text:
Cheaper alternative...
...anti-theft stickers?
Intel is building anti-theft technology into hardware in a bid to make life harder for laptop thieves. The chip giant is incorporating anti-theft technology into laptops and network chip sets, and partnering with developers and hardware OEMs to deliver enhanced anti-theft technology. By placing crypto keys in hardware the …
...anti-theft stickers?
I'd rather have a laptop stolen from me than allow a third party to disable it remotely when they feel like it.
Anti-theft? Sounds more like anti-user. Do something with your machine that Intel does not approve of - get it bricked.
The only useful application I see is for the MOD and HMRC - as they like to have their laptops left on trains/airplanes etc.
It was mentioned (more then once) that it would be handled by admins, so to say, at an office of said company/home-owner who owns the laptop. Im sure it could be done the way you are suggesting but I did not get that impression from reading this.
I'll just print a copy of the sticker, paste it on my cheap laptop and save myself a few quid!
Will that wash with insurance firms though? They ask if your car is off-road and fitted with an immobiliser.
... the technology is turned on by default!
Many laptops (including those lost by HM Govt) have supported various hardware security features for years, but they are never turned on!
So what about the hard drive data? Is it encrypted? Whilst the loss of a laptop is annoying, it's nowhere near as bad as the data that is lost on the drive when it can just be removed and read in another machine!
Handcuff the bloody thing to the user so they can't wander off and leave it.
Still, it should triple the number of 'desktop support' bods needed to sort the can of worms out when it goes wrong. As it undoubtedly will.
Now all someone has to do is sell the stickers so you can protect your normal laptop. If it's really that successful at detering casual theft, it'll probably be worth it.
"The chip giant has developed a logo for its Anti-Theft technology,"
Great! Another one of those awful stickers that are hard to remove from your laptop and leave a horrible residue.
This is just a gimmick for Admins with a god complex Or
So this is more about data protection and revenge. The laptops are likely not to be recovered just broken up into spare parts and sold or trashed. Or is it more about hardware vendors wanting to sell more hardware that will be less likely to be reused when OS bloat makes them too slow/obsolete?
Wont this be fun when a 12 year old kid posts the code that does the disabling to Twitter...
Surely, just selling the stickers and slapping them onto a laptop would provide the same deterent, without the chance of accidentally bricking your own laptop when you have the microwave turned on and your mobile rings.
The technology I can live without, but I definitely want that Anti-Theft sticker on my laptop.
Nothing like a virus infested (McAfee actually deleted svchost.exe on me one time), self-destructive (PointSec disk encryption blew up and wiped my hard drives somehow), pre-crippled (see the article yesterday) hardware.
You can still buy AMD laptops right?
Disk encryption, IMO, is a necessary evil, but for some reason the whole self-bricking deal sounds like a bad idea.
Why not just hand out stickers?
"Machines that fail to log in for a specified period of time also get disabled" particularly given the length of time my netbook spends in a drawer, not going online (and the number of times i've taken it abroad expecting free wifi in hotel, but having to pay for it :/ )
> Machines that fail to log in for a specified period of time also get disabled.
Yes, I'm sure this technology won't get used to sting genuine owners for a reactivation code when they return from holiday, or pass on a temporarily unused computer to a relative or new owner.
IN THEORY, could this possibly prevent people from being anonymous?. e.g. a Word document or text file could have the chip's anti-theft ID embedded in the metadata (or something)
This could potentially identify the computer that was used to make the document. Whilst this might help to identify people stealing company data, it would also hamper whistle-blowing.
Part of the problem is that I just don't trust Intel. They have been doing something fairly cunty - selling Gateway computers & asking people to buy scratchcards if they want 'extra features' (already in the chip) 'unlocked' : http://www.crunchgear.com/2010/09/19/intel-selling-scratch-off-upgrade-cars-to-unlock-processor-power/
Correct me if I'm wrong but didn't Intel's prowess just get flushed down the toilet recently when Intel confirmed the wonderfully high-tech HDCP copy-protection had been cracked?
Why would this latest bit of Intel magic not fail, as well?
For the same reasons that some of the folks have stated, a lot of organizations I have come in contact with bristle at the idea of any sort of phone home. They simply do not like control or even reporting to be external. Can you blame them? (See the recent McAfee DAT screwup) If the code is comprimised, like this ever happens, then an organization could be seriously inconvenienced if the attacker could ennumerate enough machines...or the right ones.
Just a random speculation, but I wonder if this is a first step before they think about reducing prices and start licensing their processors? Don't pay yearly maintenance? Brick.
This is, I suspect, more about enforcing software licenses. The theft angle is just decoration -- nobody in their right minds would carry a laptop full of sensitive data around (and increasingly its pointless to carry a laptop around -- you pull it in as you need it).


text:
Photographer's Note
I had been serving as a guest lecturer onboard the cruise ship, Crystal Symphony, when it docked overnight in Istanbul at Karaköy. The pier is located right in front of the customs offices, on the Western side of the Bosporus, in the Beyoglu District of the city. For the record, this was the same pier that I was standing on thirty-years ago, when I took one of my favorite photos ever, The Old Freighters.
In a city of a myriad domes, a few dating back fifteen centuries, the Nusretiye Mosque is a relative newcomer. Built between 1822 and 1826 by Sultan Mahmud II, it is located just behind the customs offices. The mosque was designed by the talented Armenian architect, Krikor Amiya Balyan, the first of a nine generation family of distinguished architects, and is in a style that signals a transition from Ottoman Baroque style to the Empire style. The most prominent feature of the mosque is the dominant hemispherical dome, popular in Turkey since the Ottomans conquered the city in 1453, and were awed by the sight of the Incomparable Hagia Sophia. It is adorned with heavy gilded metal, unlike its predecessors, and the the single ornament topping the dome serves as a counterpoint to the crescent moon, in the simple compositional technique called rule of thirds.
The date of the photo, July 30, 2006, coincides with the birthday of Jaap Polak (carper), the highly skilled TE-photographer and friend from Holland. Moreover, in revealing his birthday, I would like to convey to Jaap these early birthday greetings.
Nikon D70, 18-70 mm Nikkor lens, camera steadied on a wall.
This image will be placed in a new group theme, DOMES. I Welcome others to contribute.
rigoletto, isabela_sor, veve, zeca, bostankorkulugu, AROBN54, nivaldo, carper, papagolf21, pablominto, Photo65Net, bpelvan, thea0211, delic, stego, evanrizo, salvator, gunbud, JCG, bhuniatrekearth, vincz, jhm, ahmetgedikli, devimeuxbe, rushfan2112, hderin, ugur_yilmaz, tzourob has marked this note useful
Critiques | Translate
maltese (22907) 2007-06-16 8:46
Hello Bulent
Un moment très bien saisi, la lune près de ce dome. Un beau symbole que ce croissant de lune. Une très belle réalisation pour la photo!!
isabela_sor (47748) 2007-06-16 8:49
Grey,blue and golden colour ...strange combination,but lovely here.Good arhitectural details and good framing
Have a nice weekend
My best wishes for our friend Jaap,too
jonathan_hart (21276) 2007-06-16 11:17
hello Bulent
nice detail of the mosque doom, with the crescent moon, a symbol, good composition, fine colours, well seen
veve (4189) 2007-06-16 12:04
Hello Bulent,
Very good close up and good framing!
Beautiful architecture and adornements!
Well done!
Have a nice weekend,
suhan (3552) 2007-06-16 13:44
Çok beğendik hocam, ışığı, mimari detayları ve gökyüzündeki ayı... bir de bakış açısını.
jasmis (58603) 2007-06-16 15:34
Interesting architecture deatails. Including moon gives additional value.
inanuc (0) 2007-06-16 17:53
merhaba bülent bey . bu aralar en çok yoğunlaştığım işlerden biride . detay fotoğraflarıdır.
güneşin konumu enfes bir görüntü ortaya çıkarmış.
gerektiği kadar aydınlık gerektiği kadar gölge.
elinize sağlık. sağlıcakla kalın
zeca (19762) 2007-06-16 18:02
Hello Bulent!
You played very well with the dome and the moon. Well seen! The golden details are something that really add some beauty, specially with that nice blue sky.
bostankorkulugu (42532) 2007-06-16 19:07
tekrar merhaba...
dün yorum yazdıktan kısa bir süre sonra yok olmuştu bu güzel fotoğraf bilmem neden, umarım bu sefer kalıcı olur :)...
osmanlı baroğu tarzındaki bu cami istanbulun en güzellerinden, yakın zamanda bir restorasyondan geçti, hatta penceresindeki etiketten de anlaşılabilir bu :)... hilalin kendisi ve stilize olanının birlikteliğiyle çok hoş bir kompozisyon çıkmış ortaya... elinize sağlık...
Warm greetings, Bulent,
What an intriguing shot. Mysterious. You did a splendid job with the contrast to be able to see such great detail even in the brightest lit spots. I love the contrast, too, with that crescent moon hanging there in your sky. It has a feeling of .. antiquity (even being a relative newcomer). That is a shot well seen and and well captured.
My best wishes, also, to Jaap. Happiest of birthdays!
nivaldo (15417) 2007-06-16 23:23
Merhaba Professor Bulent!
Another charming dome!
Beautiful domes, minaretes and Mosques of Istambul!
Istambul was magical for my feelings when I visited it two yeras ago.
A very interesting shot, Bulent!
Tesekkür ederim!
carper (96) 2007-06-17 2:41
a very pleasant shot taken on my birthday,
a very nice memory, the composition is very nice to look at and your note is sa as always so complete, fine details and good contrast with the blue sky, very nice TE job my friend. have a nice day.
groet jaap
Graal (103038) 2007-06-17 3:02
Hi Bulent,
fine composition with the moon on sky. Jaap is glad. Interesting details on the dome. I like it.
Gr., Aleksander
rigoletto (34279) 2007-06-17 3:26
Merhaba Dear Professor,
Yesterday, this photo disappeared just before i added my critique, so i am trying again today :)
Perfect zoom on those nice details of the mosque. Golden colors contrasting with the greyish tone look beautiful.
And how nice is the idea of presenting two crescents so close to each other...
And you are so kind for celebrating Mr. Polak for his incoming birthday.
Cheers and have a nice weekend :)
papagolf21 (118627) 2007-06-17 3:58
Cher ami Bulent,
Une photo réalisée avec maestria. Ce dôme ayant pour lune pour témoin (l'on voit le photographe avisé pour réussir une telle prouesse)magnifie la composition.
Une très bonne note, comme à l'accoutumée, tout cela devient un pur plaisir.
pablominto (53746) 2007-06-17 4:00
Hello Bulent,
I like this way of photographing architecture, we should not always be so reluctant to bold framing!
What you want to show comes well through, details are great and the angle of light works in your favour!
Pablo -
Photo65Net (43120) 2007-06-17 4:02
You managed nicely to get beautiful geometrics from these golden statues.
Good graphics, and tones and colors are very nice.
imago_lux (249) 2007-06-17 4:29
Always a great sense of opportunity. Congratulations again, my friend.
Jack Bramble
bpelvan (3798) 2007-06-17 7:23
Merhaba Üstadım,
The dome, gilded ornaments and especially the two crescents are perfectly being served by yourself as always...:)))
And the note accompanied to this perfect detailed work, gives us the chance to fill in the blank parts of our learnings..
I now don't recall whether it's true but as far as I know the name Nusretiye is given to this architecture beauty because of Sultan Mahmut II's great victory against/abolition of the rebells, Yeniceri Ocagi... He, later, founded a new modern style army... And this event is known in Ottoman history as Vaka-i Hayriye (Hayirli Vaka).
Thaks a lot for this wonderful image and your note...
delic (6735) 2007-06-17 9:00
Excellent timing and composition of Nusretiye's dome juxtaposed below the crescent moon. This mosque is one of my favorites as I find it very photogenic.
Best wishes,
noborders (1010) 2007-06-17 10:04
Hello Bulent, this is a great idea, to add the moon crescent on this photo as it is so symbolic to the Muslim world... I like the POV too, and the composition,
stego (24132) 2007-06-17 13:25
Hello Bülent,
A great compo, with the dome, those golden jars(?) making an imaginary path to the pinnacle that stands exactly on one of the golden points, 'talking' to the moon. I think I had never seen a mosque without a crescent on top and in a way I didn't yet, as this one has a real crescent.
Regards, José.
salvator (19110) 2007-06-17 15:49
Hello Bulent Bey,
Superb composition and nice catch. To have caught the moon with the crescents, the color of the sky and the details allover are wonderful.
I wish you an excellent week.
Best personal regards. Salvator.
evanrizo (456) 2007-06-17 15:49
Hi Bulent.
Yeees this is a composition, you are very lucky to have it and to capture it.
Everythink works great wonderful here, the lightness and the contrasts.
The colors come nice, the moon is very good to see.
Have a nice time.
gunbud (34066) 2007-06-17 21:24
Hi Bulent,
This dome is seen in extraordinary detail and wonderful clear colors. The gold compliments the blue sky wonderfully and how appropriate to have a cresent moon above the lovely mosque.
Regards, Tom
Bulent I love how you arranged these details and how the total composition has a very nice balance. And oh the moon is such a nice addition here too. Very nicely done....and interesting infor as well.
meltemi (0) 2007-06-18 5:34
Hello Bulent,
a well balanced composition with an incredible view of the dome. Beautiful and dramatic sky giving this picture a magical feeling. Impressively vivid colours and details, despite the low lighting.
Wonderful viewpoint and excellent composition.
A note that is always a pleasure to read.
Warm Regards.
veyselk (0) 2007-06-18 9:58
merhaba bülent hocam
göğe yükselen bir kubbenin üstünde etkileyici bir hilal. çok güzel yakalamışsınız hocam netlikte çok güzel ellerinize sağlık...
hergi (4541) 2007-06-18 11:42
Ay ve yıldız.Muhteşem yakalanmış bir kare. Çerçevlemeyi çok beğendim.
Ellerinize sağlık
Hi Bülent,
A photograph which refers to the national flag judiciously : Ay Yildiz. The dome of this mosque is well photographed and profits from a beautiful light which makes it possible to have beautiful reflections on these parts gilded. Good work and a pretty glance. Cheer Bülent and thank you for the interresting comment as usual.
With all my friendships of Versailles,
jmcl (14535) 2007-06-18 20:03
hi Bulent,
I really like the gold against the dark tones of the dome .. the moon is a wonderful backdrop for the thing .. I love how the curves relate back to it. very nice.
take care,
bhuniatrekearth (764) 2007-06-19 2:47
Respected Bulent Sir,
It's like a poem flowing smoothly. instead of applying the knowledge of technical photographic jargon it is apt. to appreciate artistic sense and imagination in this composition.
I have enlighted myself a lot on framing tech. and its colour choice from your gallery. This is also not an exception.
Oh sorry! Photo jargon again............
Best wishes and good health.
Dr. J.
amazon (12112) 2007-06-19 4:06
müthiş dikkat çekici bir detay,
ellerinize sağlık,
vincz (19113) 2007-06-19 5:18
Beautiful moment you catched perfectly with this very well balanced composition. I like very much the golden ornaments all around and the one on the top that bring so much to this balance. An excellent work.
Cretense (68703) 2007-06-19 5:54
Hi Bulent!
This an excellent detail, which you have managed to bring out with your marvellous tight framing and great composition. Beautiful colours and very impressive sharpness. Congratulations!
Warm regards,
jhm (167730) 2007-06-19 7:51
Hello friend Bulent,
A nice idea with the moon in the corner together with the golden decorations, excellent composition, attractive picture.
Our friend Jaap shall are very glad with are congratulations. TFS.
Kind regards,
siolaw (38294) 2007-06-19 11:52
Hi Bulent,
You got the Turkish symbol in the sky and a star on the dome! A good POV showing both, good exposure and sharp details. the gold color and shine is very nice.
ahmetgedikli (25609) 2007-06-19 19:14
Kubbeye gelen ışık, renkler, netlik ve arkadaki hilalle şahane bir görüntü...
Elinize sağlık, saygılar.
KemaLMerT (12048) 2007-06-20 4:56
Mimari detaylar, renkler, netlik ve kompozisyon tümü ile çok başarılı bir kare.
Kemal Mert
jrj (34843) 2007-06-20 8:30
The golden statues and decoration on top of this dome with the inclusion of the moon shape up there sure makes for an interesting result Bulent. combined again with your outstanding notes you have another top TE entry in your portfolio with this one.
anesugur (18789) 2007-06-21 2:32
Merhaba Hocam,
Şu günlerde Matematik ve Mona Lisa kitabınızı okuyorum.
Fotoğraflara biraz daha farklı gözle bakmaya başladım.
Ellerinize sağlık.
Selam ve saygılar. Uğur
Angshu (56760) 2007-06-22 3:30
Hello Professor "A"
That's a neat crop, The gilded crescent & star 'opposing' the real crescent of the moon. The angle of light works in your favour here as part of the dome is lit up. An excellent architectural take
With Warm Regards
mesutilgim (98550) 2007-06-22 17:06
Selam Bülent,
Bu kareyi kaçırmışım. Çok güzel bir tesadüf ve çok iyi bir kompozisyon.
Ellerine sağlık, tebrikler ve iyi bir hafta sonu dileği ile
Selam ve sevgiler
devimeuxbe (58557) 2007-06-22 21:37
Hi Bulent
The round dome and the moon work well together. You have chose a perfect cropping and also the light is very nice.
rushfan2112 (2965) 2007-06-24 3:47
Hi Bulent, an interesting photograph without the moon but a wonderful play on the Turkish flag with it. Well spotted and, as ever, well executed. Regards, Paul.
Bluejeans (64251) 2007-06-24 9:32
Ola Bulent bonito detalhe desta cupula , bonitos de tons de amarelo , bom enquadramento , gostei das cores , parabens!!
Um abraço Gonçalo
capthaddock (28790) 2007-06-24 19:31
Hello Bülent - the moon definitely makes the shot, though the closeup details on the dome are also nice.
jemaflor (108519) 2007-06-28 14:47
Hi Bulent,
Very well sen composition, intetersting idea and good result, bravo.
hderin (600) 2007-08-10 19:53
Harika kompozisyonlar iç güzelliğinizin yansıması. Teşekkür ediyorum.
Saygıyla... :)
Haluk Derinöz
ugur_yilmaz (26) 2007-09-29 17:20
Merhaba Bulent Bey,
Kubbeyi cok gzel bir acidan uygun detaylarla ve netlikle yakalamışınız. Çok beğendim.
elenimavrandoni (0) 2014-02-27 17:10
one of these little details that make Istanbul a unique, mysterious and very beautiful city!!
a city that never ceases to amaze me and I always love to visit!!
kind regards
Photo Information
- Copyright: Bulent Atalay (batalay) (41257)
- Genre: Places
- Medium: Color
- Date Taken: 2006-07-30
- Camera: Nikon D-70, 18-70mm DX Zoom Nikkor
- Photo Version: Original Version
- Theme(s): DOMES, SPIRES AND MINARETS [view contributor(s)]
- Date Submitted: 2007-06-16 8:16
- Favorites: 1 [view]
- To rigoletto: Your photo... (1)
by batalay, last updated 2007-06-16 08:34
- To bpelvan: Dome and crescent moon... (1)
by batalay, last updated 2007-06-17 08:19
- To papagolf21: Le Domê et la Lune... (1)
by batalay, last updated 2007-06-17 09:21

subset: commoncrawl


text:
The Rivera Sedona 55 Combo Amplifier is the world's first all-tube Electric and Acoustic amp designed in collaboration with Nashville fingerpicking legend, Doyle Dykes. Accolades have been given to Sedona 55 from all over the world.
Sedona 55 features two independent and different preamplifier channels. Channel 1 is designed to produce optimum electric tones, clean or distorted. Channel 2 is tailored for electric or acoustic instruments. Sedona 55's specially designed Tweeter can be switched on or off to reproduce an acoustic instrument's sparkling harmonics on demand. In addition, the Tweeter's operation is linked to Channel 2 and is automatically disengaged when Channel 1 is selected.
Rivera Sedona 55 Acoustic/Electric Combo Amplifier Features
- 55 Watts, 1-12 inch JBL
- (5) 12AX7 Preamp Tubes allowing 2 full discrete channels of warm tone
- (2) EL-34 Power Tubes
- Massive transformers and exposed surface mounting for long life and cool operation
- Heavy-Duty 16 Gauge zinc plated steel chassis with welded end make a rugged road worthy amp
- Costly regulated DC filament power supply for the Preamp Tubes allow silent and hum free operation
- Rugged metal phone jacks throughout for years of noise free connections
- Chassis mounted Mica-filled octal tube socket with phosphor bronze-copper plated and hot tin dipped pins for perfect electrical contact and long life
- Detachable AC power cable for easy transportation and replacement


text:
making windows primary in grub loader
I want to make windows the primary in my grub loader. I'm still new to linux so I'm not sure where to change what. I got some kind of command line from another source but don't know where to input it. What I've got is ( edit/boot/grub/menu.lst ) I'm wondering if this is the right code to use and where do I input it. I don't know if grubs differ from distro to distro, but mine came with simplymepis. Any and all dumbed down help is greatly appreciated.
You can change the "default" value in your /boot/grub/menu.lst. Note that 0 is the first item and that EACH label in the menu count for one (even if it's only a separator).
where is /boot/grub/menu.lst i.e. where do I access that. I've been windows exclusive for about 12 years now. Linux is a complete mystery to me, so I'd really appreciate it if you could REALLY dumb all this down.
eg: if you use mandrake (now mandriva) it's "drakconf" (open a terminal and type drakconf)
in suse it's YaST2 (mind the capital letters)
otherwise, if you want to manually edit the file. in X use kwrite, in console use vi.
timeout 5
color black/cyan yellow/cyan
shade 1
viewport 3 2 77 22
splashimage (hd0,0)/boot/grub/mdv-grub_splash.xpm.gz
default 0
title linux
kernel (hd0,0)/boot/vmlinuz root=/dev/hda1 resume=/dev/hda5 splash=silent vga=788
initrd (hd0,0)/boot/initrd.img
title linux-nonfb
kernel (hd0,0)/boot/vmlinuz root=/dev/hda1 resume=/dev/hda5
initrd (hd0,0)/boot/initrd.img
title failsafe
kernel (hd0,0)/boot/vmlinuz root=/dev/hda1 failsafe resume=/dev/hda5
initrd (hd0,0)/boot/initrd.img
in this case the first entry (title linux) is the default.
if you want more help i suggest you tell us your linux version, there could verry well be a configuration wizard mutch like the "windows style"
I'm running simplymepis if that helps at all
this won't really help you. but if your not so familiar in linux. i suggest you start with a more known distro. sutch as mandriva or suse.
i'm sure you can get a lot better support with them, as more people use(d) them. they allso have great wizards where you can change options like this in a verry rappid way. and error-safe. so you can take the time for things you find less urgent. while in need. there is hardly any need to spend time on the net searching for it (or waiting on linuxquestions for a reply).
|All times are GMT -5. The time now is 02:36 PM.


text:
ACParadise Network: American Cosplay Paradise American Cosplay Experience American Cosplay Snapshots
Cosplayer mahoukiyoraka > Costume of Yuffie Kisaragi (Kingdom Hearts)
- Most Recent Photo
- 08-30-2013
- Series
- Kingdom Hearts
- Character
- Yuffie Kisaragi
- Year Completed:
- 2010
- Construction Difficulty:
- Costume worn at:
- ConnectiCon 2011
- Gobble-Con 2010
This Costume has been retired
About this Costume
- Construction Details:
Most of this is altered. Top was a bandeau bra, with the blue rope material and belt loops glued on. Bought fishnets and socks and borrowed boots. The rest (gloves, arm bands, belt) were small crafting and painting jobs.
The headband was fun! I folded some fabric, glued on a string of green beads and put feathers on the end of the beads.
Add a Comment


text:
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Completely fill out the complaint form.
Email, fax or send the form by postal mail.
Attn: Intake
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text:
Matthews clinches it vs. former club
Angels erase gap in hurry
ARLINGTON -- Few things in baseball are as beneficial as good timing. Gary Matthews Jr. had it on Tuesday. So did the Angels, in what felt like an all-too-brief visit to Texas. Matthews ended a 3-for-27 slump at the most fortuitous of times, batting with the bases loaded in the sixth inning on Tuesday. Swinging at a 2-0 pitch, he drove a three-run double into the left-center-field gap to break a tie and propel the Angels to a 7-4 victory and a sweep of their short two-game series. "Numbers go up and down," Matthews said. "That's just how it goes. But it seems like I've been able to get the big hit when I need to. I'll take that tradeoff, as long as we keep winning -- I can keep driving in runs when we need them."
Matthews' moment Tuesday came after the Angels clawed their way back from an early four-run deficit. A two-run homer by Casey Kotchman and an RBI single by Chone Figgins pulled them within 4-3 in the fourth, and Garret Anderson's run-scoring single in the fifth drew them even. Perhaps the key hit of the game wasn't even a hit. Maicer Izturis lined a ball off the shin of Rangers starter Kevin Millwood in the second inning. The ball glanced straight to first baseman Ben Broussard for an easy out, but pain from the bruise became so severe that Millwood could not continue past the fifth inning. That got the Angels into the soft underbelly of the Texas bullpen. Right-handed reliever Josh Rupe replaced the Rangers' ace to start the sixth, and found immediate trouble. A leadoff walk to Izturis, a one-out single by Erick Aybar and an intentional walk to Figgins loaded the bases for Matthews. Rupe continued to struggle, falling behind Matthews, but Angels manager Mike Scioscia had no qualms letting his struggling right fielder swing away. "If it had gotten to 3-0, we might have had him look at one," Scioscia said. "But not 2-0. That's too good a hitting count. We know Gary is going to be there for us and that he's going to hit for us." Matthews appreciated his manager's confidence, but admitted that his recent slide had been weighing on him. "Any player that says he ignores the numbers, it's a flat-out lie," Matthews said. "When you're going through a tough time, you know it, and it wears on you. But I also try to look at the positives." For Matthews, that meant remembering that he drove in two runs with his only hit on Sunday in Seattle and that he had already drawn three walks in the Texas series, an indication his batting eye was sharpening. Rupe tried to put a fastball on the outside corner, but left it within reach, and Matthews drove it deep into the gap between outfielders David Murphy and Josh Hamilton. Izturis, Aybar and Figgins all raced home, and the Rangers were on their way to a fifth consecutive loss. Matthews hinted at some hurt feelings after being booed during the series by Texas fans. He played here three years, including his All-Star season of 2006, before defecting to the division-rival Angels as a free agent that November.
"Yeah, that seemed a little odd," he said. "I played well here, and I played hard for these people. I don't know what to make of it. But it was ... really odd."Still, the displeasure directed toward Matthews was nothing like the boos Rangers fans have begun to shower on their own team. The Rangers' five consecutive home losses have featured all manner of sloppy play, mental lapses and physical errors. Tuesday's included catcher Adam Melhuse throwing to an uncovered base as Figgins stole second in the third, and Murphy hitting a seventh-inning double only to be tagged out when he kept running before noticing lead runner Marlon Byrd had stopped at third base. "I think their baserunning mistake was big that inning," Scioscia said, "but those guys did a lot right on the field. They made us earn it. I don't think they gave us anything." Rangers manager Ron Washington wasn't nearly so charitable. He felt it necessary to apologize for his team's performances in series sweeps by the Blue Jays and Angels. "We played five bad games," Washington said. "Whatever type of mistake that could be made, we've made. We do apologize to the fans for that, but it will get better." With the weather at one of the summer's hot spots unseasonably cool and pleasant (68 degrees), and with the home team playing so poorly in virtually every facet of the game, perhaps the Angels' only regret was that this stay was limited to only two games. The Rangers proved quite a tonic after the Angels lost two of three in Seattle. Even Figgins was able to celebrate after getting two consecutive singles against the hobbled Millwood, ending an 0-for-22 career drought against the pitcher. "It was frustrating," admitted Figgins, who thrust his arms in the air at first base and grinned after his third-inning single. About the only disappointment for the Angels was the shaky performance of starting pitcher Dustin Moseley. The converted reliever gave up four runs on seven hits and was pulled after he was unable to retire the Rangers' leadoff hitter in the fifth. Moseley is 1-1 with a 7.80 ERA after three starts in place of the injured John Lackey. "There's more in there," Scioscia said. "Dustin has the ability to come out with the consistency he showed for his first five innings last time [April 9 against Cleveland] and get on a roll." Moseley sounded equally disappointed after walking five and striking out one in his four-inning stint. "This is not the way I expected myself to do," he said. "I'm better than the three starts I've had. There's no excuse for it. It's just a lack of focus at times. ... I don't throw 95 mph, so I need to have strike one. I've got to get back to attacking the hitters." Darren Oliver (1-0), the second of five Angels pitchers, got the win in relief. Closer Francisco Rodriguez walked two in the ninth inning, but also struck out two to nail down his fifth save in six chances.
Ken Daley is a contributor to MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.


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Jian-Kang Zhang
Jian-Kang Zhang received the B.S. degree in information science, Mathematics Department, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi'an, China, the M.S. degree in information and computational science, Mathematics Department, Northwest University, Xi'an, China, and the Ph.D. degree in electrical engineering from the Xidian University, Xi'an, China. Presently, he works as an Assistant Professor at the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at the McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. He has held research positions at the McMaster University and the Harvard University. He is the coauthor of the paper which received the IEEE Signal Processing Society Best Young Author Award in 2008. His research interests include multirate filterbanks, wavelet transforms and their applications, and number theory and their applications in signal processing. His current research focuses on random matrices, channel capacity, and space-time coding for coherent and noncoherent MIMO wireless communication systems.
Biography Updated on 28 January 2009


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It seems state leaders may never come up with a budget.
Schwarzenegger and lawmakers plan to resume budget talks Tuesday on how to close the state's $42 billion deficit.
Schwarzenegger and legislative leaders from both parties met for about two hours Sunday before the governor left for Idaho to attend the winter games of the Special Olympics.
The shortfall, which is projected through June 2010, has already forced California to delay tax refunds and shut down most state offices on alternating Fridays.
And the governor has gone to court to try to force an additional 15,000 state government workers to take furloughs because of the deficit.
Schwarzenegger had already ordered more than 200,000 state workers to take two days off each month without pay. He projected those furloughs would save $1.3 billion through June 2010.


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New Article: Errors as Business Information (2 messages)
Any work on an integration project utilizes a wide range of established patterns. Antoine Borg shows us that while it is common to put these patterns together within your project, there also is value in grouping patterns that are themselves patterns. Read Errors as Business Information
- Posted by: Nuno Teixeira
- Posted on: December 04 2007 12:35 EST
Threaded Messages (2)
- What's MULE got to do with it? by Richard Wellman on January 04 2008 10:49 EST
- Apology by Antoine Borg on February 21 2008 03:19 EST
What's MULE got to do with it?[ Go to top ]
So the title of your article caught my attention... and I start reading and you still have my attention; because you're talking about a general application architecture issue. Then, out of nowhere, you start talking about MULE. Maybe I'm the programmer in the short bus, but I've never heard of MULE nor do you give any introduction nor reference to what it is. Sure, I can do the leg work but really shouldn't have to in order to understand your article's point. Just frustrated that I have to filter out the MULE lingo/code from the stuff that illustrates your article's intent. Maybe you could rewrite this article without reference to MULE or maybe split it into two parts. i.e Part I = your point, Part II = your point illustrated with the use of MULE
- Posted by: Richard Wellman
- Posted on: January 04 2008 10:49 EST
- in response to Nuno Teixeira
Apology[ Go to top ]
Hello Richard, Thanks for your comment - 2 apologies coming your way: 1) For the late nature of this reply. (Many excuses, none relevant) 2) You are quite right in that the article could have been structured better to build up to using Mule rather than "surprise" the reader in that way. Antoine
- Posted by: Antoine Borg
- Posted on: February 21 2008 03:19 EST
- in response to Richard Wellman


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Yesterday, Amnesty International released their global survey report on the state of human rights around the world. Iren Khan, Sec-Gen of Amnesty, made a salient observation when she attended a high-level meeting in New York on MDGs last September.
Countries are hard pressed to back up their rhetoric on meeting the MDG goals set for 2015 she writes. But as she left the UN building, a ticker tape was announcing the crash of one New York's largest investment banks.
We all know what happened next. Within a record time, billions were being pumped into these financial institutions whose reckless abuse of power and web of deceit will push another 53 million (from an already astounding 150 million in 2008 alone) into poverty according to the World Bank.
The report says the global financial meltdown is compounded by the rise of food costs. Hunger breeds desperation, violence, and a profound sense of injustice as the world's elite dine on the excess of their bailouts.
The UN's Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) says that for the first time in history, 1 billion people will go hungry. Years of progress and efforts by international aid organisations, by local communities, by ordinary people seems to have been swept away by the flood of greed of society's "elite."
The G-20 summits are feigned efforts to right the wrongs. Instead, governments are focusing on fighting off terrorism and spending resources on internal security. The perversion of fear that weaves policies in a risk aversive society becomes irrational in its stated goals of eradicating that fear.
Neglecting the well-being of a nation's children, of its women and men, and then treating individuals and whole groups as suspects, breeds contempt and further feeds the machine of injustice and hatred.
A new system, a new order that is grounded in humanism and not the zealous pursuit of wealth at all costs, is needed so that the 200,000,000 people who have lost almost everything can begin to have faith in humanity. And in us.