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Dates Announced for Carrie Underwood's Blown Away Tour 2013
Carrie Underwood Tour 2013 "Blown Away" will kick off on Feb 13, 2013 Colorado Springs, CO at the World Arena. A complete list of dates and venues is available at Doremitickets.com Opening for Underwood is country singer Hunter Hayes, who is scheduled to be the opening act for the North American leg of the tour. Carrie Underwood fans will be able to hear her chart-topping new releases "Good Girl" "Blown Away" and "Two Black Cadillacs" from her new album.
Carrie Underwood Tickets: http://www.doremitickets.com/Carrie-Underwood-Tour-2013
Carrie Underwood Tour 2013 Dates
February 1, 2013 Grand Ole Opry House, Nashville, TN
February 13, 2013 World Arena, Colorado Springs, CO
February 14, 2013 1stBank Center (formerly the Broomfield Event Center), Broomfield, CO
February 17, 2013 Taco Bell Arena, Boise, ID
February 19, 2013 Rimrock Auto Arena (Formerly Metrapark Arena), Billings, MT
February 21, 2013 Spokane Arena, Spokane, WA
February 22, 2013 Yakima Valley Sundome, Yakima, WA
February 25, 2013 Oracle Arena, Oakland, CA
February 26, 2013 Stockton Arena, Stockton, CA
March 2, 2013 Mandalay Bay - Events Center, Las Vegas, NV
March 3, 2013 Citizens Business Bank Arena - CA, Ontario, CA
March 5, 2013 Save Mart Center, Fresno, CA
March 8, 2013 Santa Ana Star Center, Rio Rancho, NM
March 21, 2013 Richmond Coliseum, Richmond, VA
March 23, 2013 Roanoke Civic Center, Roanoke, VA
March 25, 2013 Giant Center, Hershey, PA
March 26, 2013 First Niagara Center (formerly HSBC Arena), Buffalo, NY
March 28, 2013 Copps Coliseum, Hamilton, ONT
March 29, 2013 WFCU Centre, Windsor, ONT
March 30, 2013 K-Rock Centre, Kingston, ONT
April 2, 2013 Harbour Station, Saint John, NWB
April 9, 2013 Cumberland County Civic Center, Portland, ME
April 11, 2013 Covelli Centre (Formerly Chevrolet Centre), Youngstown, OH
April 13, 2013 Jack Breslin Arena, East Lansing, MI
April 14, 2013 Allen County War Memorial Coliseum, Fort Wayne, IN
April 16, 2013 Bi-lo Center, Greenville, SC
April 17, 2013 Colonial Life Arena, Columbia, SC
April 19, 2013 James Brown Arena, Augusta, GA
April 20, 2013 Jacksonville Veterans Memorial Arena, Jacksonville, FL
April 23, 2013 Toyota Center - TX, Houston, TX
April 25, 2013 Freeman Coliseum, San Antonio, TX
April 27, 2013 Cedar Park Center, Cedar Park, TX
April 29, 2013 Cajundome, Lafayette, LA
May 1, 2013 Sprint Center, Kansas City, MO
May 2, 2013 Us Cellular Coliseum, Bloomington, IL
May 3, 2013 BMO Harris Bradley Center, Milwaukee, WI
May 5, 2013 Huntington Center (Formerly Lucas County Arena), Toledo, OH
May 6, 2013 Prairie Capital Convention Center, Springfield, IL
May 8, 2013 Charleston Civic Center, Charleston, WV
May 10, 2013 BMO Harris Bank Center (Formerly Rockford Metrocentre), Rockford, IL
May 12, 2013 CenturyLink Center Omaha (Formerly Qwest Center), Omaha, NE
May 13, 2013 Tyson Events Center - Gateway Arena, Sioux City, IA
May 15, 2013 MTS Centre, Winnipeg, MAN
May 17, 2013 Mosaic Place, Moose Jaw, SAS
May 18, 2013 Rexall Place, Edmonton, ALB
May 20, 2013 Encana Event Centre, Dawson Creek, BC
May 21, 2013 CN Centre, Prince George, BC
May 23, 2013 Abbotsford Entertainment & Sports Center, Abbotsford, BC
Carrie Underwood has come a long way from her humble roots as a wide-eyed American Idol hopeful in 2005. After winning the fourth season of the famous reality TV show (best rocker Bo Bice by an overwhelming number of votes), the Oklahoma native went on to become a country music superstar with five Grammy Awards, seven BMI Awards, sixteen Billboard Music Awards, five Country Music Association Awards, a Female Entertainer of the Year recognition from the Academy of Country Music Awards (which she won twice - in 2005 and 2010- the only female artist in history to do so) and a slew of accolades from other award-giving bodies under her belt. With her version of the song "Inside Your Heaven," she was the only country singer who managed to reach to the top spot in the Billboard Hot 100 chart during the 2000 decade.
Doremitickets.com Your #1 Source for Carrie Underwood Tour 2013 Dates and Tickets. Secure Website, Money Back Guarantee. Doremitickets.com is a retail website founded in 2009. Since launching in 2009, our website has helped connect thousands of live entertainment fans to the vast network of ticket brokers that list tickets on the doremitickets Online Exchange. These professional ticket brokers offer more than 7.5 Million event tickets on our Exchange every day.


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Many people face challenges when trying to communicate, especially those with disabilities. Nuance is committed to helping everyone gain barrier-free access to widely-used information and communication technologies. Many of the solutions developed by Nuance have important applications in accessibility and assistive technology, including text to speech and OCR for the visually impaired, speech input for users who cannot operate a standard keyboard, automatic transcription of voice mails for deaf users, and more. Nuance is a leading provider of tailored solutions for users with blindness/low vision, dyslexia, dyspraxia, mobility or dexterity impediments and people with a variety of physical disabilities.
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TALKS&ZOOMS from Nuance is the preferred mobile screen reader in the blind community. The TALKS software application converts text into highly intelligible speech and is tightly integrated with Nuance ZOOMS, a sophisticated screen magnifier application that makes mobile handset content accessible to low-vision users. TALKS&ZOOMS empowers the visually impaired to take full advantage of the capabilities found on today's sophisticated mobile handsets and to enjoy a more autonomous and connected lifestyle.
Dragon Accessibility Solutions for Individuals
Dragon Accessibility Solutions for Business

subset: commoncrawl


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In the novel The CPO: Transforming Procurement in the Real World, we meet Thomas Sutter, a German-American living in Dusseldorf and working as a procurement manager for a major global automobile manufacturer, Autowerke. On a chance encounter while flying to Chicago, he meets the CEO of Heartland, a major food company in the U.S. Sutter impresses the CEO with his knowledge and, after a whirlwind courtship, he joins Heartland as its new Chief Procurement Officer, based in Fort Wayne, Indiana.
Hired to transform procurement at Heartland, Sutter has an enormous challenge: to bring its procurement practices into the 21st century and save the company $5 billion. Despite the knowledge and experience he gained at Autowerke, Sutter fights over the next 18 months to find his place at Heartland, institute world-class procurement models and methods, win over the procurement teams and senior executives, and meet his goal. At first, his reputation--and his marriage--suffer, along with the company's overall sales and revenue. Can he pull a rabbit out of the hat?
The CPO: Transforming Procurement depicts the real-life challenges of transforming procurement, while demonstrating the benefits of innovative procurement and leadership methods. Written by global thought leaders in A.T. Kearney's procurement and supply management practice--consultants who have helped numerous companies chop billions of dollars in costs out of their procurement budgets--The CPO will prove invaluable for those in purchasing and procurement. It will also present essential information to those in the C suite looking for ways to boost profits and productivity. The CPO:
Portrays best-in-class, real-life, actionable methods to turn procurement into a function that can save billions and improve the bottom line.
Provides a fun way to learn essential lessons in procurement and change management.
Shows how rejecting victimhood in all its aspects leads to personal and business success.
Presents lessons in novel format--like The Goal, Who Moved My Cheese, The Five Dysfunctions of a Team, and others--to engage you and show techniques in action.
What you'll learn
World-class methods and techniques for transforming the procurement function into a productivity powerhouse that directly and significantly contributes to improving the bottom line.
Insights into assessing the procurement and supply chain management organization and locating the levers for change.
How to calculate the return on supply management assets and understand supply and demand dynamics in the context of procurement.
Principles of leadership and change management: Finding and shuffling talent to effect change, making the case for change, mobilizing and motivating people, and training workers at all levels to think and act in new and useful ways.
The tools of transformation: employing circles of influence, rejecting victimhood, creating a plan to succeed, and more.
Who this book is for
The CPO is a book for ambitious buyers, procurement managers, and C-level executives. CEOs will read it to have an understanding of how procurement transformation supports the strategic goals of the company, CFOs will read it to know what the return on procurement transformation could be, CPOs will read it to learn new methods and metrics and how to put them into profitable practices. It's also for those who want to enjoy a good book while learning how to transform their private lives along with their careers and the companies they work for.


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Occupation: Roller Coaster Rider?
Orlando's 67 Days of Smiles competition sounds like my dream job. For 67 days one lucky duo will get paid $25,000 to ride the rides of Orlando and experience the area's other attractions. The winners will document their adventures via Facebook, Twitter, and blogs. To apply, just make a one-minute video and fill out the application on OrlandoInfo.com.
What's Your Take?
Would you like to get paid to ride roller coasters and basically be a tourist? Leave a comment below.


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Currency Cost U.S. Companies at Least $4 Billion in Second Quarter
U.S. companies reported losing over $4 billion to foreign exchange swings last quarter, and currency volatility could still increase in the third quarter.
Some 233 U.S. companies reported negative foreign currency impacts to their revenue and earnings in the second quarter, according to a quarterly analysis of 800 multinational companies' conference calls by foreign exchange risk-management company FiREapps. The number of companies reporting those losses was the second-highest since the company started tracking these calls – outpaced only by the second-quarter a year ago when 250 companies cited currency headwinds.
The 95 companies who quantified the impact of currency losses last quarter reported just over $4 billion in losses, up from $3.7 billion in losses in the first quarter. The losses have stemmed largely from swings in the Japanese yen, euro, Australian dollar, Brazilian real and Venezuelan bolivar, according to the analysis.
"Due to the political uncertainty, the U.S. dollar, yen and Australian dollar continue to surprise," said Wolfgang Koester, chief executive of FiREapps. " U.S. corporations are going on three years now where they've had no tailwind from currencies."
Some companies have jumped into action. After an earnings hit from foreign exchange in the second quarter, laboratory equipment maker Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc., said in July it is adding $10 million to its restructuring actions to offset negative foreign exchange impacts.
But despite hedging efforts, many companies are still facing a higher level of currency volatility than they are used to, Mr. Koester said. The Japanese yen fell 5.4% against the U.S. dollar in the second quarter, and is down about 15% for the year since the Japanese government has pursued a weaker yen. The yen, cited by 84 companies, was the most-frequently mentioned currency on conference calls for the second quarter in a row, followed by the euro, with 30 mentions.
The biggest surprise in the quarter, however, was a swing in the Australian dollar due to elections in the country. The Australian dollar jumped to the third-most cited currency by companies in the second quarter with almost as many companies mentioning its impact as the euro.
The Brazilian real and Venezuelan bolivar were the fourth and fifth most-cited currencies for the quarter. General Motors Co. cited both currencies in its conference call, saying that devaluation in the Brazilian real and political unrest in Venezuela had both caused currency swings for the carmaker.
Fitch Ratings said in a note to clients this week that companies should expect additional foreign exchange rate volatility while Brazil, Russia, India and China experience growth strains. Even if companies are spending local currency to fund operations in those countries, they still face risks from the need to import special components and raw materials. "A depreciating currency can significantly raise input costs, forcing manufacturers to offset margin pressure," the Fitch analysts wrote in the note.
The Brazilian real fell 7.8% relative to the U.S. dollar in the second quarter and Mr. Koester said he expects the Russian ruble and Indian rupee to have a strong impact in the upcoming quarter.
"That typically has not been area where people protect themselves since it is not a top five currency exposure," Mr. Koester said.
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In Thursday's NBA draft the New York Knicks hold the 17th selection and are looking to purchase at least one more selection late in the first or in the second round. To the Knicks, this draft is just as important as acquiring Amare Stoudemire and Carmelo Anthony were. This is a draft that is going to determine whether we remain a 50 win playoff team or a 60 win championship contender. With 2 superstars and a potential 3rd on the way, the Knicks regular season success is almost a given but it's what happens in the playoffs that really counts. This draft will provide either a springboard into greatness or a burden that keeps us in mediocrity in the vastly improving eastern conference.
First and foremost, I believe the Knicks badly want BYU point guard Jimmer Fredette and they are desperately trying to trade up to grab him. I have heard rumors that they want to trade up above Utah at 12 to select Fredette. Toney Douglas and the 17th pick are primary what has been rumored to being offered by New York for this selection. While Fredette has the potential to be a great player in this league, I do not believe he is going to live up to his potential nor do I believe he is a good fit for the New York Knicks. The last thing we need is a ball dominant point guard to go along with our ball dominant small forward who already struggles to find chemistry with our ball dominant power forward. In addition all 3 players are notoriously poor defensive players under a head coach, who I do like, that has notoriously been reluctant to emphasize defense in his up tempo coaching style. It just is not a great fit with the Knicks right now and I believe Douglas is a better player already and will be moving forward. He plays great defense, something we badly need, and has shown the ability to be an absolutely lethal 3 point shooter. I believe there is a lot of value in the mid first- second round portion of this draft and the Knicks can get a lot out of staying put at 17, keeping Douglas and passing on Jimmer.
If the Knicks stay put at 17 they should have plenty of solid options. It's been rumored that projected lottery picks Kemba Walker and Bismack Biyombo may slip all the way to 17. Walker is a versatile guard who can play point or shooting guard, he's a great scorer, good defensive player, he's clutch and he's from the Bronx. He'd be a wonderful fit with the Knicks. Same for Bismack Biyombo, a 6'9 power forward/ center who is probably the best athlete in this class. His offensive game needs work but his athleticism, shot blocking, rebounding and post defense really would be a perfect fit next to Amare Stoudemire and would improve our defense greatly. Also the Knicks love Washington State shooting guard Klay Thompson, a knock down shooter, but there is little doubt that he will be gone by 17. In the likely scenario that all 4 players (including Jimmer) are gone by 17, there are still good players for the Knicks to take. I believe the Knicks will be looking at Morehead St Forward Kenneth Faried, USC center Nikola Vucevic, Georgia Tech guard Iman Shumpert, Providence guard Marshon Brooks and Kansas guard Josh Selby. I think the main 3 guys that the Knicks will be looking at from that group are Shumpert, Faried and Selby in that order. New York has made it no secret that they love Shumpert and there's a lot to love about him. He's a 6'6 point guard with a 6'10 wingspan, he's a lockdown defender and he's very athletic. He's been so impressive that the Phoenix Suns are widely rumored to have tagged Shumpert as their guy with the 13th pick. If Shumpert is gone, I believe the Knicks will look long and hard at Morehead State forward Kenneth Faried. I believe he's going to be the next Dennis Rodman only that Faried is a better offensive player and doesn't have 7,000 tattoos, bleached hair or multiple nose rings. Faried is a high character, high energy, rebounding power forward who also averaged 17 points a game to go along with his 14 rebounds a game during his senior season. The only knock on him is that he's 6'6 but he does have a 7 foot wingspan and is incredibly athletic. I have heard multiple people say "if he was 6'10 he'd be the first pick in the draft". I think next to Melo and Stat, Faried would thrive on the offensive glass. I think he'd be a wonderful addition coming off the bench and getting 8 rebounds and 2-3 baskets a game. The player I really do not want to see taken here is Kansas guard Josh Selby. He's been questioned as a pure point guard, maybe having skills more suited to an undersized shooting guard (kind of like Toney Douglas). He's a huge character risk. He had problems in high school and at Kansas. Last season he was benched for most of the second half of the season. Selby thought he should have been the star of the team even though he didn't play anywhere near that level. He's also a CAA guy, the agency that seems to be running the Knicks right now, which is why I think he's a dark horse to be the pick at 17 although I'm praying that I am wrong. I believe if the Knicks pass on Selby at 17, they will try to purchase his rights later in the draft.
The Knicks do not currently own another pick in the draft after 17 but it's widely believed that they will purchase at least one more pick before the draft ends. In the NBA, a team can pay up to 3 million dollars on a transaction. I believe the Knicks will give up at least 6 million dollars in draft picks. Some potential teams who might sell to the Knicks would be the Bulls, who own picks 28 and 30, Lakers, who own 41, 56 and 58, and the Kings who own 35 and 60. While it is not as clear who the Knicks will target with their acquired picks, there are a couple players I think the Knicks may target. I mentioned Josh Selby who is probably a late 1 – early 2 in terms of value, also Jeremy Tyler from Japan, Boston College's Reggie Jackson and UCLA's Malcolm Lee. Tyler is an intriguing forward prospect as he is 6'11, athletic and potential packed but has character issues after skipping his senior year of high school and struggling mightily in Japan. Reggie Jackson is a true point guard with a 7 foot wingspan who plays great defense. Malcolm Lee is a hybrid guard who is long and athletic and excels defensively.
If I was drafting for the Knicks at 17, pending the fall of Biyombo or Walker, I would select Iman Shumpert. I think his size and defensive ability on the perimeter would give us a great weapon off the bench. With our undersized front court, I think we need to stockpile size in the back court. Landy Fields, 6'7, already fills one of those roles, I think the 6'6 Shumpert would be another great addition. If Shumpert is gone, I would draft Faried or consider a possible trade down with a team like Chicago or maybe even to accumulate picks next year, as we have 0 next year, in what will be considered a stronger draft class.
Thursday night is very important for the Knicks, with a great draft they can be championship contenders, with a poor draft they could be average. I think this is just as important as getting our stars was as we have numerous holes to fill. I look for Shumpert or Faried to be the pick and I think the Knicks will get 2 others. Regardless of what happens, it will be interesting to see what happens.
Knicks Options for Thursday's Draft
In Thursday's NBA draft the New York Knicks hold the 17th selection and are looking to purchase at least one more selection late in the first or in the second round. To the Knicks, this draft is just as important as acquiring Amare Stoudemire and Carmelo Anthony were. This is a draft that is going to determine whether we remain a 50 win playoff team or a 60 win championship contender. With 2 superstars and a potential 3rd on the way, the Knicks regular season success is almost a given but it's what happens in the playoffs that really counts. This draft will provide either a springboard into greatness or a burden that keeps us in mediocrity in the vastly improving eastern conference.


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Much more detail at SCOTUSblog. This is telling:
[T]his case has about it the promise of rewriting a considerable body of First Amendment law.The quality of legal advocacy... is that meant as a laugh line? How did it happen that the work of upholding First Amendment rights is in the hands of Margie Phelps? I don't know the story, but it's not that the usual free speech defenders have failed to support these profoundly unpopular and ugly speakers. There are amicus briefs from the ACLU and from law professors in support of the Phelps group.
For a Court that so recently had refused to create a new exception to the First Amendment's protection (so as to permit the outlawing of animal cruelty videos and films), the task of crafting a "funeral rights" exception to free speech doctrine may be a forbidding one. But for a Court hearing this case in the midst of war weariness and an expanding fear of decaying morality, the prospect of drawing a First Amendment shield around the Westboro Baptists' message may also be a daunting one.
Perhaps this is a case in which the quality of legal advocacy, during oral argument, could make a difference. If one side or the other's lawyer were to falter, for lack of seasoning at that demanding podium, it might ease the Justices' decisional choice — but, then again, maybe not.
It will be interesting to see how Margie Phelps carries out her lawyerly task. Back in 2004, Michael Newdow argued his own case in the "Under God"/Pledge of Allegiance case and his nontraditional, passionate style seemed to work rather well.
Dr. Newdow, a nonpracticing lawyer who makes his living as an emergency room doctor, may not win his case.... But no one who managed to get a seat in the courtroom is likely ever to forget his spell-binding performance.I doubt if there will be any clapping for Margie Phelps. Or any dinner-table-style repartee. She's coming in from the other end of the God spectrum, and we shall see how that sounds.
That includes the justices, whom Dr. Newdow engaged in repartee that, while never disrespectful, bore a closer resemblance to dinner-table one-upmanship than to formal courtroom discourse. For example, when Dr. Newdow described ''under God'' as a divisive addition to the pledge, Chief Justice William H. Rehnquist asked him what the vote in Congress had been 50 years ago when the phrase was inserted.
The vote was unanimous, Dr. Newdow said.
''Well, that doesn't sound divisive,'' the chief justice observed.
Dr. Newdow shot back, ''That's only because no atheist can get elected to public office.''
The courtroom audience broke into applause, an exceedingly rare event that left the chief justice temporarily nonplussed. He appeared to collect himself for a moment, and then sternly warned the audience that the courtroom would be cleared ''if there's any more clapping.''


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"Travels: Collected Writings 1950-1993"
This luminous collection of travel writings by Paul Bowles contains 40 pieces arranged in chronological order, from the late writer's first travels as a teenage student to an unpublished journal entry from 1986. More than 30 of them appear in print for the first time.
The phrase "travel writing" is interpreted rather loosely to include writing that appeared in travel-oriented journals, introductions to photography books and even a glossary of terms from a 1963 book on cannabis. (Bowles is described in these pages as "a lifelong stoner.") Also here are prose poems, a long autobiographical poem and political commentaries. Many of the pieces originally appeared in the glossy travel magazine Holiday and the long-defunct publication The American Mercury, as well as The Nation, Harper's, GQ, Travel & Leisure and the San Francisco Chronicle. A large number of entries take place in the Middle East, where Bowles was a longtime resident. But there also are pieces on San Francisco, Istanbul, Ceylon (now Sri Lanka), Kenya, Madeira and Thailand.
Paul Theroux, also a great travel writer, notes in the introduction that Bowles was fortunate to write in a time when travel magazines "still welcomed long, thoughtful essays."
In one of the most revealing selections, "The Challenge to Identity," Bowles asks, "What is a travel book?" In his opinion, the best travel books are those in which "the personality of the author is the decisive element; their charm derives from this unequivocal placing of emphasis upon personal attitudes and reflections." (Ecco, $16.99)
"Back Roads Germany"
From the Baltic Coast to the German Alps, this illustrated guide consists of 24 leisurely drives into the heart of Germany. The drives range from one to six days. Sidebars offer information on the "most authentic" places to stay and eat, as well as background and entertaining anecdotes. One of the most intriguing chapters follows the land of the Brothers Grimm (who made their living as librarians and academics), a hilly and wooded region of medieval towns and fairy-tale castles.
But also here are stops at German wineries, Roman ruins and areas that specialize in cuckoo clocks. (DK Publishing, $25)
"Zagat New York City Shopping 2012"
The new Zagat guide has more than 140 additions to the previous edition, many of them in SoHo but also scattered throughout the five boroughs.
Some are for designers, and others are new branches of well-established retailers. Also new is a huge store, Creatures of Comfort, which specializes in unusual women's wear. Several new menswear stores have opened since the last edition too, and none more famous than Ralph Lauren's shop, housed in a former mansion.
Biking is back in vogue in New York. Among the new retail and service outlets catering to this population are Rolling Orange bike shop in Brooklyn's Cobble Hill neighborhood and the 718 shop in Park Slope.
Not everything in the book is high-end; the editors have included plenty of information on bargain and discount stores. (Zagat, $15.95)


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Space Station Member
Joined: Mon Feb 25, 2008 9:51 am
Posts: 455
Location: Vienna, Austria, Europe, Earth
Re: John, another 6 months have passed and AA still not relevant Posted on: Mon Sep 12, 2011 9:32 pm
if we disregard any parts used for steering, a solid rocket motor consists of
* fuel
* igniter
* case
* nozzle
fuel and igniter is consumed, case of the Shuttle SRBs was reused, dunno what happened to the nozzles.
For example, some of the segments of the boosters of STS-135 (the last shuttle mission) had been reused quite often: http://spaceflightnow.com/shuttle/sts13 ... 35srbs.pdf
pride comes before a fall
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Spaceflight Trainee
Joined: Wed Sep 07, 2011 11:26 pm
Posts: 30
Re: John, another 6 months have passed and AA still not relevant Posted on: Tue Sep 13, 2011 1:57 am
Dan Frederiksen wrote:
he will not be a force for disclosure of the UFO reality. he will not be a force for change. he has no mind to be aware of a problem with status quo. he will not be critical of nasa. he has already declared his love of nasa because they gave him billions at a time when he was on the brink of bankruptcy, both for his two main companies and personally.
Dan: Many nations have spy satellites. Why haven't any of them tried to blackmail the UFO conspirators. (USA, Russia, China, UK, France, Israel, India, Germany, Japan have them. Hell, South Korea, Brazil, South Africa, Indonesia, Pakistan, (soon Iran) probably have them as well. Lets not forget a few private companies own spy satellites. Hell, the existence of extraterrestrials on Earth today would seriously conflict with Islam. Islam is the basis of a few governments. Wouldn't the existence of extraterrestrials cause a constitutional crisis for them? Wouldn't at least one spy agency be curious about UFOs? I could have bought the USA being able to cover up extraterrestrial contact on Earth in the 1950s, but in 2011, when so many nations have spy satellites, spy networks and technology? I doubt it. Besides, if you have a suborbital rocket, and you really want to spy on a particular place on earth, why not fly the rocket directly overhead at an altitude of 30 km, instead of a few hundred miles from orbit? Heck, why not make a stealth weather balloon?
With the refinement of adaptive optics in the 90s, atmospheric distortion can be countered. Yes the atmosphere absorbs some infrared, but the next big (to be cancelled?) space telescope will focus on infrared imaging. The EU's next, giant telescope is supposed to cost ~$1.7 billion, compared to the few billion which was spent annually on the Shuttle/manned space program/ISS. I'd argue manned space gets too much money, and ground based telescopes do not get enough, but that's a topic for a different forum.
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Space Station Member
Joined: Wed Jul 30, 2008 9:39 pm
Posts: 266
Location: Denmark
Re: John, another 6 months have passed and AA still not relevant Posted on: Tue Sep 13, 2011 3:23 am
USA is not in control of the ufo coverup. of course many govs know about it.
do you know any nation's 'intelligence' community that stands up for what's right? any military?
they are morons the lot. they like their secrets. and many of them don't know much. many are busy doing other stuff. but no doubt any radar and airforce equipped nation will have regular contact with UFOs and they all cover it up. some probably just because they are morons and don't know what to do with it. some because of evil, some because they are overwhelmed by the implications, some might even think it's too much for people to handle.
if you refuse to believe so many could so consistently be so stupid you only have to realize that USA started the Iraq war based on obvious lies resulting in maybe 1 million people killed and most of USA still masturbate with the flag and praise the moron soldiers.
WTC7 was obviously brought down by controlled demolition yet noone really questions it..
I say obvious things like a telescope is an ideal rocketry application because it can be made light yet how many of you sheep will strongly agree..
if you want to know yourself and humanity, observe a hamster in its cage and realize that it never looks out and wonders what the books on the shelves are or what that computer is on the desk or indeed what the pesky cage in which it lives is.
10^23 stars in the observable universe, many with planets, 14bn years of age. there could be trillions of civilizations that are 10bn years ahead of us yet you categorically deny when hundreds of millions of your fellow men report seeing a consistent UFO phenomenon across the world and you refuse to believe the morons in uniform or the satanists in the 'intelligence' communities would lie to you. despite countless examples to the contrary.
ancient roman soldier reported an object in the air that he described as a shield on fire.
a battle in the sky involving numerous cigar ufos from which smaller ball and disc ufos emerged was reported over Nuremberg Germany in 1561.
even Christopher Columbus logged UFO sightings on his way to America.
Travis Walton's 1975 case which the movie Fire in the Sky was based on (although the ufo scenes were greatly misrepresented) reported encountering tall attractive caucasian humans inside a cylindrical hangar bay. he was with his timber crew of 6 others when he walked up to the ufo that took him. all 7 passed police polygraph tests. the 6 others were accused of murder for the 5 days Travis Walton was away.
btw airline pilots see ufos all the time as well and both they and the airlines keep it secret as a matter of policy. if you know long time pilots or air traffic controllers you can ask and chances are they will have stories.
try not to be hamsters. the prize is great.
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Moon Mission Member
Joined: Fri Jan 09, 2004 11:52 am
Posts: 1401
Location: Exeter, Devon, England
Re: John, another 6 months have passed and AA still not relevant Posted on: Tue Sep 13, 2011 6:35 am
I think that the age of the universe and the size makes it less likely not more likely.
If there have been hundreds of other civilisations then the chances of them all being here in the same million years as us are very small, let alone in the same 100 years or so since industrial revolutions and technology.
The chances of them being near enough to us are small enough even before we factor in the vast time scales. If the universe is so old then they could have come and gone millions of times.
Isnt there a theory that civilisations cant actually get beyond a certain technological understanding without killing themselves in the end, nuclear war etc?
I guess it would be like having 10 people on earth over 1000 years, all walking through London for one day in your lives then wondering why the others werent there at the exact same time.
Just because you cant explain something doesnt mean it is alien haha
Why is it with the millions of camera phones now with high res videos, every pic or video is terrible quality?!
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Space Station Commander
Joined: Mon May 31, 2004 9:47 pm
Posts: 827
Location: Yerushalayim (Jerusalem) - capital of Israel!
Re: John, another 6 months have passed and AA still not relevant Posted on: Tue Sep 13, 2011 7:03 am
do you know any nation's 'intelligence' community that stands up for what's right? any military?
Israel's military. The Mossad captures christian children in order to use their blood to bake matzot on Pesach (Passover). Yummy!
"Once you have tasted flight, you will forever walk the earth with your eyes turned skyward, for there you have been, and there you will always long to return."
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Re: John, another 6 months have passed and AA still not relevant Posted on: Tue Sep 13, 2011 9:52 am
Rob, they are not migrating geese for you to capture by coincidence.
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Science Friday® is produced by the Science Friday Initiative, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.
Science Friday® and SciFri® are registered service marks of Science Friday, Inc. Site design by Pentagram; engineering by Mediapolis.
|Although it's been years since the first publications of signs of water on Mars, support for the idea of lots of liquid water in the planet's past keeps coming in. We'll talk about the latest findings and how they fit into the larger picture of the Red Planet's possibly soggy past.


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Tag Archives for Tory
A few reflections on the results yesterday.
Tweet Yesterday i'll have to admit I was utterly, utterly disconsolate. In truth I can't remember being that down since England went out on penalties in Euro 2004. I was utterly deflated, and I just couldnt see any prospects of … Continue reading
Time for Labour to wake up
Tweet I have today had a piece published on LabourList.org. You can read it here:- http://www.labourlist.org/time-for-labour-to-wake-up
AV Vote and destabilising the coalition.
Tweet I have heard a few Labour folks tell me that they are considering voting "No" principally because they hope to destabilise the coalition and hopefully bring forward a General Election. The view was espoused here on Labour List by … Continue reading


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OR to make it easier to do business with Gateway Community & Technical College, please go to the Diverse Supplier Collaboration Portal. This portal includes information to help you register as a New Vendor.
Prior to the beginning of the contract, the contractor will furnish to KCTCS Purchasing Certificates of Insurance that show it has and will maintain all insurance protection (including products liability insurance) at the contractor's expense.
Minimum liability coverage must be:
The Kentucky Community and Technical College System must be named as an additional insured in the policy for Comprehensive General Liability. In the event of failure by the contractor to maintain, in force, insurance coverage acceptable to KCTCS, KCTCS will have the right to terminate this Agreement immediately upon written notice to the contractor. Copies of the Insurance Certificates are to be furnished to the KCTCS Purchasing Division. Modification of this requirement must be requested in writing with supporting statements, prior to the time of the bid submission.


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Private Foundations & Business Corporations Active in Arts/humanities/education, Volume 2
Daniel Millsaps
Washington international arts letter, 1974 - Art patronage - 264 pages
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Members visit free all year! Purchase and visit today.
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Want to share your love of animals with the public? Interested in advocating the importance of conservation? Itching to inform visitors about the wonders of the animal world? Become a volunteer docent at the Philadelphia Zoo!
Candidates who are accepted into the docent training program attend a series of 20 classes, which cover a wide variety of topics including:
Provisional docents also receive instruction and hands-on experience needed to work with the public, including touring and teaching techniques, how to use educational artifacts and biofacts, and many other important skills.
Classes are taught by a combination of Zoo staff and keepers, docents and occasional outside speakers. Each provisional is assigned a mentor to guide him or her through the learning experience. Upon completion of the 3-part docent training course, class members are fully qualified docents, ready to share information with Philadelphia Zoo visitors.
To become a docent you must be an adult Zoo member, successfully complete the docent training course, have good communication skills and commit to 90 weekday hours or 60 weekend hours per year.
Applications for the docent training program are welcome on an ongoing basis for classes that begin in the fall. The next class will be held on Wednesdays from 9 a.m. - 3 p.m. beginning in the fall of 2013. Applications are being accepted for the next training class.
Email firstname.lastname@example.com or call 215-243-5200 for more information.
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The Philadelphia Zoo Docent Council, founded in 1972, is one of the oldest and, with approximately 200 members, one of the largest docent organizations in the Philadelphia area. Our docents are a diverse group of men and women who, working with the Zoo's education department, share their enthusiasm for animals, wildlife and conservation with Zoo visitors and the community.
"Docent" is a word derived from the Latin docere, which means "teacher." Today it refers to volunteer teachers. Each docent completes a training program that includes conservation, biology, Zoo history, animal behavior, adaptations, habitats and more. They also learn specific information about the animals in the Philadelphia Zoo and the Zoo's art, architecture and horticulture. Teaching techniques are included in the docent curriculum as well, since not all docents have teaching backgrounds.
Docents participate in a variety of programs within and outside the Zoo. In the Zoo, they give guided tours, ranging from general tours to special tours on adaptations, endangered species, habitats, Zoo horticulture, art and architecture. Docents also staff Just Ask carts and mobile stations located throughout the Zoo where docents use artifacts and biofacts to engage the public in conversation, answer questions and serve as interpreters of the animal kingdom.
Docents also contribute to offsite outreach efforts through audio-visual presentations and education programs such as Earth Savers. The Ask an Expert program gives inquisitive youngsters and adults visiting the Zoo online an opportunity to have animal-related questions answered.
To advance Docent Council communications, docents publish a quarterly newsletter, Docent Data, which contains news about Zoo programs and exhibits, book reviews and in-depth articles about animals and conservation.


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* Yoga 4 All supports only devices above iOS 5 and above.
What is the first thing that comes to your mind when you hear the word Yoga?
Yoga is all about different postures, which helps us to focus and also relieves us from daily stress.
Yoga initially originated in India and dates back to nearly 500 years. Yoga is generally described as union of a person's own perception with the universal perception. The practice of Yoga Exercises means practicing both your body and your mind. It takes determination to complete each Yoga Pose and to exercise it daily.
So we present to you "Yoga 4 All", a rightful app to stay fit and healthy. Here you will different asanas that are categorized in many ways, depending on the use of the asanas, effectiveness to various physical conditions and the level of practice. Each category includes various asanas.
Yogic Features:
· 8 different categories
· Each category consists of a set of yoga poses
· Every Yoga asana includes description & image
· Option to add asanas as Favourites
· Yoga poses with videos also included
Just browse through the categories for various poses and videos. You'll find the posture you're looking for, and might even come across other similar poses you might enjoy.
Check out our Facebook Pages for more information on upcoming apps & games.


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Notice to Members 02-73
SEC Approves New Rules and Rule Amendments Concerning Security Futures
On October 15, 2002, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) approved rule changes by NASD that both create and amend certain rules and interpretive materials to address the requirements for NASD members engaging in a security futures business.
This Notice also explains that adding a security futures business may constitute a material change of business and describes the factors a member should consider in determining whether engaging in a security futures business constitutes a material change that would require the member to file a continuing membership application with NASD and obtain prior approval before engaging in a security futures business. The Notice also clarifies that best execution obligations apply to transactions in security futures. In addition, the Notice explains that members engaged in a security futures business must comply with their obligations in the analyst rule, Rule 2711 ("Research Analysts and Research Reports").
Questions concerning this Notice may be directed to the Office of General Counsel, NASD Regulatory Policy and Oversight: Gary L. Goldsholle, Associate General Counsel, (202) 728-8104; Alan Lawhead, Associate General Counsel, (202) 728-8853; or Patricia Albrecht, Assistant General Counsel, (202) 728-8026.


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Monday, June 1, 2009
Memory Monday: Favorite Toys
When it came to dolls, however, the difference came down to size, not so much large vs. small, but life-size vs. smaller than life. Smaller than life – paper dolls, their Colorform equivalents, Barbies, and a handful of hand-me-down 4" dolls from the remainders of someone's long abandoned playset – won out every time as perennial favorites. The "losing" doll that stuck out in my mind – probably because I felt so guilty at having paid so little attention to her after her first Christmas at our house – was Saucy Walker, a toddler-sized walking doll for which my parents must have paid a small fortune. Tiny Tears, a near baby-sized doll that drank a bottle and afterwards wet her diaper, fared slightly better, probably because (a) we could do "scientific experiments" with her by changing the type and color of the liquid in her bottle (even the boys I played with could get on board with that), and (b) she came with her own suitcase and a couple of different outfits, always good for prolonging a doll's play time by a few minutes.
But none of these came anywhere close to the hours and hours I would spend, alone and with friends, with smaller dolls and paper dolls. Moreover, I saw this phenomenon repeated with my daughters and their friends: Polly Pockets and Barbies beat out baby dolls, no contest. (For that matter, so did all sorts of animals, from small plastic ones to larger stuffed animals, no matter what size.)
I think the difference has something to do with the level and type of fantasy involved in imaginative play – are you a character within an imaginary scenario in an imaginary world or one of the "gods" outside that world who controls it and everything that happens within it – or at least this seems to be the case with girls. Boys seem to like life-sized toys as much as miniature replicas, and enjoy being both characters in their fantasy play as well as the outside "gods". For the girls I have known, being a character is fine, too, but it has a limited life, especially when playing with others – it puts the (possibly delicate) egos of little girls on the line. The whole point of this kind of play is to be admired for how beautiful/brilliant/brave your character is and to put her in situations that show off these qualities, and this turns into a game of one-upsmanship that often ends up bruising those little egos. "Pretend I was a beautiful magic bird-girl who had wings and had hundreds of bird friends, and this is my baby who can turn into a bird." "Pretend I was the queen of all the forest animals and was the most beautiful and magical and they all obeyed me and these were my two little girls who could combine their powers and make you do what they wanted." "Pretend I got together with all the other animals and we our combined magical powers to kill all three of you." That stuff usually doesn't go on too long: half an hour or an hour tops. And if it's tamer play, such as playing mommies with babies with no further dramatic plot twists, well, that his its limitations, too, mostly because it gets boring.
Little plastic dolls and animals and paper dolls, on the other hand, can be bad. You are there to create the melodrama and to observe it from your lofty heights of goddessdom. Nothing negative reflects back on you, it's just that selfish/sneaky/skanky doll. "Pretend she was jealous of her friends' clothes and stole them all." "Yeah, pretend they found out, stole them back, and cut holes in her clothes." "Ooh, and pretend she got dressed to go out with her boyfriend and didn't notice the holes." This can go on for hours.
Of course, there are levels of Pretend. This was beautifully and succinctly explained to us by the four-year-old son of friends of ours who came to visit. "Plain old Betend," Payton explained patiently, "is when you have plastic eggs and you betend they're real eggs. Betend-betend is when you don't have any eggs at all and you betend that you have some real eggs."
Well, this ended up being less about memories and more about theories, and all because I felt so bad about not playing with that Saucy Walker doll.
Tiny Tears and me
I don't know if this doll was an alter ego or a lowly, fallible creature of mine
2 comments:
Greta, this blog stirred some memories in me. I did not have alot of dolls...Ginny, Jill and Betsy Wetsey were the three I remember. I did the same trick with the Betsy Wetsey....colored water. My Mom was a stuffed animal fanatic, so I had loads of those! I think one of the toys I remember playing with the most was one I made. My best friend and I turned shoe boxes and other boxes into two large two storied houses. We spent days, making the furniture, elevators to take the hand made paper dolls up and down between floors and of course, loads of paper clothes. I think this project kept us busy for an entire summer in elementary school. Cost--minimal. It's the one I remember.ReplyDelete
Oh, you are so right, and your comment brings back even more memories: construction-type articles (cigar & shoe boxes, toilet paper rolls, etc.) and construction toys (Tinker Toys and blocks, and for my girls, Legos) used to make houses and entire towns were a big deal and my friends and I, as well as my daughters and their friends, could spend most of a day on these. And when a neighbor girl taught me how to make clothes for my paper dolls, it was the same thing - my friends and I would spend hours making the clothes and then hours on top of that playing with the dolls. I remember Betsy Wetsy, too!ReplyDelete


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Jeweled Concrete
The house was built with four floors on a steep hill and was surrounded on three sides by terraced gardens. The front looked out on a gritty Philadelphia street of the working middle class. Monsters lived in our coal cellar and fairies lived in the woods.
Across the street, there was a run down old mansion that was nearly abandoned except for two hippies living in a couple of rooms with their kids and pets. The acres of land that belonged to the house had turned wild but in the spring some vestiges of what used to be would push their way through the sumac and the weeds and it was easy to imagine the former grandeur of the property that was now our wild playground.
In the spring we spent hours climbing the flowering fruit trees and playing hide-n-seek. I would collect buckets of sweet-smelling flowers and try to make perfume out of them, hoping that maybe this time it wouldn't turn into a rotten mess again. I loved that first day of spring, when the wind would shift and become a little warmer and friendlier after the long winter.
In the summer, we would spend hours in my friend Brigid's pool trying to stay cool. The fireflies came out at night and danced all around our houses and the end of the day always came too soon no matter how much we tried to ignore the deepening dusk. Tomorrow never came fast enough.
In the fall and winter, we spent more time indoors inventing games and believing we were anything we wanted to be. Veterinarians (poor Worthless and Eddie), magicians, radio DJ's, princesses, ballerinas, chefs, anything we could think of. When we played outside we built ice palaces and luge tracks. Anything we could all pile onto and slide down the hills faster and faster was fair game to be "borrowed". We lived with the conviction that anything was possible; all we had to do was dream of it.
My parents made that house a home, even if it wasn't their dream house. My father made a vegetable garden and a sandbox for us and planted bushes and flowers all around the yard. My parents set up a little wading pool to help combat the scorching heat of summer. Mom would make lunch in the summer and the three of us girls would sit around the table, tan and relaxed together and my dad looked proudly at the women in his life. I think he always knew to savor those moments.
As one of my father's home improvement projects, he built a new fence in the back yard. The old one was rotting away and since the back of the property dropped off to a long steep hill, the fence served a purpose beyond keeping others out. This would be the first I recall of many of his home improvement projects in several houses over the years. As he was pouring the concrete for the fence posts, he called my sister and me down to where he was working.
In the wet concrete, two little girls made their handprints and then decorated it with plastic jewelry beads that were, in our minds, precious stones of sapphire, ruby and diamond. It was our monument to that place and time, our jeweled concrete.
It has been many years since we left that place, my definition of home. I have struggled to find another but I think home is not just a place, but the intersection of a time, a place and people that you love. Once the world moves on it is hard to recapture what used to be but still I search, not for that home but for another moment in time, where I am in the place and with people where I am home again.
Posted from Munich
8 comments:
- J said...
I had been wondering how you came up with the title of your blog, so thanks for this post.
As far as your comments about 'home' go, I completely agree. It's not a specific place, it's more of a feeling. I'm still looking for it too.
- J said...
Oh, I've just reread your post and saw that this 'home' was in Philly. What part? I spent 10 months on the Main Line a while back.
- lobstah said...
Very cool posting...so many memories...
I've always wanted to go back and look for those handprints.
- Expat Traveler said...
I think I had that feeling in Switzerland truely. I miss it a lot but I think I've finally gotten that feeling back again, 4 years later...
- Michelle said...
j. - thanks for the comments. We lived in a part of Philly near Manayunk before it was revitalized.
Sis - wouldn't it be cool to see it still there? a few times I almost went to check it out when I was in philly but never actually did.
expat - lucky you that you found "home" a few times in your life. It's been over 20 years and as U2 say I still haven't found what I'm looking for. Maybe this will be it... who knows??
Ahh the ever common what does my name mean post ;-)
Is it sad I guessed this was coming? not only the title revelation but how you got it?
We did a similar thing at camp when I was a kid but we made concrete from scratch and beat the shit out of each other in the process
- kyle
- rebecca said...
Great post, Michelle, reminded me of a lot of my own childhood stories- I hadn't thought about the "lightning bugs" in the summer for a while. It's a weird feeling when your parents sell the house you grew up in- my parents did just last year, and I still somehow expect to end up in that house when I fly back to Pittsburgh and have to remind myself they live elsewhere now.
- Betsy said...
What a great post! I've always wondered how you got the title and somehow missed this link!
I love that you had a cat named Worthless! We had a dog named Silly and I'll bet they would have gotten on famously! :-)


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I want to get the new KH game just because it has TWEWY and Tron Legacy in it but alas, I do not own a 3DS. I lost faith in the KH series since all they make is spin off games now but maybe this one will bring me back. I should really break TWEWY out for another play through XD


text: This book presents an authoritative account of the part played by Britain in the research and development of the first atomic bombs. In addition to explaining the contributions in scientists and scientific ideas that Great Britain made, the author also reveals the political and administrative problems of this project from the British perspective. The first part of the book examines British studies on the feasibility of a bomb. The next two sections discuss the collaboration between British and American projects, the problems that the collaboration incurred, and the exodus of British scientists to North America as the 1940s and the war progressed. Appendices include the Frisch-Peierls Memorandum and the Maud Reports.


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This project does require adult supervision as it uses boiling water and borax (which must not be ingested). A small child could help by stirring the mixture if they can be careful not to splash the hot water. My 5 and 7 year olds did a great job with this part. I did not let my 2 year old do any of the stirring.
To do this project you will need:
(sugar or salt can be used in its place, it just takes longer for the crystals to form)
I found my borax at Wal-mart next to the laundry detergent.
It is suggested that you use 3 tbsp. of borax to 1 cup of water. I didn't measure my water and some of my jars seemed to be a little too diluted because the crystals took longer to form or just didn't form as many.
Gently lower the pipe cleaner shape into the water and place it somewhere where it can sit undisturbed for an entire day. Yes, patience is needed in order for the crystals to form.
In the summer we made this using borax.


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ANNAPOLIS, Md., March 27, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Solar Wind Energy Tower, Inc. (OTCQB: SWET), (the "Company") announced today that Solar Wind Energy is collaborating with Providence Energy Corporation, a privately-owned company from Dallas, Texas, on t
ANNAPOLIS, Md., March 27, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Solar Wind Energy Tower, Inc. (OTCQB: SWET), (the "Company") announced today that Solar Wind Energy is collaborating with Providence Energy Corporation, a privately-owned company from Dallas, Texas, on the development of the first Solar Wind Energy Downdraft Tower located in San Luis, Arizona on the US/Mexico border. The Solar Wind Energy Downdraft Tower will provide clean renewable energy at a cost more favorable than nuclear plants with no negative impacts to our planet.
Providence Energy is a nationally recognized leader in clean and environmentally friendly development of domestic oil and gas resources and has been investing in the generation of diversified sources of alternative energy for several years. Providence currently owns and manages over 4 million net mineral acres in 34 states with royalty and working interests in over 20,000 producing wells. Providence is primarily focused on unconventional oil and gas formations and has a strong presence in nearly all major basins across the country, but has invested substantially renewables over the past decade. The company has both invested in the R&D of innovative green technologies and also been actively developing renewable generation projects across the Americas.
Ronald W. Pickett, CEO, stated, "We have been in discussions with Providence Energy for several months about the development of our first Downdraft Energy Tower project in Arizona. Providence Energy and their various subsidiaries have extensive experience and expertise in partnerships with energy exploration, production, generation companies, as well as renewables across the Americas. Providence Energy has taken a position in Solar Wind Energy Tower, Inc., and we welcome their expert development assistance in making our first Tower Project a reality."
About Solar Wind Energy, Inc. Solar Wind Energy, Inc. (Solar Wind Energy), a wholly owned subsidiary of Solar Wind Energy Tower, Inc., was established to commercialize a number of proven, validated technologies and construction systems into a single large Solar Wind Downdraft Tower structure that produces abundant, inexpensive electricity. Our Company's core objective and focus is to become a leading provider of clean, efficient green energy to the world communities, at a reasonable cost, without the destructive residuals of fossil fuels, while continuing to generate innovative technological solutions for tomorrow's electrical power needs.
Innovative Renewable Hybrid Solar / Wind Energy Technology We view ourselves as a hybrid solar/wind technology, reflected in the name, Solar Wind Energy Tower, Inc. The simplicity of our solution is comprised of harnessing the natural power of a downdraft created within the confines of our Solar Wind Downdraft Tower structure, a hollow cylinder reaching skyward into the hot, dry atmosphere heated by the solar rays of the sun. The water introduced by the injection system near the top of the Tower evaporates and is absorbed by the hot, dry air. The air becomes cooler, denser and heavier than the outside warmer air and falls through the cylinder at speeds up to and in excess of 50 mph and is diverted into wind tunnels surrounding the base of the Tower where turbines inside the tunnels power generators to produce electricity.
Downdraft Tower Will Produce Abundant, Inexpensive electricityThe Company has successfully managed to downsize and economize the Tower, reducing expected capital costs and improving projected financial performance. The Company recently announced the completion of weather data models that confirm the first tower height can be lowered from 3,000 feet down to 2,250 feet. This development was made possible by utilizing our recently announced software which can calculate and predict energy production by our Solar Wind Downdraft Towers given local weather data. By feeding the weather data for southwestern Arizona/ Northern Mexico into the program, the Tower's height and diameter can be adjusted along with the amount of water added as fuel to create a desired amount of energy. The outcome dictates the optimum size of the Towers height and width.
Under the most recent design specifications, the first San Luis Tower is expected to have a design capacity on an hourly basis, of up to 1,250 megawatt hours, gross. Using a 60% capacity factor, we expect the Tower's potential hourly yield equates to 600 megawatt hours, from which approximately 18.5% will be used to power its operations, yielding approximately 500 megawatt hours available for sale to the power grid. Factoring in lower capacities during winter days, the average daily output for sale to the grid for the entire year is approximately 435 megawatt hours per day. Currently in California avoided costs are running approximately $0.11 per kilowatt hour. As an independent power producer of clean renewable energy, the Company will be selling power directly to the power grid rather than directly to consumers.
In addition to constructing Solar Wind Downdraft Towers in the United States and abroad, the Company intends to establish partnerships at home and abroad to propagate these systems and meet increasing global demand for electricity. Solar Wind Energy has assembled a team of experienced business professionals, engineering and scientific consultants with the proven ability to bring the idea to market. Solar Wind Energy has filed and been issued patents that the Company believes will further enhance this potentially revolutionary technology. Solar Wind Energy, Inc. is based in Annapolis, MD, and is traded on the OTCQB under the symbol 'SWET'. For more information visit www.solarwindenergytower.com.
About Providence Energy Corporation Providence Energy Corporation is a national leader in the domestic unconventional natural gas plays and was one of the first on the ground in the Marcellus Shale in Pennsylvania and West Virginia. The company has been primarily focused on buying oil and gas properties across the country and partnering with well-known operators such as Chesapeake Energy, Chief Oil & Gas and Chevron to develop the resources. Providence has also been pursuing diversified sources of alternative energy for several years and is currently developing waste-to-energy, hydropower, wind, and solar projects across North, Central, and South America. The company's oil and gas properties are managed by the subsidiaries Providence Minerals LLC, PEC Minerals LP, and Somerset Minerals LP. Cheyenne, a recently formed Exploration and Production arm, has secured over 1 million leasehold acres in the Mississippi Lime formation in Kansas and Oklahoma. Providence Renewables, LLC, led by Michael P. Childers, is primarily focused on developing, owning, and operating Waste-to-Energy, Biomass, and Hydro-Electric power plants both domestically and internationally. Through the subsidiaries Synergy Renewables, LLC and Hydro Green Energy, LLC, the company has quickly become a major player in these emerging alternative energy markets. Synergy Renewables finances, designs, permits, constructs and operates its projects facilities utilizing solid waste generated by municipalities and disposed of by local governments. Synergy is a joint venture between Providence and BP Capital/Mesa Power and brings a wealth of energy knowledge and experience to the sector. www.synergyrenew.com
Contact:Solar Wind Energy, Inc.1997 Annapolis Exchange Parkway Suite 300Annapolis, Maryland 21401Phone: 410-972-4713E-mail: email@example.com
Investor RelationsScott ArnoldPhone: (310) 497 8817Email: firstname.lastname@example.com
Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking StatementsStatements included in this release may constitute "forward-looking statements". Actual results may differ materially from those projected in forward-looking statements. Such statements involve a number of risks and uncertainties such as competitive factors, technological development, market demand and the Company's ability to obtain new contracts and accurately estimate revenues, if any, due to variability in size, scope and duration of projects, and internal issues in the sponsoring client. Further information on potential factors that could affect the Company's financial results, can be found in the Company's various filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).
Solar Wind Energy Tower, Inc.


text:
SANFORD, Fla. — The former neighborhood watch volunteer charged in the fatal shooting of Florida teenager Trayvon Martin can leave the county where he lives so he can meet with his attorneys, a judge said Friday.
Judge Kenneth Lester said he will adjust George Zimmerman's bond terms so he can have easier access to his lawyers. The terms of Zimmerman's $1 million bond that were set last month had required him to stay within Seminole County, where the unarmed 17-year-old was shot in February.
Zimmerman is charged with second-degree murder and has pleaded not guilty. He maintains he shot Martin in self-defense.
Zimmerman wasn't charged with second-degree murder until 44 days after the shooting. During that time, protesters around the nation demanded Zimmerman's arrest, and the Sanford Police Department was accused of racism and incompetence.
He'll now be allowed to travel to nearby Orange County, where the offices of his attorneys are located. Any other movement will require he provide a detailed itinerary for continued GPS monitoring.
Mark O'Mara, Zimmerman's lead attorney, said the allowance by the judge will make it a lot easier for his client to participate in the preparation of his defense.
Zimmerman, his wife and several family members have been in hiding since the shooting, fearing for their safety.
O'Mara said it is possible he will ask the judge to expand the order to allow Zimmerman to reside in Orange County as well.
"Or other places," he said. "I don't think he needs to be limited to central Florida. I don't think he needs to be limited to Florida because of some of the threats and danger that's still out there."
So far, Zimmerman's defense fund holds about $60,000 to $70,000, O'Mara said Friday. Zimmerman's finances have come front and center in the case after the judge revoked Zimmerman's first bond, saying he had lied to the court about how much money his website had raised.
Ruling on another defense request, Lester also said he'll personally review some medical records to determine if they must be handed over to prosecutors.
The records in question are from a clinic where Zimmerman sought care the day after the Feb. 26 shooting. They detail injuries that Zimmerman says he suffered in a fight with Martin immediately before the shooting. Zimmerman had two black eyes, a broken nose and two cuts to the back of his head.
It is important evidence because Zimmerman maintains Martin was beating his head against the concrete and led him to feel a need defend himself.
Prosecutor Bernie de la Rionda said he wants to make sure there aren't other records from the clinic because the state has so far received only a three-page report that did not include X-rays or other records.
De la Rionda also said he wants to be sure that Zimmerman didn't have any previous injuries to his nose or head before Feb. 26.
O'Mara said that he doesn't believe anything in the records would harm his client's case and that he is fighting the release to protect Zimmerman's privacy.
"You just don't waive all your constitutional rights to privacy just because you're a criminal defendant," O'Mara said.


text:
By Dan Merica, CNN
Washington (CNN) – A prominent atheist group is using next month's Democratic National Convention to take aim at the presidential candidates' religion, putting up billboards targeting Mormonism and Christianity in Charlotte, North Carolina.
"Our political system is rife with religion and it depends too much on religion and not enough on substance," said David Silverman, president of American Atheists, sponsor of the ads.
"Religion is silly and religion has components that are inherently divisive. … There is no place for any of that in the political system," he said.
The billboards go up Monday in Charlotte and will stay up for a month at a cost of roughly $15,000. The Democratic convention runs September 3-6.
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To be honest, I'm not wild about either of the billboards shown in the article. I foresee a LOT of bitching about their content (though the content is accurate), but not a lot of rational discussion (par for the course). I wonder if a campaign could be built simply around Silverman's words:
Our political system is rife with religion and it depends too much on religion and not enough on substance.
Just a thought.
I felt the same way, I thought the proposed billboards were childish honestly, they need to be more 'provocative' than 'provocational'.
I quite agree with your idea, that quote seems more rational to me.
Yeah, if we are shooting for outcomes, I think those inflammatory statements will do more harm than good.
I think the timing of the ads has been very ill chosen unless they are also going to suggest a way to reduce the unemployment rate. In my opinion people really don't care what religion which candidate is right now. They care about which candidate is going to do the most for them in terms of providing financial security. In my opinion the ads will amount to Atheism leading with its chin to be knocked out by theists and fence sitters who will claim that rather than addressing the very serious economic problems that should be getting all but exclusive consideration they are serving as no more than irritating distractions that pull focus off of meaningful solutions regarding who gets what in terms of economical accommodation. Simply put, I think the ads will demonstrate a lack of couth on the part of Atheism that will turn a lot of people off to It. Atheism should not be doing counterproductive things much less spending money on them. If It doesn't come off as something good and nice it is my opinion that it will never prevail because people will be too reluctant to be labeled villains.
Utterly agreed. The ads are tastelessly confrontational rather than fostering civil discussion on the issue. I don't know where David Silverman is getting his P.R. advice from, but I wish he would reconsider.
Maybe it's time for a letter / email campaign to American Atheists and David Silverman to state OUR take on this business and suggest a rethink on the billboards as they are.
He is also on Facebook.
It would have to be non-offensive. The objective would be to bring him around rather than alienate him. It's easy to demonstrate worship as ridiculous. Perhaps there should be a recommendation that basic Atheist strategy consist of doing so in a mind opening way before making the point that worship isn't necessary for one to be humanely oriented anyway. I think the most important thing to overcome in dismantling religion is the misconception that that one cannot be good without practicing it.
My intent is to phrase my input to American Atheists much as I have here - something to the effect of the following:
I have misgivings regarding the billboards which American Atheists is considering sponsoring in coordination with the Democratic National Convention. Both of them have the potential of being perceived as confrontational and creating a negative rather than a constructive reaction by believers who will see them. I would prefer something built around David Silverman's quote: "Our political system is rife with religion and it depends too much on religion and not enough on substance," which might at least be the basis for opening a dialog.
I urge you to reconsider the content you wish to promote.
Problem is, the horse may have already left the barn on this one, as the billboards may already be prepped and ready to put up. A damned shame, because I really DO NOT want to be represented as an atheist in that fashion.
I don't know his e-mail. Do you know it? My intent would be to emphasize that the adds would likely be considered irritating in that context and, as such, could constitute a shot in the foot. I would attempt to make the point that they would be too far off the agenda to be taken seriously and, as such, might serve as a lightening rod for criticism even by some who would, otherwise, entertain them.
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Last month's edition of "Motion Control" introduced the VCCM equation:
fL = PSAPE –v2(APE3 ÷ KVPL2) (1+ρV2 ÷ ρC2)
where fL is the load force that must be overcome,
PS is supply pressure,
APE is the cylinder size,
v is the speed of cylinder propulsion,
KVPL is the degree to which the valve is open,
ρV is the symmetry of the valve, and
ρC is the cylinder area ratio (cap side of piston area/rod side area).
The pressure drop across the valve is implicit in the equation.
When the VCCM equation is interpreted, evaluated and graphed, the result is the force-velocity operating envelope, shown below. The force-velocity operating envelope describes the operational boundaries for a given cylinder, supply pressure and valve coefficients. The graph can be calculated for any system when the supply pressure, cylinder area, valve coefficient, valve ratio, and the cylinder area ratio are known.
These five parameters are evaluated for single rod-end cylinders under both extending and retracting conditions, then a range of values is selected for the output velocity, v. Next, the load force is calculated using the VCCM equation. When the data points are plotted, the graph displays all four quadrants of cylinder operation:
I. Motoring — The cylinder extends with a load that opposes extension.
II. Pumping —The cylinder extends with a load that assists the extension (over-running).
III. Motoring — The cylinder retracts with a load that opposes retraction.
IV. Pumping — The cylinder retracts with a load that assists retraction (over-running).
The two pumping quadrants are encountered most often when decelerating massive loads. When decelerating a load, the cylinder becomes a pump, converting mechanical load energy into hydraulic energy, which the valve dissipates in its metering lands. If the force required to produce deceleration is excessive, the pressure in the filling end of the cylinder drops below atmospheric pressure, which can cause cavitation. Fortunately, because motion control simultaneously controls acceleration, speed, and position, systems can be designed that avoid cavitation.
Stay in the envelope
Proper system design requires that all necessary operating points lie within the operating envelope. It is normal to seek out the worst cast operating point, usually where the force-velocity product is maximum (maximum power), and ensure that the operating envelope encompasses that point. If that point is indeed the worst-case operating point, then, by definition, all other required operating points are less demanding. Therefore, they must lie within the operating envelope.
The illustration at right represents the limits for a system that is already designed — all components and the operating pressure have been established. At design time, the components and supply pressure must be selected so that the worst-case operating point lies within the operating envelope.
The illustration represents a system that was designed to produce 15,000 lb of stall force and a slew speed of 25.5 in./sec while extending. The supply pressure is 1200 psi, the cylinder has a 4-in. bore, and the rod diameter is 3 in. This produces a retraction envelope with a stall force of 11,250 lb and a retract slew speed of about 23 in./sec.
The maximum over-running load without cavitation while extending is about 6500 lb. But while retracting, the maximum over-running load is about 26,700 lb. This defines the complete operating envelope. Any combination of force and velocity that falls within this envelope can be propelled by the system.
Forces and velocities
Force-velocity combinations outside the envelope cannot be accommodated. The degree of servo or proportional valve opening must be changed to reach force-velocity combinations within the envelope. In manually operated systems, the human operator performs this chore. In a closed-loop motion control system, the servo loop automatically adjusts the degree of valve opening to meet load and command requirements.
The stall force is defined as that force great enough so that the hydraulic force is too low to overcome the load, so the cylinder comes to a stop. Mathematically, it is so great that the speed in the VCCM equation becomes zero. At that point, the entire the velocity term (v2) vanishes, and we are left with the calculated stall force:
fL,stall = Ps × APE
It should be evident that the stall force is nothing more than the entire supply pressure applied to the piston's powered end area. Further observation reveals that the velocity term represents the loss in cylinder force caused by the pressure loss across the valve lands. In other words, the actual cylinder output force is equal to a theoretical stall force minus that force lost because of the control valve lands.
Also note that as valve coefficient KVPL increases, the loss term decreases. Common practice in conventional hydraulic circuit design is to size the control valve so it exhibits very low pressure drop. This is the same as saying the valve has a high valve coefficient. In such cases, the pressure drop across the valve is small, the force loss is small, and the calculated force merely becomes the supply pressure times the powered end area.
Two different stall force values exist: one for extending and one for retracting. They are important points on the operating envelope. Specifically, they identify the points where the actuator velocity is zero.
Another key point on the operating envelope is the slew speed, which is the intercept on the velocity axis corresponding to zero load force. It can be calculated from the VCCM equation by setting the load force to zero and solving for v.
Solving for v yields two different values, one for extending and one for retracting. An interesting aspect of the slew speed for valve-controlled, single rod-end cylinders, is that slew speed for extension is greater than slew speed for retraction, which is just the opposite of pump-controlled cylinders.
Avoiding cavitation
The last key point on the operating envelope is the condition of impending cavitation. It is found by setting the pressure in the powered end of the cylinder to zero, then solving for the conditions that will produce the condition. In that development, we find that the maximum deceleration force (over-running load) without cavitation is given by:
fL,max = (1+ρv2/ρc3) APE × PS
which applies to both extension and retraction with the proper interpretation of the valve and cylinder ratios. The amount of the overrunning load force must be less than the value calculated in the above equation, because no good comes of cavitation.
But in the world of servo and proportional valve control, if the valve truly controls the flow into the actuator, then the pressure drop across the valve be must be substantial. In fact, in a true valve controlled system, the pressure drop across the valve will normally vary from nearly zero to nearly the supply pressure as the load moves, accelerates, decelerates, and stops. This means that the velocity term (also called the force loss term) cannot be ignored. Instead, it is essential, because it is the means by which the valve asserts its control function into the circuit.
This is the so-called velocity term. It should be looked at in the context of the entire VCCM equation. Note that if velocity, v, is zero, the entire velocity term is zero. That is, at zero speed, there is no pressure loss across the valve's metering lands. This is not a profound conclusion. Zero speed is also the stall condition, where the load force is so great that system pressure acting on the cylinder area cannot move the piston.
If the load force is relaxed, the speed will increase, and a larger and larger value for the velocity term will be subtracted from the stall force, leaving less force available at the cylinder rod. Note that the velocity term (force loss) increases by the square of the speed.
An interesting side note to the velocity term is its role in conventional" hydraulics. In such scenarios, it is not at all unusual to select valves that have such a great degree of opening that they result in negligible pressure drop. In terms of the VCCM equation and the velocity term, this is a situation in which KVPL is so large as to make the velocity term small. The point is that the VCCM equation is very general and applies both to conventional as well as servo or proportional hydraulics. The bottom line, though, is that with the best valve control that modern technology has to offer — control by means of electrically modulated valves — there must be substantial pressure, force, and power loss to avoid sacrificing good control.
High efficiency and pressure compensation from a fixed displacement pump?
Designing a successful closed-loop electrohydraulic motion control system usually starts with providing a constant pressure source. The traditional solution has been to provide a variable-displacement pump and accumulators in the hydraulic power unit.
However, a textbook written by well-known fluid power author and lecturer Jack Johnson, P.E. and Brian Johnson provides a detailed engineering study of a pressure-compensated system that uses a fixed-displacement pump and no relief valves. Titled An Engineering Analysis of the Pulse Width Modulation Method of Controlling Output Pressure of a Hydraulic Power Supply, it is as efficient as a conventional pressure compensated pump.
You can read about the complete test results, but more importantly, you can learn all you need to design and build your own low cost, efficient constant pressure power units for both servo and conventional applications.
The soft-bound book, ISBN 097022591, contains 128 pages and can be purchased at the H&P bookstore. To ask the author a question about the book's technical content, email [email protected].


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What if there were a lie at the heart of Obamacare?
Not that one. What if there were an underlying falsehood on which Obamacare was based – not just the well-known and oft-repeated, "If you like your health-care plan, you can keep your health-care plan."
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A report from Gallup Politics documents it, and talk-radio icon Rush Limbaugh launched a diatribe about it.
"Every finding in this Gallup story goes against what we have had drummed into us by Obama," Limbaugh said.
The bottom line is that Americans "remain generally positive about the quality of health care they personally receive, their health-care coverage and what they pay for health care."
That means, Limbaugh explained, that the stated reason for Obamacare – the claim that the whole health-care system is broken and unfixable – was wrong.
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"Everybody's been sold a bill of goods," he said. "Most people are and have been very happy with the current health-care system."
Limbaugh said there was "not a massive national problem with health care in America."
"Seventy percent of the American people were happy with the American health-care system," he noted.
He said the false information was spread – and repeated – because the administration "wanted to control it, take it over and reform it."
If such circumstances had developed among private enterprise, he said, it would constitute "fraud."
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The Gallup report by Frank Newport looked at health-care costs, coverage and quality.
"Americans continue to be much more positive about their own personal health-care situations than about the health-care situation nationally," the report said.
"This suggests that Americans may be responding negatively to the new health-care law at least partly because the majority don't perceive personal problems with their health-care that urgently need addressing."
The report looked at five key topics. The first was "Americans' views of their own health-care coverage are quite positive, and much higher than the ratings they give healthcare coverage in the country more generally."
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The report said 69 percent of Americans "rate their personal health-care coverage as excellent or good."
And it says Americans' ratings of their own health-care coverage "have remained remarkably steady over the past decade – and always much higher than their ratings of the nation's coverage."
Secondly, the report said a majority of Americans remain satisfied with the cost of their health care.
Gallup first asked Americans about the cost of health care in the U.S. in 1993, when President Bill Clinton and first lady Hillary Clinton introduced a national health care plan.
At that point, the report said, only 8 percent of Americans were satisfied.
But satisfaction with health-care costs has been higher over the past decade or so, ranging from 17 percent to 28 percent.
The current 24 percent is slightly above the average since 2001.
The report found Americans "are quite positive about the quality of health care they personally receive."
Their ratings of health-care quality nationally are less positive, but a majority still view it favorably, the report said.
Gallup found 54 percent of Americans rate the quality of health care in the country as excellent or good, down slightly from previous years.
"This measure has fluctuated somewhat since 2001, from a high of 62 percent in 2010 and 2012 to a low of 53 percent in 2001 and 2005-2006," the report said.
"Almost eight in 10 Americans (79 percent) rate the quality of health care they personally receive as excellent or good, roughly at the average on this combined positive measure since 2001."
Fourth, the report said most Americans "do not believe that the U.S. health-care system is in crisis, but they do think it has major problems."
And lastly, the report said Americans "now view health care as the second-most-important problem facing the country."
"More than twice as many Americans now mention health care as the nation's most important problem than was the case just a few months ago, most likely reflecting the focus on the health-care law and health-care insurance exchanges when the survey was conducted in early November."
The report found that "the majority of Americans give their own healthcare relatively high ratings" even as the "current efforts to reform health care are taking place."
The results come from a random sample of 1,039 adults ages 18 and up living in all 50 states and the District of Columbia.
The sample's margin of error is 4 percentage points plus or minus.
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Due to the wet weather this spring, farmers enrolled in the Supplemental Revenue Assistance Program (SURE) are being asked to have their hay crops tested.
"There is a lot of 2010 hay that has suffered quality loss," said Scherrie V. Giamanco, U.S. Department of Agriculture Farm Service Agnecy executive director.
She said tests must be conducted for each cutting.
FSA requires farmers who are enrolled in the SURE program to maintain written, verifiable evidence indicating both the quality loss and the production quantity loss.
The 11th annual master showmanship contest, sponsored by the Illinois Farm Bureau, will be held next Wednesday at 8 p.m. in the Junior Livestock Barn at the Illinois State Fairgrounds in Springfield.
The master showmanship contest recognizes 4-H members who have excelled at showing animals in their county fairs.
They are judged on their handling of each of three species of animals: beef, sheep and swine.
Then they are quizzed by judges on their knowledge of animal husbandry and livestock production.
The Fayette County Farm Service Agency will conduct a Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) general signup through Aug. 27.
Producers with cropland not currently enrolled in CRP, or producers with CRP contracts expiring on Sept. 30, 2010, may submit offers.
Land must have been planted, or considered planted four out of six crop years from 2002-2007.
CRP contracts may be 10 or 15 years in length. Producers must have owned or operated the land for at least 12 months prior to Aug. 27, 2010. Recorded deeds will be required to prove ownership.
South Central FS of Vandalia and Total Grain Marketing (TGM) of Effingham this week announced an agreement through which South Central FS will join TGM, effective Aug. 31.
TGM is a regional grain marketing venture, formed in 2006 by Effingham-Clay Service Co., Wabash Valley Service Co. and Growmark Inc. (the parent company of South Central FS).
Byron Sikma, South Central FS general manager, said that joining TGM provides farmers greater access to grain markets.
Field demonstrations will are an integral part of the Farm Progress Show, also known as the "World's Fair of Agriculture," set to be held near Boone, Iowa, Aug. 31-Sept. 2.
Three types of demonstrations are planned for this year's show, weather permitting, said Matt Jungmann, Farm Progress national shows manager.
Precipitation was sporadic throughout the state last week. Rainfall totals ranged from .38 inches in Central Illinois to 1.14 inches in Southern Illinois. Some farmers reported flooding and standing water that hindered crop development.
However, most farmers reported dry conditions that allowed them to continue mowing and spraying, with a state average of 5.3 days suitable for fieldwork.
The state averaged .63 inches of rainfall, which is .13 inches below normal. Temperatures averaged 77.1 degrees, which is 2.7 degrees above normal.
After setting a record high in 2008, U.S. farm production expenditures decreased by nearly $20 billion in 2009 – the first major decline in nearly a quarter century, according to the Farm Production Expenditures 2009 summary released this week by the U.S. Department of Agriculture's National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS).
The average production expenditures per farm fell 6.4 percent in 2009, from $140,075 to $131,137. Total U.S. expenditures totaled $287 billion, down from $307 billion in 2008.
Clayton Whitten bales hay Tuesday afternoon on land along Zent Drive north of Vandalia. Recent rains have made for strong hay crops – if farmers can time it right to cut it, dry it and bale it before the next rains come. With temperatures in the mid 90s and humidity high, it was a hot job on Tuesday.
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