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PRZOOM - /newswire/ -
Wilmington, NC, United States, 2014/11/13 - Innovative GEH Control Rod Blade Technology to be installed in Leibstadt Nuclear Power Plant - GE.com. NYSE: GE
GE Hitachi Nuclear Energy (GEH) today announced that it is working to fulfill an order from Kernkraftwerk Leibstadt AG (KKL) for more than 40 GEH Ultra Control Rod Blades. The blades will be installed in the Leibstadt Nuclear Power Plant in Leibstadt, Switzerland during the summer of 2015.
GEH responded to a bid request issued by KKL in March. In a competition conducted in accordance with GATT and WTO agreements, GE Hitachi was awarded the contract in August. That same month, four previously ordered Ultra Control Rod Blade assemblies were installed in Leibstadt during a refueling outage. These lead use assemblies allow the performance of the control rods to be verified under operating circumstances.
This order validates the already strong reputation of the GEH Ultra Control Rod Blade and is evidence of the importance that customers are putting on quality and reliability, said Kevin Walsh, Senior Vice President, Nuclear Services and Fuels, GEH.
Control rod blades are long, cruciform metal-tube components that contain neutron-absorbing material and are positioned adjacent to nuclear fuel assemblies within the reactor core. Operators remotely adjust the position of these blades to manage core reactivity levels.
GEH designs and builds its control rod blade product line using advanced materials and manufacturing processes at its headquarters site in Wilmington, N.C. The Ultra is the next iteration of GEHs tube-within-a-tube control rod blade design and offers enhanced performance, reliability and flexibility.
The Leibstadt Nuclear Power Plant safely generates 1,220 megawatts of low-carbon electricity about one-sixth of Switzerlands electricity needs and enough to power more one million homes.
About GE Hitachi Nuclear Energy
Based in Wilmington, N.C., GEH is a world-leading provider of advanced reactors and nuclear services. Established in June 2007, GEH is a part of a global nuclear alliance created by GE and Hitachi to serve the global nuclear industry. The nuclear alliance executes a single, strategic vision to create a broader portfolio of solutions, expanding its capabilities for new reactor and service opportunities. The alliance offers customers around the world the technological leadership required to effectively enhance reactor performance, power output and safety.
Agency / Source: General Electric Company
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Crowley's 'Alert' Tugboat Commended for Alaska Rescue Tow
Representative Eric Feige from the Alaska State Legislature presents a letter of commendation to the 'Alert's crew for their rescue tow of drill barge 'Kulluk'.
The captain and crew were recognized for their courage, teamwork and professionalism during the emergency rescue tow of the drill barge Kulluk off the southern point of Kodiak Island.
During their meeting, he presented them with a letter of commendation from the members of the 28th Alaska State Legislature, which stated the following: "The crew safely and methodically adapted to changing conditions, used their training to identify and manage hazards, and then performed each task to minimize the risks associated with those hazards...We express our admiration and respect to each man individually, and to the crew for its superb teamwork, conducting themselves at all times as professional mariners in an extreme and challenging incident."
Typically used for tanker escorts to and from the Alyeska Valdez Marine Terminal, the 10,192-horsepower Alert departed Valdez in response to the Unified Command's request for assistance and arrived on scene to find Kulluk adrift at 4.5 knots in rough weather and sea conditions.
The crew of Alert was able to catch a training line from Kulluk, despite having their deck awash by 30-foot seas, and proceeded to tie off and commence tow. The crew slowed and re-oriented the Kulluk's drift so that the original towing tugboat could secure a connection to the drilling rig. However, with increasing heavy weather the original towing tug connection parted after approximately 10 hours.
Once attached, Alert remained tethered by emergency tow line to the Kulluk and continuously maintained tow. With 54-foot seas and 40 to 50 knot winds, the Alert was being pushed backwards up to two knots toward the Kodiak Island shore. A day later, the Unified Command directed the Alert to release the tow wire. Only after confirmation of the order, did the crew of the Alert reluctantly release their tow wire.
As stated in the commendation referencing the U.S. Coast Guard's investigation of the incident: "The tug Alert and all of Crowley Maritime Services [Crowley] equipment used in the evolution of the rescue attempt and towing of the Kulluk performed flawlessly, met and exceeded standards."

subset: commoncrawl


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Raucous Crowd, Latino Stars Enliven El Tri Watch Party
Eddie "Piolín" Sotelo of El Show de Piolín on SiriusXM Channel 147 hosted the event.
Photos by Marco Torres
"A que venimos? A TRIUNFAR!!!"
Piolín's Jugada Musical feat. Gabriel Iglesias and Intocable House of Blues June 17, 2014
When you interview someone who talks for a living, keeping him or her on topic is about as easy as winning the World Cup. In other words, it can take what seems like four years to get a word in. That was my experience last week when I spoke with Eddie "Piolín" Sotelo by phone in anticipation of Piolín's Jugada Musical which took place at House of Blues on Tuesday afternoon.
The Mexican radio-show host and actor spoke with a rapid-fire cadence full of jokes, idioms, slang and colloquialisms. Although I had about five or six questions on my notepad, it was much easier to just go with the flow and converse informally with him. We spoke about his childhood in Mexico and how fitness, music and soccer played a big part of his upbringing.
Fox26 News' Rita Garcia with comedian Gabriel "Fluffy" Iglesias.
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There were a few serious moments, however, and Piolín's love he has for his community really shines. He recalled many stories of encountering everyday heroes, good people doing good things without a need for reward or spotlight. One of the reasons he is so popular (the L.A. Times once named him one of the most influential people in Southern California) is that he isn't a movie star with movie-star looks. He's just a regular paisa, like your class-clown cousin from Mexico who makes everyone laugh.
And that's what occurred at Piolín's Jugada Musical. The name loosely translated as "Piolín's Musical Play," as in the sports action, not a stage production. Sotelo also broadcast his show from the downtown venue, and along with a few special invited guests, and the backdrop of Mexico's World Cup match against Brazil, he provided a family-friendly good time the almost 1,100 people who made it in throughout the day.
Tejano band Intocable closed out the event.
The comedian Gabriel Iglesias, who holds the nickname of "Fluffy," began the festivities with a preview of his show at Toyota Center this Friday. Fans were given the opportunity to win tickets to that show, and a few lucky audience members were also selected for a private meet-and-greet with the comedian. Iglesias joked about how radio personalities sometimes don't know how to turn off their radio voices, and imagined how sexytime would play out with the "voice of God" providing the play-by-play. He also touched upon the Katrina disaster, and how Mexicans were a big part of the reconstruction efforts after the storm.
Once the game started, all of the attention and prayers of the room were focused on the Mexican team. A victory against the host nation would be absolutely glorious; nothing brings together Mexicanos like soccer does. The pride we have for El Tri is matched only by our love for tacos and La Virgen de Guadalupe.
Fans of both Mexico and Brazil enjoyed photo-ops with the Houston Texans Cheerleaders.
The first half of the game saw a Mexican team on the attack, and they certainly outplayed the Brazilians although nobody scored. Brazil came out strong in the second half, but was met by Memo Ochoa, aka The Mexican Wall, who stopped six shots on goal, leading to a zero-zero tie to end the game.
I guess this is why most Americans just don't "get" soccer. Why are we so happy for a tie? Well, the Brazilian team is probably the best in the world, and the game was on their home turf. A tie also means that you are awarded one point, and with a win already under their belt, the chances are good that Mexico will advance to the next round, si Dios quiere!
Story continues on the next page.
Fans sit to watch the much anticipated Mexico vs Brazil World Cup match. The game ended in a zero-zero tie.
After the game, Piolín introduced the musical guest, the Tejano band Intocable. The group from Zapata, Texas plays norteño music with corazón, and cumbias that make even the most macho of Mexicans dance like nobody is watching.
The boys began with their 2006 hit "Poco a Poco (Por Ella)," which is about as perfect a love song as any Tejano band can be. One thing is for sure, SiriusXM certainly paid the big bucks on the stage lighting, creating a colorful and vibrant environment of pink, green, blue and yellow that danced to the music beat for beat.
With their tight jeans and black cowboy hats, Intocable are true talented Tejanos who have been at the top of the norteño game for almost 20 years. I found myself singing along to "Eres Mi Droga," "Y Todo Para Que?" and "No Te Vayas," songs that I haven't heard in more than a decade, but that I hold in my heart as some of the best Tejano music I've ever had the pleasure to experience.
Lead singer and accordion player Ricky Muñoz then gave the best advice I've ever heard:
"Hey guys, instead of playing with your phone and taking selfies, maybe you should pay more attention to that cute chica next to you and actually talk and maybe dance with her!"
Best. Advice. Ever!
Personal Bias: It takes something really important and/or special to take me away from watching Mexico play in the World Cup with my father. That being said, watching fútbol and listening to one of my favorite Tejano bands is not a bad way to spend an afternoon.
The Crowd: Pura Raza!
Overheard In the Crowd: "POR-TE-RO!!! POR-TE-RO!!! POR-TE-RO!!! - Fans chanting for Memo Ochoa, Mexico's goalkeeper and hero of the match.
Random Notebook Dump: A little more planning and organization goes a long way. Things could definitely have been run smoother yesterday on the media and venue side, but as long as the fans had a good time, I guess that's all that matters.
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Houston, TX 77002
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Review: Sonic Lost World
Sonic and his group of friends return to the big screen once again, this time is vibrant HD. But so too is Dr. Eggman with some new friends, the Deadly Six, who are standing between Sonic and peace. With this new Sonic title bringing the blue hedgehog to Nintendo's next generation console, there is a lot to ask whether Sonic can handle the new setting or will he put his running shoes to rest?
Sonic: Lost World is the next step in the franchise which features Sonic and his team being displayed in beautiful HD. A lot is changing in this new title, from the level designs being a whole new layout plus themes ranging from an ice field, a beach, casino and a pinball design which all look great and show off all the great detail that has been put into Sonic: Lost World. The new there is also a tip of the hat to the classic Sonic Green Hill style levels. With lots of new content and things to explore, there is around eight hours of gameplay to spring, jump and roll through.
Along with new looks Sonic: Lost World also comes with new ways of getting through levels, like gadgets. An example includes a radio controlled gadget that help you to destroy enemies and obstacles. These gadgets come with friendly controls that are smooth and give a sleek feel to exploring all these new levels. They can also be swapped and changed between the 3DS version and vice versa.
The main thing that draws you into a Sonic game is the speed. Buzzing up hills, around corners and flying over gaps and obstacles but in this instance it seems Sonic has decided calm down and take is easy. His speed is not a patch as in the past, his running pace is painstakingly slow, sprinting is still not as fast as in previous titles and jumping is frustrating and if you fail in a jump, whatever speed you have built up is wiped out and stops you in your tracks. In a platform game is it important to give a sense of rhythm but when you are held back and stopped at every turn it does get irritating. When things are so slow in the gameplay it is then pretty odd to watch cutscenes showing Sonic to be racing around as fast as ever, leaving me with a bit of speed envy. When it seems that it couldn't get any slower the secondary lock-on attacks prove you wrong by yet again, stopping all your built up speed and forces you to stop and start at every enemy.
There are a few new introductions like the 3D level design which is beautiful and forces you to think of your feet with hedges, groups of enemies and drop offs that will have you on your tip toes till the end. New level designs means a whole lot of opportunities to explore different routes and short cuts. Plus Sonic has discovered a new love for wall running; there is some fun in running from floor to walls to avoid enemies or obstacles but is very annoying when you are trying to jump over something and Sonic flies to the nearest wall like there are magnets in his shoes.
The new level designs are sometimes slick and let you create a rhythm but others are bumpy and throw obstacles at you left, right and centre. I can not tell you how many times I died because of a wrong button or momentary loss of concentration, however the Frozen Factory level is straight from hell. It is basically five minutes of sliding around in a giant snow ball with less than co-operative controls. Normally Sonic games are straight forward with a simple goal but Sonic: Lost World tries to make you think with sneaky attacks but just ends up feeling like a plea for appreciation. During the game, the GamePad also feels a little useless as the main gameplay is on the TV screen but now and again there is a mini game that involves the Game Pad but overall just feels forced. This game is more suited to the Wii U Pro Controller but it would have still been good to have the GamePad more involved in a fun, useful way. Though the 3D levels provide a slow setting but still feels fun, the 2D levels also suffer from the same, slowed down system.
As if the speed weren't a big enough issue, the boss fights give them a run for their money. It took me 4o seconds to get past the first member of the Deadly Six and not much more for the rest as well. After each fight I felt let down because each boss lacked the ability to make you want to beat them and give you a challenge as bosses are supposed to do.
The best thing about Sonic: Lost World is the beautifully realised graphics. From the word go it is nothing but bright, colourful and sleek views of the area. If there is anything that disappoints you about this game it will not be the stunning picture. The frame rate is locked at 60fps to make the game move with fluidity and feel smooth. The 3D levels are stunning, providing contrast between bushes, sheep, water and anything you come across on your mission. But the 2D levels are not at the same level, mostly they feel flat and lacking the depth needed to round things off.
To sum up
Even though Sonic: Lost World is fun to play on your own or with a friend but there is just too much going against it with the lack of speed expected in a Sonic game. The unreliable controls and sloppy layout just bring the game down from being what is could have been. The one saving grace was the beautiful graphics.
Sonic: Lost World is out now on Wii U and 3DS.


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When *A* and I first started researching adoption, we had a couple of notions in our heads about what the adoption process and raising an adopted child might be like. Collectively, we've known a few people who were adopted, and have known at least one family who adopted. Prior to cracking a few books on the subject of adoption, we didn't have a whole lot to go on, other than the always reliable media (*snort*) and any other information we'd managed to gather for ourselves over the years. Undoubtedly, unless you and/or your family have a specific tie to adoption, this is probably how you came to your understanding of the process, too. The topic of adoption is certainly discussed by lots of people…but the information we all gather from how it's discussed is usually pretty fragmented. Paste the fragments together—and you end up with a sort-of outdated idea that's generally not all that accurate. In fact, what you "learned" as "fact" (substitute air quotes here to lighten the tone at your will) might have actually be downright derogatory and/or offensive to adoptive parents, to adopted children, and to birthparents.
Since we made our decision to adopt, we've become super-conscious of how adoption is talked about, especially after we talk about our own hopes and the way we've chosen to go about the process. Everyone has an opinion and a hairy, scary story of someone's aunt's-brother's-cousin's-nephew's-friend's-next-door-neighbor-and-her-husband, and advice on how we should be careful. Media representation ranges from snide remarks about celebrities adopting because it's the "in" thing (?!) to refrences to various Lifetime worst-case-scenario movies. These instances are no help at all, but they have informed our thinking to some extent, so to counter-act them, that's another reason we've been reading like mad (more book reviews to come, don't you worry!) about open adoption, specifically. I have to admit that I've been avoiding this post because I wanted to make sure I could fully articulate what open adoption means for all parties involved. I'm by no means an expert–keep that in mind as I stumble through an explanation about the adoptive parents' side of open adoption.
Open adoption, as defined by Children of Open Adoption by Kathleen Silber and Patricia Martinez Dorner, "includes the birthparents and adoptive parents meeting one another, sharing full identifying information, and having access to ongoing contact over the years (all three components must occur to fit this definition). The form of ongoing contact (letters, emails, texts, visitation) and the frequency are determined by the individuals involved in each particular case."
Open adoption is different from semi-open adoption (in which adoptive parents and birthparents do not meet but exchange letters or photographs through the adoption coordinator at the adoption agency) and from closed adoption (there is no contact between adoptive parents or the adopted child and the birthparents at any point). Our agency, the Independent Adoption Center (IAC) was one of the first agencies in the U.S. to coordinate open adoptions. There were other deciding factors that made us choose the IAC. In the very beginning, the thought of openness in adoption was terrifying. It took some time, a lot of self-education, and a lot of discussion between the two of us to get on board.
Have you ever seen the movie Juno? For some reason (this isn't our usual genre), we've always liked it, but until we really thought about it, we never realized how much this movie informed our thoughts about open adoption – that it might be a good thing, and might actually be preferable to everyone involved. In the movie, 16 or 17-year old Juno gets pregnant and after some deliberation about what she should do, she makes the decision to make an adoption plan. A friend finds an advertisement about a hopeful adoptive couple in a cheap newspaper, so she contacts them. At their first meeting, she decides they fit her "criteria" – they look normal enough, though disappointingly, Vanessa, the adoptive mom, is decidedly not a "cute Asian chick who likes to rock out on the bass guitar".
The adoptive couple's lawyer is present at that first meeting, and begins to ask Juno questions about compensation and how she wants contact to happen after the birth. Juno is confused, and says "Wait, can't we just kick this old-school? You know, like Moses and the reeds?" Everybody looks around in surprise until the lawyer stumbles out a response: "So we're all agreed, a traditional closed adoption is in everyone's best interest?" The adoptive parents look relieved, as if that's what they preferred all along, Juno asserts that she's just too young, she's "ill-equipped," and the lawyer just looks glad to not have to deal with more paperwork to negotiate openness.
We've seen this movie a dozen times, never putting ourselves in the adoptive parents' shoes in that particular scene. Now that we're hoping to adopt, and we plan to have an open relationship with the birth parents of our child, there's so much about that one scene that is uncomfortable. What we've realized is that there's one person who should be considered more than anyone else in any adoption scenario: the actual child, who has no voice in the matter. In Juno, the adoptive parents are thinking that their future with their child will be much less complicated if they don't have to take a relationship with their child's birthmother into consideration, and Juno is scripted as thinking that she's got her whole life ahead of her and doesn't want to be tied down with a relationship with a kid when she's, say, going off to college in a couple of years. No one's thinking about the kid, and how he will wonder about his birth mom out of natural curiosity, and if she really just "didn't want" him.
We've learned a lot about the evolution of adoption in the United States. Even in the past 100 years, things have changed drastically. Adoption, unless it was "taking in" a family member, was typically closed, the adoption never discussed with the child, and the adoptive parents likely pretended that that child had been born to them. In another movie we've always liked but never picked apart until we were there ourselves, Penny Serenade, a 1941 film starring Cary Grant and Irene Dunne (Dunne, incidentally, adopted a child in real life in 1938), the star couple is unable to have children, and they decide to adopt. They meet with a social worker at an agency, who makes notes about their criteria (a boy, blond hair – curly, and blue eyes) and at some point, they are ushered into a room of waiting children. Maybe this is an orphanage. I don't recall any discussion in the film about that. They look around, picking out a child who fit their criteria, but who was already "promised" to another couple. The social worker seems to know just what they need and calls them a couple of days later, and they take home their child- a brown-haired, brown-eyed, girl – right away.
In addition to movies like these, what furthered our muddled thinking in the early part of our decision-making process was that many of the books we've read are outdated. Children of Open Adoption, co-authored by Kathleen Silber, who is now our agency's clinical director and is deemed an expert in the field, is supposed to be one of the primary texts on the topic and is required reading by our agency. It was published in 1990 and references as a form of primary contact, letter-writing. Now, I like to write letters, and letter-writing played a big part in the development of our relationship as a couple, but we're pretty old-school in a lot of ways. To expect actual snail-mail from a birth mom these days would leave you waiting at the mail box for quite a while, I imagine. It's outdated in other ways, too. The book was written at a time when open adoption was still a pretty new idea, and there's an undertone that seems to be propaganda-pushing, but without the information we needed in the beginning to make a good decision, like how children who have grown up in open adoptions feel about it. What were their challenges? Did they understand who their parents were? Did they feel more secure because they knew "where they came from"? Frustratingly, this book didn't answer those questions from a teenage or adult adoptee perspective.
What ended up helping us, more than anything, was going to the information session our agency offered before we decided to become their clients. We sat in a room with a half-dozen or so other couples or individuals who had the same fears we did. We talked about them. We learned that we weren't alone in our fears. We learned that birthmothers and birthparents have fears too. We learned that openness is good. We learned that adopted children aren't confused about who their parents are. We leaned that openness can evolve. We learned that openness doesn't mean co-parenting, and the birthparents aren't going to live with us. They might not live anywhere near us, and if they do, we can have mutually agreed-upon rules or boundaries so that they don't drop in unexpectedly, nor will we descend upon them unannounced.
We learned that birthparents, having taken the time to make an adoption plan and choose adoptive parents for their child, actually want the adoptive parents to parent the child – instances of "reclaiming" a child after the relinquishment period has expired (this time period differs per state – and is another post entirely), are few and far between and are almost never seen as justifiable in court. We learned that if everyone does their part, this can be the best, healthiest scenario for the little person in question. The relationships developed between the adopted child and their birth parent(s), the adoptive parents and the birth parent(s), and the adopted child and their parents (the adoption triangle, as depicted in this illustration) can work out to be good for everyone.
When we decided to sign on with the IAC and attended their Weekend Intensive Workshop in March, we met a couple who had just adopted a few months previously and got to talk to them about their experiences of openness. This month, we attended our agency's annual picnic, and got to meet lots of folks who have open adoptions with their kids, including a birth mother. Everyone's story was different. Their level of contact with birthparents varied widely, and for some, was a source of frustration, as they dealt with birthparents moving on to other life goals while their children asked difficult questions like, "but doesn't [birth parent's name] miss me?" Not everything we heard was entirely positive. But it was real. Talking to actual people and hearing the variety of experiences, both good and bad, having the opportunity to ask questions, helped tremendously. Some of those original worries aren't completely gone, but they aren't keeping us from forward motion like they were threatening to a year ago. We can see the benefits of ongoing contact for everyone involved, and because of that we're prepared to help our child have the best relationship they can with their birth parent(s). That doesn't threaten our position as parents. If anything, it strengthens it.


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Raz Fresco – TDot Piffery [Video]
Toronto, ON – This guy never stops! Raz Fresco has released yet another video off his self-produced CakeyPocket$ (Download) mixtape which dropped this past May. The video was shot on location in Toronto by The Go To. The video finds Raz in Hightimes smoke shop looking at some products and then cruising to a party in a Range Rover where him and his homies smoke it down and have a good time. The song is a very fun record with good vibes and an infectiously smooth beat. Raz and fellow Bakers Club member ChillxWill are working on their highly anticipated mixtape, The Popcorn Tape, so stay tuned for the first single being released in the upcoming weeks. Peep "TDot Piffery" below.
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Twitter: @RazFresco
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Hot girl twerks at IHOP, gets crushed at it by a dude
This video has a little something for everyone: Hot girl showing off her booty during a twerk, comedy from a guy twerking, and then some intergender pride from the dude easily outperforming the girl in the Twerk-Off. A+ video.
Now compare that to the anarchy going on at Denny's. Fucking Grand Slams making people lose their minds while pancakes and excessive butter makes IHOP patrons the life of the party. Is there any doubt about which late night breakfast food place you should be going to? None. None at all.*
*This post is null and void if Denny's ever buys on ad on Guyism.


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Latest Stories
A Visual History of Battlefield
October 18, 2016
DICE Reveals Why There's no Battlefield: Bad Company 30 Comments
June 24, 2014
About This Game
- Summary
- Specifications
- Game Editions
Jump back onto the battlefield with this re-release of the blockbuster Bad Company 2. Packed inside the Ultimate Edition -- in addition to the complete original game -- is the award-winning online spectacular Battlefield 1943 as well as bonus Battlefield: BC2 content (including the co-op Onslaught expansion pack for up to four online players, plus 4 vehicle and 2 weapon unlocks.)
In Battlefield: Bad Company 2, the Bad Company crew again find themselves in the heart of the action, where they must use every weapon and vehicle at their disposal to survive. The action unfolds with unprecedented intensity, introducing a level of fervor to vehicular warfare never before experienced in a modern warfare action game.
The 'B' company fight their way through snowy mountaintops, dense jungles and dusty villages. With a heavy arsenal of deadly weapons and a slew of vehicles to aid them, the crew set off on their mission and they are ready to blow up, shoot down, blast through, wipe out and utterly destroy anything that gets in their way. Total destruction is the name of the game -- either online or offline, enemies will soon learn there is nowhere to hide.
- Supported Functions
- Number Of Players: 1-24
- Online
- Memory Card
- Online - VS Number Of Players: 24
- Online - Co-Op Number Of Players: 4
- 1080p
- 1080i
- 16:9
- 480p
- 720p
- Dolby Digital
- Downloadable Content
- Mic/Headset Voice
- Memory Blocks: 1 MB
- Online Leaderboards
Battlefield: Bad Company 2 Limited EditionPublisher: Electronic ArtsRelease Date: March 2, 2010MSRP: 59.95 USD
Battlefield: Bad Company 2Publisher: Electronic ArtsRelease Date: March 2, 2010MSRP: 59.95 USD
Battlefield: Bad Company 2 Ultimate EditionPublisher: Electronic ArtsRelease Date: August 30, 2010MSRP: 59.99 USD
Battlefield: Bad Company 2 Limited EditionPublisher: Electronic Arts
Battlefield: Bad Company 2Release Date: March 4, 2010
Battlefield: Bad Company 2Release Date: March 5, 2010
Battlefield: Bad Company 2 Limited EditionPublisher: Electronic Arts
Battlefield: Bad Company 2 Ultimate EditionRelease Date: September 3, 2010


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AEM "Brute Force" Cold Air Intake
The ""BRUTE FORCE"" CAI features a new ""DRYFLOW"" cone filter for the Nissan Titan
Welcome back! In the midst of still waiting for my rear bumper and skid plates, I get request to test out the latest technology in engine aspiration. AEM, Advanced Engineering Management, is based in Hawthorne, CA. From an array of performance intakes, exhausts, and electronic upgrades, AEM is always on the cutting edge.
The "BRUTE FORCE" CAI features a new "DRYFLOW" cone filter for the Nissan Titan. The current intake on "goneTITAN" uses the traditional weaved gauze type filter that is layered with a wire net to form it's pleated filter. The intake enhances air flow with a reusable filter that must be cleaned and then treated with a spray oil to prevent the gauze from drying out. The "DRYFLOW" secret filter material eliminates the oiling and can filter particulates down to the MICRON! For a comparison, a strand of human hair is an average of 100 microns. This prevents the risk of unwanted contaminates traveling into the engine, a trait of previous high flow aftermarket filters. And it won't void your factory warranty!
Now keep in mind that a snorkel is on the wish list for the truck. I will be keeping the closed air box instead of the provided heat shield pictured above.
***AEM does not recommend it be done this way. In order for the Brute Force Air Intake system to work correctly, all parts and instructions provided by AEM should be used***
Here is the current cone very, very soiled from abundant off-roading and the dusty air in the vegas valley. It was definitely time for a cleaning. First, DISCONNECT BATTERY TERMINALS. The Nissan Titan has a smart computer engine, so when finished with the install, the reset will help with optimizing the information from the new intake. Remove the engine cover and loosen the O-rings at the intake inlet.
Next, disconnect the Mass Air Flow Sensor, and put some plastic around it so the sensor stays clean and tuck it out of the way to prevent damage. Disconnect the breather hoses in the middle of the intake tube, followed by loosening the O-ring around the neck of the cone filter. Removed components aside I now install the new intake. The AEM has a metal bracket for mounting in the engine bay in use with the heat shield. This doesn't cooperate with reused air box, so it is just bent backwards to provide workability when fitting the new system. As you can see the DryFlow cone is significantly larger than the prior one.
The AEM intake tube is a polished aluminum upgrade to the plastic tube prior. The aircraft grade aluminum used by AEM will not rust under any circumstances and is lighter than steel. The new tube also uses a new rubber connect. CONNECT LAST to the engine because you will need wiggle and shift when installing the new cone in the old box!!!
Reconnect the breather hoses with supplied extensions. A little wetting the inside of the extension ends will ease the connecting process. Now, remove the plastic cover from that Mass Air Flow sensor from earlier and install in the tube at same location. Be careful when handling this sensor. If you have 4WD, there is a differential breathing hose. Instead of just tying it off out of the way, I bought a hose connector at a performance store. Drilled the proper sized hole in the box and plumbed it through the box, the suction of the cone will keep the diff cool and prolong wear.
Slip in the DryFlow cone into the box, make sure the line and angle of cone and tube match. Tighten the O-ring. Now you can slide left side of tube and rubber sleeve onto the intake inlet of engine. Tighten O-rings, slip engine cover back on and bolt down. The air box has a plastic bolt on cover which I will replace with an aluminum cover that will provide a tighter seal. DON'T FORGET TO RECONNECT BATTERY!
The AEM "BRUTE FORCE" system looks very impressive. AEM's site diagram shows a peak of 18 xtra ponies and an additional 25 ft lbs of torque! Now combine that with a free flow dual rear exhaust and you can rumble with the big boys. The exhaust was recently installed but camera was down for the install.
The combination of the two will actually increase the performance gains from the AEM alone.
I take a trip to Red Rock Canyon, right outside of Las Vegas. The Titan had significantly more power and quicker throttle response. The Titan actually seemed like it had just got back from a vacation from a spa and lost a thousand pounds! It was much lighter and accelerated with an arrogant swagger. I opt to try a formidable trail known as "Potato Hill" or "Old Road to Pahrump". It was after a few good days of much needed rain. Word on the trail, it was "Impassable", and should not be attempted alone. I personally witnessed a few SUVs retreat and heard tell of a lifted truck needing rescue. Even though I forgot my winch and high lift jack at home, I swung my new AEM cockiness over my shoulder and went for it. Here is where the added torque was evident as it helped up the steep inclines and blast out of a potential stranding in unsuspecting rock bed.
I was so excited on completing this trail in my vehicle. The second trail, afterwards and before the highway, I knew like the back of my hand. I attacked it with reckless abandon. The "BRUTE FORCE" screamed down the trail. Carving up the switchbacks and jamming down the long power line trails topping out at 103mph!!!!!!
TWO THUMBS UP for AEM. It is totally worth the $300 ticket I got from a ranger that I unknowingly was chased by for 8 miles to the end of the trail. LOL
For more informationon AEM please visit: www.aempower.com
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Timing + Microdermabrasion
How long should I wait to do Microdermabrasion after Accutane?
I took Accutane for 3 months and now I want to have Microdermabrasion. How long should I wait? READ MORE
Combining Microdermabrasion and Light Chemical Peels - Which Comes First?
I've seen a few posts regarding this topic but the one question that remains to be answered is: "Which comes first, the abrasion or the... READ MORE
Dermal Filler After Microdermabrasion
How long after a microdermabrasion procedure can you get injections? READ MORE
Microdermabrasion After Fraxel 1927 Laser Treatment?
I am a 66 year old female. Yesterday I had a Fraxel 1927 laser treatment for sun damage. It was done by my dermatologist and on the way out her... READ MORE
What Should I Do First: Microdermabrasion or Chemical Peel and How Far Apart Should I Schedule Them?
I am going to begin a series of IPL, microdermabrasions and chemical peels. Which should I begin with, in what order and how far apart should I... READ MORE
Which procedure should I get first? Laser (Sebaceous Hyperplasia ), Microdermabrasion..
I'm trying to improve the quality of skin. I have severe acne scaring, uneven skin tone, sun damage, and also sebaceous hyperplasia. I'm planning to... READ MORE
How Long Should I Wait to Have Microdermabrasion After Fraxel Laser Treatment?
I want to find out how long I should wait to have a microdermabrasion after Fraxel Laser treatment on the whole of my face? READ MORE
Micodermabrasion on a TT Scar?
OK I'm pretty sure the answer to this question will be no but need to be certain. My cousin is an Esthetician and she told me she want to use... READ MORE
Is Microdermabrasion Safe After a Series of Affirm Laser Treatments?
I finished a series of five Affirm laser treatments one month ago. I am starting to see some significant improvement in my minor acne scarring and... READ MORE
Microdermabrasion After Chin Implant and Facial Lipo, Is 2 Months Enough Time?
I am post 7 weeks facial lipo and chin implant. Somehow I want my skin to look better and smooth. Can I go for professional microdermabrasion? Is it... READ MORE
Microdermabrasion: how long does this treatment remain and aid. We don't want to do it again, then it has side effect.
Microdermabrasion how long this treatment remain and aid we don't want to do it again then it has side effect READ MORE
Microdermabrasion and Fat grafting
I may be getting a septum repair in the coming months, and was considering fat grafting to my face at the same time. If I was to get microdermabrasion... READ MORE
Can I have Microdermabrasion and Genesis Laser and a VI Peel Treatment for Ice Pick Scar, what should come first? (Photo)
I'm planning to treat my Ice pick acne scars. I was thinking in getting a Microdermabrasion first, then the VI Peel wait for the 28 days after the... READ MORE


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Today, in case you didn't remember, is World Homeopathy Day, a day for the credulous to celebrate the woo that is homeopathy by celebrating the birthday of the originator of homeopathy, Samuel Hahnemann. I had thought of making a "homeopathic" mention of this great event (in other words, no mention, just like there's no active ingredient in a homeopathically diluted and succussated remedy), but then I remembered that, according to the principles of homeopathy, the more you dilute something, the stronger it is. Thus, by homeopathic "reasoning," not mentioning World Homeopathy Day would be even more potent a reminder for the credulous than just this brief mention.
A near-homeopathic mention of World Homeopathy Day
#1 Joe April 10, 2007
Orac- "Thus, by homeopathic "reasoning," not mentioning World Homeopathy Day would be even more potent a reminder for the credulous than just this brief mention."
That is the sort of convoluted, straight thinking that makes us come back to your blog.
#2 Doug April 10, 2007
A couple of years ago, I was in Paris and found myself, quite inadvertently, in front of Hahnemann's grave (which proudly hails his homeopathic accomplishments).
Strolling past, I muttered "fucking idiot."
Sure, it wasn't much. But, hey, we all do what we can.
#3 Gerard Harbison April 10, 2007
Your argument needs framing.
"Conventional medicine knows about the healing powers of water too. In fact, we recommoned you drink several pints of it a day!"
(Just don't apply it directly to the forehead)
#4 Abel Pharmboy April 10, 2007
To support your lack of support for World Homeopathy/Homaeopathy Day, I hereby submit a link to a classic pharmacy education paper by Prof Steven Pray entitled, "The Challenge to Professionalism Presented by Homeopathy." Although more than 10 years old, his arguments still hold quite nicely and point out, among other things, the incongruous nature of homeopathy with dose-response pharmacology. Perhaps I shall take a moment this day to compliment my colleague, Dr Pray.
#6 qetzal April 10, 2007
Skeptico wrote:
I think I'll post an article about this myself, but using only 10% of the words you used.
Perhaps another blogger will then post using 10% of the words I used…
Eventually it should be a really potent argument.
Don't you need to dilute those words with 9 parts random words or something? Plus, make sure you shake your computer really hard before you post.
#7 Kapitano April 10, 2007
As I understand it, homeopathy states that the more you dilute something that's bad for you, the better it is for you, and the more you dilute something good, the worse its effects.
So homeopathic sleeping pills "contain" caffine, and a homeopathic practicioner who wanted to poison you would use highly dilute penicillin.
So surely having the flu is caused by having very very few cold viruses in your bloodstream, and the cure would be to inject a load more. And those with the lowest levels of vitamin should be least likely to get scurvy.
Personally, I find the more dilute people's knowledge of homeopathy, the more they give it credence, and the more I read about it, the less impressed I become.
So they must be right.
#8 ilya April 10, 2007
What do people do on world homeopathy day? Do they gather at Samuel Hahnemann's very own DC memorial?
#10 Thony C. April 11, 2007
"A couple of years ago, I was in Paris and found myself, quite inadvertently, in front of Hahnemann's grave (which proudly hails his homeopathic accomplishments).
Strolling past, I muttered "fucking idiot."
Sure, it wasn't much. But, hey, we all do what we can."
If I were to follow your example I would rapidly run out of swear words as I walk past the university were Hahnemann got his doctorate every day. I also walk down Hahnemannstrasse most days of the week.
#11 TheProbe April 11, 2007
All I can say about World Homeopathy Day is " ".
#14 Bob April 12, 2007
You speak with all the confidence which comes from ignorance. There is good scientific evidence that homeopathy works. On a personal level it cured me (permanently took it away) of hayfever and numerous other things over the years.
If you want to do a personal experiment, buy a bottle of Arnica montana 30C in a health food store for less than $10. Wait for an accident like hitting your thumb with a hammer, shutting it in a car door, spraining your ankle, or something similar where there is a significant bruising injury. If you can't wait then just get out the hammer and have fun! At any rate, after the injury immediately take a pellet of the medicine under your tongue and experience that it does relieve the pain and swelling quickly.
Otherwise you will probably remain opinionatedly ignorant in regard to homeopathy. If you do this experiment you will then have another problem- you will know that it works and you will not know why it works. Hopefully that will be humbling. So be forewarned, it may be more than you can handle!
Apparently Bob doesn't know about confirmation bias, and is completely unaware of all the controlled studies of homeopathy that show results no better than placebo. (A nod to Skeptico for that link.)
#16 Ricky-If Lenz's law is true Homeopathy is flase February 10, 2008
Homeo medicines are prepared this way
if you start with mother tincture say 1gram of any homeo medicine then shake with 10 gram of alcohol then you get 1X then 1 gram 1X of it with 10 gram of Alcohol you get 2x
with 1 gram of 2X with 10 gram of alocohol 3x this process
goes on so when you reach 24X which is equal to 12C how much number of origiinal substance present in 1 gram of the medicine it is about 0.0000000000000000000000001 gram
and in 1 gram 30C has orginal substance is 0.0000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000001gram
So the Homeopaths agree that after 24X dilusion there ivery less chance of getting a single molecule because of the avagadro number
Now the Homeopaths claim that it works on the basis of some induction theoratically if we agree that itr works on the basis of induction(say for example you can theoreticalyy create infinite number of magnets from one magnet)
Homeopaths claim that effect of induction generate healing power in the body they call it healing power and the induction they call it mechanical force .They experience this mechanical force when proving.
So the mechanical force is implied by the medicine by some induction and the opposite reaction to it heals the body
So the homeopaths claim is Homeopathy works due to induction(there is no other choice)
But there is a law in Physics called Lenz's law
Lenz's law states that any induced electromotive force will be in the direction such that the flux it creates will oppose the change in the flux that produced it.
It says that the system behaves in such a way that the effect is minimized but never says that
The reaction to the action exceeds the action itself therefore
The claim by the homeopaths that opposite reaction of the Mechanical force(which is cause by some form of induction according to them)
Creates vital force and and Mechanical force go way But Vital force(curing force) does not go so the body heals
It is totally baseless and false if Lenz's law and Physics is true Homeopathy is false
Homeopathy states that
if a person takes homeopathy medicine he gets some symptoms in his body like if you take Acconite you will get fever If you take homeo Acid phos You will feel weakness loss of memory etc but if you have those symptoms already present in the body that time if you take homeo medicines then those symptoms will be cured there is no
reason why it should happen
#17 Dr. Nancy Malik June 7, 2008
Homeopathy cures where Conventional Allopathic Medicine (CAM) fails
#18 HCN June 7, 2008
Yeah, sure… ya betcha! Just show us some evidence. Though the mean time while you search for more blog entries to spam (like you did here:
http://forums.randi.org/forumindex.php) I present this:
#19 HCN June 7, 2008
I knew I recognized her, and here she is:
http://forums.randi.org/search.php?searchid=1504995 … she even has her own thread asking for answers to specific questions.
But she just could not break her spamming habit… She kind of got herself banned:
New comments have been temporarily disabled. Please check back soon.


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The removal of sexual orientation from an anti-bullying bill didn't stop anti-gay groups from opposing the measure during a Texas House committee hearing on Tuesday afternoon.
Jonathan Saenz, director of legislative affiars for the Plano-based Liberty Institute, told the House public education committee that even though sexual orientation and other enumerated categories were removed from Rep. Mark Strama's HB 224, Saenz fears the categories will be restored to the measure at some point.
"It is about the gay rights, the homosexual community, the transgender community, and an effort to create special categories and special rights in our law that don't currently exist, and really carve off protections for some groups and not others," Saenz told the committee. "It's not about bullying, and it's not about solving this problem. It's about creating new classes of people and giving special protections to some categories and not others."
Strama said during the hearing that he has no plans to restore the enumerated categories to the bill.
"We took all those classes out so we wouldn't have to have this discusssion," said Strama, D-Austin. "It's not my intention to put any of that list back in the bill. At this point I'd like to keep it the way it is if we can get this bill moving through the process."
Representatives from Equality Texas, which supports the bill and testified in favor of it on Tuesday, have said the enumerated categories were removed to improve the bill's chances of passage and de-politicize the issue.
Also testifying against Strama's bill were both the anti-gay Texas Eagle Forum and the normally pro-equality American Civil Liberties Union.
ACLU representatives say Strama's bill, which would allow school officials to crack down on cyberbullying that occurs off campus, creates concerns about free speech and parental rights.
The bill was left pending in the education committee. To watch video of the committee hearing, go here.


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I mean come on, it had [url=http://conceptartworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/Destiny_Concept_Art_03a.jpg]tigers[/url] A co op, high fantasy game with an open world (kinda) and the customization and class system that Destiny has now? That would have been so cool. But instead we got Bungielands: Call of Halo. Now don't get me wrong, I enjoy Destiny and I'll be buying it, but the original concept was so much cooler And it had [url=http://conceptartworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/Destiny_Concept_Art_04a.jpg]groot[/url]
Posting in language:
So you have Witcher 3 (I'm very excited for) Dragon Age Inquisition, D3 or RoS, another mid evil game that was at one time a pc exclusive but now it is being released on console, And ESO all coming out really close together this year into early next year. The phantasy RPG space could also be argued as being a little crowded. Plus the concept art probably still wouldn't make it into the game as the original concept was intended. People would still complain. And if not you then someone else would make a post about how unoriginal and uninspired their idea is. This is what they've made so hold on tight because this is going to be what they do for ten years. If you don't want to get on the ride then get off before the harness locks and enjoy the concept art of a game that you will never be satisfied with.
Posting in language:


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Lynchburg, VA - Police are investigating after a woman reported she was sexually assaulted in her Lynchburg home.
Officers were called to the 1300 block of Liggates Road at around 9 p.m. Monday night.
The woman told them a man entered her home, the two had a physical altercation and the man then raped her.
The suspect was last seen headed on foot towards St. Cloud Avenue.
The woman was taken to the hospital with non-life threatening injuries.


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Jerry and Joan Roller of Philadelphia announce the engagement of their son, Jacob Harris Roller, to Sarah Fairbairn Peoples, daughter of John and Susan Peoples of Westmont, N.J.
Jacob is a graduate of the Friends Select School and Boston University. He is a real estate developer in Philadelphia.
Sarah is a graduate of Haddon Township High School, the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts, and the University of Pennsylvania. She is an artist and a pre-school art teacher.
Jacob is the grandson of Roy and Helene Rieder of Philadelphia, and the late Edward and Ilse Roller. Sarah is the granddaughter of the late Frank and Elizabeth Peoples, and the late Robert and Elizabeth Martin.
The couple is planning an October wedding.


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Nike SB drops another colorway in its Blazer Mid CS for Spring 2011. Sticking the brand's simple two-tone approach, the shoes take on solid suede uppers in a vibrant blue with a brown leather swoosh and accompanying accents. Look for these now through select Nike SB retail accounts worldwide.
Source: Streething


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Busted. And exposed.
Coming soon to a computer near you: An online database that will allow parents to see whether education officials ever took disciplinary action against their kid's teacher. The Department of Education on Friday announced the still-developing website, www.myfloridateacher.com, and said it will be available for parents this fall. "School districts can already access disciplinary action against a teacher at any time and parents should have the same information," interim Education Commissioner Jeanine Blomberg said in a written statement. "The best way to protect students is through a transparent system of information." Teacher misconduct comes in all shapes and sizes. Sometimes, it's criminal. (See Deborah LaFave). Sometimes it's just pathetic. (See Sharion Thurman). For more information about teacher misconduct, click here.
But parents, also keep this in mind: The vast majority of teacher discipline cases are handled at the local level, either by the principal or by the school board. Only some cases, and probably the most egregious cases – 3,744 of them last year - are referred to the state, which decides whether action should be taken against a teacher's license. So, if you really want to know whether your kid's teacher ever got into trouble, you really need to look to local officials. But districts don't seem to be in any hurry to put that information on-line, as the state has done. What do you think? Should districts post info about teacher misconduct on-line, so it's just a click away?
- Ron Matus, state education reporter


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JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - A Jacksonville church is calling for speed bumps and speed limit signs after a 4-year-old was hit by a car on Father's Day.
Haidyn Jackson was thrown across the street when the car struck her, breaking her femur. She's currently in a body cast.
Her father, Marcellus Jackson, missed the church service that day and said he will never forget the feeling he got when the phone rang.
"The worst feeling in the world, honestly," Jackson said.
Jackson said Haidyn was actually one of two people hit by cars in front of the church that day.
Jackson said two years ago a man was killed on his motorcycle when he was hit by a speeding car in the same area.
Zion Temple Church Deacon Roderick Cohen said his congregation wants the city to do something about the speeding vehicles in the area.
What they're asking for is a speed bump or speed limit sign, because there aren't any nearby.
They've contacted the city many times but said they're not getting anywhere.
News4Jax spoke with the director of public works, who said this would be handled by the city's traffic engineering division.
He said there are three basic parameters:
- The city has to decide if a speed bump or speed limit sign is suitable for that location.
- Then the applicant has to go through a petition process, and get approval from 75 percent of impacted residents and business owners.
- The applicant also has to be committed to fund 50 percent of the cost.
Jackson is hoping he can help make that happen before another person is hurt or killed in front of the church.
"Can we just put a speed limit sign so no other parent has to go through the heartache that I felt," he said. "That's all I want. I don't see the problem with that. I'm not asking for much."
Copyright 2014 by News4Jax.com. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.


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21 March 2012
Keith only got two minutes for elbowing and Daniel Sedin only skate for 1 shift after before leaving the game.
TSN broke down the hit during their intermission and post-game with their panel and I agree with TSN's analysis over the hit: it was a hit to the head, the puck was well clear of Daniel Sedin at the time of contact, Duncan Keith isn't following the puck and there was an injury on the play.
Since we saw earlier tonight Shane Doan get a 3 game suspension for an elbow to the head of Jamie Benn, I'm expecting a similar suspension to Keith. One thing Keith has going for him is that he doesn't have the history of previous hits to the head like Doan did, so perhaps 2 games for Keith?
TSN also did point out that prior to the elbow, Daniel Sedin did lay a shoulder hit on Keith that connected with Keith's head. I'm not sure if Daniel will get a call from Shanahan on the shoulder hit but does that make Keith's elbow worse because now you know it was retaliatory?
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text: Travis Oliphant wrote: > I'm not sure if the Solaris crash is fixed or not yet after the recent > changes to SVN. There may be more than one bug here... The numpy.test() unit tests no longer cause segfaults on Solaris. All of my daily numpy regression tests are now passing for Solaris. Thank you for your time and help, Chris


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Oram: China can show us the way
At first glance it seems improbable that ambitious New Zealand companies could learn much from Huawei, a remarkable corporate success story even by the standards of its extraordinary home country, China.
Our companies are small and slow growing. One reason is they struggle to commercialise R&D and to develop into international businesses.
Huawei was a domestic start-up only 26 years ago. Yet, today, it is a global technology powerhouse leading its telecommunications equipment sector. Its revenues from 140 countries were US$35.4 billion last year, 70 per cent from outside China. It is aiming for sales of US$70b by 2017.
But despite the vast differences between it and Kiwi companies, there were lessons for New Zealand businesses when Ren Zhengfei, Huawei's founder, talked in Wellington this past week about his company's progress.
He spoke of core Huawei attributes such as collaboration with customers, technology excellence, employee ownership, innovative management practices, long-term strategy, wisdom to sidestep roadblocks rather than tackle them head on and, of course, a very strong streak of opportunism.
Huawei began by selling Hong Kong-made PBX switchboards in China. It targeted rural areas and small cities to avoid foreign competitors and to build customer relationships.
"When it comes to the business model of Huawei, first and foremost we are customer-centric," he said.
Being employee-owned helps the company to focus long term. Huawei is not distracted, like many western companies, Ren said, by the sharemarket's hefty demands for short-term investment returns.
"We can control and mange our lust, our greed. Instead we provide a good service for our customers and make reasonable money."
Of Huawei's 150,000 staff, half own shares. They have to be Chinese nationals but allowing other citizens to participate is under consideration, a company spokesman said.
Employees have to be with the company for at least two years, and they and their teams have to be performing well to be invited to buy shares. This has been a good source of capital for the company.
Its owners' equity was US$12b at the end of 2012. Ren owned only 1.4 per cent, with the rest of the senior executive and board teams owning under 1 per cent each.
This ownership model also helped the company invest more in R&D, although the strong cash flow from its operations was a far bigger driver of its heavy investment in technology, judging by its financial reports for the past four years.
Last year, it spent US$4.7b on R&D, equal to 13 per cent of its revenues; its 70,000 R&D staff globally makes up 40 per cent of its workforce; and for the past five years it has been in the top five corporates in the world for patent applications. That's all companies, not just telecom ones.
It only started its own R&D in 1990 and made its first digital telephone switch in 1992. Today, it is building half of the 150 or so fourth-generation mobile phone networks under way around the world, including Telecom's here.
Mathematics was the crucial technology breakthrough Ren credited for Huawei's success. The company developed algorithms that allowed it to handle multiple generations of mobile networks on one physical platform.
As a result, it can deliver the latest technology to telcos via hardware and software changes. In contrast, competitors require wholesale equipment replacement. The difference can save telcos between 20 per cent and 50 per cent, thus making Huawei highly price competitive, Ren said.
To help it stay at the forefront of innovation, the company is experimenting with a new style of executive leadership: Under Ren are three chief executive officers who take it in turns, six months at a time, to run the company, albeit in close consultation with each other.
Ren said he retained a veto over major issues if the trio and the wider senior management team and board failed to reach consensus decisions - or if he disagreed with them.
This approach, which started over a year ago, would help deliver consistency of strategy and continuity of management. It would prove more effective than the fast turnover of CEOs and senior management teams in many western companies, he added.
Ren, who is 68, said he would remain involved in the company until "they tell me I'm no longer needed".
Huawei was engaged, though, in a far bigger culture change - to a truly global company. It is quickly expanding staff and operations overseas, notably in R&D centres where there is particular local expertise of global value, such as in microwave in Italy and Java programming in India.
The company was also increasing the decision-making powers at local levels to help make it more responsive to customers, Ren said. This, in time, would turn its global headquarters in Shenzen, across the border from Hong Kong, into more of an advisory and support centre rather than a control one.
Huawei was also pushing itself to be more open and communicate more widely. It began publishing some financial details in 2000 but did not give its first annual results briefing until last month. It was co-led by Cathy Meng, the company's chief financial officer and Ren's daughter. Ren's press conference in Wellington on Thursday was his first on the record with journalists.
While greater openness would no doubt help build customer relations, it also had huge political importance. Huawei has long faced fierce opposition to sales of its equipment in the United States from politicians and competitors who cite cyber security concerns. They offer no evidence, though; and Huawei denies any wrongdoing.
In contrast, many other countries have welcomed Huawei. For example, in the UK where BT and other telcos are major customers, Huawei established a unit in 2010 to vet gear from China before it is installed. It is run in close co- operation with GCHQ, Britain's signals-intelligence agency, and uses security-cleared personnel.
New Zealand companies would never face such overt political hostility abroad. But they often struggle to establish their technology credentials because they are small providers from far away.
Like Huawei, they must assiduously develop their customer relationships.
There are other glimpses of parallels with Huawei in its early days. For example, Tait does not go head to head in big US cities with Motorola, its arch rival on emergency service radio systems. Instead, it targets small, rural county governments across the country. In aggregate, they offer it a huge market.
Hopefully, Huawei's deepening involvement here, such as a joint innovation centre with Telecom, announced last week, will give some Kiwi companies a chance to learn from it about getting their technology out to the world.
Sunday Star Times


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Ocean City Music Pier – Ocean City NJ
Sunday, September 22nd, 2013
5:00pm – Car Display
6:00pm – The Quest Screening
7:45pm – Meet & Greet the Filmmakers
If you are seeking a beautiful hotel at a discounted rate, we suggest you book the Impala Hotel – $75/evening on Sunday only (30-40% discounted rate!) and Wild Dunes $80/evening on Sunday only (50% discounted rate!). When calling 609-399-7500 be sure to ask for Karen Borlew. We can't thank Impala Hotel, Wild Dunes and the City of Ocean City enough for all their support. We hope to see you at the event.
Boardwalk Corvettes of Atlantic City put on one heck of a Corvette event that will be paraded onto the OC, NJ Boardwalk on September 22nd. This event has always been fun filled and family related, we encourage you to walk the boards and enjoy the beautiful view of sand, waves and Corvettes – heck, event Corvette sand sculptures are lined up! For more information we'd like to direct you to the Boardwalk Corvettes of Atlantic City website.


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GENEVA (Jul. 11)
A Latin American delegate to the meeting of the World Jewish Congress governing council reported here today that Jews were deeply concerned over widespread, systematic anti-Semitic propaganda in Latin America that seems to emanate from one central source.
According to Marc Turkow, there had been no physical attacks on Jews in recent months but Nazi-like propaganda continued to appear in legal as well as in illegal publications. Although it was spread over various countries, it was often identical-indicating that it was being circulated by an international organization, Mr. Turkow said. He said the centers of the propaganda seemed to be Buenos Aires, Mexico City and Barcelona, Spain. The propaganda was supported quite openly by the Arab League, he reported, Mr. Turkow's report was confirmed by other Latin American delegates-Gil Lasky and Jose Kruze, of Mexico; Georg Salomon, of the Federation of Jewish Communities of Central America; and Dr. Victor Winterstein, of Brazil.
Hersch Cynowicz, president of the Central Jewish Board of India, noted that the Indian Jewish community will soon mark its 1,900th anniversary. The New Delhi Government has already announced that it will issue a stamp to celebrate the occasion. Mr. Cynowicz said that representatives of the Government, possibly even the Prime Minister, would attend anniversary ceremonies.
The governing council appealed to Soviet authorities to remove all obstacles to the full exercise by Soviet Jews of their religious and cultural rights and to permit those who so desire to emigrate in order to be united with their families abroad. The council expressed its concern over the rise of the extreme right-wing National Democratic Party in West Germany and the anti-Semitic propaganda of radical right-wing publications there.


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Photo galleries: King's Lynn's flood defences set to be replaced after December storm surge that devastated the Norfolk coast
PUBLISHED: 13:27 18 January 2014 | UPDATED: 13:27 18 January 2014
© Archant Norfolk 2013
Flood gates around King's Lynn's historic quays will be replaced as part of a £1.2m refurbishment of the town's defences.
Waters came within inches of overwhelming gates around the Outer Purfleet during the December storm surge.
Today Julie Foley, area manager for the Environment Agency, said work on replacing the structures would begin in April.
"The flood gates are over 30 years old and they need replacing," she said. "They've never been tested in this way before.
"The flood gates did well to withstand this significant event, but it's clear that significant investment is needed. We need a new set of gates."
• Click here for more stories on the Norfolk floods
Environment Agency officials revealed the move as they showed North West Norfolk MP Henry Bellingham and parish councillors work which has been carried out since the December 5 storm.
Parts of the shingle bank, which protects 3,000 caravans, had been reduced to around a quarter of its width by the highest tide for 60 years.
"We imported 1,000 tonnes of carr stone rock armour from a local quarry to replace what was lost," said EA project manager Ryan Ely. "We used 9,200 tonnes of sand and shingle from Snettisham Scalp and that meant we were able to reinstate the ridge to 75pc of its planned width."
A tide mark showing how high the waters rose in December was clearly visible on the side of one property on the seaward side of the bank. Engineers hope the work will enable the defences to withstand the next set of high tides, which are expected around February 1.
North West Norfolk MP Henry Bellingham said: "We can't be too complacent, there's got to be future investment, we've got to repair the damage that's been done."
Officials expect the work at Snettisham to cost around £100,000. The figure does not include repairing damaged hides and habitats on the nearby RSPB reserve.


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Pear filling:
3 pears
500g sugar
500ml water
½ cinnamon stick
Almond sponge:
100g caster sugar
100g butter
2 eggs
90g ground almonds
10g plain flour
1 zest of one lemon
sweet pastry:
200g plain flour
125g butter
50g sugar
1 egg
1 tbs raspberry jam
First make the pastry. Whisk the sugar and egg together.
Rub the butter into the sifted flour until it resembles breadcrumbs and add the egg mixture.
Bring together to a paste and chill in the fridge for 20 minutes.
To make the poached pears, peel the pears and simmer gently with the water, sugar and cinnamon for 20 minutes.
If the water does not cover the fruit, add more until fruit is fully submerged.
For the almond sponge, cream the sugar and butter together and add the eggs, slowly. Fold in the ground almonds, lemon and flour.
Roll out the chilled pastry and line a flan ring or eight individual tartlet cases.
Spread the raspberry jam on the base of the tart and pour in the almond sponge mix.
Quarter and core the pears and arrange on top of the tart.
Bake for 40 minutes at 200˚C.
Remove from the oven and allow to cool before dusting with icing sugar.