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Gary Oldman's measured performance as the quiet British intelligence officer George Smiley may not be the flashiest role of his career, but it still delivers pyrotechnics all its own. As Oscar buzz builds for his stint in "Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy," director Tomas Alfredson's adaptation of John le Carre's seminal 1974 espionage thriller, Oldman talks to PopcornBiz about becoming the anti-Bond, not breaking a sweat as an actor, and his (presumably) final stint as Batman's police ally Jim Gordon in "The Dark Knight Rises."
On George Smiley, last played on screen by Sir Alec Guinness in the 1979 BBC television miniseries:
"I knew who the character was. I'm old enough to have seen the series. He's like an owl, George. He's got those big eyes behind those specs. He sees everything and hears everything. It's nice to play a character like that. It's nice to be the smartest man in the room. Often I play characters that think they're smart but they're not very smart. He's so poker faced. He's just like a sleeping volcano. He's there but it's all underneath."
On the pluses of having a story that allowed him to portray the role with ease:
"If you break a sweat, you're working too hard. This is not only a good script, but it's also supported by the book and the paring down of this piece. Obviously we had to throw a lot of pages out. Tomas has condensed something into one, a composition, four lines and a look, but you feel that you've got the support, the subtext. You bring the book with you every day. It's rare. Because a script is like your emotional map of the world, and often with bad writing you're being asked to make sort of jumps and leaps. Lines don't flow. There's inconsistency in it and you're making it work. You're working very hard to make it work, and when you get something that flows it's like working on Miller or Mamet: you know that you're supported by it. You're not fighting it. It takes you."
On when it is and isn't time to pull out all the acting stops:
U.S. & World
"When you go into work in the morning and you know that you've got a big, emotional scene and it could be physical or a fight that you have or it could just be you, you get to work and think, 'I've got to sort of climb that mountain a bit today.' You never know if it's going to be there. There are days that when it comes easier than others, but what was nice about George is that I knew when I got there that I wouldn't be doing any of that. I would just be sitting in a chair and I would listen. I loved playing Drexl [in 1993's 'True Romance'], but it was a four-day shoot or whatever. I've played so many of those. I remember doing 'The Dark Knight' and looking at what Heath [Ledger] was doing. It was dazzling. You could tell very early on just how marvelous he was being, and I remember thinking, 'Rather you than me.' I was quite happy to be playing Jim Gordon. Maybe it's age. Maybe you just start to get a little older."
On the pleasures of getting second and third shots at playing a role:
"I've been extremely lucky, because I was not only in 'Harry Potter' in a role that I reprised, but also Jim Gordon. To get one franchise is lucky; to get two is kind of greedy, isn't it? My fellow actors are like '…AND he's in "Batman." God, I hate him.' I'll tell you what it's like: you don't see family. You're busy. You're on the road, and then at Thanksgiving or Christmas, that's when most people all reconnect and that's a little what it's like. It's kind of like that. You don't see people for a couple of years, three years and then you go back on the set and there's [director] Chris [Nolan] and there's [producer] Emma [Thomas] and there's [director of photography] Wally Pfister and there's Christian [Bale] and all the gang. Some new faces, but it feels sort of like family, like all of a sudden you're getting back together. Both experiences have been good. I mean, if you weren't having a good time, then going back could be hell, I guess."
On Jim Gordon's last stand in "The Dark Knight Rises":
"For us I think it's the end. Whether they will make more, my guess is probably…I mean, they [Warner Bros] don't have 'Potter' anymore! So, there could be a 'Batman' 4 and a 5. It may be Chris overseeing it in a producerial position, but for us and for Chris I think that's it. It's a great way to go out though. It's a great story – Epic, epic thing, it is. I think Chris strikes me as someone who's too smart and sort of too classy to just sort of make a third for the sake of making it. I don't think that's who he is. I remember way back saying to him, 'Is there going to be a third?' He said, 'If I can get the story right. I've got to outdo myself. I've got to do it better than "The Dark Knight." I've just got to get it right.' He set the bar very high, and so he said, 'If I can find a story that interests me I will do it.'
On the specific mark he's left on the character of Gordon, part of Batman's world since 1939:
"I have to go back to that Rolling Stone review: Peter Travers said that I'd made virtue look exciting, which you don't get many of. Once in a while you get one of those. That's all he said, but it was enough. Gordon's like George in that respect: It's moral certainty. With Smiley there's no narcissism. It's for queen and country. He's of that old school. I think if there's any remote connection between Smiley and Gordon it's that. It's that. It's nice to come in and be the moral kernel, in a way."
"Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy" begins its Award-season push this week. "The Dark Knight Rises" is coming July 20, 2012


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I will leave you with this and hopefully I can function today and work up the energy to write a decent post. Until then, remember that my bench is up for the best of February over at The Saturday Morning Blog. Head on over there and if you love my bench, will you
I woke up this morning to 150 followers! I am so excited and honored that 150 of you wish to follow this little blog of mine. I will be working on a Giveaway, stay tuned. Have a great Monday!

subset: commoncrawl


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The Copperas Cove ISD announced Wednesday it is cancelling classes at all of its schools through the end of the week after a series of nine bomb threats, in connection with which police have now arrested eight juveniles.
Schools will reopen Monday, the district said.
"The district is reviewing emergency procedures and strengthening them before students are allowed on campuses," Cove Superintendent Dr. Joe Burns said.
"We're doing everything in our power to provide a safe environment."
Burns also said the district wants to give police a chance to complete their investigation "without more threats thwarting those efforts," according to a press release issued Wednesday afternoon.
On its Facebook page, the district said parents or students who need to retrieve personal items left at schools because of evacuations may call on Thursday to arrange to have them picked up.
The move to close schools for the rest of the week comes after district officials announced just after 10 p.m. Tuesday that classes were canceled for the day Wednesday in all Cove schools.
The decision to close schools Wednesday was made after the district received the ninth threat Tuesday night, the third of the day.
Just after 2:30 p.m. Tuesday a threat was reported at Copperas Cove High School and 20 minutes later a second was reported at S. C. Lee Junior High School in connection with which a 14-year-old girl was arrested and charged with terroristic threat.
Then at around 9:30 p.m. Tuesday the ninth threat was reported at Copperas Cove Junior High School.
Meanwhile Tuesday afternoon police arrested a 13-year-old boy in connection with a threat on Dec. 7 at S. C. Lee Junior High. He was charged with terroristic threat.
Authorities have now made eight arrests in connection with earlier threats and the reward for information leading to arrests and prosecutions has been increased to $3,000.
District officials say they plan to sue to recoup the tens of thousands of dollars the threats have cost in direct expenses and lost instructional time.
"Each of these incidents costs about $22,000," Copperas Cove Superintendent told more than 250 parents and residents during a public meeting on the threats Monday night.
"When they prosecute and convict people for this we do intend to sue," he said.
School officials encouraged parents to supervise children and encourage them to speak up if they see something suspicious.
They acknowledged that police are currently investigating a threat that was found on Facebook that Copperas Cove High School will be "shot up and bombed" on Dec. 21, and said that while no truth has been found to the rumor, the district and police are making plans to heighten security on that day.
The meeting Monday came after more arrests were made in connection with the series of six bomb threats at three Cove schools.
Two were arrested on Friday and four more were taken into custody on Monday, police said.
A 13-year-old boy was arrested Monday and charged with terroristic threat in connection with the bomb threat at Copperas Cove Junior High School, which was evacuated Monday morning.
The boy was later released to his parents pending a hearing, police said.
It was the third bomb threat at the school in less than a week.
Parents were notified that students were being dismissed at 10 a.m. and that classes were canceled for the remainder of the day.
And police arrested three boys, ages 13, 14, and 15, Monday in connection with a bomb threat Friday at S. C. Lee Junior High School.
The teenagers were all charged with terroristic threat and were taken to the Bell County Juvenile Detention Facility pending a hearing.
Earlier Monday Copperas Cove police announced that two juveniles, one 13 and one 16, were in custody in the Bell County Juvenile Detention Facility in connection with the threats.
The 16-year-old was detained in connection with a threat Friday at Copperas Cove High School and was charged with terroristic threat.
The 13-year-old was detained in connection with the threat Friday at S. C. Lee Junior High School and was also charged with terroristic threat.
The first threat was found on Dec. 4, written on a wall in a restroom at Copperas Cove Junior High.
A student found the threat on the restroom wall in the 200 wing of the building following dismissal of classes.
The district didn't disclose the full content of the message, but said it indicated there would be a bomb in the school on Dec. 5.
Officers and a police K-9 unit searched the school until around 11:15 p.m. on Dec. 4, found no evidence of any threatening device and cleared the building for classes Dec. 5, although security was tightened.
On Dec. 5 Copperas Cove High School students were released at 11:30 a.m. after the discovery of a bomb threat written on a bathroom wall that led to the evacuation of the building.
Officials described the threat as non-specific.
A police K-9 unit was brought in to help search the school.
Copperas Cove Junior High School was evacuated last Thursday morning after a written bomb threat was discovered on the wall of a girl's restroom.
Students were taken to Bulldawg Stadium while five bomb-sniffing dogs from Fort Hood swept the building
Classes resumed at around 11:30 a.m. Thursday.
Copperas Cove High School was evacuated again Friday afternoon because of a bomb threat, but classes later resumed, and a threat was also reported at S.C. Lee Junior High.
No explosives were found in any of the incidents.
Investigators are asking anyone with information about the incidents to call Copperas Cove Crime Stoppers at (254) 547-1111.
Tips may also be submitted online.
The reward for information leading to an arrest and prosecution the threats was increased last to $3,000.


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Well, aw. I have to admit a fondness for Leonard Nimoy's Hobbit Song, but this is on a whole new level. For starters, it's actually good.
Songwriter Allie Goertz and vocalist Megan Barrett perform this heartwarming duet about Bilbo Baggins, the shire, and the quest that lies before him. It's great stuff.
Take a little musical break from your internet comings and goings and give it a listen. You'll be glad you did.
Stick around for the bridge:
There is a fire in the hearts of all Beyond the shire you may soon feel tall ooh-ooh
You can find Allie Goertz on facebook and check out her music on bandcamp.
[Thanks Gary!]


text: New homes UK > Hertfordshire > Hemel Hempstead > Aspen Park Make an enquiry for Aspen Park Enquiry Type Ask a question Arrange a viewing Send me a brochure Request a call back What is your question? * Your message... First name: * Last name: * Email: * Tel: * Budget: * Select budget... £400,000-£450,000£450,000-£500,000£500,000-£600,000£600,000-£700,000£700,000-£800,000£800,000-£900,000£900,000-£1,000,000£1,000,000+ Min no bedrooms: * Select min. no of beds... 123456 Please send me details of special offers and development updates * Yes No Are you a first time buyer? Yes No The information you provide in the form above will be passed to Bovis Homes in order for them to provide the information you require and to keep you informed of their news, special offers and future developments. They may do so by using any of the contact details you have provided. Please note that we will send the above details to Bovis Homes only. By creating an account you confirm that you agree to our website terms and conditions and the use of your information as detailed in our privacy policy.


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Located at St. Charles Ave and Amelia St in Uptown New Orleans, Superior Grill offers some of the most memorable (Tex)Mexican food and drinks the city has to offer. Founded in 1997, its convenient location on the St. Charles streetcar line (stop #21) contributes to big crowds and happy mouths for locals and tourists alike.
Superior Grill, affectionately known as simply "Superior," creates authentic Tex-Mex dishes from scratch every day, from nachos and burritos to enchiladas, quesadillas, and fajitas. They use only fresh ingredients and hand-rolled tortillas, and they cook their meats over a mesquite grill to give it that unique Superior flavor. Their menu is expansive and includes at least five choices for just about every Tex-Mex specialty you can think of.
Next to their food, their margaritas have made them legendary and an instant favorite for many. You can enjoy either two-for-one or a large for the price of a small for both margaritas and mixed drinks every day during their happy hour from 3:30 – 6:00pm. Their Superior Margaritas are available with freshly squeezed lime juice either frozen or on the rocks, and you can choose between the standard blend, top-shelf tequila, or flavored versions. But be careful—once you have one, you'll see the bottom of that cup more times than you'll care to admit.
They throw big, popular block parties throughout the year for Cinco de Mayo, St. Patrick's Day, and Thanksgiving Eve. But perhaps their biggest and most notorious nights take place during the biggest party of the year—Mardi Gras. As float after float passes by, Superior Grill hosts countless patrons throughout the festive season, and "Superior" becomes a common meeting ground for revelers of all stripes.
Located just a few blocks away from our B&B, Superior Grill is one of our favorite and most highly recommended hot spots in the nearby neighborhood. Whether you pop in for a happy hour margarita or bring the whole family in for dinner, you'll walk out feeling happy, satisfied, and dying for more.


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Mayan end times prophesies aside, it's Washington's effort to balance its books that might bring about Armageddon.
Business leaders and politicians worry about the potential for the U.S. economy to absorb a surge of spending cuts and tax increases early next year. Yet the scope of those tax hikes are far reaching.
Additionally, the fiscal cliff is hardly the only blow that an already battered economy could be forced to absorb.
Diving over the so-called cliff means, among other things, an end to the Bush-era tax cuts, which are set to expire on January 1. Virtually every working citizen would see an immediate cut in take home pay — even those not impacted by the Bush-era cuts — as a temporary payroll tax holiday expires, costing $95 billion in 2013 alone.
In the wake of President Barack Obama's reelection last week, political jockeying is already taking place over which tax brackets will see relief (the middle and lower ones), and which will likely face a higher tax bill come next year (those making over $250,000, which includes the much-vilified "one percent"). (Read More: Tax the Rich to Fix 'Fiscal Cliff': Larry Summers.)
In October, a joint analysis by the Urban Institute and the Urban-Brookings Tax Policy center estimated that fiscal cliff tax hikes could be as high as $536 billion. Meanwhile, about $100 billion worth of spending could be knocked off the federal budget next year, which is projected to hit soldiers, defense contractors, senior citizens and low-income earners particularly hard.
The investor class certainly won't emerge unscathed. Part of the fiscal cliff means tax hikes on dividends and capital gains. That could lead some stock investors to cash out of the market in anticipation of higher tax bills, heaping more pressure on a stock market that tumbled about 3% in the wake of last week's election. (Read more: Wealthy Dump Assets in Advance of Cliff.)
Against this backdrop, the Treasury Department is already warning the country is poised to hit its $16.4 trillion debt ceiling, the statutory limit the government is allowed to borrow.
It raises the prospect of yet another messy debt ceiling fight with Congress along the lines of the 2011 battle that led to Standard & Poor's stripping the U.S. of its prized AAA credit rating.
Meanwhile, with Obama having won a Supreme Court legal battle to keep his centerpiece health care law, businesses and consumers are barely a year away from the imposition of a new set of taxes. (Read more: ?)
As currently written, the law will hit anyone who doesn't have "qualifying" health insurance – a number the Congressional Budget Office estimates around six million. Meanwhile, employers who do not offer health coverage must pay a non-deductible tax of $2,000 for all full-time employees.
The ink on Obama's election certification papers was barely dry last week when a raft of companies announced they would lay off a mass of employees in order to avoid having to pay the health care tax.
Taken together, the U.S. government's effort to drain the federal budget of red ink suggests some of the more superstitious wags may be onto something when they warn about the end of the world this year. If an apocryphal Mayan prediction doesn't do it, a surge in taxes and spending cuts just might.


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MILTON — Dozens upon dozens of students attended the annual Milton Elementary School Christmas Craft Fair on Wednesday, a longstanding holiday tradition for the community.
Brenda Forcier, president of the Parent Teacher Association (PTA), said the children adore the opportunity to pick out special gifts for their loved ones. The items, various knickknacks, are donated by residents in town, churches and businesses and are priced for under $1.50. All the money is returned to the PTA fund, though Forcier stressed the event is not a fundraiser but a time for students to enjoy themselves before the winter break.
"It's just fun," she said. "…There are some store bought items but most of it is handcrafted items."
Nancy Drew, a Milton resident and former principal of the Milton Elementary School, said she can remember the fair event stretching back for the last 40 years, back to the time when the old red schoolhouse was located in Milton Mills. Drew said she still loves to attend the event and see what the children pick out for their loved ones.
"They look forward to it," she said. "We ask the community members to send in new or craft items, things that kids like to buy, and the children come down, basically like two at a time from each room so it's not so crowded, and the children shop … These tables were stuffed with handmade goods."
Volunteer students designated as "elf shoppers" from the National Honor Society at Nute High School also attended, to help students with their selection process and to assist in wrapping the presents they picked out. They were allowed up to three gifts each.
Student Chloe Wicks found the perfect gift for a family member while Ryan Hague, 9, continued to search for the ultimate selection.
Nute High student Brent Curlee, 16, volunteered to assist first-grader Logan Moody, 7, helping him to fill out tags for his loved ones.
Forcier estimated in all, about 250 students passed through the event, and a make-up date would be held for some of the students on Thursday who missed it. Many students were reportedly out with the flu earlier in the week.


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Genuine HJC Pinlock to fit the following helmets:
Free returns over £25.00* – With the vast amount of Brands and models out there, all different shapes and sizes, some just won't fit; we therefore offer a free DPD return label to lend a helping hand. https://www.dpd.co.uk/apps/shopfinder/index.jsp
These can be received by emailing [email protected] with your order number. We can then send your returns label and RMA number. *One free return per transaction / UK mainland only.
Free shipping * – Why not take advantage of free shipping across the whole site. Orders under £25.00 will be sent non-tracked on a 2 - 3 working days service, which can be ungraded on checkout at additional cost. Over £25.00 will be with DPD courier and tracked.
For full terms and condition of these services please click on;
These services maybe changed or removed at any time. Excludes www.fowlersparts.co.uk


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"He [Dayan Viciedo] hits a home run to right field that was just phenomenal," Walker said. "His oppo (opposite field) power is off the charts."
"His next at-bat, he comes back and swings at three pitches," Walker said. "All three of them were above his helmet. Those are the kinds of things that don't hold up long haul in the big leagues. This league will exploit stuff like that. If your zone can be expanded, it doesn't take long for the league to figure that out. So he's got some areas that he's got to improve, but he's a talent, a real talent."
"I think the physical ability, the combination of power and quickness, is off the charts," Walker said. "It's really, really good. We're trying to plug a couple of holes. We're trying to change his swing plane a little bit and get a little more coverage of the whole plate. Obviously, he's got to learn the strike zone better; he's got to become more disciplined.
"There's a great piece of clay there, but it's got to be molded."
"We're looking at (Miguel) Cabrera's swing from Detroit a little bit," Walker said. "A young Cabrera before he made some adjustments. I'm obviously not putting him in that class right now, but body type, power, strength, quickness, there are a lot of similarities.
"But Cabrera made huge adjustments and he's going to go down as one of the greatest hitters of all-time. Am I saying that's going to happen with Viciedo? No, I'm not telling you that. I am telling you body type and strength and quickness, there are a lot of similarities there.
"But he needs a lot more refined swing and a lot more refined approach. A lot more."


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COBeals2 necesitaba un nuevo diseño de logotipo y lanzó un concurso de diseño en 99designs.
Un ganador ha sido elegido entre 78 diseños de 36 diseñadores freelance.
Tech 11F, Inc.
I am a Service Disabled Veteran Owned Small Business - SDVOSB. I am a Technologist and Project Manager. 11F was my "Military Occupational Specialty" (MOS) back in the day - it stood for "Infantry Operations and Intelligence". So, Tech 11F is a twist on those to mean Technology Operations and Intelligence. ( 11F has since transformed into 18F, but that is irrelevant).
US Government and Corporations that benefit from hiring SDVOSB contractors. The Federal Government has dictated that a certain amount of Government Contracts MUST be set aside for Small Business... disadvantaged, minority owned, women owned, and veteran owned, etc.
If you really care look at FedBizOps - a web site for Federal Business Opportunities... you might even find something for yourself... but do my logo first, ok?
See http://www.tech11f.com - a simple static web site that has an old version of a logo and a color schema. The original 11F MOS was on a shield but that is not needed. The tag line is "Technology Operations and Intelligence". I would prefer only a hint to the military aspect so that those in the know will see it but others won't be misled or distracted by it. I am not that fond of OLIVE DRAB ... ( I was in the US Army during VietNam ), but I do like Green... and gee, Green is popular as a theme these days... so lets stay with that in a minimalist way.
Another thought that I always liked ( and I date myself ) is the old Palladin TV series "Have Gun, Will Travel" - a western about a do-gooder gun for hire. I am a Certified Project Manager (PMP) and that is a well known, industry wide certification, so "Have PMP, Will Travel" is catchy - not sure if that works anywhere and is only a thought. It has no place in the Logo, but I may use it later on B-cards or stationery. I do love to travel and do projects, and ramble on.
Simplicity and Clarity counts.
ASK ME QUESTIONS if you want.
Have fun.
Thank you.
Descubre cómo funciona un concurso de diseño u obtén más información sobre nuestros servicios de diseño de logo.


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Tricky | 01/01/70
Tricky is to release Time To Dance, from his most recent album Mixed Race, as a digital single on Monday the 18th of July 2011. The single will feature remixes from Maya Jane Coles, Doorly and FiFi Rong.
Mixed Race was released last September to great critical acclaim. Tricky has since completed tours of the UK, Australia, Europe and South America with many sold out shows. Tricky will be headlining Blissfields Festival in Winchester on July 2nd before heading into the studio with some interesting electronic artists – full details to follow!
The Time To Dance remixes have already been picking up support from a broad spectrum of dance music's elite including Ramon Tapia, Plump DJs, John Selway, Groove Armada, Sister Bliss, Kruse & Nuernberg, Mighty Mouse, Hector Romero and Nick Warren. Here is further information on the remixers themselves:
With covers of Mixmag and DJ Mag Weekly already under her belt, and a Radio 1 Essential Mix landing in July, 23-yr old Maya Jane Coles is the rising producer/DJ on everyone's lips. Support for her productions are as wide ranging as Skream to Scuba on the dubstep side through to Jamie Jones and Laurent Garnier on the house front. As a remixer in her own right Maya has remixed artists from MSTRKRFT through to Todd Terry and as one half of dub-electronica duo She is Danger, her credits include Massive Attack, Delphic and Gorillaz.
The second mix on the package comes from blogger's favourite, Doorly. The Ibiza Rocks resident has been making just as many waves from Sydney to London as he has in the Balearics - most recently on a 30-date arena tour of North America supporting Rusko. Famed for his 'Pigeon Hole This' label and attitude; Doorly's remix credits list to many to mention but include Prodigy, Groove Armada, Dizzee Rascal, Basement Jaxx and Sia with the likes of Fake Blood, Tiga, Shy FX and Soulwax supporting them at club.
And finally, the third remix comes from FiFi Rong. Signed to Tricky's Brown Punk label, FiFi Rong is one of London's freshest talents producing from Dubstep through to UK Funky.


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Woman killed in small plane crash in Brighton
Pilot hospitalized in serious condition
BRIGHTON TOWNSHIP, Mich. – Before 9 Saturday morning a single engine plane crashed, minutes after taking off from the Brighton Township Airport on Hyne Rd, killing one and critically injuring the other. According to Michigan State Police the plane experienced engine trouble and crashed into a swamp feet away from the airport.
Police tell Local 4 the 79-year-old male pilot was airlifted to University of Michigan Hospital and remains in critical condition. The passenger, a 56-year- old female from Costa Rica died at the scene of the crash. Police are working to notify family members and names are not being released.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration will be on the scene to investigate the cause of the crash. That could take up to one week. The plane will not be moved until the investigation is complete. Local 4 was told by the airport manager the pilot has more than 30 years of flying experience and whatever happened in the air must have been out of his control.
Copyright 2012 by ClickOnDetroit.com. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.


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Commercial, Products, Services
By By Andrew Drwiega | November 19, 2012
Send Feedback
The China Airshow, which ran from November 13-18, has been good for Sikorsky in that it has been announcing contracts for its civil helicopters, namely the S-92 and S-76D.
The Zhuhai Helicopter Company (ZHC), a subsidiary of China Southern Airlines, has acquired two Sikorsky S-92s to be used in offshore operations. ZHC will operate five S-92s and 12 S-76s once the deliveries are complete, targeted for the end of 2013. This means it is the largest Sikorsky fleet operator in Asia and has in fact been operating Sikorsky helicopters for around 28 years.
The acquisition is the fourth that ZHC has negotiated with Sikorsky since 2007. In 2011 the operator also bought two S-92s for the offshore market. Ed Beyer, vice president of Sikorsky Global Helicopters, said that China was the fastest growing market in the world for his company and that "we look forward to expanding this cooperation to aircraft maintenance service, personnel training, and material distribution."
CITIC Offshore Helicopter, China Southern's Zhuhai Helicopter and Eastern General Aviation are the three largest players in the Chinese national market, according to China Daily. The boom in the offshore sector is predicted to rise from the current 300 helicopters to more than 1,000 within the next decade.
The Ruili Jingcheng Group (RJG) also contracted for one S-92 and one S-76D during the airshow, representing the first S-92 sale to a private Chinese operator and the first sale of a S-76D helicopter into China. Both will be used for passenger transportation. RJG is expanding its business and has established three aviation subsidiaries. Although RJD will be the first operator of the S-76D, there are 31 S-76 helicopters operating in China.
The China Airshow organizers announced orders worth $11.8 billion in 30 contracts signed during the show. They said the orders represented a total of 202 aircraft of all types.Related: Airframe News


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'Anonymous' won't open nationwide in last-minute change
Sony Pictures has suddenly changed its plans to open "Anonymous" nationwide next Friday after pre-release surveys indicated that the Roland Emmerich-directed Shakespeare drama was poised to have a weak first weekend.
Instead, in an unusual change so close to a planned launch, the studio will open the picture, about a British earl who some claim was the true author of William Shakespeare's plays, in only 250 theaters next weekend. Sony had originally planned to launch the movie in thousands of theaters.
Tracking surveys indicated that audiences were not that interested in seeing the film and it was likely headed for a very soft opening of less than $5 million. Sony is now hoping to generate buzz and positive reviews to boost audience excitement by opening the movie only in major cities Oct. 28. The studio then plans to expand its run to more locations throughout November.
"We love the picture and think it's going to get great word of mouth," said Rory Bruer, Sony's distribution president. "We're committed to expanding it until it plays wide."
"Anonymous" is a departure for Emmerich, who's best known for big-budget disaster movies such as "2012" and "The Day After Tomorrow." His new movie cost only about $30 million to make and is a period drama likely to appeal only to adults.
-- Ben Fritz and John Horn
Photo: Joely Richardson and Jamie Campbell Bower in "Anonymous." Credit: Reiner Bajo / Columbia Pictures.


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Medical marijuana is an active issue around the country, and especially so these days in California. Here's the latest:
Last Friday, Gov. Jan Brewer gave up her fight against medical marijuana dispensaries in the state. Her decision came after having her challenges thrown out in both federal and state court. Last Friday, she directed state officials to begin implementing the law to allow dispensaries to apply to operate.
The clock is ticking on Senate Bill 129, introduced by Sen. Mark Leno (D-San Francisco). The bill would provide medical marijuana patients with protection from workplace discrimination. The legislature must act on the bill by month's end or it dies. It's the same story with Assembly Bill 1017, introduced by Rep. Tom Ammiano (D-San Francisco), which would allow for reduced misdemeanor charges in cultivation cases.
Last Tuesday, the Colusa City Council voted unanimously to extend its ban on dispensaries to another full year. The ordinance goes into effect immediately. This is the last extension on the temporary ban; after this, the city will need a permanent ordinance to spell out the restrictions.
Last Wednesday, federal agents raided the Disabled American Veterans Collective in Murrieta. The owner, Kevin Freeman of Temecula, and one other person were arrested on suspicion of possession of marijuana for sale. Federal search warrant documents accused Freeman of operating a for-profit business that would sell marijuana to people without medical conditions. But Freeman said his operation was "a true collective." The dispensary had previously seen customers pulled over by deputies after leaving the premises and been the subject of an undercover buy by a deputy who fraudulently obtained a medical marijuana recommendation.
Also last Wednesday, the US Attorney for Southern California announced that federal prosecutors over the past week have filed four asset forfeiture lawsuits against properties housing marijuana storefronts in Los Angeles and Orange counties and have sent warning letters to property owners and operators of "illegal marijuana stores" in several Southland cities. They also sent threat letters to dispensary operators and property owners of the nearly two dozen dispensaries operating in Costa Mesa. The feds also raided three Costa Mesa dispensaries.
Also last Wednesday, Glenn County supervisors moved ahead with an ordinance that would ban dispensaries, collectives, and co-ops, but would allow backyard grows for patients. The county's emergency moratorium ordinance expires in March.
Last Thursday, the California Supreme Court decided to hear four medical marijuana cases in a bid to restore same clarity to the state's muddled medical marijuana laws. The cases revolve around state-federal and state-local conflicts, and mixed rulings in lower courts have led to massive confusion in the state.
Also last Thursday, Californians to Regulate Medical Marijuana announced it had filed a medical marijuana regulation initiative with the state last month. The campaign expects to be okayed for signature-gathering early next month and has until April 20 to gather more than 500,000 valid signatures to make the November ballot. See our feature story on it here.
Last Friday, prosecutors in San Luis Obispo County announced they were dropping the charges against six people arrested in 2010 for running medical marijuana delivery services. Prosecutors threw in the towel after a judge issued jury instructions that allowed the defendants to argue that they thought an undercover officer who infiltrated them was part of their collective. That would make the case tough to win, prosecutors said.
Also last Friday, a judge in Riverside rejected a restraining order sought by the city of Murrieta against a newly opened medical marijuana collective. The Greenhouse Cannabis Club can stay open pending a February 17 hearing, even though Murrieta has a moratorium on dispensaries, the judge ruled.
On Monday, federal agents and Riverside County sheriff's deputies raided six suites containing medical marijuana operations in a business park north of Murrieta. The lawmen became aware of the operations while raiding a neighboring dispensary last week. Three people were arrested on marijuana cultivation charges. The raids were led by the DEA.
Also on Monday, the Calexico Planning Commission approved a ban on dispensaries. The proposed ban will now go before the city council.
On Tuesday, San Francisco announced it would begin issuing dispensary permits again after the state Supreme Court agreed to hear four medical marijuana cases that could clarify state law. In doing so, the high court vacated a case, Pack v. Long Beach, that said city or county laws regulating medical marijuana violated federal law. Now that Pack has been vacated, city officials said the permitting process can resume as normal. The following day, the city changed its mind.
Also on Tuesday, Mendocino County supervisors voted to kill the county's medical marijuana permit program after receiving threats of legal action from Northern California US Attorney Melinda Haag. The innovative program allowed collectives to grow up to 99 plants per parcel, with each plant tagged by the sheriff's office.
Also on Tuesday, Humboldt County supervisors voted unanimously to extend a temporary moratorium on new medical marijuana dispensaries for an additional 10 months and 15 days. The supervisors also added language to the ordinance that is meant to protect existing dispensaries from closure. Three dispensaries currently operate in the county.
Also on Tuesday, the Whittier city council voted to impose a 45-day moratorium on new dispensaries, citing the Pack v. Long Beach ruling and ignoring the fact that the state Supreme Court vacated it last week. That means the number of dispensaries in the city is capped at one -- the Whittier Hope Collective, which opened in July 2010 after the council approved a conditional use permit. Although the moratorium is only for a month and a half, the council indicated it intended to maintain the status quo until the Supreme Court decides Pack and other medical marijuana cases.
Lastly, on Tuesday, a judge in Live Oak heard arguments in a civil lawsuit brought against the city over its ban on growing medical marijuana. James Maral sued after the city council last month approved the ban on even personal grows, saying it would force him to make "cruel choices." The lawsuit accused the city of running afoul of state law (Proposition 215), which allows patients to grow their own medicine. The city had acted after complaints from residents about the "stench" of marijuana and fears of violent robbery attempts. The judge refused to issue a temporary injunction because he had not seen the ordinance, but left open the possibility of revisiting the decision at a later date.
Last Thursday, Colorado US Attorney John Walsh told the Denver Post that evidence medical marijuana is having a negative impact on kids spurred his decision to crack down on dispensaries near schools. The comments came days after he sent letters to 23 dispensaries within 1,000 feet of schools. The letters ordered the dispensaries to close by Feb. 27 or face potential criminal prosecution or seizure of assets.
On Monday, Law Enforcement Against Prohibition sent a letter to Colorado US Attorney John Walsh saying his threats and actions against medical marijuana providers are "a disservice to the state of Colorado." The letter was signed by LEAP director Neill Franklin and two Colorado law enforcement figures, former municipal court Judge Leonard Frieling and retired Denver police officer Tony Ryan.
On Wednesday, medical marijuana supporters organized by Sensible Colorado did a mass phone-in to their US congressional representatives urging them to help call off the federal crackdown and support the state's medical marijuana program.
Earlier this month, state Rep. Tom Knollman (R) introduced a medical marijuana bill, HB 1370, which calls upon the Indiana Department of Health to develop a regulatory framework for the growth and distribution of medical marijuana through dispensaries and to register patients with debilitating medical conditions. This is the first medical marijuana bill introduced in the state in recent memory.
On Tuesday, a medical marijuana bill got a hearing in the House Health and Human Services Committee. The bill, the Kansas Compassion and Care Act, was introduced by Rep. Gail Finney (D-Wichita). Previous medical marijuana bills have been stalled in committee, and the committee took no action on this one Tuesday. Meanwhile, supporters of the bill packed the hearing room and demonstrated outside before the hearing.
Maryland House Delegate Cheryl Glenn (D-Baltimore) has introduced a comprehensive medical marijuana bill that would replace a bill passed last year as a stop-gap measure while the state appointed a workgroup to further study the issue. House Bill 15, the Maryland Medical Marijuana Act, would create clear rules for qualified patients and law enforcement, and put in place a strictly regulated production and distribution system. A measure passed last year created minimal protections for patients but did not set up a distribution system. That measure created a working group to come up with proposals for this year, but neither of those proposals includes allowing patients to grow their own. Glenn's bill does. It now awaits committee hearings.
Last Thursday, the owner of the Big Sky Health Health dispensary in Missoula pleaded not guilty in federal court to a charge of conspiracy to manufacture and distribute marijuana. Jason Washington is one of six defendants in an indictment that followed federal raids last November on numerous businesses, homes and warehouses linked to marijuana businesses in western Montana. Washington is a former quarterback for the University of Montana Grizzlies, and the feds even seized his Big Sky championship ring, as well as 80 pounds of marijuana and $232,000 in cash.
Last Friday, a federal judge ruled that Montana's medical marijuana law doesn't shield providers of the drug from federal prosecution. US District Judge Donald Molloy dismissed a civil lawsuit by 14 persons and businesses that were among those raided by federal authorities last year. He cited the Constitution's supremacy clause. "Whether the plaintiffs' conduct was legal under Montana law is of little significance here, since the alleged conduct clearly violates federal law," Molloy wrote. "We are all bound by federal law, like it or not."
New Jersey
Last Friday, the New Jersey Supreme Court declined to hear the appeal of John Ray Wilson. Wilson, an MS patient, was sentenced to five years in prison for growing his own medicine in his back yard. He had been out on appeal, but now must resume serving his sentence. Wilson was not allowed to tell his jury why he was growing marijuana plants. Supporters, including legislative leaders, have campaigned for clemency for Wilson, to no avail.
Last Friday, Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine certified a medical marijuana ballot issue, and on Monday, the Ohio ballot board gave its okay. The Ohio Medical Cannabis Amendment campaign can now begin signature gathering. It needs some 385,000 valid voter signatures to make the November ballot. This is the second Ohio medical marijuana initiative to be certified for the 2012 campaign. The Ohio Alternative Treatment Amendment was approved in October.
On Monday, the city of Bellingham revoked the registrations of medical marijuana dispensaries after deciding that dispensaries were not legal under state or federal law. The city has not yet decided what to do about dispensaries that are already operating there, but at least one said it would reopen as a private, members-only club next month.
Washington, DC
On Monday, a hydroponics superstore known as the "Walmart of Weed" announced it would open a store in the nation's capital in March. WeGrow sells all of the products and services one would need to grow marijuana or other indoor plants, but does not sell the plant itself. The company said it had signed a lease for a property on Rhode Island Avenue NE. The company already operates superstores in Oakland, Sacramento and Phoenix.


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Friday, May 16, 2008
Spivack on The Cultural Context of Abortion Law in Early Modern England
To Bring Down the Flowers: The Cultural Context of Abortion Law in Early Modern England is a recent article by Carla Spivack, Oklahoma City University School of Law. It appeared in the William and Mary Journal of Women and the Law (2007), Here's the abstract: This article takes issue with claims made by Joseph Dellapenna in his 2006 book, Dispelling the Myths of Abortion History, which claims to correct the distortions of the history of abortion law underlying Roe v. Wade, 410 U.S. 113 (1973). Dellapenna argues that, contrary to Justice Blackmun's historic analysis in Roe, abortion was considered a serious crime throughout most of European history and that courts did . . . punish abortions before quickening during the Middle Ages. This article shows that Dellapenna's argument relies on serious misreading of cases and ignorance of the relevant historical, medical and cultural context, and that pre-quickening or intra-marital self induced abortion was of little concern to the law.
Posted by Mary L. Dudziak at 7:33 AM
Labels: Scholarship -- Articles and essays, Sexuality, Women
1 comment:
She makes numerous errors in her argument...the fact that there isn't a record of women being prosecuted for abortion doesn't mean it wasn't considered a crime and a grave moral sin.
Quit spending your vitality protecting baby murder!
- August 6, 2008 at 2:49:00 AM EDT
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One of my good friends is a Phins fan, and I have watched them a bunch this year so I will know what I am talking about with him. I feel like I have a pretty good feel for what the Dolphins do. I don't do breakdowns like this all the time, I usually don't watch the teams we are going to play as much as I have watched the Dolphins. And in division, the rest of you probbly watch our rivals just as much as I do. I am not an X and O guru, or a scheme nerd, so take all this for what it is worth. Which ain't much.
I will start by saying that the Dolphins remind me a lot of the 2010 Hawks in both philosophy and struggles. Yeah, there are obvious differences, like 4-3 and 3-4 scheme, but the philosophy is the same.
The Dolphins have a better run defense than we do, statistically. 3.6 yards per attempt against them, vs the 4.3 ours is giving up. Those numbers are no joke, the teams Miami have faced have been committed to the run mostly because Miami's passing game doesn't put pressure on opposing coordinators to abandon the run. Paul Soliai clogs the middle effectively, and their linebackers do a good job of cleaning up. They run a 3-4 technically, but line up in 4 man front looks quite a bit. They have struggled just a bit more with really quick running backs, just like we have. Maybe there is a big play there for Washington?
Like most 3-4 D's, they try to disguise where the pressure is coming from, and do it effectively. Their pressure schemes are mostly around using speed to beat the tackles, they struggle to collapse the pocket up the middle consistently without blitzing. Look for our tackles to get beat with the speed rush a time or two. Which leads to...
They struggle with mobile quarterbacks running on them. The hell bent for leather attack of their defensive ends leaves them vulnerable to guys like Wilson leaking out of the pocket and running for good gains. Locker gashed them early with some scrambles.
Miami's corner's are big. More than any other team, they are built like ours. They have the only other 6-4 corner in the league, Sean Smith, and he is turning into a reputable press corner. The other corner went on IR two weeks ago, and his backup is 6-1, 205, and likes to play physical press as well. Miami's press is effective, they are the 6th best team in the league at opposing quarterbacks completion percentage. But...
They are a very gashable team. 6th best at causing incompletions, and 6th worst in passing yards given up. Their safeties and linebackers have proven to be weak up the middle, and with their proclivity to provide a comfortable pocket to quarterbacks, and their desire to stop the run above all else, they have given up a lot of big plays. Russell Wilson, play action, and the deep ball should feature big in the game.
Another way Miami reminds me of the Hawks of the last couple of years, they switched to the Zone Blocking system on offense this year and they are struggling with it. Yet, they will not give up on the run unless forced by the score to do so. They are only getting 3.6 yards per run, tied for last in the league, but still stick with it. They have to, their play action game depends on it. They do not have a great receiver corps, but it isn't bad either. Brian Hartline is a precise route runner who plays faster than he looks, and is the favorite target of Tannehill. Davone Bess could give our nickel corner fits. They don't target the tight end that much, Fasano only has 26 catches, but they do look his way in the red zone. And they like to target their running backs. They are much more likely to try and run the ball in the red zone, though.
Their pass blocking is very suspect. The top pick, Long, from a few years back, has quick enough feet to stop any DE, but his a chronic shoulder injury that has left him vulnerable to power rushers. Their guards and center are the real weakness, though. I look for Mebane to have a good day getting into the pocket. If Seattle's pass rush decides to get on the plane to Miami, Tannehill is going to have a very bad day. I don't see Seattle sending many blitzers unless the four man front struggles to provide pressure.
Tannehill is not a good scrambler. He looks like TJ when things break down, and is more likely to run into pressure than to make a team pay. It's kinda weird, his athleticism is very good. But his ability to make that second and third read is simply not there yet, so look for our press coverage to be more than usual in usage. Our ability to take away the dump off pass is going to be more important than our ability to maintain man coverage for 5 seconds in this game.
Special teams is a wash statistically. Miami is a mirror of us on both punt and kick coverage. Our field goal kicker is better, slightly.
The pressure to win this game will be squarely on Seattle's offense. First goal, no turnovers. Second goal, take advantage of that secondary down the middle. It isn't likely that we will run the ball easily on them, and their linebackers are pretty good in short area coverage. It doesn't look like Lynch will have a great day, but as long as we can keep Wilson off the ground, the Phins defense looks custom built for a quarterback like ours to have a big day. Miami's offense simply does not present enough match up problems to think our defense is going to have a bad day. Crowd noise should not be an issue, orange seats will dominate your TV, so if there was ever a road game the Hawks should win, this is it.


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Be part of the Ubuntu Apps Sprint
Apps are super-important for Ubuntu. Many of us have blogged about this in a more general sense, but I want to provide an update of what has been happening behind the scenes in the last few weeks.
Before I start, I want to reach out to you to be part of the upcoming Apps Sprint. Join us on #ubuntu-arb on irc.freenode.net from Monday, 2nd July to Wednesday, 4th July to learn more about Ubuntu apps, get involved in reviewing them and bringing more progress to this effort.
Getting apps into Ubuntu hasn't been easy up until now, due to a number of circumstances. The review process takes long, some of the steps involved are cumbersome and the review queue has been filling up. There are reasons for this and there is lots of room for improvement.
Technical requirements As apps are part of a separate repository, the Technical Board requires us to make some very specific namespace distinctions between "regular packages" and apps. This means that apps install into /opt/ and files which can't go there (.desktop files, lens specific bits, etc.) have to include the package name to avoid possible file name clashes.
This looks pretty straight-forward and you could just rename files and move things around as part of the packaging, but quite often this means you have to make changes in the code as well (think of file locations, translation files, data directories or file look-ups). For a larger app this results in quite a bit of engineering work to make all the changes and make sure they work as intended.
At this point I want to credit the App Review Board (ARB) for some work they have been doing. They could easily just have said: "Rejected: Your app doesn't do it right.", but instead they helped app authors to get their app working. This was time-consuming, but a learning experience for everyone involved.
The good news is: quickly, which is our recommended tool to produce apps, has templates where everybody worked hard to get the templates and the code up to scratch, so that writing code for the extras repository gets easier.
Another piece of good news is: pkgme has progressed nicely and can help with the initial packaging of apps (useful if you don't use quickly).
I very recently started working on a tool called arb-lint, which automates certain parts of the app review. This will make it possible to collect the knowledge of app policies into it, so new ARB members or app review helpers can easily find out what's wrong with an app and how to fix it. You could even run it on your own app and find out what needs to be improved.
To sum this up: everybody knows that packaging and policies is quite boring to app authors. They just want to focus on producing great quality apps, they're not interested in tweaking their build-system to adhere to all the policies. Don't worry - this is understood. There's still work to be done, but the tools are all progressing nicely.
App submission During the 18 months the App Review Board has existed, the submission process has changed a number of times. The tool which is now being used is called myApps and a lot of handy improvements have gone into it in the last weeks and months.
One current problem is that some app authors submit tarballs of their apps, others provide bzr branches, others submit their app in a PPA. While we know how to use all of these tools, it makes the review process fairly inconsistent. This is why we came up with a service called apps-brancher, which downloads the app's code, sticks it into a bzr branch, attempts to package it if necessary and pushes it to Launchpad.
Staffing The current ARB members are all volunteers and working hard on apps and other places in Ubuntu. Some weeks ago the Ubuntu App Review Contributors team was set up, so that more active helpers can easily join the effort.
Summary It is true. There is quite a backlog of apps. Some of them might be reviewed and approved quickly, others will need quite a bit of engineering to get into Ubuntu. Some might not be suitable for the extras repository at all.
As you have read above, there are numerous improvements in the works and there are very likely lots of other things which might result in a nice speed-up. Your help will be appreciated here!
The Ubuntu Apps Sprint All of the above is why we want to invite you to the Ubuntu Apps Sprint from Monday to Wednesday (2nd-4th July). Join us in #ubuntu-arb on irc.freenode.net to:
- Improve quickly.
- Improve the apps-brancher.
- Improve arb-lint.
- Improve pkgme.
- Review and improve apps and get the queue under control.
- Learn from each other, hatch new plans and make apps just rock in Ubuntu.
Quite a number of experts from the ARB, from the quickly and pkgme teams and lots of others will be around to answer your questions. We hope you will get involved and help us out.
Apps will make Ubuntu even more beautiful. It's just great to get to see so much creativity first. Contributing here is totally worthwhile.


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BlackBerry, a global leader in wireless innovation, has partnered with Trend Micro to address privacy and security concerns of third-party applications. By incorporating Trend Micro's advanced mobile scanning and detection capabilities with its own internal, proprietary application analysis system, Blackberry provides another layer of protection and assurance for BlackBerry customers.
"Together, BlackBerry and Trend Micro have developed an innovative and comprehensive solution for protecting BlackBerry customers against emerging mobile security concerns," said Adrian Stone, Director, BlackBerry Security Response and Threat Analysis at BlackBerry.
Trend Micro Mobile App Reputation Service is cloud-based security that dynamically tests mobile applications for malicious activity, resource usage, and privacy violations. It enables app stores to block malicious apps and provide customers with a safe and enhanced app discovery experience.
Press release: BlackBerry Works with Trend Micro to Expand Protection for Customers Against Malware, Privacy Issues in Third-Party Applications


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There are lots of entrepreneurs who would love to fly drones — tiny unmanned aircraft — all over the country. They dream of drones delivering packages and taking photos, but there's a battle in the courts right now standing in their way. The battle is about whether it's legal for drones to take to the sky.
The question at the core of the battle: Who owns the air?
It's a question that goes back to the Middle Ages, to a Latin phrase that translates to "he owns the soil owns up to the heavens." In England, this phrase was the law of the land for centuries, and it worked well when disputes involved simple things like overhanging tree branches and lopsided buildings.
But once hot air balloons and airplanes came into the picture, things got a lot more complicated. In 1926, Congress created what we now call the FAA, and declared that the air above 500 feet is the public domain. But what about the air below that?
Thomas Causby was a chicken farmer in North Carolina who lived near a tiny airport. During World War II, the Army took over the airport, and suddenly big military planes were flying over Causby's chicken coops all the time. The planes scared Causby's chickens. They flew into the walls of the coop and died.
Causby sued the government, and the case went all the way to the Supreme Court. In the end, the court sided with Causby, ruling that landowners own the sky above their homes up to at least 83 feet.
But the decision still left a gap. If the air above 500 feet is public property, and the air below 83 feet is private property, what about the space in between?
This is the territory that entrepreneurs dreaming of drones have their eyes on.
Cy Brown, for example, wants to use drones to tackle the problem of feral wild pigs. In Louisiana, where Brown lives, feral pigs run around wrecking crops, causing problems for farmers.
Brown's idea was to use drones to track the pigs and then relay their locations to hunters in the fields who could kill the pigs. He tested it out, and it worked. Farmers liked it. Even the U.S. Department of Agriculture wanted to copy it.
But when I called Cy last month to ask if he'd take me hunting, he said no. His drone had been grounded. When I asked why, he referred me to his lawyer.
Cy's lawyer told me that the FAA has been sending out cease-and-desist letters to commercial drone pilots all over the country, threatening big fines for flying little drones. The FAA says that, for safety reasons, it is regulating the airspace between 83 and 500 feet.
Drone pilots are fighting this in court, trying to reclaim that airspace.
You can find lots more drone coverage from our colleagues over at All Tech Considered.
There are a lot of business people who would love to fly small unmanned aircraft, drones all over this country, delivering packages, taking photos. But they've got a problem. The law. There is a battle in the courts right now about whether it's legal to fly little drones in the sky and about who exactly owns the air. Here's Steve Henn from our Planet Money team.
STEVE HENN, BYLINE: This philosophical question goes back before the airplane, to English common law, actually to the Middle Ages. I never took Latin but there is a Latin phrase that's relevant here.
STUART BANNER: You know, I'm not even sure I'm even pronouncing this right.
HENN: Stuart Banner is a law professor at UCLA.
BANNER: (Speaking Latin) Cuius est solum, eius est usque ad coelum.
HENN: Translation, he who owns the soil, owns up to the heavens. In England this was the law of the land for centuries.
BANNER: The earliest cases involve things like overhanging tree branches, buildings that were built lopsided, so they leaned into the neighbor's airspace and so on.
HENN: During the Middle Ages this worked great. but enter hot air balloons and then airplanes, not so much.
BANNER: Wouldn't an aviator be trespassing everywhere that he flew?
HENN: Banner says that during the early days of aviation there were all sorts of proposals to solve this trespassing problem.
BANNER: Including ideas that sound pretty silly in retrospect like, making airplanes airplanes fly above streets.
HENN: Imagine if every transcontinental flight had to follow I80. That wouldn't work. So in 1926 Congress creates what we now call the FAA and declared that the air above the minimum safe altitude of flight is a public domain. Above 500 feet roughly public property. And for a while everyone seems okay with this. Except there is this one guy who is not okay with it at all. His name Thomas Lee Causby.
BANNER: Yeah, the Causbys were chicken farmers in North Carolina who were near what was a tiny airport that was barely used.
HENN: During World War II, the Army takes over the airport and suddenly big military planes are followed flying over Causby's chicken coops all the time.
BANNER: All the chickens died. They had to give up chicken farming. They had a baby who couldn't sleep.
HENN: So Causby sued. The case goes all the way to the Supreme Court and he wins. The court ruled landowners might not own the sky to the heavens but they do still own it up to at least 83 feet. To recap, congresses says above 500 feet this is a public highway. The air below 83 feet, according to the courts that belongs to landowners like Causby. But this decision left a gap, it created unclaimed territory in the air. And it is that territory that pilots of tiny little unmanned aircraft, little drones, have their eyes on.
CY BROWN: It's gonna go right over your head man if you don't move.
HENN: Meet Cy Brown, drone pilot and kind of a character.
BROWN: As long as it doesn't go on my head.
HENN: There's this video of Cy at a fishing Camp, where he Lures a big old alligator into the dock using his bare toes as bait.
HENN: And then bops him on the head.
UNIDENTIFIED CHILD: You got them.
BROWN: Yeah, I popped him right on the nose.
UNIDENTIFIED CHILD: Do it again.
BROWN: How about we do it with your toes.
HENN: Cy is willing to try stuff that wouldn't even occur to most people. Which is honestly how he got into drones. Where he lives in Louisiana there's this problem, feral wild pigs. They run around wrecking everyone's crops. They're hard to get rid of, they're hard to find in a field with waist high rice. But Cy came up with an idea.
BROWN: You ready?
HENN: He took his little remote control airplane, a drone really and equipped it with heat seeking sensors. Then he flies this thing over fields at night. It sends video back to his laptop, the little piggies glow on the screen and he guides in a buddy with a gun.
BROWN: Hey, them the tracks, oh, hey yo get him, shoot him more.
HENN: Even the USDA, the US Department of Agriculture likes Cys idea. In fact they wanted to copy it. But when i asked Cy last month if he'd take me hunting, he said no. It turns out his little drone had been grounded. I asked him what was going on and kind of paused. This guy who sticks his bare feet into a bayou and wiggled around his toes to tease an alligator told me I would have to talk to his attorney, which I did.
And it turned out that the Federal Aviation Administration has been sending out cease and desist letters, to commercial drone pilots all of the country threatening big fines for flying little drones. The FAA says for safety reasons that unclaimed airspace, that is still regulated by them. But this is still an unsettled legal question. Drone pilots are fighting back in federal court and guys like Cy are waiting for somebody to tell them if or when they can fly. Steve Henn, NPR News.
GREENE: This is MORNING EDITION from NPR News. Transcript provided by NPR, Copyright NPR.


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What if Stockton's bars stayed open until 4 a.m.?
What if Stockton's bars stayed open until 4 a.m.?
A state lawmaker introduced a bill last week that would allow bars, nightclubs and restaurants to move last call further into the wee hours.
Under SB635 by state Sen. Mark Leno, D-San Francisco, cities and counties could apply to state alcohol officials for permission to bump back closing time by two hours.
This later last call would "increase social and tourism offerings, increase local tax revenue and create jobs," Leno said in a press release.
Leno's bill is designed primarily for big cities such as San Francisco, which compete for tourists against cities such as New York and Las Vegas that offer later closing times.
Still, the bill would allow any city to petition the Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control - including Stockton, which for much of its existence featured all-night saloons whether state regulators OK'd them or not.
In fact, if the stories are true, after a hard day of regulating, state regulators would come down to Stockton to drink, gamble and consort with floozies.
The bill would not allow all city bars to remain open; city and state would work out a few strategic establishments. Like in a nightclub district.
Locally, a business district such as the Miracle Mile could allow a bar or two to stay open late. That could increase business to a nearby coffee shop, hot dog stand or late-night pharmacy. It'd be part of an overall business plan.
As it happens, the head of the Chamber of Commerce, Douglass Wilhoit, is a former policeman. He looked at it from both perspectives.
"If it would help business, great," Wilhoit said. Then he switched hats. "In my previous life as cop, as far as I'm concerned, nothing very good happens after 10 and 11 at night."
"Maybe I'm just jealous I can't stay out that late," he added.
Wes Rhea, head of the Convention and Visitors Bureau, said the idea makes sense for big cities. But not Stockton. Late-night bars here don't integrate into an entertainment economy.
"To me, the economic impact you get after 2 a.m. is just more drinking," Rhea said. "Not having an area that is very pedestrian-friendly - and we don't have a very strong cab system - in this town we should not be encouraging drinking."
I also called my friend Greg Dart. A man renowned for his field research in this area.
"The later it gets," he sniffed, "the closer it is to Amateur Hour."
Hiking down to Davoli's Avenue Inn, a downtown bar, I queried several guys hunched on barstools.
They disapproved of the idea.
"Only drunks are here so late," said one man who identified himself as John Doe. "I'm here all the time, I know."
Another customer - coincidentally, also named John Doe - suggested reasonably that alcohol service should be stopped at 2 a.m. But bars with live music, or dance clubs, could be allowed to stay open later anyway.
People on the street saw pros and cons.
"It's be more crimes, more drunk driving," said Brendon Heib. "It'd be a despicable thing."
"If it helps business, the recovery of our economy, especially locally - if people want to drink, let 'em drink," said Ken Ellis.
In the Gentleman's Lounge barber shop, barber Sal Mireles said that later hours should be allowed on the "club days," Friday and Saturday. Maybe Thursday.
"Everybody's always looking for something to do afterward," Mireles said.
"Sometimes you just naturally want to party after 2," added barber Mario Alonzo.
A bartender I called later agreed. "They're usually having more fun at 2 o'clock than at 9 o'clock when they walked in," said Sandra "Deedee" Enberg at the Captain's Anchor.
OK, here's my idea. Declare the western half of the Louis Park peninsula - say, everything west of Kingsley Avenue - blighted. Bulldoze it, including buildings along the waterfront. Allow several marina bar-restaurants along a waterfront promenade to stay open until 4 a.m.
The Waterfront Entertainment District will cater to locals and boaters alike with food, drink, music, dancing, boat docks, gas, a small store, bait, etc. That will, by definition, be the place in town people go to stay out late.
Fill in the neighborhood with homes and apartments. Residents must sign a "right to drink" agreement. They agree they are moving into a district in which bar/restaurant hours and music are legally permitted until 4 a.m. They waive the right to poop the party.
Pixie Woods gets to stay. That will make it more family-friendly.
Contact columnist Michael Fitzgerald at (209) 546-8270 or email@example.com. Visit his blog at recordnet.com/fitzgeraldblog.


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Sources told TSN Sunday that Liles and the Colorado Avalanche have agreed to terms on a four-year contract worth an average of slightly more than $4 million per year.
Liles was scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent on Tuesday. The deal was formally announced Monday.
Source: http://www.tsn.ca/
As expected, the Avalanche also announced that they have re-signed Foote.
Sources told TSN Foote's deal is believed to be for two years and a total of $6 million, or $3 million per year.
Source: http://www.tsn.ca/
I'm thrilled that we finally have a bit of news to chew on. While I value guys like Brunette and Finger much more, bringing back Liles isn't a bad move, just a questionable one. To give a guy four million dollars when his production has been falling is a little peculiar; although, he did play better after the trade deadline last season. He'll be making roughly the same amount as Jay McKee and Adrian Aucoin next season. Putting it in perspective, it may turn out to be ok.
Adam Foote apparently was offered 3.5 million per yeah and decided to sign for 3. This is simply a rumor floating around on the message boards, but if it's true, Footer did the Avalanche a great service. His physical presence is going to be key for this team.
Updating Our List
Free Agency starts at 1 PM EST tomorrow. Here's the updated list of who Colorado is worrying about.
Unrestricted - Player can sign with any team starting July 1st
Andrew Brunette
Jeff Finger
Peter Forsberg
Joe Sakic
Wyatt Smith
Jose Theodore
Restricted - Player is eligible to sign and receive offer sheets, but current team has chance to match
Cody McCormick
Cody McLeod
Marek Svatos
Tyler Weinman
Wojtek Wolski
Fates Decided - Player has already made a decision in regards to future plans
Jaroslav Hlinka - Signed in Sweden
Scott Parker - Signed by Colorado (Terms Undisclosed)
Johnny Boychuk - Traded to Boston (for Matt Hendricks)
John-Michael Liles - Signed by Colorado (4 years, 16 million)
Adam Foote - Signed by Colorado (2 years, 6 million)


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Warpgate in Review – Alone, against the galaxy, I will prevail!
About a year ago, the announcement of Warpgate, an open world space fighting/trading game caught my attention. Being a fan of  the classic Privateer/X series, this seemed to be the answer to all of my prayers. Well, the long wait is finally over and having spent a considerable amount of time with the game, I can say – it was worth it! Feel free to discuss Warpgate in our forums.
It's hard to single out the genre of Warpgate. It's a mix of a space trading/mining/exploration and combat. Think of it as a top-down Elite/Privateer/X(1,2,3) type of game. The story follows the adventures of a newbie N.S.E. pilot who finds himself in the middle of a galaxy-wide conspiracy, including top-secret research, aliens, ancient artifacts and secret agencies. Suffice to say that when the main storyline is over, the whole galaxy plunges into complete and utter chaos.
With so much variety included in Warpgate, it's hard to decide where to start. You control a spaceship and travel across the galaxy exploring new worlds and meeting new people beings. The main storyline is conveyed via missions, though the game also provides unlimited (random) ones for your neverending enjoyment and money-earning. The missions vary from simple courier deliveries, scanning territories to assassinations (culminating in leading an all out assault on former allied forces).
The galaxy itself is split into sectors grouped by areas of influence of either factions (which include the humans split into Nation States of Earth and the Ecclesiarchy, the ancient and proud Adelaide, the warring and belligerent Artaxerxes and, of course, the Pirate Corps). The sectors themselves are connected by a system of warp gates. Of course, you won't have access to all 35 systems at the start of the game. Rather, additional ones will be unlocked as you progress through the storyline. And for the dedicated explorers out there, the devs have hidden some funny easter eggs, like the Terry Pratchett inspired Flat Earth as well as an option to send a postcard via Twitter, Tumblr, Facebook or e-mail from the planet you're currently on.
Aside from the income you get from executing missions, your main source of income is trade. Each planet has up to 6 commodities available with handy indicators showing whether the price is above, below or on par with the average one. In addition, you can check the news screen on the planet where places are indicated where there is extra high demand or supply of a good. And while you're at it be sure to check out the other messages as well – they are simply hilarious.
When you're tired of simply hauling around cargo holds full of stuff, it's time to get your hands dirty. The combat system, vastly improved in the recent patch, throws you in a tactical map with up to 5 other spaceships, be it friend or foe. Using the accelerometer you control the direction your ship is heading and use the buttons to discharge your armament (one per weapon). Crucial to the more difficult battles is the shield boost, which when activated, immediately drains your weapons and surrounds your vessel with an impenetrable cocoon for a short period of time.
Ship customization options  are also available in Warpgate.You can load up on weapons (up to the ship maximum) or even trade-up for a brand new battlecruiser. The ships vary in shield strength, speed, weapon slot amount and cargo hold size and with 172 different ones on sale, you can choose a ship that best suits your style of play. The only thing that I didn't care for too much was the strange pricing scheme, where for an obscenely low amount of cash, you could trade-in your second ship received through one of the first mission for a top rated battlecruiser (Thor) .
The graphics and interface in Warpgate also live up to the high standards set by the gameplay. The game is visually gorgeous with beautiful space backgrounds riddled with stars and nebulas, as well as amazingly detailed ships with excellent lighting effects – all running smoothly even on the iPhone 3G. The music succeeds and sets the mood for some galactic exploration and although is a bit high with pathos, it still fits in perfectly. The interface works flawlessly on the iPhone, with two-finger gestures for camera control and tap/tap-drag working intuitively for easy control of your ship.
Trade, communicate, explore and fight or simply follow the story – do what you want, when you want and for hours on end. Warpgate is a bustling world just waiting for you explore, wrapped in a beautiful graphical package with an intuitive and easy-to-use interface. Without a doubt, Freeverse's latest is one of the true gems on the App Store and not to be missed. Warp speed, Mr. Zulu!
With this I declare Warpgate officially touched!
|App Summary
|Freeverse, Inc.
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- Assassins Creed II: Discovery in Review: Taking It to A Whole New Level of Gaming
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Twelve ingredients for a culinary high
The chefs at Lufthansa aren't satisfied with just feeding their guests – they want to pamper them and give them a truly exceptional gourmet experience. Each meal is carefully planned to take the special conditions of flying into account – turning the cabin into your favorite restaurant.
1.) Lightness
A satisfying meal is a feast for all the senses. What good is it if the meal is light but the cutlery lies heavy and bulky in the hand? The meals in Business Class are served on ultra-light china – three times lighter than conventional tableware and specially designed for use in aircraft. In First Class guests dine off finely crafted artisan plates: the meals here are served on transparent, finely translucent fine bona china made by Dibbern. Great food, served with a light hand.
2.) Peak performance
Folk up in the mountains know that a savory snack is great for reviving mind and body. For instance, a tasty Alpine-style open sandwich with thick slices of sausage and cheese. And what's good for summiteers is perfect at high altitudes: in First Class you can enjoy wild boar salami, cheese matured in hay and Obatzda cheese spread served on rustic wooden boards and fine china.
3.) A clean cut
We know just how annoying it can be if that perfectly cooked slice of duck breast doesn't land in your mouth but on your neighbor's lap instead. That's why the knife you use to cut through guinea fowl, octopus or venison on board is a masterpiece of engineering: The handle is designed to sit perfectly in your hand even if you don't have a lot of room to maneuver; the cutting angle of the blade means that you can keep your elbows close and still cut effortlessly. An incisive piece of progress…
4.) Lean lines
No, we're not counting calories; we're referring to our wheat beer glass, which comes long and lean for a very special reason: thanks to the special shape, the bubbles in the beer take longer than usual to reach to surface and pop, meaning that the beer retains its natural effervescence for longer. We firmly believe that you shouldn't have to miss out on these pleasures just because you're on a plane, so we serve our beverages in the correct glasses: Champagne flutes, tumblers, wine glasses, and, of course, the perfect glass for the beer of your choice.
5.) Carefully selected
Only the very best is good enough when it comes to our guests' taste buds! Sommelier World Champion and Master of Wine, Markus del Monego, set up a committee of wine experts. They meet roughly twelve times a year to sample selected wines and vintages – and select a winner in each category with the help of a carefully calibrated 20-point system. The name and label of the wine are concealed throughout – it's a true blind flight.
6.) A sprinkling of the exotic
Tahiti vanilla grows in French Polynesia, which is roughly 10,000 miles away from Germany. Our master pastry chefs are big fans of this variety because Tahiti vanilla beans have an especially strong, complex fragrance and multifaceted flavor. Lufthansa has around 80 kilograms of this vanilla flown in from the Southern Pacific annually; in November and December 2016, for instance, we'll be using it to add the finishing touch to our coconut and Tahiti vanilla ice cream in First Class.
7.) A hint of tradition
Lufthansa chefs love to see what's cooking in other kitchens all over the world. They like sampling new dishes and flavors, and learning from other cultures. Sometimes, though, there are tasty treats to be found on one's own doorstep: goose, for example. Every year, in November and December, we serve goose in First and Business Class – in the traditional style, with stewed red cabbage, potato dumplings and goose gravy.
8.) A liberal dose of elation
Lufthansa joins in the party every year when Oktoberfest kicks off in Munich. On some routes, the cabin crew wear traditional dirndl dresses – in blue and yellow, of course. We don't stop at clothes: we also like to celebrate the start of biggest festival in Germany with the appropriate classic dishes, such as white sausage with sweet mustard, Munich-style sausage salad and apple strudel.
9.) Expertise
Curry, sushi, bulgogi – we love providing a culinary taster on flights to India, Japan, Korea or the Arab countries. To make sure that these regional specialties really taste authentic, we don't stop at simply buying spices and ingredients in the relevant countries, we also import the chefs along with their expert skills.
10.) Enquiring minds
Sometimes all you can do is go back to the drawing board. For example, the stubborn hake soufflé by Paul Bocuse, the king of chefs! A delicate mousse that has to be served straight from the oven to avoid it collapsing. The problem is that our meals are taken from the kitchens across the apron to the plane. Our chefs spent ages working out a solution until at last even Maître Bocuse was satisfied: a little potato starch gives the egg white body and structure, preventing the mouthwatering delicacy from collapsing up in the sky.
11.) A pinch of nostalgia
Aviation may not be terribly old but it looks back on quite a history. To mark the 60th anniversary of the Frankfurt-New York route, the 747-8 Yankee Tango flew to New York in retro livery. On board, we served a meal created especially for the event. Countless old menus from the archives were consulted. Plate by plate, the chefs recreated each dish, assessed, smelt, tasted – and then finally compiled the perfect meal for the occasion. Passengers on board the flight were treated to a lobster cocktail, roast goose, pastrami, and, as the grand finale, a cheese and pineapple hedgehog.
12.) Custom precision
Our chefs cook for extreme conditions: at an altitude of 10 000 meters, low pressure and low humidity change the way we taste things. Spices, for example, taste less pungent. Lufthansa's chefs know exactly which dishes and seasonings make the taste buds sing (goulash) and which recipes need more salt up in the air (anything with fish). Sauces are a little thicker so that they don't slop off the plate when flying a curve. And the maximum height for any dish is four-and-a-half centimeters to allow smooth stacking on trolleys closely packed with trays. Even star-winning chefs have to embrace the rule of the ruler.


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On Feb. 27, a year after he murdered three Chardon High School students and injured three others, 18-year-old T.J. Lane walked into his sentencing hearing and made it virtually impossible for most of us to summon even a shred of sympathy for his condemned soul.
But summon we must. If we are good people � and most of us want to believe we are � we are called to dig deeper for compassion that eludes us, lest our own souls wither.
Bear with me, please. I�ve worked hard to find this patch of my heart. It�s a tenuous grasp, and I�m trying to hold on tight.
On the morning of Feb. 27, 2012, Lane walked into the high school cafeteria in Chardon, Ohio, and started shooting.
By the time he was done, three students were dead: Daniel Parmertor and Demetrius Hewlin, who were 16, and 17-year-old Russell King Jr. Three other students were injured: Nate Mueller, 17, Joy Rickers, 19, and Nick Walczak, who is now in a wheelchair. One of the more heartbreaking video images of the hearing � and there are so many � is of Walczak�s shy smile as he rolled his chair into the courtroom. He later strained to catch a glimpse of his shooter.
Last month, Lane pleaded guilty to all of his crimes. He was 17 at the time of the shootings, so he will escape the death penalty. I do not mourn this legal outcome, as I oppose capital punishment. However, I was overcome with feelings I am ashamed to claim after witnessing Lane�s behavior in court
As soon as he sat down in the courtroom, Lane peeled off his light blue oxford shirt to reveal a white T-shirt with a handwritten word scrawled across his chest: �KILLER.� He smirked throughout the proceedings, snickering even as victims� families stood and poured out their hearts. Against his lawyer�s advice, he turned toward the families and offered a single statement:
�The hand that pulled the trigger that killed your sons now masturbates to the memory. F� all of you.� Then he pierced the air with his middle finger.
Gasps and a few sobs filled the room.
Lane�s lawyer, Ian Friedman, was just as shocked as everyone else in the room. He�s been a criminal defense lawyer for 15 years but never seen anything like this.
�People think criminal lawyers don�t feel or aren�t affected like everyone else,� he told me in a phone interview shortly after the hearing. �That�s not true. I had no idea he was wearing that T-shirt under his shirt.�
He paused and apologized for needing a moment to collect his thoughts. �That was a horrific courtroom to be sitting in today. The Constitution has to be upheld. Due process has to be upheld. That�s my job. But there�s no way you aren�t affected when something like that happens. I hope I never again have to see that in a courtroom or anywhere else.�
Judge David Fuhry of Geauga County Court of Common Pleas later issued a statement saying that had he noticed the T-shirt, he would have ordered Lane to remove it.
It didn�t take long for various news sources to post video of Lane�s courtroom behavior. I stared at my computer screen, speechless. So alarming, those ugly thoughts swimming in my mind.
Like so many here in Ohio, I wanted Lane to be a broken boy, sobbing over the damage he could not undo. At the very least, I wanted him to be the silent, dazed defendant we�d seen before. Instead, he did everything he could to incite our hate.
Mission accomplished. After Lane was sentenced to life in prison without parole, Facebook and Twitter erupted with vile scenarios of what some hope lies ahead for the unrepentant murderer. Nothing like the Internet to remind us that absent self-vigilance, we can become the monsters we claim to condemn.
I hear the reprimand and guiltily agree: This isn�t about us bystanders, and it surely isn�t about me. The children who died are irreplaceable; their families are inconsolable. The surviving victims and family members are the only ones who justly wrestle with how to forgive.
Still, there is work for all of us to do. Our response to Lane�s monstrous behavior determines our future, too. We must always consider hate�s consequence on our own hearts.
I can speak only for myself. I never will know why a troubled boy named T.J. Lane killed those innocent teens in Chardon, Ohio.
But I do know that I must pray for his tortured soul, and I must mean it.
Connie Schultz is a Pulitzer Prize-winning columnist and an essayist for Parade magazine.


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Anybody using one and specifically has anyone compared it with the Fuji X-E1?I've been to DPR several times and compared the RAW images (RAW quality compared) between these two, the Sony NEX-7, and my own 5DII - using the composite image with all the various bottles, colour charts, hair swatches, fuzzy balls, queen of hearts, paper clips, you-name-it.There are variations across the image as to which particular camera is sharpest (quite possibly due to focusing and lenses), but overall the Oly seems to hold its own at various ISO values. The Fuji samples have less noise with increasing ISO, but they seem to sacrifice sharpness. The Sony is generally the loser with regard to noise.1) The white cross against the navy BG, at ISO 800, the Fuji is very close but the Sony and 5DII are showing their noise - particularly the Sony.2) Yellow hair against the black box (lower right), the Oly is the clear winner for sharpness and/or noise.3) Multi-coloured fuzzy balls just above Mickey Mouse is revealing - what happened to the Fuji?I'm interested in other people's interpretation and comments of the DPR tests.Glenn
Anybody using one and specifically has anyone compared it with the Fuji X-E1?
One further question - "will the Panasonic lens based OIS, function on the Olympus E-M5?" Olympus uses body IS.
Most Panasonic OIS lenses have a mechanical switch in the outside for switching OIS on or off. That way you can easily activate/deactivate it, also on Olympus cameras. The OIS will work just as good as it works on Panasonic cameras. Just make sure not using both (OIS and IS) at the same time as they will fight each other and lead to wobbly pictures.Very few Panasonic OIS lenses don't have that mechanical switch, but OIS is controlled via the software menu in the Panasonic cameras. Those might pose a problem as the Oly cameras don't have that menu feature allowing control of OIS in lenses. But up to now, I think there is just one lens (Panasonic 14-42 pancake) leading to this incompatibility and all the others have mechanical switches on the outside.
So to summarize, the lens-IS of the Panasonic lens can't be used (switch ON), with the Olympus.However, IF the Olympus camera had a switch to turn the body IS ON/OFF, then the Panasonic lens IS could be used.
Some Panasonic G lenses don't seem to have a switch:http://www.photozone.de/olympus--four-thirds-lens-tests/530-pana_714_4
I think I'm slowly getting there - it's a bit of a hassle compared to Canon (my current bodies and lenses), what with Canon's superb selection of lenses that are fully compatible (not to mention other compatibles like Tamron, Sigma, Zeiss, Tokina).
I think I'm slowly getting there - it's a bit of a hassle compared to Canon ...


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She was a brilliant rocket scientist who followed her husband from job to job and took eight years off from work to raise three children. "The world's best mom," her son Matthew said.
Yvonne Brill, who died on Wednesday at 88 in Princeton, N.J., in the early 1970s invented a propulsion system to help keep communications satellites from slipping out of their orbits.
The system became the industry standard, and it was the achievement President Obama mentioned in 2011 in presenting her with the National Medal of Technology and Innovation.
Her personal and professional balancing act also won notice. In 1980, Harper's Bazaar magazine and the DeBeers Corporation gave her their Diamond Superwoman award for returning to a successful career after starting a family.
Mrs. Brill — she preferred to be called Mrs., her son said — is believed to have been the only woman in the United States who was actually doing rocket science in the mid-1940s, when she worked on the first designs for an American satellite.
It was a distinction she earned in the face of obstacles, beginning when the University of Manitoba in Canada refused to let her major in engineering because there were no accommodations for women at an outdoor engineering camp, which students were required to attend.
"You just have to be cheerful about it and not get upset when you get insulted," she once said.
Mrs. Brill's development of a more efficient rocket thruster to keep orbiting satellites in place allowed satellites to carry less fuel and more equipment and to stay in space longer. The thrusters have the delicate task of maneuvering a weightless satellite that can tip the scales at up to 5,000 pounds on Earth.
Mrs. Brill contributed to the propulsion systems of Tiros, the first weather satellite; Nova, a series of rocket designs that were used in American moon missions; the Atmosphere Explorer, the first upper-atmosphere satellite; and the Mars Observer, which in 1992 almost entered a Mars orbit before losing communication with Earth.
From 1981 to 1983, Mrs. Brill worked for NASA developing the rocket motor for the space shuttle. In a statement after Mrs. Brill's death, Michael Griffin, president of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, praised her as "a pioneering spirit" who coupled "a clear vision of what the future of an entire area of systems should be with the ingenuity and genius necessary to make that vision a reality."
Yvonne Madelaine Claeys was born on Dec. 30, 1924, in St. Vital, a suburb of Winnipeg, Manitoba. Her parents had separately immigrated from Flanders, in Belgium. Her father was a carpenter.
After the University of Manitoba barred her from the engineering program, she studied mathematics and chemistry instead and graduated at the top of her class. Her lack of an engineering degree did not prevent her from getting a job with Douglas Aircraft in Santa Monica, Calif.
"Nobody had the right degrees back then, so it didn't matter," she told The Star-Ledger of Newark in 2010. "I didn't have engineering, but the engineers didn't have the chemistry and math."
She never received a professional engineer's license, but did pick up a master's in chemistry at the University of Southern California while working as a saleswoman for a chemical company. Afterward she went to work for Douglas, whose satellite project became the foundation of the RAND Corporation, an early research center. It was at RAND that she worked on the first American satellite designs, remaining there for three years. While still peddling chemicals, she met William Franklin Brill, a research chemist, at a talk by Linus Pauling, who would win one of his Nobel Prizes in chemistry. At one point Mr. Brill told her about his problems making a particular chemical in his lab. She replied that she could sell it to him by the pound at a very low price. Soon, the couple went square-dancing, only to discover that they both hated it. They found other interests, and married in 1951. He died in 2010.
They moved to Connecticut in 1952 when Mr. Brill got a job there. She followed him again when he later got a job in New Jersey. She did not mind the moves, her son Matthew said. She would say, "Good husbands are harder to find than good jobs."
Still, she managed to find jobs that allowed her to continue to work on rockets. One was at Wright Aeronautical in New Jersey. She left the company in 1958, however, to care for her young children, keeping her hand in the field by working part-time as a consultant for the FMC Corporation. In 1966, she went back to work full time, taking a job at RCA's rocket subsidiary. Soon she doing the work that won international acclaim.
Mrs. Brill patented her propulsion system for satellites in 1972, and the first communications satellite using it was launched in 1983. It is still being used by satellites that handle worldwide phone service, long-range television broadcasts and other tasks.
Part of Mrs. Brill's rationale for going into rocket engineering was that virtually no other women were doing so. "I reckoned they would not invent rules to discriminate against one person," she said in a 1990 interview.
Throughout her career Mrs. Brill encouraged women to become engineers and scientists, starting by telling high school girls to stick with math. In her last week of life, she was still writing letters recommending eminent women in engineering for professional awards.
Her own many awards include the NASA Distinguished Public Service Medal in 2001 and top honors from several major engineering societies.
Matthew Brill said his mother died of complications of breast cancer. She lived in Skillman, N.J. Mrs. Brill is also survived by another son, Joseph; a daughter, Naomi Brill; and four grandchildren.
In 2010, when Mrs. Brill was inducted into the National Inventors Hall of Fame, The Washington Post began its article about the event by lauding two other honorees, Arthur Fry and Spencer Silver, the inventors of Post-its. The article went on to suggest that it took two men to create an adhesive stationery but only one woman to figure out how to keep satellites in place.