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Radar, electromagnetic sensor used for detecting, locating, tracking, and recognizing objects of various kinds at considerable distances. It operates by transmitting electromagnetic energy toward objects, commonly referred to as targets, and observing the echoes returned from them. The targets may be aircraft, ships, spacecraft, automotive vehicles, and astronomical bodies, or even birds, insects, and rain. Besides determining the presence, location, and velocity of such objects, radar can sometimes obtain their size and shape as well. What distinguishes radar from optical and infrared sensing devices is its ability to detect faraway objects under adverse weather conditions and to determine their range, or distance, with precision.
Radar is an "active" sensing device in that it has its own source of illumination (a transmitter) for locating targets. It typically operates in the microwave region of the electromagnetic spectrum—measured in hertz (cycles per second), at frequencies extending from about 400 megahertz (MHz) to 40 gigahertz (GHz). It has, however, been used at lower frequencies for long-range applications (frequencies as low as several megahertz, which is the HF [high-frequency], or shortwave, band) and at optical and infrared frequencies (those of laser radar, or lidar). The circuit components and other hardware of radar systems vary with the frequency used, and systems range in size from those small enough to fit in the palm of the hand to those so enormous that they would fill several football fields.
Radar underwent rapid development during the 1930s and '40s to meet the needs of the military. It is still widely employed by the armed forces, where many technological advances have originated. At the same time, radar has found an increasing number of important civilian applications, notably air traffic control, weather observation, remote sensing of the environment, aircraft and ship navigation, speed measurement for industrial applications and for law enforcement, space surveillance, and planetary observation.
Fundamentals of radar
Radar typically involves the radiating of a narrow beam of electromagnetic energy into space from an antenna (see the figure). The narrow antenna beam scans a region where targets are expected. When a target is illuminated by the beam, it intercepts some of the radiated energy and reflects a portion back toward the radar system. Since most radar systems do not transmit and receive at the same time, a single antenna is often used on a time-shared basis for both transmitting and receiving.
A receiver attached to the output element of the antenna extracts the desired reflected signals and (ideally) rejects those that are of no interest. For example, a signal of interest might be the echo from an aircraft. Signals that are not of interest might be echoes from the ground or rain, which can mask and interfere with the detection of the desired echo from the aircraft. The radar measures the location of the target in range and angular direction. Range, or distance, is determined by measuring the total time it takes for the radar signal to make the round trip to the target and back (see below). The angular direction of a target is found from the direction in which the antenna points at the time the echo signal is received. Through measurement of the location of a target at successive instants of time, the target's recent track can be determined. Once this information has been established, the target's future path can be predicted. In many surveillance radar applications, the target is not considered to be "detected" until its track has been established.
Pulse radar
The most common type of radar signal consists of a repetitive train of short-duration pulses. The figure shows a simple representation of a sine-wave pulse that might be generated by the transmitter of a medium-range radar designed for aircraft detection. The sine wave in the figure represents the variation with time of the output voltage of the transmitter. The numbers given in parentheses in the figure are meant only to be illustrative and are not necessarily those of any particular radar. They are, however, similar to what might be expected for a ground-based radar system with a range of about 50 to 60 nautical miles (90 to 110 km), such as the kind used for air traffic control at airports. The pulse width is given in the figure as 1 microsecond (10−6 second). It should be noted that the pulse is shown as containing only a few cycles of the sine wave; however, in a radar system having the values indicated, there would be 1,000 cycles within the pulse. In the figure the time between successive pulses is given as 1 millisecond (10−3 second), which corresponds to a pulse repetition frequency of 1 kilohertz (kHz). The power of the pulse, called the peak power, is taken here to be 1 megawatt. Since a pulse radar does not radiate continually, the average power is much less than the peak power. In this example, the average power is 1 kilowatt. The average power, rather than the peak power, is the measure of the capability of a radar system. Radars have average powers from a few milliwatts to as much as one or more megawatts, depending on the application.
A weak echo signal from a target might be as low as 1 picowatt (10−12 watt). In short, the power levels in a radar system can be very large (at the transmitter) and very small (at the receiver).
Another example of the extremes encountered in a radar system is the timing. An air-surveillance radar (one that is used to search for aircraft) might scan its antenna 360 degrees in azimuth in a few seconds, but the pulse width might be about one microsecond in duration. Some radar pulse widths are even of nanosecond (10−9 second) duration.
Radar waves travel through the atmosphere at roughly 300,000 km per second (the speed of light). The range to a target is determined by measuring the time that a radar signal takes to travel out to the target and back. The range to the target is equal to cT/2, where c = velocity of propagation of radar energy, and T = round-trip time as measured by the radar. From this expression, the round-trip travel of the radar signal through air is at a rate of 150,000 km per second. For example, if the time that it takes the signal to travel out to the target and back was measured by the radar to be 0.0006 second (600 microseconds), then the range of the target would be 90 km. The ability to measure the range to a target accurately at long distances and under adverse weather conditions is radar's most distinctive attribute. There are no other devices that can compete with radar in the measurement of range.
The range accuracy of a simple pulse radar depends on the width of the pulse: the shorter the pulse, the better the accuracy. Short pulses, however, require wide bandwidths in the receiver and transmitter (since bandwidth is equal to the reciprocal of the pulse width). A radar with a pulse width of one microsecond can measure the range to an accuracy of a few tens of metres or better. Some special radars can measure to an accuracy of a few centimetres. The ultimate range accuracy of the best radars is limited by the known accuracy of the velocity at which electromagnetic waves travel.
Directive antennas and target direction
Almost all radars use a directive antenna—i.e., one that directs its energy in a narrow beam. (The beamwidth of an antenna of fixed size is inversely proportional to the radar frequency.) The direction of a target can be found from the direction in which the antenna is pointing when the received echo is at a maximum. A precise means for determining the direction of a target is the monopulse method—in which information about the angle of a target is obtained by comparing the amplitudes of signals received from two or more simultaneous receiving beams, each slightly offset (squinted) from the antenna's central axis. A dedicated tracking radar—one that follows automatically a single target so as to determine its trajectory—generally has a narrow, symmetrical "pencil" beam. (A typical beamwidth might be about 1 degree.) Such a radar system can determine the location of the target in both azimuth angle and elevation angle. An aircraft-surveillance radar generally employs an antenna that radiates a "fan" beam, one that is narrow in azimuth (about 1 or 2 degrees) and broad in elevation (elevation beamwidths of from 20 to 40 degrees or more). A fan beam allows only the measurement of the azimuth angle.
Doppler frequency and target velocity
Radar can extract the Doppler frequency shift of the echo produced by a moving target by noting how much the frequency of the received signal differs from the frequency of the signal that was transmitted. (The Doppler effect in radar is similar to the change in audible pitch experienced when a train whistle or the siren of an emergency vehicle moves past the listener.) A moving target will cause the frequency of the echo signal to increase if it is approaching the radar or to decrease if it is receding from the radar. For example, if a radar system operates at a frequency of 3,000 MHz and an aircraft is moving toward it at a speed of 400 knots (740 km per hour), the frequency of the received echo signal will be greater than that of the transmitted signal by about 4.1 kHz. The Doppler frequency shift in hertz is equal to 3.4 f0vr, where f0 is the radar frequency in gigahertz and vr is the radial velocity (the rate of change of range) in knots.
Since the Doppler frequency shift is proportional to radial velocity, a radar system that measures such a shift in frequency can provide the radial velocity of a target. The Doppler frequency shift can also be used to separate moving targets from stationary targets even when the echo signal from undesired clutter is much more powerful than the echo from the desired moving targets. A form of pulse radar that uses the Doppler frequency shift to eliminate stationary clutter is called either a moving-target indication (MTI) radar or a pulse Doppler radar, depending on the particular parameters of the signal waveform.
The above measurements of range, angle, and radial velocity assume that the target is a "point-scatterer." Actual targets, however, are of finite size and can have distinctive shapes. The range profile of a finite-sized target can be determined if the range resolution of the radar is small compared with the target's size in the range dimension. (The range resolution of a radar, given in units of distance, is a measure of the ability of a radar to separate two closely spaced echoes.) Some radars can have resolutions much smaller than one metre, which is quite suitable for determining the radial size and profile of many targets of interest.
The resolution in angle, or cross range, that can be obtained with conventional antennas is poor compared with that which can be obtained in range. It is possible, however, to achieve good resolution in angle by resolving in Doppler frequency (i.e., separating one Doppler frequency from another). If the radar is moving relative to the target (as when the radar is on an aircraft and the target is the ground), the Doppler frequency shift will be different for different parts of the target. Thus, the Doppler frequency shift can allow the various parts of the target to be resolved. The resolution in cross range derived from the Doppler frequency shift is far better than that achieved with a narrow-beam antenna. It is not unusual for the cross-range resolution obtained from Doppler frequency to be comparable to that obtained in the range dimension.
Radar imaging
Radar can distinguish one kind of target from another (such as a bird from an aircraft), and some systems are able to recognize specific classes of targets (for example, a commercial airliner as opposed to a military jet fighter). Target recognition is accomplished by measuring the size and speed of the target and by observing the target with high resolution in one or more dimensions. Propellers and jet engines modify the radar echo from aircraft and can assist in target recognition. The flapping of the wings of a bird in flight produces a characteristic modulation that can be used to recognize that a bird is present or even to distinguish one type of bird from another.
Cross-range resolution obtained from Doppler frequency, along with range resolution, is the basis for synthetic aperture radar (SAR). SAR produces an image of a scene that is similar, but not identical, to an optical photograph. One should not expect the image seen by radar "eyes" to be the same as that observed by optical eyes. Each provides different information. Radar and optical images differ because of the large difference in the frequencies involved; optical frequencies are approximately 100,000 times higher than radar frequencies.
SAR can operate from long range and through clouds or other atmospheric effects that limit optical and infrared imaging sensors. The resolution of a SAR image can be made independent of range, an advantage over passive optical imaging where the resolution worsens with increasing range. Synthetic aperture radars that map areas of the Earth's surface with resolutions of a few metres can provide information about the nature of the terrain and what is on the surface.
A SAR operates on a moving vehicle, such as an aircraft or spacecraft, to image stationary objects or planetary surfaces. Since relative motion is the basis for the Doppler resolution, high resolution (in cross range) also can be accomplished if the radar is stationary and the target is moving. This is called inverse synthetic aperture radar (ISAR). Both the target and the radar can be in motion with ISAR.
A basic radar system
The figure shows the basic parts of a typical radar system. The transmitter generates the high-power signal that is radiated by the antenna. In a sense, an antenna acts as a "transducer" to couple electromagnetic energy from the transmission line to radiation in space, and vice versa. The duplexer permits alternate transmission and reception with the same antenna; in effect, it is a fast-acting switch that protects the sensitive receiver from the high power of the transmitter.
The receiver selects and amplifies radar echoes so that they can be displayed on a television-like screen for the human operator or be processed by a computer. The signal processor separates the signals reflected by possible targets from unwanted clutter. Then, on the basis of the echo's exceeding a predetermined value, a human operator or a digital computer circuit decides whether a target is present.
Once it has been decided that a target is present and its location (in range and angle) has been determined, the track of the target can be obtained by measuring the target location at different times. During the early days of radar, target tracking was performed by an operator marking the location of the target "blip" on the face of a cathode-ray tube (CRT) display with a grease pencil. Manual tracking has been largely replaced by automatic electronic tracking, which can process hundreds or even thousands of target tracks simultaneously.
The system control optimizes various parameters on the basis of environmental conditions and provides the timing and reference signals needed to permit the various parts of the radar to operate effectively as an integrated system. Further descriptions of the major parts of a radar system are given below.
A widely used form of radar antenna is the parabolic reflector, the principle of which is shown in cross section in part A of the figure. A horn antenna (not shown) or other small antenna is placed at the focus of the parabola to illuminate the parabolic surface of the reflector. After being reflected by this surface, the electromagnetic energy is radiated as a narrow beam. A paraboloid, which is generated by rotating a parabola about its axis, forms a symmetrical beam called a pencil beam. A fan beam, one with a narrow beamwidth in azimuth and a broad beamwidth in elevation, can be obtained by illuminating an asymmetrical section of the paraboloid. An example of an antenna that produces a fan beam is shown in the photograph.
The half-wave dipole (see part B of the figure), whose dimension is one-half of the radar wavelength, is the classic type of electromagnetic antenna. A single dipole is not of much use for radar, since it produces a beamwidth too wide for most applications. Radar requires a narrow beam (a beamwidth of only a few degrees) in order to concentrate its energy on the target and to determine the target location with accuracy. Such narrow beams can be formed by combining many individual dipole antennas so that the signals radiated or received by each elemental dipole are in unison, or in step. (The radar engineer would say that the signals are "in phase" with one another or that they are coherently added together.) This is called a phased-array antenna, the basic principle of which is shown in part C of the figure.
The phase shifters at each radiating antenna-element change (or shift) the phase of the signal, so that all signals received from a particular direction will be in step with one another. As a result, the signals received at the elements add together without theoretical loss. Similarly, all signals radiated by the individual elements of the antenna will be in step with one another in some specific direction. Changing the phase shift at each element alters the direction of the antenna beam. An antenna of this kind is called an electronically steered phased-array. It allows rapid changes in the position of the beam without moving large mechanical structures. In some systems the beam can be changed from one direction to another within microseconds.
The individual radiating elements of a phased-array antenna need not be dipoles; various other types of antenna elements also can be used. For example, slots cut in the side of a waveguide are common, especially at the higher microwave frequencies. In a radar that requires a one-degree pencil-beam antenna, there might be about 5,000 individual radiating elements (the actual number depends on the particular design). The phased-array radar is more complex than radar systems that employ reflector antennas, but it provides capabilities not otherwise available.
Since there are many control points (each individual antenna element) in a phased-array, the radiated beam can be shaped to give a desired pattern to the beam. Controlling the shape of the radiated beam is important when the beam has to illuminate the airspace where aircraft are found but not illuminate the ground, where clutter echoes are produced. Another example is when the stray radiation (called antenna sidelobes) outside the main beam of the antenna pattern must be minimized.
The electronically steered phased-array is attractive for applications that require large antennas or when the beam must be rapidly changed from one direction to another. Satellite surveillance radars and long-range ballistic-missile-detection radars are examples that usually require phased-arrays. The U.S. Army's Patriot battlefield air-defense system and the U.S. Navy's Aegis system for ship air defense also depend on the electronically steered phased-array antenna.
The phased-array antenna is also used in some applications without the phase shifters shown in part C of the figure. The beam is steered by the mechanical movement of the entire antenna. Antennas of this sort are preferred over the parabolic reflector for airborne applications (see the photograph), in land-based air-surveillance radars requiring multiple beams (as in the so-called 3D radars, which measure elevation angle in addition to azimuth and range), and in applications that require ultralow antenna sidelobe radiation.
The transmitter of a radar system must be efficient, reliable, not too large in size and weight, and easily maintained, as well as have the wide bandwidth and high power that are characteristic of radar applications. In general, the transmitter must generate low-noise, stable transmissions so that extraneous (unwanted) signals from the transmitter do not interfere with the detection of the small Doppler frequency shift produced by weak moving targets.
It is observed in the section History of radar that the invention of the magnetron transmitter in the late 1930s resulted in radar systems that could operate at the higher frequencies known as microwaves. The magnetron transmitter has certain limitations, but it continues to be used, for example, in low-average-power applications such as ship navigation radar and airborne weather-avoidance radar. The magnetron is a power oscillator in that it self-oscillates (i.e., generates microwave energy) when voltage is applied. Other radar transmitters usually are power amplifiers in that they take low-power signals at the input and amplify them to high power at the output. This provides stable high-power signals, as the signals to be radiated can be generated with precision at low power.
The klystron amplifier is capable of some of the highest power levels used in radar (many hundreds of kilowatts of average power). It has good efficiency and good stability. The disadvantages of the klystron are that it is usually large and it requires high voltages (e.g., about 90 kilovolts for one megawatt of peak power). At low power the instantaneous bandwidth of the klystron is small, but the klystron is capable of large bandwidth at high peak powers of a few megawatts.
The traveling-wave tube (TWT) is related to the klystron. It has very wide bandwidths at low peak power, but, as the peak power levels are increased to those needed for pulse radar, its bandwidth decreases. As peak power increases, the bandwidths of the TWT and the klystron approach one another.
Solid-state transmitters, such as the transistor, are attractive because of their potential for long life, ease of maintenance, and relatively wide bandwidth. An individual solid-state device generates relatively low power and can be used only when the radar application can be accomplished with low power (as in short-range applications or in the radar altimeter). High power can be achieved, however, by combining the outputs of many individual solid-state devices.
While the solid-state transmitter is easy to maintain and is capable of wide-band operation, it has certain disadvantages. It is much better suited for long pulses (milliseconds) than for short pulses (microseconds). Long pulses can complicate radar operation because signal processing (such as pulse compression) is needed to achieve the desired range resolution. Furthermore, a long-pulse radar generally requires several different pulse widths: a long pulse for long range and one or more shorter, high-energy pulses with less energy to observe targets at the ranges masked when the long pulse is transmitting. (A one-millisecond pulse, for example, masks echoes from 0 to about 80 nautical miles, or 150 km.)
Every kind of transmitter has its disadvantages as well as advantages. In any particular application, the radar engineer must continually search for compromises that give the results desired without too many negative effects that cannot be adequately accommodated.
Like most other receivers, the radar receiver is a classic superheterodyne. It has to filter the desired echo signals from clutter and receiver noise that interfere with detection. It also must amplify the weak received signals to a level where the receiver output is large enough to actuate a display or a computer. The technology of the radar receiver is well established and seldom sets a limit on radar performance.
The receiver must have a large dynamic range in situations where it is necessary to detect weak signals in the presence of very large clutter echoes by recognizing the Doppler frequency shift of the desired moving targets. Dynamic range can be loosely described as the ratio of the strongest to the weakest signals that can be handled without significant distortion by a receiver. A radar receiver might be required to detect signals that vary in power by a million to one—and sometimes much more.
In most cases the sensitivity of a radar receiver is determined by the noise generated internally at its input. Because it does not generate much noise of its own, a transistor is usually used as the first stage of a receiver.
Signal and data processors
The signal processor is the part of the receiver that extracts the desired target signal from unwanted clutter. It is not unusual for these undesired reflections to be much larger than desired target echoes, in some cases more than one million times larger. Large clutter echoes from stationary objects can be separated from small moving target echoes by noting the Doppler frequency shift produced by the moving targets. Most signal processing is performed digitally with computer technology. Digital processing has significant capabilities in signal processing not previously available with analog methods.
Pulse compression is sometimes included under signal processing. It too benefits from digital technology, but analog processors (e.g., surface acoustic wave delay lines) are used rather than digital methods when pulse compression must achieve resolutions of a few feet or less.
Although it has its limitations, the cathode-ray tube (CRT) has been the preferred technology for displaying information ever since the early days of radar. There have been, however, considerable improvements in flat-panel displays because of the demands of computers and television. Flat-panel displays occupy less volume and require less power than CRTs, but they also have their limitations. Radar has taken advantage of flat-panel displays and has become increasingly important as a display.
In the early days of radar, an operator decided whether a target was present on the basis of what raw data were displayed. Modern radars, however, present processed information to the operator. Detections are made automatically in the receiver without operator involvement and are then presented on the display to the operator for further action.
A commonly used radar display is the plan position indicator (PPI), which provides a maplike presentation in polar coordinates of range and angle. The display is "dark" except when echo signals are present.
All practical radar displays have been two-dimensional, yet many radars provide more information than can be displayed on the two coordinates of a flat screen. Colour coding of the signal indicated on the PPI is sometimes used to provide additional information about the echo signal. Colour has been employed, for example, to indicate the strength of the echo. Doppler weather radars make good use of colour coding to indicate on a two-dimensional display the levels of rain intensity associated with each echo shown. They also utilize colour to indicate the radial speed of the wind, the wind shear, and other information relating to severe storms.


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- 8 "Diet" Foods That Can Make You Fat
- Bring Home BRING IT! for the Holidays
- 7 Tips for Portion Control
- Chalene Announces TurboFire® Sweepstakes on Facebook®!
- Recipe: Chicken and Rice Wraps
Christmas is a time when everybody wants his past forgotten and his present remembered. What I don't like about office Christmas parties is looking for a job the next day.
8 "Diet" Foods That Can Make You FatBy Justine Holberg
A veggie wrap for lunch. A night out for sushi. And you're working out . . . but you're still not losing weight. What gives?
Some "diet" foods may be your worst enemy. That's because they're tricking you into eating too many calories. So what are some of the worst offenders?
- Sushi: Fish wrapped in rice and seaweed. Not a diet food? Yep, that's right. It's not always as "light" as it seems. Some sushi has calorie levels so high it might just shock you.
Diet Shocker: One eight-piece serving of Philadelphia sushi roll is the caloric equivalent of 1 medium bagel with plain cream cheese—close to 500 calories. It's the cream cheese that gets you. And what about spicy tuna and other mayo-based rolls? They can contain as many as 450 calories and 11 grams of artery-clogging fat per serving. Eat too many of the "wrong" rolls and you're in Big Mac® calorie territory.
- Wraps: You order the whole wheat veggie wrap thinking it'll put you on the skinny track. But is it actually the fat track? For some reason, wraps have been viewed as a healthy upgrade from a sandwich, but this isn't always the case.
Diet Shocker: The tortilla holding your wrap together can easily contain the same number of calories as four slices of bread, not to mention more carbs and twice as much fat. Many kinds of wraps you get at a deli have at least 300 calories. And that's just the tortilla, not the contents. You also have to factor in the fillings—and keep in mind that a wrap has more surface space to spread these calorie-boosting culprits:
- Dressing
- Cheese
- Mayo
- Granola: When you're having granola, you might think, "It's healthy. The fiber and all those little pieces of dried fruit are so good for me." Truth is, although it's got good stuff in it, it also packs in the calories.
Diet Shocker: A half-cup serving is what's often listed on the nutrition label of prepared granola. But who eats just half a cup? For most brands, there are more than 400 calories in a one-cup serving of granola. And when's the last time you actually measured? If you keep filling your cereal bowl with this stuff, it's no wonder you're not losing!
- Bran Muffins: The kinds sold at many bakeries today aren't the little 3-inch muffins Grandma used to bake. They're much, much bigger. And just because they're made with "healthy" bran doesn't mean they're a diet food, either.
Diet Shocker: The average bakery muffin can contain as many as 630 calories. You might be slightly better off with a bran muffin than, say, a banana or blueberry one because of bran's extra fiber, but most of them are still packed with sugar and butter. Eat one bran muffin from Dunkin' Donuts® and you'll be consuming 480 calories, 13 grams of fat, and 46 grams of sugar. OMG.
- Dried Fruit: The more fruit you eat the better, right? Not when it comes to the dried stuff.
Diet Shocker: You could boost your calorie count as much as four times (!) by choosing to eat the dried version of a fruit rather than its fresh counterpart. Check out these calorie comparisons based on a 100-gram (about 1 cup) serving:
- Pumpkin-Flavored Baked Goods: Pumpkin is nutritious, but these baked goods can be a dieting disaster. Like bran, pumpkin has lots of stuff that's good for you. So if you see pumpkin on a baked-goods label, it's easy to think you're eating something that's lower in calories. Not the case, though: pumpkin doesn't mean diet food.
Diet Shocker: Dunkin' Donuts strikes again. Their pumpkin muffin has 630 calories and 28 grams of fat. OMG again! Want to switch bakeries? It won't help much. A pumpkin muffin from Panera Bread® has 530 calories and 20 grams of fat, and the pumpkin scone at Starbucks® has 470 calories and lots of fat too—22 grams worth. You might as well be eating pie with whipped cream!
- Olive Oil: It's a good fat and helps you burn fat. However, you don't need a lot of it to get the benefits. Two tablespoons a day can do the trick. And overdoing it can backfire.
Diet Shocker: Olive oil served with bread at a restaurant is heart-healthy, but high in calories. You can easily sop up a quarter of a cup. That's 478 calories, not including the bread...or the rest of the meal you've ordered.
- "Healthy" Salads: That's what some restaurants want you to believe in their "lite" section of the menu. It must be diet-friendly, right? Not always.
Diet Shocker: Listed under "Healthy Options" on the T.G.I. Friday's® menu, their pecan-crusted chicken salad, which contains mandarin oranges, dried cranberries, and celery, has 1,360 calories. Meanwhile, their cheeseburger and fries combo weighs in at 1,290 calories. Say it ain't so.
|Fruit (about 1 cup)
|70 calories
|(Raisins) 300 calories
|50 calories
|240 calories
|90 calories
|(Banana chips) 350 calories
|45 calories
|(Prunes) 230 calories
So what's a dieter to do in a world filled with "diet" traps?
Ask about nutrition and read food labels. After a while, you'll be a pro at it and enjoy the weight loss that comes with it. You won't even have to give up the foods you like. That's because you'll know how to work them into your food plan the right way.
Related Articles
"5 Things to Cut Out of Your Diet"
"9 Foods That Can Fool You"
"7 Foods That Make You Smarter"
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Bring Home BRING IT! for the Holidays
Tony Horton's putting the X in MMXI (that's 2011 to non-Romans)! The Master of Motivation's new book Bring It! hit bookshelves December 21st. You can order yours now at the following online retailers.
Barnes & Noble.com
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7 Tips for Portion ControlBy Joe Wilkes
In the world of nutrition news, there was a recent study published in the Annals of Internal Medicine that took a look at cookbook recipes over the last several decades (with emphasis on recipes in The Joy of Cooking). This study found that calorie counts per serving have gone up dramatically as authors have increased portion sizes to conform to new cultural norms. Where the 1936 edition of the kitchen classic averaged 268 calories per serving, the most recent edition in 2006 averaged 384 calories. The study theorized that lower costs of food and larger plate sizes are part of the reason for the increase, but nutritionist Marion Nestle says that mainly it's just a reflection of people becoming accustomed to eating more and more overall. What can we do to monitor and control portion sizes? Here are some ideas . . .
- Downsize your plate. One issue the study pointed out is that the average plate size has grown over the years, and the amount of food served on those plates has kept pace with that increase. Instead of breaking out the big dinner plate, try eating your dinner off a salad or dessert plate. The smaller plate will make the amount of food look larger by proportion, a visual cue that will trick your brain into thinking you're eating more. Plus you can trade in your big dinner fork for a more petite salad fork, which will also help to slow down any shoveling behavior you might be tempted to engage in at the dinner table.
- Divide and conquer. When you're cooking more than one serving of something, immediately store the prospective leftovers in single-serving containers. By putting out the entire dish, you run the risk of not having any leftovers at the end of the meal. Depending on what the meal is, I divide my food onto two plates—one for that meal and one for lunch the next day. And as a side benefit, this can help you tighten your wallet while you tighten your waistline.
- Count it down. If you eat your reasonably sized portion of food in the dining room/living room/den/bedroom/bathroom, etc., and leave the leftovers in the kitchen, it will make this next step a lot easier. Here's the scenario: You've finished your first portion, and yet you still want more. This is far from atypical, especially if the big plate of leftovers is sitting in front of you, tempting you, calling to you—maybe just a half a spoonful or maybe just a pick at the serving platter with your fork (just the good parts, of course). That couldn't possibly have more calories, right? Wrong. The calories from the food you sneak in after you finish eating are as potent as the calories from the food you're served. The good news is that if you can hold off, you won't be hungry for long.
After you have a decent-sized portion of food, it takes your brain about 20 minutes to get the message from your stomach that you're full. So try this: Before you reach for seconds, glance at your wristwatch or the clock on the wall. Spend the next 20 minutes chatting with your dining companions, or if you're eating alone, check out the newspaper, read a magazine article, or play along with a round of Jeopardy on TV. Then, after 20 minutes, see if you're still starving for another bowl full of whatever. Chances are that your cravings will have disappeared. If they haven't, maybe you do still need a little more food to achieve satiety. Review what you ate before, and if the calorie count seems low, treat yourself to a little extra. Or, if the calorie count seems about right or high for a regular meal and you're still hungry, fill up on some low-cal veggies or have a big glass of water. Sometimes it's easy to confuse thirst with hunger.
- Embrace your inner child. And we don't mean have candy for dinner . . . When you're on the road or out at a restaurant, don't be ashamed to look at the kids' menu. As the adult menu has been supersized to gluttonous proportions, the children's menu often has the most nutritious options. Check out Debbie Siebers' portion-control tips below, and you'll see that oftentimes the amount of food in a kids' meal is just the right amount for an adult watching his or her figure. Not to mention, if you play your cards right, there could be a free toy in it for you. Out of the mouths of babes . . .
- Sharing is good. And while we're getting lessons from the small set, how about sharing? If you're a foodie like me, the hardest part about eating out is passing up all the goodies you want to try on the menu. Instead of ordering too much for yourself, strategize with your fellow diners about how you can maximize the variety of the food instead of the quantity. Most restaurants will be more than happy to provide you with extra small plates so you can split dishes. And make sure you actually split them! Don't dine out with your friend who survives on a nibble here or there and split two dishes; you'll end up eating 80 percent of the food on the table while he or she makes do with a couple of forkfuls. In case you ever wondered how Top Chef® host Padma Lakshmi keeps her model physique while judging up to 12 meals a week, the secret is that she doesn't eat everything. Also, when you're figuring out how to eat family-style, make sure that at least one of the dishes is a healthy salad, a non-cream-based soup, or a vegetable dish. That way you and your family can get full without getting fat.
- Learn your weights and measurements. As anyone who's a regular reader of this newsletter knows, we're always going on and on about reading labels. And like the calorie, carb, protein, and fat numbers, the serving size is important. This is where the corporate food interests get you a lot of the time, by adjusting the serving size downward to make the nutritional numbers look a little better. As anyone who's recently spent a Saturday night alone with the TV can tell you, the estimate of four servings in a pint of Ben & Jerry's® or Häagen-Dazs® is wildly optimistic. Whereas the label would indicate a 300-calorie serving, keep in mind that the entire container has 1,200 calories. And since most of the containers taper downward, eating what appears to be half of the container can actually amount to two-thirds.
It's definitely too much of a hassle to weigh and measure everything you put in your body every day. Even the most anal-retentive people among us don't have the time to be hauling out the scale and measuring cups for every meal. But it's worth it to at least familiarize yourself with a few standard weights and measures. Try learning what an ounce, a gram, a tablespoon, etc., look like. That way you can at least eyeball how much you're eating. I've yet to meet the person who can make a typical bag of potato chips last for twelve servings.
- Give yourself a hand. For an easy guide to portion sizes, follow this guide from Slim in 6® creator Debbie Siebers.
Handy Portion-Control GuideBy Debbie Siebers, creator of Slim in 6®
To achieve weight loss—and maintain that healthy weight once you've achieved it—it's crucial to really understand what a portion is. Here's what may prove to be an indispensible tip: use your hand as a guideline for portion sizes. (If your hands happen to be extra-large or extra-small for your size, adjust accordingly.)
Palm = Proteins: Make protein portions the size of your palm. Protein is found in animal products, like fish, meats, and cottage cheese. Some veggie protein sources include legumes (beans, etc.), tofu, tempeh, and wheat glutens.
Thumb = Fats: Fats are important, but they're also very dense, so match fat portions to the size of your thumb. Good fat sources are avocados, olive oil, nuts, and seeds.
Fist = Fruits, Grains, etc.: Your bread, fruit, cereal, rice, and grain portions should be about equal to the size of your closed fist. Remember that it's always preferable to consume whole grains.
Hand = Veggies: Open your hand and spread your fingers as wide as you can. That's a good vegetable portion. Raw vegetables are loaded with fiber and nutrients, and they contain very few calories.
Related Articles
"How I Overcame Compulsive Overeating"
"7 Common Factors of Successful Weight Management"
"10 Tiny Changes for Big Weight Loss"
Questions about your workout program, diet, the latest newsletter, or anything wellness related? Chat with the overseer of Beachbody's fitness and diet development, who also serves as your Fitness Advisor on the Message Boards, Steve Edwards, on Monday, January 3rd, at 3:00 PM ET, 12:00 PM PT. Go to the Beachbody Chat Room.
If you'd like to ask a question or comment on this newsletter article, click here to add a comment in the newsletter review section or you can email us at firstname.lastname@example.com.
Check out our Fitness Advisor's responses to your comments in Steve Edwards' Mailbag on the Message Boards. If you'd like to receive Steve Edwards' Mailbag by email, click here to subscribe to Steve's Health and Fitness Newsletter. And if you'd like to know more about Steve's views on fitness, nutrition, and outdoor sports, read his blog, The Straight Dope.
Chalene Announces TurboFire® Sweepstakes on Facebook®!
TurboFire creator Chalene Johnson announces a Facebook sweepstakes to give away deluxe TurboFire kits! Click below to watch the video.
Recipe: Chicken and Rice Wraps
Here's a healthy wrap recipe that's simple to make and tastes great served either hot or cold. Makes one dinner for two . . . or two lunches for one!
- 1 boneless, skinless chicken breast, cubed
- 1 clove garlic, minced
- 1/4 medium onion, chopped
- 1 cup romaine lettuce, torn into bite-size pieces
- 1/2 cup cooked brown rice
- 2 lowfat whole wheat flour tortillas (6 to 8 inches in diameter)
- 1-1/2 Tbsp. fat-free salad dressing
- Nonstick cooking spray
- Medium-sized frying pan
Spray medium-sized pan with nonstick cooking spray and place over medium heat. When hot but not smoking, add onions and garlic and sauté until slightly browned. Add raw chicken and sauté until browned and cooked through, about 5 to 7 minutes, or until no pink remains in center of each piece. Remove pan from heat. Place tortillas on plates. Put half the lettuce on each tortilla, followed by half the chicken, half the dressing, and half the rice. To assemble wraps, roll tortilla around contents, securing each with a toothpick if necessary. Makes 2 servings.
Cooking Time: 20 to 25 minutes
|Nutritional Information (per serving)
|Fat Total
|Saturated Fat
|32 grams
|4 grams
|36 grams
|4.5 grams
|<0.5 grams
If you'd like to ask a question or comment on this newsletter article, click here to add a comment in the newsletter review section or you can email us at firstname.lastname@example.com.
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text:
The first 120Hz LCD monitor from LG is now starting to appear on the market, the display is based on the introduced at the end of last year 23-inch 120Hz LG LCD panels. What LG is offering is another 23-inch Full HD monitor that is compatible with Nvidia's 3D Vision active shutter glasses for displaying stereoscopic 3D content. And the LG W2363D is becoming another alternative to the Acer GD245HQ/GD235Hz and the Alienware OptX AW2310 as well as the soon expected to be available ASUS VG236H. So it seems that the things in the field of 120Hz monitors is starting to finally heat up and having more competition is just going to benefit us – the end users, because we are going to have wider choice of products, more affordable prices and better and better performing displays. But let's get back to the LG for now and see what the W2363D offers and after that to put the monitor to some tests…
Specifications of the LG W2363D
Panel Size: 23″ Widescreen, 16:9
Panel Type: TN – Twisted Nematic
Native Resolution: 1920×1080 (Full HD)
Contrast ratio: 70000:1 (dynamic)
Maximum brightness: 400 cd/m2
Response Time: 3ms (typical) (GtG)
Viewing angles (hor./vert.): 170/160 degrees
Video Connectivity: 1x Dual-Link DVI, 2x HDMI
Energy consumption: 49W (in use), 1.4W (in standby)
Size & Weight: 555.5×205.95×419.2 mm, 5.2 kg
You can probably notice very easy that the specs are quite similar to that of the competition. An interesting thing here is the higher maximum brightness level that can be a plus for when using the stereo 3d mode, but that needs to be verified. Another thing that I'm pretty sure you'll ask about, because the availability of two HDMI inputs, is if they will be 1.4 or not and if they can be used for feeding 3D content to the monitor? The answer to this question is no, they are not HDMI 1.4 and in order to display stereo 3D content on the LG you'll need to use the Dual-Link DVI input on the monitor.
The monitor that I've tested is not an earlier sample, it is a production model just like the ones that are being sold already on some markets and that will soon be available on others. The monitor I got for a few days in order to test has been produced in May 2010 and has been assembled in Poland (Europe), but depending on where you live things might be a bit different in your case. Also have in mind that it is quite possible that different monitors from the same model might perform differently from the one I tested, although the tolerance in results should not be that big.
The LG W2363D uses a touch sensitive (capacitive) controls for navigation inside the monitor control menu. This looks and feels Ok, but you might need some time in order to get accustomed to quickly and accurately use the navigation buttons inside the menu. I want to point out the first button on the left (the one with a joypad icon) that is quite important, because it controls the so called THRU Mode on the display and that mode is important as it is intended to eliminate the input lag when activated, but more about that in a bit. And if the standard menu on the monitor is not enough for you, then you can also go to the Service Menu, but be careful and sure you know what you are doing should you decide to change settings in the Service Menu!
Accessing the Service Menu on LG W2363D LCD Monitor
– Turn off the monitor by pressing the Power button
– Press and hold the Menu button and then push the Power button to turn on the monitor
– When you see the image on screen you can release the Menu button and press it again to call up the Service Menu
– When you finish with the service menu you can turn the monitor off and then on again to be back in the normal mode
Should you have trouble and the display gets locked up and not responding to your commands, just disconnect the power cable for a bit and reconnect it and everything should be back to normal. Have in mind it is not recommended to play with the options in the Service Menu if you don't know what you are doing! Unfortunately, unlike on the Acer GD245HQ/GD235HZ, here with the LG 2363D you don't have an option to turn on and off the Overdrive function of the display in the service menu.
An important thing that you should know about the LG is that when it switches to 3D mode the brightness level (the Contrast slider) is automatically forced to 55 no matter what value you have set it to in 2D mode. The Brightness slider (controlling the contrast on the monitor) also becomes locked in S3D mode, but it retains the value you've set it to in 2D mode, you just cannot change it while in this mode. This might not be a significant problem, but the maximum brightness out of the possible 400 cd/m2 by specifications gets significantly limited while in 3D mode. I suppose that the reason for locking brightness to a lower level is that with 55 it provided the optimum results in terms of the monitor being bright enough while the ghosting that is visible being as little as possible.
I've already mentioned that the so called THRU Mode available on the LG is designed to eliminate any input lag that the monitor might have, so that you are not going to have delays in your reaction time while playing competitive games. In 2D mode you have control over that function if you wish to have it enabled or disabled, but when you switch to stereo 3D mode the function automatically becomes activated and you have no control over it, so you cannot disable (no that you would want to). But let's put that function to the test and see if it really does what it is supposed to… Unfortunately I was not able to get a Acer GD245HQ/GD235HZ monitor to compare directly with the LG W2363D, so I did the comparison with the Samsung 2233RZ instead, but as I've already compared the Samsung 2233RZ and ViewSonic VX2268WM and found they both have the same input lag, and that input lag is almost identical to that of a good CRT display (meaning input lag of less than 1 ms if there is any at all). On the other hand the Acer GD245HQ/GD235HZ monitor has between zero to about 15-16 ms input lag delay compared to the ViewSonic and all this can help a lot in judging the results I got from the LG below, so pay good attention.
The minimum input lag I've managed to get with the THRU Mode disabled was 9 milliseconds delay as compared to the Samsung monitor. And after taking a long series of photos with an exposure time of 1/1000th of a second and high ISO setting the maximum input lag I was able to measure was about 18 seconds. Have in mind that these tests are performed with the use of a DVI splitter cable instead of connecting the two monitors to the two outputs of the video card and using a clone mode as my tests confirm that using the clone mode does not provide accurate results as compared to using a single monitor output with a splitter cable.
Enabling the THRU Mode on the LG completely eliminates the input lag on the LG, bringing it down to exactly the same results the Samsung is showing. So the THRU Mode on the LG does exactly what it is supposed to do – eliminate the input lag completely. So LG did a good job in providing a fast 120Hz LCD gaming display that has no input lag at all, but is the monitor so good in other aspects too?
One of the more serious (on the annoying side) issues with most of the currently available 120Hz LCD monitors is that the do have some backlight bleeding – more or less, depending on the model. The backlight bleeding is easily visible on completely dark image covering the whole screen (black for example) and the issue is presented in the form of non-uniform lit screen – brighter and darker areas. In the case of the LG W2363D there is almost no backlight bleeding, just a bit very close to the edges which is another good point of the LG, however you should be aware that the bleeding issue might be more apparent on some of the LG displays and less apparent on others.
I've already mentioned that you cannot disable the Overdrive function here on the LG (using higher voltages to make pixels switch their state faster in order to improve their response time). The Overdrive needs to be active when you are displaying stereo 3D content on the monitor as otherwise the response time of the pixels might drop too much and thus the ghosting you'll be getting might increase significantly. On the other hand, when in 2D mode as a side effect of the overdrive you might notice that the picture is a bit too sharp, and this oversharpening might not be convenient for some people, but might as well be just fine with others – a matter of personal preferences. For me personally that is not an issue, but for some people the oversharpening of the image is a serious problem. And since you cannot disable the Overdrive function you cannot get rid of that sharpening on the LG, unlike on the Acer.
When talking about the level of crosstalk/ghosting the LG is performing quite well, very low level of ghosting even in the good sailboats test that is ideal to catch issues with ghosting, because of using very bright moving objects over a darker background as well as having a higher separation. The level of ghosting on the LG is quite similar to that seen on the Acer GD245HQ/GD235Hz monitors and probably as well as on the Alienware, but I'm not sure about that as I haven't personally seen/tested the Alienware OptX AW2310 monitor yet.
Some color ghosting is present as well, but that is to be expected because of the Overdrive. The level of the burnt colors here you may see as shadows around bright objects on darker backgrounds is a little bit less than on the Acer, but the difference is not that big. The game Tomb Raider underworld is a good example to demonstrate that whit higher separation and that game does allow very high depth levels if you can handle them of course.
The problem with the top ghosting is still there on the LG as well as with just about any other 120Hz LCD monitor currently available. The usual reason of the presence of ghosting at the top of the monitor even if there isn't any on the other part of the display is due to the synchronization timing between the glasses and image being drawn on the screen. Maybe we'll see an improvement in that with version 2 of the 3D Vision glasses if/when they become available, but for now you should still be ready to tolerate a bit of top ghosting. Lowering the depth level should generally bring down the top ghosting.
Let's take a look at the default color reproduction of the LG and what is the brightness level that you get. Now, here you should not expect great results and very accurate results as this monitor is using a fast TN panel and not a PVA/MVA/IPS-based one. But getting very accurate color reproduction on a gaming monitor has never been a goal for any producer of such hardware, if you need a monitor for working with colors – graphic design, web design, photo editing and printing etc., then you need a different class of monitor…
Nevertheless the LG is doing quite good and becomes even better after a calibration. The brightness levels are also quite high, so the end results are very good for the specific task of using the display for playing 3D videos and photos as well as gaming in stereo 3D mode. After pushing the brightness level of the display just to measure the maximum brightness I was able to get up to 305 cd/m2 measured, but then again the display is not very comfortable to be used with these settings, even the colors are reproduced with a high deviation with the delta E going over 16.
As a conclusion I can say that the LG W2363D is really a good step towards improving the 120Hz LCD monitors for providing better and better results in stereo 3D mode. No input lag, little ghosting, nice feature set. The LG is comparable to the competition and even bests other good displays like the Acer GD245HQ/GD235HZ in some aspects, but that comes with a bit higher price level than that of the Acer… though still cheaper than the Alienware. So if you already have a first generation 120Hz LCD from Samsung or ViewSonic you may still want to keep it and wait for even better new models, unless you really want to upgrade. But if you are currently thinking of buying your first 120Hz 3D-capable LCD monitor then the LG might be almost the perfect choice for you, at least for now, but depending on how you plan to use it and for what the Acer might also be a very good alternative choice.
And at the end another possible issue that might arise should you decide to get three LG monitors to build a 3D Vision Surround setup with them is that the monitor does not offer the thinnest bezels and the bottom of screen has an extension with a thicker round bezel. And if you decide to overlap the bezels of the display in order to minimize the "lost" screen space within the 3D Vision Surround configuration you might have trouble getting things right. The center screen will be a bit further or backwards compared to the other two because of the thicker bottom of the bezel.


text:
Preseason opens with some great expectations
Janny Hu, Chronicle Staff Writer
Sunday, October 2, 2005
The summer-that-would-not-end is finally coming to a close. The amped-up Warriors open training camp Tuesday in Hawaii, and Baron Davis already has visions of a state of bliss.
The point guard says it's been a long time since he felt this good heading into camp. It's been even longer since he felt so much anticipation.
"Each and every year I get my basketball jones, but not like this," Davis said. "This year, I feel like I'm part of something."
Something big. Something different.
It's a sentiment shared by Davis' teammates, who have grown accustomed to pitching their company line of progress ... without completely buying it. No matter how much enthusiasm and hope training camp brings, winning basketball still has forsaken Golden State for the last 11 years.
If Davis is "jonesing" for basketball, so too have his teammates been jonesing for the unofficial start of the 2005-06 season. Ever since Davis arrived in February, the Warriors have been pointing toward this camp.
By now, the numbers have been burned into memory: On Feb. 24, they acquired Davis from the New Orleans Hornets. Over the next 28 games, they compiled an 18-10 record, topping Phoenix and Sacramento twice and reeling off eight straight wins from Mar. 25 to April 8.
Golden State went 14-5 once Davis joined the starting lineup, 13-3 with what should be this year's featured five: Davis and Jason Richardson in the backcourt, Mike Dunleavy, Troy Murphy and center Adonal Foyle up front.
Things rolled along so smoothly, Murphy even suggested the Warriors pile into a time capsule at season's end, have the pod sealed, then buried. Only when it was time for camp to start would the time capsule be unearthed, all players having been preserved for an 82-game run.
Time tricks aside, everyone is accounted for. Davis spent the bulk of the summer in Los Angeles, working out, while Mickael Pietrus returned to France and played for his national team, leading them to a bronze medal at the European championships. Andris Biedrins and Zarko Cabarkapa went home to Latvia and Serbia-Montenegro, respectively, then joined Dunleavy and Murphy in the Bay Area, where the Warriors' training staff was.
Three draft picks -- first-rounder Ike Diogu and second-rounders Monta Ellis and Chris Taft -- came on board, as well as training camp invitees, including locals Ray Young and Justin Davis.
And with everyone healthy, including himself, Davis believes the Warriors can be better than they were during last year's late push.
"We were on the same page when we came to the end of last season, but it was more so playing," Davis said. "This year's training camp is going to give us an opportunity to really learn each other, motivate each other, figure out what we need to do to be successful."
Second-year coach Mike Montgomery took the initiative by laying out defensive schemes for his team as soon as he wrapped his postseason vacation in Hawaii. The coaching staff -- minus assistant Terry Stotts, now Milwaukee's head coach -- then tackled the offense. With the recent addition of veteran coach John MacLeod, Montgomery's staff has a full month to implement its plans.
The Warriors will be based at BYU Hawaii for a week of two-a-day practices beginning Tuesday before venturing to Honolulu for a pair of exhibition games with the Lakers. Five more preseason games follow, then comes Opening Night on Nov. 2 against Atlanta at the Arena in Oakland.
Davis threw out the ceremonial first pitch at the Giants' game Friday. He was there with new teammates Young and Aaron Miles, getting in some last-minute relaxation before his busy summer concludes.
He recently filmed an episode of "Wheel of Fortune" for the show's NBA-themed week. The episode features Nuggets forward Carmelo Anthony among the competitors and is scheduled to air Nov. 3.
Davis has been sworn to secrecy on how he did, but he is happily promoting his goals for the Warriors' season.
"It's all preparation and focus," he said. "In order for us to win 50 games, or even think about the playoffs, it all starts in training camp."
Fifty wins?
"That's what I'm thinking."
WARRIORS TRAINING CAMP - Preseason opens with some great exp
Discuss anything related to Golden State Warriors basketball here
Moderators: Mr. Crackerz, JREED, Guybrush, 32
- Posts: 267
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Role Player
If the warriors dont make the playoffs this year(but they will make it)I will feel like giving my hopes away. Just pray that baron stays healthy and dunleavy gets no playing time.


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New link in the top of page "IRC Chat".
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|0 users currently in Entertainment.
Posts: 11775/11786
|"American Gods" is back on with season 2. Still need to watch the new episode from this weekend, but it's going along just fine. It got renewed for a new season and a new showrunner already, and I hope that'll be the last. It's ONE book, for crying out loud.
"Game of Thrones" will be back next month. And then "Good Omens" will premiere in May.
Posts: 11648/11660
|Old wrestling lately on the WWE network... lol. Watched the 1990 WWF Royal Rumble tonight. Warrior vs Hogan is heating up!
Posts: 11766/11786
|Finally taken up watching "Broad City." It's freaking hilarious.
Posts: 11737/11786
|Lately been watching "Schitt's Creek" on Netflix, but the romances with the kids has been a huge turn off. I just don't ship characters most of the time these days (obviously, I do ship, if you know me. BUUUUT yeah, I'd prefer characters just remain friends most of the time rather than have a forced, no chemistry get-together on screen. )
Posts: 11713/11786
|"King of the Hill" is back on Hulu, so we've had it going 'round the clock as moving wallpaper and background noise.
Posts: 11707/11786
|We went through "Castle Rock" in a couple days. It's ... okay. I get why people like it, and I do like Stephen King. I'm just having trouble with understanding WHY it's a continuing series and not a limited one.
Posts: 9627/9652
|The thought of Rick and Morty in that universe is a wee bit scary to be honest.
Have you seen Britannia on Amazon? It deals with druids and the second Roman invasion of Britain.
Posts: 11702/11786
|It just kicked into being a more moderately sci-fi show this season.
Argh, the wait for season 4 has begun with a serious vengeance.
Not sure what to watch now.
Posts: 11590/11660
|That would be a crossover for the ages.
Posts: 11698/11786
|Been excitedly watching the new season of "Man in the High Castle," which dropped this week. I know I'd mentioned it to you before, and I still recommend it as a sci-fi show, though it's still light on that aspect. I feel like there should be a crossover with "Rick and Morty," since MITHC is about the infinite universes and possibilities.
Posts: 11587/11660
|Netflix talking about doing more sci-fi shows... color me interested.
Posts: 11696/11786
|Been watching Hulu's original series, "Harlots," lately. We'd watched about half of the first episode last year, but weren't feeling it and stopped. Restarted it recently and now we're halfway through season 2.
Since the last post, we'd also binge-watched "The Santa Clarita Diet," "Sharp Objects," and "Disenchantment."
Posts: 11586/11660
|I like how Amazon Prime video remembers your history, even from years back. Been jumping back into some Deep Space Nine lately and really digging it. Worf joins the crew permanently in season 4 so that's amazing. Overall, DS9 reminds me of Mass Effect a lot, like if it were all about drama on the Citadel. Amazing stuff.
Posts: 11680/11786
|I have a feeling "Westworld" will go the way of "The Walking Dead." Seems like whenever I lose interest in a show, not long after I keep hearing from people that are still watching it that it's just not that good any more or they're completely pissed off with it.
I still have yet to watch the second season of "The Handmaid's Tale" (definitely not a favorite show), but then I've heard so many people REALLY HATED the season finale for it.
Seems like shows can have AMAZING first seasons and THAT'S IT. It's downhill from there. Shows I love don't stand a chance at the Emmy's these days because there's always some show that everyone's jizzing their pants over following its first season. It happened with "Homeland," "The Handmaid's Tale," etc. A show could be consistently good, but the hype around a new show will get it all the awards. Same with when a show ends. Jesus Christ.
I heard SO MUCH about "Westworld" during its first season, when I was watching it, but wasn't hearing shit about its second season. Elara and I recently did pub trivia together with a couple that was going on about how "Westworld" is way better than GoT. We both just sat there quietly until they stopped.
Posts: 11565/11660
|Doesn't sound like Westworld season 2 was that hot.
I'm still rarely watching TV but The Expanse sounds like something I should really consider and maybe up my alley.
I still need to watch GOT... I swear I'll catch up before it's too late!
Posts: 11675/11786
|We binge-watched the available first season of "Cloak and Dagger." I liked it better than how "Runaways" ended up being adapted (that one still breaks my heart.)
Watched the entirety of the new season of "Orange is the New Black" in a matter of a day and a half. Better than last season, but slower and not as good as it used to be. It's still a decent show, I suppose.
Well, "Bojack Horseman" is dropping its new season next month, "Crazy Ex-Girlfriend" will be back in October and will end after this season, and it's still until next year for "Game of Thrones."
Posts: 11650/11786
|Well, watched "GLOW" season 2, practically in one night. That was good.
Been slogging through season 1 of "Taboo." It's OK, just really dreary.
Every time I restart watching season 2 of "Westworld," I stop. Dunno why. It's just not grabbing me. I just can't make it through the second episode.
Binge-watched "Barry" on HBO. That's a GREAT show. A bit close to "Breaking Bad," but about being an assassin, not meth cook.
Also ended up binge-watching "Crashing," Peter Holmes' semi-autobiographical show about being a stand-up comedian in New York. It's funny, but probably more funny to me, being a fan of his stand-up. I don't know how it comes off to people who haven't seen/heard him before.
Just wondering when the hell Amazon is going to drop "The Man in the High Castle" season 3.
Posts: 11628/11786
|We watched "GLOW" on Netflix. Pretty much knocked that out in a day since it's only 10 episodes, half-an-hour each. We've watched it several times through.
We've lately been watching "Godless," a Netflix miniseries about a town of mostly widows under-siege by outlaws. Almost done with it.
Always looking out for more shows to watch.
Posts: 11600/11786
|I have Prime. Hm, might give it a shot finally, though a lot of the HBO content is also subscription-based where I've got to pay more to watch it through Prime.
Finished "Community." Man, did that ever stagger to the finish line. Well, there's always the golden years on that show.
"Runaways" is just... shit. I'm honestly mad at myself whenever the episode finished because I apparently keep holding out hope that it's going to get better. Maaaaaaaybe when it finally aligns with the books in a few seasons (based on how goddamn slowly this is going with all these original content they're bullshitting us with), but I honestly cannot see this going past this season. Goddamn it, Marvel.
After that I'm still watching "Vikings," but I'm worried for Lagertha and most of the other characters are completely un-likeable to carry the show for me if she gets taken out.
Finally started "Legion." Since he's a super powerful mutant with mental illness and it's all from his perspective, it's all over the place. Need to rewatch the second episode since I wasn't paying as much attention as I should have. Really can't just have it on as background noise.
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|Going to wrap up season 6 of Curb tonight, still loving it. I've been watching it off Amazon Prime actually, I guess they have some HBO shows up on there.
|This is a long thread. Click here to view it.
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Wednesday, May 7th 2008, 3:18pm
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Friday, May 9th 2008, 7:39am
... If there was a pressure regulator, wouldn't it be immediately after the water meter?...
Saturday, May 10th 2008, 5:29am
Saturday, May 10th 2008, 7:21am
Saturday, May 10th 2008, 9:45am
This post has been edited 1 times, last edit by "Wet_Boots" (May 10th 2008, 9:52am)
Saturday, May 10th 2008, 10:50am
Saturday, May 10th 2008, 2:12pm


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State of Kansas Seeks Child Support from Sperm Donor [VIDEO][POLL]
You often hear that there is a difference between a "father" and a "daddy" because it's true, but what category does a "sperm donor" fall under?
Back in 2009, William Marotta responded to an ad on craigslist posted by a lesbian couple seeking a sperm donor, and they were willing to pay $50. Mr. Marotta and his wife met with the couple, Angela Bauer, and Jennifer Schreiner, and decided to help the couple achieve their dream of being parents, and refused payment.
All parties signed a "sperm donor contract" that said Marotta would have no paternal rights and would be in no way responsible for any child that resulted from the donation. Bauer and Schreiner also agreed in the contract to indemnify William and hold him harmless for any child support payments demanded of him by any other person or entity, public or private, including any district attorney's office or other state or county agency, regardless of the circumstances, according to legal documents filed in the case.
The couple did get pregnant with the donation after artificially inseminating Schreiner and she gave birth to a baby. Over the years, Marotta had heard talk that the couple had a baby but he had no contact with the child or it's parents. After the child was born, the couple had financial troubles and applied for state assistance to help with the child's healthcare.
The Kansas Department of Children and Families asked them the name of the father and said they wouldn't provide any assistance unless they provided the name. The women gave the state Marotta's name and on Oct. 3, attorney Mark McMillan filed a petition on behalf of the Department of Children and Families that claimed that Marotta was the baby's father and needed to support her. The filing said that the state had spent $189 on the baby from July 2012 to September 2012 and nearly $6,000 in medical assistance, which Marotta had a duty to pay.
Where things get fuzzy with Kansas law, is that Bauer and Schreiner did not use a licensed physician for the artificial insemination, so the state does not recognize their legal agreement, and they want Marotta to pay up...
What do you think?


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And no holster strap for Han either. Yet Bom has a strap.
Crap, looks like no holster or staff for the RFT.
I'd do without the holster even (I'd rather none at all than one that didn't function), however I somehow think it might get added in at some point.
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OneAsics Frequently Asked Questions
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Is OneASICS free?
Yes! Just by signing up with your email address, you will get access to free express shipping and free 90-day returns on all footwear and apparel purchases. You will also receive a code for a free 90-day trial of Runkeeper Go.
What are my OneASICS benefits? How do I use them?
When you sign up, you get access to free express shipping, 90-day free returns and a 90-day trial of Runkeeper Go. You'll also be the first to know about special offers, events, products and more!
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We're so confident you'll love ASICS, we give you 90 days to try all footwear and apparel purchases. Go ahead, wear them outside and take them for a spin. If you're not entirely satisfied, send them back for a refund. See our ASICS return policy, ASICS Tiger return policy or Onitsuka Tiger return policy for full details.
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I tried this method as I was looking for a more economical method of basting similar to using 505.
Elmer's Washable School by the gallon is $14.00 - cheap I should be able to do at least 18 quilts with a gallon of glue vs 505 in the red can $13.00 a can and I can get maybe 3 quilts per can.
Read on and see if this method is for you.
First, I put my Warm and Natural Batting in the dryer for a bit to try and soften the wrinkles. The I spread it out on my ping pong table (we never play ping pong on it, I use it only for quilting purposes)
Then I spread my backing on the top of the batting. I arranged it so that there was batting showing underneath all around the edges. I smoothed it all with my hands to ensure that there were no wrinkles in the batting.
Then I folded half of the backing towards the center of the quilt, (like folding a piece of paper in half on the long side of the paper.)
Now, holding the smaller bottle of glue over the batting at about 18 inches high I began to squeeze out the glue. With constant pressure I swirled the glue about 18 inches back and forth until I had about an 18 inch square swirl of glue. It dotted and did not lie in a straight line. I did this the entire length of the quilt.
Next, for the smoothing of the backing to the batting I started in the center of the the length of the backing and gentle lifted and pulled it towards me. I then smoothed it down with my hand. Then I did the same thing towards the left of me until I reached the end of the row and then I did the same thing on the right side. repeating the process for another 18 inch lengthwise row until that half of the backing was glued on.
I made sure there were no wrinkles and hand pressed the backing to the batting.
I repeated the same actions on the other side of the table with the glue onto the batting, then hand pressing it down. The I let it dry overnight. I positioned the quilt so that the center line was on the table's middle so that there was even pressure on the quilt as it dried.
I glued right up to the edge of the quilt! When I FMQ, I work the FMQing around the edge of the quilt and quilt into the middle of the quilt. The exact opposite of most folks. I read that if you quilt was securely basted it didn't matter where you started and ended
I repeated the glue swirling and hand pressing for the quilt top. There may be some ripples on the batting, but once the glue and hand pressing was completed the weight and pressure flattened them right out. I let it all dry overnight once again and FMQed the next day.
I took the quilt to the laundry mat and washed and dried it there, all the glue came out and it looks great.
If I use Elmer's I will have more money for fabric


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KANSAS CITY, Kansas (Reuters) - Kansas is set to enact one of the most restrictive abortion laws in the nation which defines life as beginning "at fertilization" and imposes a host of new regulations.
The Kansas House of Representatives passed the bill 90-30 on Friday night, a few hours after the Senate backed it on a 28-10 vote. Strongly anti-abortion Republican Governor Sam Brownback is expected to sign it into law. Republicans hold strong majorities in both houses.
In addition to the provision specifying when life begins, the bill prevents employees of abortion clinics from providing sex education in schools, bans tax credits for abortion services and requires clinics to give details to women about fetal development and abortion health risks. It also bans abortions based solely on the gender of the fetus.
The Kansas bill comes on the heels of anti-abortion measures passing in states across the country, including one in Arkansas banning abortions in the 12th week of pregnancy and a law in North Dakota that sets the limit at six weeks.
The Kansas language stating that life begins "at fertilization" is modeled on a 1989 ruling of the U.S. Supreme Court, said Kathy Ostrowski, legislative director of Kansans for Life, anti-abortion group.
Ostrowski said the language protects the rights of the unborn in probate and other legal matters.
If the bill is signed into law, Kansas will become the eighth state declaring that life begins at fertilization, said Elizabeth Nash, state issues manager of the pro-choice Guttmacher Institute, which researches abortion-related laws nationwide.
While it would not supplant Kansas law banning most abortions after the 22nd week of pregnancy, it does set the state up to more swiftly outlaw all abortions should the U.S. Supreme Court revisit its 1973 ruling making abortion legal, Nash said.
"It's a statement of intent and it's a pretty strong statement," Nash said. "Should the U.S. Supreme Court overturn Roe v. Wade or should the court come to some different conclusion, the state legislature would be ready, willing and able to ban abortions."
States that already have such language are Missouri, Kentucky, Arkansas, Illinois, Louisiana, North Dakota and Ohio, Nash said.
The Kansas bill prohibits use of public funds, tax preferences or tax credits for abortion services. It prevents state-provided public health-care services from being used in any manner to carry out abortions, according to a summary.
Taking away tax benefits would amount to 12 tax increases for abortion providers, women and their families, said Elise Higgins, Kansas coordinator for the National Organization for Women. Even abortions to save a mother's life would not be a deductible cost, she said.
Higgins also criticized the bill's requirement that women be told of possible connection between abortion and later risk of breast cancer. "It's an obvious intrusion into the doctor-patient relationship by making them get this inaccurate information," Higgins said.
Ostrowski said the bill merely requires that patients be referred to online and other material about abortion and breast cancer. It does not steer them to misinformation, she said.
The bill bars school districts from letting abortion providers offer, sponsor or furnish course materials or instruction on human sexuality or on sexually transmitted diseases. Higgins said that creates an unfair stigma for employees of abortion providers.
Another portion of the new law would prevent women from deciding on an abortion solely because of the gender of the fetus. It is unclear how many women terminate pregnancies for that reason.
Reporting by Kevin Murphy; Editing by Greg McCune, Doina Chiacu and Gunna Dickson


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By Marta Franco
When BART officials told Mission residents last fall that they had chosen three non-Mission artists as finalists for the remodeling of the 24th Street BART station, residents weren't pleased. Now, the Calle 24 Art for BART Committee is trying to strike back with a new proposal. Saturday afternoon, local artists will present specific ideas that will lead to a new community-created project that will be submitted to BART in the hope of changing officials' minds on artist selection.
The Calle 24 Art for BART committee is conformed by a group of institutions, artists and merchants along the 24th St. area, such as the Mission Cultural Center for Latino Arts, the Brava Theater Center and the Precita Eyes Mural Arts Center. The organization has set up a calendar of meetings to bring together ideas and deliver a proposal design by the community.
The first meeting took place on January 26 as an initial discussion to define what the southeast corner of the station should be, and brought together a group of artists, who expressed their thoughts about what changes should be made to the plaza surrounding the station. TO READ MORE CLICK HERE.


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Via Capcom, here's footage of the Wii U version of Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate, to be released this March for both Wii U and 3DS.
More monsters:
So what do you think? Cool? Monster-Huntery? I've never actually played a Monster Hunter game, so I need to hear your opinions (so I can repeat them at parties).


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Ashton Coleman | ONE Sotheby's International Realty
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Why do you need a Solar Attic Fan in Hernando County FL?
Solar attic fans in Hernando County FL offer an environmentally friendly and economical solution to summer time cooling problems resulting from attic heat penetrating your home's insulation. During the summer, attic temperatures can soar to over 150�F, keeping your attic hot throughout the day and well into the night. The higher the temperature of your attic, the less effective your attic insulation will be at stopping heat from entering your home.
Installation of a solar attic fan in Hernando County FL on your home minimizes the amount of heat entering through the attic by reducing your attic temperature in Hernando County FL. By minimizing the amount heat entering your home, you will save money on your summer cooling bill and make your house feel more comfortable (see diagrams below).
Attic in Hernando County FL Without Proper Ventilation
Attic After Installation of an Venti Attic Fans Solar Attic Fan in Hernando County FL


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Dee Snider Fired from 'Celebrity Apprentice' After Earning $325,000 for Charity
Dee Snider of Twisted Sister heard the dreaded words "you're fired" from 'Celebrity Apprentice' boss Donald Trump last night, but only after raising $325,000 for the March of Dimes by winning a challenge earlier in the evening.
Last night's double-sized episode found Snider taking the project leader role for the men's team as they created a celebrity guide book for New York City, and thanks to donations from some of their deep-pocketed celebrity friends, they defeated the women yet again.
All the money raised in this challenge went to Snider's chosen charity, the March of Dimes. According to Blabbermouth, the organization was understandably appreciative of his donation, with their president Dr. Jennifer L. Howse calling him "a true champion for all babies," and stating, "We are blessed to have a volunteer like Dee Snider. He is both an exceptional March Of Dimes volunteer, and a wonderful person. We are thrilled by the generosity of his time and donation. These funds will directly support our mission to give all babies a healthy start in life and our National Prematurity Prevention Campaign."
As he explains on the show, two of Snider's four children were born prematurely: "When you're on the show, it's easy to forget why you're there. You get caught up in the craziness of the show and the challenges, but you need to remember it's about the charity first. I find that working with March of Dimes really helps me give back."
Trump then evened up the teams a bit by abandoning the gender barrier, sending Dee, Lou Ferrigno and Penn Jillette over to what was the women's team, Forte. The second challenge found the group working on a drug-store sponsored campaign to promote walking — yes, that's how lazy a lot of our country has become — and some unfortunate copy-writing choices on the packaging make Snider one of the elimination candidates when his team loses the challenge.
Ultimately, after a highly confusing debate with Ferrigno — the funniest recurring bit of this entire season has been watching fully rational, logical people like Snider struggle to communicate with Ferrigno in a non-condescending manner despite his child-like insecurities, mood swings and fixation on the phrase "110%" — Snider was sent home.
He seems to be taking his dismissal in stride on Twitter, noting, "It takes me 3 years of #BikersForBabies rides to make that much money!" He also reveals that he may need a third surgery to fix the hand he injured on the program, and warns that 'Apprentice' cast member Aubrey O'Day is "PURE EVIL!" (His emphasis, not ours although we back him based on what we've seen.)
The singer can now turn his full attention to promoting his upcoming autobiography and album of Broadway standards. Yes, you read that right. Our official position is that Snider handled himself with style, class and humor throughout his run on 'Celebrity Apprentice,' and yet we're really happy to get our Sunday nights back!


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What ARE the Risks of Cesareans?
This was a recent question in my Navelgazing Midwife Facebook Page. You'd think anyone reading anything on a more natural-oriented site would already know the answer to that, but I was really glad to see someone ask. It gave the readers a change to answer in a way no textbook can describe.
A: Having the incision tear further when they pull the baby out - causing hemorrhage and complicated repair and possibly eliminating the possibility of a VBAC - this happened to me. Two hours to repair the extension. (I was able to VBAC though, but have talked to other women who were not able to.)
J: Risk of cutting the baby, nicking nerves, increased likelihood of adhesions in the abdominal cavity, increased risk for uterine rupture with future pregnancies, increased risk of placenta accreta with future pregnancies.
N: Nicking the bladder or intestines causing infection and all the complications that come along with that.
R: Post operative infection.
J: Increased likelihood of prematurity and associated morbidities, increased likelihood of blood loss and clotting problems.
M: Hematoma and uterine wall infection which are currently being experienced by a client of mine-landing her back in the hospital.
J: Increased risk of complications from anesthesia, and the risk of surgical complications is higher in obese moms.
C: Hemorrhage, infection, as you noted compartment syndrome, increased maternal mortality with each c-section, decreased fertility, increased pregnancy complications such as placenta accreta, nerve loss, bladder damage (accidents happen even with a catheter in place and an empty bladder), sleepy babies that nurse poorly if at all, late milk coming in, pain (a lot) and pain that stays for many months after delivery, poor incision healing, blood clots... It sort of becomes endless.
S: Significantly increased risk of death for mother.
S: So scary to read these in list form like this.
J: Your eyes opened to shit you never ever wanted to know or feel, for months and years. Also, disfigurement.
A: In addition to the overall risks of major surgery (infection, reaction to anesthesia, etc), there are the risks to future pregnancies, particularly placental abnormalities like previa and accreta/increta/percreta. And then there are the potential problems (not insurmountable, but notable) of separating mom and babe in the early hours and the impact that can have on establishing breastfeeding. Plus due to not passing through the vagina, babe is not colonized with normal flora, increased respiratory difficulties . . . Where to stop?
L: Death.
D: Excess fluid in lungs for newborn.
C: My son and I both carry scars from that operation. He was sunny side up, and they wheeled me in pushing. He now has a small scar on his cheek that, as he is getting older and bigger, is becoming more prominent. BTW, informed consent is a joke when your doc has a dinner party to get to on New Year's Eve. Further risk? Maternal or fetal death. Increased placental placement risks. Fertility risks. Bowel, internal organ healing risks. If I knew then, what I know now....
M: Disgusting, oozing, adhesive burn from the dressing over my incision.
NgM: It's imperative to remember the Risk/Benefit Ratio. One of the things about cesareans is they are proof positive that a mother will lay down her life for her child; she forever has the scar(s) to prove it.
A: I read a lot of medical issues here, but not so much on the emotional issues. I remember feeling "broken" for a while.
R: Emotionally, issues bonding with baby, increased risk of postpartum depression/post traumatic stress disorder/postpartum psychosis.
L: Actual complications in my case, cut hip to hip, hemorrhage, cervical laceration, massive surgical infection that took 8 painful (not to mention shockingly expensive) months to heal. Additional surgery and medical advice to carry no additional children. Between the risk of another preemie, the scar tissue and the extent of tearing of my uterus including the cervical laceration, several docs have strongly advised against further pregnancy.
L: Repeat sections with increasing probability of placenta accreta is the one that scares me most. Freaks me out when this starts with a teen primip (first time mom). High-risk category forever. Bad news if you hoped for more than 2 kids ever.
W: Can we have this same thread with vaginal births, as that isn't a risk-free walk in the park either. Just because this needs to be said, just because it is a risk, doesn't mean it will happen to you. There is a risk of most offbeat things every time you get into the car (even the emotional things) but 99% of us still ride in cars.
NgM: No, it isn't a "risk-free walk in the park," but it is true that cesareans carry far more risks for mom and baby than a vaginal birth does. Acknowledging them is fine, but seeing them as equal is flat out wrong.