Neil Armstrong and Jim Lovell) for cancelling the programme and wasting the money that has already been spent.
The Multi-Purpose Crew Vehicle (MPCV) - previously known as Orion
With the Ares I ditched, the Orion has now been snappily renamed as the Multi-Purpose Crew Vehicle (MPCV) and is set to be paired up with the new Space Launch System (SLS) launch vehicle. Bearing more of a physical resemblance to the old Apollo modules, the MPCV will carry up to four crew members and will be the only part of the new system that is re-used after each flight. No exact dates have been set, but the maiden voyage for the new system is tentatively pencilled in for 2016.
Until then, with no means of its own to launch astronauts into space, NASA has signed a $753 million deal with Russia in return for 12 flights to and from the ISS between 2014 and 2015 - which works out at around $63 million per seat.
Virgin Galactic's SpaceShipTwo
By the time the new MPCV spacecraft takes off, there may also be the possiblity of commercial flights into space. Richard Branson's Virgin Galactic is already taking bookings for flights although with tickets costing $200,000 and deposits starting at $20,000, it's strictly for high-rollers only. A launch date has yet to be confirmed for the first trip, although Branson has already teamed up with The Spaceship Company to put the SpaceShipTwo and the White Knight Two into commercial production.
While the end of the shuttle programme is nigh, and it's now too late to witness a launch, you will still be able to see the orbiters themselves up close and personal. Atlantis will be on show at the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex in Florida, while Endeavour will be making its way to the California Science Center in LA. Enterprise is currently at the Udvar-Hazy Center of the Smithsonian Institution's National Air and Space Museum in Chantilly, Virginia, near Washington D.C, but when Discovery arrives, it will be moved to the Intrepid Sea-Air-Space Museum in New York City.
Despite the gargantuan expense involved, as well as the tragic loss of life, the space shuttle will be remembered as one of the most impressive technical innovations of the 20th century. We look forward to seeing NASA's next-generation spacecraft taking off in 2016 or soon after.
What do you think of the space shuttle? The height of technical innovation or a big 'ol waste of money? Let us know in the comments box below.


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Is there any rule you think is valid that discourages the use of a certain word to start a sentence?
Because I suspect the answer is no.
But it would be good to have a blanket answer to this kind of question.
Is there any rule you think is valid that discourages the use of a certain word to start a sentence?
Because I suspect the answer is no.
But it would be good to have a blanket answer to this kind of question.
Well, with certain words it's simply impossible to start a grammatical sentence: one such word that comes to mind is "ago". It always comes after other words (e.g. "one hour ago"), never at the beginning of a sentence or clause.
[Before someone points it out: note the use-mention distinction. A sentence like
starts with the word "'ago'" and not with the word "ago".]
But if your question "Is there any valid rule discouraging the use of a certain word to start a sentence?" (emphasis mine) implicitly restricts attention to words that can grammatically start sentences, then it's not clear what it would take for a rule that discourages something grammatical to be "valid". Certainly there exist people who disapprove of certain words starting sentences for their own idiosyncratic reasons, such as the "but" I started the previous sentence with. Are these "rules" valid? I wouldn't consider them valid, but I don't know what valid means to you. :-)
There's a rule (can't say if it is valid or not) that numbers, no matter how long, at the start of a sentence should be written out in words,
so some people avoid putting numbers there. Also, it's a bit odd to capitalize terms which are computer commands which won't work if they are capitalized:
so some people might avoid putting those terms at the start of sentences.
Because is also another word that you should not start a sentence with.
In school we were taught to "never begin a sentence with 'and', 'but', or 'so'". But I do anyway. And so do a lot of other people.
The past tense of many verbs make no sense as the first word in a sentence: 'went', 'tried', etc., unless it's in a context where sentence fragments are OK: 'Where you been?', 'Went to the shops'. 'Ago' is a particularly nice example because it wouldn't even work in an informal sentence fragment.
Use of greek letters or numerals is discouraged. See also Is it okay to start a sentence with a greek-letter (variable)?


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When was your last KORN concert?
I was lucky enough to see them last month ,OCT.27 ,2012 in Phoenix.They were absolutely amazing, as usual!Jonathan Davis voice was superb,the band sounded excellent!The song selection was perfect!The energy this band brings to their shows is amazing!I hope all KORN fans have an opportunity to see them live.there is no better party than a KORN party!!!
Replies to This Posting
Re: When was your last KORN concert?
1999 Issues in Buffalo Ny.
Re: When was your last KORN concert?
Oh wow. Awesome!!!!!!Fetching user quote, Please Wait...
Does it make me bad??