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|Jan 2, 2013, 08:19 AM
Cutting Cable: Mac Mini or Apple TV?
I would like to cut our $150/month cable bill by using either a Mac Mini or Apple TV. I've got a 52" Sony HDTV. (Also, I have an OTA antenna, and we don't need DVR capabilities.)
My concern is the Apple TV lacks a browser and inability to add apps from which to stream live and delayed content. (For example, I like F1 racing, and it will be live streamed online this season, but through an NBC app or through a browser.)
My concern with a Mac Mini is that, in addition to the cost, I'd have to buy a keyboard and mouse to make it function. Does Apple Remote work on this? Can I have an Apple TV-like set-up with a Mac Mini? Also, if I'm watching something on a browser on a Mac Mini, will it appear on my TV in HD-quality? (My internet will be wired and I'll use HDMI.) For example, will watching Netflix through Firefox appear in HD as if it were running through the Apple TV app? My TV essentially becomes a monitor--does that make a difference?
Any other thoughts on which product might be best?
|Jan 2, 2013, 09:00 AM
netflix through your browser will be the same as through an ATV. the remote will work on a mini but it would still have to be used in conjunction with a mouse/keyboard if you are going to be using the browser.
the answer to your question really comes down to what content you are trying to watch, and whether or not you want DVR, which you have stated you don't. i use an ATV, simply b/c all i need is to stream my itunes, watch netflix and hulu, and i airplay NBA and NFL from my ipad, so for 100 the ATV can display all the content i need
2012 Mac Mini 2.6, 16GB Crucial Ram, 256 Samsung 830 SSD 2012 MBA 1.8Ghz, 4GB Ram, 128SSD JB iPhone 5 32GB JB iPad 2 32GB ATV3
Cord Cutter w/NBA, NHL, & NFL
|Jan 2, 2013, 09:36 AM
Regarding abt netflix with an ATV vs a Computer(Mac Mini).... :
you can't force streaming in HD on an ATV, but you can on a computer(with some shortcut key)..
others like Hulu: u can install Hulu desktop on ur Mac Mini(and control it with the remote), and dont pay the monthly fee that would otherwise be incurred on an ATV.
for example, when u connect to ur TV(capable of 1080p) via hdmi.
you can set configuration to 720p/1080p.
But it's not really a "great" experience for replacing a standard monitor(to use the computer for work).
While if u use ur computer, u can force streaming in HD[for netflix].
To work with a computer(or surf) on a 1080p TV via hdmi <- not a great experience (in my opinion)
Last edited by wharzhee; Jan 2, 2013 at 09:42 AM.
|Jan 2, 2013, 09:44 AM
If you have the extra cash then the MacMini for sure. Install XBMC and you will have everything you need.
|Jan 2, 2013, 09:44 AM
Thanks. By set-up, I meant a Front Row-like experience. I know it's gone now, but I'm wondering if I can somehow have that "feel" on a Mac Mini, and use the remote.
|Jan 2, 2013, 09:50 AM
You don't happen to already own a Mac that's capable of AirPlay mirroring, do you? If so, another option is to go with the Apple TV and use AirPlay mirroring anytime you want to watch something that requires a browser. That's what we do at home. 95% of the time we use our Apple TVs for all our viewing. The rest of the time is for new episodes of the few shows we watch that are basically only available from the station's web site.
|Jan 2, 2013, 09:52 AM
No, I don't, unfortunately. My iMac is too old.
I do have an iPad; however, my concern is that AirPlay would have low quality since I can't hardwire my iPad to the internet.
|Jan 2, 2013, 07:05 PM
That's true. the quality is low(but if u sit far away from the TV, the difference wldnt be an issue)
Actually im confused, what do u mean by hardwire ur iPad to the internet?
You just need a wireless area network(ATV&iPad must be in the same network) for Airplay to work.
|Jan 3, 2013, 12:13 AM
Mac Mini & Plex/Netflix ftw.
MBA 13", i5 1.8GHz, 8GM RAM, 128GB SSD
These are amazing products that enrich our lives that we see as toys, remember that they are expensive and should be used as tools to reach our dreams~
|Jan 3, 2013, 01:38 AM
I would suggest going with a MacMini, XBOX, or Playstation 3 if Netflix is the primary concern. However XBOX requires an additional subscription. These three will all also play your Ultraviolet/VUDU movies.
If you go the Mini route it will work well for Netflix and the rest of your apple centric media. Sometimes the Mini takes a little more time over the AppleTV getting the best screen to show on your TV. Generally if you are using a HDMI connection from your Mini to the TV you can get the best screen in a matter of minutes. In a living room situation you may end up switching screen resolutions a lot if you are picky. One works well to surf and view test whereas the maximum resolution would be best on video.
In terms of noise, quietest to noisiest, AppleTV, MacMini, PS3, XBOX360.
In terms of functionality, most to least, MacMini, PS3/XBOX360, AppleTV
In terms of future proofing, best to worst, Latest MacMini, PS3/XBOX360, AppleTV
In terms of Motion Gaming, best to worst, XBOX360, PS3
In terms of Gaming, best to worst, XBOX360/PS3, MacMini
If you can be comfortable with a keyboard and a flat surface for your trackpad, I'd direct you to the Mini. If you don't have iTunes cloud based media and you don't want to mess with a keyboard and trackpad, I'd suggest you use a PS3 or XBOX360 for Netflix if you think you may be interested in any games. The gaming systems and the mini can also play your personal videos if they are not locked up in drm and encoded for that device. It would be tough to do that on the AppleTV without additional equipment streaming the video.
What's nice about the PS3 is that it is also a 3d blu-ray player. You would have to be interested in PS3 games for the PS3 to be a real option for you because you could also buy a blu-ray player with apps built in instead for cheaper.
For ultra simplicity you can buy a TV/sound system/blu-ray with the Netflix app built in.
|Jan 3, 2013, 01:49 AM
|Jan 4, 2013, 11:56 AM
Then, as others have said, Plex or XBMC loaded onto the mini is all you really need.
I hope this helps.
|Jan 4, 2013, 02:52 PM
For a long time I've had both the macmini AND the Apple TV connected to my TV, watching MOST of my programming through the Apple TV, because I prefer the user interface. I am also experimenting with only connecting the Apple TV to my TV system, and using the macmini in another room as a server.
What is best for you, very much depends on what you want the system for which comes out best. My approach was to work out both the cost of purchase/installation of each system, cost of maintenance (replacing components every 3 years assumed). Then consider what each configuration gave me access to, and what it didn't, and then work out how much I'd likely have to spend on iTunes in order to get the extra shows I'd need. Bear in mind how often you're likely to replace the macmini and its parts (for me, I figured every 3 years or so I'd get the urge for an upgrade).
I found at first that I resisted paying for shows on iTunes, as they SEEMED expensive, but they really are necessary if you don't want to lose lots of shows relative to cable.
I discuss each below, giving my own figures for running costs.
MacMini only (local): Clunky interface with a remote, takes some work to set up. Best use seems to be a combination of Plex/XBMC/Boxee and Hulu Desktop. Getting an antenna TV Tuner (HDHomeRun with EyeTV) may save you in the long run, especially if you watch anything on CBS, and give more flexibility. This is the more expensive solution, both in terms of purchase cost and power. Assuming you spend $800 (including tax, phone apps, TV tuner, etc.) on setting it up, you'll still save a lot of money relative to cable, but it'll take about half a year. You might end up paying for some shows through iTunes that you could only otherwise get access to through cable. For me, this works out at about $250/year (4 shows). You're also using more electrical power, so maybe $25/year extra? Hulu + Netflix is about $200/year. Cost per 3 years = $2225.
Apple TV only: Only $100 to get started, so pays off almost immediately. Hulu+, Netflix and iTunes store together cover most things. The interface is really nice, especially for Netflix. Assuming no illegal downloads, you will need to figure out how much you're going to end up spending on getting access to shows from networks not covered by Hulu+ and Netflix. For me that's CBS, SyFy and USA Network, which would amount to approximately $625/year (10 shows), which is still a massive saving compared with cable. Hulu + Netflix works out at $200/year. An additional advantage is the ability to serve recorded shows to wherever you are, making watching TV on iPad even when out of the country very convenient (you'll need a decent ISP with large uplink bandwidth though). Cost per 3 years: $2575.
Macmini (local) + Apple TV: Best of both worlds. On the apple TV I use Hulu+ (yes, I do pay) and Netflix, and use iTunes for accessing shows recorded on my MacMini via Elgato EyeTV. Cost per 3 years: $2325.
Macmini (remote) + Apple TV: Compared with the local install, you lose easy access to some Hulu+ shows. You might be able to get away with streaming with Airplay Mirroring from the Macmini, but you'll most likely get a major drop in quality. This setup might make sense, however, if you use the Macmini for some other purpose or if you're serving to multiple TVs. Cost per 3 years: $2325-$3375 (depending on success of airplay mirroring).
Cable/Satellite TV (low level family package): This cost $50-$100/month depending on supplier. DirecTV was the most competitive for me. Interfaces and convenience were highly variable. Note that many people pay a small fortune for packages they barely use. Consider going for a relatively cheap package and then using iTunes/AppleTV to pay for premium content? Cost per 3 years: $1800-$3600.
So, as you see, there's not a huge amount in it for me, and in the end it was mostly because I wanted to do things differently that I went for my current solution. Also, the macmini has other uses than just as a TV system.
|Jan 4, 2013, 03:06 PM
|Jan 5, 2013, 09:24 PM
You would be better off with a cheap Windows machine and a $25 Lenovo htpc remote. With Windows 7 or 8 you can record all of your antenna programming for free, also load xbmc for other media and you can obviously use a browser to stream whatever else you want.
|Jan 5, 2013, 11:02 PM
The OP didn't really provide enough details about what he wants/needs to watch. I've got experience with the Apple TV as well as Windows-powered nettop boxes, and can offer my thoughts, but I'd need to know more about what your needs are.
|Jan 8, 2013, 06:27 AM
I tried Apple TV this week, but unfortunately the AirPlay from my iPad did not provide the quality browsing capabilities I was seeking. I think I'm going to try the Mac Mini next.
My needs are OTA channels and ability to access live sports online (the sports I follow are online and live, but only through a browser). I also use Netflix. That's pretty much what we need.
I saw a Mac Mini connected to a TV via HDMI, and Netflix looked great and in HD. I've also read about some remote applications that would enable me to browse from the couch, so to speak. I hate to get another keyboard and mouse.
|Jan 8, 2013, 09:41 AM
Remote Buddy
I use Remote Buddy to control everything my mini with the remote. I don't need to use a keyboard and mouse with my setup to open/close App's and navigate. Also it has an onscreen keyboard when you need it.
There is the express version on the Mac App Store or the full version on their website. I use the full version as its more customizable.
The other remote software is Sofa Control, but i think Remote Buddy is better (and it has better reviews).
|Jan 8, 2013, 10:04 AM
NFL through iPad without Cable subscription?
|Jan 8, 2013, 10:43 AM
2012 Mac Mini 2.6, 16GB Crucial Ram, 256 Samsung 830 SSD 2012 MBA 1.8Ghz, 4GB Ram, 128SSD JB iPhone 5 32GB JB iPad 2 32GB ATV3
Cord Cutter w/NBA, NHL, & NFL
|Jan 8, 2013, 11:33 AM
I think the Apple TV is the way to go - that's my one and only TV box - no cable either - I use it in conjunction with iOS devices (iPad/iPhone) and a MacBook Air - all of these allow AirPlay Mirroring to get virtually any content I want.
Most of the time I don't AirPlay and use iTunes in the Cloud for movies, TV shows and I also have a Hulu Plus account/Netflix account.
(2006: 17" MBP, Rev A: MBA Sold), 2009 Mac Mini, MBA 1.4GHz, 2GB, 128GB, 11" - iPad 64GB 3G, eMate 300, MP2100, 2G 8GB iPhone, 3G 16GB iPhone, 3G&6G Nano, 2G Shuffle, 160GB TV, TV-V2 - TPPN.TV
|Jan 10, 2013, 05:52 PM
I returned my Apple TV and picked up a Mac Mini.
Sadly, it wasn't that great either. The resolution and text on the screen were poor. I managed to fix the resolution, but the text was just too choppy (I read other posts that said that's a common issue--it was hard to read from the couch). I used an HDMI-HDMI connection with a 1080p resolution.
Netflix and Apple trailers, both in HD, still had a bit of pixelation in full screen. I used ethernet, and it was still "off" in terms of HD quality.
I think I may look into downgrading our cable package for now, and perhaps new offerings will come out in the next year.
|Jan 11, 2013, 01:45 AM
Dude, I know this is the apple board but get a Windows HTPC. I'm typing this on a 50" 1080p plasma with the DPI at 150 and everything looks great and is readable from 8 feet away.
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All times are GMT -5. The time now is 08:12 AM.


text:
Use this blog to:
- Ask Professor Plant any questions you may have.
- Share interesting stories or photographs with other schools.
- Once you send a message, Professor Plant will read it then publish it onto the website.
To be web safe:
- We will not publish any childrens names.
- When you leave a message, list the name of your school, then your comment will be posted as 'pupils from' and the 'name of your school'.
- Always ask your teacher for permission before posting a message or a photograph.
SCAN is an Amgueddfa Cymru - National Museum Wales project, which helps schools promote Education for Sustainable Development.
January 2015
Your questions, my answers
Hello Bulb Buddies,
I'm happy to report the first signs of spring at National Museum Cardiff! Daffodils have started growing at the Museum!
I'd like to share a joke from St. Paul's Primary School. This did make me laugh! If anyone has any other science, nature or (particularly) plant related jokes then please send them in!
Q. Why was the computer cold?
A. Because it left its windows open!
Coppull Parish Primary School: Friday's rain measurement may be misleading as it was not water but hailstones! Professor P: Hi Coppull Parish Primary, I always like to watch hail but hate to get caught in it! The Blessed Sacrament Catholic Primary School also reported that their rain gauge filled with hail stones! The readings shouldn't be miss-leading if you do the same as we do to measure snow. If it hails again, take the rain gauge inside and wait for the hail to melt, then record the water level as rainfall.
Thorn Primary School: Hi Professor Plant, We have had snow this week! It snowed on Tuesday night and a little bit on Wednesday morning then for most of the day on Friday. Is there anything we need to do to care for our bulbs during snowy weather? Most of our bulbs now have shoots. Prof P: Hi Thorn Primary School, I hope you enjoyed the snow and it wasn't too cold! Your plants are quite sturdy and will be Okay outside in this weather. The soil provides a warm layer for the bulb and protects it from the cold. You might notice that daffodils planted in the ground are growing quicker than those in your plant pots. That is because the soil is thicker around bulbs planted in the ground and so is providing more warmth. This shows how important warmth is to growing plants and why changes in the climate have an effect on when plants grow and flower!
St. Ignatius Primary School: Dear, Professor Plant. We brought our plants in over the Christmas holidays and when we came back we noticed some of the shoots had come up. We are so excited about this but hope it's not too soon for them to be growing. Also we have had some really windy and wet weather so some of or plants had fallen over. We think they are ok and we will keep an eye on them. Thanks P4 St. Ignatius. Prof P: Hi P4 at St. Ignatius Primary! I'm sorry to hear the wind blew over your plants, but am very glad that they are all Okay! It's great that your plants have started growing and don't worry, it's not too early! Other schools have reported their first shoots too, including St. Brigid's School, Bickerstaffe CE Primary School, Stanford in the Vale Primary School and Freuchie Primary School. Silverdale St. John's CE School have informed me that their shoots are now 3cm high! I'm happy to report that my plants have started to grow too!
The Blessed Sacrament Catholic Primary School: Over the holidays it had rained so much that the rain gauge had filled up and tipped to one side so some of the water had tipped out. We are really enjoying collecting the weather data and watching the shoots growing from the bulbs. Thank you for sending them to us. K and J. Prof P: Hi K & J, Thank you for letting me know that your rain gauge had tipped over and for monitoring the weather so well! You must have had a lot of rain! I'm glad you are taking good care of the bulbs and watching the shoots closely. Other schools have had similar problems with their rain gauges on coming back from the holidays. Rivington Foundation Primary School and Llanishen Fach C.P School reported that their rain gauges were overflowing on their first day back!
Ysgol Nant Y Coed: There should be rainfall on Wed and Thurs but the rain gauge had been tipped over. We're very sorry. We've now put a second, back up rain gauge out so it shouldn't happen again. C and E. Prof P: Hi Ysgol Nant Y Coed, don't worry about your rain gauge falling over but thank you for letting me know! And well done for thinking of a solution and putting out a second rain gauge! St Laurence CE Primary School have been having the same problem, maybe they could try using a back-up rain gauge too! Or, they could secure their rain gauge (maybe by tying it to a fence or post) or move it to an area where it might be more sheltered from the wind but will still be able to collect rainfall!
Darran Park Primary: Sorry for not doing it for a couple of weeks but we couldn't find this page. I really enjoyed the Christmas card and we will use the coupon to improve our school garden which we also use as a learning area. Prof P: Hello Darran Park Primary! The gift vouchers were from our sponsors at the Edina Trust, and I'm glad to hear you are putting them to good use. As for being late recording your readings, that's fine, you can still upload readings for previous weeks!
Darran Park Primary: Professor Plant we have checked our crocuses and our daffodils and some are starting to get bigger and healthier. I enjoyed the Christmas card you gave me. I had to photocopy it so my friend Brandon and I could have one each, we are going to use the £10 voucher on our school garden. We really enjoy checking the temperature and the plants and we really enjoy talking to you and please could you send a letter telling us more information about your museum and more information on plants and more about history. Prof P: Hello Darran Park Primary, what a lovely comment, thank you very much! I would like to see a photo of your school garden when the flowers start to bloom! I'm glad to hear that you are enjoying the project and are looking after your plants so well. I will of course send a letter with some more information about National Museum Wales. You can also explore the seven Museum sites online: http://www.museumwales.ac.uk/. The closest to you are St Fagans National History Museum, which run regular out door nature activities and National Museum Cardiff, which has wonderful galleries exploring Natural History. There is an exciting exhibition on at the moment which I think you would like: http://www.museumwales.ac.uk/whatson/?id=7233.
Keir Hardie Memorial Primary School: We did not get the chance to check the weather records for the rainfall because the weather was rainy and snowy all week so our interval and lunchtimes were indoor. We were able to record the temperature because Miss Nicholls did the reading at the playground door. From Primary 4/5. Prof P: Not to worry Keir Hardie Memorial Primary, thank you for letting me know why there are no rainfall records and well done for recording the temperature! Other schools have reported colder weather, strong winds and storms! These include Arkholme CE Primary School, St. Brigid's School, Ysgol Rhys Prichard, St. Paul's Primary School, Maes-y-Coed Primary and Morningside Primary School. Stanford Gardening Club at Stanford in the Vale Primary have also noticed changing patterns through the week, reporting 'very cold weather, snow Tuesday, rain Thursday and high winds during the week. Then today Friday the sun is out!'
Keep up the good work Bulb Buddies!
Professor Plant
Snow fall and snow depth
Hello Bulb Buddies,
Thank you for sending in last weeks readings. The weather has definitely been getting colder – and some of you have even reported snow! For this reason I want to talk to you about how Meteorologists (weather scientists) measure snow.
It is a lot trickier to measure the amount of snow that falls than it is to measure the amount of rain. This is because snow misbehaves! Snow is often blown by the wind into drifts, which causes some areas of deep snow and less snow in the areas around it. Because the snow fall is uneven the measurements from these places will be wrong! This is why we have to measure snow on flat surfaces, in the open and away from areas where drifts happen! Snow also likes to play games with Meteorologists who want to measure it, it melts into water and re-freezes into ice! This means that the snow measured on the ground isn't always the same as the amount of snow that has fallen. Another problem is that new snow settles on old snow, so it is difficult to tell how much snow has fallen in one day from the snow that fell the day before!
Meteorologists have to take all these tricks the snow plays, and work around them to discover how much snow has fallen. They look at snow fall (the amount of snow that falls in one day) and snow depth (how deep the total snow level is, old snow and new snow). One way that Meteorologists measure snow fall is to use a piece of ply wood. They place the wood in an open location away from areas where snow drifts occur, and measure the snow on the board at 6hr intervals, clearing the snow from the board each time they measure it. This means they are only measuring the snow from that day, which will tell them how much snow has fallen on that day in that area!
Snow fall can also be measured in its melted state, as water. This means that you can use your rain gauge to measure the water equivalent of snow fall! If you only get a bit of snow then it should melt in your rain gauge anyway. But if you get a lot of snow, take your rain gauge inside to the warm and wait for the snow to melt into water. Then measure the water in the same way as you have done each week and report this as rain fall in your weather logs.
If you have snow and enough time for an extra experiment – why not have a go at measuring snow depth? To do this all you need is a ruler (also known as a snow stick!). Place the snow stick into the snow until it touches the surface underneath, and read the depth of the snow.You need to take these measurements from flat surfaces (benches work well) in open areas and away from snow drifts! You need to take at least three separate measurements to work out the average snow depth in your area. You work out the average measurement by adding the different readings together and dividing them by the number of measurements. So, if I measured the snow depth of three surfaces at 7cm, 9cm and 6cm, I would add these together (7+9+6 =22) and divide that by three, because there are three readings (22÷3=7.33). So 7.33 would be my average reading for snow depth on that date.
Weather stations such as the MET Office have come up with new ways of measuring snow depth, using new technologies. The picture below shows one of the MET Offices snow stations. These use laser sensors to measure how deep the snow is on the flat surface placed below it. This means that Meteorologists can collect readings from all over the country at the push of a button – which is far more reliable and a lot easier than sending people out into the cold with snow sticks! The map below shows how many snow stations the MET office has and where these are, is there one close to you?
If you have snow and measure the snow fall with your rain gauge or the snow depth with a snow stick, then please tell me in the 'comments' section when you are logging your weekly records! I would be very interested to know what the snow depth is compared to the snow fall collected in your rain gauge!
Keep up the good work Bulb Buddies,
Professor Plant
Baby Bulb is growing!!
Welcome back Bulb Buddies,
I hope you enjoyed your holidays! How are your daffodils and crocuses? Before we broke-up for Christmas a number of schools had written to tell me that their daffodils and mystery bulbs had begun to show above the soil! How are yours getting along? You can update me on how much your plants have grown by adding to the 'comment' section when you send in your data. C from Ysgol Y Plas has been very good at this, informing me that "13 bulbs have started to show in pots and 3 in the garden". It's always exciting when you see the first shoots begin to show!
Last year the first daffodil flowered on the 10th of February, although the average date for flowering was 12th March. So keep an eye on them – it won't be long now! Remember to measure the height of your flowers on the day they bloom. We will then look at all the dates and heights recorded to find an average date and height and this will help us to spot any changing patterns when we compare our findings to those of previous and future years!
Remember, flowers need sunlight, warmth and water to grow. Last year was the third warmest year since the project began in 2006, with an average temperature of 6.0°. 2013-2014 also saw the highest rainfall at 187mm, but was the second lowest year in terms of sunlight hours with an average of 69 hours. This meant that our plants bloomed earlier than they did in 2012-2013, which had been much colder with slightly less rain and less sunlight hours. What has the weather been like where you live? Do you think our flowers will bloom earlier or later than they did last year?
I look forward to seeing your data this week!
Keep up the good work Bulb Buddies,
Professor Plant
Your comments, my answers:
Morningside Primary School: It was very cold and very very wet this week at Morningside! There was also a little bit of snow on the ground, that would have perhaps melted in our rain gauge! Prof P: Snow, how exciting! You are right about the snow melting in the rain gauge. This is because the ground will have been colder than the plastic of the rain gauge, especially if there was already rain water in the gauge when the snow fell. Your rain gauge can be used to measure snow fall the same as rain fall, and I will talk more about this in my next blog!
Newport Primary School: On Tuesday 2nd Dec we moved the thermometer because we believed there wasn't enough variation in temperature being shown on the thermometer where it was positioned. It was in a slightly sheltered spot. When we moved it the recorded temperatures dropped considerably backing up our impressions. Prof P: Well done for spotting this Newport Primary! It's surprising how much difference location can make to the readings. Ideally, your thermometer should be placed in an open, shaded area, to the North of the school and some distance from the building. This is because direct sunlight, shelter from the wind and heat reflected from surfaces or emitted from buildings can cause higher, inaccurate readings.
Glyncollen Primary School: Thank you for the new thermometer. We think one of our bulbs is starting to grow because the weather has been quite mild. We are going to be watching it carefully. Has this happened in any other school? Prof P: Hi Glyncollen Primary School, I'm glad the new thermometer arrived safely! Well done on noting how the weather has effected your plants. I have looked through your weather records and can see that the temperature only really dipped in your area in weeks 49 and 50. The rainfall early on after planting and the mild temperatures will definitely have helped your Baby Bulbs to grow! Some other schools have also reported seeing their first shoots, these include The Blessed Sacrament Catholic Primary School and Silverdale St. John's CE School.
Bickerstaffe CE Primary School: We have noticed that some daffodils planted some years ago have grown new leaves to a height of about 150mm. They are in a quite sheltered spot close to the school buildings, if we remember we will take a photo and send it. The children wonder if these bulbs may be a different type or have come from a different country. Prof P: Hi Bickerstaffe CE Primary School! It's nice to hear that plants have started growing! These Daffodils are probably a different variety to the ones we are growing. There are many different types, and some have been known to flower as early as November! If you send me a photo once the daffodils have bloomed I will see if I can identify it for you!
Glencoats Primary School: Glencoats primary are enjoying looking after their bulbs. It will make our Eco garden nice and colourful. Thank you for choosing us to be part of this project. Prof P: Thank you for taking part in the project Glencoats Primary School. I would very much like to see a photo of the Eco garden once all the flowers have bloomed!
December 2014
Weather warnings
Hello bulb buddies!
Merry Christmas and many thanks for sending me your data. Keep it coming!
We are getting an interesting picture of how the weather has varied across the country. Last week, Carnforth North Road Primary School in Lancashire, England reported a low temperature of 3°C and Mossend Primary School Primary School in Bellshill, Scotland reported 13°C for the same day! That's quite a difference! If you've had extreme weather you can use the map to look at records from other schools on the same day and compare. Let me know if you find anything interesting!
I'm very interested to see what your records show for the last week. The Met Office (the UK's official weather service) predicted colder temperatures and perhaps even snow in some areas! If you have snow perhaps you could ask your teacher to send in pictures, I would love to see them and might even post some on the bulb blog.
A yellow warning was given for wind, snow and ice in some areas of the UK. A yellow warning means that there is a possibility of bad weather in some parts of the country. The Met Office warn us about bad weather so that we can be prepared for it. This is because extreme weather (such as strong winds and ice) can cause difficulties and make it harder to travel. Sometimes roads, train lines and even schools close because of bad weather.
The colour chart below shows other colours used as a code for how strong the weather is.
Green: weather not expected to be extreme.
Yellow: possibility of extreme weather so you should be aware of it.
Amber (orange): strong chance of the weather effecting you in some way, so be prepared.
Red: extreme weather expected, on red warning days your parents might check for road closures before planning journeys.
The Met Office also use symbols to indicate what type of weather to expect. The symbols below show (in order) a red warning for rain, green for wind and snow, amber for ice and green for fog. This means there will be heavy rain and that you should prepare for ice. Why not have a look at the Met Office website and see what the weather forecast is for where you live?
Keep up the good work bulb buddies!
Professor Plant
Your questions, my answers:
Stanford in the Vale Primary School - Lots of rain on Monday, then hardly any during the week! The weather has started to get really cold, especially on Wednesday and frost this morning on Friday, the children are still hoping for snow!!!The children have made up a song for recording the weather and temperature - so we have named them the singing scientists. Prof P - Hello Singing Scientists, what a fantastic nickname! You all sound like a happy bunch and I'm sure that all the singing can only be benefiting your bulbs! Could you possibly send me your song lyrics or a recording of you singing? You are not the only school to have noted Wednesday as cold! Both Ysgol Rhys Prichard and Ysgol Hiraddug commented that they had heavy ground frost on Wednesday.
Glyncollen Primary School - One of our mystery bulbs is also starting to grow. We are all wondering what flower it is going to be. We are enjoying this project. Thank you Professor Plant. Blwyddyn 4. Prof P – Hello Bwyddyn 4, I'm so glad you are enjoying the project! It's very exciting that your mystery bulb has started growing! Could you send me a picture? And keep me updated, I'd like to know when it flowers and what you think it might be!
St. Ignatius Primary School – lots of our plants have died already! Prof P – Hello St. Ignatius, I'm very sorry to hear that you are having trouble with your bulbs. I will be in touch to find out more. Meanwhile, if any other schools are experiencing problems please get in touch!
November 2014
Is winter on its way?
Hello bulb buddies!
I hope you are all having fun recording the weather information. You're doing a great job so far.
The weather is very chilly this morning (Monday 24th of November). Last night the temperature in Cardiff fell to 0°C and we had our first proper frost of the year. The temperature was as low as -3°C in some parts of England and Wales. Brrr!
But this cold weather is nothing compared to what some parts of America have been experiencing in the past week. In some areas in the northeast of the country the temperature fell to -15°C. Some places also had two metres of snow! Now that is wintry weather.
The good news is that forecasters do not think that the cold and snow are going to come across the Atlantic to the UK. So no snowmen for us just yet.
What does cold weather mean for our bulbs? Lots of plants don't like the cold and will perish if it gets too cold. This is why lots of gardeners worry about frost, because it can hurt their plants.
But because we planted our bulbs in the ground, they will be just fine. The earth that we covered them with acts like a warm blanket to keep our baby bulbs nice and cosy. Why don't you make an origami booklet about the life of a bulb, which you can find here?
You should all now be recording the temperature and rainfall each day and don't forget to record your results at the end of each week on our website.
Keep up the good work!
Professor Plant
Your questions, my answers:
Ysgol Y Plas - Every day we tip out the water out but on fridays we tip it out then leave over the weekend and then take the rain fall on monday. So on monday the water measurement is from the weekend as well as that day, from c. Prof P – That's perfect, keep up the good work!
Keir Hardie Memorial Primary School - On Wednesday we forgot to empty the rainfall catcher so we think this is why the rainfall is so high. Prof P – Don't worry, even the best scientists make mistakes. If you wanted to be really clever you could use maths to work out Thursday's rainfall. Take away Wednesday's rain from Thursday's to see how much rain fell on Thursday.
Saint Anthony's Primary School - We are enjoying the project so far. It's has been fun planting all the bulbs and we can't wait until they grow. We decorated name tags and put them on plant pots to plant our bulbs in. R and L. I have noticed that even when there has been a big rainfall, there is still very little water in the rain gauge. Prof P – Well done everyone at Saint Anthony's. Your name tags sound great! Perhaps you could ask your teacher to take a photo and send it to me? If your rain gauge isn't catching water, make sure that there is nothing near it which could stop the rain from falling into it.
Burscough Bridge Methodist School - Again apologises the data is late due to the damages to the equipment, however it is all back up and working. Prof P – Hello to everyone at Burscough Bridge! Don't worry about being late, just do the best you can. I'm sorry that your equipment got damaged. If there is anything I can do to help then just let me know.
Tongwynlais Primary School - We are really enjoying measuring the weather! We haven't had to water our plants yet as we've had so much rain! Prof P – Hello Tongwynlais, I'm glad you're enjoying the project. Not having to water your plants is one of the many reasons it is so good to live in Wales!
Ysgol Talybont - We've looked on your map to check our previous observations but it is just saying no data received. Could you please check and contact us if we are doing something wrong on inputting the information Prof P - Hi Talybont. I think I have solved the problem, it was nothing that you were doing wrong! Try the map again and let me know if you have any further issues.
Ysgol Nant Y Coed - We had lots of fun, there wasn't that much rainfall. Thank you for choosing our school to do it. Prof P – I'm sure there will be plenty of rainfall for you to record in the next few months! Thank you for taking part Nant Y Coed!
Your Questions, My Answers
Hello bulb buddies!
St. Paul's Primary School:
My name is A and I am 9 years old. It is my job all next week to take the weather measurements for you. I think I will enjoy it as I love being in the garden. Prof P – Hello Aiden and everyone else at St Paul's. It sounds like you are doing a great job recording the weather. Keep up the good work!
Kilmory Primary School:
unable to record rainfall accurately Thurs 22mm Friday 26mm. Prof P – Hi Kilmory, do you need any help with measuring rainfall? Or was your gauge just knocked over?
St. Brigid's School:
It has been a cold and wet start to our bulb investigation. We have all made labels and they are standing up nicely in their pots in a safe part of the school. We are all looking forward to seeing the final results. Prof P – Well done to everybody at St Brigid's. I hope you all had lots of fun planting and making labels. I'm looking forward to seeing your results too!
Ysgol Rhys Prichard:
Very windy on Thursday and heavy rain over night Crisp and clear on Bonfire Night. Very windy on Thursday 13th. A tree blew down near school. Prof P – Da iawn Ysgol Rhys Prichard. Great weather reporting. I hope you all had a good Bonfire Night!
Llanharan Primary School:
Is Monday's rainfall a record of all the rain caught on the weekend? Prof P – Hi everyone at Llanharan. This is a really good question. Yes it is, otherwise we would have no record of the rain that falls over the weekend. I can see that you have already done this for last week's data, so good job!
Rougemont Junior School:
We planted our baby bulbs on the 27th in line with Scotland. Please remember Professor we were on holiday when Wales were planting. What with fireworks and the cold snap of weather we hope they are tucked up safe and warm! Rougemont year 5 and 6. Prof P – Good job Rougemont. I hope you all enjoyed your holiday. I'll be sure to remember that you started on the 27th. Your bulbs are tucked up in a nice blanket of soil so they don't need to worry about the cold!
Bickerstaffe CE Primary School:
We will do as many as we can through the week, can't guarantee every day. Readings will all be taken close to 9.00 a.m.
Rain recorded on Tuesday morning will have been the total for Sat, Sun and Monday
Prof P – Hello Bickerstaffe! Don't worry if you miss a few days, just do as much as you can. If possible it might be better to take the weather measurements in the afternoon so you get a better picture of that day's conditions. But as long as you record at roughly the same time each day then it doesn't really matter.
Guardbridge Primary School:
It rained a lot on Friday. Prof P – Hello Guardbridge, well done for watching the weather closely. It rained a lot in Wales on that day too.
Rivington Foundation Primary School:
Friday was a very rainy day! Prof P – Oh dear! I hope you all stayed warm and dry inside.
The Blessed Sacrament Catholic Primary School:
We are really excited at being involved in this project. We have enjoyed clearing the weeds to plant our daffodils and planting all our bulbs. It is fun taking turns to check the rainfall and temperature. Prof P – Hello to everyone at the Blessed Sacrament. It sounds like you all worked very hard planting your bulbs, well done!
Stanford in the Vale Primary School:
A very cold start to the day on Tuesday and Wednesday! Lots and lots of rain Thursday night....bright blue clear sky today! And the sun is shinning. Prof P – Great weather reporting. It's nice to hear the sun is shining in Oxfordshire!
St. Paul's Primary School:
hi its its been really raining this week. Prof P – Thanks for the weather information! I'm sorry that you've had a rainy week, but at least the plants won't be thirsty!
Glyncollen Primary School:
We are really enjoying taking care of our bulbs and reading the rainfall and temperature measurements.
We are not sure if our thermometer is working properly because it has been giving us high readings and the weather has been colder this week. On Wednesday we put a new thermometer outside and our readings now seem closer to what the weather forecast says. Is it possible for you to send us a new thermometer please? Diolch yn fawr. Blwyddyn 4 Prof P – Da iawn Glyncollen! I'm really glad you're enjoying the project. You're right, your temperature readings do seem very high. I'll send you a new thermometer as soon as possible.
Ysgol Iau Hen Golwyn:
Hi. We are year 4 in Ysgol Hen Golwyn. We like doing the project and we have completed the first week. We like your beard. Some of our pots were knocked over and the rain gauge was tipped over too but everything is going to plan now. Prof P – Hello Year 4! I'm glad you're enjoying the project. Don't worry too much about things getting knocked over. Problems like that are part of life as a scientist.
Ysgol Bro Eirwg:
Rydyn ni wedi mwynhau dysgu a chofnodi yr wythnos hon! Prof P – Da iawn pawb!
The Blessed Sacrament Catholic Primary School:
We are taking it in turns to collect the weather data. The weather has been very wet and windy at times. But it is cool to be a scientist, even if you miss a bit of football! H Prof P – Thank you for the weather data! You're right, it is cool to be a scientist. I hope you didn't miss too much football!
Coppull Parish Primary School:
My Year 4 children have recorded these by themselves. They could be the other way around. For example I have switched Thursday's temperature number with Thursday's Rainfall number. It didn't seem to be zero degrees celcius that day and the children wrote mm in the temperature boxes. Hmmmmm. mm also cropped up in the temperature on Wed. Marie Codd Science Leader and Forest School Leader. Prof P – Hi Marie. It's great that the children are recording the data themselves. It is still very early in the project so there are bound to be some mistakes. I'm sure that by the end of the year you will all be experts. Well done everyone!
Finally autumn
Hello bulb buddies!
I hope you're all having fun looking after your bulbs.
Autumn has finally arrived in Cardiff. There is a chill in the air and the leaves on the trees are turning lovely shades of orange, yellow and brown.
Autumn has arrived late this year. October's weather was warmer and wetter than average and this meant lots of the trees kept their green leaves for longer than usual.
The weather on Halloween was extra-special! Temperatures in some areas of the UK, such as south England and north Wales, reached well over 20°C.
The temperature in Kew Gardens in west London reached a whopping 23.6°C, which is the highest temperature ever recorded in the UK on Halloween. I hope you didn't get too hot in your spooky costumes!
I think these weird weather conditions are very interesting and am excited to see what strange things you find during your spring bulb experiments.
Has autumn arrived where you live? Are the leaves changing colour and falling from the trees? Why don't you take an autumnal picture and send it to me in an email? I might even post it here on my blog.
Remember that you should now have started recording the temperature and rainfall on your weather charts. If you can't remember what you're supposed to do you can look at the Keeping Weather Records page on my website.
Many Thanks
Professor Plant
Bulbathon 2015
A planting day of bulbous proportions!
Eleven thousand and three hundred bulbs were planted by school scientists across the UK to kick start the Spring Bulbs for Schools investigation. Seven and a half thousand pupils from one hundred and seventy nine schools got planting to investigate climate change.
Here is a map to show you where the bulbs were planted.
Here are some of the pictures they sent in. Follow their progress and the questions they raise as they record the local weather and flowering through the winter and into the spring.
Professor Plant
July 2014
Welsh Super Scientists
Ysgol Clocaenog in Denbighshire was awarded first place out of sixty nine Welsh schools taking part in the Museum's Spring Bulbs for Schools investigation this year.
The Super Scientists won a fun-packed trip to the National Slate Museum where they learnt about the Story of Slate, looked for mini-beasts and built giant nests in the quarry!
Professor Plant: "Ysgol Clogaenog did really well in the Spring Bulbs investigation and sent in the most weather data out of all the schools in Wales! This really was an achievement as schools are getting better and better at recording and sending their data. It was lovely to meet the Super Scientists from Ysgol Clocaenog, we had lots of fun building nests and pretending to be little birds! We also learnt lots about Slate and I especially enjoyed watching the slate splitting!"
If you would like to take part in this project next term please complete the on-line application form:
May 2014
Flower Drawing Competition 2014
Congratulation to the winners of the Flower Drawing Competition 2014! Here are their excellent botanical illustrations.
- 1st: Abbey – Coppull Parish Church School
- 2nd: Louise – SS Philip and James CE Primary School (Pink 3)
- 3rd: Amelie – Stanford in the Vale CE Primary School
In this competition I was looking for botanical illustrations – these are pictures of plants drawn in a scientific way. This means I was looking for beautiful pictures but they also needed clear labels to show the different parts of the flower.
All of the drawing sent in were really fantastic, so I have put them all on our website for you to see! Well done to all of you.
Click here to view all the drawings.
Many thanks,
Prof P
- All entries
recent entries
@DyddiadurKate - bwydo'r boblogaeth
Through the Keyhole in the Prefab
A Window into the Industry Collections - May 2015

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|Jay Herman, RN, Receives the Jan. DAISY Award
Congratulations to Jay Herman, RN who was the DAISY Award recipient for January, 2009.
Jay joined All Children's in July, 2008 and works on 2SW. He is a graduate of the University of Toledo and holds an MS Degree in Nursing.
The DAISY Award is presented monthly to an All Children's Hospital Nurse that has provided extraordinary service to our patients.
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On behalf of the entire staff, Jay, we thank you for your dedication to your patients and your profession.
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Know Before You Go:
DOWNLOAD AREA MAP FOR THIS TRAIL:Click Here.
Blackrock Trail is non quota:
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Friday, January 3rd (All times Eastern)
Tampa Bay Lightning (24-12-4) at Calgary Flames (14-20-6), 9 p.m.
(SportsNetwork.com) - The Tampa Bay Lightning look for a second victory in as many games on their current road trip Friday night as they visit a Calgary Flames club that continues to struggle on offense.
The Lightning began a four-game swing through Western Canada with a 4-2 victory over the Vancouver Canucks on Wednesday. It was Tampa Bay's fourth straight win on the road and gave the club a 6-1-1 record over its last eight games overall.
Valtteri Filppula, Tyler Johnson and Nikita Kucherov all scored in the third period for the Lightning, who also visit Edmonton and Winnipeg on the trip, and Ben Bishop made 28 saves.
Filppula, who also had an assist, and Johnson scored 20 seconds apart to give the Bolts the lead and Kucherov responded with a power-play tally with three seconds left in the frame just over four minutes after the Canucks tied it.
Alex Killorn had a goal in the third period after assisting on Filppula's goal.
"We played a solid road game," Tampa Bay head coach Jon Cooper said. "We fell behind, found a way to get the lead and held on to it."
Filppula has notched 32 points in 40 games this season, including five goals and seven assists over his last eight games, while Johnson has three goals and an assist in his past four.
Bishop improved to 21-5-3 with a 1.89 goals against average and .935 save percentage in 30 starts this season. He is 0-2-0 with a 3.55 GAA in two previous meetings with the Flames.
Calgary looks to avoid a fourth consecutive defeat tonight and has been outscored 8-1 over its current slump. The Flames began a five-game homestand with a shootout win over St. Louis on Dec. 23, but were shut out by Edmonton and Vancouver in their first two games after the Christmas break.
Rookie Sean Monahan finally got the Flames a goal in Tuesday's meeting with the Philadelphia Flyers, but it was the only one in a 4-1 setback.
"We're building a new culture and we have some young players who we want to give some ice time and learn what to do out there," said Calgary head coach Bob Hartley. "But right now is a tough time because we're not scoring goals."
Reto Berra gave up three goals on 20 shots for a Flames club that has been shut out in three of its last eight games.
While it might not help the offense, defenseman Dennis Wideman is on track to return tonight for the Flames. He has been sidelined since breaking his hand on Nov. 27, missing 16 straight games.
Forward Lee Stempniak did miss practice on Thursday, however, due to illness.
The Lightning have won seven of their past 10 versus the Flames and three of the previous four played in Calgary.
The Flames will give former Lightning goaltender Karri Ramo the start tonight. He was a sixth-round pick by the Bolts in 2004 and appeared in 48 games with the club through 2008-09 before going to the Kontinental Hockey League. He has never before faced Tampa Bay.


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Obama Social Security offer at odds with top Dems
Wednesday - 12/19/2012, 2:01pm EST
By STEPHEN OHLEMACHER
Associated Press
WASHINGTON (AP) - President Barack Obama's offer to limit the growth of Social Security benefits would cost the average retiree less than $50 in the first year. But the cuts would grow over time, and that has advocates for seniors worried that Democrats in Congress will break their promise to shield the massive retirement and disability program from cuts in deficit reduction talks.
Both Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., and House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., pledged not to touch Social Security as part of negotiations to avoid the year-end fiscal cliff. Reid, however, is backpedaling now that Obama and House Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio, have agreed to a new measure of inflation that would reduce annual cost-of-living adjustments, or COLAs, for Social Security and other government programs.
Obama and Boehner continue to haggle over how much to raise taxes and cut spending but both have agreed to the new inflation measure formula, making it increasingly likely the proposal would be part of an eventual deal. Boehner proposed the change earlier this month in talks with Obama, and the president included it in a counteroffer this week.
White House Press Secretary Jay Carney called the new inflation measure a technical adjustment designed to make inflation estimates more accurate. Obama did not directly address the issue at a White House news conference Wednesday. But, he said, a deal will require difficult choices by all sides.
"What I've said is that in order to arrive at a compromise, I am prepared to do some very tough things, some things that some Democrats don't want to see and probably there are a few Republicans who don't want to see either," Obama said.
The inflation measure under consideration is called the Chained Consumer Price Index. On average, the measure shows a lower level of inflation than the more widely used Consumer Price Index because it assumes that as prices rise, consumers turn to lower-cost alternatives, reducing the amount of inflation they experience.
If adopted across the government, the change would have far-reaching effects because so many programs are adjusted each year based on year-to-year changes in consumer prices.
Taxes would slowly increase because annual adjustments to income tax brackets would be smaller, pushing more people into higher tax brackets. Over time, fewer people would be eligible for anti-poverty programs like Medicaid, Head Start, food stamps and school lunches because annual adjustments to the poverty level would be smaller, leaving fewer people under the official poverty line.
On average, annual increases in Social Security payments, government pensions and veterans' benefits would be about 0.3 percentage points smaller each year. Next year's COLA is 1.7 percent, or about $21 a month for the average Social Security retiree. If the new measure of inflation were in effect, the COLA would be about 1.4 percent, or a little more than $17 a month. That's $4 less than the current system, or about $48 less during the course of a year.
Once the change is fully phased in, yearly Social Security benefits for a typical middle-income 65-year-old would be about $136 less, according to an analysis of Social Security data. At age 75, annual benefits under the new index would be $560 less. At 85, the cut would be $984 a year.
"The Chained CPI is a stealth benefit reduction that will compound over time and cut thousands of dollars in retirement income for current beneficiaries," said Nancy LeaMond, AARP's executive vice president.
More than a dozen veterans groups gathered on Capitol Hill Wednesday to oppose the change, which would also affect retirement and disability benefits for veterans.
"It is very easy to say you support the troops," said Tom Tarantino, chief policy officer of the Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America. "But what many don't get is that that support for the troops doesn't stop when a shipment of guns hits the ground in Afghanistan. It is a promise you made to every man and woman who serves in the military, from the time they raise their hand to the time they die."
Sen. Bernie Sanders, a Vermont independent who organized the gathering of veterans, said, "We must do deficit reduction, but not by cutting programs for people who lost arms, legs and eyes defending our country."
If enacted for 2014, the change would reduce government borrowing by $223 billion over the next decade _ $158 billion in spending cuts and $65 billion in tax increases, according to the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office. The biggest savings _ $102 billion _ would come from Social Security.


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We already knew that Greyhounds at racetracks suffer immensely. But today, Greyhound advocate group GREY2K USA released a report that shows just how bad things are for dogs forced to race in Texas.
The report, produced with funding from the ASPCA, showed that at Texas racetracks:
• Greyhounds are forced to live in confined, stacked cages, with large Greyhounds being unable to stand fully erect in their cages.
• In 2012, six Greyhounds died at Gulf Greyhound Park from a form of canine influenza, often a recurring epidemic in cramped living situations.
• In 2011, a Texas Greyhound trainer failed to obtain veterinary care for an injured Greyhound until two days after the injury occurred.
• Greyhounds are fed 4-D meat from diseased animals to reduce costs.
The report also showed that1,507 greyhound injuries were reported at Texas racetracks from January 2008 through December 2011. Fifty-six of these injuries were fatal or required euthanasia, with the most commonly reported injury being broken legs. Other serious injuries reported included torn muscles, puncture wounds, a fractured skull and paralysis.
Frankly, we don't see why the Texas dog racing industry doesn't just throw in the towel—Lone Star State residents are way over dog racing. The report shows that gambling on dog racing and dog race attendance are way, way down.
Angry? Join the ASPCA Advocacy Brigade to stand up for animals.
After adopting our second greyhound, I did some research online and found a forum where someone had indicated that a greyhound was in need of transportation North in order to be helped by an adoption agency. Our girl was in 53 races and broke her rear right leg in her last one. She was then left for months with a broken leg before the agency we work with was able to get her medical attention. She is the most loving, thankful, energetic little girl, and I am horrified that anyone could leave her that way.
WTH? When will the human race realize animals are NOT here for their entertainment. But rather for their enjoyment and unconditional love. REally?? Get a life!
Please speak up for these innocent creatures who did not ask for this lifestyle..
In Texas the horse racing and casino slot machines are more popular...
Lets fight to band this racing in Texas and to arrest the abuser ...
who is and has taken advantage of these defenceless animals...
no one human or animal deserves this treatment.
I hate all forms of animal based entertainment. Circuses, dog racing, horse racing, petting zoos, road side animal displays...yes, even Sea World. People know how those animals are treated yet they choose not to acknowledge the cruelty because they would have to be responsible for their low ethics.
My greyhounds are the center of my universe. I pray that in my lifetime greyhound racing will be a practice of the past. Stop using these beautiful animals as a form of entertainment.
My greyhounds are the center of my universe. I pray that in my lifetime greyhound racing will be a practice of the past. Stop using these beautiful animals as a form of entertainment.
I cannot believe in this day and age that we still allow this horrendous abuse of our domestic pets.
Disgusting how humans treat animals. It is disgraceful...all for the mighty buck. This should be treated the same as dog fighting, etc. These poor beautiful creatures should be all be freed and be able to live their lives in comfort with humans who will love them instead of treating them as a commodity.
such a shame this is still allowed to go on! I'll be glad when this is made illegal.


text:
White Oak's Rachel Krueger said she was nervous taking a penalty kick in overtime, but the junior certainly didn't let that affect her on a cold Thursday night.
Krueger's penalty kick goal with 5:34 left in the second 10-minute overtime lifted the Vikings to a 2-1 victory over Havelock in a Coastal 3-A Conference girls' soccer match.
"I was really nervous," Krueger said. "I have a pulled groin and I thought that was going to hurt me, but then I knew that if he (coach Buddy Carroll) believed in me, then I could make it."
And Krueger did, helping defending state 3-A champion White Oak (5-1, 2-0) to its fourth consecutive win after a 1-0 loss to 4-A New Hanover on March 2.
Havelock fell to 4-3, 0-1.
"The effort is great," Carroll said of his team's start. "The girls know they have a lot of work to do. So they are consistently pushing themselves. I know every game we play this year is going to be a battle, and so for us to continue to do well when we are not playing as well is crucial at this early part of time."
The game was tied 1-1 when White Oak junior Della Futral drew a foul inside the 18-yard line after receiving a well-played pass from sophomore Madison Jurney.
Carroll then decided to go with Krueger, a defender, to take the penalty kick. Krueger shot the ball toward the upper right part of the goal past Havelock goalkeeper Amanda Alexander.
"I picked her because I knew she had a little more composure," Carroll said. "Rachel is one of our leaders and that's who I am going with."
Krueger said it meant a lot for her coach have confidence in her.
"Buddy has won so many state championships and is one of the best coaches that I know and for him to have trust in me, that's amazing," she said.
And Carroll seemed to have confidence in his team entering the second overtime. He told his team prior to play resuming that this game would show what sort of team the Vikings are this season.
"I've seen us play with heart," Krueger said. "We kept pushing and pushing and that showed we play with heart."
The Vikings seemed poised to win in regulation after Futral scored just 1:26 into the second half after a corner kick from Jurney. There was a scramble for the ball near the goal after Jurney's corner kick from the left side before Futral scored.
However, the Rams tied the game with 18:37 left in regulation when senior Ali Wickman scored on a 25-yard shot from the left corner.
"It (Havelock's goal) hurt a little bit, but we knew we had to pick it up," Krueger said. "There's no options for losing on this team. We just know that what we did wasn't right. So we change it, we pick it up fast and we play."
This wasn't the cleanest game the Vikings have played this season.
White Oak wasn't necessarily crisp on the offensive attack, despite the Vikings controlling more of the possession. White Oak, though, had five of its 10 shots on goal in overtime.
"We just weren't as crisp as we would have liked to be," Carroll said. "We are still winning, but hopefully we can find a way to get to that point."
A knee injury to Mary Gorry, the Vikings' only senior, has hurt. Gorry, a midfielder, was a key contributor in White Oak's run to the state title last year.
"Certain girls have to step up and assume the role of what she normally does for us in the midfield," Carroll said. "But this will give (other players) experience for later down the road."
Carroll said that offensively, the Vikings are still a work in progress.
While White Oak will continue to work on its attack, its defense will be important, he added.
Junior goalkeeper Alexis Jones made 9 saves for the Vikings against Havelock.
"Our defense, that's going to be our bread and butter," Carroll said.
Havelock 0 1 0 0— 1
White Oak 0 1 0 1— 2
GOALS—H: Wickman. W: Futral, Krueger. ASSISTS—None. IN GOAL—H: Alexander (7 saves). W: Jones (9 saves). SHOTS ON GOAL—H 10, W 10. CORNER KICKS—H 2, W 3. RECORDS—H: 4-3, 0-1, vs. Union Pines on Saturday in The Brittany Showcase in Wilson. W: 5-1, 2-0, at D.H. Conley on Tuesday.


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|Feb 15, 2013, 10:48 PM
HDTV Recommendations
So I'm in the market for a new TV, basically my only criteria is that it's $750 or less and 40-42", anything bigger is too much for my room. The thinner the better as well. Doesn't have to be a smart TV because I plan on getting an AppleTV for Netflix/iTunes rentals and use my Xbox 360 for everything else.
I've had these two in mind (if anyone can chime in what they think) and I'm totally open to suggestions.
|Feb 15, 2013, 11:06 PM
"I'll buy almost anything if it's shiny and made by Apple..."
-Macbook Wheel Ad
|Feb 16, 2013, 09:53 AM
Check out reviews for Samsung and Vizio products in your price range; really can't go wrong with either.
Wise man says, "Forgiveness is divine, but NEVER pay full price for late pizza"
|Feb 16, 2013, 12:45 PM
Samsung or Vizio
I have had my Samsung 46" LCD for almost 4 years and it's GREAT! My inlaws just bought a 55" Vizio and they really like it. Plus Vizio is Made in USA, so that's a real plus!
|Feb 16, 2013, 12:57 PM
Between family and I have bought 5 toshiba TV's and have been pretty pleased with them. Also my dad has had good luck with a Vizo as well.
|Feb 16, 2013, 03:55 PM
Get the Samsung. Samsung rates higher than Sony in that size range according to Consumers Reports. There are only a few LCD panel manufactures in the world. LG, Samsung and Sharp are the big players who sell panels to other brands like Vizeo, Panasonic... .
If you need to watch the TV at an angle, LG is superior to everyone else in that regard LCD wise. Sony isn't the company they once were.
Vizeo is headquartered in the USA, not made here.
|Feb 16, 2013, 04:18 PM
Often people will tell you to go to stores and seem them yourself. While it is logical, just remember that many of the TVs for display are NOT set up correctly or as you would have at home. In fact, some come with a setting for "promotional display only" which is brighter and contrastier than what one might use at home.
I would suggest reading up on TVs in your range and see if there is an overlap between various sources on which TV is your best bet for the size and cost range you supplied. The only thing that you can count on when going to a store to see a TV is the look of the TV itself and if possible handle the remote. Not all remotes are comfortable in your hands.
For LCD my tastes are for the Samsung, LG and Sony. Others would advocate models from Sharp and Vizio. For my viewing I always prefer plasma and that is all subjective.
As for bells and whistles, most come with some and you just choose not to use them. My TV, TiVo and blu ray player can all do Netflix and some other services including streaming media from my own hard drives. I simply choose the one that works best. I gather in your case, you'll use the ATV.
Good luck
|Feb 16, 2013, 04:54 PM
If you could go up to a 50", the Panasonic UT50 floats in your price range and will easily be the top PQ performer in your price range.
To be perfectly honest, this is the wrong forum for you. I would go over to the AVSforums and do some proper research. Cnet and thewirecutter.com are two places to go as well.
How far back will you be sitting from your TV? Is the room bright? Do you plan on using it as a monitor? Primarily watching movies/playing games? Or will you watch much SD?
I'd reiterate that I would not bother comparing TVs at Best Buy or Sears...go to a speciality store, even if you plan on buying from one of the aforementioned.
|Feb 17, 2013, 12:06 PM
The BEST and WORST Time to Shop for a TV
So, if you can find a deal on one of those plasma sets I mentioned (they start a little bigger than you're asking for - 50" - but their PQ is second to none, and right now, so is the value they represent). I've no doubt that you'll find a UT50 display or open box deal in your budget if you act sooner than later.
How far back will you be sitting in the room? What is the lighting situation in the room? (Both room light and sunlight)
|Feb 17, 2013, 02:15 PM
Wow lots of replies! Thank you all for your input.
I definitely won't be comparing picture quality at any big box stores, they're more than likely all calibrated completely wrong.
This TV will be more of a bedroom TV than for the living room so I won't be too far back and with my shades/curtains glare won't be much of an issue either. I do have standard def cable but I'm only really watching the news, all of my HD content is coming from Netflix or the iTunes store. And of course the occasional gaming with my 360.
The other tech I see pop up a lot is the LED backlight. I know there's some sort of difference between the edge-lit and a full-array. Throw in local dimming and it gets even more confusing. Do they really make that much of a difference, especially given what I'm going to be using it for?
|Feb 17, 2013, 02:59 PM
Here are the basics (and when I'm done, you'll know more of why I personally recommended a plasma set to you!)
1. Regarding LED and LCD tvs - LCD tvs usually have a fluorescent backlight. The newer "LED" or "LCD-LED" sets are still LCD panels, but instead of fluorescent backlights, they use LED backlights. Primarily, these are done for performance reasons - higher efficiency by up to 40% - less heat, darker blacks, a little better viewing angles, thinner, lighter. The business reason they did it was to sell higher-margin TVs.
2. Regarding edge-lit and full-array backlit LEDs - Again, this is also all about the backlight. Full-array backlighting has the best picture quality of the two, because - as the name implies - there is a full array of LED backlights on the back of the LCD panel, shining through it to the screen you're watching. It results in a more evenly-lit panel from corner to corner, with no bright spots anywhere. The downside? It's very expensive to install all those hundreds of LED backlights in the TV, as you can imagine. The other choice is edge-lit. As the name implies, the TV is lit by LED light sources positioned in a ring around the edge of the LCD panel, firing in towards the center. The downside is that it leaves a bright halo effect that shows up most often on dark or dim scenes. The upside? It's a lot cheaper to implement than full-array backlighting.
3. About Local Dimming - Local dimming happens in software, and all it means is that the set can control its LED backlights in zones, to give it more fine control over the black level. Here's a practical example: let's say you're watching Star Trek, and you're watching an inky-black star field. On an LED TV with Local Dimming, the TV will turn off power to the backlights in those zones that are in those pitch black areas of the screen, which makes them even darker! The effect is amazing, especially on a really good Blu-ray. The downside to it is the cost to implement. Very few TVs feature it because it's very expensive to implement. Sonys HX929 did it well at about $4000 for a 55" set. Sharp's Elite sets do it for $4500 for the 60" and $7000 for the 70"!!
So, all these steps are good and all, but by and large, they are there to catch up with where good plasma sets have been since 2008, as far as black levels and viewing angles go. Quality plasma sets represent the best bang for the buck in this space.
I hope that helps!
|Feb 17, 2013, 05:36 PM
In terms of plasmas, I know burn-in and ghosting used to be a big issue with them way back when. Have they improved since then? It sounds like I'd be better off going plasma than LCD but I do want it to last quite awhile.
This looks to be the best in the plasma category for me:
|Feb 17, 2013, 05:54 PM
|Feb 17, 2013, 08:43 PM
I've always bee a big fan of Vizio. They're priced right and you get a whole lot of features for your money. This Vizio looks really good and right around your budget
Don't know if you were looking for 3D or anything but that TV has it all
|Feb 18, 2013, 03:05 PM
Also, be mindful of the fact that Panasonic consistently outscores Samsung in the plasma world. In fact, the PQ of the entry Panasonic plasma outdoes the samsung that's in the pricing tier above. Samsung makes you pay a premium for design and features, but generally has much more drastic "deals". Kind of a catch-22...if aesthetic is a big factor, then it's Samsung hands down.
...and yes, IR and burn in are largely a thing of the past. An old DVD player with no screensaver function and 48hrs of a static image (early in the panel's life) would definitely cause some issues. But those are extraordinary circumstances that would likely even damage an LED panel.
Last edited by taylord22; Feb 19, 2013 at 02:29 PM.
|Feb 18, 2013, 05:08 PM
|Feb 19, 2013, 09:01 AM
Paul's TV currently has the TCP55VT50 on sale for $1499 if you use the coupon code SAVE500. It's the top of the line model of 2012. If you're still in the market for a TV you should definitely look at this set.
|Feb 19, 2013, 02:47 PM
I am by no means an expert here, but I wanted to share my experience with Panasonic plasmas. I've had my 42" Panasonic plasma since May of 2008 and couldn't be happier. Picture quality is awesome (to my non-expert eyes anyway), and it still works just as well today as the day I bought it. I haven't had any burn-in issues, and it's had a LOT of use over the years. I would highly recommend Panasonic plasmas, for what it's worth.
|Feb 19, 2013, 03:15 PM
|Feb 19, 2013, 03:29 PM
I'm very happy with my Bravia NX420, a 42" sized very slim TV; connected via Ethernet direct to my router getting Hulu. Until now all software upgrades went well.
Specially I like the monolithic front glass made from gorilla; looks really nice.
Member of MacRumors.com Folding@Home Team (#3446) & developer of the F@H Mobile Monitoring app.
|Feb 19, 2013, 04:02 PM
Sharp makes the best LCD panels. No competition. Look for one of their 40"-42" Aquos series.
Mac Pro | Thunderbolt Display | iPhone 6 Plus | iPad Air 2 | Apple TV | AirPort Extreme
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|Feb 19, 2013, 11:56 PM
I agree with Irishman all around. It definitely sounds like a plasma is best for your application. Plus if you graduate to watching more things on your bedroom set, the plasma is significantly more versatile (great with sports, films, etc.) I believe Panasonic is hands down the best right now. If you can handle a 50 inch and can squeeze a few more dollars into your budget, this TV can now be found on sale under $1000. And this is the season where it could easily dip a little lower. Good luck to you!
|Feb 20, 2013, 01:35 AM
My vote goes for LG over all the others:
Go for LG
|Feb 20, 2013, 02:02 PM
But you said that might be too big for your room.... I'd imagine their 42" slim models would be even better at this point. Check a few of them out at Best Buy or something, and then order them off Amazon Prime with free shipping.
"Nature abhors a moron." - H.L. Mencken
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|Car Audio, SYNC, MyFord Touch & Electronics The Forum for the Ford Focus audiophiles. The place to chat about automobile sound systems, security systems, or show off your I.C.E.!
Sponsored By: GT Sound Control
|Topic Review (Newest First)
Has anyone with a MK2 focus upgraded to the SYNC v4.x? I've been seeing a couple posts about the update recently, looked up my 2010 and it says I'm up to date, however I tried a VIN for a 2011 from cars.com (just to see if there was a difference) and it reports the 4.x update is available.
I wish I knew the differences between 2011 and 2010 for the APIM and / or how to force the update! I want AppLink and texting!
This might be slightly off topic, but what mp3 players do you all use with sync? I'm using a (gen 5?) ipod touch. It isn't bad, but I'm running out of space. I would just get another ipod touch, but I imagine there are better mp3 players for the same price (or lower), since I'm not going to be using any apps or anything. I was also considering a USB hard drive; but since sync doesn't display Chinese, Japanese, or Korean characters, I wouldn't be able to find ~50% of my music (I need to be able to browse the music on the device itself). Any suggestions?
|Has anyone in the UK had any luck updating the SYNC software without going to a dealer? If you have gone to a dealer, have they charged you for the privilege of an update?
|It seems like if I upload mp3s (at a bitrate above 128kbps) to my iPod, sync can't handle them. The audio starts to skip/pop when playing them. Occasionally, it works; but most of the time, the music is not listenable. Is there anything I can do on my iPod, or in Sync, to allow music at a higher bitrate than 128? I don't want to go through my library and convert everything to 128 so that I can listen in my car... I haven't tried with any other devices, so I'm not sure if it is just the iPod, or something with Sync. Has anyone else seen (heard) this in their car?
|Ok so this is weird. I can't perform a master reset. I know the steps and I've done it before but now when I go to menu system settings are nowhere to be found. It doesn't scroll past display settings.
|My USB works, but only displays the song about half the time. My bluetooth refuses to work for music (only phone) after a couple weeks of getting a master rest at the dealer.
Have not yet been to the dealer. I tried a master reset last week but it didn't fix anything. I've had success in the past by pulling the fuse. I have not yet tried to manually import the phone book but I will try that soon. My phone book is clean. No social media sites or emoticons.
Have you been to your dealer for this, LinkDude? Based on the issues you're system is exhibiting, I suggest you make an appointment to have them diagnose this. In the meantime, you can try a master reset:
After the reset you'll have to pair your phone again; this time try turning AUTO PHONEBOOK DOWNLOAD off. Follow these steps to manually download your phonebook:
Be sure you don't have any emoticons or special characters in your contacts, and if you have any social media sites synced with your phone's contact list, try turning it off.
Let me know if that helps!
I've loved every second of driving my Focus but the radio and Sync System (not MFT) have been an absolute nightmare.
Granted, it hasn't tried to kill me yet and if it decides to work it works well enough. But IF is a big keyword there. I can get into the car and say "USB Play" it'll either work the first try, or say USB not connected (it is), indexing please wait (what? again?), or index full some songs not available. And I pretty much have to use the voice commands because otherwise switching from AUX in to USB is like a 6 step process that I didn't figure out how to fumble though until recently. Also the voice commands are hit or miss.
I say "Phone Call Mom Cell" …"CALLING NICOLE ON CELL" I don't know how Nicole=Mom but I swear this happens 3/4 times I try to call my mom. It's also recently started crossing "Victoria" and "Chris" for some reason.
Oh then there was the "w" incident… It started when I was driving and decided to change the music with voice.
"Play track "What's Up""
"PLAYING TRACK WHAT'S UP" and then Wheel in the Sky starts playing… Confused I look at the screen
"Now Playing SO: What's Up AR: 4 Non Blondes"
So I try an again. "Play track "What's Up""
"PLAYING TRACK WHAT'S UP" and then Wheel in the Sky starts playing… screen "Now Playing SO: What's Up AR: 4 Non Blondes"
So I try to experiment "Play track Wheel in the Sky"
"PLAYING TRACK WHEEL IN THE SKY" and then "When I Come Around" starts playing. Screen says "SO: Wheel in the Sky AR: Journey." Later I figured out that it was playing the next song alphabetically from the song I had requested. Why? Still don't know. Best part, it only happened with songs that started with the letter w. I asked for Spirit of Radio, it played Spirit of Radio. That problem seemed to resolve itself… still don't know why.
So now I like to entertain myself by yelling obscene things into the track listing and seeing what plays. "Play track YOU STUPID !@#&!"
"PLAYING TRACK EMINENCE FRONT" …why it started playing "Best of You" after that I don't know but at least the screen matched this time.
Usually when it gets really bad I perform a manual reset. Not a master reset through the interface, that never works but actually climb under the passenger side dash and pull the fuse. Then it'll usually start working again. I've done this 3 times so far. Last week the thing started freezing on the "INDEXING..." Screen when I switch to USB. It'll still play if I control from the phone but the screen won't do anything. The voice commands sort of work but probably miss like 80% of the time often registering that I didn't say anything at all.
Am I the only one having these problems or is this just what happens when Microsoft builds a radio?
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Programming from home has its advantages, but also its disadvantages. One of the disadvantages is the productivity is less constant.
What would you suggest me to be more productive?
Programming from home has its advantages, but also its disadvantages. One of the disadvantages is the productivity is less constant.
closed as off topic by Mark Trapp Oct 7 '11 at 19:05
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My advice:
Work at night when there are less distractions :) If not every day, the once in a while all night long coding sessions always does wonders.
Use an egg timer to work focused on some task and then take a short break. Repeat. Try out different intervals for example 25 minutes work, 5 minutes break or 45 minutes work and 10 minutes break. I find it helps me stay focused since I know that however tedious the task I will soon get a break.
To solve this problem, you first need to identify the causes of the less constant productivity. Many of those causes boil down to distractions. Food is nearby and basically free; video games/books/other entertainment are easily accessible; family members or pets want attention. Another factor is that there's less direct oversight; sure, you still have to do your job, but there's nobody in the cube across from you to look at you funny if you slack off a bit.
As others have said, keeping to a schedule can make a huge difference. Having well-defined "work times" and lunch/break/family times should help.
If you have enough space, clear out an area that's just for work and away from distractions. If you're working next to your refrigerator or your Wii, you're going to be more tempted to eat or take a gaming break than you would be if you were in a dedicated home office. It's the same theory that leads college students to camp out on the top floor of the library before finals.
If you're working with a team, check in frequently. It's easier to fall behind if you don't have to check in for another six days or two weeks than it is if your next status update is in two hours.
If I had to boil my answer down to one word, it would be willpower. If you have it, you'll be able to overcome the things that reduce productivity at home; if you don't, you won't. Every other strategy is just about reducing temptation and cutting down the amount of willpower you need.
Personally, I do my best work when I decide that:
It's all about letting the world get the hell out of your way. This usually translates into an all night programming session, at the end of which I always make great strides. Since you work from home your schedule should be flexible enough to manage your obligations to a minimum.
I've worked from home for big chunks of time over my career, and I've definitely struggled with this at different times.
The following have worked for me:
If you also use your working computer for other activities (e.g., gaming) try setting up a different account or workspace in it. Anything that creates a barrier between your current work set-up and a distraction will help.
Letting people in the house know what you're doing is also paramount. Make them your allies!
Working at night certainly works best for me. No distractions around, generally quieter, etc.
I have a fairly set schedule I like to keep which helps to build a routine.
But whether you're at home or in the office some days are just going to be less productive than others. Sometimes if I'm having one of those days I'll grant myself 30 minutes to walk away from the computer and do something else. Then when I come back I usually have a clearer mind and can recover some of that lost productivity.
Don't forget that the occasional 10 minute distraction can prove to be good. There are many times I need to step away from my desk and play ping pong/foos ball/whatever, and when I get back to my desk I find myself more productive and usually end up solving the problem I had in the first place.
I work for myself and I swear this video from Dan Pink about motivation helped change my whole outlook on things.
But, because anything motivational really only drives you for so long, I have found the beauty of working off a wireless laptop. If I need a change of atmosphere, I can move to a different chair. If I need to get out of the house, I can go to a wifi coffee shop. If that one isn't working, I go to a different one. There are even times I go to places with no internet so it forces me to get work done offline.
I guess what sums it up for me is that because I work for myself, I have to motivate myself. And I try to keep track of things that do just that, and do them more.
Todo list Timer Number of hours I want to code for the day
Prioritize the list, start the timer, begin working on top priority task.
Keep doing this until I hit my mark for the day.
I take "programming retreats" pretty regularly, letting folks know I'll unavailable. Like a vacation, except focused on productivity. Gives the no-interruption advantages of "all night coding," but for stretches of days rather than just one night. Amazing how much I can get done that way, relative to "normal work schedule."


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50th reunion for undefeated team this weekend
Members of the undefeated 1962 Ole Miss Rebels will reuniting this weekend during the Ole Miss vs. University of Texas game. Several events are planned to honor the only teams in Ole Miss's history to have a perfect season. (September 14, 2012, Page 1B, 8B)


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