text:
Im thinking about getting a credit card, with the basic idea, that if I get one now, I can build up a solid credit rating and things will be easier later on when I get out of university and obtain a real job.
I dont make that much money, being a student and all. I probably will make about $3,000 this summer and then stop working or work like 8-10 hours a week during school.
Ive looked at some of the minimum incomes you need for one of those student credit cards, and their like $1,200 a year, so I have that covered.
What Im looking for is some suggestions and to which would be a good credit card for me. Visa, MasterCard, etc.
Ill be 19 in early August, so ill get it then
To build my credit, I took out a loan and offically bought my first car a 2 months ago. My dads name is on the loan but my name is there as well. Once I pay it back I assume Ill have established credit and all will be fine.
Im not so sure the name on the card counts, as much as your interest rates and terms on the card itself.
They all have benefits and pitfalls, your best option is to just look into them all and see what one fits your needs.
If your disciplined, don't act on impulse, and don't carry a balance on the card, go for it.
Otherwise stay clear of credit cards at a young age unless your parents will pay the bill for you.
There are many cards out there that have pretty decent incetives. There is really no difference between a Visa and a MasterCard. The only really different cards from those two is American Express.
Do your research. If you plan on buying only small things with it and paying the balance off completely every month then you will be fine. When you get the card call them and ask them to keep the limit on spending low (~$500), just as a safe guard.
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actualy i have read that if you just pay off the bill each month, it wont help you with your credit. you should pay off more then the min each month but keep a balance on your card
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The most efficient way to increase your credit rating is to just make the payments they place on your bill. They calculate the payments to maximize the amount of interest you gain so in affect you are paying to receive a good credit rating.Originally Posted by mikey4402
1) I work for a bank.
2) Pay off the entire bill each month. The negligible increase in credit for having a running balance won't do **** for you.
3) Co signing on a car will not build credit for you.
4) I have 760 credit (very good) just from 1 credit card and about 2 years of history of paying it off regularily. It actually started as a secured card at $900 dolalrs which has been raised to $3000. Just pay your bills, don't be a dumbass, wallah, good credit.
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Looked around, prob. end up getting this one....
If you don't have much income right now, I'd probably recommend against getting a credit card.
You can build up a good credit rating pretty quickly, but can take years to fix if you **** it up. I'd really suggest waiting until you have stable income.
It's easy to say you will be careful, but you are a student, and will not always make wise decisions, and at this point, the risk is not worth the reward.
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I have a Mastercard through CitiBank
I'm pretty sure it's a student card, so I get points or something, not really sure if it matter that much, when I buy gas, food, school supplies.
my limit is up to around $4300 now
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I dont have a car loan actually, we did it as a personal loan so they wouldn't hold the title and wouldnt be forced to carry insane amounts of insurance.
i wasn't disciplined, i got a credit card, ran it to the max, and took like 3 years to pay it off. it sucked. but i'm GLAD i got it, because it taught me a ton about responsibility with credit. i'm 23 and i'm over a 750 fico now and have more money than most anyone my age. i now think that my early experiences with credit were worthwhile because i learned about credit while the stakes were low. much better to learn the hard way when your max limit is like a grand or twoOriginally Posted by Joe Usher
Go now, run along and tell your xerxes he faces free men here, not slaves
Hey E, is that right? I was always told have a $1 charge or something similarly negligible at the end of the month and your score will keep going up? Then again, the same people told me that anything eaten <2 hours before bed would magically turn to fat, and I'm not a 800 lb monster right now, am I?Originally Posted by Eszekial
25 years old, 5'10''
Back in the States to get hayooooge!
Health goals
- Weigh a healthy and active 170-180, healthy mind and body
- Dunk a basketball (hey a man can have big dreams huh)
- Swim 2-3x/week and become a better swimmer
I use my student credit card to pay for my utilities while I'm at school. Electricity, water, phone, etc. are automatically charged to my credit card - I pay it off on time and in one payment. It makes paying bills a lot easier.
Oh, and I can buy Nitrean
The real reason to have a credit card.Originally Posted by RedSpikeyThing
If you're responsible enough, I'd go for it. I've had a card for about 3 years now. Unfortunately it sort of became my plastic student loan, but I'd have rather had the hard lesson on spending now than to screw myself later. Now I'm graduating, I've got a good credit rating, and I've learned my lesson about watching your spending (you wouldn't believe how fast those balances can grow, so be vigilant about watching what you spend).
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as far as number 2 goes, isn't the length of your ownership of that card important, regardless of use?Originally Posted by Eszekial
my situation is similar to yours, i got a credit card maybe 3 years ago, and now have a 750ish fico and about 10K of credit from my CC's; on my fico report one of the ways to increase my score is to have longer history with same cards :
"Why Is My Score 751 ?
Source: FairIsaac
1. The length of time your revolving/charge accounts have been established is too short.
This factor is based on the age of the revolving/charge accounts on your credit bureau report (the age of your oldest revolving/charge account, the average age of your revolving/charge accounts, or both). Research shows that consumers with longer credit histories have better repayment risk than those with shorter credit histories. Also, consumers who frequently open new accounts have greater repayment risk than those who do not.
2. The length of time your accounts have been established is relatively short.
This factor is based on the age of the accounts on your credit bureau report (the age of the oldest account, the average age of accounts, or both). Research shows that consumers with longer credit histories have better repayment risk than those with shorter credit histories. Also, consumers who frequently open new accounts have greater repayment risk than those who don't. "
(BTW, that is direct from my login page on my providian credit card. it has no annual fee, and has my current fico every month. i don't even use the card, i just keep it for constant credit score access)
Go now, run along and tell your xerxes he faces free men here, not slaves
Experience is the best teacher.Originally Posted by jdeity
If you want to build credit but are afraid that you will spend frivolously get the credit card and put your automated payments on it (gym, phone, etc.) and they will be charged automatically every month. Don't carry the card with you so you won't be able to spend with it. Pay your bill off each month since you already pay for those things anyway. Simple credit.
Homer Simpson - "The code of the schoolyard, Marge! The rules that teach a boy to be a man. Let's see. Don't tattle. Always make fun of those different from you. Never say anything, unless you're sure everyone feels exactly the same way you do."
www.dictionary.com (for all your spell-checking needs)
My picture thread- http://www.wannabebigforums.com/showthread.php?t=78235
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Viking Warlord- "You can't motorboat a personality".
Built- "See, truly artful copy-paste isn't random. You need to know WHAT to copy before you go pasting..."
I got a student Visa when I was 18. I repay the bill in full every month, and after about a year of having the card I was approved for an $8,000 motorcycle loan. Eventhough I don't know my credit score, I assume it must have been pretty good considering I got approved for the loan at 19, as a student without a full-time job.
As long as you are disciplined I think a credit card is a great way to build credit. In fact, I just got my second.
Last edited by Jorge Sanchez; 07-12-2006 at 09:37 AM.
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Will the personal loan I cosigned on with my dad build my credit at all???
i believe someone on this thread said no already, but i could have sworn that it DOES help your credit. logically that would make sense, since if you do cosign you are taking a financial responsibility (if your dad defaulted and you defaulted, it woudl hurt BOTH of your credit scores, i don't see why payment wouldn't help both your scores if they both stand to be hurt.)Originally Posted by WBBIRL
Last edited by jdeity; 07-13-2006 at 11:16 AM.
Go now, run along and tell your xerxes he faces free men here, not slaves
http://moneycentral.msn.com/content/...20s/P73746.aspOriginally Posted by jdeity
Piggyback on someone elses good credit
The fastest way to establish a credit history can be to borrow anothers record, either by being added to a credit card as an authorized or joint user or by getting someone to co-sign a loan for you.
Having a co-signer can allow you to qualify for loans you might not otherwise get. The loan will show up on your credit report and, if you pay it off responsibly, will help boost your credit score.
If you default, however, you wont be the only one who suffers. The co-signer has basically promised to make good on this account, so any delinquencies will show up on her credit report as well.
Being added as an authorized user has its risks, for you as well as the person giving you access to the card.
If your father makes you an authorized user of his credit card, for example, his history with that account can be imported to your credit bureau file, giving you an instant credit record. If he has handled the account well, that reflects well on you. But if he hasn't, his mistakes would also become yours. Any late payments or other problems could make it harder for you to get future credit than if youd established your history without help.
Even if you trust the person adding you to the card, you may not be able to piggyback on his or her credit. Some credit issuers wont report authorized users to the credit bureaus, particularly if the user is not married to the original card holder. If the point is to give you a credit history, the person whos adding you as an authorized user should call the issuer and ask how (or if) your status as a user will be reported.
Originally Posted by jdeity
Fair Issac AKA Experian is usually the lower credit rating for 80% of people. Your other scores on a tri-merge report might be 10-50 basis points higher. Don't know what, it just usually is.
The "negatives," you site, are shown on almost every credit report I see. I see hundreds of them a week. Even people with near perfect credit will have those negatives reported.
the % of your total credit limit being used is a factor. Someone with 1$ in balances and a $2 limit will be worse off then somebody with a $100 balance and a $1000 limit.
There is actually a catch 22 to having more credit as well. You need to actually use that credit, or eventually a "too many inactive accounts" derogatory will come up." Close inactive accounts.
For people like ourselves with only 1 account, we will often offer advice to have your credit raised by telling them to open 1-2 more revolving credit lines and to get a bill with those cards. That will often boost your credit.
I plan on opening some more accounts to break the 760 score before i buy a house.
Honestly, anything about 780 is a waste of time. Nobody but the richest of the rich will ever distinguish a 750+ with an 800 score. it just doesn't happen.
if you have a credit score in the 700 range, be happy. People will want to lend you money.
Eszekial's Journal
Height: 6'1
Weight: 200
Body Fat: 12%
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ATFSquat: 315x3
Dead: 275x3
ohhh.... damnitOriginally Posted by Eszekial
i typically keep them at like zero.... i have 3, one has 800 on it right now, but is typically kept at zero. the other two have been at zero for a while
how frequently should i use them to avoid them being 'inactive accounts'? do the dollars matter, i mean can i just get milk once a month on all 3 cards? i hate dealing with the cards now that i don't want them to buy things i don't already have money for, and it's a pita to use them and deal w/ paying, but guess i'll have to if that will become a negative thing
Go now, run along and tell your xerxes he faces free men here, not slaves


text:
Officials release name of woman killed in crash
By Tuesday Jan. 22nd, 2013 - 12:02pm
GREAT FALLS, Mont. (AP) -- Cascade County officials have released the name of
a 22-year-old Belt woman who died in a weekend car crash.
The sheriff's office says Virginia "Ginny" Antonich was ejected from the sport
utility vehicle she was driving after she lost control and it slid down a hill
Sunday morning near Stockett, southeast of Great Falls. Croxford Funeral Home
says Antonich was a student at Montana State University.
The Montana Highway Patrol says the crash also injured a 31-year-old male

subset: commoncrawl


text:
By Staff
New Castle News
Shenango High's boys golf team continued its strong late-season run yesterday.
The Wildcats placed second out of 27 rain-soaked teams at the Midwestern Athletic Conference championship at Fox Run Golf Course.
Blackhawk won the event with a score of 230. Shenango finished with a 235 to place second. Beaver Falls came in third, while Laurel and Neshannock tied for fourth at 245.
"I was quite pleased," Shenango coach John Dado said. "There were some bigger schools there like Blackhawk, Central Valley and New Castle. We did pretty well."
Beaver Falls' Zach Miller won the individual title with a 72. The 'Cats' Matt DeAngelo finished fourth overall with a 74. Teammate Lucas Villani shot a 78 to finish in ninth, while Darren Carone had an 83.
"DeAngelo had his driver going well," Dado said. "He actually bogeyed the last two holes to shoot 74. Overall, he played well."
Matt Maciarello's 79 was good for 10th for Neshannock. Matt Cioffi and Max Watters carded an 83 for the Lancers.
Nick Peluso and Shane Wilson paced Laurel with an 80. Ben Armando was next with an 85.
Jacob Jendrysik shot an 87 for Union, which tallied a 263. Cole Gargacz and Joe Rossi both had an 88.
Ryan Dugan's 80 paced New Castle (268). Nick Malizia had an 88, while Gino Quahliero finished with 100.
Samson Needler carded an 88 for Mohawk (283). Aaron DeSantis had a 97, while Anthony Bartolone added a 98.


text:
Customized TV Listings are available here: www.latimes.com/tvtimes
Click here to download TV listings for the week of Feb. 24 - March 2, 2013 in PDF format
Customized TV Listings are available here: www.latimes.com/tvtimes
Click here to download TV listings for the week of Feb. 24 - March 2, 2013 in PDF format
"Raising Hope" "My Name Is Earl" cast members reunite in the first of two new episodes of "Rasing Hope" (8 p.m. KTTV). Hilary Duff guest stars at 8:30.
"Makers: Women Who Make America" This new three-hour documentary relates how women have helped shape America over the last 50 years. Among those featured are Hillary Rodham Clinton, Gloria Steinem, Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Oprah Winfrey, Barbara Walters and Katie Couric (8 p.m. KOCE).
'Parade's End' review: Cumberbatch, Hall's opposites attract
"The Mindy Project" Seth Rogen guest stars in this new episode as the guy who gave Mindy (Mindy Kaling) her first kiss when they were kids at summer camp. (9:30 p.m. KTTV).
"Golden Boy" New York's youngest police commissioner reflects on his rapid rise through the ranks in this new drama series. Chi McBride stars with Theo James, Kevin Alejandro and Bonnie Somerville. (10 p.m. KCBS).
"Body of Proof" The two-part season premiere concludes (10 p.m. KABC).
"Robot Combat League" Robots controlled by humans battle in this new series (10 p.m. Syfy).
CBS This Morning Pastor T.D. Jakes. (N) 7 a.m. KCBS
Today Megan Hilty; Jason Aldean performs. (N) 7 a.m. KNBC
Good Morning America First Lady Michelle Obama. (N) 7 a.m. KABC
Live With Kelly and Michael 9 a.m. KABC
The View Brooke Shields; Jesse Tyler Ferguson; Kate Gosselin. (N) 10 a.m. KABC
The Talk Joe Manganiello; chef Tim Love. (N) 1 p.m. KCBS
The Doctors Condition affects hormones regulating sexual development. (N) 2 p.m. KCBS
The Dr. Oz Show An investigative reporter uncovers a food-industry bombshell. (N) 2 p.m. KABC
Dr. Phil A 13-year-old vanishes without a trace while on a court-ordered visit at his father's house. (N) 3 p.m. KCBS
Steve Harvey Chef Melissa d'Arabian. (N) 3 p.m. KNBC
Katie Gender identity. (N) 3 p.m. KABC
The Ellen DeGeneres Show Randy Jackson; Cameron Mathison. (N) 4 p.m. KNBC
Tavis Smiley Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom (D-Calif.). (N) 11 p.m. KOCE
Charlie Rose (N) 11 p.m. KVCR; 11:30 p.m. KOCE
The Daily Show With Jon Stewart Filmmakers Lori Silverbush and Kristi Jacobson. (N) 11 p.m. Comedy Central
Chelsea Lately Jordana Brewster. (N) 11 p.m. E!
Conan Kevin Nealon. (N) 11 p.m. TBS
The Colbert Report Dr. Francis Collins. (N) 11:31 p.m. Comedy Central
The Tonight Show With Jay Leno Colin Farrell; Boz Scaggs performs. (N) 11:34 p.m. KNBC
Late Show With David Letterman Joan Rivers; Daytona 500 winner Jimmie Johnson; Kendrick Lamar performs. (N) 11:35 p.m. KCBS
Jimmy Kimmel Live Terrence Howard; "Duck Dynasty"; Morrissey performs. (N) 11:35 p.m. KABC
Late Night With Jimmy Fallon Donald Trump. (N) 12:36 a.m. KNBC
Late Late Show Sharon Osbourne. (N) 12:37 a.m. KCBS


text: I am upgrading from RM6900 and trying to pick between a set of used RTi8 vs brand new Monitor 60. They cost exactly same. From reading posts here, RTi seems to be everyone's favorite but I am splitting hair since Monitor 60 has rave reviews as well on internet and they are new. They will be used for a mix of movies and music. I hate to torture myself again in few years with this selection process when there is no right answer (more like the personality test - its not possible to fail it and results are moderately diagnostic at best) and stores don't carry two side by side in Canada. Thanks in advance for the input.


text:
Lady Gaga's Born This Way shattered early projections, selling 1.1 million copies in its first week – more than any artist has managed since 50 Cent's The Massacre in 2005. A record 662,000 were digital sales, many of them from an Amazon.com promotion offering the full album for 99 cents. (Amazon paid a standard wholesale fee to Gaga's label, losing about $7 per sale.) Asked if she felt that her album was worth more than 99 cents, Gaga recently said, "No, I absolutely do not, especially for MP3s. I applaud a company like Amazon for giving the opportunity to everyone to buy music."
This story is from the June 23, 2011 issue of Rolling Stone.
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July 30, 2014
Tuesday, March 22, 2011
CHESTERFIELD, S.C. (AP) — A small earthquake in South Carolina near the North Carolina state line has rattled homes and led more than 100 people to call 911.
The U.S. Geological Survey said the 2.9-magnitude quake struck just after 6 p.m. Monday between Chesterfield and Wadesboro, N.C.
Chesterfield County Emergency Management Director Harold Hainey says no damage or injuries were reported, but the 911 center got more than 100 calls from people who felt the ground shake.
In neighboring Anson County, N.C., Emergency Services Chief Rodney Diggs says he heard of about a dozen emergency calls, but also had no damage or injuries.
The South Carolina Seismic Network reports five other earthquakes of magnitude 2.0 or greater in the state in the past two years.
(Copyright 2011 The Associated Press.)
Have information or an opinion about this story? Click here to contact the newsroom.
Copyright WRDW-TV News 12. All rights reserved. This material may not be republished without express written permission.


text:
S&P must believe that a new credit crisis is on the way, or at least there is a reasonably good chance there could be. It hit several of the world's largest banks with downgrades, in particular Barclays PLC (NYSE: BCS), Deutsche Bank A.G. (NYSE: DB) and Credit Suisse Group A.G. (NYSE: CS), citing "increasing risks that Europe's large banking groups active in investment banking face as regulators and uncertain market conditions continue to make operating in the industry more difficult."
However, these risks have been in place for some time, which leads to the question of the credit rating agency's timing.
S&P answered that question by saying:
we consider that these banks' debtholders face heightened credit risk owing to the industry's tighter regulation, fragile global markets, stagnant European economies, and rising litigation risk stemming from the financial crisis.
UBS A.G. (NYSE: UBS) dodged an action, and its rating was kept the same.
S&P wrote:
[I]t lowered its long-term counterparty credit ratings on Barclays Bank PLC, Credit Suisse AG, and Deutsche Bank AG to 'A' from 'A+'. At the same time, we affirmed our 'A/A-1′ long- and short-term ratings on UBS AG. The outlooks on these banks are stable.
If S&P's opinion about the trend knocked the ratings down, there may be more to come.


text:
Mideast oil exporters' growth to accelerate – IMF
For oil exporters, government expenditures have risen to such a degree that substantial declines in the price of oil could undermine fiscal positionsOctober 9, 2012 8:54
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Drake & Scull said on Monday that its shareholders had approved issuing a convertible bond worth 55 million dirhams.
Etihad Airways confirms that it is not in talks with Malaysia Airlines about the possibility of an equity investment in the carrier.
Oil prices are at a suitable level for OPEC members and the group sees no shortage in supply, says UAE Energy Minister.
Israel's parliament has given initial approval to a law to enable the force-feeding of Palestinian prisoners on a hunger strike.
Turkey is investigating 28 truck drivers ferrying diesel to the Iraqi city of Mosul have been abducted by militants.
At least 27 people including 10 militants were killed at an attack on Karachi Jinnah Airport on June 8.
Israel announced on Thursday it would build 1,500 more settler homes in response to the formation of a Palestinian unity government.
Saudi MERS deaths rise to 282 from 190, cases from 688 from 575.
Kuwait's oil minister said his country was looking to sign an agreement with Iran to secure natural gas supplies.
The CID of the UAE has launched an aggressive campaign to track down illegal satellite service providers.
For oil exporters, government expenditures have risen to such a degree that substantial declines in the price of oil could undermine fiscal positionsOctober 9, 2012 8:54
The situation for independent journalists is Iran is worsening by the day, says CPJ Deputy Director Rob Mahoney.October 4, 2012 3:47
Iran maintains one of the world's largest Internet filters, blocking access to tens of thousands of websites on the grounds that they are criminal or immoral.October 3, 2012 5:49
The latest easing of restrictions also mean traders taking part in the central bank's dollar auctions will no longer be subject to money transfer quotas.October 3, 2012 9:08


text:
The Media Center universe has been thrown a curve ball lately and not all users are dealing with it well. Microsoft has finally revealed the details of how Media Center fits into Windows 8 and love it or hate it, at least it will be there. Before getting to the details however, a bit of Windows 8 SKU talk is needed.
Microsoft has decided to only release three versions of the world's leading OS when it comes to Windows 8. This breaks with tradition which has had the company releasing five or more different versions of their software. They've decided to simplify the Windows 8 deployment with just three:
- Windows 8: This will be your standard Windows version that most people will use.
- Windows 8 Pro: This version is considered by MS to be for tech enthusiasts and business environment users. It adds encryption, virtualization, domain connectivity and other, more technical features.
- Windows RT: This version isn't something you'll purchase at a store but is the version of Windows 8 that will be pre-installed on PCs and tablets powered by ARM processors.
This structure greatly simplifies the Windows offerings when compared to both Vista and Windows 7. Consumers will more easily determine which version they need for their use at home.
So how does Media Center fit into this? Quite simply, for the first time since Windows XP, Media Center will only be available in one SKU. On top of that, it will be part of a paid media add-on. In order to use Media Center in Windows 8 (MC8) you'll need to have Windows 8 Pro installed on your HTPC. The media add-on pack will not be available for the standard version of Windows 8.
So yes, Media Center in Windows 8 is going to cost you more. Not only will you need to upgrade to the Pro version of the OS, but you'll need to purchase the add-on pack as well. Many enthusiasts are seeing this as a negative turn for our favorite HTPC software. We've been using Media Center for free since it was first introduced in Windows XP Media Center Edition and I have no doubt that there will those people who will refuse to pay for the software especially when you consider that so far, MC8 looks as though it won't add any new features over Windows 7's version.
That said, this is something that I, (and others) have been asking for when it comes to our favorite HTPC software. By making Media Center a paid add-on, it may in fact cut back on the number of users however, Microsoft will be unable to ignore bugs and other issues that exist in the software. At least that's the hope. With Media Center as a value added bonus included in the OS, fixes over the years have been slow to emerge and some have never been addressed. This can be typical of most free software. Things begin to change once you start charging for the same software however. Now customers expect that you'll manage, update and fix any issues that might arise.
Now, whether or not this actually happens has yet to be seen. Microsoft may continue to ignore some of the smaller bugs contained in Media Center whether or not people pay for it. I do believe that they'll find it hard to do so however.
It's at this point uncertain what else will be contained in the "media pack" add-on for Windows 8. From what we've read so far, it seems as though Media Center is only one part of it though it's hard to tell what else the company might include. Perhaps buyers will receive other software that will enhance their HTPC experience but only time will tell.
In the end, users have a relatively simple choice to make when it comes to MC8. They can either upgrade by purchasing a Windows 8 Pro license and the add-on media pack, or they can continue to use Windows Media Center 7 which of course won't magically stop working when Windows 8 is released. Either way, you'll still be using the best HTPC software available.


text:
The Three Scariest Words in the English Language: "President Sarah Palin"
Holy God, I just found the most terrifying piece of speculative reporting from Politics Daily's Bob Franken. Just do me a favor and read the first paragraph…
It is noon, Jan. 20, 2013. Sarah Palin raises her right hand to be sworn in as the 45th president of the United States.
Did you have a physiological reaction to that string of words? Keep reading; it gets worse…
Palin had won a decisive victory over the incumbent, Barack Obama. The country was still trapped in economic rubble, and voters had tired of Obama's campaign slogan, "I Inherited This."…
After years as co-host of "The Jerry Springer Show," Sarah Palin had returned to the fray and run an unstoppable campaign… Palin convinced Newt Gingrich to join her on the ticket as vice president by promising he'd really be in charge of the administration — similar to the arrangement between Dick Cheney and George W. Bush.
This is where I stopped reading the article. I know it's stupid, but I couldn't make myself go on. It's like those Saw movies that I never have and never will see. I just can't justify subjecting myself to torture porn.
And, the scariest thing about it is that it technically can happen.
Tags: Barack Obama, Newt Gingrich, Sarah Palin
About Us
Comedy Central's Indecision is the network's digital hub for news, politics and other jokes: we're here, we're everywhere. We're not affiliated with any television show. We're affiliated with ourselves.


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Important: Don't Let Your Wireless Provider Spy On You
With the widespread popularity of smartphones, everyone is walking around with a computer in their pocket. Which is awesome. What is NOT cool is that due to flaws in the laws regarding what wireless phone provider (WPP) companies are allowed to do, your WPP company is legally allowed to spy on you and collect info on EVERY single thing you do on your phone. What's worse is that the companies will automatically opt you in to agree to be tracked and spied on, and it's your responsibility to first of all realize that you're being spied on and tracked, and second of all it's your responsibility to opt out of it.
At this point some you might be saying "Well, I don't do anything bad or illegal so who cares if they spy on me and track me?" First of all, you cannot predict everything that will be done with your phone. Perhaps in the future you'll use it for something personal, private, or embarrassing. Or perhaps someone borrows your phone to make a call and also uses it to do something unsavory that you're not even aware of. The point is you just can't predict the future so it's not a good idea to give them free license to spy on your personal habits. Second, you may be saying "Even if they have that info, they're just using it for marketing purposes, it's not like anything bad will happen with it." Wrong. The companies are allowed to use that info for whatever purpose they want, including selling it to third parties. Additionally, the law states that if the government asks them for the info for ANY reason, they must turn it over to them. "But I don't break the law!" Oh really? Did you know that the average person breaks the law at least once per day without even realizing it? Yup, it's true, check it out: Mr Average breaks the law at least once a day
Now don't worry, we don't need to start wearing tin-foil hats and living in the wilderness. I'm going to show you how to opt out of being tracked in under two minutes, and then you don't have to worry about it anymore and you can continue to use your smartphone without being tracked.
Each company has a slightly different process, but they all involve logging into the companies website, finding the proper page, and selecting to opt out of being tracked. I happen to currently have Verizon, so this is what the page looks like for me (I blacked out my phone number for obvious reasons):
People are stupid for wanting sequential downloading of BitTorrent files? Then fix it, Einstein.
This is a very contentious topic and I welcome and encourage discussion, but let's keep it civil. The title of this article merely highlights the contentious nature of the topic.
There is a wiki-style page explaining why sequential downloading of BitTorrent files is bad. If you don't understand it, go research it until you do, then come back here.
Let me preface by saying that I think BitTorrent (BT) technology is amazing and I have much respect for all those who helped it be created and maintained. I am not kicking the proverbial gift-horse in the mouth. I'm thankful for what I've got. I understand the issue of sequential downloading and how it is detrimental to the whole BT concept. Which is why I understand the heated discussion between people requesting the feature and people explaining why the feature is bad. I am not rehashing that debate.
What I want to do is try and intelligently think about the issue and discuss it, and to do so requires a paradigm-shift by those in the discussion. Think about the progression and proliferation of technology. Think about the concepts of supply and demand. Nobody disputes that zillions of BT users want sequential downloading (zillion = a lot). That means there is a huge demand for it. They might not understand BT technology enough to know why sequential downloading (herein referred do as SD) is bad for BT. But it's easy to understand why there is a demand for it. If we take a broader look at the history of technological progression, almost always we see that when there is a huge demand for something but our technology is unable to supply that demand, there is great incentive to innovate and improve our technology to meet that demand.
And so my call to action is this: people may be stupid for wanting SD for BT. But the huge demand for it exists for a reason. Rather than telling people to "not want SD", instead innovate and create to solve the problem. It may be that some innovation in BT technology solves the problem. Or it may be that BT will never be capable of successfully incorporating SD, in which case a new technology is needed. No doubt this problem will be eventually solved. But ignoring a demand does not make it go away. Neither does saying "there shouldn't BE a demand." The demand is there, and it must, and will, be supplied. You can argue about it until you're blue in the face, but that's the simple fact of the matter. It's not easy to solve the problem, and I have much respect for the brilliant minds behind the technology. But pretending or insisting that a problem does not exist is not a solution to that problem. The problem remains. And hopefully soon, a solution will follow.
Fun with the new Droid Bionic
I was a devoted BlackBerry user and the Droid Bionic converted me. That says a lot right there.
First of all, I am not paid to give praise to this device nor the carrier. I am
just a customer who is so happy with my new gadget that I feel like a
kid on Christmas and I wanted to share my experience with others.
When I decided to try out the Bionic, I knew I could return it within two weeks if I didn't like it, so I had two weeks to decide if I wanted to keep the Bionic or return it and get a different phone.
There were many things I was worried about:
-I was worried that without a physical keyboard, I would not be able to type well on the touch screen keyboard.
-I was worried that with the new OS, I wouldn't be able to configure and tweak everything to get it working exactly the way I like it.
-I was worried about it being too big to easily fit into my pocket.
-I was worried that the battery wouldn't last me through the day.
-And I was worried that the 4G LTE (which is one of the Bionic's selling points) would not be available in my area.
Every single worry that I had was blown away and I am 100% satisfied with my Droid Bionic. I could not be happier with my purchase:
-The touchscreen keyboard provides a tactile response with both vibration and sound which made it much easier for me to learn how to type on a touchscreen keyboard (if you don't like the vibration and sound, you can turn them off). Within four days I was already proficient with the touchscreen keyboard.
-Android has matured a great deal since I last tried an Android phone (about two years ago) and now the settings have all the options I desire so I can configure and customize the phone to my exacting standards (some might call them obsessively exacting standards but that's just the way I am).
-The Bionic is bigger than my previous BlackBerry, but when I slid the Bionic into my pocket (no "That's what she said" jokes), it fit perfectly and I have so far never had a problem with the Bionic being too bulky in my pocket; I don't even notice that it's there.
-Regarding battery usage: these days, every single smartphone on the market that has a large high resolution display and 4G data capability is going to have to contend with massive energy consumption, there's just no way around it with current battery technology. So when I compared the Droid Bionic to several of my friends' smartphones (Android, iPhone, and even Windows Phone 7), the Bionic was slightly better. They were all very close and I think it comes down to how you use your phone. There are many battery-saving settings on the Bionic that you can customize till your heart's content. So the bottom line is that considering what the Bionic is, it does not hog battery, and in fact with the right settings it can make the battery last for a very long time.
-I've tried all three of the US's major carriers in the following order: AT&T, Sprint, and Verizon. Granted, different phones will produce different results, but when I got my Bionic on Verizon, I was blown away by the speed. It might have also been the Bionic's hardware, but whenever I was in range of 4G LTE, the speed was blazing fast: better than any other in my experience. However, when I was with Sprint, the ONLY time I was in range of their 4G network was when I was at the airport, and that was for about 10 minutes. With my Bionic on Verizon's 4G LTE, I was pleasantly surprised to be in range almost everywhere, including where I live which is a notorious "Dead Zone" for cell phone reception. (P.S. Of course I use the Bionic's WiFi whenever possible because that's just common sense).
I'm in love with my phone (I think I'll marry it). But I feel obliged to find something wrong with it. However, this may be just me being too stupid to figure it out, but
I can't find a way to make a homescreen shortcut that toggles the "Data enabled" on/off. I've been able to do it with wifi, but I can't figure it out for data. It may be a shortcoming of the phone, or it may be I just haven't figured it out. UPDATE: I found a free and simple app in the Android market that allows me to add a widget to my home screen to toggle the data on/off. It's called "Data Enabler". If it's the latter and anyone out there wants to enlighten me, please do so, and remember, "A Lannister always pays his debts." P.S. Let's assume I'm a Lannister.
Operation: Teach Myself Guitar
I love video games. Who doesn't, right? Well, some people, but they're not technically human anyways.
I recently purchased the Squier Stratocaster by Fender that acts as a controller for Rock Band 3. This is the world's first real guitar/game controller. Unlike the previous plastic Rock Band/Guitar Hero guitars, this thing is an actual factual guitar that you can plug into an amp with and jam, as well as use as a game controller for Rock Band 3. The guitar has sensors built into the frets that sense where your fingers are pressing down, as well as which strings you are strumming with your strumming hand.
The reason I spent my hard earned cash on this art and science amalgam is that I wanted to teach myself guitar. I correctly assumed that I would be able to use the fact that I love video games to trick my brain into learning a difficult task. Rock Band 3 has so called Pro Guitar Tutorial mode which slowly weans you onto the instrument with increasingly difficult fingering exercises (hold the sex jokes, I'm not talking about summer camp). These exercises are made, like all good video games, to provide the perfect level of challenge and reward so you gradually improve your skill without becoming overly frustrated.
The ultimate goal is to be able to play the songs in the game on expert mode, which is exactly what one would play in order to play the real guitar part in that song! Pretty sweet! I've only been playing for a few weeks now, but I am already able to play most of the basic chords and I'm learning some advanced ones as well.
It has previously been discussed on this blog how video games can be used as a tool to teach us new things. This is just one example of how such an idea can be pulled off so well.
Educational deficiencies
Many people these days are aware of problems with schools. It's an extremely complex issue with no easy answer. So I'm not proposing anything or trying to make any kind of grand sweeping generalization, or claiming I know how to fix the problems. But I want to share with you a personal example of a deficiency in my education (through no fault of my own).
I always paid attention in history class (or at the very least read all the assigned reading and did all the assigned work). So while I may not be a history whiz, I should at least know some of the basics, right?
Today I was on wikipedia reading about the Industrial Revolution. I've heard the term before, but we never covered it in school. Someone may have mentioned it in passing, but I really knew nothing about it until I started reading about it today. In the opening paragraph, it states "Economic historians are in agreement that the onset of the Industrial Revolution is the most important event in the history of humanity since the domestication of animals and plants."
As I learned more about the Industrial Revolution, I began to see that this statement about the importance of the Industrial Revolution is not an exaggeration. Every single one of us lives the way we do because of what happened during the Industrial Revolution. I learned about economic growth. Mechanization. Worker exploitation. Labor unions. Collective bargaining. These things are huge. They matter, in a very direct and real sense. I've only skimmed the surface but now I at least have a foundation of knowledge about that subject. So many things in our every day lives are a direct result of global changes that took place during the Industrial Revolution, and having now learned the basics of it, I have a much better understanding of the world.
So what's my point? Well, we've already talked about how we're autodidacts. I just want to continue the conversation. There is so much to learn out there about the universe we live in. The more you learn, the more pieces of the jigsaw puzzle that comprises our reality fit into place. Let your curiosity guide you. And know that there's always so much more to be learned. You just have to teach it to yourself. It's empowering.
EDIT 2011-10-16: The following videos about the future of education and how it can be changed for the better are both inspiring and jarring:
Both videos are TED talks regarding the current state of and the future of the educational system. In the first video, Salman Kahn (of Kahn Academy fame) talks about how he has begun working with schools to revolutionize teaching. The second video, which is a bit more bleak, has Bill Gates (of Microsoft fame) talking about the consequences of the budget cuts to education as well as the possibilities for fixing the problems.
Free yourself from your computer. For free.
I'm going to teach you to be like me. Now you are asking yourself, "Why would I want that?" I'll tell you.
If you're like me, you use a computer regularly. Very regularly. Like maybe bordering on too much. Perhaps you use multiple computers, such as at home and at work. And if you're like me, your digital data is vastly important to you: without access to all your emails, documents, photos, website bookmarks, etc., you would be screwed and your life would be hugely inconvenienced, to put it mildly.
But unlike most of you, my computer has no importance to me. If my computer were to suddenly get destroyed, stolen, etc., I would not fret one little bit. And it's not because I'm rich, because I am most definitely not rich. So why would the loss of my computer not bother me? I'll tell you, but first I'm going to demonstrate something else:
If I am traveling around in my day to day life or even if I'm traveling to some place afar, I never have to think to myself, "Did I remember to bring with me my [fill in the blank]?" Why not? For the same reason I wouldn't sweat the loss of my laptop. I have freed myself from my computer. What does that mean? I'll feed ya, baby bird: What that means is that even though I am constantly on any given computer, that particular computer is just an interface between me and my digital data. No matter where I go, no matter what computer I'm using, my data and I are connected in the same way. That's because my data is cloud distributed. Cloud distribution is the key to my success, and I'll explain exactly what that means. Cloud distribution means my data is distributed in many locations, and they're all in sync. However, that doesn't mean my data is ONLY in the cloud (this is a very important distinction). My data is also on any computer I use, so if I'm cut off from the cloud, it doesn't matter; I still have access to all my data, and I can make changes to my data while offline. As soon as that computer regains its connection to the cloud, my data changes are saved to the cloud and to all my other devices, just as if nothing unusual had ever happened.
Here's how I did it, and it didn't cost me a penny:
Before we get started, you're going to have to make a realization. You need to realize that some of your data is unique and/or self-generated (like documents you wrote, photos you've taken, bookmarked websites, emails, etc.). This data will be referred to as your valuable data. The rest consists of stuff that is easily searched for and gotten from the web, like maybe programs or downloaded movies. This will be referred to as your non-essential data. The reason for making these two categories has to do with storage space and bandwidth. Ok, ready? Here we go:
Step 1. Dropbox.
Dropbox is absolutely key to my success. Dropbox is an application/service that offers file synchronization. You can sign up for a free account at dropbox.com. A free account comes with 2GB of space. However, you can increase that to a maximum of 1̶0̶G̶B̶ 19GB(Update 2011-04-26: Dropbox increased the maximum capacity of free accounts to 19GB) by referring other people and doing various other things on the dropbox website. I maxed mine out, and that is important because for my purposes (and probably your purposes too), 2GB is not going to be enough but 19GB will be. Once you sign up and have your 2GB account, you get an additional 250MB (that's .25GB or 1/4 a GB) anytime someone clicks your referral link, creates a Dropbox account, and installs the Dropbox software on their computer (Update 2011-04-26: Dropbox now gives double the referral space (500MB or .5GB or 1/2 a GB) if you prove to the Dropbox website that you have an educational email address, which is an email address that ends in .edu). And they (Dropbox) have a way of knowing whether a computer has already been used for this purpose, so you have to do it on a new computer each time. So spread Dropbox to all your friends and family and make sure they use your referral link so that you get credit and get the extra storage space. There are ways to take advantage of this that some people do such as going into a computer lab or similar place and using each computer to give themselves a referral, or using a virtual machine software on their own computer to get the referrals. I am not condoning those practices, I am just being realistic and telling you that there are some people who do that. Note that Dropbox also has premium accounts that give you much more space for a monthly or yearly price. But for the purposes of this tutorial, I'm keeping my promise that everything is free, so we'll assume you're going with the free account.
So, you've created your Dropbox account, maxed out your storage space to 19GB, and installed Dropbox on all your devices (computers, laptops, smartphones, tablet devices, etc.). (Note to certain people: you might not be aware of the fact that an iPhone is a smartphone and an iPad is a tablet device. There are many different brands available; Apple is just one of them).
When you install Dropbox on your device, it gives you the option to put the Dropbox folder anywhere. I recommend putting it in your user folder. For example on Windows 7 point it to C:>Users>username. On a Mac this would be in harddrive>Users>username. On Windows XP it would be C:\Documents and Settings\username. They have it for Linux too but I haven't used it so I can't comment on the specifics of a Linux installation.
Now, in your Dropbox folder (which is called either "Dropbox" or "My Dropbox"), you're going to create a folder called Documents or Docs or whatever. Put all your documents in that folder. Next, you'll notice that in your Dropbox folder there's a folder called "Photos". Put all your photos in that folder. Now this next part is up to you: you create whatever folders you need to inside your Dropbox folder and put whatever files you consider to be valuable data into your Dropbox folder and its respective sub-folders. You may organize everything in your Dropbox folder any way you want, with one caveat: when you first install Dropbox and look inside your Dropbox folder, there will be a certain 2 folders in there, one called "Photos" and one called "Public". DO NOT delete either of those folders. I'll explain why later.
Once your valuable data is in the Dropbox folder and you have an active internet connection, the files inside your Dropbox folder will automatically be synced to any devices you've installed Dropbox on, as well as to your online account. This means that you can access your data from any of your devices, with or without internet connection. But what if you find yourself using someone else's device? No problem. You simply go to dropbox.com, sign in, and you have access to all your files. Dropbox is also useful for sharing files. Inside your Dropbox folder is a folder called "Public". Any file that you put in this Public folder you can share by right-clicking (or ctrl-clicking), selecting "Dropbox", then click "Copy public link". Now you can paste this link in an email or wherever, and people will be able to click that link and get that file.
Step 2. Gmail / Google Apps.
If you already have a Gmail account, good. If not, then create one (it's free). I don't care if you don't want to switch to Gmail. You have to or you're making a poor life decision and you'll get left in the digital dust. Ok, so you've got your Gmail account. Note that you now have all the other Google apps like Docs, Spreadsheets, etc. and anything that you could do in the past in Microsoft Word or Excel or whatever, now you can do it all using all the various Google tools. Now you're no longer dependent on a computer having the right software installed on it because you'll always have access to your Google tools. But what about if you lose internet connectivity? That won't be a problem once you do enable offline access to your Google stuff. I'll explain how to do it but in the future the steps might change as Google changes its interface. If that's the case, you can easily find instructions by searching Google. But anyway, at the time of this writing, the steps are as follows: Sign in to your Gmail account at gmail.com, then click on settings (in the upper right-hand corner), click "Offline", select "Enable Offline…", then scroll down and click "Save". It will ask you if you want a link to offline mail on your desktop, start menu, and quick launch. I recommend selecting at least one of those so you can click it when you need to. Now your email is mobile (web-based) but ALSO saved on your computer in case you lose internet connectivity. Any changes made while offline will be automatically synced once internet connectivity has been reestablished. Now, on your smartphone and/or tablet device, download and install Google Sync and set it up by logging in with your gmail address and password. Select calendar and contacts, and set it to automatic. Now your contacts and calendar automatically & wirelessly synced across your phone and any computer. If you were to have your phone lost/stolen/broken, no need to worry about your contacts and calendar, because it's still all in your gmail account. Just replace your phone, install Google Sync again, and voila! All your contacts and calendar data will be in your new phone.
BONUS: For only $9/year, you can have all the benefits of a Gmail account and also have a custom domain name for your email address. For example, instead of firstname.lastname@example.com you would have email@example.com, where "mydomain" would be replaced by whatever you want. You can find a good article on this topic at Lifehacker located here: http://www.lifehacker.com.au/2010/12/why-you-should-use-google-apps-with-your-personal-domain-for-your-google-life/
Step 3. Xmarks.
Simply put, Xmarks synchronizes your website bookmarks across multiple computers and browsers. It also gives you access to your bookmarks from any device that can go on websites.
Before we go any further, it should go without saying at this time that you should be using either (or both) of the two best browsers: Mozilla Firefox and Google Chrome. If you have any questions about this issue, you may find it helpful to listen to the ThoseOnBoard Podcast #0.2 – Choosing The Best Web Browser.
So now that we've established that you're using either Firefox or Chrome for your web browser, go to Xmarks.com, create a free account, then install the Xmarks extension (the site has instructions on this, it's very simple. Xmarks is completely free, however if you want they have a premium service that you pay for and get added perks. Just check their site if you're interested. Now, on your smartphone/tablet device, install and setup Xmarks as well.
Voila! You are now liberated from your computer. All your valuable digital data is backed up, synchronized, and readily available from any device.
Ok, so I lied a little bit when I said that I wouldn't mind a bit if my computer were destroyed/stolen/etc. Of course I would be angry because I'd have to buy a new one and like I said before, I'm not rich. But I would be comforted by the fact that all my precious data isn't gone forever. And ain't that somethin'?
Can Humans survive on other worlds?
Humans inhabit almost every corner of our planet. Since the space age began, we've gone beyond our planet, traveled in space, and set foot on the moon. It seems inevitable that sometime in the future, humans will be colonizing places other than Earth and living in those places. What challenges face those future colonists?
As a guy who studied Economics in college, I have no "formal" training in Astronomy; I'm an amateur astronomer. However, I'm a fan of science fiction and of science fact. So my curiosity led me to research the issue and I wanted to share what I learned in hopes that other non-scientists interested in this topic might get something out of it. I hope you find it as fascinating and exciting as I did.
We will look at whether or not humans could live places other than the Earth, and we'll review everything that must be considered for humans to live in those locations.
First, we'll take a look at what an environment needs for it to be habitable by humans. Then we'll discuss how humans could possibly solve the challenges that we are sure to face; challenges that arise from a lack of vital environmental properties that we take for granted here on Earth. We'll focus on two scenarios: living in space in some type of space station / habitat (which I will refer to as a habitat from here on), and living on the planet Mars. A space habitat and Mars are the two most plausible scenarios. A space habitat is clearly possible because we've already created several such as the Mir Space Station and the International Space Station (ISS). We would simply need to apply our resources and manpower to create a space station that people could inhabit for longer periods of time. Among planets, Mars is the most likely planet in our solar system for human colonization for several reasons: Mars is a terrestrial planet, meaning it is made of solid material that we can land on. By contrast, the gas giant planets are made entirely of gas and there is nothing solid to set foot on. The other terrestrial planets, Mercury and Venus, are much too hot for humans to survive. Conversely, Mars has much more hospitable conditions, more comparable to Earth. Additionally, there are several moons in our solar system (including Earth's own moon) that could be potential sites for human habitation. For simplicity, we will only discuss Mars, although much of what is true about Mars could apply to some of those moons as well.
So what exactly does a human-friendly environment need?
The things that must be considered are:
- Gravity
- Atmospheric pressure
- Temperature
- Radiation
- Breathable atmosphere
- Sunlight
- Water Source
- Food
Humans must live in a place that has a significant amount of gravitational pull. Without enough gravity, the bones in the human body start to lose mass and become brittle. In space where there is zero gravity, this is a serious health concern that results in crippling and death. The earth's gravity has a pull of what is referred to as 1 G. At the time of this writing, the minimum amount of gravity needed to remain healthy is unknown. However, the closer you get to 1 G (Earth's gravity), the less likely the body will lose bone mass.
However, gravity can't be too strong or it will crush the human body. It is unknown exactly how much gravitational force a human body can withstand for an extended period of time without negative health effects. Again, the closer it is to 1 G, the less likely the body will be damaged.
Creating artificial gravity in space is simple in concept. All one needs is a circular habitat of the right size which spins. Think of an ant standing on the inside of a bicycle wheel. By keeping the habitat spinning at the correct speed, you could simulate the force of gravity pulling at 1 G, and thereby eliminate the problems caused by weightlessness.
On Mars, things are not so simple. Mars is about half the size of Earth and its gravity is less than half the gravity of Earth's. There's not much one can do to change a planet's gravity. The only question is: would living in Mars' gravity cause the same bone deterioration that we know arises from living in zero gravity? The answer to that will not be known until humans have actually tried living in that low gravity situation for a long duration.
Atmospheric pressure
On Earth, the air that surrounds us presses against our bodies with a force of about 15 pounds per square inch. We don't feel this load and it poses no problem for our bodies because we evolved under these conditions and our cells push back against the air with their own force. We are unaware of any pressure at all. One can feel a difference in pressure when you dive deep under water; the pressure outside your body is greater than the pressure inside and you feel an overall compression on your lungs, eardrums, and body as a whole. The opposite of that is when you are at a high altitude on a mountain or in an airplane and you feel your eardrums pop due to the air pressure outside your body being less than the pressure inside.
However, when we leave Earth, we encounter environments of different pressures. If the pressure outside of our bodies is too low, our internal pressure has nothing to balance it out. This results in great damage to the body because the pressure in cells and tissue will push to the point of bursting. Imagine taking a really powerful vacuum cleaner and pushing it against your skin. It will painfully damage the area and leave a bruise because the blood vessels burst. In a low pressure environment like outer space, the entire body would be subjected to this but on a much more powerful and more dangerous scale.
If the pressure is too great then the body will be crushed. An example of this can be seen with water pressure: if a human were to go too deep underwater, they would literally be crushed to death by the huge amount of force exerted on their body.
Like gravity, it is unknown exactly how much or how little pressure humans can endure for extended periods of time. However common sense dictates that the closer it is to our pressure here on Earth, the less harmful it will be.
In space, there is no atmosphere to exert pressure so the pressure is zero. On Mars, the pressure is less than 1% the pressure on Earth. In the case of either space or Mars, the pressure is too low for humans to survive. In space, a person would have to be in a pressurized enclosure or a pressurized suit. The same thing is necessary on Mars. However, it is hypothesized that maybe in the future we will be able to terraform Mars. Terraforming is a hypothetical process of making a world hospitable to humans by transforming its natural environment. One proposed method would be to create atmospheric pressure on Mars by adding huge amounts of gas to the atmosphere. At this time we have no way of accomplishing such a feat.
Most people are familiar with the effects of extreme temperatures. If a human body is too hot for too long of a time, it experiences hyperthermia resulting in eventual death. Likewise, if a body is too cold for too long of a time, it experiences hypothermia which also eventually results in death. The human body can only survive in a relatively narrow range of temperatures. The temperatures that we experience here on Earth vary greatly but are mild when compared with the freezing or burning temperatures found in other parts of the solar system. Venus, for example, is a scorching 894 °F (480 °C). Pluto on the other hand is a frigid -380 °F (-229 °C)
In space a person would have to be in an enclosure which could have its temperature regulated by common heating methods such as solar or electric heating. On Mars the temperature ranges from as low as -220 °F (-140 °C) to as high as 68 °F (20 °C). While this is certainly cold, Mars at its warmest can be relatively close to temperatures that can be found here on Earth. Assuming all other factors could be ignored, clothing to insulate the human body and keep it warm could be developed without too much complexity. Humans have plenty of experience protecting themselves from cold temperatures here on Earth.
The sun gives off a wide spectrum of radiation: from the visible light that allows us to see, to the infrared radiation that gives us heat, to the ultraviolet radiation responsible for sunburns and skin cancer. Many people are aware of the long-term dangers of exposure to too much sunlight (skin cancer). The part of the sun's rays that cause skin cancer is the ultraviolet (UV) radiation. But here on Earth, we only get a tiny fraction of the total radiation emitted from the sun. That is because we are protected by the earth's magnetic field and the atmosphere to a certain extent. The universe is filled with dangerous radiation that emanates not only from the sun but from everywhere in the cosmos. The earth has a giant magnetic field that deflects dangerous radiation from the sun and other parts of the universe. But a human that is not on Earth (e.g. in space) is not protected by Earth's magnetic field and is therefore exposed to high levels of this radiation, which can cause death from the radiation itself or can lead to long term consequences like cancer. Minimizing the exposure to this radiation can present a real challenge because it can pass through objects such as the walls of a spacecraft.
Radiation is a difficult problem to deal with because without protection from Earth's magnetic field, the radiation permeates just about every corner of our solar system. In space, the habitat would have to be lined with extra thick shielding of the right material which will add substantial mass to the habitat. This poses a problem because the more massive a spacecraft is, the more energy it takes to launch it, maneuver it, land it, etc.
Unfortunately for humans, Mars has no magnetic field like the Earth's that deflects harmful radiation. On Mars however, we could build thick-walled bunkers that shield against radiation. Similarly, we could burrow into Mars' surface and build underground habitats. A thick layer of Mars soil above the habitat would offer sufficient protection. Sadly, spending too much time outside these structures would result in absorbing dangerous amounts of radiation.
Breathable atmosphere
Humans need to breathe gas that contains a significant quantity of oxygen. The air we breathe here on Earth contains about 20% oxygen; the rest is mostly nitrogen which is an inert, non-reacting, non-toxic gas. Note that an atmosphere may exert the proper amount of pressure for humans but might consist of gases that are not breathable. In that case the oxygen must be supplied via other means, for example the breathing systems that firefighters use, or some other "scuba-esque" breathing device.
If humans are in an enclosure, it could obviously be filled with the appropriate mixture of gases (e.g. oxygen). We currently have the technology to turn water into breathable oxygen via a process called electrolysis where electricity is used to split water molecules into hydrogen gas and oxygen gas. The oxygen can then be used to breathe. . We also have the technology to remove carbon dioxide from the air. Both of these examples of technology are currently used in the ISS (the International Space Station). Outside an enclosure, a simple breathing device could suffice. For example, if all other factors were hospitable to humans such as a comfortable temperate and pressure, but the atmosphere contained gases that were not breathable, simply using a scuba-like breathing device would allow a person to survive.
The degree to how necessary sunlight is for humans is not as clear cut as the previous factors. Humans can live without sunlight, but some evidence has emerged showing the detrimental effects of lack of sunlight such as problems with mental health. Sunlight can also be used to grow food and sunlight provides a source of power by using solar panels.
Again, it is possible for humans to survive without sunlight and in certain instances they might have to such as if they were living underground on Mars. In a situation such as that, artificial lighting that mimics sunlight could be used in the same way it's used for conditions such as Seasonal Affective Disorder, a type of depression that is thought to result from a lack of sunlight and is more prevalent in areas that get less sun during part of the year such as Alaska. Additionally, we have the ability to use artificial lighting to grow crops indoors and we could do so in the absence of sunlight. Sunlight will usually be available to power solar panels, but in some instances it might be necessary to have a nuclear reactor to provide power in addition to or in place of solar power. Nuclear reactors are very efficient sources of energy that require only a tiny amount of fuel to provide large amounts of power for a long period of time. In a space habitat this would add a huge amount of mass since nuclear reactors are heavy. That would not pose a problem on Mars.
Water is crucial. It is needed for human consumption, bathing, watering any crops that might be present, consumption by any animals that might be present, and it is used to cool nuclear reactors. Water is also needed to create breathable oxygen. But water is heavy and therefore requires a lot of fuel to transport it in space, so it is crucial to carefully utilize every drop.
Water reclamation and purification technology currently in use aboard the ISS allows most water to be reused. However, the tiny amount of water lost adds up over time and a space habitat would have to eventually be resupplied with water from an external source. This poses a problem if the habitat is far away. On Mars, that resupply could come from mining the frozen water ice and melting it to create liquid water.
An obvious but important requirement is food. Humans in space or on Mars will need enough food to eat to be able to survive for a long time. Animal and plant sources of food would have to be obtained in new and innovative ways.
The primary method for providing food would have to be growing crops. This could be accomplished via direct sunlight or with artificial growing lights. The environment would need to be set up to allow plants to grow, including the proper pressure, temperature, and nutrient requirements. In addition, low maintenance animals such as fish could be cultivated for food.
Humans are relatively fragile creatures that can only survive in a narrow range of conditions. Conversely, humans are remarkably adaptable and our technology grows at a phenomenal rate. The challenges of living in places other than Earth are significant but there are some current solutions to these hurdles and other solutions that will become more viable in the future. At this point, humankind has the ability to live in space and on other worlds such as Mars, albeit in a rather enclosed space. Whether we currently have the resources to implement these ideas is another question. However, none of these obstacles seem completely insurmountable and it's only a matter of time before humans can call another world "home."
"Who is your Daddy and What does he do?"
If my illegitimate child were posed this question he would be at a loss for words. And that's assuming he speaks English! All bastards aside, I would like to take a minute to try to articulate my current career, irrespective of how unenamored I may be of it at the moment and how balls the job market is from a hire-ee's perspective. Specifically, I would like to define what domain I studied to attain my Scientiæ Baccalaureus, what field I am applying to jobs in, and how I, the individual person, might fit into that greater picture. If I have the chance, I will even try to answer life's deeper mysteries:
- Why don't penguins feet freeze?
- Why does grilled cheese go stringy?
OK, so how the hell do those underlined words relate? Time to talk to our boy, Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi (check him out at TED). And by the way, dude, have you really been using that thing to fill in forms your whole life? I do not even think I could do write that last name in cursive if you held a Avtomat Kalashnikov 47 to my head (to clarify, his name is actually Hungarian which is in the Uralic family which makes it closer Finnish and Estonian than the Russian of the AK-47 but they both look the same kinda crazy to me). From his book, Creativity:
p.27-28 The first question I ask of creativity is not what is it but where is it?
The answer that makes most sense is that creativity can be observed only in the interrelations of a system made up of three main parts. The first of these is the domain, which consists of a set of symbolic rules and procedures… The second component of creativity is the field, which includes all the individuals who act as gatekeepers to the domain. It is their job to decide whether a new idea or product should be included in the domain… Finally, the third component of the creative system is the individual person. Creativity occurs when a person, using the symbols of a given domain… has a new idea or sees a new pattern, and when this novelty is selected by the appropriate field for inclusion into the relevant domain… So the definition that follows from this perspective is: Creativity is any act, idea, or product that changes an existing domain, or that transforms an existing domain into a new one. And the definition of a creative person is: someone whose thoughts or actions change a domain, or establish a new domain. It is important to remember, however, that a domain cannot be changed without the explicit or implicit consent of a field responsible for it.
Djeah boi!! So the domain is the content (the cultural space to be altered) of a particular field and the field is the discipline or the branch of knowledge which includes the people who have it. Okay so how does this relate to anything? While this excerpt is fairly abstract I would like to think that the perspective of creativity is a good one to take, because if you are not creating, what are you doing? That is meant to be a rhetorical question, but "Having sex with chicks!" is an acceptable answer (gotwavs.com/0085412111/MP3S/Movies/Idiocracy/poundonthat.mp3).
Okay, so let us focus some. Shalln't we? I will try to define my domain but I'm not gonna lie, it's a little difficult to pin down…
My Bachelor's degree in Bioengineering, short for Biological Engineering, came from UCSD which has consistently ranked in the top 5 for such programs over the past 15 years, however, as far as the importance of rankings, I borrow from a post on collegeconfidential.com (member, s1185's) due to its author's frank message and organic context, "You go to college for the overall experience, since most of what you learn in class will be irrelevant for work, and your employers will pay little attention to US News Department rankings (as opposed to their unreferenced belief as to which is a better school) when hiring you."
Okay, so people care enough about it to rank it, to find out what it is, let us break it down into parts (from Princeton.edu):
- Biological: Pertaining to biology or to life and living things.
- Engineering: The discipline dealing with the art or science of applying scientific knowledge to practical problems.
So…putting it together, that means, Bioengineering is the discipline dealing with the art or science of applying scientific knowledge to practical problems in living things, or more simply, any type of engineering applied to living things. From a department webpage (University of Toledo):
Bioengineering is the application of the life sciences, physical sciences, mathematics and engineering principles to define and solve problems in biology, medicine, health care and other fields. Bioengineering is a relatively new discipline that combines many aspects of traditional engineering fields such as chemical, electrical and mechanical engineering.
The UCSD Bioengineering Department actually offers four tracks/majors for undergraduate students:
- Bioengineering: Biotechnology – Biotechnology deals with the implementation of biological knowledge in industrial processes. From Wikipedia: "Modern use of the term usually refers to genetic engineering as well as cell- and tissue culture technologies. However, the concept encompasses a wider range and history of procedures for modifying living things according to human purposes, going back to domestication of animals, cultivation of plants and "improvements" to these through breeding programs that employ artificial selection and hybridization." Sex with sheep?
- Bioengineering: Bioinformatics – Bioinformatics can be considered a branch of Biotechnology, it may be referred to as computational biology. This is a crazy domain that involves a lot of gnarly programming to apply information technology to the field of molecular biology. Sex with computers?
- Bioengineering – So we tried to define this one already. Also from Wikipedia: "By comparison to biotechnology [see above], bioengineering is generally thought of as a related field with its emphasis more on mechanical and higher systems approaches to interfacing with and exploiting living things." Sex with sex toys and robots?
- Bioengineering: Premedical – This is the one I was in. A lot of overlap with the Bioengineering track above, this track contains all the courses a medical school would hope to see taken by an applicant. From what I understand, the UCSD medical school adds something to an applicant's GPA for being in the Bioengineering department, something like .2 or .3 which is significant (too bad I do not plan to go to medical school). Sex with nurses?
To add to the confusion, some schools do not have Bioengineering but rather Biomedical Engineering. MORE CLARIFICATION! Wikipedia again:
Biological engineering (also biosystems engineering and bioengineering) is a broad-based engineering discipline that deals with bio-molecular and molecular processes, product design, sustainability and analysis of biological systems. Generally, bioengineering encompasses other engineering disciplines when they are applied to living organisms (e.g., prosthetics in mechanical engineering). Bioengineering is often synonymous with biomedical engineering, though in the strict sense the term can be applied more broadly to include food engineering and agricultural engineering. Biotechnology also falls under the purview of the broad umbrella of bioengineering.
So generally, biomedical engineering is the medical application of bioengineering, but the terms are often used interchangeably. Whew! So, I think I have done something to clarify domain and the fields within it. Here is a cursory glance at some of the applications:
- Agricultural Engineering-Harvesting genetically altered wheat with a combine.
- Aquaculture – Also known as aquafarming.
- Artificial Biospheres – Yes, even Pauly Shore helped out.
- Biosensors – Think a machine that reads your fingerprint.
- Bio-based material-Simply an engineering material derived from living matter
- Biomaterials – Natural or man-made that comprises whole or part of a living structure.
- Drug Delivery-Ask a junkie.
- Industrial Fermentation
- Industrial Enzymatic Reactions
- Life Support Systems-Like when Tom Hanks & Brian Boitano had to do the C02 filter modification.
- Metabolic Engineering-Often involved in producing beer, wine, cheese, pharmaceuticals.
- Production and Purification of Biopharmaceuticals
- Prosthesis
Do I know how to do all this stuff? The answer is unfortunately an emphatic, no. But I am not an entirely useless individual. No really! Let me explain. Back to our first definition of bioengineering: "any type of engineering applied to living things," we basically focused on Mechanical Engineering applied to the Human Organism. We studied math, chemistry, physics, physiology, basic programming, biomechanics, circuits, biochemistry, genetics, bioinstrumentation, statistics, biomaterials, yadda yadda yadda.
All of the above is good, but as Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi (copy and paste, I refuse to type that shit) said in his lecture at TED, it takes 10 years for someone to build up enough technical knowledge to change a domain. Likewise Dr. K. Anders Ericsson and Malcom Gladwell , both referenced in the most recent season (7) of Penn & Teller's Bullshit might tell you that the difference between genius and mediocrity is about 10,000 hours of practice. So basically what my degree earned me is the chance to enter a field such as medical devices as I have (to some extent) as well as pursue more degrees, in the hopes of reaching that 10 years of technical knowledge or 10,000 hours of practice even further down the line, garnering at least a pittance in the process.
All these topics interest me but I am not sure I want to spend 10,000 hours on medical devices. Excuse me. Where are my manners? I should say what a medical device is (from Wikipedia):
This is an extremely broad category — essentially covering all healthcare products that do not achieve their intended results through predominantly chemical (e.g., pharmaceuticals) or biological (e.g., vaccines) means, and do not involve metabolism.
A medical device is intended for use in:
- the diagnosis of disease or other conditions, or
- in the cure, mitigation, treatment, or prevention of disease,
Some examples include pacemakers, infusion pumps, the heart-lung machine, dialysis machines, artificial organs, implants, artificial limbs, corrective lenses, cochlear implants, ocular prosthetics, facial prosthetics, somato prosthetics, and dental implants.
This industry is highly regulated and very conservative (like Aerospace apparently) and is thus difficult to "break into." It is also said to be a smaller more incestuous group than one might expect and thus one is advised to "never burn a bridge in medical devices." A friend who works for a company that makes endoscopes told me that the best and brightest are in the medical device industry. I do not know how that claim could be supported but I am just giving you the word on the street. Unfortunately, the regulated and conservative nature that makes it so well "protected" from other job seekers would seem to make it less pleasant to work in. While computer engineers and programmers at Google sit in bean bags and take time for reflection and stretching, people in the medical device industry must cater to a series of auditors and make sure that they are always seen walking briskly and with purpose. Granted, I can only present my view from a very lowly position in a particularly bureaucratic office.
The industry has a development side (Research and Development, Product Development), a production side (Sustaining, Manufacturing, Growth), and an oversight side (Regulatory and Quality). It also needs Marketing and sales people to get the product out and Clinical Research to test the effectiveness and get things to market. Beyond that it has all the basic office and legal functions (Document Control, IT, Maintenance). What is true for me (some of which you may have gleamed from this blog) is that I like to understand how things work in the physical world, I like to create, and I like to stimulate peoples' minds in creative ways. The kind of position I am looking for as a next step, in this industry at least, is on the development side, to up my scientific knowledge, and I could see myself continuing in that fashion or moving over to Marketing because it affords the opportunity to coalesce the needs of physicians, the technology limitations of the developers and scientists, and the capability of production, all the while requiring a well spoken and intelligent presentation. Regulatory deals with government bodies, Quality tells people they need to do more tests to make sure they do not make bad product, and Sustaining/ Manufacturing keeps those assembly lines running and tries to find ways to standardize, improve, and cheapify the process.
So while I can see some opportunity for engagement and learning, it would seem that jumping into a job that sounds interesting without a higher degree, without lots of experience, without awards, without a big penis, takes a lot of schmoozing and "being professional" day in and day out which is not easy when you have a restless mind and are in an office setting. I will say, however, that being in a place long enough to get acquainted with the people there does make it seem less abrasive but at the same time you can get complacent and the only thing that really matters is if you win the respect of the gatekeepers. That is, those you would interview with, if you applied to a better job. I guess that does not matter too much because my company has all but killed its Research and Development department so I am looking elsewhere (still in Southern California).
I still say that educating people on a grand scale sounds like more fun. But hey! The teamwork skills and Medical Device, Bioengineering knowledge could still be applied to developing educational products (game) down the road! Right?! I hope so. I am keeping myself open to a form of creation that would reach a customer in the form of an audience rather than a patient, to aid in the process of discovery, because that is what I seem to enjoy the most.
Oh yeah, here it is. From "Why Don't Penguins' Feet Freeze? And 114 Other Questions:"
- "Two mechanisms are at work. First, the penguin can control the rate of blood flow to the feet by varying the diameter of arterial vessels supplying the blood. In cold conditions the flow is reduced, when it is warm the flow increases. Humans can do this too, which is why our hands and feet become white when we are cold and pink when warm. Control is very sophisticated and involves the hypothalamus and various nervous and hormonal systems. However, penguins also have 'counter-current heat exchangers' at the top of the legs. Arteries supplying warm blood to the feet break up into many small vessels that are closely allied to similar numbers of venous vessels bring cold blood back from the feet. Heat flows from the warm blood to the cold blood, so little of it is carried down the feet."
- "The uncooked cheese contains long-chain protein molecules more or less curled up in a fatty, watery mess. When you heat cheese, the fats and proteins melt and if you fiddle with the fluid, the chains can get dragged into strings."
Tools of Education
In an ongoing quest to continuously educate myself I find it paramount to take note of any new educational tools. The most accessible of these tools is undoubtedly the internet. Staying congruent with Jon's post regarding a union between education and videogames, I feel that that which is most engaging is most likely to stick in one's memory. Using the fantastic firefox add-on Stumble Upon I have come across so far two of what may possibly be hundreds of such websites that are capable of teaching via intriguing flash animations and short bursts of information that are easy to inculcate and process.
Physics concepts
Introduction to Biology
Hodge Podge of Science
If anyone else has anything to add to the list, feel free to post it in the comments.


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Oh, you better watch out this holiday season—and not just for Santa Claus.
State police at Butler and the Butler County District Attorney's DUI Task Force will be conducting sobriety checkpoints and roving patrols at various times and locations on Butler County's highways throughout the Thanksgiving period.
The patrols are being deployed to target aggressive driving violations and impaired drivers, according to state police.
Thanksgiving Eve, which falls this year on Wednesday, Nov. 21, traditionally is one of the biggest drinking days of the years—ranking right up there with New Year's Eve and St. Patrick's Day.
"It's kind of a cultural thing. It seems that's a big party night," said Jackson Township police Chief Terry Seilhamer, who added his department would have an extra DUI patrol on Wednesday as part of the task force. "I think the restaurants and tavern owners have catered to that to enhance their business."
Thanksgiving Eve also consistently ranks among the days with the highest alcohol-related traffic fatalities, according to Time Magazine.
As a reminder to all the lives lost to alcohol-related crashes, PennDOT also is teaming up with Mothers Against Drunk Driving and the Pennsylvania Driving Under the Influence Association to hold a tribute to DUI victims at 2 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 20 at the Sam's Club in Mt. Nebo.
The event also will feature the DUI Moving Memorial a 25-foot wall with more than 1,000 names of victims of DUI crashes on it.
What's Up with Thanksgiving Eve's Designation as a Big Drinking Night?
According to DrinkPhilly.com, bar owners in nearly every U.S. city say they expect a big sales bump on Thanksgiving Eve.
So why is it such a big drinking night? Here are some of the site's best guesses.
- Duh! Nearly all Americans have Thanksgiving off
- No one wants to entertain at home the night before hosting a big turkey meal.
- Everyone is home for the holidays and they want to see old friends
- A hearty Thanksgiving dinner (think lots of starches and rich, fatty foods) is a great cure for a hangover
Do you plan to go out on Thanksgiving Eve? Why do you think it's such a big drinking holiday? Are you worried about staying safe on the roads? Tell us in the comment section below.


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Come and See Us at CONEXPO-CON/AGG 2014
Belt Tech will be at CONEXPO-CON/AGG 2014. Stop by and see us at Booth 9186 Platinum Lot.
Welcome to Belt Tech Where 'We Service What We Sell'
For over 20 years Belt Tech Industrial has been recognized as the region experts in conveyor system sales and service. We have established an outstanding reputation for maintaining a large inventory of in stock conveyor belting and components to decrease costly 'down time'. We are experts in all facets of your conveyor system and can provide solutions to improve its productivity and performance.
Our service department is uparalleled in their commitment to quality and safety. Our factory trained technicians are MSHA and OSHA certified and are available 24 hours/7 days a week to handle your conveyor belt installation, splicing and vulcanizing needs. We provide pulley relagging, belt winding, component installation as well as any other conveyor maintenance you may need.
We are there when you need us!
Looking for Job Opportunities?
Click here to view our job opportunities page and fillout an employment application.


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Search for Courses
Las Vegas, Arizona, California, Florida, Hawaii, Chicago, Denver, DC, Oklahoma, Oregon, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, Wisconsin and more!
Pine Brook Golf Course
|Golf Pro: Dave Laudien
|Course Superintendent: Dave Miskin
|Manager: John Gubernet
|Although our info is typically correct, in some cases there will be mistakes. Should you spot any problems, please get ahold of us about it.
|Golf courses in Englishtown
|Englishtown Bars and Pubs
|Other cities with golf courses in New Jersey


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Narrow your search
Hewlett-Packard's plan to bolster its personal systems business is to gain share in the enterprise market -- a segment that's strong for Lenovo.
Researchers at the Naval Postgraduate School are trying to figure out how to develop a system that pits two huge teams of autonomous drones against each other. CNET Road Trip 2012 investigates.
In a decision that's been a decade and at least two major reversals in the making, the U.S. Air Force awards Boeing a $30 billion contract to build the new KC-46A.
A demo of an iPhone-controlled helicopter goes wrong as the drone smacks into a CES attendee's head.
Parrot AR.Drones battle it out, but end up fighting WiFi interference
Ace Patrol is a fun air combat game that will be loved by fans of turn-based strategy gaming, but will not appeal to everyone.
Pricing not available
Albert Ball was a World War 1 fighter pilot -- one of the best -- and he also loved his Morgan Three Wheeler. We take at look at his life in the latest Morgan Three Wheeler.
Confidential documents reveal that Android was designed with physical keyboards in mind.
CEO Meg Whitman touts Hewlett-Packard's ability to offer a wide range of computing devices -- and teases a laptop-tablet combo coming for consumers.
An expected deal to sell off its Intel-based servers to the Chinese electronics company has arrived, reflecting the shifting realities of the market for powerful networked machines.


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By admin on 30-08-2011
Martha Maccallum is an American news anchor on the Fox News Channel. She joined the network in 2004, and is based in the New York City bureau. MacCallum anchors America's Newsroom at 9:00 a.m. ET, with Bill Hemmer. But that doesn't mean she can't be free enough to show her legs live! And not only legs. Martha Maccallum upskirt photos here. It is pretty exclusive in such a way that if you missed this news you couldn't see it.
But we give you such a chance. Look, she sits there speaking as usual in this red jacket and black skirt. And under this skirt… Oh my, that's amazing. Take a look and then come back for more Martha Maccallum upskirt pictures. That's definitely not everything we have, so be ready to get it one by one. Till then, she is a frequent guest on Bill O'Reilly's The O'Reilly Factor on Fox News.


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Two CUA Alumni Win National Anthem Competition
Congratulations to Rolando Sanz and Amy Kwon who have been announced as the first and third place winners, respectively, of the Star Spangled Sing-Off.
See Musical Theatre Student Catherine Purcell in Smithsonian Channel Documentary
A preview of the documentary can be viewed on the Smithsonian's website here. See here for a review in the Wall Street Journal.
Opening of Maryland Lyric Opera
The school of music wishes all best to faculty members Dr. Henriette Lund and Brad Clark as they launch their inaugural season of a new company, Maryland Lyric Opera. Best wishes to alumnus maestro Joel Borrelli-Boudreau and voice instructor Fabiana Bravo and various students participating.
Piano Majors Win 1st and 2nd Place in Competition
On April 13th, undergraduate piano majors Esther Nyberg and Brian Billion won the 1st and 2nd place, respectively, at the 2014 Maryland State Music Teachers Association Elizabeth Davis Memorial Competition in the College Division.
In Memoriam
The School of Music sends condolences to the family of Dr. Amy Antonelli, assistant dean. Read a tribute to Dr. A from Dean Wagstaff and Dr. Walter here.
Voice Performance/Musical Theatre Alumnus Wins Metropolitan Opera National Council
Patrick Guetti was one of five finalists selected out of more than 1,500 participants. The Metropolitan National Council Audition is considered to be one of the most prestigious voice competitions in the field.
Our students in Performance
Magnificat by Leo Nestor, Justine Bayard Ward Professor
(listen here)
Performed by University Singers, Chamber Choir, and Members of the CUA Symphony Orchestra; Leo Nestor, conductor, and Paul Campbell, organ
Petrushka by Igor Stravinsky
(listen here)
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Julian Price: The man and his park
Article Published: Jun. 27, 2013 | Modified: Jun. 27, 2013
Who in the High Country has not spent an afternoon picnicking by the river at Price Park?
I think we all have gone for a few walks around the lake. And watched the stars from a comfortable blanket on the shore.
And yet, I would guess that many of us have not spent too much time thinking about the man: Julian Price. His is a story of the American Dream.
Although the park bears his name, he was never able to enjoy it himself.
Julian Price was the president of Jefferson Standard Life Insurance Company of Greensboro. He was one of the South's foremost financiers, whose vision and drive brought unforeseen commerce to the region.
During Price's time at Jefferson Standard from 1919 to1946, assets increased from $9,703,000 to $174,000,000.
W.T. Grant, former chairman of Business Men's Assurance, once said, "Julian Price possessed the greatest combination of keen judgment, boundless energy, personal magnetism, courage and self-confidence. To be with him was to be inspired to greater undertakings and achievements."
Certainly, this man who was born in 1867 into modest means overcame many obstacles in order to become such a success story.
During Price's early years, his family owned a country store out of Meherrin, Va. The young Julian walked three miles to a one-room, one-teacher school.
At 18, he went to work for the railroad, earning himself one dollar a day.
The railroad eventually took him to Greensboro, where, after a few business endeavors, he recognized the need for life insurance protection for the South and its people.
He was not only a champion of life insurance, but also of many various enterprises throughout the state. He once loaned $200,000 to Carteret County when financial difficulties threatened to end its educational system.
Price's generosity was known throughout the South. It is even said that he once gave the very shoes off his feet to a homeless man and then went home in his socks to get another pair.
His employees at Jefferson Standard delighted in this kindness, when in the 1930s Price purchased 4,200 acres of clear-cut, mountain land in Blowing Rock as a company retreat place.
However, Price would not see the completion of his mountain vision.
On Oct. 26, 1946, Price set out from Greensboro to Blowing Rock to oversee the work he had started in construction of a dam to form a large mountain lake (now Price Lake).
The 78-year-old businessman and philanthropist was killed instantly when his car ran off the highway in North Wilkesboro. The three other occupants of the car suffered injuries not considered serious.
The Jefferson Standard Life Insurance Company and Price's son and daughter cooperated in the dedication of Price's mountain property to the Blue Ridge Parkway. It would become a vacation place, not just for the employees of Jefferson Standard, but for all people who wish to visit the Blue Ridge Parkway.
Amy Renfranz is a North Carolina certified environmental educator, certified interpretive guide and a Yellowstone Association Institute certified naturalist. Have a question? Email Amy at (firstname.lastname@example.com) or visit Dear Naturalist's Facebook page.