text:
|October 08, 2012
|The Agitator #45
|5 comments
|September 28, 2012
|The Agitator #44
|1 comments
|September 21, 2012
|The Agitator #43
|4 comments
|September 17, 2012
|The Agitator #42
|2 comments
|September 10, 2012
|The Agitator #41
|10 comments
|September 04, 2012
|The Agitator #40
|1 comments
|August 27, 2012
|The Agitator #39
|1 comments
|August 20, 2012
|The Agitator #38
|5 comments
|August 13, 2012
|The Agitator #37
|no comments
|August 06, 2012
|The Agitator #36
|3 comments
Something has changed over the past few presidencies. The current occupier of the White House seems to be held to a higher standard geared toward a militant response when it comes to foreign policy. This despite Obama being the only candidate in 2008 who said that he would violate the sovereignty of other countries to pursue terrorists wherever they can be tracked down and killed. His record of achieving by far and away more kills in four years than his predecessor is beyond dispute. It is also well known that Ronald Reagan did absolutely nothing when terrorists killed 240 marines in Lebanon. Nothing. Then there is the USS COLE. This U.S. Navy warship was badly damaged with concomitant loss of life by terrorists on October 12, 2000. Clinton was still president at the time, but it wasn't until late December that the CIA tentatively identified al-Qaeda as the author of the bombing. More conclusive evidence came in shortly after Bush was sworn in as president on January 20, 2001. In June 2001, Osama Bin Laden released a tape bragging that he was behind the attack. I am unaware of one single response that the Bush administration took against al Qaeda or OBL between his inauguration and shortly after 911. And I don't recall Bush facing the harsh criticism that Obama has met with concerning the embassy attacks. I gave Bush the benefit of the doubt at the time thinking that maybe he was doing something behind the scenes. If he was it is still a very well kept secret. Times change.
Then there was last week's remark by Mitt Romney about the 47 percenters who receive government benefits. It has been fun to watch all the explanations on talk radio defending what Romney "really meant", as though they could take his words and divine from them an intent that wasn't articulated. Romney would have been a little bit more honest if he had included other forms of government largess that would probably bump up the percentage considerably. Government loan guarantees given to banks where heads they win and tales you lose, are common. For starters they include FHA, VA, and SBA loans. Let's not leave out government subsidized flood insurance and farm subsidies. Then, of course, are the tax loopholes that allow the wealthy to take advantage of code provisions that their friendly Washington representatives vote into law for them. Would I be cynical if I suggested that their whopping contributions and PAC money didn't have any effect on these representatives? One letter writer and blogger attacked Obama for the 360% increase in Tricare, which benefits military families and retirees. What she left out is that the annual cost for Tricare for a family was set in 1995 at $460/year. It will go up on October 1, 2012 to $538.56/year. That doesn't include deductables and co-pays, which everyone pays, including Medicare recipients. The cost will continue to escalate on a scale with the cost of living. It is also worth noting that the increased cost was pursuant to the National Defense Authorization Act, which was passed by both houses and signed into law by the president. Former Secretary of Defense Robert Gates pushed for the law stating that the medical costs for retirees was taking up much larger portions of the defense budget to the detriment of our fighting capabilities. Gates is a Republican. In a time of deep recession where everyone has to have an oar in the water, Gates got it right.
And speaking of our elected representatives in Washington, many readers have seen the internet claim that they receive lifetime pensions, lifetime healthcare, and other benefits after serving just one term. This is false. They don't. But here is some of the rest of the story. Our representatives/senators created the current federal employee retirement law in 1984. It allows for a representative to receive a retirement annuity and subsidized healthcare based on years of total government service. But, and here is the big but, our representatives voted to include themselves in the much better retirement plan afforded to federal law enforcement officers. Federal law enforcement officers are provided a larger annuity because they must retire no later than age 57, and because of the special demands and nature of the job. I guess our representatives concluded that facing constituents who may have tough questions is the functional equivalent of what federal law enforcement officers face. I wonder if Romney included them in his 47 %.
This was a difficult week for the United States in the Middle East, North Africa, and other parts of the world. It's too early to know what lies ahead. And it's too early to form hasty opinions about President Obama's foreign policies. Yet that hasn't stopped the armchair pundits and those who think that some sort of military solution is always the answer to any overseas problem. Candidate Mitt Romney thought he saw an opening to call Obama weak and inexperienced; if anything, it was Romney who proved to be tough on talk and inexperienced. We only hear generalities and sound bytes about Obama being in over his head, but Romney won't share with us what he would do differently that would make the world a nice place to live, work and play together. It's kind of like Nixon's 1968 campaign promise of trusting him to end the war in Vietnam with his secret plan that he wouldn't disclose. Turned out his secret plan only prolonged the war for the U.S. for another four years.
Romney was asked in 2008 if he would violate the sovereignty of other countries to pursue terrorists. He said no. Obama was asked the same question; he said yes. Promise made, promise kept. Contrary to all the right wing radio propaganda and Romney's ratification of same that Obama has apologized to other countries for past U.S. policies or actions, it is not true. Obama has acknowledged that the U.S. has been wrong at times, but that is hardly an apology. It is merely an acknowledgement that we are human too, that we make mistakes. This is not unlike admitting to someone, perhaps a loved one, that you may have used bad judgment in a given situation, but that falls far short of an apology---it is pleading guilty with an explanation. And what is wrong with admitting when you are wrong? Where was the outcry when George Bush apologized, yes apologized, for Abu Ghraib? Bush did the right thing, and from the silence on the Right at the time, I suspect that they approved of the apology. Amazing how many on the Right will argue that we are a Christian nation, but when it comes to practicing Christian values, especially when it involves people who live somewhere else and are different from us, that it is okay to choose which values to suspend. Apologizing or admitting you are wrong when you are is to demonstrate moral virtue, confidence, and strength. And it does not undermine our strength as a country; I would argue that it makes us stronger and more respected. (I am not talking about apologizing to terrorists yesterday, today, tomorrow, or forever---eliminating them is the right generic policy; how we do it is a different matter.)
It is absurd to think that Obama's pulling the plug on Hosni Mubarak has somehow weakened our hand in the Middle East. Mubarak was the poster child for corruption. The unemployment rate for the young working force and disparity of income, things Mubarak had a lot to do with, is what drove the populace to rebel. If we had supported Mubarak against the tidal wave of his own people's anger, I think a case can be made that things would be even worse. Recall too that most Republicans wanted the United States to actively support the rebels in Libya. We did and our involvement proved decisive. But terrorist attacks against the U.S. can happen anywhere including Europe and right in our own backyard.
The MDJ recently opined that the Left is suddenly eager to jettison the First Amendment protections of those who do not share their politics, with reference to the moviemaker who may have been responsible for the turmoil in the Middle East and elsewhere. Yet the Right condemned the Supreme Court for upholding the fringe Christian group that peacefully protested military funerals with their hate filled rants. I am glad to live in America where one can make despicable political or religious statements, and where others can just as justifiably respond in kind. More speech is always better to the alternative of violence.
I recall that the Right was all about unity during the very divisive Iraq war. Anyone who disagreed with our policies there was labeled with every treasonous slogan imaginable. But it's okay when we need to stand as one nation to combat terrorism and stand behind our commander-in-Chief, to undermine his efforts with bitter calumnies as though the defamers have the silver bullet solution. If Romney has the silver bullet to create world peace and to create 12 million jobs, it's time to tell the American people and make his case. To quote Ronald Reagan, "Trust, but verify."
The presidential nominating conventions are over, and from what one political pundit has said, there are only about 967,000 votes up for grabs that are spread out in about a half dozen swing states. There is a great divide between the two parties that makes this election much easier to choose from. It is interesting to see how the Republican Party has evolved since Eisenhower was president. I doubt that any modern day conservative Republican would vote for IKE in a primary today. And if Ronald Reagan ran for president today under a different name but exactly the same political history and record, he wouldn't have much chance either. Eisenhower understood power, and he understood the abuses and dangers of power. That included his caution in not using nuclear weapons in Korea, not expanding the war there, not getting involved in Vietnam beyond a handful of advisers, and not triggering a war with the Soviets over Hungary. Eisenhower also advocated for an open skies policy with the Soviets where we would have mutual reconnaissance flyovers to ensure compliance with an arms limitation treaty. He had a long term vision that in the end I doubt few would dispute that we were better off for his hand at the helm for eight years.
Ronald Reagan raised taxes numerous times as governor of California. Before Roe vs. Wade he signed into law the most liberal abortion law in the country. As president he is remembered for lowering taxes and forgotten for his tax hikes. He is also largely forgotten for creating the largest deficits up until Bush II and Obama. Some economists believe that Reagan's deficit spending was a big reason for getting us out of the recession that he inherited, that his deficits contributed to lowering unemployment. Reagan also did nothing when over 240 marines were killed in a terrorist attack in Lebanon. How much of that would fly in today's Republican Party?
Obviously this forum is not the place for a detailed record analysis of either president. In my opinion both were very good presidents, and I voted for Reagan both times. But considering the total allegiance to the Republican Party's platform today that is commanded of all Republican candidates for office, it makes sense why Romney and Ryan have tacked so hard to the right, why they publicly ignore where they have strayed from the platform in the past. At one time I was pretty confident that Romney would win the November election. Today, barring the unforeseen and all things being equal, I wouldn't bet on it. Rather than post blogs challenging me on this, I would suggest that we wait until after the election to do a post mortem. I maintain that Eisenhower and Reagan had it right, that they had the pulse of the American people, and in Reagan's case, the reality of his presidency is very different from the mythological one. And in spite of the reality he had a successful tenure in the White House.
On a totally different note, I would like to recognize the passing of Otis Brumby. I don't claim to have known him well, but I am honored that I had several private meetings with him in his office, phone conversations, and other communications. I was very honored and touched when he introduced me as his friend to John McCain in 2007. It is probably fair to say, though, that we had less in common politically, but on some of the important issues in our community we often found common ground. The man was unfailingly gracious in person. Some years ago when we had very strong disagreement on a matter of local public interest, he allowed me to meet with him to argue my side and to present evidence to support it. Afterwards, I asked him if I could have 500 words to respond to his past editorials on the subject. He replied that I should take a thousand words. Facts, logic, reason, and evidence could persuade him---not always, but often enough to convince me that he tried to get it right, that he was intellectually honest. I will miss his closing words after each conversation, "Come by anytime and let's have a cup of coffee. You are always welcome." Otis Brumby could leave this world secure in the knowledge that he made a positive difference in the community he lived and served, and made it better than when he arrived a long time ago.
It's remarkable that Obama has been attacked for almost four years for making a number of promises that anyone should understand were aspirational and dependent on Congress or other factors to be fulfilled. The Republicans have had a field day with Obama's promise of "Hope and Change." I guess they think that it has a very definite meaning, that there is only one measure that determines if we have experienced it. If the voters decide that Romney's promises of creating 12 million jobs and balancing the budget by 2020 is realistic, they should vote for him. (Ryan's budget plan calls for a much longer period of time to get it into balance.) Romney has also promised to increase defense spending, restore the Bush tax cuts and add his own, and cut a myriad of regulations. Absent from all these promises is any roadmap that a voter can examine to determine if these plans will lead to prosperity or take us over the cliff. But believing on faith is very powerful. I wonder if Romney has factored into his calculations the costs that Obama inherited from Bush, and which Romney would inherit in turn from Obama: two unfunded wars, VA care for the next 60 plus years that will exceed twelve figures, and Medicare Part D. The CBO says Medicare Part D will cost more over ten years than ObamaCare, TARP, and the stimulus package combined. But not a peep from the Republicans to repeal Medicare D. Maybe it's because they gave birth to it.
Another issue that Romney would have to face is how to pay for his promised increases to the Defense Department while cutting taxes. Of interest is that DOD requested another BRAC (Base Realignment and Closing) commission earlier this year. It was defeated in both Houses by Republicans and Democrats. The reason is that they fear the number of jobs that would be lost in the communities that the elected officials represent. The Democrats have not shied away from arguing that the government needs to spend more to create jobs, while the Republicans have countered that these are nothing more than a giveaway programs with taxpayer money. I won't argue with the Republican logic, but it is an argument papered in obfuscation. DOD has expressed the need to close bases to save money, and that if it can't close the bases, the money that goes to support them will be taken from needed research and development and other programs directly related to our national defense. But the Republicans defend their position with disingenuous claims while wrapped in the red, white and blue. When Obama pleaded for approval of his jobs bill to rebuild infrastructure, something we need and which would employ countless engineers, architects, construction workers, and a myriad of other skilled and unskilled laborers, that was called a welfare program. I stand with the people who probably know what's best: Leon Panetta and the joint chiefs. I also stand with Obama and his jobs bill that would put money into the economy, ensure that technical skills are maintained, and put money back into the economy, which would create taxpayers and new jobs.
The subject of patriotism, who is a real American or what makes someone a real American, has been much more topical since 911 and the two wars that followed. For some this is a push button issue that can get one's back up in a New York minute, which is very fast. There have been times in our country's history when people have been more divided than currently, but that's not to say that we aren't divided right now. With unemployment high, the GDP down, the middle class shrinking, tax inequity becoming more manifest, and a nasty presidential election coming up, people have very different ideas about who we are as Americans and where they would like to see the next president take our country.
My own ideas about patriotism start with the notion that displaying the American flag and sporting a "Support Our Troops" bumper sticker, and proclamations of love of country, by themselves, mean very little. All that does is remind me of the passage in the Book of James which says that faith without works is dead. I think just about all Americans can agree on what we want for our country, things like a strong defense, full employment with good jobs that have upward mobility, a growing economy, excellent schools, safe streets and neighborhoods, low crime, good highways, a fair tax system, available and quality healthcare, and more. The differences that Americans have is how to get to the end zone where these things are accomplished. It wasn't until the war in Iraq that I cared about my generation's participation in the military during Vietnam. When I saw all the politicians that supported that war, politicians that were gung ho about our participation in Vietnam but never suited up, I changed my whole viewpoint on the topic. Romney is only one example among many who took advantage of several deferments to avoid service while at the same time he marched in favor of the war. When asked during the 2008 campaign about whether his sons have served in the military, Romney responded that one of the ways they were serving their country was by supporting his presidential campaign.
I have come around to the belief that there are different ways to demonstrate patriotism. Serving in the military is one of them. Some kind of civilian service to our nation for a couple of years as an alternative to the military, would be another. There are a lot of very worthwhile projects and needs that could use the talents of our young men and women, and not only would our country benefit, they too would benefit from the experience. I also believe that patriotism includes the unbridled willingness to pay for the costs of war to ensure that our fighters have the very best equipment that money can buy. I believe that patriotism demands that we willingly pay whatever tax hikes it would take to care for the lifetime care of our wounded veterans so that they receive the best medical treatment for the rest of their lives. It is unconscionable that many organizations that treat severely injured veterans have to raise the money through private sources. All Americans that call themselves patriots should be willing to pony up and not rely on charity. It is a disingenuous argument to suggest that we should not have a tax hike to pay for our wars and our wounded until we cut other spending. Our elected officials can cut spending if they decided (I'm not getting into who's at fault here), but in the meanwhile they can show real patriotism and do the right thing.
For the first time ever it appears that Super Pac money will exceed the contributions that each candidate will directly receive directly into their campaigns. This is the result of the U.S. Supreme Court's decision in Citizens United. There are those who believe that somehow this private money from sources that don't have to be revealed is a counter balance to the mainstream media, perceived by some as the liberal media or "lamestream" media. I wonder if you tally up all the listeners to conservative talk radio---Rush Limbaugh, Sean Hannity, Bill O'Reilly, Michael Savage, Dennis Prager, Glen Beck, Laura Ingraham, Michael Gallagher, Dennis Miller---and many more---would they somehow offset the numbers that get their news from the mainstream media? And remember, these are very partisan talkmeisters who push their agenda openly with no ambiguity. Since Air America is long gone there are only a handful of liberal talk shows that mostly can be found on satellite radio, and which contain relatively small listening audiences. Citizens United didn't level the playing field in the political arena; it tilted it and overturned a long history of banning these kinds of contributions that our state representatives thought fostered corruption of the election process. And when those without any money tried to unite and get attention that couldn't be had without money, the Occupy Wall Street movement was condemned because of the handful of extremists that latched onto the movement and gave it a bad name.
Mitt Romney denounced the Bush TARP program that saved the auto industry and countless jobs, but was okay with the Wall Street bailouts. Then Paul Ryan blamed Obama for the 2008 closing of a GM plant in his district even though it was Bush who occupied the White House at the time. Ryan was okay with TARP as long as it protected an industry that encompassed voters that could reelect him. Yet this same guy hates government spending unless it's for defense, talks about the need for the marketplace to work without government interference, unless of course it affects his political future. We haven't heard the Romney-Ryan plan yet to pay for the staggering costs of our seriously wounded veterans that will need care for the next sixty to seventy years. And that doesn't take into account future wars and veterans costs.
Romney complains that Obama has defamed him with allegations concerning his role at Bain Capital, and he takes a very strong defense posture at releasing his tax returns beyond two years. Romney has even demanded apologies from Obama, which seems really odd for someone who presumably needs a thick skin to be president, and who should know how to fight back if he's going to be dealing with some of the worst bullies in the world, both domestic and foreign. But the same Romney, when asked if he thought Obama was an American citizen answered with the glibness he learned at Harvard Law School, that he had no reason to think Obama wasn't. That response is a long way from John McCain who responded to a woman that accused Obama of being a Muslim. McCain answered directly, firmly, and left no doubt that he was sincere. Perhaps the difference between Romney and McCain is that McCain learned something about leadership when served this country in uniform, while Romney took advantage of whatever deferments he could get during Vietnam and talking tough at the same time in support of the war. Maybe it's about time for Romney to let the American people see his Selective Service records to learn what his priorities were to avoid service during the time of the draft.


text:
Was it on RAW where the Bog Boss Man tricked Al Snow into eat his dog Pepper? Cause if it was then that is a RAW moment I didn't need to see.
Humankind cannot gain anything without first giving something in return. To obtain, something of equal value must be lost. - FMA
Why Tebow when you can Beltre instead?
The Future of the WWE Women's Division: Brittani Knight AKA Paige!

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Paul Merson
Football Expert & Columnist @PaulMerse
A London eye
Merse predicts a North London derby draw and wins for all the other capital clubs... except Chelsea!
Last Updated: 16/11/12 12:48pm
As ever, you can follow all the Premier League action this weekend on Sky Sports.
We asked Soccer Saturday expert Paul Merson to look at the fixtures and give us his verdict on where the games will be won and lost.
Every week he'll be here on skysports.com to share his views on who he expects to be the winners and losers of the weekend.
Ford Football Special: Arsenal v Tottenham
12pm, Sat, Sky Sports 2 HD & Sky 3D
The only time I miss playing football is when this game comes around. It's such a big, big game.
Neither of these teams can afford to lose this one and both teams are as bad as each other right now. They're certainly not as good as some people think they are.
Look at Tottenham. Everyone knows I'm no Spurs fan, but I liked to watch the free-flowing football they played under Harry Redknapp. They attacked games and if they didn't win, at least they went down in a blaze of glory.
That's not the case under Andre Villas-Boas. When they went 1-0 up against Man City they sat back for the entire second-half. The week before, he took off one striker and put on another when they were losing to Wigan. We've seen him play two defensive midfield players in home games.
Sometimes this is a very simple game for complicated people. I think he's making things too complicated. Why not play two up front and put Man City on the back foot? If things were going well then people would be proclaiming him as a great manager, but at the moment it's not going well.
As for Arsenal, they're nowhere near as good as people think. In fact, if you went player-for-player through the two teams then Tottenham are probably better. That's how much things have swung.
People say they started the season well, but that 0-0 draw at home to Sunderland looks like a shocking result and the win at Anfield doesn't seem so impressive when you look at Liverpool's record. Then they were also absolutely battered at Old Trafford; it really should have been six or seven that day.
In my opinion, both Arsenal and Tottenham are a way behind Everton in the race for fourth. It's a long season and I'm sure both teams will get better, but at the moment Everton are in pole position.
So this is a massive game and I can't see either of the teams keeping a clean sheet (especially if this talk of Arsenal playing three at the back is true). I'll go for a draw.
Ford Super Sunday: Fulham v Sunderland
3.30pm, Sun, Sky Sports 1 HD
One of these teams scores loads of goals and one of these teams doesn't score any goals. That's why I can only see one winner here.
To be fair to Sunderland, I thought they were unlucky in the first half against Everton last week. They made chances, played well and could have scored more goals. They won't have played better than that too often this season and it's worrying that they still lost the game.
Earlier in the season they were defensively sound, but couldn't score a goal for toffee. Last week they were creating chances, but were too open at the back. They now need to find a happy balance.
Martin O'Neill is under pressure for maybe the first time in his career. I don't mean his job is under pressure, but his methods are being questioned and that's unusual for someone who's been around so long.
Fulham are a good team, they played better than Arsenal last week, and pass the ball around nicely. Dimitar Berbatov and Bryan Ruiz are outstanding players and I expect them to win this.
They should be top-half this season, especially with a lot of teams struggling, but I see Sunderland in a relegation battle unless they improve quickly.
This should be a comfortable home win.
Ford Monday Night Football: West Ham v Stoke
7pm, Mon, Sky Sports 1 HD
West Ham thoroughly deserve their place in the upper reaches of the Premier League. There's no luck about it at this stage of the season and your league position is where you deserve to be.
I'm sure they'll have a blip at some stage (as every team apart from the top ones is bound to) but I always thought they'd stay up with Sam Allardyce in charge. They've got plenty of points on the board and when that blip comes along I don't think they'll get dragged into the relegation scrap.
Kevin Nolan has been key for them this year. He scores important goals, as we've seen in a lot of games this year, and I honestly don't know why he's never been called up for England. Maybe it's because he plays in the first team every week? He'll probably go down as one of the most unlucky players to never get a cap.
He has a good partnership with Andy Carroll, who is doing his fair share of work as well. I know he hasn't been getting the goals, but they'll soon come.
I've been quite disappointed with Stoke this season. I never fancied them to go down, and I still don't, but they fell over the line against QPR (who haven't won a game and were the better team) last week.
It would be unfair to say this will be an ugly game to watch. There will be a lot of good players on the pitch and neither side play like the Wimbledon team of years ago, despite their reputations.
It should be a good game to watch and I expect West Ham to win.
Liverpool v Wigan
Liverpool are a young team, who will have their ups and downs and the question is whether Wigan can control Luis Suarez. I'm just going to go for a Liverpool win, but it won't be a walk in the park like everybody seems to think.
Man City v Aston Villa
Aston Villa did well against Manchester United last week, but the worry is that they lost the football match. They're a young and enthusiastic team, but when you're 2-0 up you need a bit of experience to ensure you don't lose. Their enthusiasm will give Man City problems at the start, but I think the home team will grind them down and win.
Newcastle v Swansea
I was looking forward to watching Swansea against Southampton last week but they were shocking; I don't think they kept the ball for more than five passes. Teams are starting to get used to Swansea now, they're squeezing them all over the pitch and not letting them play, and as individuals they're not good enough to make things happen. If Newcastle don't sit off them, they should win this.
QPR v Southampton
I don't like talking about anyone getting the sack - be it a football manager or a factory worker - but there's no doubt this is a massive pressure game. The owners will say Mark Hughes' and Nigel Adkins' jobs aren't on the line, but there's a third of the season gone after this match and they don't have many points on the board. Southampton keep shooting themselves in the foot and I think QPR have better players and home advantage. If QPR get the first goal, people like Cisse and Taarabt can pick them off and get more.
Reading v Everton
Reading haven't won yet and there's no chance of that changing on Saturday. I'm not being disrespectful because Reading work very hard, but sometimes you have to hold your hands up and say you're a bit out of your depth. It's not down to the manager or the players, it's just the way it is. Everton are as good as anybody right now and will win this.
West Brom v Chelsea
This might surprise some people, but I'm calling a home win. Chelsea have a huge game against Juventus in the Champions League and I think they may rest a couple of players. This would be a hard game with Chelsea's best team playing, but I think we'll see some changes because if they lose to Juventus they're out. West Brom have won every home game except Man City (when they should have drawn) and they're no mugs. They deserve respect.
Norwich v Man Utd
Even if Norwich score five goals in this game then Man United will get six. Norwich will make it hard and at some point a team will score first against United and hold on, but I can't see a shock here. Sir Alex Ferguson can put his strongest team out because they're through in the Champions League and that's the advantage they've earned over some of the other teams.
Follow Saturday's football on Soccer Saturday from 12noon on Sky Sports News HD and then see extended highlights on Football First from 8.25pm on Sky Sports 2 HD.


text:
How can you not like Meerkats? Animated and entertaining, they stand on their hind legs to scan their surroundings for both friend and foe. Their black-tipped fingers and dark markings around the eyes give them a wonderfully mischievous, cartoon-like appearance. It's too bad that these beautiful little animals only naturally occur in southern Africa but at least you can add them to your yard in the form of realistic, detailed animal garden statues. The main question is which one to put in the garden?
The Meerkat Gang Sculpture is a classic depiction of these noble little creatures and looks beautiful in any yard.Try putting it near the flowers so the Meerkats can guard them with bright, watchful eyes.
You can also mix Meerkats with outdoor garden water fountains when you buy the Meerkat Family at the Watering Hole Sculpture. Just as they would do in their dry Kalahari Desert homeland, a family of Meerkats hangs out at a precious watering hole and stand on their hind legs to get a better view of their surroundings.
For one of the cutest of Meerkat statues, see the Kalahari Meerkat Statue: Out of Hole. Just as the name of the statue implies, a cute Meerkat peeks its adorable head out of its burrow to inspect your garden.
Find the best in Meerkat items and other high quality garden sculptures at Design Toscano.


text:
Katie Levy's blog
Korn front-man, Jonathan Davis, has revealed that the band is getting ready to commence writing material for new record, and has also spoke about his electronic solo project, J Devil. In a recent interview, the band's lead vocalist revealed: "We're getting ready to start writing a new record. Our motto is to keep ever-evolving. I'm sure there'll still be some electronic influence...
Korn's Jonathan Davis came out largely in support of longtime friends Cypress. "If there was no Cypress Hill there'd be no Korn. They were a huge influence on the first Korn record," he told Rolling Stone. Davis estimates that he hasn't smoked in14 years. But he is a fierce defender of the idea of legalizing weed. "I think it's everyone's right to smoke, it should be legalized," he...
I think it's cool. If you feel inside you are a woman, be a woman – no one can take that away from you, man. No one can make that feeling go away. If that's what you need to do to be complete, then no one has the right to tell you you can't do that. -Jonathan Davis Rolling Stones Q&A
Then: Korn has been a major metal act since 1994, but they were really only pop stars for a few short years, starting with 1998's Follow the Leader. It was a weird moment, when rap-metal and teen-pop were equally at home on MTV – Korn's aggro freak-outs "Falling Away From Me" and "Freak On A Leash" could share the airwaves with 'N Sync's "Bye Bye Bye" and Backstreet Boys' "I Want It That...
It's poetry that I just love to read over and over again. Keep holding on When my brain's ticking like a bomb Guess the black thoughts Have come again to get me Sweet bitter words Unlike nothing I have heard Sing along, mockingbird You don't affect me That's right Deliver it to my heart Please strike Be deliberate Wait, I'm coming undone Unlaced, I'm...
I know it's kind of random to admit, but I am addicted to that show Adventure Time on Cartoon Network. The characters on there are hilarious and very adult-like. So I admit I am a HUGE fan of Korn and Adventure Time. Trying to keep the posts positive. lol =]
Fieldy. I don't care what you say, Fieldy is a legend. I will always respect him for his contributions to bass guitar and the beautiful and rhythmic sounds it can make. Bass is not for the weak. He is the most fluid and unique bass player I have ever seen. When he plays, its as if his bass is an entire other person that he is communicating with on stage. Totally not trying to sound like a...
I put a dumb amount of thought into this so I figured I'd put it into blog form too. My favorite songs from each Korn album: Korn-Clown Life is Peachy-Ass Itch Follow The Leader-Got The Life Issues-Make Me Bad Untouchables-Here To Stay Take a Look-Counting On Me SYOTOS-Coming Undone Untitled Album-Evolution Remember Who You Are-Oildale The Path of Totality-Get Up
Avenged Sevenfold -Rather anti-climactic but you can add your own through comments or disagree with me, but I just think they're awful and they insert random guitar riffs and change tempo a billion times doesn't mean that they're talented artists or even good metal music for that matter. Also feel free to agree with me on this one.
I am a proud bass player. I love the rhythm and beat my instrument supplies to songs. I am so thankful to have heard Fieldy and Korn at a very young age. I have since been in love with Fieldy's talent and the instrument altogether.


text:
"Looks like a Newark street racer," editor Campy snickered. "Let's do it!" Street racers used for big-buck clandestine shootouts often appear like beaters, which in fact they are, stripped of fat, parasites, and anything else that doesn't appeal directly to the cause. Sometimes, the gig is to look like junk all around, thus making it easier to suck in chumps.
John Morrell's crisp '80 Malibu is neither, but it retains only what the local eighth-mile rules require (current registration, working headlights, wipers, etc.), but a rear seat is optional. To this schedule, Morrell lightened the front of the car with VFN Fiberglass hood and front bumper, and with the all-alloy 427ci LS engine the overall load is 3,108 pounds, right down there at street-fightin' weight, boys, and pretty much the same as stock. But, Morrell shuffled the weight where he needed it.
"I bought the car in South Carolina from two guys who just used it for racing. It didn't even have a headliner. What really sold me were the mint-condition door and side panelsàand the body, which was in very good condition, too. Before we'd hit the Georgia border," John chirped, "we'd (fellow racer Justin Brayman) stripped off the old lettering. The next day the car was at JD's Custom Paint & Body in Port Richey, Florida."
John's RMP Automotive, also in Port Richey, is a general repair shop that also fabricates exhaust systems. In central Florida you'd be hard-pressed to find a good-ol'-boy late-model pick-em up that doesn't have a pair of pipes sticking out the back of it. So the 53-year-old John was on the case with his 'Bu, having already experienced a '68 Chevelle, '67 Nova, and a '69 Camaro RS.
"I always wanted to build this particular car for the simple fact that the G-body Malibu works. The sound body and good interior were the keys to the buy. Just to make it different, I put an LS engine in it," he declared. "I also like the fact that it's a dual-purpose car in that I can drive it or race it. Soon, we'll be working the Zex perimeter plate (150-300hp) and the new NX Safeguard fuel system." The latter assumes the space usually reserved for the battery, which has been banished to the boot, which aids in weight transfer and traction.
At first he ran a 427ci small-block. The LS has the same displacement, but it's lighter and more powerful (652 hp at 6,800 rpm). On nuts, the 'Bu has gone 10.29/137 at Gainesville and 6.30s (100hp shot) on the Sunshine Drag Strip (Clearwater) eighth-mile. John contracted LS specialists Texas Speed & Performance in Wollforth (a 'burb of Lubbock) to build the motor while he cranked on the chassis and set up the rest of the car. It already had a legal 10-point cage from its former life. John: "The car is pretty basic, mostly bolt-on parts. When I switched to coilovers in the rear, I had to weld in a crossmember for the upper attachment point as well as relocate the shock mounts on the 12-bolt axle."
He rebuilt the front end with stock components, adding Moroso springs and 90/10 shocks to get the front of the car to work in concert with the tire-bite as quickly as possible. The former owners had posted South Side Machine lift bars and adjustable upper links, and John added an Edelbrock adjustable antisway bar and Chassis Engineering adjustable coilovers. Bite is tight; wheelstands are routine. For reliability, John filled the coconut with 4.56:1 gears on a Chassis Engineering spool torturing Moser 33-spline axles, capping it all with an LPN support/cover.


text:
That rival car company from Dearborn has been building supercharged ponycars since Spring 2002, and while there have been rumors of a factory-blown, LS-powered fifth-gen Camaro for years (spread on these very pages, no less!), there's still no official word on when such a Chevrolet will actually hit showrooms. Insiders tell us such a vehicle, which will supposedly wear Z28 badges and come with the LSA engine offered in the Cadillac CTS-V models, will arrive sometime during the '12 model year. Well, what if you need a car and have the means now? One dealership isn't making potential customers wait.
NeSmith Chevrolet in Claxton, Georgia, is taking the Camaro by the horns and is ready to produce LS9-powered F-bodies at this very moment. This is the full-bore, 638-horse ZR1 engine offered from GM Performance Parts in crate form. It's dubbed the NeSmith Storm Camaro LS9, and Super Chevy was fortunate enough to get its racing gloves on one for a full-barrel strip and road course evaluation at Gainesville Raceway in Florida.
What you are getting is more than just a Camaro with an engine swap, because all you get from GMPP is a powerplant looking for a home. It is a completely re-engineered automobile with a special suspension, accessory drive, liquid intercooler setup and fuel system. According to Patrick Michael from Jen Jacs Restorations, the company that did the conversion, swapping the LS3 for the LS9 is pretty straightforward, but that's just the beginning. "As far as the accessory drives, everything had to be changed, re-routed, re-plumbed and rewired. The actual installation of the motor wasn't too difficult. It's all the accessories and add-ons that go with the LS9 that made it difficult."
No mods to the cowl area are necessary to make the supercharged powerplant fit; a swap from LS3 to LS9 motor mounts allow it to nestle itself where God and GM intended. But you do need to add a 10-quart oil tank (LS9s are dry-sump engines), an intercooler, and a separate intercooler pump. They did have to move the radiator closer to the engine to make room for the oil tank and intercooler coolant reservoir.
Steve Gordon, NeSmith Chevy's director, sales and service, told Super Chevy, "Demere M. NeSmith, the owner of the dealership, and I were talking and we said, 'let's do an LS9'. The LS9 is a perfect fit, but all your coolers and belt drives are different. We partnered with Jen Jacs Restoration because we knew they were true craftsmen, and we would end up with something that looked factory. The goal [for the customer] is to purchase a vehicle that will go fast and drive like anything else you bought off the showroom floor."
The car you see on these pages was the first, a one-of-a-kind '10 model with painted-on white stripes (the entire car was wet sanded, striped and buffed by Jen Jacs). Included are the GM Performance Parts lower body aero kit, Baer braking system with 15-inch diameter rotors and six-piston calipers at all four wheels, and American Racing Headers performance exhaust system with 17/8-inch headers and 3-inch catalyst system that bolts to the stock 2.5-inch mufflers. This is a fully developed package that put out 523 hp on the Hypertech chassis dyno.
The axles are larger and stronger than stock, and supposedly capable of holding up to 1,000 hp. The McLeod single disc clutch was a highlight of our test. The clutch actuation was outstanding and it took all the abuse we could throw at it, both on the strip and road course. A Hurst shifter handles the gear changes effectively; no shifts were missed on the dragstrip. A complete Pfadt Race Engineering suspension with different sway bars and lowering springs ensures the driver can keep all this madness under control.


text:
Leak points to Android Key Lime Pie debut this spring
Some alleged, and quickly disappearing, Qualcomm roadmap slides mention a second-quarter release for the next flavor of Google's mobile OS.
More delicious Android desserts could be just around the corner, according to some allegedly leaked Qualcomm roadmap slides that mention a springtime arrival for the Android "K-release" or "Key Lime Pie" a few times.
Qualcomm officials have apparently been racing around the Internet demanding that a handful of tech blogs take them down due to copyright issues and thereby suggesting that they're actually legit. (As I write, you can still view them here on Phone Arena via Android Police.)
If Android 5.0 does pop up in a delicious sweet and sour flavor between March and June, the smart money is on a Google I/O debut, which is the event at which Android Jelly Bean was introduced last year.
In fact, if all the rumors come together to the form the perfect caipirinha of Android announcements, perhaps we'll see the release of a Motorola " X phone " running Android 5.0 Key Lime Pie with integrated Google Project Glass support. Heck, just two out of those three would be interesting enough.


text:
This 406 normally is at home in between the fenders of a '67 Nova. After years of feeding nitrous through it, we decided to give the engine a simple makeover by swapping out the old pieces in exchange for a complete bolt-on system from Trick Flow Specialties.
Taking a closer look at the original mill, this gem was pieced together on a tight swap meet budget and relied on a liberal shot of nitrous to catch any would-be challengers at the local grudge night sessions. It featured an old set of cast-iron heads, a Quadrajet carb, a flat tappet camshaft we borrowed, and a set of stamped-steel roller-tipped rocker arms.
For this month, we left the short-block alone with its factory 5.56-inch rods and cast 400 crankshaft. We figured it was the perfect candidate for a top end upgrade and comes complete with everything being supplied to transform our little sleeper. We should mention that Trick Flow Specialties offers each of the items used here individually, however we took the easier route and ordered the all-in-one package.
This particular kit included a pair of TFS' Super 23 aluminum cylinder heads, and comes with the cam and lifters, all the necessary gaskets, pushrods, full roller 1.5:1 ratio rockers, and a new double-roller timing chain. To finish up the order, we also went with a Quick Fuel Technology 750-cfm carburetor and a Weiand Speed Warrior dual-plane intake manifold.
We didn't want to turn this into an all-out track piece; on the contrary, we wanted to keep its street manners intact and decided on a mild hydraulic flat tappet camshaft, spec'd out at 228/234 degrees of duration and 0.480/0.494 lift with a 110 LSA. The Trick Flow Specialties Super 23 195 heads come standard with a 62cc chamber, which produced a pump gas–friendly 9.7:1 compression with our dish pistons.
To document our changes, we headed over to The Carb Shop in Ontario, California, where we baselined the original setup and put the new combination to the test. The baseline figures were modest at 324 hp, but did surprisingly well in the torque department with 439 lb-ft. With the first set of numbers secured, we took a couple of hours to swap over to our new combo and found a significant improvement with an increase to 409 hp and 471 lb-ft! Now for the fun part, seeing how the Nova reacts with an additional 150-shot of nitrous . . . stay tuned.


text:
Get our latest offers and news.
Return to Previous Page
1000 Thread Count Egyptian Cotton Sheet Set - IvoryDurable and long-lasting, this 100% Egyptian Cotton sheet set is the perfect quality bedding to introduce into your bedroom. Learn More$129.99
Grace Home 1000 Thread Count Wrinkle Free Queen Sheet SetEnjoy the comfort of luxurious 1000 thread count sheet sets. Set includes two bonus pillowcases. Learn More$119.99


text:
The market is changing and getting more fragmented. Corporate executives are learning that the key to a successful Hispanic marketing campaign is to have a deep understanding of who their target audience is, how it has evolved due to acculturation levels, and knowing the best media options to properly execute the campaign.
One of the most effective media outlets to best geo-target the Hispanic population is direct mail. The process of acculturation influences the Hispanic consumer's perception of direct mail. While most consumers in the general market dismiss it as junk mail, Hispanics, particularly Spanish dominant, welcome it as a way of becoming a more informed consumer.
Overall, Hispanic households are 3.5 times more likely to respond to a direct-mail solicitation than non-Hispanics. In fact, 77 percent of Hispanics won't discard mail before reading it, and 54 percent of Hispanic adults responded to a direct-mail offer, according to a Yankelovich Monitor Multicultural Marketing Study.
Most U.S. Hispanics are Spanish-speaking consumers that can understand English but not necessarily speak it, read it or write it fluently. So, understanding who the decision maker is and the acculturation level will help you determine the best language to choose.
To make your direct-mail efforts far more effective, keep these helpful tips in mind:
1. Determine your audience
Purchasing the right list is crucial. There is so much information available to craft a successful direct-mail campaign. We helped a client in the education industry that used to send their Anglo direct-mail pieces to Spanish households based on surnames. Their intentions were to reach potential U.S. Hispanic students to increase enrollment but response was low. The reason being, they forgot that it is the parents who pay for the education, and most of them are Spanish dominant.


text:
Narrow your search
FaceCake, maker of the augmented-reality shopping software called Swivel, shows off the newest iterations of its product here at CES 2013.
Swivel, from FaceCake Marketing Technologies, and Webcam Social Shopper, from Zugara, are latest to offer online clothing retailers ways for customers to "try on" clothing from their own homes.
The confab gives young companies six minutes to make their spiel. In a landscape brimming with such shows, is Demo still worth the admission fee?


text: No, as much as I am underwhelmed by the thought of RVD in WWE, I think any clash he has with Punk needs it's own focus and not being simply used as a conduit match to Lesnar. Feed Axel to Punk at MiTB if anything. Or dredge up some other temporary Paul Heyman Guy for a novelty match. Have Heyman keeping a match between Brock and Punk from happening as long as possible in that Heyman still has a soft spot for Punk and he doesn't want Brock to break him.


text:
Sorry, I can't seem to find the item you're looking for.
Note: This database includes nutritionally verified dishes created by the PCC Deli (hence, it does not include occasional items such as daily specials). As a seasonal grocer, please remember that not every dish listed is available year-round. Also, not all items are available at all stores, as each PCC Deli offers a seasonal selection tailored to its shoppers. Please call ahead to your neighborhood PCC Deli to determine availability.
If you have questions or comments, please email email@example.com.
Filter key:
- High fiber: 2.5g or more fiber per serving
- High protein: 10g protein, with 40% or more total kcal from protein
- Low sodium: 140 mg or less sodium per serving
- Low fat: 5 grams or less total fat per serving
- Low saturated fat: 2 grams or less saturated fat per serving
- Low calories: 120kcal or less per serving
- Cholesterol free: 0mg cholesterol
- Nutrient dense: 25% or more of any 2 of the 4 micronutrients (Vitamin A, Vitamin C, Calcium, Iron)
- Whole grain: Made with 100% whole grains
- Cruciferous vegetable: One of the first 3 ingredients is a cruciferous vegetable, such as cabbage, broccoli, or kale


text:
Many people have collections of elephant statues and those who feel they bring good luck gather all sizes, from outdoor elephant statues to smaller pieces in their indoor décor. To be sure of good luck, we present our Elephants of Fortune Sculpture which are shown in a golden finish with raised trunks for good luck. These three elephants are sculpted in great detail and stand about a foot and a half stacked upon each other.
We pride ourselves on having unusual statues such as our Big Foot sculpture and prehistoric animal sculpture. One that you won't see in every garden is the Rangar: Garden Dancer Troll Statue. This big bellied troll is having a good time dancing in the garden and looking as different as anything. He's over a foot tall, is beautifully hand painted and is a Design Toscano exclusive, of course.
Cute animals have a place in every yard and garden. Certainly our popular Meerkat sculpture always has a home in someone's yard as do our silly gophers and adorable tiger cubs. Now welcome another cute animal to the group, this is our Mischievous Bear Cubs Sculpture. These two little bear cubs are trying to find their balance on a log and holding on with bear claws. They are well detailed and as always, beautifully hand painted.


text:
BNA - For Australian and visiting cyclists from Road to MTB, to Track to Freestyle
Questions about purchasing bicycles and parts
19 posts • Page 1 of 1
hi all does anybody know when buying online from wiggle.com.au is it sent from Australia or England ?
2013 Cube Lightning HPC SL Race
2012 Merida Scultura Evo 905
Re: wiggle.com.au
UK. Domain name only indicates where the website is registered.
Re: wiggle.com.au
ah ok cheers mate
2013 Cube Lightning HPC SL Race
2012 Merida Scultura Evo 905
Re: wiggle.com.au
No worries. AFAIK they do local returns (at least I think it was Wiggle). probikekit have an .au domain now also and torpedo7 have had one for ages (although these days they may do some things out of Melbourne)
Re: wiggle.com.au
They do have an Australia warehouse that stocks some of their items (or they may bulk ship to that warehouse common items that have a high turnover) and you can send some returns to an Australian address.
Re: wiggle.com.au
I have a feeling it is shipped to Australia in bulk, ie goods from Portsmouth, get packed there, all parcels to Australia go in big box, which is sent to Australia by other means, then unpacked and enters the postal system in here.
Which is why Wiggle are faster than the other usual suspects (Ribble, PBK, CRC, Planet-X etc) at the moment, except Evan using DHL.
As for for some reason, Royal Mail is slow to Australia at the moment not the 5 to 7 days advertise, or even 10 to 14 days usual, but 17 days plus.
My partner buys get 1 or 2 parcels from the UK each week and keeps track of these things.
Last edited by nickobec on Wed Jun 26, 2013 5:01 pm, edited 1 time in total.
my blog Nick Cowie, member of Peel District Cycling Club
Re: wiggle.com.au
That would make sense.
Re: wiggle.com.au
I asked them the other night on the online chat what was the difference between the UK site and AU site (got annoyed of the question on the bottom always asking if I want to shop from the AU site instead). The AU site defaults to $AUD and only list items that can be shipped to Australia.
Re: wiggle.com.au
I normally order from the .com.au site but usually the stuff I have ordered comes direct from UK - you can track the progress of your order on DHL if you are really weird like me. Delivery has always come direct to me from the DHL customs clearing at the airport. I have never selected anything other than normal delivery and it comes in about 5 days. I ordered a set of wheels on a Friday and they rocked up on Monday morning which was pretty impressive.
They do hold some stock here in Oz on the east coast and you can return things to that address I believe. With my last order I had a picking error which I emailed them about at 5.30pm NSW time. Next morning I had a delivery of the missing item which was obviously in stock here.
Very happy with their service and delivery.
Re: wiggle.com.au
ordered tires and they came from melbourne.
Re: wiggle.com.au
Be careful when ordering clothes from Wiggle I got hit with a 50% restocking fee when something I purchased was the wrong size and when I queried this they virtually ignored me.
Last edited by Mylotian on Sun Jun 30, 2013 8:29 am, edited 1 time in total.
Re: wiggle.com.au
have seen various clothing items when on "special" more expensive on the wiggle .au domain site compared to the .uk site - just need to shop around I guess.
Re: wiggle.com.au
Does anybody have trouble accessing wiggles site or is it just because I'm using an ipad. I get their emails and when I open them I get a list of their site choices but can't get past that point.
Re: wiggle.com.au
Interesting - in purchasing from the UK it means Aussie customers have rights as per UK law, but I don't know what they are when it comes to ordering the wrong size. In Australia some retailers provide incorrect information to avoid returns (eg. no refunds where customers may have the right to a refund). It would be interesting to know what your customer rights are in this case based on UK law.
As a customer, I would readily accept postage costs however if an item is in original condition and unopened then I also wouldn't want to pay a surcharge. A different story though if the item was opened / tried as I see a difference between online and instore where a local bike shop will (may) allow gear to be tried first. That said, I know a popular overseas shoe and fashion retailer that is doing amazing business, they allow gear to be tried and returned if the customer doesn't like it or it doesn't fit at no cost and with a full refund. This trust - and for customers a real motivator and they end up buying more.
$5157 Raised for my Adelaide to Darwin charity ride:
Keep supporting! TourXOz Details and Fundraising
Re: wiggle.com.au
It depends what is meant by "the wrong size"
My recollection from my time in the UK is:
If they delivered an item which is a different size to that ordered then clearly "not fit for purpose"
If they item is the size as ordered but you made a mistake, then you can return unopened at your expense and get a refund as a "cooling off" provision
If the item is the size as ordered and you try it on and don't like it then "caveat emptor"
I suspect retailers who allow you to "try and return" have a big margin on their sales. You don't get something for nothing. This is a bit like goods that come with a "lifetime replacement guarantee"
Helmets! Bells! Rego!
Re: wiggle.com.au
Re: wiggle.com.au
On Ken's comment, if you buy Bont shoes in Aus, they will often send two sizes to the shop to ensure you get the right fit. Seems a bit crazy, but if you are going to pony up 300 for a pair of shoes, it is probably cheaper to just send both boxes at once and let the retailer keep or return the second pair. It's not bargain basement stuff... but you are dealing with the aussie margin
Re: wiggle.com.au
Best to have them charge you in pounds and then use something like 28 degrees master card for a no fee currency conversion (basically same as XE rates).
Save a easy 3-5% everytime as the AU currency conversion they offer has a % fee included.
Re: wiggle.com.au
but they allow the use of amex so if i include the rewards there isn't much difference paying in AUD
19 posts • Page 1 of 1
Return to Buying a bike / parts
Who is online
Users browsing this forum: Google [Bot]
Popular Bike Shops
> FREE BNA Stickers


text:
Start a constructive conversation
Gather, organize and respond to ideas, thoughts
JA Voice allows companies and websites to gather, organize and respond to ideas, thoughts from their users. Using a JA Voice widget on their website, companies can transparently gather ideas from users without forcing them to navigate away from their page.
Listen to your customers. Gain valuable feedback
Wish to give space to your customers to air their comments, feedbacks, suggestions about your products or services?. JA Voice fits the bill. Impartial positive or negative feedbacks and voting will help you understand your customers needs. So why not capture their feedbacks to build a sustainable customer relationship and make them feel part of the system.
Build Idea sandbox or Suggestion boxes for your sites or products
Build an interactive suggestion system for users to submit insightful suggestions for improvement to your company. Users can make suggestions and track the status of their suggestions in real time, as well as, browse through the review and implementation cycle.


text:
Special Olympics athletes Agnes and Rita Hingyi, who are twin sisters, represented Special Olympics Hungary and took home the Gold in Pairs Figure Skating.
More Videos
Stay in touch! See inspiring stories, photos and videos in our Special Olympics newsletter.
Proud partner of Special
Today, the Templeton Foundation gave its most prestigious award to my hero, Jean Vanier. For Linda and our children and me, he has also been our retreat leader, our teacher of humility, our guide.
Posted on 2015-03-11 by Tim
go to blog »
Follow us »


text:
Last weekend a friend of mine invited me over to his place. The idea was to have a nice relaxing weekend and to make couple of short treks in the forest nearby. It was really nice to see my friend John, since it had been a couple of months since we last met.
On the first evening after nice dinner we spent a couple hours slowly preparing ourselves for the trek of the next day. We packed the supplies to two small backpacks and also prepared our meals for the next day. Our plan was to wake up early and do just a short walk to a viewpoint nearby and then enjoy coffee and our breakfast sandwiches at that point. From there we would continue deeper in to the woods.
The morning was beautiful, the air was a little crisp but you could already feel warmth of the sun. There were no clouds in the sky so it was going to be a nice and warm day. We gathered our packs and other gears and started walking. It was only roughly half hour to viewpoint where we stopped and prepared some coffee and enjoyed our breakfast.
John told about his previous treks, different animals he had stumbled upon in the region and of course game. John is quite an enthusiastic hunter so he can talk about game and hunting all day. He actually told me that he had earlier placed few trail cameras to the woods we were entering and that we were going to check those on our way.
We finished our breakfast having a discussion of trail cameras (also called game cameras, or hunting cameras) as I was new with those. In a nutshell a trail camera is a digital camera equipped with an infrared sensor and weatherproof casing. What you then do is that you mount the camera into a tree near the trail that deers or other animals use. When the sensor of the camera detects movement the camera triggers. Cameras are also equipped with infrared flash that allows you to get images during night also. If you are interested and want to learn more about these gadgets you can find info in here.
Apparently you can get some really nice images with these kinds of cameras so I was excited to see them in place. John told me however that we would only be replacing the memory cards of the cameras, and batteries if necessary. And that we would have to wait until we get back home to check the photos on the card via his laptop.
Just an example of a trail camera footage (source: Youtube)
We continued our trek, slowly strolling deeper into the woods. After one hour or so we reached the first of John's trail cameras. John checked the batteries, they were ok, and changed the memory card to an empty one. After this we continued our journey. As we walked on, the topic of our discussion remained in hunting, game cameras and nature photography in general. I asked John where he purchased those cameras of his. I got a full lecture about how select trail cameras for your needs.
What John had done was that he actually typed down the properties he would be needing, he then spent some time visiting various internet sites, reading reviews and doing comparison work. After he had found the best trail cameras for his needs, it was time to purchase the cameras and necessary accessories. When he finally received his cameras, he did some testing on his property before taking the cameras in to the woods.
After two hours of hiking we reached a small stream where we stopped and had some lunch. After lunch we stopped by at two more of John's cameras and then headed back. It took roughly three more hours until we reached John's house again.
After a quick shower and dinner with some wine it was time to check the memory cards we had retrieved from the cameras. The images that John showed me were beautiful. The cameras had captured plenty of deers, various small critters and couple of hogs. I was especially surprised of quality of night time pictures. Even though the images were black and white, they were surprisingly sharp and detailed. John even had one of the cameras shooting video, so we had some nice video clips as well.
All in all it was a really nice trekking day and I learned a lot of new things (as always when I'm hanging with John). Unfortunately something came up, so we could not make the second trek we had planned for the next day. But we are planning to make it sometime before winter.


text:
Australia's Largest Range of Tools for Wood
Quick Order
Log In
0 Items $0.00
product codes
general info
How To Shop
About Shopping, Security & Payment
Shipping and Handling
Returns and Exchanges
Videos & Presentations
Request Printed Catalogue
News & Events
Develop & Discover
Sale Specials
Runout Specials
New In Store
Gift Vouchers
Carba-Tec Stores
Carba-Tec History
Books, DVDs and Videos
Carpentry Chisels
Carving Tools
Clamps & Vises
Clocks & Weather Meters
Craft Accessories
Detailing Tools
Drilling & Boring
Dust Masks & Safety Gear
Finishes & Glues
Framing & Mitring
Gift Cards
Industrial Tooling
Japanese Tools
Jet Machinery
Knives and Shears
Machinery and Accessories
Marking & Measuring
Moisture & Metal Detectors
Musical Instrument Making
Pen & Pencil Kits & Accessories
Pneumatic Tools
Power Tools and Accessories
Powermatic Machinery
Pyrography Pens
Router & Shaper Cutters
Sharpening Tools
Shaves, Drawknives & Adzes
Storage & Shop Accessories
Triton® Power Tools & Accessories
Vacuum Clamps
Woodturning Tools
* Catalogues
* Multimedia
* Sale Specials
* Runout Specials
* New In Store
* Gift Vouchers
Sharpening Tools
Sharpening Stones
Japanese Waterstones
Japanese Waterstones
Japanese Waterstone - 300 grit
Japanese Waterstone - 800 grit
Japanese Waterstone - 1200 grit
Japanese Waterstone - 4000 grit
Japanese Waterstone - 6000 grit
Japanese Waterstone - 8000 grit
Japanese Waterstone - 10 000 grit
Nagura Cleaning Stone
Double Sided Japanese Waterstone 1000/6000 grit
Deluxe Waterstone Holder
Ceramic Flattening Stone
Click here for an article on 'Using Japanese Waterstones' by Jan Schilling
© 2015 Carba-Tec Pty Ltd
Site Use
Product pricing and availability on this site reflects current pricing and availability in our Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne and Adelaide stores. Pricing and availability may vary in our Perth and Launceston stores and pricing for in-store pickup orders should be agreed with the respective store in advance. All pricing displayed is shown in Australian dollars and includes Australian GST. All pricing on this website supersedes existing print advertised pricing, including digitally rendered catalogue pricing that may be downloaded or viewed on this site. Some product features may vary from those shown on this site.


text:
Travel & Landscape Photography from over 90 countries of the world
Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn't do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover."
Northern Africa - Tunisia - The Sahara Desert - الصحراء الكبرى - The Greatest Desert - World's largest non-arctic desert - Sea of Sand Dunes
Keywords: Tunisia, Tunisian, تونس, Tūnis, Republic of Tunisia, République tunisienne, North Africa, Africa, Arabic, Arab, Arab world, person, human, being, man, woman, male, female, child, adolescent, wonderful, fantastic, awesome, stunning, beautiful, breathtaking, incredible, lovely, nice, best, perfect, world, exploration, trip, vacation, holiday, place, destination, location, journey, tour, touring, tourism, tourist, travel, traveling, vacation, visit, visiting, sight, sightseeing, http://www.luciedebelkova.com , lucie debelkova, lucie debelkova photography, photography, photo, image, shot, foto, photograph, stock image, images, stock photos, stock photograph, stock photographs, picture, pictures, graphic, graphics
Camera Model: Canon EOS 350D DIGITAL; Lens: 18.00 - 200.00 mm; Focal length: 72.00 mm; Aperture: 8.0; Exposure time: 1/160 s; ISO: 100
TunisiaTunisianتونسTūnisRepublic of TunisiaRépublique tunisienneNorth AfricaAfricaArabicArabArab worldpersonhumanbeingmanwomanmalefemalechildadolescentwonderfulfantasticawesomestunningbeautifulbreathtakingincrediblelovelynicebestperfectworldexplorationtripvacationholidayplacedestinationlocationjourneytourtouringtourismtouristtraveltravelingvisitvisitingsightsightseeingwww.luciedebelkova.comlucie debelkovalucie debelkova photographyphotographyphotoimageshotfotophotographstock imageimagesstock photosstock photographstock photographspicturepicturesgraphicgraphics
From Tunisia


text:
I guess that makes sense. :P
Vivica: It doesn't matter, any whore that tries to fight me will soon realize that being a good girl is Always Better! It's thanks to my Daddy's love and my own ability that I have the gold now, and I am never, ever giving it up! Soon just like daddy and Unca Blood, I will become the champion in 2 different companies! Juno, you can try to stop me, but all your practicing has been laying on your back like the whore you are! I'm gonna show everyone at Destined for Immortality why I am the bestest Girl ever, just like Daddy always says!


text:
Your shopping bag is empty.
Don't Miss Out..Sign up to receive updates on our newest collections, exclusive offers, and receive 10% off your first order!
only left in this size
Relaxed straight. A relaxed, straight leg jean that is fitted in the hip and gives way to a loose leg. Pared down in minimalist white, this easygoing 5-pocket style brings a fresh perspective to the everyday jean. Tonal stitching keeps the effect simple and chic. Zip fly with button closure.


text:
Recently added item(s)
You have no items in your shopping cart.
SKU:459.281 | Yellow Pop LEATHER
6 Review(s)
Write a Review
We created our Leather Zip Case to hold all those small accessories you can lose while on the go. Whether it's something like jewelry, cufflinks, or ear buds, you can put anything you want in this case so you'll never be scrambling to find those small essentials when you need them the most. The Leather Zip Case is made with a genuine leather exterior and has a pig suede interior, giving you a soft place to store those odds and ends. The leather zipper pull lets you secure it tightly shut, while the compact sizes makes it easy to slip right into a purse or travel bag. Whether it's as some extra storage for daily use or as a way to hold essentials while on vacation, this is one leather accessory you can't be without.
Our Classico leather collection is a semi-aniline, drum dyed pebbled leather. It offers a little extra color and character, making it a good choice when you want your accessories to stand out. This full grain leather has a soft hand feel with intricate lines, giving it a distinct look from our smoother leathers like Vero and Zita. It comes in a wide variety of colors that you won't find in our other collections and has a polished finish to make them really shine. Its unique appearance and range of colors make it ideal for matching with purses, belts, or other leather items you own.
This little box was just what I was looking for! My boyfriend travels frequently for business, so I was looking for a small box for him to hold cufflinks, collar stays, etc. The monogramming and craftsmanship is really beautiful and I'm looking forward to giving it as a gift. The only thing that I think would be an improvement would be a divider to make things more organized.
Bought first of these to carry several dram size bottles of medications during travel. I was so pleased with the results that I now use it to carry my medications on a regular basis. The size is just right to fit into my hand or office bag and I REALLY appreciate their compact size when carefully packing my carry-on with an eye toward minimizing bulk and weight.
They've worked so well, that I've just ordered two more for carrying jewelry wardrobes for shorter travel (I too am still looking for the perfect jewelry packing solution for longer trips).
I'd like to see Leatherology add a slightly larger version of this case (perhaps twice the length or twice the width). While I own the medium and large cases and they're useful in their own ways, they're too bulky for use in a handbag or laptop case.
Box was as advertised and very nice
Met all my expectations for a compact full grain leather portable case as a gift for my husband. He collects cufflinks and when he travels likes to take two or three pairs along with him. This item is perfect for that purpose. So much so I will probably order one in a fun color for myself to place my jewelry in for trips. Love the quality, the final packaging is equally as great!
I had been looking for a travel jewelry case that was not a roll; they are simply awful. So when I found this one, I was so excited and even more so when I opened it Christmas morning. Everything about is says high quality and luxury. Truly an elegant, and useful, gift.
Whether you are treating yourself or giving a gift to someone else, we want you to have an amazing and memorable experience. All items will be shipped using our signature gift packaging. Depending on the type and size, your item(s) will come wrapped in our signature microsuede sleeve, drawstring bag or soft velour bag (each with black tie accents), and be packaged inside a high-density bronze gift box. You will also have the opportunity to add a personalized gift note when you place your order.
All of this extra attention to detail is complimentary.


text:
Rheumatoid Arthritis Center - Pearland, TX
Pearland Rheumatologist Doctors for Rheumatoid Arthritis
Type of Physician: Rheumatologist
What is a Rheumatologist?
A subspecialty certification by the Board of Internal Medicine; practitioners treat diseases of the joints, muscles, bones, and tendons. The rheumatologist diagnoses and treats arthritis, back pain, muscle strains, common athletic injuries, etc. The rheumatologist may work closely with other specialists such as orthopaedic surgeons and physical therapists.
Specialty: Rheumatology
Common Name:
Rheumatologist Doctors in Pearland *
Houston Rheumatology Cnslts
Hassan & Hassan MDs
Philip A Waller MD
Philip A Waller MD
Philip A Waller MD
Philip A Waller MD
Univ Of TX Med & Srgcl Specs
Clear Lake Specialties
Martin Luther King Health Ctr
Kyler S Knight MD
Clear Lake Rheumatology
Clear Lake Rheumatology
Rheumatology Associates Houston
Rheumatology Associates Houston
Rheumatology Associates Houston
Texas Thyroid Institute
Michael Debakey VA Medical Ctr
Baylor College Of Medicine
Baylor College Of Medicine
Rheumatology Disease Clinic
Rheumatology Disease Clinic
Rheumatology Disease Clinic
Baylor College Of Medicine
Houston Rhuematology & Allergy
Joshua M Gold MD Phd
Houston Arthritis Associates
Allergy/Rheumatology Spec Hstn
Houston Arthritis Associates
Allergy/Rheumatology Spec Hstn
UT Physicians Rheumatology
UT Physicians Rheumatology
Methodist Academic Medcn Assocs
UT Physicians Rheumatology
UT Physicians Rheumatology
Methodist Academic Medcn Assocs
UT Physicians Rheumatology
Arthritis Clinic Of Houston
UT Physicians Rheumatology
UT Physicians Rheumatology
Louis Berman MD
Rheumatology Center Of Houston
Louis Berman MD
Rheumatology Center Of Houston
Arthritis Neck & Back Pain Ctr
Kelsey Seybold Clinic
Medical Clinic Of Houston
Kelsey Seybold Clinic
Kelsey Seybold Clinic
Medical Clinic Of Houston
Kelsey Seybold Clinic
Medical Care Center
Sean X Tao MD
Asif Cochinwala MD
Rheumatology Spclsts/Texas
Hillcroft Medical Clinic Assc
Hillcroft Medical Clinic Assn
Hillcroft Medical Clinic Assn
Houston Rheumatology Center
Abigal R Neiman MD
Richmond Bone & Joint Clinic
Arthritis/Lupus Clinic Houston
Fort Bend Rheumatology Assocs
Fort Bend Rheumatology Assocs
Fort Bend Rheumatology Assocs
David E Burns MD
Memorial Rheumatology
Dale G Halter MD
Frank R Wellborne DO
Texas Rheumatology Center
North Houston Rheumatlgy Assocs
North Houston Rheumatlgy Assocs
Advncd Rhumtlgy Of Houston
Cypress Fairbanks Rhmtlgy Assoc
Northwest Diagnostic Clinic
Northwest Diagnostic Clinic
Northwest Diagnostic Clinic
Katy Rheumatology & Associates
Rheumatology Clinic Of Houston
Rheumatology Clinic Of Houston
Northwest Houston Arthritis Ctr
Northwest Houston Arthritis Ctr
University Texas Medical Branch
University Texas Medical Branch
UTMB Health Galveston-RHEU
Celeste M Thomas MD
Rheumatology Of The Woodlands
Rheumatology Of The Woodlands
Woodlands Arthritis Clinic
Southeast Texas Medical Assocs
Memorial Multispecialty Center
Southeast Texas Medical Assocs
Christus Setexas Rhumtlgy
Christus Setexas Rhumtlgy
Christus Setexas Rhumtlgy
Arthritis & Osteoporosis Clinic
Arthritis & Osteoporosis Clinic
Arthritis & Osteoporosis Clinic
Pearland, Texas
Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA)
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) facts
Other Related Rheumatoid Arthritis Articles
Emergency Contact for Pearland
Nearby Pearland Hospitals *
Memorial Hermann Southeast Hosp
Cornerstone Hospital Of Houston
Kindred Hospital Of Clear Lake
Clear Lake Rehab Hospital
Clear Lake Regional Medical Ctr
Surgery Specialty Hospital Amer
Bayshore Medical Center
Kindred Hospital Bay Area
Patients Medical Center
Devereux Texas Treatment
Christus St John Hospital
Texas Specialty Hospital
Harris County Psychiatric Ctr
Quentin Mease Community Hosp
Intracare Hospital
University General Hospital
Woman's Hospital Of Texas
Michael E Debakey VA Med Ctr
MD Anderson Cancer Cntr
Select Specialty Hospital
Tirr Memorial Hermann
Ben Taub General Hospital
The Menninger Clinic
St Luke's Episcopal Hospital
Texas Orthopedic Hospital
Medical Center Of Houston
Riverside General Hospital
Shriners Hospitals For Children
Methodist Hospital
Texas Children's Hospital
Memorial Hermann Hospital
Houston Hosp Specialized Surg
Kindred Hospital-Houston
Park Plaza Hospital
Plaza Specialty Hospital
St Joseph Medical Center
Kindred Midtown
East Houston Regional Med Ctr
Kindred Hospital East Houston
Conerstone Hospital Of Houston
Foundation Surgical Hospital
Texas West Oaks Hospital
Lyndon Baines Johnson Gen Hosp
Memorial Hermann Southwest Hosp
Mainland Medical Center
Select Specialty Hospital
Memorial Hermann Northwest Hosp
St Luke's Sugar Land Hospital
Doctors Hospital Tidewater
San Jacinto Methodists Hospital
Methodist Sugar Land Hospital
Select Specialty Hospital
St Anthony's Hospital
Kindred Hospital Sugar Land
Kindred Healthcare
San Jacinto Methodst Hosp Rehab
Memorial Hermann Memorial City
Kindred Hospital North Houston
West Houston Medical Center
Kindred Hospital Town & Country
Memorial Hermann Sugar Land Hos
Memorial Hrmnn Prvntn/Rcvry Ctr
Angleton Danbury Medical Center
Healthsouth Rehabilitation Hosp
Icon Hospital
Memorial Hermann Northeast Hosp
Methodist West Houston Hospital
Oak Bend Medical Center
Richmond State School Infirmary
Christus St Catherine Hospital
Kindred Hospital Houston NW
Cypress Fairbanks Medical Ctr
University Of Texas Med Branch
Methodist Willowbrook Hospital
Tops Surgical Specialty Hosp
*Provider Directory Terms of Use:
The WebMD 'Provider Directory' is provided by WebMD for use by the general public as a quick reference of information about Providers. The Provider Directory is not intended as a tool for verifying the credentials, qualifications, or abilities of any Provider contained therein. Inclusion in the Provider Directory does not imply recommendation or endorsement nor does omission in the Provider Directory imply WebMD disapproval.
- Home
Image Collection (categories)
- Allergic Skin Disorders
- Bacterial Skin Diseases
- Bites and Infestations
- Diseases of Pigment
- Fungal Skin Diseases
- Medical Anatomy and Illustrations
- Noncancerous, Precancerous & Cancerous Tumors
- Oral Health Conditions
- Papules, Scales, Plaques and Eruptions
- Scalp, Hair and Nails
- Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs)
- Vascular, Lymphatic and Systemic Conditions
- Viral Skin Diseases
- Additional Skin Conditions
See All Quizzes (119)
& Conditions
Topic Centers
& Living
- Medications


text:
High performance saddle.
D2 Double Density Base: Ultimate comfort and flexibility.
This performance saddle, suited both for road and MTB cycling, has high-density polyurethane foam that distributes weight and a double density base the provides ultimate comfort and stability.
There is a cult in cycling. A spawning of athletes unwilling to put their bikes up for the season. Their lives co-exist with riding come rain or come shine. Their needs require details woven with simplicity. A pratical approach for a relentless breed of riders.
It spits in your face, it steals your breath, it sends shivers down your spine. Mother Nature is relentless. But even in extreme weather conditions, you are focused on the ride because of cutting edge technology that stands the test of any cold weather warrior. Inspired by the will and the freedom that only exist on the singletrack trodden mountain bike trails slick with mud and resounding the spiritual meditation between you and the outdoors.
© Louis Garneau Sports Inc. 2015


text:
Jun 29, 2007
The LHEX
From Robert: "There are no operational sensors other than the encoders, but work is in progress. The bot has tilt and compass from mindsensors that will direct and help the bot. The idea is that this bot will learn how to 'best' walk using acceleration & tilt readings. The server master was a challenge (comms speed wise) but after many hours I managed to get both sides talking at the speed i needed (30ms). Programing is being done in labview with NXT toolkit You'll notice it is based on RHEX."
6 comments:
- Jonathan Daudelin said...
Sweet... it looks very familiar to the "cockroach" robot made by DARPA which was shown at the First World Festival this year. Anyone remember that?
- Jun 29, 2007, 11:49:00 AM
- Maniac of Mayhem said...
I don't really understand the concept behind this robot... it is a walker, correct? And yet it moves its "legs" as if they were wheels. Can someone explain this robot?
- Jun 30, 2007, 6:09:00 AM
- Kirk Backstrom said...
I'm guessing the main concept behind the walker is for it to keeping moving forward. If the robot gets stuck, then it will keep changing the pattern of its leg's motion until the robot moves forward again. Hence the legs do not move in any set pattern.
Its legs are curved so that when the robot adjusts its pattern of walking, the legs always can remain in contact with the ground (or what ever it's climbing over) and not lose its footing, hence remain standing up-right.
One could say that the legs are a hybrid between legs and wheels, as the legs function much like wheels.
I hope that helps.
- Jun 30, 2007, 7:17:00 AM
The legs are kind of like wheels but the shape is more of a half egg. If you do a youtube search on RHEX you'll understand what this kind of setup can do. Kirk is correct in the basic concept, the dynamics of the legs are based on a cockroaches contact pattern - I only have the basic forward pattern going at the moment but the climbing and descending patterns need to be much more dynamic, I am sure that this baby will be able to climb standard stairs when I get the power distribution correct. They may seem to act like wheels but I promise you getting it to a stage where it can walk was a real challenge as you need to make contact at all times with a tripod pattern and with two NXts controlling 6 legs this is not as easy as it would sound. I am well pleased so far wit the NXT sets are performing very well for the time and cost in comparison to the RHEX that must of cost a factor of 40+
- Jul 1, 2007, 4:20:00 AM
I looked at the video a couple of times, and the "legs" appear to be a hex wheel with one side missing. The shape allows it to move in a very unique and interesting way. Hope to see more of this design, and hopefully some pics and (maybe) instructions.
- Jul 7, 2007, 9:49:00 AM
this is impressive and nicely built.
however I wonder why it takes 6 motos instead of just two... since the 3 "whegs" on each side could be geared together...
do you know any lighter implementation of RHEX in Lego ?
Regards, Thierry.
- Nov 22, 2007, 4:09:00 AM


text:
Protection UPS/SPF - 50
Soft against the skin, Elite Pro Vent 2 fabric, is brushed inside for warmth with an outer honeycomb structure to wick moisture. The jersey is perfectly fitted with flatlock seams and an elastic hem.
There is a cult in cycling. A spawning of athletes unwilling to put their bikes up for the season. Their lives co-exist with riding come rain or come shine. Their needs require details woven with simplicity. A pratical approach for a relentless breed of riders.
© Louis Garneau Sports Inc. 2015


text:
Please consider joining our mailing list. You can still listen if you choose not to - just click the "No, thanks" button below.
If you accessed the player from a desktop computer (PC or Mac)
If you accessed the player from a mobile device
Is there a particular song you'd like to have us play? Fill out & stay tuned!
Your email address will not be used for any other purpose.
You can buy & download this track & more from either Apple iTunes or Amazon.com mp3 store. Simply click the icon for the store you wish to access.
The audio stream has been stopped due to inactivity on the player.


text:
The Lutador Grappling Tournament is this saturday in Atlanta. Ill be entering it as a LW white belt; Im way too hyped for this. Weigh ins are tomorrow and im participating at my normal weight (weight limit-167, my current weight-165).
Ill post some videos from the tournament if I get a chance.


text:
Sep 22, 2009
Minimalistic remote control for the NXT
When using Philo's great NXT joystick remote control for my basketball-playing NXT robots at Fana'Briques in June, I noticed that the very young users had some difficulties in getting along with it (in particular due to the size and the problems they had with understanding how to manage turns). So for the SteinCHenwelt LEGO® event ten days ago, I decided to come up with a more simplified one that met the reduced requirements of my soccer robots that debuted there.
The result was the rather minimalistic Remote Control No 3, a Bluetooth-based NXT remote control that uses the four buttons on the NXT Brick itself to control the movement of a remote NXT robot (forward, backward, left, right).
The two attached touch sensors can be optionally used to trigger special functions on the controlled robot (in the case of the soccer robots, it was kicking the ball).
At SteinCHenwelt, the gamepad-oriented style of the remote control and its comparatively small size went down well with the youngsters (you can see its usage in the SteinCHenwelt movie).
Remote Control No 3 is a good option when you do not need to control the actual speed of the remote robot. For the SteinCHenwelt, I programmed it with leJOS NXJ, the Java platform for the NXT (the programs can be downloaded from the associated page at my NXT web site); however, writing NXT-G programs for it should not be that difficult, also.
12 comments:
- Pe-ads said...
But, isn't it impossible to use the grey button? Doesn't it jsut shut the program down? Is there a way to change this in NXTG 2.0?
- Sep 22, 2009, 7:04:00 PM
- Tim said...
It would be difficult to use NXT-G without using a custom-made block to take control of the dark grey button, plus another block to read it; this is mainly because, by default, the dark grey button is the "escape" button. AKA, "Push this to close my program. Now."
However, RobotC supports the ability to take control of this button.
In case someone does some testing, takes control of the dark grey button, and can't end the program, one can easily remove the NXT's batteries to easily reset it. This also works when the brick freezes under other circumstances, and saves you from firmware update mode. I use this if my brick starts clicking, but appears to be in some weird cross between normal operation and firmware update mode...
- Sep 22, 2009, 9:01:00 PM
- Brian Davis said...
Actually, an NXT-G program that fully duplicates it would be impossible. While using the buttons for control is an easy concept, the grey "cancel" button has special limitations under the standard stock FW - it can *not* be read by the program, because it stops the running program. The rest of course would work fine.
I've often wondered why people use the touch sensors so much for manual input, when there are three built in to the NXT; thanks for another example of making good use of them.
- Sep 22, 2009, 9:14:00 PM
- Matthias Paul Scholz said...
Ah, interesting to know that the grey button cannot be accessed programmatically in NXT-G that easily. In leJOS NXJ, you can attach a ButtonListener to it as easily as with the other three buttons.
To shut down the program, I used the two rectangular buttons pressed simultaneously.
- Sep 22, 2009, 10:52:00 PM
- Dave Parker said...
BTW, in NXT-G it is also not possible to read two NXT buttons (left, right, enter) being pressed simultaneously. The software interface does not prevent this, but in practice one button will always prevail by itself (unlike multiple touch sensors which works fine). So I have assumed that this is a hardware issue, but wasn't sure. Does anybody know if other NXT programming systems can see, e.g. the left and right arrow buttons being pressed at the same time?
- Sep 23, 2009, 2:23:00 AM
- Tim said...
To Dave Parker: In NXT-G, I believe it is possible to read two pressed NXT buttons at once, (or close enough to trick humans into thinking so,) but it appears as though you did not write your program as you intended. In textual form, here is what I think your program looks like:
ActionLeft;/*always read*/
ActionMiddle;/*not read if left is pressed*/
ActionRight;/*not read if left or right are pressed*/
Your code should look like this:
ActionLeft;/*always read*/
ActionMiddle;/*always read*/
ActionRight;/*always read*/
Matthias Paul Scholz said...
Ah, interesting to know that the grey button cannot be accessed programmatically in NXT-G that easily. In leJOS NXJ, you can attach a ButtonListener to it as easily as with the other three buttons.
To shut down the program, I used the two rectangular buttons pressed simultaneously.
This is true. I have tried installing NXJ on my NXT (I got it on there, but couldn't get anywhere after that. I blame Vista, and am in the middle of a swap to Ubuntu. Help required for installing BricxCC, but that's another problem, if not post.)
Now, if only there was a way to terminate the program by pushing all buttons. That would leave 15 button combinations! (What, you mean that "normal people" don't know binary? Looks like I have a carreer in engineering ahead of me!)
- Sep 23, 2009, 5:16:00 AM
- Dave Parker said...
I don't think there's anything wrong with my programs. For example, the Sensor Meter program at http://www.nxtprograms.com/sensor_meter/index.html
displays the three buttons independently of each other without any "else" interaction, but you can't get it to display more than one NXT button.
Also, just now I tried a very simple test that displayed the state of just the right arrow button. It will never say pressed if the left button is also down.
I also tried two nested Switches to get a Left/Right/Both/Neither result, and you can never get it to say Both. Left always wins. If this worked, I would be all over it for remote control purposes, but I haven't been able to get it to work.
- Sep 23, 2009, 7:29:00 AM
- Pe-ads said...
Thanks for clearing up my problems, guys!
Also, @Tim, Ubuntu is so much better than Vista!
- Sep 23, 2009, 6:23:00 PM
- Tim said...
"Dave Parker said...
I also tried two nested Switches to get a Left/Right/Both/Neither result, and you can never get it to say Both. Left always wins. If this worked, I would be all over it for remote control purposes, but I haven't been able to get it to work."
Is this all in one switch? If so, then odds are, at some low level that you cannot get to, switches are supposed to check the tabs from left to right. Either seperate this into multiple switches, or move both to the left. Everything should be fine after that.
- Sep 23, 2009, 9:04:00 PM
- Dave Parker said...
Tim, I have tried several different approaches to Switch layout, all work with multiple touch sensors but none work with multiple NXT button presses. Give it a try and you'll see what I mean. If anyone gets it to work, let me know. I will try this with NXC when I get a chance to see if its just an NXT-G issue.
- Sep 24, 2009, 12:20:00 AM
- Dave Parker said...
I just tried NXC, both the high level and low-level button sensor functions, and it can't detect simultaneous NXT button presses either. The left arrow being pressed prevents the right arrow button from being seen. So it looks like a firmware or hardware issue to me.
- Sep 24, 2009, 4:38:00 AM
- Tim said...
There are three intrinsic variables defined for NXT button management. nNxtButtonPressed This read-only variable contains the currently pressed button. [The NXT firmware only supports recognition of one button at a time]. The value is one of the following: typedef enum{ kNoButton = 0xFF, kExitButton = 0, kRightButton = 1, kLeftButton = 2, kEnterButton = 3} TButtonMasks; nNxtButtonTask This variable contains the task number that should be started whenever any NXT button is pushed. There are three value ranges: -1 Indicates that the normal system processing for exit button should be used. Anything else will over-ride the system actions. Note if overwritten, you will not be able to stop program running with button control. 1..9 Indicates that the indicated task (1..9) should be started whenever the exit button is pressed. Task will only be started once per keypress. Other Standard processing is overwritten. No task will be started when exit button is pushed; user program must used nNxtButtons to check for nNxtExitClicks Contains the number of 'clicks' that must be received to abort a running program. The default value is one. But if you want to use the EXIT button in your program you can set this to 2 (for a double click) or 3 (triple click) or higher so that there is always an escape sequence, independent of your user program, for existing your program. This variable is reset to 1 before the start of any program. If you really want to override the 'abort' check, you can continually modify this variable. The count of current EXIT clicks is reset whenever this variable is written. It may be easier to use the method of starting a task whenever a button is pressed. The user program can look at the 'nNxtButtonPressed' variable to determine which button has been pressed. How to Terminate/Abort A Program when Buttons are Hijacked When user program has gained control of the NXT buttons, the regular processing of the buttons is stopped. This means the EXIT button will not be recognized as a command to stop the end user program. So there must be an escape sequence to allow for this. Several different schemes were tried and the following was finally adopted for ROBOTC. A program is aborted by counting the number of "clicks" on the EXIT button. The normal default case is that a single click will abort a program. Setting this to a higher value (double or tripe clicks) will still allow user program to use EXIT button, but firmware will still have the capability to abort program Notes on NXT Hardware: 1. Buttons on the NXT are not individually read. Instead there is are several resistors in series that are shorted by pressing the individual keys. This is fed into a single input pin where an A-to-D conversion is performed. Analyzing the result indicates which key is pressed. 2. A byproduct of this is that the NXT can only properly handle a single keypress at a time. If multiple keys are pressed, then the firmware recognizes the key that generates the lowest resistance. Only this key is reported to the user program. 3. A byproduct is that you cannot design a user interface that tries to use two keys depressed at the same time. 4. The firmware recognizes button depresses in the following order(low to high): left, right, enter, exit.
From "NXT button.c" sample of RobotC. Formatting lost in order to fit within char limit of this post.
With new blocks/low-level calls, this should work outside of RobotC.
- Sep 24, 2009, 5:29:00 AM