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"Dick Cheney watches television": The four previously unseen 9/11 photos that will make you hate the evil VP all over again
Topics: Terrorism, Gaming, Video Games, Entertainment News
You can never be the enemy, in America's Army. In this popular new game of multiplayer combat, you can log on as a U.S. soldier who must, say, invade a terrorist camp — but if someone logs onto the opposing side, to fight you, he also plays as a U.S. soldier. It's just that from his point of view, he's defending a U.S. camp from terrorist invasion. You will always see yourself and your squad in U.S. Army uniforms, wielding U.S. weapons. Everyone who signs up to fight, then, fights as an American.
The game has become so popular with U.S. troops and Pentagon brass, says Lt. Colonel Wardynski, director of the Office of Economic and Manpower Analysis and the man who initially conceived it, that there's even talk of shipping computers to Afghanistan, so soldiers can play it from there.
"I had high hopes that it would be something pretty hot," says Capt. Jason Amerine, an Army officer who recently served in Afghanistan. A longtime gamer who counts Command & Conquer and Rainbow Six among his favorites, Amerine was not disappointed. America's Army was so realistic that for the first time, he says, "I was actually looking at it more as a soldier than even a gamer — but it happened to be good in both ways."
But America's Army's real purpose is to be a recruiting tool, which is why the game has been made freely available since July, with new units and missions added on a regular basis. (It'll be out on CD in recruitment offices soon.) And while its impact on recruitment won't be evident until December, when July enlistees arrive for basic training, early signs, say Army spokesmen, are promising: 28 percent of Americasarmy.com visitors click through to goarmy.com, the government's official recruitment site.
The Army claims that 470,000 people have the game or are playing it now. But there is some skepticism as to whether such success will translate into more recruits. "I don't believe it is any more likely to do this than a good book or a good movie," says Henry Jenkins, director of MIT's Comparative Media Studies Program. But in terms of cost effectiveness, that might be enough. Compared to investment in traditional recruiting ads in other media, says Mike Zyda, director of the MOVES Institute, the Navy's Monterey, Calif., virtual-reality think tank that developed the project with Wardynski, the game is much cheaper.
America's Army is the first game to make recruitment an explicit goal, but it snugly fits into a subgenre of games already in vogue: the "tactical shooter," a first-person shooter that emphasizes realistic, squad-based combat. The realism factor means these games are often modeled on recent events. Next month comes NovaLogic's Delta Force: Black Hawk Down, adapted from journalist Mark Bowden's 1999 book and from Ridley Scott's film of the same name, which reenact the brutal firefight between U.S. soldiers and Somalia's bin Laden-funded militants in 1993. Before that, gamers will get to replay an earlier battle: SCi/Gotham Games' Conflict Desert Storm is loosely based on covert operations against the Iraqi defense infrastructure conducted by American Delta Force and British SAS commandos, in the days leading up to the Gulf War.
Given the warlike tenor of current events, it's not surprising that America's Army has taken fire from its left flank. An article on the liberal-left Web site Tompaine.com called it "propaganda," part of "America's escalating militarization — designed by the Bush administration," while the Nation's Web site recently fretted over the "political implications" of its gameplay: "nonstop Army cheerleading, with frequent terrorist and Arab bashing … What better way to reinforce [the war on terrorism's] legitimacy?"
But the squeamishness some lefty critics are expressing over America's Army only demonstrates how many people are still too incurious or too craven to acknowledge the brutal reality the terrorist threat currently poses. Even now, antiwar advocates prattle on about the "root causes of terrorism" — when the only meaningful cause spurring on al-Qaida and their like is, in Christopher Hitchens' clumsily apt coinage, Islamofascism: a well-organized assault on Western democracy and values (and a close nephew to the original German variation).
Meanwhile, the spiritual sons of Sayyid Qutb, the Egyptian intellectual who turned his hatred for American secularism, Jews and sexually liberated women into a galvanizing cry for totalitarian theocracy, are still active and influential, even now sending out calls for world domination.
During World War II, as the country girded for battle, director Frank Capra created a series of films to instruct the Army's soldiers. A classic of righteous propaganda, "Why We Fight" laid out for the greatest generation who the enemy was, and why they must be defeated. If the presentation was simplistic, its message was irrefutable, and comprehensible to the least literate recruit.
A contemporary version of "Why We Fight" seems unlikely to emerge from Hollywood, outside of a rush of thrillers with stock terrorist villains. But the need for one now is just as urgent, even as al-Qaida is whittled away by gun battles in Karachi or raids on a Buffalo suburb. The war on terror — which, if we parse out the diplomatic niceties, really means a war on Islamist militants, and the nations who back them (beginning with Saddam's Iraq) — must be fought, and over a campaign of many years, decisively won.
In that regard, America's Army and Delta Force: Black Hawk Down are the "Why We Fight" for the digital generation. Though not explicitly doctrinaire in an ideological sense, by showing the very young how we fight, applying the moral application of lethal force on behalf of liberal values, these games create the wartime culture that is so desperately needed now. One hopes they'll inspire the best gamers to consider a career of military service, while preparing them for the battles to come. There are even indications that playing these games provide useful experience for when they do go into real-world combat. All to the good: it will aid them in the war to conclude what is truly the unfinished business of 1945.
The first-person shooter was invented roughly a year after the Gulf War. In 1992′s Wolfenstein 3D, you mowed your way through a Nazi stronghold, gunning down poorly animated waves of blobby fascists. (They yelped, "Mein leiben!" when you shot them.) After that game and Doom, its follow-up, the archetypal antagonist for the FPS was pretty much set: Nazis, aliens or some variation of either. And why not? The Cold War was over — who was left to fight in the real world?
That there was a larger geopolitical context to 1993′s firefight in Mogadishu would remain obscure, even after Bowden's 1999 book — even after a grandiose fanatic began taking credit for arming the militants who drove the Americans from Somalia. For the rest of the decade, it seemed as if there would be no other real-world enemies worth depicting — certainly not for killing over and over. Subsequent shooters like Unreal and the Quake series made their aliens bigger, and their weapons more absurdly elephantine. In a decade of peace and excess, this looked like grotesque overcompensation to many, including myself; all that firepower directed at enemies who didn't exist, by bloodthirsty adolescents who'd never see genuine violence in their entire lives.
Half-Life (1998) also featured aliens, but emphasized realistic, contemporary weapons; many gamers counted as their favorite opponents not the spoogey invaders from another dimension, but the artificial-intelligence-driven commandos who fought you with coordinated precision at the beginning of the game. Counterstrike, a fan-made, custom modification (or mod) of Half-Life, ran with the human element, to create the most popular multiplayer game of all time. Millions still gather on thousands of servers worldwide, taking on the role of terrorist, or a special forces operative out to stop them.
Rainbow Six and other Tom Clancy-derived franchises sold well, as did NovaLogic's Delta Force series, but it was probably the growing popularity of Counterstrike that fostered the current audience for tactical shooters. And while African bodies were removed from the rubble of the double strike on U.S. embassies in Kenya and Tanzania in 1999, and lifeless sailors were lifted from the thrashed hull of the USS Cole in 2000, Counterstrike went from free mod to retail game, and kept right on drawing fans. But it was the gameplay, not hatred of terrorism, that made it a phenomenon. "Tactical games take the best elements of first-person shooters and add in accuracy and teamwork," says Jason Bergman, news editor at Shacknews.com. "You simply can not do well in a tactical shooter without teamwork."
Teamwork is also key in America's Army, as a strategy and as a value Col. Wardynski wants to impart. Notwithstanding how some misinterpret the Army's new "Army of One" slogan, says Wardynski. "What [that] really means is that the Army is a lot of individuals put together so that it adds up to more than the sum of the parts — and the game is sort of designed to capture it as well."
Some have dismissed the game as a recruiting gimmick. But the weight that the Army puts on this project might be better gauged by looking at the other duties that fall to the colonel — while he tracks the download stats for America's Army, for example, Wardynski also handles personnel and funding issues for Afghanistan's very fragile, very real army. This is not the brainchild of a geeky corporal in Pentagon P.R.
As it turns out, the priority placed on America's Army is due to its integral place in "transformation," a new American military doctrine that aims to fully upgrade the Army into an information-driven force. "Mr. Rumsfeld talks about it a lot," says Wardynski. Starting next year, they'll begin to implement helmet-mounted, heads-up displays [HUDS] that will provide the next iteration of infantrymen with real-time data on terrain, enemy concentrations and so on — "and it looks a lot like a game," according to Wardynski.
While writing a dissertation at the RAND Corporation in Santa Monica, Calif., Wardynski would return home to watch his kids play games like Mechwarrior, and he was impressed by their ability to process multiple data streams from several HUDs at once. "The kinds of kids that are very comfortable with lots of information coming at them in visual presentations will feel very comfortable with our transformed Army," he says. This was the seed to America's Army; the funding to create it was approved in the final year of the tech-friendly Clinton administration.
So Wardynski and MOVES were already developing the game when American Airlines Flight 77 went plowing through the northwest side of the Pentagon. Among the 189 killed was Wardynski's boss.
Up to then, the designers were leaning more toward narco-terrorists or drug traffickers as the opposing combatants. "After 9/11 it was pretty clear the United States was at war, and we do have real enemies out there," says Wardynski.
When I ask Wardynski about the theories of Lt. Col. David Grossman, his "Oh, yeah" is mixed with a barely audible sigh. After the Columbine massacre, Grossman enjoyed momentary prominence for his theories of "killology."
By playing first-person shooters, Grossman asserted to "60 Minutes," Clinton and anyone else who'd listen, kids were training in a "murder simulator," being taught — as the Army does in boot camp — to deliver expert kill shots on reflex.
So does this mean America's Army is rearing the next generation of serial killers?
"We brought in Ph.D.s in behavioral science, political science, Army experts in training, and I have yet to find one who [subscribes to these theories]," says Wardynski. (Grossman did not respond to repeated requests for an interview.)
In a similar vein, I challenge Wardynski on the game's dearth of on-screen gore. (Hits are rendered with a prim red dot, as if the weapons were shooting out magic markers.) Doesn't that sanitize the gruesome aftermath of an M-16 hit? Gore would disqualify the game from getting the intended Teen rating from the ratings board, he responds — and besides, "We respect our audience [enough] to know that if we don't have that in our game, they're not dumb and they'll still know that [gore is] part of combat."
Even with terrorism designated as the primary enemy, care was taken to keep scenarios and combatants as generic as possible, says Wardynski. While his men in Kabul are conducting subject-matter reviews, so that future missions can be based on active units in Afghanistan, no nation or people is identified in its depiction of terrorists: "There's some blond white guys, there's some skinheads … so it's not like we settled on any ethnic group or anything like that." (This despite the Nation's dishonest claim that the game encourages "Arab bashing.")
There's nothing generic about the opponents in NovaLogic's Delta Force: Black Hawk Down, who fire at you from turret-mounted jeeps, or from the rooftops in the game's vividly rendered, 3-D Mogadishu. They unmistakably resemble the Somali militants who took the lives of 18 U.S. soldiers, after downing two troop choppers with rocket-propelled grenades — an operation orchestrated in part by Qutb disciple and bin Laden consigliere Ayman al-Zawahiri.
The United States' subsequent withdrawal from Somalia was a milestone in the al-Qaida narrative, one more victory that proved that atrocity would be met with retreat — eventually making their designs on New York and Washington seem like an inevitable next step.
For unrelated reasons, the game generated some controversy, especially after Mark Bowden refused to have anything to do with NovaLogic's project. "I think there's a substantial difference between a work of art, which I consider a film to be, even a Hollywood film, [and a game]," Bowden explains, reached while on a train headed for Manhattan. For him, "A game is a game. It's something that you play. And this story is about real people, and I know many of the family members who lost brothers and husbands and sons in that battle. And I did not want to be part of something that turns it into a game."
"Mr. Bowden is certainly entitled to his opinion," NovaLogic producer Wes Eckhart e-mails me later, "but who is he to judge what a work of art is, or even what an acceptable form of entertainment is?" Eckhart says that NovaLogic hired two Rangers who fought and were wounded in the conflict as the game's subject-matter experts, and on their request, will donate some of the profits from the game to charities that will benefit those families.
"[Games] have a certain amount of potential value in making someone interested in history or in the military or how the military operates," says Bowden. "It has that kind of educational value." But he's skeptical their utility may extend beyond that. "In terms of preparing someone for the actual experience of combat, particularly infantry soldiers, I just regard that as really unlikely. Because I think the essential element in real combat is terror. And I don't believe you can re-create actual terror in a video game. It's a game; you can turn it off whenever you want to."
I ask Bowden how many games he's actually played. "I think I got pretty good at Super Breakout, but that's pretty much the extent of my video game experience." He readily agrees that declining NovaLogic was a visceral reaction to the medium, though "I have no personal grudge against video games; my kids play them all the time."
Bowden's repute as a journalist of military and international affairs is without peer — his stunning Atlantic Monthly profile of Saddam Hussein is a tour de force — so it's understandable if he's not also versed on the latest in interactive entertainment. If anything, his wariness says more about the distance between generations, and the mediums they call their culture.
The tactical shooter is already a tool in the military's regimen. "Indeed," says Eckhart, "a modified version of NovaLogic's Delta Force is used for training plebes in their first year at West Point. The software helps teach principles of maneuver, elements of combat power and land navigation."
Capt. Jason Amerine, a West Point grad who recently served in Afghanistan, agrees with Eckhart's observations on the value of games as training tools. "The Army taught me all the skills I have, but at the same time, a lot of these first-person shooters, I think that they do tend to kind of get you in the right mind-set for some of the situations you might encounter in real life," he says. He compares them to the battle drills of his field training. "When you're sitting there in some of these multiplayer shootouts, engaging your opposition, I think that it does kind of condition you a little bit to know what to look for. You get those visual cues down, I think is the best way to put it."
Capt. Amerine is a Green Beret with Fifth Special Forces Group. And when Defense Secretary Rumsfeld demanded summary "boots on the ground," two of the first were Amerine's. Scarcely a month after 9/11, his A-Team detachment was airdropped deep within Taliban-controlled territory, to link up with then-tribal leader Hamid Karzai and his lightly armed band of highly irregulars. Armed with an improvised arsenal of satellite phones, Karzai's charisma and the best air support after the wrath of God, Amerine's detachment and Karzai's freedom fighters rode in motley caravan from village to village, fomenting rebellion, gathering a makeshift militia, until they reached and took the Taliban stronghold of Kandahar. (A friendly fire incident blew out Amerine's left ear and battered his leg with shrapnel, removing him from action days before Karzai marched into the city.)
Kandahar's fall was a turning point in the conflict, but Amerine names as his proudest moment an earlier engagement, when he and his men deployed on a ridgeline above the small town of Tarin Kot. Kandahar's leaders had sent 500 heavily armed Taliban and al-Qaida fighters rumbling to the town in 80 vehicles, with orders to slaughter its civilians, sparing neither woman nor child (retribution for driving out their Islamist masters, days earlier). From the height of the ridgeline, Amerine and his men turned a tripod-mounted laser onto the convoy, to guide in the F-18′s that were arcing into position, high above. (Amerine's unit was eventually forced to return to town, and continued directing the airstrike from there — even as village children laughed and scampered at their feet.) The Taliban murder party was still barreling through a narrow valley, closing on Tarin Kot, when the laser-led bombs found them. And discounting the battered survivors who fled back to Kandahar, killed them all. The town was secure.
At the moment, though, Amerine is still trying to secure a copy of Battlefied 1942, a new tactical shooter set in various World War II theaters. "Babbages messed up and gave away the copy that I pre-ordered," he says, "but I should be picking that up I think tomorrow." He speaks with an easy, placid drawl that belies the ferocity of his chosen profession — but seems more reflective of a childhood spent on Oahu. Recovering from his wartime injuries, he's now earning a master's, in preparation for lectureship duties at West Point.
When he first got a chance to play America's Army, "I was really curious what the Army was going to come up with," says Amerine. "Knowing Col. Wardynski and the people who were working on the game, I had high hopes that it would be something pretty hot." A longtime gamer who counts Command and Conquer and Rainbow Six among his favorites, Amerine was not disappointed. It was so realistic that for the first time, he says, "I was actually looking at it more as a soldier than even a gamer — but it happened to be good in both ways."
And what's impressed him, playing America's Army, is how many competitors he's fought who come to the game without his experience base, but learn usable tactics on the fly: "You could tell in some cases you have significantly younger people, probably junior high or so … they'd be saying things back and forth that indicated to me that this was sort of an extension of guys who grew up on Rainbow Six and other first-person shooters … the techniques they would use just by figuring it out would end up being very similar to what we would do in real life." He found himself up against kids staggering their formations, using smoke to cover their approach, closing on the enemy with fire and maneuver, individual movement techniques (IMT) — in short, acquiring through gameplay knowledge that was once available only through military training.
At one point during his tour in Afghanistan, Amerine was on a ridge, outside a town where Taliban gunmen had pinned down Karzai's men with assault rifles and rocket-propelled grenades.
"So I got on up there and started shooting to try and get my guerrillas into the fight … [T]he Taliban were all shooting AK-47s and RPGs, and with my M4 and an ACOG, I was able to outshoot the Taliban. Especially at 300 meters, they weren't very good shots. The RPG was getting close," Amerine deadpans, "but I got him before he could get me."
Emboldened, the freedom fighters returned to the fray, and helped Amerine drive the Taliban from the village. But during the firefight, Capt. Amerine had an odd thought. "It was kind of funny, because it was sort of like, Well, this is just like what I did on my computer, I guess." Having reenacted similar scenarios so many times, he found these games had helped prepare him for that moment, when he came up firing. "It definitely made it easier … in a lot of ways it was similar to what you would see if you were playing a sniper in the original Delta Force, for example."
And apart from his concern for the safety of Karzai and the soldiers, Amerine describes the experience as, well, fun. "It was exhilarating, the actual going through it, bullets whizzing over your head, bombs blowing up. But as far as taking human life, that's a horrible aspect of the job — but you know, they were trying to do the same thing to us, and we got them first."
And about here is where the similarities end. "When I was in a shootout with the Taliban, it occurred to me that I had to stick my head up to shoot at them and I might very well catch a bullet between my eyes … and I was aware of it, but I knew what I had to do. That's not something you can re-create in a computer game, the fact that your life is in danger. And also, when you actually have to see the results of what you did, when you go over and you see the enemies that've fallen by your hand, that's something else you can't re-create."
But even here, developers are seeking to convey, if not the horror, the strategic implications of violence. With America's military dominance never in doubt, victory now depends not just on winning the battle, but on preventing as much as possible the friendly fire and civilian casualties that would turn domestic and world opinion against the action. So in "America's Army," the server keeps tabs on your fealty to the military's strict rules of engagement (ROE) — crossing them too often gets you removed from the game, thrown into a virtual depiction of Fort Leavenworth prison. (Multiplayer games are usually anarchic, free-fire zones.)
And in the single-player game of Black Hawk Down, says NovaLogic's Wes Eckhart, "In most cases, killing civilians or noncombatants will result in the player losing the mission and being forced to replay it." Not only that, many of the game's missions emphasize the U.S. effort to protect the United Nations' relief effort to the warlord-enforced famine that was devastating Somalia.
This overall shift of focus is a positive development for the genre, says MIT's Henry Jenkins. "It seems to me that they may be making some interesting steps toward achieving the 'meaningful violence' I have been advocating," he says, "heightening the emphasis on choice and consequence."
For Amerine, it's an essential element to "America's Army" working as an educational tool for gamers who'd consider a place in the military: "On the one hand, we're becoming extremely technologically advanced; nobody can be computer illiterate in the Army anymore," he says. "The other aspect to it, though, the human aspect, that's the part that we also need to make sure we never lose sight of, because we can never forget our humanity. We still need to remember we're out there using very lethal weapons; often we're in close proximity to noncombatants, to civilians, and [we must] protect their lives as well as we can while we're attempting to engage the enemy."
Fortunately, Amerine suspects that "America's Army" gamers who do end up in the recruitment office will have a reservoir of experience to draw from. "I don't think that they'll really quite appreciate a lot of the lessons until they do it for real, and then they can kind of make the mental leap to put [the gameplay and real-world experience] together."
For his own part, as he heals and continues his education, his only regret is that he's not part of the latest deployment. "All my friends, all my soldiers, they could be invading Iraq soon, and I'm going to college — that's kinda hard to take … I'd want to be out there sharing the risk with everybody rather than … watching it on the news."
When asked about Hamid Karzai's recent narrow escape from an assassination attempt, he speaks of his friend the president of Afghanistan as of a fellow soldier. "He's an incredibly brave man who's truly a patriot for his country. He knew from the beginning that there'd be people trying to assassinate him … So this really doesn't change anything — he's still going to work hard to bring stability to his country, and he'll just keep dodging the bullets as he tries to do so."
He might soon act as an advisor to future expansions of "America's Army," so I ask him what kind of missions he'd imagine, if the designers were to implement, say, laser-guided airstrikes.
"You can lase a target from several kilometers away," he says. "So one thing might be you have an observation post, you have a laser setup, where you're trying to lase the enemy, and you're trying to protect your position as enemy forces are coming right up on you."
It occurs to me that such a mission would resemble what Amerine did in his finest hour, when he turned a beam of light on the would-be butchers of women and children, and brought down the thunder.
When Sayyid Qutb came to America, he reportedly admired the country's scientific and technological achievements, but seethed with contempt for its obsession with "entertainment, or what they call in their language, 'fun.'" But perhaps Western culture is poised for the ultimate in ironic revenge — America's Army heralds the day when computer gaming's synthesis of entertainment and technology will become the greatest threat to the terrorist menace, as it continues its struggle to carry out the jihad of Qutb and bin Laden's fevered longings.
"We're going to continue to be out hunting for terrorists," Amerine promises me, "and doing what we can to support the Arab world." When I thank him for what he did in Afghanistan — helping uproot the al-Qaida network, liberating a brutalized people, stuff like that — Amerine answers cheerily, "I really had fun doing it."
In his early 30s, Amerine is among the first generation of soldiers to grow up with computer games. It's not hard to have confidence in the soldiers who'll come after him, kids in their early teens who are already giving him a hard fight, online. You can see them in the field, in subsequent years, dedicated young men and women, their weapons merged into an information network that enables them to cut out with surgical precision the cancer that threatens us all — heat-packing humanitarians who leave the innocent unscathed, and full of renewed hope. In their wake, democracy, literacy and an Arab world restored to full flower, as it deserves to be, an equal in a burgeoning global culture, defended on all fronts by the best of the digital generation.
Dick Cheney watches television


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Proctor A To Z
The Tao of Proctor
Chucks Corner
My Proctor
June (2014)
All Good Things
Penultimate Post
Envisioning Greatness
The Proctor Difference
May (2014)
Ties That Bind
April (2014)
Cary House Remembered
March (2014)
George's Gift
Pick Yourself
February (2014)
Letter from Mike: On Being Remarkable
Trustees and Volunteers
December (2013)
Holiday Card
Good Causes
Frozen Assets
November (2013)
Sally B.
End Game
Have Fun, Learn, and Work Hard
Seasons of Change
October (2013)
Process of Affirmation
The Notion of Stewardship
September (2013)
Self Study
Into The Mystic
This post's title is a play on the fact that Ocean Classroom sailed into the Mystic River (CT) this morning (where I am visiting them,) and the Program Director--Dave Pilla--is known to be an accomplished rock singer whose rendition of Van Morrison's "Into The Mystic" is becoming legendary.
Ocean Classroom's schooner
Harvey Gamage
rode this morning's high tide over the harbor bar at eight hours this morning, and docked at Mystic Seaport Museum, one of fourteen educational stops on its way to Puerto Rico. I arrived at Mystic a few hours later, and was offered images off of science teacher Jason Childers' memory card which take us back to Wednesday in Gloucester, their port of embarkation. We begin with real-life interview of a proud fisherman aboard his trawler.
his was followed by an oceanography/biology study of rocky tidal pools, which students assure me was "awesome."
fter spending two nights at anchor in Gloucester's outer harbor, our intrepid crew set off into light southerly winds Wednesday, with a port-of-call of Mystic, Connecticut set for Sunday (today). The fact that dock space at Mystic was firmly scheduled prompted use of the "iron mainsail" (diesel engine) to round Cape Cod.
o I drove to Mystic this morning, bought my pass to
Mystic Seaport Museum
(they gave me a break on the entry fee when I told them what I was doing, and mentioned the fact that their schooner
L.A. Dunton
was designed by my great-grandfather) and boarded the ship at thirteen hours, as they lunched on fish sticks and popcorn.
went about the business of interviewing students. It turns out that they had a great sail into light chop last night, which caused two kids to puke overboard; (Andrew also hurled into a bag while in his bunk in the fo'c'sle, but the bag had two holes in it....a mistake he will not repeat.) I asked kids to rate their experience on a scale of one-to-ten, and everyone agreed on a ten. Mike, the First Mate, called a muster for B-Watch at the stern to coordinate lunch clean-up.
ere's what struck me: at Proctor, kids sometimes grumble about things like dish duty (advisee groups managing dishwasher processes for one day every six or seven weeks,) but on a ship where everyone is invested in a common goal, no one would ever dream of whining about duties; it is their privilege to make things work. Individuals sacrificing for the team is a joy.
oriah declared, "Already, I feel that been here forever, and I don't want it to ever end."
y other insight is that kids are working their butts off on academic preparation. One team of students prepared a lecture/discussion on the history of Mystic, Connecticut, and the evolution of the Mystic Seaport Museum. This was followed by a talk on the history of the whaling industry by a Williams College professor. Tonight, they attend the viewing of a documentary film at the Seaport Museum.
his afternoon, the crew broke into watch groups and toured the Seaport Museum. There was time to hack.
he members of B-watch insisted that they are the luckiest kids in the world to have this experience. I don't know that anyone will dispute that contention.
The moment students recognized me on the dock, they demanded representation on the Corner.....
Eli cleaning pots and pans in the galley. No one complains about duties on Ocean Classroom.
Denning brings extra ice tea back to the cooler after lunch.
Ryan proudly showed me his bunk, immediately above Hunter's. The prayer flags are working. Everything smells of mildew.
Dan--part of the professional crew--climbs to execute a daily inspection of rigging aloft. Safety of the ship is job #1.
Jeremy recreates (or anticipates?) a harrowing moment at the helm...
A ukelele is a must on a boat!
On shore for the first time in five days--and looking forward to a fresh water shower--Ryan photographs an antique auto parade.
Tourists hover over the schooner. "Are you folks going for a sail?" Andrew: "Yes, we are."

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Hang tight!
Recipe by Victoria M.H.
"Amazing! Everything compliments the other extremely well and it's a nice main dish."
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1 (8 ounce) package
linguine pasta
2 tablespoons
1 (10 ounce) can
artichoke hearts, drained and sliced
1 (4 ounce) can
sliced mushrooms, drained
1 (7 ounce) can
escargot, drained
3 cloves
garlic, chopped
1 teaspoon
dried sage
1 pinch
dried oregano
1/4 cup
grated Parmesan cheese
This recipe was very, very dry. I added a bit of heavy cream, a bit of romano cheese, and some grated fontina, took away the oregano-didn't quite mesh with esgargot. And added frsh chopped parsley. trick add a bit of the canning liquid in as well. Also, if you want more flavor omit the artichokes add diced tomatoes and capers and a hearty splash of white wine. (wine and artichokes do not go well together at all)
This recipe was not as expected. It needed some kind of sauce; was a bit dry. Could not find escargot, so substituted shrimp. Did not throw out, but will not make again.
3 Ratings
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.
Artichoke and Escargot Over Linguini
Serving Size: 1/4 of a recipe
Servings Per Recipe: 4
Amount Per Serving
Calories: 464
Calories from Fat: 84
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Chicken breasts are simmered in a spicy tomato and basil sauce.
This simple Italian-inspired meal is ready in less than 45 minutes.
Savory chicken piccata with artichokes in a white wine sauce.


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Your Kinesiology Connection
We build robotic lower limb orthoses powered by artificial pneumatic muscles (i.e. McKibben muscles) and controlled by myoelectrical signals to determine how they affect human walking dynamics.
Your Kinesiology Connection
See what our faculty are saying about U-M Kinesiology and their research.
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Weekend Cooking
Weekend Cooking
March 2012
Get a sneak peek into the Weekend Cooking section of the March issue:
• Cake-shop favourites
• Bite-sized desserts
• Three-course dinner party under $10/person
Find all this and more in the March Super Food Ideas, on sale now.
Keep up to date with the SFI team, follow us on Facebook and Twitter plus download the SFI iPad app!
Pictured: Old-fashioned vanilla slice - page 76 (Photography Mark O'Meara)


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With a new city chicken plan about to be hatched and the Easter holiday just a day away, now could be the perfect time to stop by your local feed store to buy some chicks.
One of the places selling chicks is Farm Supply in Elizabethton.
Predicting to sell around 750 chicks this spring, Aarron Jack, owner of Farm Supply, said it's not just the Easter season that inspires customers to buy the animals.
"Right now they're kind of getting to be the cool thing, where a lot of younger people are getting into raising chickens," Jack said.
Anna Lunsford and her husband, Andrew, were among some of the chick-buying customers at Farm Supply on Friday, walking away with six Rhode Island Red chicks.
Lunsford said she decided on those particular chicks after seeing the eggs her mother-in-law gets and knowing some friends of hers who have the same breed of chicken.
The Watauga resident said she's excited to raise the chicks and to have her own supply of eggs.
"We live out in the country, so we have the perfect spot for it," Lunsford said.
Jack said the chickens are hatched at a farm in Texas and then shipped to the store. Receiving a new variety every week, the store currently has Buff Orpingtons, Barred Rock and Rhode Island Reds available for $2.50 each.
A favorite breed of chicks are the Araucanas that lay colored eggs, Jack said. The Araucanas are not available for purchase this week, but she said they are on their way.
The chicks they sell are 95 percent guaranteed to be females, so customers are most likely not purchasing a rooster instead of a chicken.
When fully grown, most hens will lay an egg a day in season, she said.
Keeping the chicks as pets or for practical use, customers need chicken starter and grower feed, a coop and a warming lamp that can be set at 115 degrees.
"Until they get their adult feathers in, you do need to keep a light on them," Jack said.
After keeping the chicks under the lamp for four to six weeks, the temperature can slowly be decreased by about three degrees. As for maintenance, she said chicks do a good job of keeping themselves clean and that most coops come with a drop pan that allows for easy coop clean up.
While most of Farm Supply's customers buy chickens for farm-raised eggs, Jack said chicks are sold to be given as pets.
"Chickens can be very friendly," Jack said. "If you raise them and handle them, they can be pets."
Jack said that giving chicks as pets to children is OK as long as they are old enough to handle them, because the animal's body is extremely fragile.
She said the season for selling the chicks is about six to eight weeks in the springtime.
"There's a lot of people that will come in that will buy two, especially right now, the week of Easter," she said. "We have a lot of people that will come in and buy two of them because their kids want them and it's kind of a fun thing."
While selling chicks has become a staple in most feed stores, Jack said she hopes to see more customers wanting to buy chicks.
"We kind of hope that next year we see a bigger resurgence, especially with a lot of places allowing them in the city limits," she said.
Johnson City residents are currently waiting for a new ordinance that would allow chickens to be kept within city limits, but the Johnson City Regional Planning Commission must make amendments to the zoning ordinance first before people living within the city can start keeping chickens.
Jack said the city of Elizabethton does not allow chickens to be kept within city limits, but a lot of her customers do ask if it's allowed.
"They're very easy-to-keep animals," she said. "There's no disturbance to anybody else if you keep a reasonable amount and keep them like you should."


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Last night my boyfriend and I and some friends were all hanging out and drinking at my boyfriend's place. I had been drinking but I was not by any... Show More
Most Helpful Opinion
It's perfectly normal to be scared right now. But, what you need to do is head right now to your local police station and file a report. if not too much time has passed it could be possible for them to do a rape kit on you. this will provide evidence of two men raping you. Explain to the police everything that happened. the more detail you can provide the better. If you noticed any specific details about his friends body, like penis size, distinguishing marks, curves etc.. that will be helpful.
Press charges on both guys. If your story is in fact true, these animals need to be taken off the street and put into a prison cell with guys that will show them how it feels.
What Guys Said 12
Omg this sort of stuff p*sses me off, we really do live in a world of f*** ups. I'm so sorry for what happened, he is no good there is nothing in him to ammend if he would allow and help in something like that. it is disgusting, GET RID OF HIM you deserve better and regardless of him being drunk. someone who is drunk still has the ability to be able to control themself enough to not do somethign like that. you need to go to the police and sort this out. I hope things get better for you soon...
Why don't you go to the police? Like, right now?
What's stopping you?
I don't wanna do this alone, but I'm too damn scared to tell anyone...
- Show Older Hide Older
For all you know, your boyfriend or his friend have done this before and the victim didn't report it, which is why it happened to you. You have the chance to change that.
Also remember that, the moment you report what happened, you won't be doing it alone anymore. All it takes is making that first step. It's scary, but you have to find the courage to do it before it's to late for there to be consequences for the people that did this to you.
Thank you
go to the police, tell one of your best friend or close friends to go with you and get this sorted now or he will do this again with this bestmate or someone else or they will do it with someone else.
now I know your scared as every other girl out there who have ever been raped too but you can make a difference, if you go to the police, tell them what happened they can look into it and even if they can't hold him people will be aware of him and people close to you will believe you and won't let him do it again
What Girls Said 8
Oh lordy lordy lord...
It's called, file a police report, and dump that sh*t head.
I was raped by an ex boyfriends friend and f*** yeah I pressed charges. I don't play lightly when I get raped, it's a really f***ed up situation. And my ex "couldn't believe (so and so) would do that, you're lying". They were both wasted, I was wasted, but just because your drunk doesn't not excuse your behavior.
Drunk or not, it's disrespectful, and downright disgusting. If I was your friend and heard about this sh*t, both of them would be in cuffs, gettin butt f***ed like the little **** suckers they are.
Aren't you outraged?! I get the scared. Being scared is cool. But be angry! Be Outraged! Be p*ssed! Put on a pair of big girl panties and tell your folks. Yeah your parents may flip out and stuff but they're supposed to.
This is soooo not cool. Don't be another silent victim because your scared, grow a pair and stand up for what's right. And what's right, is your boyfriend and his buddy getting into serious f***ing trouble. And him becoming your "ex" boyfriend.
How can anyone disagree with this?!
one word: POLICE
just like everyone else said, you need to call the police. when someone is drunk you may think that you do things you wouldn't want to do, but you do the opposite its like living a dream, you do whatever you want, meaning your boyfriend is a rapist. sorry, but you may not like it, but you have to admit it. he was a pig for even considering doing something like that. nonconsensual sex is RAPE, no questions about it.
Tell a friend, or famly member that you can trust. Have them go with you to the hospital, just to make sure everythings okay with you. They'll help you take care of everything there, even with the police. These guys, even though they might have been drinking know what they did, and it was wrong. You need to turn them both in.
What happened wasn't your fault, your the victim. And you need to do something about it, or they'll think its okay to do. Just think about it, they could do it to you again, or someother person. Being scared right now is understandable. But you really do need to get checked out at the hospital for one to make sure your okay, and for two so they can get the evidence they need to put them bastards in jail.
Im sorry about what happened to you and I hope everything turns out good in the end.
Not necessarily. the boyfriends friend is obviously an asshole, it would say it depends on the situation . calling the police and going to the hospital could actually make it more traumatic to her. I don't know how close she was to them. If it was not too violent she can forget and move on. maybe they were a bit drunk and wanted to have rough sex, again I can not so easily say do this do that. No one here knows the situation in detail or how she feels. maybe if I were you I would black mail
If it wasn't too violent, forget it and move on?
...your kidding right? No matter what, they pushed it on her, she didn't want to do that. They need to be punished for what they did. And that's not something you can forget, EVER.
Blackmail..? NO that won't help either, and that's not enough punishment for them, for what they did. Being intoxicated or not, they still need to pay.
ArizonaRX gave the best answer, in my opinion. You need to get help before it's too late. Needless to say, you also need to break up with him.
Thanks. It's good to see everyone here is on the same page. If this actually happened, I want those two scum bags in prison with tears in their eyes from the pain of the prison train that will be run on them.
report it to the police! I'm so sorry this happened to u, please don't blame yourself you did not deserve this! the rapist scum can be charged and ur boyfriend can be charged as an accessory. they deserve to rot in jail and get assraped by HIV infected inmates
plz get some justice. don't let them get away with doing this to u. if they did it to you they will do it to another girl..u probably weren't the first girl they did this to
Have an opinion?


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Gear Question
Traded cars. Now see that I need new Q...
Traded cars. Now see that I need new Q Clips but my Santa Fe has factory side rails. Can I still use my Q Towers & just purchase new Q Clips to fit my Santa Fe? Or is there a whole new set up I have to purchase? Using for kayak. TKS!
Chris Bell
KAThy, The best thing to do would be go to www.yakima.com and go through the "Fit My Car" setup guide. It will configure your exact car for what you want to do, kayaks and anything else. From what you have said I think you will just need either some Railgrabs or Lowriders to attach the bars you have to your Santa Fe's factory side rails, then the rest of your rack should work the same, that is assuming you already had the set up for a kayak. It does not look like you can use Q towers with a Santa Fe. I think they sell both the Railgrabs or Lowriders right here on BC, but be sure and check Yakima's website to be sure you have everything that you need.
View More Details on Yakima Q Clips - 1 Pair


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Job Seekers, Sign In
Dean of Math and Sciences « Position Deleted on 3/22/2013 »
|Black Hawk College
|Moline, IL
|Application Due:
|Full Time
|$85,000 to $95,000 USD Per Year
This position is no longer an active posting on HigherEdJobsThe Dean of Math and Sciences is responsible for the planning, implementing, and evaluating programs and curricula that enhance instruction and achieve student learning outcomes. The Dean has the responsibility for the development and maintenance of qualified instructional staff and coordination of programs. The Dean monitors and coordinates program accountability, prepares reports, manages support services and personnel; prepares and reviews budgets, and reviews class scheduling. The Dean is responsible for new program development, and the establishment of community and educational partnerships.
The essential job duties for this position include:
a. Advises administration and instructional chairs relative to personnel allocations, appointments, salary negotiations, sabbaticals and leave requests, collective bargaining interpretations, and other personnel-related activities.
b. Prepares budgets, analyzes revenues and expenditures, and makes recommendations for resources allocation and management to the VPIS.
c. Reviews and recommends salaries for new employees and faculty, including adjunct faculty (based on quality points), and visiting scholars within College policies and guidelines.
d. Serves as member of the Vice President for Instruction management team and College committees as assigned, and leads the Instructional Services Council.
e. Provides leadership for the establishment of partnerships including businesses and community organizations, secondary schools, and four-year institutions.
f. Drives student learning assessment in both career and general education curriculum.
g. Coordinates preparation and submission of course, degree, and program requests, and reports; coordinates and oversees academic programs reviews and accreditations.
h. Provides leadership for instructional initiatives; including new program development and revision of curricular programs and courses to meet the changing needs of students and area businesses.
i. Works collaboratively with faculty department chairs in development of course schedules, hiring of faculty and faculty development initiatives.
Education & Experience:
a. An earned Master's degree or higher from an accredited institution is required. Doctorate preferred.
b. Minimum of five (5) years of college-level teaching experience required, preferably in a community college.
c. Minimum of one (1) year of experience in management of higher education academic programs including program development, class scheduling and faculty loading, project management, and implementation of academic policies required.
d. Evidence of financial resource acquisition and multi-budget management required.
e. Experience with student data base required (e.g. SCT Banner, PeopleSoft, Datatel, etc.)
f. Experience in implementation of collective bargaining agreements preferred.
For more information regarding this position and/or how to apply for this position, visit http://www.bhc.edu/employment and search for the job title. Applications accepted online only. This position is open through March 17, 2013. Salary range is $85,000.00 - $95,000.00 annually. BHC offers an excellent benefits package. Black Hawk College does not sponsor employment visas.
Black Hawk College is a comprehensive community college serving over 11,000 college credit students, 3,000 Adult Basic Education students, and 16,000 Continuing Education and Workforce Training adults a year with high quality, cost-effective lifelong learning.
Two campuses offer excellent facilities, small class size and individual attention. The Quad-Cities Campus is located in Moline, Illinois and the East Campus is located in Galva, Illinois (south of Kewanee). The College also operates numerous satellite sites in the area.
Contact Information for Human Resources:
Human Resources
Black Hawk College
6600 34th Avenue
Moline, IL 61265
Fax: 309-796-5233
Email: firstname.lastname@example.com
Phone: 309-796-5222
Black Hawk College does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, gender, age, sexual orientation or disability.
© Copyright 2015 Internet Employment Linkage, Inc.


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|Blurbarian Since
|September 2007
|Susan Collins
|My Web Site
|Northern Ireland
|My Occupation
|My Bio
Susan Collins has been interested in photography since childhood but waited until her 30s to pursue a career in it.
She is married with two young children and operates out of a studio in a lovely town in Northern Ireland.
She is well known for her Portrait and Wedding Photography but has a love of Abstract Photography, especially if it has rust and decay in it.
|Spoiler alert: I'm thinking my next book will be about...
|Windows or Doors or Rust or The Maze Prison or The Peace Wall (both in Northern Ireland). . . .
|Everyone needs to know about these authors and artists...
|I love the photographer Keld Helmer Peterson - check him out!
|This book is addictive. Read it. (At your own risk.)
Other than MINE?
|Oct 9, 2007 12:00
|"Set your price" mid-solution for Eur...
|This is a good compromise and well th...
|Oct 3, 2007 12:00
|I love this web site too, but...
|Damn - you can't preview OR edit thes...
|Oct 3, 2007 12:00
|I love this web site too, but...
|I appreciate that everyone is looking...
|Oct 2, 2007 12:00
|'set your price' for EU citizens
|WHY OH WHY OH WHY isn't this mentione...


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Fozzie: Ok...so MITB....thoughts?
Aires: Did you happen to watch the pre-show tag title match? Absolutely fantastic match. Great to see the Usos get time to shine. Those two are very solid, and between them and Rollins/Reigns, they put on one of the best tag matches I've seen in a while. Other than that, very solid show. I was pumped to see Sandow go after Cody and then get the briefcase. Orton winning was damn near completely out of left field, but I don't mind it, especially if it is what finally leads him to go back to his natural heel tendencies.
Fozzie: I caught the end of the tag match. I thought Reigns was gonna spear Uso #1 right out of the power bomb position. It was a good match from what I saw.
Orton winning was a shocker, and I don't think I like it too much. I was really pulling for Daniel Bryan because a win here and a subsequent successful cash-in would have been enough to put him in the upper echelon. But they go with Mr. RKO because f**k that. On the other side, I'm salivating over a Rhodes/Sandow feud. Rhodes was the star if that match in my eyes, and I think they have big plans for him.
Aires: I think it's fairly obvious that they have big plans for D-Bry. Him winning the match would have been huge, and a great choice, but the Orton one doesn't hurt Daniel Bryan. Orton has been out of the title picture for a while now. It was only a matter of time before he was back in it. I just didn't expect a showdown between Orton and Cena. They've kept the two of them apart for a long time.
But yes, the World title picture seems to be a lot more interesting now. A Sandow/Rhodes feud could be a lot of fun.
Fozzie: I don't ever want to see Cena and Ortonn feud ever again. So boring.
Aires: It's much better than Cena/Ryback.
So do you think both Sandow and Orton will immediately go into the title pictures, or will they slow build them? And since you brought it up, what do YOU think this means for Daniel Bryan?
Fozzie: I think they slow build Sandow. I'm pretty sure they're going to feud him with Cody in the short term. As for Orton, he's one of those guys who could cash in at anytime. Just my opinion.
As for Bryan, how about him being used in the Brock/Punk/Heyman feud? I think that would be awesome. I think though they are going to have An Axel/Bryan feud in order to get Axel more over and have competitive matches.
Aires: An Axel/Bryan feud? I'll take it. Got lots of opportunities for the younger guys to step up.
Fozzie: I'll take it too, although I think it's a step backwards for Bryan. Should be a fun feud though.
Aires: Anything is a step back for Daniel Bryan. That's a duh statement. He's a beaded wrestling deity.
Fozzie: I am a proud member of the Church of The Flying Goat. What else we got?
Aires: So the WWE released an article detailing the 25 hottest body that have graced the squared circle. Trish Stratus at #1 should not surprise a whole lot of people, but John Cena at #2 does. Wait. Why do I care? Why isn't Dusty Rhodes on the list? (WWE.COM)
Fozzie: WWE released a video promoting The Ultimate Warrior's appearance in WWE 2K14. The video features Warrior walking around an office beating people up if they didn't pre-order the game. It's pretty funny, and it appears that Warrior is finally in on the joke that he has become, but he still doesn't beat Geico's Hump Day Camel as best office intruder ever. (NODQ)
Aires: Tamina Snuka has been absent, and we now know why. She actually has a part in her cousin Dwayne's new Hercules movie. Good for her. I'm sure Dwayne had a little say in getting her on board the flick, but at least she'll get more screen time in that movie than she has gotten on WWE programming in several months. (TAMINA'S TWITTER)
Fozzie: There is an interview out now by 'Inside the Ropes' of former WWE Raw commentator, Rob Bartlett. In the interview, he remembers Randy Savage, talks about calling Yokozuna a "big oriental", and the first Monday Night Raw. I know what you're thinking: "Fozzie, I've been watching Raw since the beginning. I don't remember Rob Bartlett." Of course you don't. Nobody does. But in the interest of fairness, here is a picture to jog your memory:
You're Welcome. (NODQ)


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Aiken Countys manufacturing age began in the 1840s with the efforts of William Gregg in establishing the Graniteville Company and the mills that followed, remaining in operation for about 160 years.
The county still has a strong manufacturing base, Will Williams said at an Aiken Rotary Club meeting on Monday.
Williams is the executive director of the Aiken-Edgefield Economic Development Partnership. Saluda County was added to the partnership earlier this month.
While manufacturing remains strong in the county, it hasnt returned to its high-water mark reached in 2002, Williams said. Still, Aiken County has long-established companies such as Kimberly-Clark and Owens-Corning, Williams said. With about 1,300 employees, Kimberly-Clark had the largest private-sector firm in the county for many years. Bridgestone has since passed that number and will continue to grow with its ongoing expansion efforts.
Overall, the percentage of Aiken Countys workforce in the manufacturing sector is higher than the states percentage and those of many other counties, Williams said.
For every manufacturing job created, four others are created through the service industry, he said. It sounds like its all sunshine, but not completely.
Even as the employees at Bridgestone grow in numbers, 30 percent live outside of Aiken County contributing to those communities instead. The public school system can stand toe to toe academically with others in the state, but it doesnt have a strong track record on new construction, he said.
Companies want to see a community investing in itself, Williams said. The County is not as committed as it needs to be with education and the workforce.
He reiterated that Aiken County must invest more in the School District and USC Aiken and Aiken Technical College, as well. More and more workers are reaching retirement age.
We need families with young children, or our talent pool will dry up, said Williams. Manufacturing is important to our communitys vitality, but without the tools in our box, we will not be able to join the success.
Senior writer Rob Novit is the Aiken Standards education reporter and has been with the newspaper since September 2001. He is a native of Walterboro and majored in journalism at the University of Georgia.
Notice about comments:
Aiken Standard is pleased to offer readers the enhanced ability to comment on stories. Some of the comments may be reprinted elsewhere in the site or in the newspaper. We ask that you refrain from profanity, hate speech, personal comments and remarks that are off point.
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Rebecca Minkoff Collection
Collette Satchel
- Color:
- ecru
Qty: 1
- 1
- 2
Please select an available size.
Please select a size.
Share This Item: Email
- Medium sized satchel
- Snake embossed leather with buckle details and stud accents throughout
- Four feet at base
- Two top handle
- Zip closure
- Fully lined interior with a zip pocket, three slip pockets, and a key clip
- Body length 14½ inches; height 11 inches; width 6 inches
- Drop handle 3½ inches
Material: Embossed Leather
Brand: Rebecca Minkoff Collection
Origin: Imported


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iTunes announcement to land 3pm tomorrow
With iTunes 10.1 landing at the weekend and the upcoming iOS 4.2 update for iPhone and iPad on the horizon, Apple has seemingly snuck in another mystery launch pegged for 3pm GMT tomorrow.
Revealed via a teasing image on iTunes, Apple has dubbed the event an "exciting announcement" and one "that you'll never forget" with no further information other than four world clocks displaying the time of the event in California, New York, London and Tokyo.
"Tomorrow is just another day. That you'll never forget. Check back here tomorrow for an exciting announcement from iTunes." read the full release.
Whilst we can't image such a well kept Apple secret could be something we will "never forget", the prospect of a mystery Apple launch sure is a tantalising one. Many somewhat hopeful rumours of tomorrow's late notice announcement point towards the arrival iOS 4.2, the full Beatles catalogue, a Mac App Store or a cloud-based iTunes service.
Stay tuned to T3.com for a full round-up of tomorrow's mystery Apple event and let us know your thoughts on what will be unveiled via the T3 Twitter and Facebook feeds.


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Hold down Control (PC) or Command (Mac) key + mouseclick to select more than one option
|Avg. Dinner Entrée
|Greater than $25
|$18.01 - $25
|$12.01 - $18
|$7.01 - $12
|Less than $7
Posted by Anonymous on 01/21/2015
Rude, unfriendly, unaccommodating. However, the food is really really good. I cant stand giving them my money because they're so not nice, but its worth it cause this is the best Chinese in the NYC area.
Posted by Anonymous on 11/04/2014
Ordered lunch over the phone. The chicken in the lo mein was not fresh. The manager refused to listen to me over the phone and just hung up. I drove there and asked them to exchange the food, but she was very nasty and just reheated the same food. Unacceptable.
Posted by Anonymous on 10/23/2014
highly recommend to come here for family parties and catering and the sushi is amazing all reasonably priced
Posted by Moshe Gold on 07/22/2014
If you only eat kosher, you will love this restaurant. Best kosher Chinese in Flushing, Queens!
Posted by Rache on 07/14/2014
I love eating (or getting take out from) here. My favorite are green beans in garlic sauce (seriously it's terrific!). Beef with broccoli and general tsao's are also really good. I highly recommend this restaurant and was very sad to see the low-star reviews, although I've never had sushi from this place.
Posted by Screw Annie chans kitchen on 07/09/2013
Today when we ordered a few sushi rolls and Kani salad, the Kani salad was spicy as hell. The sushi was poor. Disappointing cheap ingredients. They couldnt even give us normal soy sauce, that wasn't salty like hell. And after ordering so damn much we paid 40 bucks for nothing.
Posted by Benjamin Vinar on 07/02/2013
I had the displeasure of ordering the "deluxe sushi" consisting of tuna, salmon, yellowtail and whitefish at this restaurant. All the fish tasted exactly alike -- like soggy worn socks. I complained that the fish was not fresh and was told that the restaurant freezes its sushi fish to keep it fresh! I was told no one but a sushi expert would know the difference. They had the gall to charge me full price for this inedible dish.


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The LG Optimus One is an Android smartphone on a budget, but the LG Optimus One is far from nasty - its high-end specs and features make it one of the most competitive devices out there
The smartphone market is growing at such an incredible rate - but only at the more expensive end. Those looking to take the plunge into the world of apps and touchscreens on a budget have had very little to play with - but now that's starting to change.
Android has been chucked into low-price phones before, but these have come with a bucketful of irritating features too. But recently we've seen the Orange San Francisco emerge as a really decent budget Android effort, and LG is looking to go one better with the Android 2.2-toting Optimus One. It's the latest handset in its Optimus range, following the excellent LG Optimus 7.
Check our LG Optimus one hands-on video review
For a shade under £130 you're getting all the Google goodies that you'll see on the Google Nexus One, so there has to be a trade off somewhere, and that's in the build quality. The 3.2-inch screen is just about big enough in our eyes, and while the display is pretty clear and responsive the chassis feels very large, cumbersome and plasticky.
It's not terrible though, and once you dive into the phone you'll quickly forget about that. The interface is mostly the standard Android offering, although LG has worked a little magic: customisable icons at the bottom and a few more widgets will impress the first time smartphone user.
LG Optimus One review: Screen and camera
The screen is only HVGA, which means when zoomed out things like pictures and the web look a little pixelated and messy - but pinch to zoom works relatively quickly and helps improve quality.
The keyboard is similarly a little low-rent, especially in portrait mode; we're not using the default multi-tap 9 key default offering, and while we're glad to see a mini-QWERTY in the options, the accuracy is poor and forces you into landscape use most of the time.
Another area LG has skimped on is the camera - although most people won't be buying the Optimus One for its snapping power. The 3MP sensor with no flash is reasonably quick to take pics, and auto focus does help improve these. The video camera is poor though - the VGA resolution is fine, it just looks like you've smeared beans all over the lens.
LG Optimus One review: Verdict
But it's not fair to focus on the niggly points with the Optimus One - from the moment you pick it up having only forked out £130 for it, you'll be impressed with how similar it is to the top end Android phones on the market today.
And with a 1500mAh battery kicking things along, HTC should hang its head in shame, as this is a much bigger power pack than that plopped in the Desire HD, and this is under a third of the price. It laughs in the face of the resistive screens of the T-Mobile Pulse Mini and ZTE Racer, and even rivals the more-expensive HTC Wildfire for functionality.
In short - don't look at the specs when buying the LG Optimus One, as that's not what it's about. Instead realise that the few tradeoffs you have to make are necessary to get a cutting edge Android phone for less money than it takes to replace a cracked iPhone screen. LG looks to have got the perfect blend of price and functionality - Android is ready for the masses
LG Optimus One price: £130 sim free
LG Optimus One release date: out now, find out more from LG
LG Optimus One Specifications:
- OS: Android 2.2
- Processor: 600Mhzr
- Storage: 170Mb int, 1GB/2Gb Micro SD card supplied
- Screen: 3.2-inch 480x320 capacitive
- Connectivity: Bluetooth 2.1, 3G, HSDPA 7.2Mbps, 3.5mm jack, B/G WiFi, aGPS
- Camera: 3MP with AF
- Video: 640x480, 17fps
- Talk time: 450 minutes
- Dimensions: 114 x 59 x 13 mm
- Weight: 129g


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Thank you, it took me three pages of ignoramus comments to finally see this truth! Its an "entitlement" because you, through your labor and contributions, have EARNED IT. Honestly all of these people trumping up Christie need to wake up. Free health care? Have you seen some of the "clinics" where these people go for the "free health care"? Nobody that has a rational mind and responsibilities wants to be on "the dole." Christie is the "couch potato", actually with all the wealth and access he has how can he justify not being fit and healthy?? He has cooks at the mansion, why isn't he on some crash course to get healthy?? Oh that's right, he chooses not to. Freaking hypocrite!!
Fat Pants wants to help rich people?!?! REALLY!! Get a clue folks, we are into this guy unless we can convince more people that he is all about stupid statements (numbnuts!) and reaching for a higher office (never never happen! The NJ stereotype does not play outside of NJ/NY just ask Rudy Guiliani)! All he has ever done is try to whore this state to private companies. Ask the Teachers, Cops, Firemen and state employees!!!
You Republicans are idiots...you've stonewalled on every piece of significant legislation this president wanted to pass. Extend unemployment benefits? "Oh no can't do that people will just get lazy" What are Republicans smoking? Did they care about paying for anything when they got two wars on the credit card? Did they care about "fiscal responsibility" when their president ran the deficit up? This is plain old political BS and when Obama gets re-elected (and he will with these freaking stooges that you dingbats are toying with) there will be some political payback big TIME! Oh, and by the way during those significant achievements of the 20th Century? All DEMOCRATIC ADMINISTRATIONS!
hahahaha...please please Christie put your ring in the hat!! I rememember another local loud mouth who thought he was real popular in the USA as well and ran for President to prove it...anyone remember Gulliani??? This is a stupid article by someone that is either a) caught up in the Christie hysteria or b) someone that is not busy enough reporting real news!!!
You are so right! Let's make them address this stuff rather then the nonsense about a big budget deficit or "we need to cut spending" BS!!!
Wall Street Fella...you get a brain please and look at your history. The wealthy paid upwards of 60% back in the early sixties (federal tax) and now the top rate is what 39% or 31% (not sure which is correct). So for forty years the rich have made out with their tax rate delining by 30%! Guess what pal, time to give back big time!!
Get real folks. It is a LAW...you know why it is a law? Because the other way of funding was not working! Now if Fat Pants would create some more revenue rather then blaming school districts in Abbotts as the reason why property taxes are so high (I know he makes it up as he goes!) we might start addressing some real serious inequities in NJ. For example, why aren't the wealthy "sharing the sacrifices"??
Here's an idea fat pants...sign the bill on your desk to extend unemployment benefits!! What the blazes is he waiting for? It's a win win situation and the feds funded it. C'mon you ideological blowhard get down here where the real people are and have a "town meeting"...LMAO you know you would get run out of town!
We need jobs...that's why the situation has worsened. Revenue needs to increase for relief to come from the government (state or federal). This situation may only be temporary but let's stop talking about nonsense that does not work. Cutting taxes does not create more jobs. It creates more wealth for those whom are already wealthy. They do not statistically use that money to create more jobs. The facts do not support this philosophy as a proven work creator.
Grow up you idiot teacher...doesn't anyone think its innappropriate for a teacher to post gibberish on Facebook of all places?? That's the bigger stupidity here...venting on Facebook...yeah no one will see that!
"That really puts New Jersey in the lagging group of states in terms of feeling the effects of the recovery," he said.
Gee, really?? Business in this state is a joke. They are all sitting on their hands waiting for fatpants to enact yet more business friendly policies so they can continue to bleed dry the remaining workers they haven't laid off yet and increase their productivity through the fear of....yep, you guessed it...UNEMPLOYMENT.
It's Chrisitie's fault!
Oh shut up fat pants...who cares what you think anyway!! Here's an idea....create some jobs!!
Yes here we go again...some town where only his supporters can get to...here's an idea...have a town meeting in Hackensack, or Teaneck, or someplace in Bergen County.
What part of this survey do you not get?? How much more can you apologize for this witless wonder Governor Fat Pants? The majority favor, almost overwhelmingly, a tax on millionaires. If the rich want to move good, we'll show them the door. Don't be an ignoramus, the wealthy are wealthy because they live here! This tri-state area is where the BEST and MOST educated people live. This is the place with the HIGH SALARIES. Where are they gonna go? Missouri?? Iowa??? C'mon and get a clue. Stop demonizing the unions, cops, firefighters, and teachers. Demand your governor fund the pension system so he "does the right thing" that he is sooo fond of telling everyone "he is about." Then get on his case to advocate for the common folk to have more employment in this state. Not by granting more and more "tax breaks" that the wealthy use to slash work forces and reward themselves with year end bonuses...rather, have him invest in the public so that our consumer economy can continue to spend its way back to prosperity.
Here, here. Unions only represent about 15% of the workforce yet if we believe the drivel that people post here you would think that every problem we have is because of the union movements enormous "reach". Keep up the good fight!
RAISE THE RETIREMENT AGE?? Where's all the Tea Party and Right wing ideologues now?? Isn't that the government forcing us to work till a certain age? Kinda like when you cry about health care and say the "government is forcing us to buy health insurance"? (Yeah bad thing that we as a community should protect our collective health?) Here's a better idea; raise the age to 80 that way what 60% of us won't make it and the rest of you can share the wealth. I can't stand it anymore...no one comes up with anything meaningful anymore.
Local towns need to raise taxes because Fat Pants cut state aid! The ARC tunnel wasn't a "rotten deal" it was an investment! The "Town hall Meetings" are all staged mockumentary's where he gets to puff off about how he has "shown everybody" how to "do things". Hasn't had a town meeting in Newark or Paterson yet has he? All he's done is go after an easy enemy (state workers, politically appointed hacks, and teachers) to distract attention from the fact that he has done NOTHING about addressing NJ's high unemployment rate.
Wow what a killers list of potential candidates!!! LOL, Huck a boop, Paling, and Mormon Bob....People - Obama must be salivating at the chance to stomp any of these empty, and I do mean EMPTY, suits!!
Governor FatPants is an outright embarassment to everyone in NJ. He talks like some caricature of a mobster straight out of the Sopranos. Christ people must think that we are all idiots. Is there any way that people, other then Republican contributors, can get into a "town meeting" to do something other then clap or giggle like a bunch of hyenas everytime this guy opens his mouth?? Does he even know what the word "opposition" means? Spoiled, fat, and stupid is no way to go through life son!


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Why am I gaining weight while breastfeeding?
I had my baby 2 months ago and I noticed i lost the first 22 pounds easily and now im starting to gain weight, I thought breastfeeding helps you loose weight? I been eating alot of bread cheese milk and plain food because i dont want to upset the babys stomach im not sure what i should do differently. I walk 3 times a week. I still got 20 pounds to loose to be my prepregnancy weight and now im gaining!!! Any advice?
Posted: 07/22/2008 by mburbel
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same here! baby's almost 5 month old and i'm still not losing any weight. i also feel easily hungry!posted 04/05/2013 by Renee21488
I think that our bodies require at least a ten lb "cushion" while breastfeeding. I have actually gained weight since giving birth, I only gained 15 lbs during pregnancy, now my baby is almost three months old, and I weigh about the same as the day I had my baby!posted 05/31/2013 by peggylimburg
Im glad im not alone. I gained 40 while I was pregnant then after I had my daughter I lost 20 within the first 3 weeks. She's now 5 months old and I've gained atleast 15 pounds and I feel hungry all the time, especially after I get done nursing my little one.posted 03/29/2014 by tiffanynms
I was very frustated when the shirts that had started to fit again after my baby started to be too tight again! For the past week I had started doing a 30 min aerobic workout every day, I hope this helps. At least it seems to me that the excercise has reduced my previously unlimited appetite.posted 06/30/2015 by Casandrinia
I'm glad I'm not the only one! I was lucky enough to lose most of the pregnancy weight right away, but breastfeeding increased my appetite and the pounds started coming back. This surprised me because I'm very tall and don't put on weight easily. We'll lose it eventually!posted 01/15/2014 by Katie6788
Oh sweetie, I also gained 5 pounds while I am breastfeeding.. This is discouraging, but every time I see my miracle baby, I get encourage to keep on breastfeeding.. some day the weight will come off.posted 10/01/2008 by verwachting1
I am breastfeeding and eating a fruit smoothie for breakfast n lunch n grilled chicken n veg for dinner am excersizing 2 hours a day walking with stroller and am not losing any weight baby is 8 weeksposted 12/29/2012 by a BabyCenter Member
I am also having the same exact problem, and it's not because I'm overeating....I think that some of us retain water weight while breastfeeding, from what I read on the internet. After baby I lost a lot (gained 35 pounds during pregnancy and was a fitness freak, ate healthy, etc and was not overweight before). At 4 weeks seemed to have only lost half the weight and now gained back 3-6 (depending on day). My clothes fit the same (no, I'm not back in my old clothes really) but it does seem plausible that it's water weight. I also had to up my mill production, which was lower, and I don't have a thyroid issue as per blood tests. Therefore, from what I've read thus far, there's an unlucky bunch of us that actually gain while breastfeeding cause our bodies are out of whack! I have to talk to more doctors, but it seems like this will pass in a few months (hopefully, I'll lose the weight by six months!!)posted 10/12/2011 by a BabyCenter Member
I have a 4 1/2 month old and also lost all the weight and some after delivery, and now in the past 2 months I have gained 9 pounds back. I have never heard of anyone really gaining while breastfeeding, I thoght you were supposed to lose. I'm there along with you and need some advice also.posted 12/09/2008 by a BabyCenter Member
Breastfeeding only burns approx 700 cals on average so perhaps you're eating more cals than you need. If you stick to around 2000 cals a day whilst b/feeding, you'll probably find you start losing weight.posted 06/05/2011 by zoefromsussex
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Never, ever cry . . .
Seventeen-year-old Eureka won't let anyone close enough to feel her pain. After her mother was killed in a freak accident, the things she used to love hold no meaning. She wants to escape, but one thing holds her back: Ander, the boy who is everywhere she goes, whose turquoise eyes are like the ocean.
And then Eureka uncovers an ancient tale of romance and heartbreak, about a girl who cried an entire continent into the sea. Suddenly her mother's death and Ander's appearance seem connected, and her life takes on dark undercurrents that don't make sense.
Can everything you love be washed away?
The fantastically romantic sequel to Teardrop.
Eureka's tears have flooded the earth and now Atlantis is rising, along with its evil king, Atlas. Eureka is the only one who can stop him – but first she must learn how to fight.
She travels across the ocean with Ander to try and make sense of the dark world her sorrow has created. But dark secrets are hidden in the depths – will she be strong enough to defeat Atlas, or is her broken heart just what he needs to power his rising kingdom?
Eureka has the chance to save the world. But she'll have to give up on everything – even love . . .


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SANFORD — Shelby Jean McNeill McLeod, age 75, of Sanford, died Monday (8/11/2014) at her home.
She was born in Harnett County, daughter of the late Robert Martin McNeill and Adelaide Buchanan McNeill. She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, John McLeod; daughter, Susan Louise McLeod and an infant daughter. She was a member of the Jonesboro United Methodist Church and was an avid walker around the Jonesboro area She had many good Samaritans who gave her rides safely to her home.
Funeral services will be conducted at 2 p.m. today at the Jonesboro United Methodist Church with the Rev. Hunter Preston and the Rev. Doug Houston officiating. Burial will follow in the Mount Pisgah Presbyterian Church Cemetery.
Surviving are her son, Jeffrey McLeod of Sanford, N.C.; sisters, Barbara McNeill Kelly of Sanford, N.C., Judy McNeill Cox of Sanford, N.C. and Bonnie McNeill Gaster of Broadway, N.C.
The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service from 1 until 2 p.m. at the Jonesboro United Methodist Church and other times at the family home.
In lieu of flowers, the family request memorial donations are made to Liberty Home Care and Hospice, 1005 Carthage St., Sanford, N.C. 27330.
Online condolences can be made at www.smithfuneralhomebroadway.com.
The family would like to thank all of the Good Samaritans who got Shelby Jean safely home.
Arrangements are by the Smith Funeral Home of Broadway.
Paid Obituary
CORNELIUS, NC — After a courageous battle with Lou Gehrig's Disease, despite the assistance of many kind and selfless caregivers, Kenneth R. Rogers, 65, went to be with his Lord on Monday, August 11th, 2014.
Born in Greensboro, NC, he has been a resident of the Lake Norman community since 1992 and was a member of Bethel Presbyterian Church in Cornelius. He was the son of the late Raymond and Lillian Rogers and is survived by his loving wife Paula, son Eric Rogers and his wife Jo Carol, son Isaac Rogers and his wife Melinda, stepdaughter Ansley Suarez and her husband Drew, grandchildren Lance Rogers, Ethan Rogers, Michael Wright, Megan Wright and Caroline Suarez, brother David Rogers and sisters Marian Seelye and Carolyn Williams.
A Celebration of Life service will be held Wednesday, August 13th at Bethel Presbyterian Church, 19920 Bethel Church Road, Cornelius, NC. Visitation will begin at 12:00 p.m. with a memorial at 1:00 p.m.
A graveside service will take place Saturday, August 16th at 1:00 p.m. at Center United Methodist Church cemetery, 4141 South Plank Rd., Sanford, NC.
In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to: The ALS Association, The National Multiple Sclerosis Society, The Neuropathy Association or The Lupus Foundation of America.
Condolences may be made at www.bridgescameronfuneralhome.com.
Arrangements by Bridges-Cameron Funeral Home, Inc.
Paid Obituary
SILER CITY — Doris Welch Fields, 66, of Siler City died Monday (8/11/14) at UNC Hospitals in Chapel Hill.
She was born in Chatham County on April 17, 1948, the daughter of Theodore and Pearl (Brown) Welch. She was a member of Brush Creek Baptist Church and had been employed as a weaver with Master Craft. She was preceded in death by her parents; brother, J.R. Welch; and sisters, Mary Powers and Christine Beal.
She is survived by one daughter, Missy Petty and husband Shawn of Bonlee; sons, Curry Fields of Bear Creek, and Jeff Fields and wife Ashley of Siler City; brother, David Welch and wife Linda of Siler City; six grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
The family will receive friends Thursday from 2 to 3 p.m. at Brush Creek Baptist Church in Bear Creek. The memorial service will immediately follow the visitation with the Rev. Alan Stanley officiating.
Memorials may be made to Brush Creek Baptist Church, 5345 Airport Road, Bear Creek, N.C. 27207.
Arrangements are by Smith & Buckner Funeral Home.
Online condolences may be made at www.pughfuneralhome.com.
RALEIGH — Sharon James, 62, of 3216 Quiet Mill Road, Raleigh, died Wednesday (8/6/14) at Crabtree Rehabilitation Center in Raleigh.
She was born Jan. 19, 1952 in Harlem, N.Y., to Juanita Howard and Frank James.
Funeral service will be conducted at 1 p.m. at C.E. Willie Funeral Chapel. Viewing will be held one hour prior to service.
She is survived by three brothers, Frank James Jr., Duane James and Keenan James; three sisters, Sandra James, Karen Heyward and Francene James-Franklin; and a host of other relatives and friends.
Arrangements are by C.E. Willie Funeral & Cremation Services.
Online condolences may be made at www.cewilliefuneralservice.com.
LILLINGTON — MSG. Robert "Bobby" T. Clack Sr., Retired US Army Special Forces, 76, of Lillington died Monday (8/11/14) at Wake Medical Center in Raleigh. Arrangements will be announced by O'Quinn-Peebles-Phillips Funeral Home & Crematory in Lillington.
Online condolences at www.oppfh.com.


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LifeProof Press Releases
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Fourth of July weekend is an opportunity for adventure. The outdoors come alive with activities ranging from hiking to surfing and biking to rock climbing. With protection against water, drops and...More
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Ignore borders, boundaries and anything that gets in the way with all-new LIFEACTIV from LifeProof. The universal accessory line utilizes innovative mounting technology to allow users the freedom...More


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With school back in session, members of the class of 2014 are looking at their senior year, an educational career that has been different from any before it.
These 17- and 18-year-olds were just kindergartners when No Child Left Behind was put on the table.
Technically, the name of the law is the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 2001, an update to Lyndon Johnson's legislation of the same name passed in 1965. The program was so important to George W. Bush that he proposed it just three days after being sworn in as president. It emphasized standards, with the goal of holding all schools responsible for putting kids on equal footing, whether they came from a wealthy household in a gated community, an inner-city housing project or a rural area of central Pennsylvania.


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Expressions of sympathy following school shooting
The Town of Chapel Hill has received inquiries from the public wishing to express their sympathy and support for those affected by the tragic shooting in Newtown, Conn.
A member of the Town's legal staff with the Chapel Hill Police Department, Matt Sullivan, lost his 6-year-old niece, Catherine Violet Hubbard, on Dec. 14 at the Sandy Hook Elementary shooting. The family has asked their privacy be respected during this difficult time. In lieu of flowers, the family is requesting donations be made to the Newtown Animal Center, PO Box 475, Newtown CT 06470. Donations can also be processed online: http://www.theanimalcenter.org/donate.htm.
"We send our love and support to Matt and his family," said Mayor Mark Kleinschmidt. "We hope this family and the entire community of Newtown finds peace and comfort in time."
Town Manager Roger L. Stancil sent an email message to all town employees on Monday, notifying them of Sullivan's and his family's loss.


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Race in live
Follow the Mont-Blanc Marathon LIVE !
To watch the Mont-Blanc Marathon and Cross live from our website go to
click here
You can see:
- The general chart that gives an overview of the racer's timing at the pre-determined points on the race route
- The runner profile that gives you information concerning the athlete of your choice.
- Information concerning the intermediary points(Distance, altitude...)


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FAU community reacts after high dramaUPDATED 5:39 PM EST Nov 29, 2012
Thursday afternoon brought some tense moments to FAU but once the lockdown was lifted students and others expressed their relief.
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CommentsThe views expressed are not those of this site, this station or its affiliated companies. By posting your comments you agree to accept our terms of use.blog comments powered by Disqus


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All gemstones we sell are untreated and are either discovered by us or hand sorted and inspected by our staff. Currently most of the turquoise you see here is from Stone Mountain Mine in Lyon County Nevada.
We have begun to add other types of gemstones to our catalog under the category Other Gemstones and turquoise from other Mines under the category Assorted Turquoise. We will continue to add more turquoise and other gemstones so check back often!
If would like to enquire about further availability we would be happy to assist you. If you have any questions or comments about our website, please feel free to contact us at firstname.lastname@example.com
or by phone at 775-847-0753


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L'Oreal Project Runway The Mystic's Blush Super Blendable Blush Review, Swatches, Photos
So far I've generally like all the Super Blendable Blushes launched with this year's Project Runway Collection. The formulas haven't been the best on all of them (a little dry, a bit chalky) but they are workable.
Until now…
If you're making your list and deciding which products to buy from the collection might I make one suggestion, avoid the Mystic's Blush, it's the worst of the four shades released.


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2012 Golf Thanksgiving
(24 images)
A gallery of images posted on Twitter from prominent golfers and their families enjoying Thanksgiving 2012.
View as:
Golf Thanksgiving 2012
Nicole Hage (@NicoleHage): Just a reminder
Credit: Nicole Hage/via Twitter
Date: Nov 22, 2012
©2003-2013 PGA/Turner Sports Interactive. All rights reserved.
PGA.COM is part of Bleacher Report - Turner Sports Network, part of the Turner Sports and Entertainment Network.


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On the Four Front
M-Track Quad is equipped with four inputs that provide the best results with any type of audio source. Each offers an XLR input and a balanced 1/4" input. The XLR input is designed to work with microphones or other Lo-Z sources. The phantom power switch delivers 48V to the XLR inputs for use with professional condenser microphones. The 1/4" input can be set to receive a line level signal, or switched to allow an electric guitar or bass to be plugged directly into the M-Track Quad. Individual gain knobs ensure the proper input level.
Each input channel is also equipped with an insert jack, a professional addition not often found in this class of interface. The insert jack allows studio-grade effects to be used with any input source as you record.
Improved Monitoring for Better Recordings
M-Track Quad offers ultra-low latency monitoring of the input signal—either through the speakers or via headphones. The monitor mix knob adjusts the balance between the direct inputs and the playback from your computer software. In addition, the input signal(s) can be monitored in stereo or mono using the convenient Stereo/Mono switch. This makes it easy to record new parts or add parts to an existing composition. The Headphone output offers its own level control.
MIDI Matters
In addition to the two audio channels, M-Track Quad also supports 16 channels of MIDI data and timing information. The MIDI In and MIDI out jacks are compatible with all MIDI equipment.
USB Central
M-Track Quad uses a single USB cable to create a two-way audio and MIDI connection with your computer. Best of all, the M-Track Quad also serves as a powered USB Hub. Connect your USB controller keyboard, pad controller, and other USB devices directly to your M-Track Quad for a convenient, single cable computer connection.
Included Software:
Your M-Track Quad interface comes complete with both Avid Pro Tools Express and Ignite from AIR Music Technology (downloadable below). These two programs can work alone or together to help you realize your musical dreams. Capture and arrange your ideas using Ignite, then use those tracks as the foundation for your professional production with Pro Tools Express.
Pro Tools Express
Compose, record, edit, and mix using the tools the professionals use. Pro Tools Express starts with 16 simultaneous stereo or mono audio tracks. Add in the popular Boom, Xpand!2, and Structure Free player virtual instruments from AIR Music Technology—all included. Finish off with dozens of high-powered effect plug-ins, including the in-demand AIR effects. Plus, Pro Tools Express offers session file compatibility with the entire Pro Tools family, so you can take your tracks to the finest studios around the world. Pro Tools Express includes an iLok 2 USB key—a $49.99 retail value.
Ignite provides a refreshingly original and musician-centric way to quickly capture, combine, and arrange your musical ideas. The intuitive graphic interface encourages you to experiment and explore new directions. Smart MIDI Chord and Phrase Players empower your ideas and bring them to life through over 275 superior instrument sounds created by AIR Music Technology. When you're ready to collaborate with other musicians or take your ideas to the next level, you can share them through SoundCloud, or export your WAV and MIDI files and import them into Pro Tools—or any DAW software. Best of all, Ignite offers seamless integration with your M-Audio keyboard controller, with no set-up chores to perform.
Minimum System Requirements (PC):
Ignite Minimum System Requirements:
Minimum System Requirements (Mac):


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SWELL stopped by Burkey's Central Coast Studio to get some insight into his Arctic surf tales seen in the December Catalog. The inaugural Follow the Light grant winner has become a trailblazer for frosty surf expeditions, here's how the 26 year old surf photo savant keeps crushing it.
SWELL: Explain what kind of trippy Northern Lights magic is going on the cover.
Burkard: This moment was unreal, it was as if the entire sky lit up for me and me alone. 2am… 5 hours before I left for home and the only clear night of the trip. It snowed all day and late in the evening it cleared and I knew this was my moment so I hike to the beach, 1 mile from my cabin, and shot these photos. It was one of the best experiences of my life, hands down. The sky was spiraling and channeling orange/ red blue and green… straight from the sea to the sky. (more…)Thank you for visiting the Swell blog. Visit us on www.facebook.com/swell for more exclusive fan offers, giveaways and more.


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"As with most people who try Zumba for the first time…I asked myself, "what the heck is Zumba?!?" … In the six months that I have taken Zumba classes with Cortney, I feel like a renewed and very energized person. The moves are really simple, even if you've never taken a dance class or stepped foot on a dance floor in your life!
I've been a lifelong exercise enthusiast; however, the elliptical trainer, the treadmill, and the traditional aerobic classes had gotten extremely boring to me. The monotony lifted this past January when I discovered Zumba classes through Cortney Wilson.
I LOVE ZUMBA! Ever since the first time I took Zumba I was hooked. I've been taking the class since January and have not stopped going since. I haven't always liked working out because it can be boring, but Zumba is so much fun.
"Wow! What fun. Cortney brings energy, dance and an incredible workout. I have always wanted to be a dancer and Zumba lets me have the whole experience! Cortney is fun, energetic, inspirational, and has the "you can do this" attitude!"
"For 45-minutes I forgot I was a white girl with no rhythm and left my shy flower on the wall! Cortney's energy and enthusiasm are contagious! And in her class, fitness really is fun!"
Because of your valuable time, energy and volunteer spirit, 500 women will now "Remember their Health". Please accept our sincere appreciation and gratitude for your expertise and volunteer time at the Winston Salem BET Women's Health Symposium on Sept. 6, 2008.