text:
The Mind-Bending New World Of Work
In a darkened loft in the industrial district of downtown Los Angeles, Gesture Studios CEO Kevin Parent slips on a pair of black gloves studded with iridescent white, purple, and yellow dots. Standing about 10 feet from a wall-size screen, he lifts his hands like a conductor. With a series of precise gestures, he calls up photos and videos of urban Los Angeles. Raising his thumbs and pointing his index fingers toward the screen as if miming a cowboy with two guns, he swiftly sorts the images, zooming in on certain buildings and playing snips of films depicting various street scenes. To pause the film, he extends one hand like a traffic cop. With other crisp movements, he can spin 3D objects in space or snatch a bullet point of text and drag it across the screen. "You just put on the gloves and go," Parent explains. "Think turbo PowerPoint."
Interactive Graphic>>
The technology preview Parent arranged for BusinessWeek bears an eerie resemblance to a famous scene in Minority Report, Steven Spielberg's 2002 film featuring Tom Cruise as a cop under investigation for murder. Techies still talk about the wireless data gloves and clipped hand signals Cruise uses to sort through evidence on a giant screen at police headquarters. That interface is just what Gesture is selling to companies that create presentations at the 14,000 trade shows and conferences in the U.S. each year. The hardware and software will be priced from a few thousand dollars and up. Soon, anyone making a PowerPoint presentation to colleagues or business partners could operate the same setup, which uses cameras to track hand movements and translate them into computer instructions. The similarities to Minority Report are no coincidence: Gesture Studios is the brainchild of Massachusetts Institute of Technology wunderkind John UnderKoffler, who helped Spielberg's production team design the scene in the movie.
Gesture's system, known as GoodPoint, showcases a technology called motion capture, which film studios and video game makers have used for years to make computer-animated characters appear more realistic. Now motion capture is bursting out of Hollywood and changing the way consumers interact with home electronics. Motion sensing is the secret ingredient in Nintendo's (NTDOY ) wildly successful Wii game system, which lets you swing a wand in your living room to hit a home run in an animated ballpark on your TV set. Intel (INTC ) Corp. is developing a more advanced version of motion capture that will let people wave at their TV sets from across the room to turn up the volume or change channels—no gloves or sensor dots required. Within five years "you could use gesture recognition to get rid of the remote control," predicts Intel Chief Technology Officer Justin Rattner. "We've done prototypes of that, as have other people." Rattner says body tracking—the whole body, not just the hands—could drive demand for its important new generation of semiconductors, the superprocessors known as teraflop chips, which Intel previewed in February.
Slide Show >>
Motion capture is starting to transform how businesses market their products as well as design and manufacture them. This spring the Las Vegas McCarren International Airport will set up large plasma screens with a motion- tracking component that lets advertisers bring pedestrians into their commercials. When you walk past a car ad, for example, the vehicle might move at the same speed you're walking. When you turn to look at the driver, he'll turn to look at you, and you'll be staring into an image of your own face. Dozens of blue-chip aerospace, auto, and heavy-equipment makers, from Lockheed Martin (LMT ) to BMW to Caterpillar already use motion tracking to let workers collaborate in shared virtual environments, sometimes when they are thousands of miles apart. Together they can test the ergonomics of a design for a car or a plane. "Any company that creates a product used by people needs to understand how the human body moves," says Iek van Cruyningen, head of securities at Libertas Capital Group, a specialist investment bank. "Motion-tracking systems and virtual simulations accelerate product development and boost productivity."
Motion capture marks a new stage in a revolution heralded back in the 1980s. That's when computer geeks first started talking about an immersive digital domain called virtual reality (VR). You may remember the first dorky VR goggles users donned to experience virtual worlds, the unabashed pronouncements about world-changing, computer-generated realms, and camp media depictions such as the 1982 Walt Disney (DIS ) movie Tron. Some well-funded academic laboratories went ahead and developed these goggle-and-glove environments. But as a consumer application, virtual reality 1.0 was a bust. The hype was too loud, computers were too slow, networking was too complicated, and because of motion-sickness issues that were never quite resolved, the whole VR experience was, frankly, somewhat nauseating.
It was a classic tale of high-tech crash and burn. The technology arrived prematurely, dragged investors through bitter disappointment, and lost startups and their backers buckets of cash without ever yielding a return. VR 2.0, enhanced by motion capture, is different in many critical ways. Most important, the first batch of applications, such as the Wii, while still primitive, are easy to use, inexpensive, and hard to crash. You don't get anything close to a fully sense-surround experience, but neither do you feel sick after you put down the wand. The games are simple and intuitive, which is why a new stereotype has emerged in the game market: Wii-toting grandmas and grandpas.
Pioneers in VR 2.0 are likely to piggyback on Nintendo's strategy: Wow the audience with fairly simple ways to bring their bodies into the action. Gesture Studios' GoodPoint system enables a presenter to take audiences on a tour of a 3D architectural design or on a fly-through of a model city. And the presenter's measured theatrics make a big impression. "Everyone's looking for the new, sexy way to communicate with their employees and their clients. We're selling their ability to sell," says Tom Wiley, Gesture's director of business development and operations. Future versions of GoodPoint will help air- traffic controllers visualize complex flight configurations and let security personnel sift quickly through hours of video using hand gestures alone. There's even a diminutive glove or thimble version for use with a PC, which could end the decades-long tyranny of the keyboard and mouse.
The advertising industry is dreaming up uses for motion capture that literally stop consumers in their tracks. Recently, with little fanfare, Target (TGT ), adidas Group, and Clorox (CLX ) began running interactive ads on subway station walls in New York. One Target ad, a 6-by-20-ft. projection, featured snowflakes gently fluttering from the sky. It seemed unremarkable until you approached the wall. If you swiped your hand in the air, the background scene transformed from a wooded winter scene into a city skyline. And by waving both hands you could send the snowflakes into a swirl.
Adidas chose a similar approach for its ad in the entrance of the Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino in Las Vegas. The ad perked up when people walked by and responded with a shower of shoes. The more they gesticulated, the bigger the deluge became. "People don't ignore the ads—they want to play with them," says John Payne, president of Monster Media, which created the campaigns for adidas, Clorox, and Target. "It's like Willy Wonka."
Lockheed Martin, the world's largest defense contractor, has pushed motion sensing to even more exotic extremes in an effort to reduce design and manufacturing costs. The VR effort at its Ship Air Integration Lab in Fort Worth is headed by Pascale Rondot, a petite French Canadian who worked in a similar program at General Electric Co. (GE ) Her lab is helping to develop new F-35 stealth fighter jets that can take off on land or at sea. Lockheed won a contract in 2001, now valued at $25.7 billion, and the first of the fleet of nearly 4,000 planes will be completed by 2010—part of a program valued at roughly $276 billion.
To help engineers, technicians, pilots, and Lockheed customers understand how the plane will perform, Rondot equips teams of visitors—up to four at a time—with VR headsets and suits dotted with motion-capture sensors. They enter a darkened 15-by-20-ft. area where 24 cameras track their every move. What the visitors "see" through their head displays are the fighter prototype and lifelike avatars of one another. They can walk through the prototype, crouch down to inspect or change a part, and practice physical routines they will replicate in real-world planes many months later. Nearby, in a separate area called the cave, Lockheed invites active-duty and retired Navy, Marine, and Air Force senior officers who can view both the people and the virtual aircraft in the simulation.
Aeronautics veterans who hear about this program are sometimes skeptical. "When people cannot touch a prototype, it's always a hard sell. But then they see how our virtual world matches the real world and how much time and money we've saved," says Rondot with a Quebecois lilt. For one task—examining the approach speed of the plane as it lands—Lockheed was able to save $50 million in design changes and avoid 50% of the cost of the mockup by using the VR lab instead of traditional wind-tunnel tests. In a simulation, Rondot can bring Lockheed engineers together with far-flung counterparts at partner companies such as GE and Pratt & Whitney.
With profits of $2.5 billion on $39.6 billion in revenues, Lockheed can afford to splurge on motion capture. But even companies with much tighter budgets are drawn to the technology. At Ford Motor Co. (F ) headquarters in Dearborn, Mich., engineers use motion tracking and simulation in both product design and manufacturing to reduce dependence on expensive metal prototypes. Manufacturing ergonomics expert Allison Stephens creates digital versions of Ford factories, then analyzes the reach and posture of people on the assembly lines to reduce risk of injury. At one pilot plant, such simulations have reduced the expected number of disability cases by 80%, says Stephens. Disability payments can run to tens of millions of dollars a year.
As users rack up successes, suppliers of motion-capture systems for factories could be in a sweet spot. "It's early, but such simulations could be one of the most profitable areas in the future," says Kathleen Maher, an analyst at Jon Peddie Research who has written reports about the auto industry's use of modeling software. Maher pegged the size of the field of "augmented reality"—simulations with some props—at $142 million in 2006 and says it is growing quickly.
Manufacturers may be the power users of VR 2.0, but Hollywood studios will continue to be the biggest patrons and innovators. Director James Cameron says the technology first had a huge impact on film in his Titanic, the highest-grossing movie of all time, which brought in upwards of $1.8 billion. Only a small number of actors in motion-capture suits were required to create the famous crowd scenes on the decks of the sinking ship. Digital data were collected and then duplicated to recreate the scene of the disaster.
The technology then spawneda slewof computer-generated creatures, including Gollum, the gurgling, wispy-haired ring thief in Peter Jackson's Lord of the Rings trilogy, and King Kong, by the same director. British actor Andy Serkis spent hours scampering around on set in sensor-studded suits to create Gollum's scuttling and Kong's signature grimaces. For such scenes in the past, animators might draw each new movement by hand, frame by frame. And that's not the only giant expense motion capture could address. During a movie shoot, "the cost of a day on set can range from $50,000 to $1 million," says Gary Roberts, a vice-president at House of Moves Inc., a Los Angeles motion-capture lab. "Motion capture shaves days off the overall production time." And the process could get even simpler. In Cameron's current film project, titled Avatar, sophisticated software may eliminate the need for sensor dots on actors' faces. Instead, one tiny camera on an actor's head cap tracks and interprets every twitch.
Companies that come up with such innovations stand to make small fortunes. "There is an arms race in entertainment," says Phil Sparks, an analyst at Evolution Securities Ltd. He's bullish on Vicon, part of Oxford Metrics Group, the largest company making motion-capture systems for entertainment and now many other clients. "They're no longer just mapping out an orc and a hobbit having a fight. They're now doing the expressions on dozens of actors' faces." Motion Analysis Corp., another motion-tracking player, built systems that were used for Kong and one of the Rings films and also outfitted Lockheed's lab.
Capturing actors' movements is potent stuff, says Cameron: "The technique frees performers from the limitations of body type, age, race, and gender. The essence of their spirit as actors can be infused into any physicality they or the filmmakers dream up." For example, you could tell a story that follows the same character from childhood to old age and have the same actor play the character at every stage—without makeup. Video game makers are also channeling mounds of money into motion capture. Tiger Woods donned a sensor suit to make his video game doppelgänger look more realistic.
There is always the risk that the buzz about an emerging technology will get ahead of reality. Jackie Fenn at market research firm Gartner Inc. charts such "hype cycles" and notes that virtual reality has spent many years mired in something she calls the "trough of disillusionment." But PDAs and MP3 players also languished in this stage, she says, until the "beautifully designed interfaces" of the Palm Pilot and the iPod and services such as iTunes launched these devices into much wider public acceptance.
It's possible that Nintendo's Wii could do the same for gesture recognition. Four months after this revolutionary system arrived in the U.S., it is still trouncing the competition, according to market researcher NPD Group Inc. And it is cropping up in communities that never appreciated video games. One retirement home near Chicago has started a Wii bowling league, and game experts expect to see more such developments. Software giant Electronic Arts Inc. is rolling out golf and war games for the Wii, as well as a title based on The Godfather films. EA believes motion sensing will become standard in game controllers. "The Wii is helping debug this question about how you move in virtual ways," says Jaron Lanier, a scholar at the Center for Entrepreneurship & Technology at the University of California at Berkeley who is credited with coining the term "virtual reality." After a year with the Wii, society "will be better educated about the overlap of the virtual and the real world," he says.
The semiconductor market is responding to Nintendo's huge success. Demand for the special sensing chips used in the Wii will double, to $10 billion, by 2010, according to industry researcher Yole Development. Such chips, produced by the likes of Intel and STMicroelectronics, will be used in all kinds of industrial applications, not just home systems. But Intel expects to play an important role in promoting motion technology in the entertainment arena. And just as its processors helped fuel the PC revolution, Intel's next-generation chips and software could lower costs and jump-start a mass market for VR 2.0. The company is seeding such ideas in its community of application developers and even placing some of its own software in the public domain.
One frontier lies in tracking facial expressions without costly and cumbersome equipment. Advertisers, for example, would like to have the ability to read the changing expressions on their customers' faces as they browse Web sites—or shop at the corner store. In August, 2006, Google Inc. (GOOG ) acquired a small company called Neven Vision for an estimated $40 million. The startup has several patents on algorithms for tracking movements of key points on the face—the corner of the eye, the curves of the mouth—using a webcam, a mobile phone, or security cameras in bank machines and convenience stores. Google hasn't yet announced plans to create products based on these patents. But researchers at Stanford University have already come up with systems that can read such signs to tell whether a person is interested, happy, or annoyed. And they can even map those responses onto the face of an avatar in a virtual world.
In certain areas of medicine, motion technology can improve treatment quality. Howard J. Hillstrom, director of the Motion Analysis Laboratory at the Hospital for Special Surgery in New York, has used motion tracking to help people with disorders from cerebral palsy to arthritis. As patients fitted with sensors walk in front of cameras, Hillstrom's computer screen displays a skeleton in a 3D grid, and software helps the doctor analyze whether the patient is moving properly. "The number of baby boomers with arthritis will pass 60 million by 2020. Their movement is often the first thing to deteriorate," he says.
Tracking the surgical tools of several doctors in different locations can allow them to occupy the same simulation. "A surgeon could teach a resident in a remote village thousands of miles away, showing them how and where to move their hands," says Dr. Parvati Dev of Stanford University's Summit Lab, where residents learn to suture, cut, and cauterize virtual organs. Lately, doctors have also incorporated a technology called haptics—"force feedback" built directly into the surgical tools. When a surgeon probes or tugs on a gall bladder or some other tissue, he or she senses resistance (imagine pushing or pulling a spring). Dr. Dev's lab has done studies showing that residents trained on such simulations have a much shorter learning curve when they get into the operating room.
Tracking faces can save lives as well. Toyota, (TM ) Nissan, (NSANY ) and others have sponsored research at Stanford investigating the expressions drivers typically have five seconds before they fall asleep. These can be detected with simple cameras installed in a steering wheel or dashboard that trigger an alarm. Jeremy Bailenson and Cliff Nass, who are leading the research, say such cameras are now in cars coming off production lines in Japan. Siemens (SI ) is developing similar "drowsiness detection" devices.
Demand for systems that watch the world in motion could be broad and compelling. At the Intel Developer Forum in Beijing in April, the chipmaker will preview something called sports summarization that is designed to make good use of Intel's superchips. Outfitted with such processors, your television could spot highlights such as a soccer goal, penalty kick, or any signature motion you desire. Then, instead of relying on the newscaster to recap each night of the World Cup, you would tell your TV to go back and find your players' finest moments or their heartbreaking mistakes.
Motion tracking has all the marks of a disruptive technology, slinking on to the scene in unexpected ways. Sherry Turkle, a clinical psychologist and professor at MIT, talks about "the mirroring of body motion, and of course the subtle things like hand gestures, or the way someone characteristically cocks his head before speaking." Captured and incorporated into business and entertainment systems, "these motions will give us a much greater sense of connection with our online selves. The virtual will seem much closer to the real," she says. Imagine how you'll feel when your avatar smiles back from your computer screen just the way you smile.
For a look at how motion-tracking works, click here. To see how companies and research institutes are using ingenious ways to track humans in motions, click here.
By Aili McConnon


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|I think I have a similar opinion on X Games along with many people. It's really good for our sport that Mountain Biking is in X Games now. It's something that I've been watching for so many years and now it's finally our turn to be there! - Thomas Genon
|It felt great to receive the invite, even though we are gonna kill it hard and probably be part of X Games for many more years to come, you never know? It could be first and last one, that's why it feels special to me. It's also the perfect timing for Slopestyle to get into X Games, the riding level is very high at the moment and I definitely think we can impress not only the crowd, but also the other sports that are there. For me it means that I am gonna be nervous as shit knowing it could be my only shot at getting an X Games medal. - Martin Soderstrom
|When I first heard that Mountain Bike Slopestyle was in the X Games I couldn't believe it. I was hoping that years down the road we would maybe have a slim chance that our sport would make it to X Games from the progression from all the riders. Now it's here in 2013 and I couldn't be more stoked to have an invite. Dreams really come true ...My plans are just to have a solid time and experience X Games to the fullest. - Brett Rheeder
|Very excited about heading to X Games at the end of the month. Most of all, I just feel proud of our little sport. After 10 years, I think it's the perfect time for Slopestyle to be put on the big stage and shown to the world. Contests are crazy these days and I think the viewers will love it. - Cam McCaul
|Stoked to be invited to the X Games. It will be the biggest event I've ever been to and to have slopestyle making its debut makes it even radder! I plan to just shred with everyone and send it large! - Kurt Sorge
|Can't even explain how stoked and proud I am to be part of the X Games. Not only is it huge for us as athletes, but it's huge for the sport of mountain biking as well. Can't wait to show the general audience out there what we can do on these big bikes and I hope that we can make the MTB community proud! - Tyler McCaul
|To be invited to ride in X Games has been a dream of mine forever and now with a mountain bike event makes me more excited than anything. I think it will be great for MTB to be produced for a mainstream audience. I am confident people will be stoked with what we do and hopefully this gets the ball rolling for more mainstream events. - Anthony Messere
|I'm so stoked to be going to the X Games, I mean this is the most known extreme sports event in the world and now MTB is gonna be in there so it's amazing! Hopefully we can put on a sick show and be involved for years to come! - Sam Pilgrim
|Being invited to compete at the X Games is like a dream come true! When I was a kid I was always watching these on my TV, but now I'm going to take part in it as a rider! X Games are like the Olympic games for the freestyle world! I really can't wait to be there and as always trying to do my best to get to the top! - Yannick Granieri
|Been waiting 10 years for that invite... It means the world to me personally and to our sport. The sport we have all helped pioneer and build with more than blood, sweat and tears has finally been accepted into the prestigious X Games. Ever since the first Slopestyle contests in 2002, we knew we had something special. It was original, genuine and worked by utilizing the Mountain Bike's assets on a course built to show its strengths. It is a perfect time in Mountain Biking for Slopestyle to be the discipline that is showcased in the limelight of the X Games. - Cam Zink
|What can I say, I got my invite and I'm really stoked about it! I feel good and I am riding every day actually with the Frenchies to get a few new tricks for my runs at the X Games contest! I really want to send it and do something good there. Lots of riders know me because of my 2nd place at Rampage last year, so it would be good to show that I can send it with a DJ Bike too! So let's do something good for the first MTB Slopestyle X Games contest ever! This is sick because our sport is gonna be in the biggest extreme sports contest! We'll see you there! Make some noiseeeeeee! - Antoine Bizet
|I'm heaps stoked to get an invite to X Games, I grew up watching the event and always hoped they would put MTB Slopestyle in there. I think the event will be nuts and I'm stoked to be riding in it. - Kelly McGarry
|I still can't believe that I will compete at X Games. Since I was a kid, X Games was always the craziest competition with the biggest stars in extreme sports for me! So it's like a wish come true to compete there! It's a big step for the sport and I think also for every athlete who is competing! We will see the next level of Mountain Biking. - Peter Henke
|I have an invite to X Games and I will attend. This is awesome and It's a very big opportunity for our sport. I hope they can build a real MTB Slopestyle course that portrays what we do in the most exciting way! - Brandon Semenuk
|Yes man stoked to be part of X Games and I really hope that I can ride it. I got hurt warming up for the first practice at Red Bull Berg Line ... as soon as I hit the dirt I knew that it was a different crash... no walking away from that one and straight to hospital time... in all the injuries I had before it's always the same... you got hurt , you go to hospital, they fix you and give you drugs and you should be good to go in a few weeks... this time is different... all the injuries are muscular injuries and I need to be at Physio 24/7 if I really wanna make it to X... so I hope I'm back 100% there...Even though I'm riding X Games... I've never been part of FMB and I'm not in the rankings, but I still got the invite... don't know how this works? I dirt jump bikes for a living and don't really know how to deal with rankings and numbers...I just hope that I'm back 100% for X Games so I can ride and put on a show! Munich here we come! - Andreu Lacondeguy
|Pretty pumped on getting the wild card to the X Games considering I had a low ranking on the FMB Tour last year due to injuries. The addition of MTB Slopestyle in X Games shows our sport has grown at a healthy pace due to the hard working folks creating events, the FMB and all the athletes. It's not a surprise that the X Games wants to be part of our sport because it's one of the raddest spectator sports out there and I've been privileged enough to be here from the beginning.
Markus Hampl designed the course and a good many people reviewed it and refined it so it will be a killer setup. My involvement pertains to overseeing the course build, making sure things line up and the speed is dialed in for every feature. The course itself will be a classic slopestyle course with drops, hips, big booters and a cannon log. Markus and his crew are some of the sickest builders around so I have a ton of confidence that they will do a killer job. Wish us luck! - Darren Berrecloth
|The Judges will be following the standard FMB judging criteria - mostly focused on style and execution. Paul Rak is head judge and he's dialed. I know they're keeping the course under wraps, but I did see a sneak preview and it's looking sweet. It's all big moves. I know Claw is consulting on the course build so you know that guy will make sure everything is dialed in 100%. The event is in Olympic Park in Munich which is a super sick spot!
As a board member of the FMB World Tour I feel confident in the future of our sport and the addition of X Games makes me excited for the future. It's our turn to put mountain bike slopestyle on the worldwide map. It's an exciting time for sure! - Aaron Chase- Judge at the X Games
This image is one rendition of what we've seen floating about the web, things are looking big for X Games
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subset: commoncrawl


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|Mission type
|Lunar orbiter, lander, rover
|Indian Space Research Organisation
|Mission duration
|Orbiter: 1 year
Lander: 14-15 days[1]
Rover: 14-15 days[1]
|Spacecraft properties
|Launch mass
|Combined: 3,250 kg (7,170 lb)[2]
|Payload mass
|Orbiter: 1,400 kg (3,100 lb)
Rover: 20 kg (44 lb)[3]
|Start of mission
|Launch date
|Planned: First quarter of 2018[4]
|GSLV Mk II[5]
|Launch site
|Satish Dhawan Space Centre
|Lunar orbiter
|Orbit parameters
|100 km (62 mi)[2]
|100 km (62 mi)[2]
Chandrayaan-2 (Sanskrit: चन्द्रयान-२; Sanskrit: [ t͡ʃʌnd̪ɾʌjaːn d̪ʋi]; lit: Moon-vehicle[6][7] pronunciation (help·info)) is India's second lunar exploration mission after Chandrayaan-1. Developed by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), the mission is planned to be launched to the Moon by a Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV Mk II).[5] It includes a lunar orbiter, lander and rover, all developed by India. The ISRO is planning to launch Chandrayaan-2 in the first quarter of 2018.[4]
According to ISRO, this mission will use and test various new technologies and conduct new experiments.[8][9][10] The wheeled rover will move on the lunar surface and will perform on-site chemical analysis. The data will be relayed to Earth through the Chandrayaan-2 orbiter.[11][12]
On 12 November 2007, representatives of the Russian Federal Space Agency (Roscosmos) and ISRO signed an agreement for the two agencies to work together on the Chandrayaan-2 project.[13] ISRO would have the prime responsibility for the orbiter and rover, while Roscosmos was to provide the lander.
The Indian government approved the mission in a meeting of the Union Cabinet, held on 18 September 2008 and chaired by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.[14] The design of the spacecraft was completed in August 2009, with scientists of both countries conducting a joint review.[15][16]
Although ISRO finalized the payload for Chandrayaan-2 per schedule,[17] the mission was postponed in January 2013[18] and rescheduled to 2016 because Russia was unable to develop the lander on time.[19][20] Roscosmos later withdrew in wake of the failure of the Fobos-Grunt mission to Mars, the reason being that technical aspects connected with the Fobos-Grunt mission were also used in the lunar projects, which need to be reviewed.[19] When Russia cited its inability to provide the lander even by 2015, India decided to develop the lunar mission independently.[18][21]
The mission is planned to fly on a Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV Mk II) with an approximate lift-off mass of 3,250 kg (7,170 lb) from Satish Dhawan Space Centre on Sriharikota Island.[2][5][22] As of December 2015[update], the mission has an allocated cost of ₹603 Crore (US$91 million).[23]
The orbiter will orbit the Moon at an altitude of 100 km (62 mi).[24] The mission would carry five instruments on the orbiter. Three of them are new, while two others are improved versions of those flown on Chandrayaan-1. The approximate launch mass will be 1,400 kg (3,100 lb).[17][22] The Orbiter High Resolution Camera (OHRC) will conduct high-resolution observations of the landing site prior to separation of the lander from the orbiter.[24][1] Interfaces between the orbiter and its GSLV Mk II launch vehicle have been finalised.[25]
Unlike Chandrayaan-1's Moon Impact Probe, which impacted the Moon's surface, the lander will make a soft landing to then deploy the rover.[22] The lander will not perform any scientific activities. The approximate mass of the lander and rover is 1,250 kg (2,760 lb). Initially, the lander was slated to be developed by Russia in collaboration with India. When Russia stated its inability to provide the lander to meet even the revised time frame of 2015, Indian officials decided to develop the lander independently. The cancellation of the Russian lander also meant that mission profile had to be changed. The preliminary configuration study of the indigenous lander was completed in 2013 by the Space Applications Centre (SAC) in Ahmedabad.[18]
The research team identified methods for a soft landing on the lunar surface, as well as the associated technologies that would be needed for such an event. Amongst these technologies are a high resolution camera, navigation camera, hazard avoidance camera, an 800 N (180 lbf) throttleable liquid main engine and attitude thrusters, altimeter, velocity meter, accelerometer, and the software needed to run these components.[1][24] The lander's main engine has successfully undergone a high altitude test for a duration of 513 seconds, and closed loop verification tests of the sensors, actuators and software are planned for the middle of 2016.[25] Engineering models of the lander began undergoing ground and aerial tests in late October 2016, in Challakere in the Chitradurga district of Karnataka. The ISRO created roughly 10 craters in the surface to help assess the ability of the lander's sensors to select a landing site.[26]
|Mass (kg)
|Power (W)
|Star tracker[27]
|Imaging sensor[27]
The rover's mass will be about 20 kg (44 lb) and will operate on solar power.[3] The rover will move on wheels on the lunar surface, perform on-site chemical analysis and send the data to the orbiter above, which will relay it to the Earth station.[17][22]
The initial plan was for the rover to be designed in Russia and fabricated in India. However, after Russia proved unable to contribute to the mission,[18][19][20] ISRO decided on designing and fabricating the rover itself. IIT Kanpur is developing three subsystems to provide mobility:
- Stereoscopic camera-based 3D vision - will provide the ground team controlling the rovers a 3D view of the surrounding terrain.
- Kinematic traction control - will enable the rover to negotiate the rough lunar terrain using independent steering provided on four of its wheels.
- Control and motor dynamics - The rover will have six wheels, each driven by an independent electric motor. Four of the wheels will also be capable of independent steering. A total of 10 electric motors will be used for traction and steering.
ISRO has announced that an expert committee has decided on five payloads for the orbiter, and two for the rover.[17][28] While it was initially reported that NASA and ESA would participate in the mission by providing some scientific instruments for the orbiter,[29] ISRO has later clarified that due to weight restrictions it will not be carrying foreign payloads on this mission.[30]
- Orbiter payload
- Large Area Soft X-ray Spectrometer (CLASS) from ISRO Satellite Centre (ISAC), Bangalore and Solar X-ray monitor (XSM) from Physical Research Laboratory (PRL), Ahmedabad for mapping major elements present on the lunar surface.[17]
- L and S band Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) from Space Applications Centre (SAC), Ahmedabad for probing the first few tens of metres of the lunar surface for the presence of different constituents, including water ice. SAR is expected to provide further evidence confirming the presence of water ice below the shadowed regions of the Moon.[17]
- Imaging IR Spectrometer (IIRS) from SAC, Ahmedabad for mapping of lunar surface over a wide wavelength range for the study of minerals, water molecules and hydroxyl present.[17]
- Neutral Mass Spectrometer (ChACE-2) from Space Physics Laboratory (SPL), Thiruvananthapuram to carry out a detailed study of the lunar exosphere.[17]
- Terrain Mapping Camera-2 (TMC-2) from SAC, Ahmedabad for preparing a three-dimensional map essential for studying the lunar mineralogy and geology.[17]
- Lander payload
- Seismometer for studying Moon-quakes near the landing site[2][31]
- Thermal probe for estimating the thermal properties of the lunar surface[2]
- Langmuir probe for measuring the density and variation of lunar surface plasma[2]
- Radio occultation experiment for measuring the total electron content[2]
- Rover payload
- Laser induced Breakdown Spectroscope (LIBS) from Laboratory for Electro Optic Systems (LEOS), Bangalore.[17]
- Alpha Particle Induced X-ray Spectroscope (APIXS) from PRL, Ahmedabad.
See also[edit]
- ^ a b c d Nair, Avinash (31 May 2015). "ISRO to deliver "eyes and ears" of Chandrayaan-2 by 2015-end". The Indian Express. Retrieved 7 August 2016.
- ^ a b c d e f g h Kiran Kumar, Aluru Seelin (August 2015). Chandrayaan-2 - India's Second Moon Mission. YouTube.com. Inter-University Centre for Astronomy and Astrophysics. Retrieved 7 August 2016.
- ^ a b Subramanian, T. S. (11 May 2014). "Chandrayaan's rover and the moon rocks from Salem villages". The Hindu. Retrieved 2 October 2014.
- ^ a b Joe, Emma (2 March 2017). "India set to launch its second Moon mission, Chandrayaan-2 in 2018". Science Examiner. Retrieved 2 March 2017.
- ^ a b c Shenoy, Jaideep (28 February 2016). "ISRO chief signals India's readiness for Chandrayaan II mission". The Times of India. Times News Network. Retrieved 7 August 2016.
- ^ "candra". Spoken Sanskrit. Retrieved 5 November 2008.
- ^ "yaana". Spoken Sanskrit. Retrieved 5 November 2008.
- ^ Mallikarjun, Y. (7 September 2007). "Chandrayaan-2 to be finalised in 6 months". The Hindu. Retrieved 22 October 2008.
- ^ "Chandrayaan-II will try out new ideas, technologies". The Week. 7 September 2010. Archived from the original on 14 July 2011. Retrieved 7 September 2010.
- ^ "Landing spots for Chandrayaan-2 identified". DNA India. 21 February 2014. Retrieved 23 February 2014.
- ^ Subramanian, T. S. (4 January 2007). "ISRO plans Moon rover". The Hindu. Retrieved 22 October 2008.
- ^ Rathinavel, T.; Singh, Jitendra (24 November 2016). "Question No. 1084: Deployment of Rover on Lunar Surface" (PDF). Rajya Sabha.
- ^ Chand, Manish (12 November 2007). "India, Russia to expand n-cooperation, defer Kudankulam deal". Nerve. Archived from the original on 13 January 2014. Retrieved 12 January 2014.
- ^ Sunderarajan, P. (19 September 2008). "Cabinet clears Chandrayaan-2". The Hindu. Retrieved 23 October 2008.
- ^ "ISRO completes Chandrayaan-2 design". Domain-b.com. 17 August 2009. Retrieved 20 August 2009.
- ^ "India and Russia complete design of new lunar probe". Sputnik News. RIA Novosti. 17 August 2009. Retrieved 20 August 2009.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j "Payloads for Chandrayaan-2 Mission Finalised" (Press release). Indian Space Research Organisation. 30 August 2010. Retrieved 4 January 2010.
- ^ a b c d Ramachandran, R. (22 January 2013). "Chandrayaan-2: India to go it alone". The Hindu.
- ^ a b c Laxman, Srinivas (6 February 2012). "India's Chandrayaan-2 Moon Mission Likely Delayed After Russian Probe Failure". Asian Scientist. Retrieved 5 April 2012.
- ^ a b "India's next moon mission depends on Russia: ISRO chief". NDTV. Indo-Asian News Service. 9 September 2012.
- ^ "Chandrayaan-2 would be a lone mission by India without Russian tie-up.". Press Information Bureau, Government of India. 14 August 2013.
- ^ a b c d "Chandrayaan-2 to get closer to moon". The Economic Times. 2 September 2010. Retrieved 4 January 2011.
- ^ "Successful commercial launches boost ISRO's reputation in 2015". Business Standard. 29 December 2015. Retrieved 2 April 2016.
- ^ a b c "Annual Report 2014-2015" (PDF). Indian Space Research Organisation. December 2014. p. 82.
- ^ a b "Annual Report 2015-2016" (PDF). Indian Space Research Organisation. December 2015. p. 89.
- ^ D. S., Madhumathi (25 October 2016). "ISRO starts landing tests for Chandrayaan-2 mission". The Hindu. Retrieved 28 October 2016.
- ^ Johnson, T. A. (31 August 2010). "Three new Indian payloads for Chandrayaan 2, decides ISRO". The Indian Express. Retrieved 31 August 2010.
- ^ Beary, Habib (4 February 2010). "NASA and ESA to partner for Chandrayaan-2". Sakal Times. Retrieved 22 February 2010.
- ^ Laxman, Srinivas (5 September 2010). "'We're launching Chandrayaan-2 for a total coverage of the moon'". The Times of India.
- ^ Mallikarjun, Y. (29 May 2013). "India plans to send seismometer to study moonquakes". The Hindu. Retrieved 1 June 2013.
External links[edit]
- Chandrayaan-2 at ISRO.gov.in


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The Lee College of Engineering Leadership Academy equips undergraduates with leadership competencies that engineering industry and communities need. Through the program, students learn to:
- Communicate effectively
- Act with integrity
- Value diversity
- Achieve meaningful goals
- Influence others
- Serve others
Communicate Effectively: Good leaders listen to others to understand their thoughts, opinions and ideas. They provide accurate information to appropriate audiences at appropriate times. They have the skills to successfully navigate conflict and can negotiate effectively. Good leaders engage audiences in presentations by utilizing basic presentation skills and thoughtfully planning their talking points.
Act With Integrity: Good leaders know their beliefs and values, and make choices that align with them. They are committed to making ethically appropriate decisions and others find them trustworthy. Good leaders do not shy away from responsibility and fulfill expectations.
Value Diversity: Good leaders are open to learning from others who have backgrounds, opinions and ideas different from their own. They seek opportunities to interact with people who have different perspectives with the goal of developing the best solutions for problems. They respect the right of others to view the world differently and can be firm yet considerate when engaging in debate.
Achieve Meaningful Goals: First and foremost, good leaders focus on goals that have personal, organizational or community meaning. They know how to plan strategies to achieve their goals and are quick to take action toward those goals. They take time to evaluate their progress which allows them to make adjustments when necessary. Good leaders also evaluate outcomes to measure success and learn from failure.
Influence Others: Good leaders know how to motivate and inspire their teammates and subordinates. They can effectively build relationships with others and utilize those relationships to bring out the best in them. They are role models who are just as influential with their behavior as they are with their words.
Serve Others: Good leaders pay attention to the world around them and actively seek opportunities to make positive change. They use their power and authority to benefit others. They are good stewards of their time, talents and treasures.


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More than any other sports announcer's voice that has ever boomed over the airways for Wooster's WQKT (104.5-FM) radio station, Galen Swartzentruber's calls were immediately recognizable.
"Galen had a very distinct voice and that's probably what people will remember most about him," said WQKT program director Mike Breckenridge. "His voice was probably more recognizable than anyone else we've had on the air here.
"It's kind of hard to describe. I'd say it kind of had a nasal twang to it, but in a good way. It made you kind of smile."
Today, that voice is silent and it's difficult for a lot of people in the area to smile much.
Swartzentruber, who was not only an accomplished broadcaster, but a friend to countless individuals, died at age 53 at his Wooster residence early Wednesday evening. Swartzentruber had pancreatic cancer that was detected early this summer.
Breckenridge said Swartzentruber's unusual voice led listeners to gravitate toward their radios, but once there they got used to his calls soon after.
"I think once they started listening to him, they forgot about his voice and just listened to what he had to say," Breckenridge said. "Without a doubt his background as an ex-athlete and ex-coach helped to give him a great deal of expertise."
Swartzentruber was hired at WQKT in 1981 and was named the station's sports director in 1984, a position he held until his death. He was a regular announcer for College of Wooster football, men's basketball and baseball, along with broadcasting those sports for the prep ranks.
"I think the highlight of his career was in 1992 when both Orrville and Hiland won state basketball titles in Columbus," said Breckenridge, who was paired up in the radio booth with Swartzentruber on numerous ocassions. "Galen was a fixture at the state basketball tournaments for a lot of years and called both of those championship games.
"The 1992 tournament was really special to him because he went to Hiland and he was very close with (Orrville coach) Steve Smith. He talked from time to time over the years about what a thrill it was to call championship games that both schools won."
Norwayne athletic director and boys basketball coach Doug Hanzie was one of many coaches Swartzentruber developed close friendships with.
"To me, Galen was the distinctive voice of Wooster radio," Hanzie said. "He will really be missed.
"Being an ex-coach gave him an understanding of what coaches go through. He knew what questions to ask and when to ask them. Sometimes I'd call him just to talk and go over certain situations. When I'd ask him what he thought of one of my teams, I could always count on a straight answer."
Swartzentruber also enjoyed his time covering The College of Wooster teams. Just this past spring he called the action along with WQKT general manager Ken Nemeth as the Scots upset Ohio State on the road, won the North Coast Athletic Conference tournament, garnered the No. 1 regular-season ranking in Div. III and advanced to the NCAA regional tournament.
Swartzentruber graduated from Hiland High School in 1967 and from Bluffton College in 1971. He played both baseball and basketball. After college he taught and coached at both Sandy Valley and Waynedale, but after developing Hodgkin's Disease he decided to become a radio broadcaster. Swartzentruber was an avid golfer and softball player as well.
As much as Breckenridge will remember the good times on the air with Swartzentruber, he said it was the time away from the mic that will really stand out.
"Basically, as much fun as we had on the air, calling the games was just a bonus," Breckenridge said. "I think it was even more fun riding to and from games with him. We'd talk about the games, other sports and life in general.
"That's when you really get to know someone and Galen was probably the most well-liked individual I have ever known. I never heard anyone say a negative thing about him."
Swartzentruber is survived by his wife, Linda, along with his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Eli Swartzentruber of Berlin and Mrs. Danny Markley (mother-in-law) of Orrville. He is also survived by brothers Lynn of Berlin, Merle of Sugar Creek and Carl of Berlin.
Services will be Saturday at 2 p.m. at Central Christian Church, Disciples of Christ in Wooster with the Revs. Kevin Phipps and Ernie Hershberger officiating. Burial will be at Crown Hill Cemetery in Orrville.
Friends may call at the Berlin Mennonite Church on Friday from 2-5 and 7-9 p.m. Also at the Central Christian Church in Wooster from 11 a.m. until service time on Saturday. Gresser Funeral Home in Orrville is handling the arrangements.


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Posted 4 years ago
(439 items)
Shown is a collection of pendants that range from the 50s to the 80s. They belonged to various family members (among them my mother, great aunt and grandmother). Just about all of the top row and the balet shoe on the far left in the middle row belonged to my mom. The rest most likely belonged to my paternal great aunt and maternal grandmother.


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Isabelle Martha (Volker) Fabian, 95, of Cambridge, formerly of Herman, Minn., passed away peacefully on Saturday, December 29, 2012 at GracePointe Crossing Gables West in Cambridge, Minn.
Isabelle was born Nov. 9, 1917 in Delaware Township, Grant County, Minn. to Martin and Martha (DeVries) Volker.
She married Leonard Fabian October 10, 1940 in Elbow Lake, Minn.and had two children. Isabelle and Leonard farmed in the Herman area until 1970 when they moved to Moorhead, Minn. In 2009 Isabelle moved to Elmhurst Commons in Braham and in December of 2011 she moved to GracePointe Crossing Gables West in Cambridge, Minn.
She was preceded in death by her husband Leonard and is survived by her son, Robert Fabian and wife Geraldine of Yerington, Nev.; daughter, Elizabeth Tracy of Cambridge, Minn.; four grandchildren; three great grandchildren; sister, Margaret Fabian of Herman, Minn., as well as numerous nieces, nephews other relatives and friends. She will be missed by all.
Funeral Services will be held at 11 a.m., Thursday, January 3, 2013 at Bethel Lutheran Church in Herman, Minn. with Rev. Lloyd Heroff officiating. Visitation will be one hour prior to the service at church. Greg Sperr, accompanied by Olivia Richards, will sing "The King is Coming" and "On Eagle's Wings." Pallbearers are Todd Tracy, Troy Tracy, Jeff Barrnett, Marina Fabian, Rick Fabian and Tom Fabian. Interment will be in Lakeside Cemetery in Herman. Arrangements are with the Carlson-Lillemoen Funeral Home and Cremation Services of Cambridge.


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The Brennity at Melbourne
7300 Watersong Lane , Melbourne, FL 32940
7300 Watersong Lane , Melbourne, FL 32940
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Nestled in the heart of Melbourne just minutes from shopping, parks, golf courses, hospitals, sandy beaches and the airport is a luxury retirement community offering a full range of senior living options. At Watersong, seniors enjoy retirement to its fullest, no matter where they are they on life's journey.
Watersong is owned and operated by Senior Living Communities, a company that has been a leader in the industry for more than 22 years. Based in Charlotte, North Carolina, Senior Living Communities manages several retirement properties throughout the Southeast and Midwest.
Residents at Watersong enjoy a selection of floor plans and may choose from charming, cottage-style homes as well as deluxe villa apartment suites. All of our residential units feature designer finishes, such as granite countertops and hardwood floors, full kitchens and in-unit washers and dryers.
In addition to our many on-site amenities, including a state-of-the-art Wellness Center, indoor and outdoor swimming pools, bar, lounge, salon and spa, our residents also enjoy membership at nearby The Duran Golf Club. The Club's facilities include both Championship and Par-3 golf courses, as well as a driving range, pitching green and putting green.
To ensure that life at Watersong is hassle-free, we provide numerous services for the comfort and convenience of our residents. From doing the laundry and changing the linens to our scheduled transportation and concierge service, we do all we can to help our residents live life to the fullest.
For our seniors in need of extra care and support, our staff of professional caregivers are available 24/7 to provide assisted living and memory care under the supervision of a Registered Nurse.
At Watersong, it is our primary goal to help seniors live longer, healthier and happier lives.


text: Overview By Mayo Clinic Staff Print Vaginitis is an inflammation of the vagina that can result in discharge, itching and pain. The cause is usually a change in the normal balance of vaginal bacteria or an infection. Reduced estrogen levels after menopause and some skin disorders can also cause vaginitis. The most common types of vaginitis are: Bacterial vaginosis, which results from a change of the normal bacteria found in your vagina to overgrowth of other organisms Yeast infections, which are usually caused by a naturally occurring fungus called Candida albicans Trichomoniasis, which is caused by a parasite and is commonly transmitted by sexual intercourse Treatment depends on the type of vaginitis you have. Request an Appointment at Mayo Clinic Symptoms & causes Oct. 25, 2016 Print Share on: FacebookTwitter References Sobel J. Approach to women with symptoms of vaginitis. http://www.uptodate.com/home. Accessed Aug. 11, 2016. Vaginitis. American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists—FAQS.. http://www.acog.org/Patients/FAQs/Vaginitis. Accessed Aug. 11, 2016. Vaginitis. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. http://search.cdc.gov/search?query=vaginitis&utf8=%E2%9C%93&affiliate=cdc-main. Accessed Aug. 12, 2016. Overview of vaginitis. Merck Manual Professional Version. http://www.merckmanuals.com/professional/gynecology-and-obstetrics/vaginitis,-cervicitis,-and-pelvic-inflammatory-disease-pid/overview-of-vaginitis. Accessed Aug. 11, 2016. RelatedSex during vaginal infection: Is it harmful?Yeast infection during pregnancySymptom CheckerVaginaVaginal odorVaginal bleedingVaginal dischargePainful urination (dysuria)Painful intercourse (dyspareunia) VaginitisOverviewSymptoms & causesDiagnosis & treatmentDiagnosisTreatmentPreparing for your appointmentSelf-managementMore aboutIn-DepthExpert AnswersMultimediaResourcesNews from Mayo Clinic Advertisement Mayo Clinic does not endorse companies or products. Advertising revenue supports our not-for-profit mission. Advertising & Sponsorship Policy Opportunities Ad Choices Mayo Clinic Store Check out these best-sellers and special offers on books and newsletters from Mayo Clinic. The Last Diet You'll Ever NeedNEW! Mayo Clinic Guide to Integrative MedicineStop Osteoporosis in its TracksMayo Clinic Health LetterThe Mayo Clinic Diet Book Diagnosis & treatmentRequest an AppointmentDiagnosisTreatmentPreparing for your appointment CON-20208705 Patient Care & Health Information Diseases & Conditions Vaginitis


text:
New Orleans Bowl
Poet Laureate
What's Been Happening
Photos featured
in the magazine >>
Web Extra Photos >>
By Travis Richmond
It's approximately 550 miles from Denton to New Orleans.
The Mean Green football team knows this path well, having played in the New Orleans Bowl for four consecutive years. So do thousands of UNT fans, who migrate to the Big Easy each December in support of the team.
A fine start
A fine starting point for any night out in the French Quarter is a bar called Tropical Isle, at the end of Bourbon Street. Tropical Isle is the home of the Hand Grenade, "New Orleans' most powerful drink."
There's already a good contingent of UNT fans in Tropical Isle when I arrive on Sunday night, two days before the game. This includes Raymond M. Rivas III ('01), an emergency management officer with the Fort Worth Fire Department who says he attended the last two New Orleans Bowls and expected to be here again before the 2004 season even began.
"I write this date on my calendar every year," Rivas says.
UNT winning four consecutive Sun Belt championships has had an effect on the crowds coming to the New Orleans Bowl, according to Lindsay Cronin, a bartender at Tropical Isle who has tended bar in New Orleans for eight years.
"Each year the crowd gets bigger and bigger," Cronin says. "The first year it was mostly students. But since then, more and more alumni come every year."
When eating in New Orleans, you've got to sample local establishments such as Johnny's Po-Boys and Café Maspero. There's shopping at unique places like Magic Bus Records where Duke Ellington music often plays, Zombie's House
of Voodoo and American Junk.
There's also the allure of gambling at Harrah's, which can be hard to resist. I should have tried, though, because after 20 minutes at the blackjack table my pockets were $70 lighter. Still, you've got to try your luck in the Big Easy.
Harrah's is across the street from the World Trade Center of New Orleans, where on the 33rd floor a revolving rooftop bar, appropriately called 360, provides an unparalleled view of the city.
When I arrive at 360 at 4 p.m. Monday afternoon, most people in the bar are UNT fans, including Chris Latham ('00) from Austin, who has been to all four New Orleans Bowls. He says he came to 360 for happy hour after reading about it on the UNT fan message board gomeangreen.com.
People from the board also worked with
the bar Utopia on Bourbon Street to create
an unofficial UNT bar in New Orleans. The
bar even called itself "UNTopia" in the days leading
up to the game.
Mean Green Mania
On Monday night, the House of Blues is the site of Mean Green Mania. Approximately 600 people attend the pep rally/party, and it looks like they're all waiting to get in when I arrive at 8 p.m., because the line snakes around the block.
Inside, fans are entertained by live music from Anthony Brown and the Renaissance, and UNT spirit is everywhere. The waitstaff is wearing UNT regalia, highlights of the Mean Green season are being shown on televisions throughout the club, and fans are dressed in their best UNT clothing with green boas, beads, cowboy hats and even beards.
I dub one superfan "Mean Green Man," because his sequined hat, bow tie, cape, vest and mask make him look like a cross between the Green Zorro and the Hamburgler.
Athletic director Rick Villarreal and football coach Darrell Dickey address the crowd, and everyone leaves fired up for the game, now less than 24 hours away.
Game day
A quick read of the morning newspapers on game day reveals this from USA Today: "The bowl season begins with what is becoming the North Texas Invitational."
For breakfast I drop by Café Du Monde, famous for its coffee and beignets (donut-like pastries covered with powdered sugar and every bit as good as advertised).
Pregame festivities begin at 3 p.m. at the Hyatt across from the Louisiana Superdome, where the Mean Green Village is in full swing. The UNT band enters at 4:15 p.m. and a ballroom packed with UNT supporters cheers as UNT President Norval Pohl declares, "It's going to be a great game for us. It's time to party!"
Shortly thereafter, the UNT band faces off with the band from Southern Mississippi outside the Superdome for a "Battle of the Bands." The Southern Miss band strikes first, and soon both groups are playing and the concourse is
At 5:18 p.m. the Southern Miss band leaves, apparently conceding the battle to its UNT counterpart, who plays for a few more minutes before leading everyone into the Superdome.
Taking the field
Anticipation builds as kickoff is just over an hour away, and when the Mean Green take the field at 6:35 p.m. to the sounds of AC/DC's "Thunderstruck," it's showtime.
Unfortunately, Southern Miss is too much for the Mean Green, who trail 17-3 at halftime. UNT freshman sensation Jamario Thomas is held in check, except for one spectacular 17-yard run — it takes eight Southern Miss defenders to tackle him.
At the end of the third quarter, attendance at the game
is announced as 27,253, with most of the lower bowl of
the stadium full and split equally with UNT and Southern
Miss fans.
Early in the fourth quarter, Southern Miss returns an interception for a touchdown to ice the game, but the Mean Green fight until literally the last second, when Johnny Quinn makes a diving touchdown catch in the corner of the end zone with :01 remaining. It's UNT's only touchdown, as Southern Miss claims
a 31-10 victory.
After the game, plenty of UNT fans still make it to Bourbon Street, disappointed by the loss but happy for the experience.
"I've been to every New Orleans Bowl," says UNT senior Amanda Webb, who is from New Orleans. "Nothing would keep
me from coming back. More people are coming every year."
With fun like this to be had, it's Easy to see why.
Photos from New Orleans featured in print >>
Photos from New Orleans exclusively on this web site >>


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Gwyneth Paltrow: Workout made me weep
Gwyneth Paltrow says her relentless exercise routine recently caused her to break down in tears.
The Hollywood actress is famed for her ultra lean body which is the result of healthy eating and a stringent workout regime.
Gwyneth says her toned body requires a lot of work, but some days she'd rather not exercise at all.
"There was a day the other week where I just started crying and I quit. I was like: 'I just can't do it, I hate it,'" she revealed in an interview with marieclaire.co.uk.
"A lot of days I don't want to do it but I literally force myself, it's sheer will. I just force myself to make it a part of my day and I try not to even listen to the doubts."
The star was discussing her latest movie in the interview - the third instalment of the popular Marvel superhero franchise, Iron Man 3.
Gwyneth plays Pepper Potts in the action film, but claims she didn't have to put in any extra work to hone her enviable big screen body.
"I have the same routine my five-day-a-week Tracey Anderson," she explained. 'I've made it such a habit, it's like brushing my teeth."
Gwyneth also has a creative partnership with celebrity trainer Tracy. The pair are set to open a clothing store together this summer next to Tracy's Brentwood studio, and the exercise pro recently discussed her working relationship with the Hollywood beauty.
"She signs off on everything. We're equal partners," Tracy revealed.
"It will be lifestyle oriented. It will be whatever we love. It's for the working mom who has an exercise lifestyle. I'm not going to be selling Alexander McQueen dresses."
© Cover Media


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290 S Meridian Ave., Tampa, FL 33602
Categories: Bar
Cuisine: Fine dining
Features: Dance club, Date night, DJ/Techno, tbt* Top Bar, Upscale, VIP area
Payment options: Credit cards accepted
Alcohol: Full bar
Parking: Street
More in this neighborhood: Downtown Tampa
When it opened in January just before the 2009 Super Bowl, it was clear that AJA Channelside, the ultra-chic nightclub in the Towers of Channelside, was swinging for the fences. So far, it's hitting them. During the Super Bowl, guests included Pamela Anderson, Kim Kardashian, Kendra Wilkinson and DJs AM and Jazzy Jeff, and one night, the club sold out of its $850-per-bottle Ace of Spades champagne. Since then, the crowds haven't left. Playmates and nationally known DJs have popped in for guest appearances, and Kardashian returned to host a Memorial Day bash. On a Saturday earlier this month, there was a line around the building of affluent party people waiting to get inside. In this economy, that's what we'd call a home run.


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We love taking inspiration from everyday items and the stormy weather has been perfect for staying indoors and getting crafty. 3M have just launched Post-it Notes Colour Cubes, packs of Post-it Notes in a range of vibrant hues. We were sent a selection of the new Post-it Notes Colour Cubes and challenged to create a piece of Post-it artwork with our favourite colours.
Over the last week we've been inspired to have some fun indoors and so far we've made a photo booth backdrop, origami boxes and a temporary racetrack for cars!
We decided to create a London picture as the toddler loves maps at the moment. I let him pick the colours so we used the blue/green Post-it Notes Colour Cube.
First of all we copied the outline of Greater London onto a number of Post-it Notes and cut around it as closely as we could.
Then we chose our favourite London landmarks and copied them onto green Post-it Notes.
Finally we covered a canvas in the remaining colours to give a colourful backdrop to our picture and placed everything on top. A London picture created from Post-it Notes and a pair of scissors. What do you think?
Don't forget to check out the Post-it UK Facebook page for more ideas. This post has been sponsored by 3M who provided a blank canvas and selection of Post-it Notes.


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Estella Leah Harrington, 85, of Cambridge, formerly of Braham, passed away Wednesday, March 23, 2011 at Grace Pointe Crossing West Gables of Cambridge.
Estella was born Feb. 26, 1926 in St. Paul, Minn. to parents Rudolph II and Charlotte (Dewey) Henninger. She attended catholic school through the 8th grade and graduated from the Mechanic Arts High School in St. Paul in 1944. She attended a two-year vocational school, training to become a seamstress.
On Nov. 10, 1945 Estella was united in marriage to Arthur Stanley Harrington in St. Paul, Minn. Together the couple raised seven children. As a pastor's wife, Estella and the family moved around a lot. They lived in and round St. Paul, Herman and Pequot Lakes. Estella's faith was very important to her and she would play and sing for many church services.
Estella had many interests. She was an avid reader. She loved to spend time sewing, and doing all types of hand crafts. Estella will be remembered for her unique, infectious laugh that made her eyes sparkle. She will be missed.
Estella is preceded in death by her parents, husband Arthur, infant son Grant, brother Rudolph III, and half-brother Bernard.
She is survived by her sons Stan (Patricia) of Lino Lakes, George (Diane) of Rush City, Ralph (Patricia) of Coon Rapids, Art Jr (Patricia) of Mesa, Ariz. and John (Sue) of Cottage Grove; daughters Cheri (Dave) Busby of Braham and Sandy (Doug) Garbett of Hinckley; brother William (Dorothy) Henninger of Hastings; 22 Grandchildren, 42 great grandchildren, and 5 great great grandchildren. She is also survived by many other relatives and friends
A Funeral Service was held Monday, March 28, 2011 at the Stanchfield Baptist Church with Rev. Dale Cope officiating. Music was provided by Claudia Hardy and Linda Nord. Casketbearers were Jeff Busby, Brian Harrington, Grant Harrington, Greg Harrington, Bill Garbett, and Scott Kleppen. Interment was in the Pleasant Hill Cemetery in Pequot Lakes, Minn. Arrangements were by the Rock Ingebrand Funeral Home of Braham.


text: There are a plethora of lists citing the most innovative companies in the world published by some notable names in media. It does not matter that all differ in their membership; the debate of who is in and shouldn't be and who is missing but should be in is not important. What is important is that there are common principles of innovation to learn from and that can be drawn from the companies that are expertly surfing ahead on the wave of creativity.


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Who is responsible for Macbeth's downfall?Also, I need three sub topics and 3 examples to support each sub topic.
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4 Answers
According to the site rules, teachers are permitted to answer one question per post. The original question is a debatable one. Some might say the Lady Macbeth is responsible for General Macbeth's downfall. Ultimately, each human is responsible for his or her own actions. It is true that Lady Macbeth originally came up with the plan to kill the king, but it is also true that Macbeth was selfish and greedy. If he had been patient he would have learned that he had already been promoted to Dane. His wife did encourage him to commit murder, but she did not force him to choose his path. The three witches could also be considered a partially responsible for Macbeth's downfall because they gave him the prophecy.
Macbeth killed Duncan and then tried to frame the king's guards for the murder. However Macbeth did not stop there he continued his downfall and has no one to blame but himself.
"Macbeth commits a trio of heinous crimes in the course of the play: the regicide of Duncan, the murder of his closest friend, Banquo (and attempted murder of Fleance), and the wanton slaughter of innocents in the persons of Macduff's wife and child."
Shakespeare's message is of course one that forces mankind to look in the mirror and accept responsibility
Like the other postings state, Macbeth is ultimately responsible for his own downfall. That being said, Macbeth did not act without being influenced. First, the witches influenced Macbeth. Their prophecy spoke of his becoming king. Second, Lady Macbeth was also influential over Macbeth's downfall. Once she heard about the prophecy, she knew that she would benefit from it coming true. Her actions and attitude highly influenced Macbeth's. Lastly, (and perhaps most controversially) Banquo could be found influential. He heard the witches' prophecy and knows that Macbeth must become king so that his own children will.
I agree that Macbeth is ultimately to blame for his own downfall. Some people might blame the witches. They might say that the witches put thoughts into Macbeth's head that would never have occurred to him had it not been for them. Even if this is true, it's still Macbeth's responsibility. The witches may have introduced the idea of kingship to him, but they didn't force him to pursue it the way he did.
User Comments
i agree that it is partly Macbeth's decision as to whether he should fulfill the witch's prophecies or not. i believe that he was strongly influenced by his wife, Lady Macbeth as there are times in the drama where she actually questions Macbeth's manhood and courage when he felt that what the witchs' had prophecised for him would damn his soul and that he should resist the temptation to fulfill the witchs' prophecised ambition for him.


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At the end of a long week, you really just need to unwind. A girls' night out can be just the remedy you need especially if you've spent all week stressing over work and classes. A girls' night out might entail going to the movies, trying a new restaurant, sharing a bottle of wine or simply heading to your favorite bar. If your plans do involve leaving your apartment, then have fun with your outfit and play with colors and accessories. If you feel so inclined, you can also throw on a pair of heels. Today's Fashionista, who always wears something daring, is sporting a feminine look that is just right for a fun girls' night out.
Her tight black pants give her colorful accessories a neutral base to work from. Since you can wear black pants with anything, they're a wise investment. Dressing it up a bit, she wears bold blue booties and a hot pink kate spade new york purse. These eye-catching accessories add a pop of fun to her girly ensemble. On top, she adds a fuzzy, pastel pink sweater and a beautiful patterned scarf. To stay warm, she also wears patterned coat, which I wanted to steal right off her back. Take a hint from this Fashionista and go for colorful accessories for your next night out. Hopefully, they'll cheer you up after a tough week.
To get an awesome look like today's Fashionista is donning, embrace bold colored accessories. First, start off with the basics: black skinny jeans. Once you've got those, look for a soft sweater in a lighter hue. Now that you've got the body of the outfit, get fun with your accessories and let your personality shine. This heart shaped purse or this lips clutch would add a lot of fun to your look. Keep your shoes just as bold as your purse, but in a different color. Try something metallic or even in a print. Finally, finish off your look with a scarf and awesome coat and you'll be all set for a night with your friends.
One Simple Change: Get ready for a day of class by swapping out the purse for a leather backpack and the blue boots for colored flats.


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Three Ps of Moscow's objections to NATO intervention in Syria
The principled objections – which are what we hear most about – have to do with Moscow's belief that the United Nations, for all its imperfections, provides a degree of international order and that the international principles of non-interference in internal activities and the inviolability of borders are important guides for international behaviour. The weakness of the principled argument, of course, is that a nation's loudly-proclaimed principles vary according to its perceived national interest in each case. For example, in NATO's Kosovo intervention in 1999, Moscow was strong on the principle of inviolability of borders while NATO spoke endlessly about the humanitarian imperative; each piously claimed the moral high ground. In the Ossetia war in 2008, these positions were exactly reversed while each continued to parade the moral superiority of its new principles. Principled objections, therefore, are selected according to self-interest. States make the arguments, they should not be completely ignored, but they are usually window-dressing for more deeply-felt objections.
Moscow's practical objections ought to be clear from a consideration of the West's previous "
Moscow's personal objections are equally easy to understand. NATO has now overthrown Serbian power in Kosovo and Gaddafi's rule in Libya; who's next to be destabilized or overthrown? Russians see NATO expansion, all the fuss about Putin-the-monster which is the common stock of Western commentary and the rest and wonder whether there is an attempt to create or push a "coloured revolution" in Russia. (Not that the ones in Ukraine, Georgia or the Kyrgyz Republic turned out so well, come to think of it). Too many Russians see the West's use of the word "democracy" as a geopolitical code for distinguishing between allies and targets. Another consideration is that every time the UN is bypassed Russia, as a member of the P5, is also bypassed.
So these three easily understandable objections are at the root of Moscow's attempts to block NATO-led attempts to intervene in Syria,
And, given that the intervention in Kosovo took three and a half months and the overthrow of Gaddafi's ramshackle regime about eight months, and that each involved much more effort and involvement than was light-heartedly assumed at the beginning, it is clear that a NATO-led effort to overthrow Assad would take a great deal of time and effort.
Perhaps Washington and its willing allies are secretly relieved that they can blame Moscow for preventing them from "resolving" the situation.
Patrick Armstrong is Head of Patrick Armstrong Analysis, Ottawa, Canada.


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Reposted from i.e., the Center for Energy and Environment's Innovation Exchange blog -- http://mncee.org/Innovation-Exchange/ie/
The current wealth of social media activity offers a great insight into how the public conversation is trending on energy topics. As of February 2012, Facebook has over …
Added by Lester Shen on June 8, 2012 at 11:30am — No Comments
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Fishing Line for July 17
Pick your favorite Great Lakes port either side of Buffalo and you will probably head out to either a walleye-opening Erie run or a salmonid slam on Lake Ontario.
A steady spate of high temperatures driven by south and easterly winds have pushed many a water column into a late-July and early August mode for anglers working the big, deep lakes and weed-whackers working inland-lakes shallows for bass, pike, walleye and assorted panfish species.
Algae agonies
Many inland lakes have formed an algae slime that has grown or spread heavily this past week. Trollers and drifters on Lake Erie report seeing pods of algae bloom when waters settle or are calm. Boaters see a much greater presence of surface algae in the Western Basin off ports such as Port Clinton, Sandusky, Port Huron and others. So far, this green goo and seed mass has had no effect on the fish bite or signs of floating die-offs.
A good rainfall and possibly some wind and wave action might clear some of the clutter/gook along shallow shorelines.
Grant monies have been given to agencies and groups to hire college kids as assistants at boat ramps at many inland lakes in our area. Surveys are being taken to monitor boaters' movements between inland lakes. As always, check for weed and algae trapped on trailer and boat surfaces after pulling out of a launch ramp, and drain live wells before departing each boating site.
Lake Erie
Boaters who cannot catch a walleye at the east end of Lake Erie right now might consider taking up golf or shuffleboard. True, the occasional outing ends in a shutout, but most trips between Buffalo and Sturgeon Point result in a limit catch or a box/cooler with sizeable walleyes in a relatively short period.
Typically, Western Basin walleye move eastward en mass and occupy deeper waters between Barcelona Harbor and Cattaraugus Creek through midsummer. The bad news: that movement was stalled. The main school has just moved eastward enough to dominate northeastern Ohio's ports, such as Conneaut and Geneva. The good news: a massive school of both resident and mid-lake migrants have taken up waters near Buffalo and provide boaters a shallow-water fishery that requires drifting or trolling waters of greater than 50-foot depths near Buffalo.
Boaters vary in their preferences – drifting vs. trolling – but both means lead to happy endings. Drifters run bottom-bouncing rigs with fluorocarbon leaders and worm harnesses displaying purple or green beads and blades. Trollers run side planers and lead-core lines that hover in the top 20 feet over depths of 40 to greater than 55 feet on sunny or overcast days.
Some say this near-Buffalo school will hook northward and mainly occupy Canadian waters; others see them heading west to deeper waters along the International Line.
However they head, Buffalo waters have dominated the Eastern Basin fishery for weeks, and the schooling movement remains steady and has moved westward to just off Sturgeon Point this past week, according to Capt. Don Ruppert, whose team won the Amara-Can Walleye Classic out of Dunkirk Harbor last weekend. Look for a detailed report on that competition on the Sunday Outdoors Page.
Boaters west of Cattaraugus Creek have taken a fair share of Erie 'eyes at the start of summer. Mixed catches of walleye and trout have been logged from deeper waters off Dunkirk and Barcelona Harbor. Look for a Sunday column on the "Fourth Annual Fishing with Heroes" outing held this past weekend out of Barcelona.
Niagara River
Bass and walleye prospects look good in the lower river. Steve Drabczyk at Creek Road Bait & Tackle reports good walleye presence along the Stella Niagara and Artpark drifts at 30-foot drifts just outside the "moss line."
Bass have shown up everywhere, hitting live bait (minnows or crayfish) in good numbers and sizes. The movement looks good for the Niagara River Anglers Association's annual Niagara River Smallmouth Bass Contest held on the Niagara River, Lake Ontario and tributary waters July 27. For details, visit Creek Road Bait & Tackle or go to niagarariveranglers.com.
Lake Ontario
Port picking can be easy for anglers headed out from Wilson Harbor to well east of Point Breeze.
Schools of sizeable salmon — those fish that were 2-year-olds last year — are appearing over 300- to 450-foot depths either side of Olcott Harbor regularly. Bottom bumpers can hit into nice numbers of lake trout, but the kings, steelies and some bruiser brown trout are up and running at depths of 30 to greater than 100 feet most days.
Winds have pushed cooler waters closer to the surface and kept kings in line for running spoons or flasher-and-fly rigs at fairly controlled depths. Capt. Bob Cinelli has gone with mainly flashers, but he sees nice catches coming for spoons or flashers with smelt or "meat" rigs.
"Just about everything is working out there now," Cinelli said earlier this week.
email: email@example.com


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text: The location of our Fairfield Inn and Suites Austin South is perfect for all types of travelers. Our hotel is central to the University of Texas and businesses such as AMD, Farmers Insurance and Motorola. Plus, you are just minutes from the exciting Barton Springs, the Botanical Gardens and Town Lake Park.


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- ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — Also from this morning's paper: "Cattle Herds Shrivel in Face of Drought"
Cattle ranchers are selling off their herds, and New Mexico's supply of irrigation water for summer crops is running low as the state suffers its worst two-year drought since the 1950s.
Ranchers have little or no range grass, and feed costs are soaring as drought drives up demand and pushes down supply, leaving ranchers little choice but to sell.
"Everyone that I know has reduced their herd," said Charlie Rogers, who runs the weekly Clovis Livestock Auction on the state's eastern plains.
The first six months of 2012 were the 10th-driest in New Mexico history, and the same stretch in 2011 was the driest in the state's history, according to Ed Polasko at the National Weather Service's Albuquerque office.
The state's reservoirs are dropping, with Elephant Butte in southern New Mexico at less than 10 percent of capacity and northern New Mexico reservoirs quickly being drained of the water used for crops from Cochiti to Socorro.
"It's going down fast," said David Gensler, who manages water for the Middle Rio Grande Conservancy District.
Gensler said his agency is likely to run out of water reserves by mid-August. After that, farmers will have to depend on meager natural flows to water their crops, with pueblo farmers having first priority under state law.
Taken together, the last 24 months have been the driest two-year stretch in New Mexico since the drought of the 1950s, according to records kept by the Western Regional Climate Center in Reno, Nev.
Warm temperatures are compounding the problem. The past two years have been the warmest in recorded history in New Mexico, more than a degree Fahrenheit hotter than the 1950s, according to Climate Center data.
With Elephant Butte nearly empty, farmers on the lower Rio Grande have had to turn to groundwater pumping to keep their crops alive, said Phil King, a New Mexico State University professor and consultant to the Elephant Butte Irrigation District. But that is expensive, and some farmers have trouble with high levels of salt in the groundwater, King said.
When full, Elephant Butte Reservoir holds 2 million acre-feet of water. It's currently holding 193,000 acre-feet and is expected to drop to 120,000 acre-feet by the time the irrigation season is over in September, just 6 percent of capacity.
It will take a long time to pay back the Elephant Butte deficit created by years of drought, said Raymond Abeyta of the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation. "That would take years of good snowpack, back to back to back, to get that back to 2 million," Abeyta said during a meeting Tuesday of the state-federal Drought Monitoring Working Group.
Elephant Butte was full or nearly full for much of the 1980s and '90s, but began dropping in the last decade, steadily reducing irrigation supplies available to downstream farmers.
Summer rains are helping a little, officials say, but not a lot. Much of the state's cattle rangeland is so battered by multiple years of drought that it will take several years for the grass to return to health, said Les Owen of the New Mexico Department of Agriculture. "The rangeland in New Mexico is pretty resilient, but it's been hit pretty hard," Owen said.
If there is a bright spot, it is in the forecast for coming months.
Federal forecasters last week said they expect wetter than average weather over Arizona and parts of New Mexico over the next few months. Forecasters say there are above-average chances the Southwest could see a wet fall as a result of an increase in tropical storms in the eastern Pacific. And there are signs an El Niño is developing in the Pacific Ocean, a climate pattern that tilts the odds to wetter weather in New Mexico and the Southwest for the coming winter.
— This article appeared on page A1 of the Albuquerque Journal


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Cisco CEO and chairman John Chambers told delegates at the company's annual partner summit in San Diego this week that the massive cost cutting and restructuring measures initiated last year have begun to pay off.
Walking like a pentecostal preacher amongst the 4,000-strong audience – 7000 virtual delegates were logged in online - the charismatic industry veteran declared that Cisco was in a much stronger position today than a year ago, having trimmed right down and made significant headway in key markets at the expense of its rivals.
"We are more aggressive as a company than we've ever been."
The competition
Juniper, one of Cisco's fastest growing rivals, has lost ground to Cisco in its core carrier market, Chambers claimed, while stating that HP's share of the networking market hadn't grown since it bought 3Com 18 months ago.
Chambers also hit out a number of rising start-ups recently highlighted as potential threats, saying their growth had recently been "flat".
As for Cisco's main nemesis, Huawei, Chambers and other Cisco executives were swift to dismiss the company's ambitions to make gains in the enterprise networking market, claiming while the Chinese company had tried to persuade large numbers of partners to defect, most had decided against making the switch. A number of US partners interviewed by CRN said they had never heard of the Chinese company.
Cisco for its part appears more confident in the face of its rivals, having managed to cut around $US1 billion in costs while consolidating what had a become a sprawling and unwieldy product portfolio into five core categories.
"[We had about] five inches too much around the waist," Chambers said.
A major part of the restructure included shedding some 23,000 jobs, many of which were in sales, a fact which has arguably made Cisco more reliant on its partners.
The partners
And at this year's 16th annual partner summit, Cisco appeared to be even more committed to ensuring their loyalty.
Cisco made two key channel announcements this week. The first was the consolidation of nearly 50 services oriented programs into the one, a move which Cisco hopes will enable partners to continue growing the services components of their business, which a recent survey by Cisco indicated was averaging 50 percent.
"It's well aligned to what we currently do," said Laurence Baynham, group general manager of Brisbane integrator Data#3, which took part in the APAC beta program of the initiative. He added that when it comes to advanced maintenance services, for instance, "the new model lets us pick which are relevant and which are not".
Cisco also formally announced an extension of its partner-led program, announced at last year's partner Summit in New Orleans. Having already been in trial phase for over six months, partner-plus is designed to provide Cisco resellers with more resources to capture customers in the mid-market. Greater rebates and other financial incentives, better training and access to Cisco engineers are the key inducements.
A year on, partner-led has been widely applauded by Cisco partners. A chief reason is that it stipulates Cisco sales staff not approach small and mid-sized customers independently of partners.
Chris Meagher, CEO of Sydney-based Cisco partner Logicalis, said that partner-led had helped the company develop a smoother sales process whereby the customer was able to identify more clearly with the Logicalis brand rather than the vendor.
"The customer gets one message," he noted, adding that the message from this year's partner summit was that Cisco appeared more committed to ensuring that partners owned the customer relationship.
Ivan Bradley from Perth integrator L7 Solutions said he unprepared for the level of engagement offered to Cisco's partners.
"It surprised me. I got to speak to the right people that can actually influence things."
"Cisco was here [in San Diego] to listen."
The video play
Chambers keynote was peppered with many familiar touchpoints, including the framing of video as "the new voice".
"Video captures the imagination of CEOs and political leaders," he said.
Shaun Wormald, co-founder and CEO of Sydney-based Cisco partner and video specialists Broadreach, said demand for video solutions amongst Australian enterprises was especially robust. The company partners with Australian carriers including Telstra and Optus suppling solutions for companies like ANZ Bank, IAG and Westpac.
But he says market opportunities have expanded to the point where it is now selling Cisco-based video solutions direct. For the 12 months to June 30 Broadreach is expected to post growth of around 40 percent.
The consolidation
A veteran of Cisco partner summits, Wormald said this year he felt the company had succeeded in clarifying what had in the past seemed a "haphazard" collection of products.
"For the first time we saw the glue … bringing together the full end-to-end strategy."
For Chambers, Cisco has a mandate to do so or be relegated to the realm of mediocrity.
Companies that are average don't make it, he told delegates, while recent history has shown companies that are above average as competitors only ride that for three to five years. Most of the companies that were on the Fortune 500 list when Chambers became Cisco's CEO in 1995 are no longer there, he said.
And Chambers is adamant that Cisco will be a survivor.
"We did not lose share or spend in any major enterprise or service provider [account] in the world," he declared.
Gary Moore, Cisco's chief operating officer, added that thanks to Cisco's restructuring efforts, sales quotes are now turning 35 percent faster and overall order bookings are now 50 percent faster than before.
Among other key technology trends, Chambers cited software-defined networking (SDN) -- a technology area in which Cisco is rumoured to be working on new products -- but he didn't provide any specific details.
He admitted Cisco needed to do a better job with security, however in a later session he said the company's "architectural" approach did more to address today's more complex security challenges than firewall products. But he provided little detail here either.
The cloud push
Something Chambers had a lot to say about was cloud, affirming that Cisco was committed to significant investment in the area and would continue to help its solution providers join and prosper within its year-old Cisco Cloud Partner Program.
"Cloud is the most network-centric technology ever," he said.
Cisco's chief technology officer Padmasree Warrior confirmed the company is about to go live with Cloud Connect, a new platform for optimising the cloud experience, preserving cloud security and simplifying cloud-based operations - all off a powerful software platform developed in part with technology from several recent Cisco acquisitions.
For solution providers, the kicker will be what Warrior described as Cloud Connectors, a way for partners to build applications using Cisco's cloud software platform and further customise the experience. Cisco will firm up the announcements at a launch event on May 22, Warrior said, and at June's Cisco Live event in San Diego.
Warrior's said while other vendors such as Amazon, Google and HP attack parts of the cloud, only Cisco is offering cloud infrastructure, cloud networking and cloud applications, Warrior said.
Cloud Connect will be the latest piece of an evolving Cisco cloud strategy that includes the cloud partner program Cisco launched a year ago and the CloudVerse framework it debuted in December to organise its unified data centre, intelligent network and cloud application platforms into a strategy supported by new products and services.
Cisco, said Warrior, sees a world of "many clouds" with enterprise and service customers wanting to leverage public, private and hybrid models. The goal is to support all of those customers and help them to tackle challenges such as bring-your-own-device.
Its unified data center approach is more cost-effective than competitive converged systems, Warrior said, and offers the broadest range of storage, virtualisation, application and management partners. Cisco's Unified Computing System (UCS) now has more than 11,000 unique customers, 3,000 repeat customers, 2,000 channel partners and 44 ISVs writing to the UCS API, she said.
As part of its commitment to helping partners sell Cisco cloud solutions, the company announced a new 'master cloud builder' certification, which would deliver more in-depth training.
It also launched a major salvo across the bow of Microsoft by announcing to partners this week that it would be giving away core presence and IM components of its Jabber platform for UC integration which customers and partners using Lync still have to pay for.


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Ford Credit to Participate in Citi 2012 North American Credit Conference
Nov 07, 2012, 09:41 ET from Ford Motor Credit Company
DEARBORN, Mich., Nov. 7, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- On Wednesday, Nov. 14, Michael Seneski, chief financial officer, Ford Motor Credit Company, will deliver a presentation at the Citi 2012 North American Credit Conference in New York. The presentation will begin at 10:50 a.m. EST and last for approximately 40 minutes.
A listen-only audio webcast and supporting materials will be available at www.shareholder.ford.com.
About Ford Motor Credit Company
Ford Motor Credit Company LLC has provided dealer and customer financing to support the sale of Ford Motor Company products since 1959. Ford Credit is an indirect, wholly owned subsidiary of Ford. For more information, visit www.fordcredit.com or www.lincolnafs.com.
SOURCE Ford Motor Credit Company


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Premier League back Charlton ban plea
Charlton's bid to overturn the extra one-game suspension handed to defender Osei Sankofa is being backed by the Premier League.
Right-back Sankofa missed last weekend's FA Cup tie against Nottingham Forest after receiving a one-game ban following his sending off in the 4-0 defeat at Arsenal on January 2.
But when the club appealed to the Football Association against his red card the governing body labelled the appeal `frivolous' and doubled the ban to two games, ruling Sankofa out of Saturday's Premiership match against Middlesbrough.
Now the situation could end up in court with the Addicks, supported by the Premier League.
'After studying the match video, and being advised by the Premier League to appeal, we did so and lost,' explained Charlton chief executive Peter Varney.
'But while we fully accept the right of the FA not to uphold our appeal, the decision to then call it `frivolous' and double the ban is outrageous, and that's the view of the Premier League as well as ourselves.'
Sankofa was shown a red card for a pull back on Robin van Persie. Charlton argued it was not a professional foul as Talal El Karkouri was also on hand and was arguably the last man.
Varney added: 'Keith Hackett and John Morton, who manage the elite referees group for the Premier League, plus the match delegates and senior officials of the Premier League, all advised us that we should challenge the decision to double the suspension.
'The FA has refused to give us an explanation as to why they consider our appeal was frivolous - it was most certainly not frivolous and even officials of the FA have accepted we had grounds for an appeal.
'We are therefore consulting with lawyers with a view to challenging this decision in the courts, and we are supported fully in this action by the Premier League.'
A Premier League statement tonight read: 'We understand Charlton's frustration in regard to the extra match suspension for Osei Sankofa and share their view that the appeal for his dismissal against Arsenal was neither frivolous nor an abuse of process.
'We have, and continue to support Charlton's efforts to get the FA to reconsider this aspect of their decision through all avenues possible under FA rules.'