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Fujifilm X100S Digital Split Image focus - how it works
The Fujifilm X100S is the latest in a recent rush of cameras to include phase-detection elements on its imaging sensor, giving an AF system that is a hybrid of contrast and phase-detection methods. However, Fujifilm also uses this system to provide a unique and incredibly clever manual focus aid - which could finally allow digital cameras to offer the speed and convenience enjoyed by manual-focus SLR and rangefinder users. Fujifilm UK has posted a video showing 'Digital Split Image' focusing and Japanese camera site DCWatch has published details that allow us to show how it works.
What Digital Split Image focusing offers
The X100S's Digital Split Image system splits the central section of the camera's live view into four black-and-white stripes of the scene. These stripes line-up when the camera is in focus - in a similar way to a split prism viewfinder on a manual-focus film SLR. This gives a method of achieving manual focus while retaining a view of the entire scene, making it possible to assess focus and framing at the same time. This speed and convenience is what has helped focus peaking (a feature the X100S also offers) become a highly desirable feature in mirrorless cameras.
How it works
The best way of understanding how the system works is to understand how on-sensor phase detection works. Because the Digital Split Image focusing system is essentially presenting the camera's phase detection information visually.
Fujifilm was the first company to offer on-sensor phase detection in one of its cameras, when it launched its F300 EXR and Z800 EXR compact cameras. When they were launched, we explained how the system works. The key thing is that the light entering the left-hand-side of the lens will only give the same image as the light from the right-hand-side when the lens is in focus. So if you can 'look at' the left- and right-hand sides separately, you can compare the two images and calculate how much you need to move the lens to get them to match up.
Click here to read about how on-sensor phase-detection works
Roll-over the buttons below to show what happens as you focus the lens:
Back Focus
In Focus
Front Focus
|In this simplified schematic, you can see what happens to the image cast by the light passing through the left (blue dotted line) and right (red dotted lines) sides of the lens.
When in focus, the light from both sides of the lens converges to create a focused image. However, when not in focus, the images projected by two sides of the lens do not overlap (they are out of phase with one another).
Of course this is a massively simplified diagram with a single, vertical straight line as the subject (and no inversion of the image as it passes through the lens). The point is that we can derive information about focus if we can separately view light coming from opposite sides of the lens.
| How does a phase detection sensor 'see'?
And we don't need the whole image to do this. Think about a strip of pixels taken from the sensor in the previous diagram. If you could make one such strip that receives light only from the left hand side of the lens and another that 'looks' only to the right-hand side of the lens, then you have enough information to find focus.
By comparing images from just these two strips it's possible to work out not only how far but also in which direction the lens needs to be moved to bring them into phase.
Back Focus
In Focus
Front Focus
As the slide published by DCWatch shows, the Digital Split Image system works by showing these left and right-looking images in the camera's live view - allowing you to visualize what the phase-detection system usually 'sees.' The first and third stripe shown in the viewfinder shows the image being gathered by the left-facing pixels while the second and fourth stripe show what the right-facing pixels are showing. Matching them up (bringing them into phase), brings the image into focus.
|Fujifilm explanation of Digital Split Image focusing - from DCWatch
The focus region is black-and-white because the left- and right-facing pixels are all 'green' sensor elements, so aren't capturing any information about any of the other colors in the scene.
If the feature works in practice (and our brief hands-on experience is positive), it's a feature we expect to see in an increasing number of cameras - particularly mirrorless models, many of which still lack a quick method for assessing manual focus. Sadly, because they lack phase-detection elements, it's not a feature Fujifilm can add to its existing X-Pro1 and X-E1 models.
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It is such a shame the Fuji split image system does not work the same as the old film way, I tried the Fuji at a show and found the split image implementation to be very messy as the image is out of focus until lined up (obviously as only sees through the lens). The whole point of the old split image was that you could see two pin sharp images moving into line as you focused so critical focus was easy as you lined up an edge in view, when the two "parts" are blurred its basically a bit of a naff split image system. I understand the only way to implement this is to use a real optical system, so why call it what it isn't?
Doesn't stop me wanting one of these beauties though, lovely little camera.
I think this does look cool, and I'm interested in trying it out.
That said, I'm wondering about the statement "many ...[mirrorless models] still lack a quick method for assessing manual focus."
Which models?
I have "crude" manual focus (no split-screen, no focus-peaking) on my Panasonic GH2, and I don't find it lacking. I can focus on an eyelash quickly and accurately. What is missing from current technology? Ordinary old zoom-in manual focus, which is not color blind, might be more accurate in more situations than this manual focus.
This is an appeal to nostalgia, in my opinion. If there is an increase in functionality over current systems, I'm missing it.
I wonder why doesn't this model have a standard rangefinder focusing mechanism. This would be nicer than an electronic one, although this method of manual focus would be only available through the viewfinder.
Anyway, this electronic digital split image system would be very useful in low-light situations if it can do IR capturing.
If you can focus on an eye-lash quickly, then good for you.
I've tried the EM5 and the XE1 for street photography, and I personally cannot even focus fast enough on a person walking towards me at f/4 using any focus-by-wire system.
I've been forced to rely entirely on shooting at f/8 and zone focusing when using fly by wire focus.
Yeah, Fuji just lost an X-E1 sale, since I know they're going to release this feature on the interchangeable lens cameras late this year or early next year. I can wait.
I hope it has catch in focus.
Fuji could and should have included this new version of its X-Trans CMOS II sensor on the only just on sale X-E1 model. Obviously they will include this sensor with associated focusing improvements in the next version of the X-E1 (the X-E1S?).
What this means is that I, and others who know this, will now have to postpone buying an X-E1 - which is ANNOYING, but what is the point in buying the newly announced X-E1 when we know what it will be replaced with?
Really there is no excuse for not putting the new sensor into the current X-E1. Come on Fuji, you know you want to .... so why lose sales in the meantime? After all some people might buy something else instead, if they 'can't wait' .......
Dear Pix Man,
I am assuming you are interested in a real answer and you are not just venting. Fuji could have many reasons to do as they did, one being that both cameras are developed interleaved by different teams to increase the number of new cameras developed in a given time and one sensor was available early enough to be used in this model and the other was not. I also feel sad for Fuji Engineers that even when creating the most inspiring photographic tools they are still met with people complaining about their work. For myself, I am most impressed with Fuji's latest cameras!
I agree with you that Fuji do an excellent job of making cameras and I appreciate your point. I suppose realistically I would be unlikely to notice much difference in performance between the present X-E1 and whatever follows it. It just seems a shame that with so little time between the X-E1 and this announcement, that Fuji couldn't wait to incorporate the new sensor into the X-E1.
I think Fuji certainly, but others too, are too keen to get a product to market, for example the flaky firmware in the original X100 must have lost them sales. Refining the firmware, as they did, before introducing a camera, might in the long term give them more sales.
Purely from a practical view of how people behave in real life, others too will find irritating the knowledge that we know what will replace the newly created X-E1 now. I'm sure it is a damn good camera and I essentially applaud Fuji's approach and well thought through product strategy. Perhaps their 2 teams should merge?
Love the technology, more functional than good old circular split image focusing screens. Even better, does not black out in low light! (Also liked "Highly Confidential" classification on a slide aimed at the widest possible audience.)
My old Kodak P880 uses phase detection auto focus for faster AF. so this is really not the first time FDAF has been included in a non-slr camera.
The key distinction is on-sensor phase detection. I don't think either this article or the older one about the F300 EXR claims that these cameras are the first with any attempt at phase detection.
What led me to write the original comment was the following statement from this page: " Fujifilm was the first company to offer on-sensor phase detection in one of its cameras". Thanks Mr. Butler for clarifying the differences in the two AF technologies in question.
You're welcome. Sorry that there was some ambiguity.
So, this PDAF will have issues on red and blue objects, hehe
Why are the PDAF pixels not white?
They might be white (we don't know for certain) but they're certainly not red or blue, so can't perceive colour.
Excellent article.
By smatty (3 min ago)
I am just curious to find out if the X100s is now finally able to lock focus on horizontal lines im landscape orientation?
Although the way they have implemented the split screen mode I am afraid that it still wont't be abel to do that (just like the X100, XE-1 and X-Pro 1)
Maybe DPREVIEW can check on this during the in depth review?
Here is what I'm talking about (look at paragraph No. 1):
If not, just like the old film camera split center focus just tilt the camera a bit and re frame.
Yes that is how I work it and also the tip that I gave in my blog. But the X-Cameras AF seem to be troublesome for "newer photographers" who grew up with DSLR's or face detection AF cameras and never used analog split center focus screens.
If Fuji would overcome this issue (maybe the phase detection pixels are already the answer?) than the X-Cameras would become even more popular :)
Pretty well every CDAF camera on the market has the same 'limitation' of only being sensitive to horizontal lines - it's in no way limited to Fujifilm. It's rarely a problem in practice.
Andy, it can be a problem if you try to focus on eyes during events and weddings. Bride and Mom next to each other and no focus lock on the eyes (eyelids = horizontal lines) possible.
I have found my workarounds as mentioned in my blogpost earlier. But this still seems to be an issue for a lot of photographers. The amount of visitors to my plogpost concerning these Fuji X-Camera AF tipps are an indication for that.
It seems as if some other cameras cope with it better... (i.e. Olympus OM-D, Sony NEX)
Even if I do not know yet how well it will work in real-life; I would love to have something like that on the X20....or on my Nikon DSLR (that I love).
Why would someone use manual focus ? Especially since CDAF prevents all problems with back/front focus.
People using manual lenses...?
1) CDAF doesn't prevent one from accidentaly locking focus onto the wrong object
2) CDAF focusing provides little feedback whereas by focusing manually you can see how the focus plane changes if you go slow enough
3) Maybe some people want to experiment with focus for artistic reasons?
neo_nights, perhaps that's relevant for MILCs, but not on a fixed lens camera like the X100S.
Richard - the split image focusing aid works ONLY with the EVF, correct?
In my mind, the breakthrough will be when this can be overlaid with the OVF.
EVF and the rear screen. Projecting into the OVF with sufficient brightness would be a challenge, I suspect.
This camera just became more appealing
The split image focusing can be used with the EVF also, correct?
It seems like only XTrans camera can do this without degrading the sensor sensitivity because X trans has huge green area at the sensor block, so PD is possible on them without disturbing the IQ.
Almost every other mirrorless camera announced in the last six months has a hybrid focus system with on-sensor pdaf elements. Nikon showed what outstanding focus performance could be achieved this way with the first Nikon 1 cameras 18 months ago. So no, x-trans is not needed to make this work. Any camera with sufficient pdaf elements on the sensor could do it, and that includes the many hybrid sensors with Bayer arrays. X-Trans arrays increase the number of green sensels only slightly, from 1/2 the total to 5/9.
I played the little video over and over again and failed to see why it might be quicker or more effective when used to manual focus than contrast detect focus peaking. Maybe auto-focus phase detect might be lightning fast but any manual focus relies on humans twiddling a lens to focus it. Furthermore I am supposing it only works on the centre of the screen - you have to point the camera directly at he object you wish to focus. Contrast detect focus peaking shows points in focus over the entire screen area and also can show the dof actually in focus if the photographer pays attention.
With split image focusing a human needs no 'twiddling'; just by looking at the amount of offset, you know exactly how much to turn the ring. At least with mechanically-linked focus rings, that is.
Peaking requires confirmation: you have to slow down as you approach the correct focus setting.
I don't think I said it's quicker (though CarVac is right that, in theory, you could learn how far you'd have to move the lens to correct any given phase difference, like the AF version does).
The point is that (like focus peaking) it allows you to asses focus and framing at the same time, which is faster than magnified live view. Focus peaking also has precision issues (at least with current screen resolutions), with fast lenses. It remains to be seen if this does (and it may).
CarVac, that video makes clear it definitely isn't fast and twiddling free method for even semi accurate guessing of how much you have to move focus. (at least unless target is extremely simple)
Help, I can't stop moving the lens back and forth.
Sony RX1 has a focus peaking contrary to what people say. It just works a bit different from RX100, NEXs. In RX1, the focusing peaking becomes visible only in the magnification mode. That is, as soon as one rotates the focus ring, it automatically zooms and displays focus peaking.
Yes, which loses one of the main advantages of focus peaking - the ability to assess focus and composition at the same time.
I don't think so, focus peaking main advantage is to provide a very viewable and precise focus information to aid MF ( or DMF in case of AF ), both on the LCD and EVF. You can always quickly compose after fine focusing ( which is a most usual way even with AF ). IMHO good composition is to be a photographer's gift, with very little dependency on the camera's LCD, EVF, OVF, etc, system.
Ha-ha-ha-ha, split image assist optical focusing has been out for like forever, now someone like Fuji is making it "digital," so we are supposed to fall backwards in awe?
Ha-ha-ha-ha, film sensor has been out for like forever, now someone like Kodak is making it "digital," so we are supposed to fall backwards in awe?
Good feature, I see here the focusing square in the center only. Is this square flexible, so that you can select the area? On the other side I prefer Sony's peaking feature, you need no point to select, you just see on the color aura where the sharpness is. With super wide angle lenses it is tricky, but you get into iot quiet fast. This Fuji system will need a short time to get into it too, but after a short while it will make you focus manually quiet fast. Despite this the X100 remains a (too) expensive camera. For that price I get a NEX-6 with a second lens.
With super wide angle lenses, you do not need to worry much about the exactness of your focusing, if at all.
Autofocus in mass produced cameras was popularized as a sales aid, not a focusing aid and there was nothing about AF that applied specifically to wide angle lenses--in fact, it made a very poor demo with a wide angle lens. People who were doing critical work had managed to focus accurately even before autofocus.
Is this software or hardware driven? Could this appear in a firmware update of the X-Pro1?
I think it cannot be done because it requires phase detection pixels
This digital split-image is a very interesting feature for Fuji, looks very similar to analog manual SLRs. Anyway, for manual focussing, IMHO Sony's "Peaking" feature that most of their new cameras ( NEX, SLTs, RX100, RX1 ) already have, seems to be unbeatable.
The X100S also has peaking. However, it's not unbeatable, since it has precision problems with fast lenses (Sony's reason for removing it from the RX1).
Fujifilm's own FOCUS PEAKING feature in their new FinePix HS50 EXR is probably a tad better than what you see in the Sony Alphas.
In response to doreme's post - I should clarify that it's normal view focus peaking that's been removed from the RX1. It's still available in magnified live view mode, which allows the required precision but forgoes the ability to focus and compose at the same time.
> The X100S also has peaking. However, it's not unbeatable, since it has precision problems with fast lenses (Sony's reason for removing it from the RX1).
Then there are also precision problems with focus peaking in macro due to thin DoF (generally, not specifically to X100S)?
What I would like is manual focus feedback in the *optical* viewfinder so these cameras behaved more like "real" range finders.
I find EVFs horrible to use. It feels like you are losing touch with the subject and going to watch TV instead.
As I get long sighted with age back-screens are becoming worse. I either need longer arms or half moon glasses - not sure which is worse.
This leaves me with DSLRs or Leica's as my only options. We need to eat so Leica's are out.
It is a shame as these Fujifilm cameras are soooo nearly right. Oh and Raw support on Mac would be nice ;)
Dan, it's not just age. Why put digital split image on the LCD and not the OVF? What is the purpose of the OVF anyway other than framing if you can't use it to manually focus the lens? If you want to manually focus the camera, you have to use it like an SLR or a point and shoot digital, obviating the reason for the OVF.
I agree with roger, this function needs to be implemented in the OVF. When it hits the X-Pro, especially, as there is lots of wonderful glass out there that would be great to use via the OVF, but there is no way to other than by hyper focal guessing.
The X-Pro's hybrid OVF is useless with any non-FUji glass. It makes no sense how they seem to be wasting the OVF. Shame.
My view on EVF is similar to rogerhyam. It would not be so bothering to wear reading glasses everywhere with me, but I still much, much prefer to shoot with camera supported against my forehead - it is not only more comfortable (for me), but better for un-blurred IQ. And optical finder - as roger says - is much better feeling of reality, colours, real detail resolution, fluent - not jerky and lagging reality, space deep reality. Artificial LED light of EVF and slow refresh rate of today's EVFs hurts my eye with conjuctivity, after longer time of shooting. The last, but not least favourable effect of RF style OVF is that it displays more than 100% of image with composition frame - this is very helpful and pleasant for composing. For me - camera without built-in viewfinder is no-camera, camera with built-in EVF is half-camera.
We are different, I know there are opposite views, but that's OK, Fuji has now hit the target for me.
And one more small but pleasant detail: Fuji has placed the viewfinder on the right place - the left upper corner - one doesn't have to be Cyrano d' Bergerac to appreciate this. All these details shows that Fuji designers are photographers, not only electronic techies.
Excuse me, Lucas_ but the Fuji X100 (not "s") is one year older than Sony NEX-7, so Fuji was first on that. In any case, it was the position of the OVF in Leicas and compact cameras of many brand in the age of film, so Fuji (and later Sony) only copy, or borrow, that desing.
A great start on digital split image focusing.
perhaps it wasn't possible due to pixel layout, but rather then horizontal, a 45 deg diagonal split image would have been a lot more practical as it would work equally well on vertical and horizontal lines
We live in interesting times... This makes me very interested in the X- xxx S models to come.
Ingenious; they really do duplicate the experience of split image. (though they blur more when out of focus than classic MF screens)
Also amusing is the HIGHLY CONFIDENTIAL on the TV, and the odd mixture of Japanese and English ("Improvement 1 over the X100: Focusing" and "World's first digital split image") on the slide.
So... When's the X-E1s coming out, then? :-)
A question about the phase detection sensor rows / pixels: Do the same pixels get used to form the image information or are these effectively holes in the sensor as far as image capture is concerned that similarly to mapped bad pixels need to be interpolated from surrounding pixels? Or are they around the edges of the sensor?
Nobody's saying (either from Fujifilm or the other makers using on-sensor phase detection).
I would assume that they can use these sensels with some clever interpolation: they have to rely on the three surrounding green pixels and perhaps also the surrounding pixels that look in the opposite direction to avoid repeated patterns in defocused areas. Or that's what I would do if I were writing a demosaicing algorithm for this sensor.
This makes me wonder what layouts other camera manufacturers use and how they deal with the missing data; I remember reading somewhere that the Nikon 1 cameras use lines of sensels dedicated to phase detection, and that you can't distinguish the phase detection sensels on Canon's sensors.
From the following link you can see that the Nikon 1 interpolates from surrounding pixels, but sometimes it gets messed up.
Fuji says in the linked article:
'we use several tens of thousands of pixels in the center area of a CCD, which is a very small number of pixels compared to the 12 megapixels used for imaging.' And, he says, they don't simply go to waste when taking pictures: 'sometimes they are used to compose image data and sometimes not, depending on the situation.'
I should have remembered that (having written it).
The thing is, given the fact that they can do this split-view means that in the region covered by the split-image focus (1/4 of the area of the sensor), one in nine sensels sees somewhat less than half of the lens. This is continuous across the entire zone, unlike the Nikon 1. That's significantly more than "tens of thousands", it's (1/9)*(1/4)*16MP = 0.44 million sensels.
Probably not too big of a deal. There are still plenty of adjacent green sensels from which to interpolate. In an X-Trans sensor, 20/36 sensels are green in a 6x6 block, so losing four to pdaf might not even be noticeable. For areas that are in focus, the pdaf sensels could be used, though they will be dimmer and have to be boosted, adding a bit of noise. I suspect that's what Fuji means when they say they sometimes use the sensel info - when those sensels are in focus.
Is this feature available in the EVF as well, or just the back screen? For that matter, what about focus peaking? If one/both isn't useable via EVF, I'd probably just get the X20 and wait for these new MF aids to mature and also become available in their ILC offerings...
Yes, they're both available (separately) in the EVF.
Wow, can't wait for your review of this and the X20 then. Had an X-Pro1 and sold it after finding out all i really needed and I really wanted was an X100...was going to buy it in February but guess I'll be per-ordering the X100s instead. May have to sell my X10 now too...depends on how good a shrunken X-Trans sensor performs.
As always, thanks for the great coverage!
I think I would prefer a combination of contrast, phase-detection and Sony's focus peaking; as long as the phase-detection is better than the current Sony on-chip system.
This is only talking about the X100S' new manual focus aid (it also offers focus peaking).
In AF, it does combine input from both the contrast and phase-detection systems.
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BIRMINGHAM, Alabama -- Birmingham Board of Education President Edward Maddox took aim today at City Council President Roderick Royal for supporting a state takeover of city schools, sending a letter saying Royal appears eager to see workers lose their jobs.
In the letter sent via email, Maddox also called for a city council debate on the school system's current situation.
"I must admit I was quite surprised to learn of your apparent eagerness to see more than 200 teachers and support personnel, many of whom are Birmingham residents, unnecessarily lose their jobs," Maddox wrote in response to Royal's Friday letter calling the dispute with state officials a "low-point" for city schools that must end.
"Since your letter purports to represent the sentiment of the entire council, I am respectfully requesting that you bring the matter before the council for discussion and a nonbinding vote," Maddox said in the letter. He recommended that action take place at the council's upcoming Tuesday meeting. "I trust that you share my belief that the public deserves to hear individual council members express their views on the firing of so many of their constituents."
Maddox confirmed Saturday that he sent the letter to Royal and eight council members.
"I just want to sit down with them and tell them what's going on," Maddox said in an interview. "If they agree with firing 200 people, let them let the community know how they feel."
Efforts to immediately reach Royal were unsuccessful.
The letter was the latest salvo in the dispute that has seen Maddox and a majority on the city school board actively resist the state takeover, including a 5-3 vote Tuesday to fire and replace Craig Witherspoon, the school superintendent. Witherspoon filed suit to regain his job, winning a temporary restraining order Wednesday reinstating him.
Tommy Bice, the state school superintendent, also filed suit this week, and won a temporary court order Friday afternoon for the city school board not to interfere in the state takeover.
Then Royal joined the fray. He said in an interview Friday that he found the board majority's actions puzzling and hoped it would "more or less accept the assistance of the state and not force the state's hand in a legal showdown."
In his letter Saturday, Maddox blamed Witherspoon for the state takeover. Maddox wrote that he wanted to publicly meet with the council "to share our frustrations ... I'm sure you will find the actual facts of what has been occurring far more enlightening than what you've been led to believe."
State officials have been pushing the city board to drastically cut expenses, saying the system needs to add $15 million to its reserve fund and address a projected $6 million reduction in state funding due to declining enrollment next year. Failure by the city school board to pass a viable funding plan to the state in June led the state board to approve the takeover.
Maddox said the school board is capable of making budget cuts, but needs more time. "They're just shoving this down our throats," he said. "I want things to be right and fair. You can't just do it in three weeks. It takes time."
Bice, said after winning the injunction Friday that he would take over board meetings, and a financial plan would be approved Tuesday.
Click here to read the letter from Birmingham school board president Edward Maddox.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Economic "Apocalypse In Progress – A Negative Deposit Rate" Is Coming To A US Bank Near You
"A Negative Deposit Rate" is coming to a US bank near you. One bank I do business with (a bank with a 5 Star rating), sent me a letter last year stating that any deposit money over $5 million will be hit with a negative rate. Banks can borrow from the Fed at .25%, so it's not hard to see why they don't want to pay us .5% on our savings. Meanwhile, the big banks lend that money out at 15% to 29%, in the form of credit cards and used car loans. Here's a dose of reality from a TIME Magazine article:
"You might understandably assume that banks always take a more-the-merrier approach to customer deposits, and that therefore, they'd be happy that money held in commercial bank checking, savings, and money market accounts increased 10% over the past three months. But you'd be wrong, reports the Los Angeles Times.
Banks don't exist simply to hold their customers' money. Their purpose is to make money, and right now, as odd as it may seem, banks are implicitly sending the message that they'd prefer it if many customers would take their money elsewhere:
"Banks and credit unions are doing everything they can to get rid of the cash except make loans," said Mike Moebs, a Lake Bluff, Ill., banking consultant.
He said banks are driving away deposits by refusing to renew CDs at higher rates and by imposing fees on checking accounts for depositors who don't use other, profitable financial services as well."
Read more: Why Many Banks Don't Want Your Money | TIME.com http://business.time.com/2011/09/20/why-many-banks-dont-want-your-money/#ixzz2lCaJ8qC4
This should have some interesting unintended consequences
Euro Plunging On A Report That The ECB Is Considering A Negative Deposit Rate
Bloomberg News is reporting that the European Central Bank may take the deposit rate into negative territory (from its current 0.0% level) if more monetary easing is needed in the eurozone, and the euro is plunging.
Right now, the euro is trading around 1.3480 against the dollar versus levels around 1.3540 prior to the report crossing the wires (down 0.4% on the day).
Bloomberg News correspondents Jana Randow and Jeff Black have the scoop:
The European Central Bank is considering a smaller-than-normal cut in the deposit rate if officials decide to take it negative for the first time, according to two people with knowledge of the debate.
Policy makers would reduce the rate for commercial lenders who park excess cash at the ECB to minus 0.1 percent from zero, said the people who declined to be identified because the talks aren't public. It would be the first time the central bank has adjusted interest rates by less than a quarter of a percentage point. The concept, which has been discussed by Governing Council members, doesn't yet have a consensus, the people said.
Read more: http://www.businessinsider.com/ecb-may-consider-negative-deposit-rate-2013-11#ixzz2lDkGllhA
Deflation, Stock Market Crash, Then Christmas
I particularly liked the concept of a Ponzi debt scheme, as opposed to a Ponzi growth scheme:
Ponzi austerity is the inverse of Ponzi growth. Whereas in standard Ponzi (growth) schemes the lure is the promise of a growing fund, in the case of Ponzi austerity the attraction to bankrupted participants is the promise of reducing their debt, so as to liberate them from insolvency, through a combination of 'belt tightening', austerity measures and new loans that provide the bankrupt with necessary funds for repaying maturing debts (e.g. bonds).
As it is impossible to escape insolvency in this manner, Ponzi austerity schemes, just like Ponzi growth schemes, necessitate a constant influx of new capital to support the illusion that bankruptcy has been averted. But to attract this capital, the Ponzi austerity's operators must do their utmost to maintain the façade of genuine debt reduction.
Inflation Just Tumbled To Its Lowest Level In Almost 50 Years, Excluding The Crash
Read more: http://www.businessinsider.com/historical-cpi-in-one-chart-2013-11#ixzz2lDxVxWQH
For The First Time In Four Years Caterpillar Posts Negative Retail Sales Across The Board
Home Sales Plunge At Fastest Rate In 16 Months


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Drusky Entertainment & Kirschner Concerts Presents
Michael Franti and Spearhead
Kopecky Family Band, Michael Bernard Fitzgerald
Carnegie of Homestead Music Hall
510 East 10th Ave
Munhall, PA, 15120
Doors 6:30 PM / Show 7:30 PM
This event is all ages
The Sound Of Sunshine -- the inspired and inspiring new album by Michael Franti & Spearhead -- is a kind of musical sun shower, a bright, beautiful and often buoyant song cycle created to bring all kinds of listeners a sense of hope during rough and rainy times for so many in our world.
"Music is sunshine," says Michael Franti, one of the most positive and conscious artists in music today. "Like sunshine, music is a powerful force that can instantly and almost chemically change your entire mood. Music gives us new energy and a stronger sense of purpose."
"Music is something you can't hold in your hands, smell it, taste it or even see it, yet somehow just coming together and feeling these little vibrations that tickle our eardrums can somehow lift us all up out of our most difficult moments in life to unimaginable heights."
Ironically, often joyous and uplifting The Sound Of Sunshine actually came out of a darker and tougher personal experience for Franti. "Last August, my appendix ruptured suddenly in the middle of a tour and I ended up in the hospital for eight days while they figured out what was wrong with me," recalls Franti. "I almost died and I wrote many of these songs coming out of that experience while I was in the hospital for another week or so after that. During that time, I really took a moment to prioritize what's truly important in my life -- and in the end, that's really about the people who I love. Even in that hospital, I could laugh with the people I love, cry with them, and start to find the sun again."
Well aware that countless others face far worse problems than he did, Franti wants The Sound Of Sunshine to communicate a sense of hope and possibility for anybody who needs it. Franti's singularly open spirit reflects his own eclectic and intriguing background. Michael was born to an Irish-German-French mother and an African American and American Indian father in Oakland, then adopted by a Finnish American couple who raised him along with their three biological children and another African American son. While studying at the University of San Francisco, Franti formed the punk band The Beatnigs, and later the far more hip hop-inflected The Disposable Heroes of Hiphoprisy. Through it all, Franti has crossed all sorts of musical and physical boundaries in order to make music for everybody.
In the mid-Nineties, Franti first formed Spearhead, and increasingly in recent years, he's found his own voice musically and his own organic brand of popular success. Franti and Spearhead's last album, 2008's All Rebel Rockers -- recorded in Jamaica with legendary producers and players Sly & Robbie – became the biggest hit of Franti's career, hitting the Top 40 on the Billboard 200, and yielded his biggest hit, the Top 20 "Say Hey (I Love You)."
"I had a nice, long time to get ready for that first hit, and so I really appreciated it when it happened," says Franti. "So when we were just mastering the new album, I was saying to my manager, "Boy, wouldn't it be fun to have a sophomore hit?" He was like, "Sophomore hit? You've already been through grad school, man" So yes, I've paid some dues, and that's made getting this far -- and still being here -- mean even more to me. The funny thing is that `Say Hey' went into the Top Twenty right as I was being wheeled into surgery. I got the text, and I thought, `Wow, I've finally got a hit record, and I'm not even going to live to enjoy it.' That put everything in perspective too."
Michael Franti is not a man to openly chase success – in fact; he's not a man who even wears shoes(for the last ten years). Still, Franti has absolutely no problem hearing his music on the radio now. "When I was a kid, I used to listen to AM radio on family vacations in the car, and at family barbeques and my dad would leave the radio on.
So songs that were the silly pop hits became a really meaningful part of my childhood - and of my adult life now. So when I think of the fact that there's some family out there on the beach in the summer together listening to `Say Hey,' it makes me feel really good. The truth is a good pop song that makes you feel good can be something of value and meaning to people."
Arguably the most cohesive, romantic and life-affirming album that Franti and Spearhead have ever made, The Sound Of Sunshine reflects the fact that, as Franti puts it, "With time, you get a better sense who you are and how to put together all your musical passions into your own sound. I feel like for a long time, I dabbled in other sounds. Like `Let's do something with a reggae vibe here.' Or `Let's really rock here.' But now, I write everything from the acoustic guitar up -- which keeps you honest. Then Jay Bowman, my songwriting partner and I, take a lot of time figuring out what's the best way to present this song and make every word of it come across and ring true."
Even the recording process for The Sound Of Sunshine reflects Franti's desire to communicate directly with his audience. "We started in Jamaica actually recording a bunch of tracks with Sly and Robbie who are, of course, great, and we used some of those tracks. Then we got home and started mixing the record. Then I went to Bali and wrote some more songs, but we still didn't have it finished. So we said let's bring a portable studio on the road with us. We'd literally recorded the drums in the locker room of the Toronto Raptors or in the shower of some NHL team. Then we'd go right onstage and play the song and see how other people would react to it. We'd see what worked and go back and record it again the next day. So these songs have really been road tested in front of live bodies."
For Franti, "To play for people and share your songs with them is to make a real connection. That's why we play outside our shows for those who can't afford to come inside. They need the songs too – maybe more. That's the reality. And as a musician I was on tour with put it recently, "Our fans didn't come to us from a reality show. They came to us from reality." And so, we mean something in their lives. We're the music they put on when they drive their little kids to school, or hang out with the person they love at night. There's no higher honor. So they have an investment in the music. And that means so much because this music is very personal to me too."
Like all families, Kopecky Family Band beats with the same heart and writes in the same blood. 'The Family' began creating music together in Nashville, Tennessee in the Fall of 2007. What began as late night talks about life and dreams gradually flowed into eccentric and beautiful music that has led to numerous tours, including adventures to CMJ, SXSW and Bonnaroo, three EP releases and friendships across the country.
Meet the Kopecky Family Band from Nashville:
Leading the family are singers Gabe and Kelsey, along with Steven (lead guitar), Corey (bass), Markus (cello), and David (drums). The music is emotive, and evokes raw honesty and vulnerability, whilst capturing your attention through its unmistakable power and presence. The sounds created by the booming and orchestral-like 6-piece challenge the listener's ear while still offering sweet melodies to sing along with.
The family has a time-line with oodles of notable events including their 2008 CD release party for the Embraces EP. The party was the talk of the town with its theatrical décor, black tie dress code, and opening act of a string quartet. Excitement continued into the fall of '09 when the Kopecky Family's performance took the Next Big Nashville Music Festival by surprise.
In the spring of 2010, it was time for the family to pack into their 15-passenger van (which was lovingly called "The War Wagon") and head to Austin, TX for their showcase at SXSW as one of ASCAP's notable bands to watch. A follow up performance at Next Big Nashville in 2010 had A & R reps scurrying to put their Blackberrys away and listen. When in the studio with Partners in Crime, Russ Long and Chris Grainger (Wilco, Sixpence None the Richer), the Kopecky clan produced The Disaster EP which was released in August 2010.
The Kopeckys followed up SXSW with a mammoth CMJ 2010, where they won over NPR's own Bob Boilen and were invited to play at the official Paste Magazine showcase before becoming the darlings of 'Store-Cute' and online retailer, Fred Flare.
Straight back into the studio after CMJ, the band produced the follow up to The Disaster, the perfect compliment entitled Of Epic Proportions. The EP is comprised of digital B-Sides & rarities, featuring crowd favorite "Howlin' at the Moon", and a remix of "God & Me" that explores the band's varied and broad scope to produce amazing and diverse sounds.
Since then, the band released a limited edition split 7″ vinyl with Seattle friends Ivan & Alyosha, and returned to Austin yet again for SXSW. The band played the infamous Paste Magazine showcase, Schubas Day Party, Next Big Nashville and performed for Austin's KUT during the festival. And to keep themselves really busy in 2011, the band attended Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival for the first time as performers. Notching up 3 amazing sets during the festival and amassing several new friends and fans along the way.
Kopecky Family Band at Bonnaroo - view from the drumkitBack again in the studio in 2011, the band is writing and recording new tracks, so ready yourself for a new release later in the year. Anyone who encounters the Kopeckys will testify there is never a dull moment in this family of six.
Michael Bernard Fitzgerald is refreshing, optimistic and modest. He grew up in Calgary, Canada- a cosmopolitan city known for it's beautiful Rocky Mountain backdrop, an annual rodeo (The Calgary Stampede) and great bike paths. He spent most of his time as a child outdoors with his family camping, biking and hiking in the mountains.
He's an impulsive road-tripper. After high school, he went to Australia with 4 grand, an iPod and a camera. He went without a plan and stayed for 5 months working on a boat and waiting on tables in a piano bar.
Michael's kind, approachable disposition gives way to an undeniable confidence onstage. This young man can break hearts playing solo with an acoustic guitar and loop pedal, and equally make venues soar with a full band. In Canada, Michael tours regularly from coast to coast.
He plays a guitar that is considered the workhorse of acoustics, a Gibson J45 (he has one in sunburst and natural); part of his passion for real instruments B3's, Leslies, tube amplifiers, saxophones and drum kits.
"I love Paul Simon, Bruce Springsteen, Bob Seger, Feist, Souls of Mischief and Mason Jennings," declares Michael. His favorite lyric of all time is from Paul Simon's Graceland album "My traveling companion is nine years old, he is the child of my first marriage." (As a young boy, Michael and his mom used to dance to Graceland.)
Michael's forthcoming debut US album was recorded in a little studio in Hollywood, California. The song "Man Overboard" was written while joking around and singing the verses to Billy Joel's "We Didn't Start The Fire". Inspiration for his music often comes to him at a lightning fast pace. "In Your Room" and "Love Is An Easy Thing To Miss" were written in about as long as it takes to sing them. Without any words written down, done from voice note recordings on his phone both songs were written in minutes. "Marvin's Room' by Drake inspired the guitar for 'Love is an Easy Thing to Miss". "In Your Room" was written at 10PM after a long day with not much flowing and many breaks. Thinking he was done for the day, he sat down one more time, started playing the guitar and making up the verses as he went along. Recorded the song that night, and went to bed.
Michael Bernard Fitzgerald "MBF" has a simple goal - to pursue his craft as honestly as possible - devoid of smoke and mirrors. Positively uplifting.
Upcoming Events
Carnegie of Homestead Music Hall
Fri, November 24
Postmodern Jukebox
Sat, November 25
A Drag Queen Christmas
Sat, January 27
Paula Poundstone
Wed, January 31
Greensky Bluegrass
Wed, March 7
Michael Schenker Fest


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Spine surgery in the US means our toddler can finally learn to walk
BORN with cerebral palsy little Abe Astur's parents despaired that he would ever walk independently but thanks to a remarkable operation that dream is now coming true
This time last year toddler Abe Astur could not stand independently, he relied on a walking frame to get around and his prospects of ever being able to walk normally were slim.
Now this bright, cheeky three-year-old is confidently scampering around using only his tripod canes for balance.
His delighted parents Leigh, 37, and Gavin, 39, hope he will soon be able to walk unaided.
His remarkable transformation is all thanks to a pioneering spinal operation he underwent in March last year. Abe, whose story touched the hearts of Daily Express readers, was born with a form of cerebral palsy known as spastic diplegia which stemmed from brain damage caused by being born 10 weeks early.
It meant his leg muscles were permanently tight, severely affecting his mobility and leading to deformities of his hips, legs and feet as he grew.
Surgeons in St Louis, Missouri, in the US treated him by severing "over-firing" nerves connected to Abe's leg muscles. The technique, selective dorsal rhizotomy (SDR), was pioneered by doctors there in the late Eighties, and to date it has been successfully carried out on more than 2,300 patients.
However it is far less established in the UK and it is still not routinely funded by the NHS.
Abe's surgery was paid for via a successful £50,000 fundraising effort organised by his family and friends and supported by Daily Express readers.
For a child who could not stand, let alone walk independently prior to surgery, this is an amazing achievement
Ten months down the line the treatment has had an incredible effect, banishing the tightness (spasticity) in his leg muscles. "The progress is great," says Leigh. "It has been slow and steady, which is perfect.
"He is now comfortable walking independently in safe, protected environments such as at home or in the physiotherapy centre. For a child who could not stand, let alone walk independently prior to surgery, this is an amazing achievement."
After the surgery Abe's muscles are weaker because the spasticity has been removed so he must learn to use them properly for the first time through intensive physiotherapy, three times a week, which is expected to continue for the next two years.
He is able to go swimming and his core strength is also being developed by horse riding twice a week.
The family, from Winchester, Hampshire, spent a month in the US while Abe made his initial recovery from the operation.
His parents, who have an older daughter Thea, aged five, are hopeful he will avoid the damage to the hips, legs and feet caused by the unnatural walking patterns often associated with cerebral palsy.
"His walking pattern would definitely have caused damage," said Leigh. "Now he has no spasticity, no tightness, he can flex his ankle as well as his sister could at that age.
"He can see where he wants to go and get there. Without the operation I couldn't see him doing that. Dr Park, the surgeon who operated on him, says in the future he will be able to do sport. Martial arts are particularly good because of the stretching."
The NHS has been reluctant to recommend SDR for children under four, such as Abe, partly because of the intensive physiotherapy required afterwards.
"Some professionals say three is too early but I would say do it as soon as you can," says Leigh. "It's not a good idea to delay just because you are worried about the physiotherapy."
She adds: "We would like to thank Daily Express readers for supporting Abe. The coverage we have had and our blog have allowed us to spread the message that this surgery is truly life changing."
The NHS has recently announced that SDR will be included in its new Commissioning through Evaluation programme which allows selected patients to receive treatments that it does not consider well enough proved to be routinely funded.


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When the Maple Leafs last ushered in New Year's Day together in 2004, they led the Eastern Conference and were halfway en route to 100 points.
But today's 47 points at midseason doesn't buy much in the National Hockey League's new order. And rather than relax a bit as they carry a five-game winning streak into tonight's game against the Pittsburgh Penguins, the sixth-ranked Leafs see lots of action in their rearview mirror. There are seven teams -- five of them out of the playoff picture at the moment -- within 13 points of the Leafs.
It used to be 90 points was the minimum required for playoffs. This season, that may not be enough.
"It is almost must-win for us in this stretch because we're going to need them," captain Mats Sundin said yesterday after the Leafs returned from a 6-3 win in New Jersey. "We're going to be on the road a lot in January (nine out of 13 games) and play a lot of teams above .500. We'll need this stretch as a foundation to play the teams at the top of the league."
Leafs coach Pat Quinn couldn't hide his admiration for the way his club has overcome injuries to two centres and a first-line right winger to win six of seven against clubs lower in the standings. But he'd rather head to Western Canada on Wednesday with two more points in the bank at the expense of the struggling Penguins.
"With so many three-point games (an automatic point for going to overtime, an extra point for winning it) it's hard to tell what will be the (magic playoff number)," Quinn said. "But really, that's not what we look at. (Playoffs) are the target, but since it can't be quantified, you have to think of this moment. If we're doing things right, then we have a chance to be a good playoff team and who knows, be even better later on."
After four one-goal wins, the Leafs had a little fun in Jersey on New Year's Eve. Season-long contributors such as Darcy Tucker remain hot, but callup John Pohl and the once-invisible Mariusz Czerkawski have come up big at a time when Eric Lindros, Jason Allison and Alex Steen are hurt.
When called upon, goalie Mikael Tellqvist has done his job, sporting a record of 5-3-1 and a .919 save percentage. Though he was in net Tuesday when the Leafs won in overtime in Pittsburgh, it's expected his next start will be one of the back to back games against Calgary and Edmonton this weekend.
"I've been on a few teams that haven't made the playoffs in St. John's," Tellqvist said of the Leafs' farm club's bad luck. "Basically, it sucks going home and not making it. You want to be around for the fun part.
"If it takes 90 points, then it's important to win in December and January, because come March and April when everyone's trying to get in, those games become harder."


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Check out the info below for future tour dates, and track them to receive alerts when they tour near you
Never miss another 'Fake Thackray' show
The Acorn Folk Club: Fake Thackray
We hope to see you next Saturday 6th April at the Acorn Folk Club, at THE UNITED REFORMED CHURCH HALL, Bancks Street, Minehead, TA24 5DJ, doors open 7.30 for 8.00 pm, as usual, but the important thing is to bring your own drinks and/or refreshments and glasses. It will be not dissimilar to Milverton and Roadwater which two clubs both run successfully in halls rather than pubs - except of course, we will stay acoustic and unplugged!!
See below for further directions, AND IGNORE ON THE ATTACHED POSTER THE LOCATION OF OLD SHIP AGROUND!
Our prestigious guest is now FAKE THACKRAY. We have been extremely fortunate to book him at short notice because one of our previously booked female comedy duo has had a sad bereavement and has had to cancel, but we hope to rebook them in the future.
In the meantime ... the show goes on ... BOTH WITH CHANGE OF ARTIST AND CHANGE OF VENUE and we immediately thought of FAKE because we can still offer you an hilarious evening of the late Jake Thackray's songs, by a superb performer and excellent guitarist - please visit his website www.fakethackray.com and open the attachment.
We can promise you an amazing evening .... floor spots, musicians, singers, listeners - everyone is given a warm welcome.
You can buy on line www.acornfolkclub.co.uk email or phone 709394 to reserve, or please just come along and HELP TO KEEP MUSIC LIVE IN MINEHEAD. Entry will be by recommended donation of the usual fee of £6.50.
TO GET TO THE CHURCH HALL, please drive up the Avenue from the seafront keeping Iceland, Smiths, Boots on your left, and then turn left into Bancks Street by Superdrug and a postbox on the corner. Drive to the top of this street and the church hall is the last building on the right at the junction with Irnham Road. From Irnham Road you can enter the church hall car park, but there is also loads of parking up Bancks Street itself, and in Irnham Road and on single yellow lines in the evenings, as well as other turnings nearby.
Fake Thackray
Jake Thackray's satirical, witty and sentimental songs brought him fame and a string of top selling albums in the 1960s and 1970s. John Watterson's tribute to Jake is full of the warmth, humour and sincerity that you would expect from a lifelong fan.
Fake Thackray tour dates
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Venue Facts
Venue: The United Reformed Church


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Gradius III
FAQ by ZKeene
Version: 1.0 | Updated: 05/18/99 | Search Guide | Bookmark Guide
* Gradius 3 FAQ Version 1.0 *
* By: Zach Keene (firstname.lastname@example.com) *
* Last Updated: 18 May 1999 *
Table of Contents . . . . . . 7
1) Introduction . . . . . . . 20
2) What's New? . . . . . . . 52
3) Credits . . . . . . . 59
4) Legal Crap . . . . . . . 68
5) Gradius 101 . . . . . . . 83
6) Weapons . . . . . . . 105
7) Boss Tactics . . . . . . . 265
8) Codes . . . . . . . 401
9) Bonus Levels . . . . . . . 450
10) Zodiac Chart . . . . . . 528
11) The End . . . . . . . 566
::: Introduction ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
So, after eight long years, the moment you haven't been waiting for has
finally arrived. A FAQ for Gradius 3 has finally been written! This will
probably end up being a fairly short FAQ, but since this has always been
a favourite game of mine, I felt it deserved a semidecent FAQ. So, what
the heck?
This FAQ covers the SNES version of Gradius 3. I have no idea how it
differs from the arcade version, if at all.
This FAQ was written using the world's most powerful typewriter, that
blue-screened wonder, the MS-DOS Edit. For best results view with a
monospace font (like Courier New), 75 characters a line, 8 characters a
tab. Send any comments, corrections, additions, subtractions, suggestions,
bribes, etc. to firstname.lastname@example.com
Where to get the latest version of this FAQ
By FTP/WWW:
[This version is always current.]
By Usenet:
New versions of this FAQ will always be posted to
::: What's New? :::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Version 1.0 - (18 May 1999)
- First version of the FAQ.
::: Credits :::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Nintendo Power
- Where I got originally got the codes. Except the Arcade Mode
code, which I found out the hard way years before NP ever
reported it. :P
::: Legal Crap ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
This Gradius III - The Outbreak FAQ is (C) 1999 Zach Keene. As Grand
Poo-bah of Copyrightedness, I grant upon thee the following rights:
1) Thou mayst give this FAQ to whomever you so choose. The key word here is
"give". If anybody gets paid for this, it darn well better be me. :)
2) Thou mayst put this FAQ up on thine website, so long as it remains
completely intact. And I do mean completely.
Gradius III - The Outbreak is TM and (C) 1991 Konami, Inc.
::: Gradius 101 :::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Well, if you're not familiar with the Gradius series, here's a quick
rundown of how things work. At the bottom of your screen, there is a
Power-up bar. Each bar is labeled with the kind of upgrade it represents.
For example:
|Speed-Up|Missile|Double|Laser|Option| ? | ! |
The first time you pick up a red Power Pod from destroying certain waves
of enemies, or single enemies that are conviently coloured red, the
Speed-Up bar will be highlighted. If you press the Power-up button (default
is A), the highlight will disappear and your ship's speed will increase.
Or, if you pick up another red Power Pod, the highlight will move over one
bar to the right (to Missile, in this example.)
In short, collect Power Pods until the upgrade you want is highlighted,
then press the Power-Up button. Easy, no?
::: Weapons :::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Gradius III, like a few of its predecessors, allows you to choose your
weapons ahead of time, instead of being stuck with the basics. Unlike
previous Gradius games that allowed this, you can also choose each type of
weapon individually, as opposed to package deals. Let's take a look at the
kinds of weapon selection you have availiable, shall we?
* Type Select *
This allows you to choose your weapons in a package, instead of choosing
each type of weapon individually. The downside to this is that you only
have two types of shields to choose from, and your bonus weapon (the "!"
on the Power-Up Bar) is always the Mega Crush. Also, your Options are
always of the standard variety.
* Edit Mode *
This allows you to choose your weapons on an individual basis, allowing
you to try out different combinations of missiles, doubles, and lasers.
It also gives you more choices for Option configurations, Shields, and
bonus weapons.
And now, a full listing of the available weapons and their abilites:
* Speed-Up *
Increases your ship speed. If you use this more than six times, your
ship will reset to its slowest speed.
* Missile *
2-Way Back: Fires backwards both upwards and downwards. (Edit Mode only.)
2-Way Missile: Just like the regular missile, but fires an additional
missile upwards and forwards. (Type Select only.)
Hawk Wind: Whether this fires upward or downward depends on whether you
are above or below the vertical center of the screen. Otherwise, it's
just like a regular missle (Edit Mode only.)
Missile: Fires forward and downward. It will travel a short distance over
land, destroying anything it runs into.
Photon Torpedo: Fires straight down. It will travel a short distance over
land as well. The difference between this and the other missiles is that
the Photon Torpedo will not disappear when it hits an enemy, and may
in fact destroy several. (Type Select only.)
Small Spread: A cross between a Spread Bomb and a Photon Torpedo. Fires
two missile straight downward that then act just like the Spread Bomb.
(Edit Mode only.)
Spread Bomb: Fires far forward and downward. When it hits something, it
detonates, and anything else within the explosion is also damaged.
(Type Select only.)
* Double *
Back Double: Fires an extra shot backwards at a 45 degree angle upward.
Double: Fires an extra shot forwards at a 45 degree angle upward.
Tailgun: Fires an extra shot directly behind you.
Vertical: Fires an extra shot straight above your ship.
* Laser *
Cyclone Laser: Thicker than the standard laser, but otherwise identical.
Energy Laser: The longer you hold down the fire button, the more powerful
it gets. (Edit Mode only.)
Laser: The standard Gradius laser. Fires a long beam straight ahead.
It has the property that anything that flies into the middle of its path
is unaffected (except for small peon ships.) While this can sometimes
be useful (say, hitting Earwig Scorpion even when its pinchers are
closed), it is usually annoying. (Type Select only.)
Ripple: A la Life Force/Salamander. Fires a blue ring that expands as
it travels across the screen.
Twin Laser: Rapid fire dual lasers. Very useful in cutting through the
barriers in the bonus levels, and do not suffer the passthrough effect
of the longer lasers.
* Option *
Formation Option: Creates a drone that will fly in a ">" formation near
your ship, and mimic your ship's firepower. These options can be spread
out by highlighting the fifth position on the Power-Up Bar and holding
down the Power-Up button, after you have activated all four Options.
(Edit Mode only.)
Option: Creates a drone that will mimic the movements and firing of your
ship. These options can be spread out further by increasing the speed of
your ship with Speed-Ups.
Rotater Option: Creates a drone that orbits around your ship, and will
mimic your ship's firepower. These options can be spread out by
highlighting the fifth position on the Power-Up Bar and holding down
the Power-Up button, after you have activated all four Options. (Edit
Mode only.)
Snake Option: Creates a drone that will more or less mimic the movement
of your ship, but with an added slithering movement. These drones will
also mimic the current firepower of your ship. (Edit Mode only.)
* Shields *
Force Field: Creates a field around your ship that will absorb three
shots from any direction.
Reduce: Shrinks your ship. As you get hit, your ship will return to
normal size. Protects you from two shots. (Edit Mode only.)
Rolling Shield: Similar to the standard Shield, but the two barriers
rotate around your ship. (Edit Mode only.)
Shield: Creates two large barriers that protect the front of your ship.
While this kind of shield is the strongest, it does not offer the most
* Bonus Weapons *
Full Barrier: Restores your Shields to maximum power. (Edit Mode only.)
Mega Crush: Destroys all enemies and shots on-screen. Similar to a
blue Power Pod. Does not work on bosses, obviously.
Remain Option: Converts your extra lives into Options. (Edit Mode only.)
Speed Down: The opposite of Speed-Up. Lowers your ship's speed by one
degree. (Edit Mode only.)
* Zach's Recommendation *
My favourite weapon configuration is this: go into Edit Mode, and then
choose Hawk Wind, any Double you want, Twin Laser, Formation Option,
Reduce, and Full Barrier.
The Formation options and Hawk Winds work very well together, since if
you have all four options and park in the middle of the screen, you will
have missiles hitting both the top and the bottom of the screen. Also, the
ability of the Formation Options to spread out across the screen allows
you to damage a lot of enemies at once.
The Reduce may be the weakest shield in terms of how many hits it can
take, but do not underestimate the power of shrinkage to help you avoid
being hit in the first place. The small size allows you to more easily
pull off some tight squeezes, including flying right between the twin
lasers of some of the Level 8 bosses.
Finally, the Twin Lasers are powerful enough without suffering from the
odd effects of the longer lasers or the slow firing of the Energy Lasers.
Also, they cut through the energy barriers of the bonus levels the best
of any weapon, so if you plan on going through them, the Twin Laser is
the way to go.
All of this is IMO, of course, so your mileage may vary.
::: Boss Tactics ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
These tactics were written for the Normal difficulty. I don't recall any
major surprises at higher difficulties (but it's been a very long time
since I last played a serious game in Arcade mode), beyond the bosses being
harder to kill, faster, firing more bullets, etc.
* Level 1 - Earwig Scorpion *
Not a difficult boss at all. Aim for the blue-green eye when its pinchers
are open. Dodge the splitting shots it fires and beware of the little
doohickeys that come out from the sand. If you want to really be bad, try
to get _inside_ its pinchers and take it out from there.
* Level 2 - Bubble Eye *
When it first appears, Bubble Eye will slowly march towards the left side
of the screen. If you're playing on anything higher than Normal, you might
had better get out of its way. During the battle, bubbles will constantly
break off of Bubble Eye, but they pose little threat; just destroy them.
Your mission is to blast a tunnel through Bubble Eye so you can then take
a few shots at the eye directly. Once you get that tunnel made, feel free
to fly right down its "throat", if you will, to eliminate it more quickly.
* Level 3 - QB2B *
QB2B starts off by firing two lasers that will trap you (well, I guess
could avoid them, but then you wouldn't be able to do any damage), then
fire crisscrossing lasers that bounce between the two larger beams.
Position yourself where the bouncing lasers will miss you, then dodge the
smaller volleys of lasers that QB2B will fire at you. QB2B will then
repeat this pattern ad infinitum. Your job is to take out the small orange
shields protecting the blue cores, then blast the cores themselves.
After you take out the two front blue cores, QB2B's attacking ability
will be somewhat limited, but it will still attempt the same patterns.
Take out the new orange shields that appear, then take out the blue core
in the back.
* Level 4 - Mega Monolith *
Your opponents are two large Moai heads that just sit there while you
blast them. Your main threats are from the mini-Moais that they spit out,
and from the falling destructable rocks that come tumbling down as you
blast away. Either way, nothing particularly difficult here.
* Level 5 - Two-Headed Scorch Serpent *
Not difficult at all. Just let it wrap around you, and you can blast off
both of its heads with ease. Try to position your options so that they
can hit the Serpent's heads even if your ship can't. Be careful when you
finally destroy it, as the pieces can still hurt your ship.
* Level 6 - Bulbous *
It might not hurt to have three speed-ups before you meet Bulbous, but
you'll definately need two. Hang out in the top left corner, and when
Bulbous begins its vaccum, hold back and dodge the bullets that its arms
are shooting at you. Lather, rinse, repeat, but be careful. The third time
Bulbous does the vaccum thing, it'll have positioned itself much closer to
you, so you have a lot less room for error.
* Level 7 - Beacon *
Hit the deck! Beacon approaches from the left side, so stay low to get
around it. This guy is a typical Gradius boss; hover on the right side of
screen while Our Hero blasts at blue cores. Just look out for the laser
volleys and blue balls it flings your way while you take out its five
blue cores. Easier done than said, really.
* Level 8 - Unnamed Boss #1 *
It hovers on the right side of the screen, stopping to launch a spread
of bullets your way. You can only damage it when it stops to fire.
Eventually, you'll blow its front off. After that, when it stops, it fires
a large laser that you do not want to be in front of. However, you'll be
able to damage it at any time.
* Level 8 - Monarch *
Again, get low, because Monarch approaches from the left. Avoid the
fireballs that its arm shoots, as well as the lasers that fire from near
the blue core area. From time to time Monarch goes on a laser shooting
frenzy; if you've got a full Reduce shield going, you can easily hide at
the bottom of the screen. Otherwise, head for whichever side of the screen
will give you the most room to dodge. Beyond that, it's just the same ol'
shield and blue core business.
* Level 8 - Ice Ice *
You got a problem? Yo, I'll solve it: Stay to the extreme top or bottom
of the screen, and when Ice Ice opens up, swoop in to do some damage, then
swoop out before the lasers start coming at you. When you run out of room,
quickly change to the other (vertical) side of the screen and use more or
less the same tactics.
* Level 8 - Unnamed Boss #2 *
This spherical boss launches a number of slow moving bullets at you that
fill up the screen. They're pretty easy to avoid, and otherwise this boss
is no different than any other Gradius boss you've fought so far.
* Level 8 - Grim *
Finally, the last boss of Level 8! No doubt about it, you're going to
have to dodge all those lasers, and oftentimes your only choice is to go
between them instead of around them, unless you've got a good number of
Speed-Ups on you. Then, after a few shots, you better move quickly, because
Grim is going to curl up and charge at you. Reduce becomes _really_ nice
during this battle, which is why I recommended it before. If you have
Formation Options, extend them to get a few good licks in while Grim is
recovering from the charge.
* Level 9 - Weapons Array *
You've got 6 lasers, 4 enemy generators, and 3 blue cores to deal with,
so just park in front of whatever and dodge whatever until you blow up
* Level 9 - Shadow Dancer *
Keep low as the first Dancer comes in from the left, get underneath its
legs, then get to its left side and blast and its midsection. Try to
destroy it before the second one comes in from the right. When one reaches
the far left side of the screen, keep just below the vertical center of the
screen to avoid being smacked by its leg.
* Level 10 - Bacterion *
In true Gradius fashion, the final boss is a joke. If you manage to get
hit by the slow moving blobs that Bacterion will fire at you every century,
you might want to give up Gradius and take up Tic-Tac-Toe. :) Seriously,
Bacterion doesn't do much, and can't take much either. You should not have
any problems with it at any difficulty level.
::: Codes :::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
If this game is lacking anything, it sure ain't codes!
* 30 Lives *
At the title screen, hold Left and push A, A, A.
* Extra Credits *
At the title screen, press X repeatedly. If you have a rapid fire
controller, you can increase your credits up to about 9.
* Arcade Mode *
At the options screen, press A 16 times in one second. I wholeheartedly
recommend using a rapid fire controller for this. If done correctly, you
will be able to select "Arcade" for the difficulty.
Even without a rapid-fire controller, it is much easier to access Arcade
mode than it is to beat it. (And what you get for beating Arcade Mode
really isn't worth the trouble, IMO; one of the most bizarre examples of
Janglish I've ever seen...)
* Arcade Mode Demo *
Hold A at the title screen until the demo begins. Now THAT'S how you play
Gradius 3! :)
* Random Weapon Select *
At the Edit Mode weapon selection screen, push X, Y, X, Y, X, Y. Your
weapons will be chosen at random.
* Self-Destruct *
Just pause and enter the Konami Code at any point during the game.
(That's Up, Up, Down, Down, Left, Right, Left, Right, B, A, Start, in case
you are somehow unaware of the Konami Code.)
* Full Power-Up *
A slight variation of the Konami Code will allow you to fully power-up
your ship with a Speed-Up, Shields, four Options, and Missiles. Pause the
game and push Up, Up, Down, Down, L, R, L, R, B, A, Start. Use of this code
is limited, however. For every level you complete, you will be allowed one
more use of this code.
::: Bonus Levels ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Hidden throughout the game are entrances to bonus levels. These levels
contain few enemies (if any at all), but have tons of 1-Ups, bonus points,
and power-ups. They also contain destructable barriers that some weapons
deal with better than others (think the second level of the original
Gradius here.) As an added bonus, going through the bonus level allows you
to skip the boss of whatever regular level you were before. This is almost
a necessity if you're trying to get through Arcade Mode, but can be nice
To get to these levels, you need to fulfill certain requirements before
flying your ship into the entrance to the secret level.
If you die in a bonus level, you will return to the normal level from
whence you came, and you will be unable to return to the bonus level.
* Level 2 *
Power-ups: 23
1-Ups: 3
Bonus Points: 39
Permanent Points: 1
Towards the end of the level, look for holes in the bubbly ceiling and
ground where fighters encased in bubbles emerge. Fly your ship into the
hole at the bottom, but take care not to run into a bubble-fighter as
you do.
* Level 3 *
Power-ups: 16
1-Ups: 3
Bonus Points: 14
Permanent Points: 6
Destroy all the land-based targets in the level (cannons and so forth.)
Then, after the downward slope area (just after the live volcanoes; right
when the music changes), a piece of the ceiling will fall on you, with
three more cannons. Take them out, then fly where the slab used to be. If
all goes well, you'll warp to the second secret level.
* Level 4 *
Power-ups: 20
1-Ups: 3
Bonus Points: 48
Permanent Points: 2
Make sure you have nothing highlighted on your power-up bar (if
necessary, grab enough power-ups to get around to Speed Up and use that.)
Then, continue through the level until the Moai heads turn orange.
Somewhere among the second vertical column of Moai heads is one lying
on the "floor" (relatively speaking) between two other Moai heads, that
will eventually stand up and face to the right. Fly in right behind it.
* Level 5 *
The entrance to this bonus level is the ceiling to the right of the
mountain in the ceiling that is right before the narrow corridor. To get
in, however, the hundreds digit of your score must be 3, 5, or 7.
This level is full of dead ends, so be careful. (It's also impossible to
get all the bonuses in one shot, which makes them difficult to count. So,
I didn't even bother. :)
* Level 7 *
Power-ups: 10
1-Ups: 1
Bonus Points: 37
Permanent Points: 3
As you go through the level, take the path that requires as little
movement away from the vertical center of the screen as possible. At the
end of the loooong downward slope torwards the end, fly into the ">"
wall formation just to the right of the ground cannons. I died before I
could finish the bonus count, so the above figures are incorrect.
::: Zodiac Chart ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Well, just for the fun of it... You'll notice that when you enter your
initals at the high score screen, you can also enter your gender and
zodiac sign. So, in case you do not know your sign, or do not recognize the
symbols, here's a handy-dandy reference chart. (If you don't know your
gender, or do not recognize those symbols, I'm afraid I will be unable to
help. I apologise for any inconvience this may cause. :)
Symbol map:
Aries Pisces
Taurus Aquarius
Gemini Capricorn
Cancer Sagittarius
Leo Scorpio
Virgo Libra
| Birthdate: | Sign: |
| January 20 - February 19 | Aquarius |
| February 20 - March 20 | Pisces |
| March 21 - April 19 | Aries |
| April 20 - May 20 | Taurus |
| May 21 - June 20 | Gemini |
| June 21 - July 22 | Cancer |
| July 23 - August 22 | Leo |
| August 23 - September 22 | Virgo |
| September 23 - October 22 | Libra |
| October 23 - November 21 | Scorpio |
| November 22 - December 21 | Sagittarius |
| December 22 - January 19 | Capricorn |
::: The End :::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Well, for once I can't think of anything stupid to put here, so I won't.
Thanks for reading, and keep an eye out for my upcoming G.Darius FAQ!
Zach Keene
18 May 1999
Author of many FAQs: MK2, FF1, Einh"nder, CSOTN, AGVS, and the G3 FAQ
Shooter fans: Visit the new alt.games.video.shooters today!
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« FuturaGene to Develop Enhanced Poplar for the Chinese Biofuel and Biopower Markets | Main | UK Technology Strategy Board Awards £10M+ for Development of Efficient Electrical Systems for Hybrids and EVs »
Western Lithium Commences Additional Drilling in Nevada to Support Long Term Lithium Carbonate Production
10 September 2009
Western Lithium Corporation has commenced drilling on the Stage II clay lens of its Kings Valley, Nevada lithium property. The purpose of this drilling is to determine if additional years of National Instrument 43-101 compliant mine life can be added to the proposed project. According to the original Chevron data, the Stage II lens is approximately seven times larger than Stage I lens, so only a portion of the lens will be drilled at this time.
Western Lithium is developing the Kings Valley, Nevada lithium deposit into potentially one of the world's largest strategic, scalable and reliable sources of high quality lithium carbonate. The Company is positioning itself as a major US-based supplier to support the rising global demand for lithium carbonate that is expected from the increased use of mobile electronics and hybrid/electric vehicles.
(National Instrument 43-101 is a mineral resource classification scheme used for the public disclosure of information relating to mineral properties in Canada. Western Lithium is based in Vancouver, BC, and is listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange.)
This drilling program is intended to continue to confirm the earlier Chevron work and support our staged development plan for the project. We are positioning our project in Nevada to become a major center and United States-based strategic supplier of high quality lithium carbonate for the next generation of lithium-ion battery powered transportation and mobile electronics.—Jay Chmelauskas, Western Lithium's President
The Stage II drilling is intended to provide additional confirmation of the historical resource originally drilled by Chevron Resources in the 1980s. The drilling, on a portion of the Stage II lens, is expected to take approximately two months to complete and will consist of 38 core drill holes in the main central portion of the lens.
Drilling of Stage I in 2008 focused on only one of five mineralized lenses and the results supported the work previously carried out by Chevron. A National Instrument 43-101 resource estimate has been completed for the initial Stage I lens which contains Indicated Resources of 48.1 million tonnes grading 0.27% lithium, or the lithium carbonate equivalent (LCE) of 688,000 tonnes LCE and Inferred Resources of 42.3 million tonnes grading 0.27% lithium, for an equivalent of 606,000 tonnes LCE, both at a cut-off grade of 0.20% Lithium.
The cost of this drilling program is expected to be approximately $800,000 and is in addition to the previously announced Stage I drilling and trenching program planned for 2009.
September 10, 2009 in Brief | Permalink | Comments (5) | TrackBack (0)
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Interesting. The webpage of Western Lithium informs that this Nevada based mine contains a total of 11 million tones of lithium carbonate. Another webpage (see links below) informs that 85% of the Nevada resource is minable so about 9.35 million ton of lithium carbonate. To get this into perspective it requires 0.6kg of lithium carbonate to produce 1 kWh of lithium batteries (may vary from chemistry to chemistry but roughly so). In other words the Nevada site could be used to produce ((1000/0.6)*9.35) = 15.6 billion kWh of lithium batteries or about 1 billion Volt PHEVs or 650 million Nissan Leaf EVs.
And that was just one possible mine in the US. Countries like Chile still has the cheapest lithium carbonate on the planet and can mine it for about 2000 USD per ton. This is also possible in Tibet and Bolivia. At 10.000 USD per ton the Nevada site is probably good business. That price will still only be (10000/(1000/0.6)) = 6 USD worth of lithium carbonate for 1 kWh of lithium battery that currently cost minimum 300 USD to produce.
So, this means that the U.S. has an adequate domestic supply of lithium for the immediate future, and the fearmongering about swapping dependence on foreign oil for dependence on foreign batteries is bunk. We can build a domestic battery industry and if push comes to shove and we can't get cheaper foreign lithium, that we have enough of our own to support a thriving electric car industry.
.....and post lithium batteries may not even use lithium....
There will be no shortage of natural resources for future high energy density on-board e-storage units.
There certainly will be no shortage of clean electricity. Wind and Sun could supply many times what is needed.
The only shortage may be the collective will to do something about it.
Stop worrying!!!!!
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The Texas Rangers have already agreed to terms with both of their first-round draft picks and assigned them to the Arizona League.
Outfielder Jake Skole was picked 15th overall and catcher Kellin Deglan was chosen 22nd. Both of them are left-handed hitters from the high school ranks.
Texas was unable to sign left-handed pitcher Matt Purke after picking him 14th overall in last year's draft. The Rangers were compensated with the 15th pick this year.
Skole is from Blessed Trinity High in suburban Atlanta. Deglan played at Langley High in British Columbia, and was on Canada's junior national team this spring.
Published at 4:14 PM CDT on Jun 9, 2010 | Updated at 4:30 PM CDT on Jun 9, 2010


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FIFA is investigating a complaint against Algeria striker Rafik Saifi following an altercation with a journalist at the World Cup.
The incident occurred after Algeria was eliminated by Wednesday's 1-0 loss to the United States.
A female reporter from an Algerian publication was heard shouting at Saifi, who left Loftus Versfeld stadium holding his lip and refusing to respond to questions in the area where media interviews are conducted with players.
FIFA spokesman Pekka Odriozola said Friday "we have only today received the formal complaint and the official report" and that soccer's ruling body will look into the matter.
Published at 1:44 PM CDT on Jun 25, 2010 | Updated at 2:00 PM CDT on Jun 25, 2010


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Auberge de Savoie
Moutiers, France (QMU)
Hotel Specials
Package Specials
Package Specials
Standard Double Room
- One Double Bed
Premium Double Room
- One Double Bed
Family Room
- Four Single Beds
- One Single Bed
Stay in one of 30 guestrooms featuring flat-screen televisions. Complimentary wired and wireless Internet access keeps you connected, and digital programming provides entertainment. Private bathrooms have complimentary toiletries and hair dryers. Conveniences include phones, as well as desks and extra towels/bedding.
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Make use of convenient amenities, which include complimentary wireless Internet access and an arcade/game room.
Enjoy a satisfying meal at a restaurant serving guests of Auberge de Savoie.
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National Rating
This hotel has received its official star rating from the French Tourism Development Agency, ATOUT France.
The following fees and deposits are charged by the property at time of service, check-in, or check-out.
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- Elevator / Lift
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(*) = Free, some restrictions may apply


text: Jeff J Mitchell, Getty Images Maine Game Wardens Searching For Missing Skier By Paul Wolfe March 4, 2013 Game wardens and Sugarloaf ski patrol are looking for a missing 17-year-old skier. Read More Category: Articles, Local News, Maine Tags: maine, Maine Warden Service, Missing Skier, Sugarloaf Send to a friend! Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Pin it! Reddit This! Share on Tumblr!


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Legal Question in Consumer Law in Ohio
I bought a used motorcycle that was on consignment at a Bike shop. I asked if the bike had been wrecked and was told it was not. I took delivery and was able to call the owner who had placed it on consignment. He told me it was wrecked and the shop knew this. I called the shop and let them know what i learned and they admitted they knew but said it was fixed and only cosmetic damage. Can I cancel the contract as they lied about condition?
1 Answer from Attorneys
Ohio Revised Code Section 1345.02 (the Consumer Sales Practices Act) makes it illegal for a supplier of goods in a consumer transaction to make a misrepresentation about the nature of the goods. Your remedies would be either triple your actual damages plus attorneys fees, or, if you had no actual damages, $200.00 for each violation of the act, plus attorneys fees, or, rescission of the transaction (they would have to give you your money back and take the bike back).
The statute of limitations on such a lawsuit would be two years from when you purchased the bike (meaning that you would have to sue them within two years).
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text: So now they own Bushy, Remington, and DPMS, rumor has it their in talks to buy 2 other manafactuers to. DPMS Acquired By Cerberus Capital Management Affiliate St. Clour, Minnesota, DPMS, a leading supplier of AR15 based rifles, parts and accessories announced today that its assets have been acquired by an affiliate of Cerberus Capital Management, L.P. Randy Luth, DPMS founder and President, remarked, "We were looking for a partner that could enhance our expertise in operations and further develop our sales and marketing capabilities. Cerberus is a partner that can help us in those areas and provide the financial and operational resources required to expand our business. We look forward to working with them. After starting this business 21 years ago, I couldn't be more excited about our prospects for the future, both in terms of the growth we believe we can achieve and the level of satisfaction and value we can provide to our customers." In connection with the transaction, Mr. Luth will remain President of the newly formed DPMS Firearms, LLC and will continue to oversee the strategic and operational aspects of DPMS. Added Mr. Luth, "I would like to thank our employees, first and foremost. Their hard work, and the support of our dedicated customers, has brought us to where we are today. As we look forward, we see increased interest in our new calibers, based on the proven DPMS 'LR' rifle platform. With our technical expertise and the commitment of our new owners, we intend to broaden the breadth and depth of our rifle and accessories offerings to current and new markets. We will continue to provide not only great value to our loyal customers, but also the high level of customer service we are known for." The March Group, a private investment banking firm based in Nashville, TN, acted as financial advisor to DPMS. Principal Brantley Kemp was responsible for managing the transaction and advising DPMS on its strategic alternatives. About DPMS Firearms, LLC Headquartered in St. Cloud, Minnesota, DPMS Firearms, LLC manufactures and distributes a complete line of AR15 based rifles and components, as well as rifle platforms in other calibers. DPMS systems are in use by law enforcement agencies, military personnel and civilians worldwide, including the U.S. Border Patrol, security agencies in Iraq, the Jordanian army, America's top competitive shooters and big game hunters.


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Dramatic Play Readings: My Own Back Yard, based on the book, "Giovanni's Room" by James Baldwin
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Special Collection
The E. Azalia Hackley Collection and the African Renaissance Theater
are proud to present an exciting series of Dramatic Play-Readings from African-
American authors. Please join us as Detroit's most talented actors and artists
perform four power presentations adapted and directed by Oliver Pookrum.
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