text:
In the game the player can choose from one of the four conflicting parties:
- ED - after the destruction of the EARTH, the leaders of the Eurasian Dynasty escaped on board an evacuation fleet. Now they are fighting for the survival of the human species. Their base is one large building comprising of smaller variable parts.
- LC - This peace loving Matriarchal society must fight to find a new base and home after the destruction of the Earth. LC buildings have few possibilities to upgrade, therefore, the ability to lift off and move quickly to a new location.
- UCS - these machines evolved from the UCS battle machines. During the long flight to Mars, the computer decided to kill all human survivors and start conquering the Solar system with its own mechanical army.
- Aliens - alien renegades were imprisoned a long ago time in the history of Mars. In 2160 landing UCS ships awoke them from their deep sleep. Now they are trying to escape their prison and to establish new bases in the solar system.
All character parties have the possibility of developing new technologies. Work on technologies are done in research centers on the planet surfaces. Each species can develop as many technologies at one time as they have technology centers. They will have access to technology trees to manage work on new technologies.
Battles take place all over the planets and moons of the outer Solar System.
Mars - 4th planet in the solar system
Titan - Saturn's moon
Io - the Jupiter satellite
Triton - Neptune's moon.
Virtual agents:
New dimensions to the game will be created by using virtual agents. Agents are freelancers available for hire who help a player during the game. Each agent has different abilities (they can help with research, unit commands, increasing mining efficiency etc.) agents can be hired and fired during the game. Not all agents are available all the time. If an agent is hired by one player, it will not be available for the others.
Single player modes:
• 4 single player campaigns. Each campaign includes 7 missions.
• Skirmish mode possible, to be played by one player on multiplayer maps. In Skirmish mode the player fights against the computer.
Multiplayer modes:
Four multiplayer modes are available.
The Soundtrack:
The rich musical score consists of 30 dynamically varying tracks, composed and arranged by Gerd Hofmann & Joachim Schaefer. Played by orchestral artists of the National Orchestra Mannheim-Heidelberg (Germany), recorded and mixed with the latest Dolby Digital 5.1 surround technology.
More articles about Earth 2160


text:
The Fortune is a 2-door coupe featured in Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas and Grand Theft Auto IV. The vehicle is manufactured by Vapid in the HD Universe.
Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas
The Fortune bears a striking resemblance to the 1989-1993 Ford Thunderbird and 1987-1993 Ford Mustang GT.
Grand Theft Auto IV
The Fortune is now manufactured by Vapid, with sports styling similar to the Sentinel sports compact. The body shape is still based on the 1989-1993 Ford Thunderbird, the front seems more generic (somewhat like the Uranus from GTA San Andreas) and the taillights have a design that is reminiscent of the 97-98 Lincoln Mark VIII, which is based on the Thunderbird, but the front end is loosely based on the 1994 Nissan Silvia S14 (Silvia in Japan, 200SX in Europe, and 240SX in North America) while the headlights were based on the 6th generation Toyota Corolla (E90), possibly, the Fortune is still based on the combination between the 1989-1993 Thunderbird and some Japanese Domestic Market (JDM) sport coupes like the Toyota Corolla Levin (E90), and the Nissan Silvia S14, but the rear end is possibly based on the 1990-1995 Mazda Cosmo Sports car. The Fortune appears to be a successor to the Peyote, which is based on the older generation of the Ford Thunderbird.
Current Design Gallery
Template:Vehicle Design Gallery
Version History Gallery
Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas
Acceleration and speed are well above average, but not overly impressive with the front-engine, rear-wheel drivetrain, likely powered by a relatively small V6. Handling is satisfactory, although understeer is evident. The brakes are strong, but the E-brake tends to throw the car into an uncontrollable slide around corners, even at lower speeds. The car pretty much drives like the real Thunderbird from the 1990s. Even the V8 ones are slow because they are underpowered and heavy.
Grand Theft Auto IV
The Fortune 3.0 SR returns with a stock 3.0 V6, coupled to a 4 speed gearbox in an FR drivetrain layout. Much of the old performance is retained, keeping acceleration and a new top speed. Due to the Fortune's 4-wheel independent suspension, handling also remains good. Oversteer is still a factor, causing the rear wheels to smoke after sharp turns. Braking is very good. Accident deformation is below average, meaning the Fortune will not sustain many hits before being un-drivable. The engine however is more sturdy than the car, and will take multiple hits and gunshots before failing/catching fire.
The car may be sold at S&M Auto Sales for a maximum of $1,600 (in perfect condition) after completion of Stevie's Car Thefts in GTA IV.
GTA IV Overview
Modifications (GTA San Andreas)
- The Fortune can only be modified in a TransFender garage.
|Car Color 1 (64 different colors)
|$ 150
|2x Nitrous
|$ 200
|5x Nitrous
|$ 500
|10x Nitrous
|$ 1000
|$ 820
|$ 770
|$ 1000
|$ 620
|$ 1140
|Off Road Wheel
|$ 1000
|$ 1030
|$ 1230
|$ 1200
|$ 1560
|Car Stereo
|Bass Boost
|$ 100
|$ 1500
Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas
- The Fortune can be found all over the state, in more urban or residential areas in Los Santos, San Fierro, and Las Venturas.
Grand Theft Auto IV
- Spawn all around Bohan.
- Spawn around Middle Park, Algonquin.
- Lyle Rivas owns one which can be obtained through the mission Search and Delete.
Notable Owners
- Lyle Rivas owns a green Fortune.
- Wu Zi Mu owns a pink Fortune.
Image Gallery
- Fortune plays the following radio stations by default when entered:
- GTA IV: Integrity 2.0, WKTT Radio or PLR.
- EFLC: Integrity 2.0 or WKTT Radio.
- The name "Fortune" seems to be a combination of "Ford" and Thunderbird", e.g., FordThunderbird.
Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas
- In the beta version of GTA San Andreas, the Fortune had a different headlight shape.[1]

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Chocolate Orange Drizzle Loaf Cake
Tuesday, 10 July 2012
Revisited Chocolate Orange Drizzle Loaf Cake
Chocolate Orange Drizzle Loaf Cake
8 comments:
- Jacqueline Meldrum said...
I have made one of these before and it was lovely, although mine was called a Jaffa Drizzle Cake
- 10 July 2012 at 12:53
I agree Maria, this cake is delicious. I remember making it for Sweet & Simple Bakes and thinking it was a keeper. I really do miss Jules, she was such a lovely lady. xx
- 10 July 2012 at 15:05
- The Caked Crusader said...
The sponge looks beautiful and I love your decoration too!
- 10 July 2012 at 19:49
- Helen said...
I miss Sweet & Simple Bakes and was so sad when I heard Jules had passed away. I remember making this cake and it was a real hit. Must make it again soon!
- 11 July 2012 at 18:10
- Gloria Baker said...
I love this cake Maria look amazing!:)
- 15 July 2012 at 17:28
- Kim said...
Gorgeous cake which is going straight on to my baking list. A great tribute and a lovely way to remember your friend.
- 16 July 2012 at 19:20
Fabulous cake - the sponge is phenomenal! This will now become a regular for me. Clearly your friend was a total star.
- 21 July 2012 at 17:06
- Maggie said...
I miss 'Rosie' and the fun comments we left on each others blogs. This loaf is one of my favourites too.
- 1 August 2012 at 20:34


text:
Sheetal Gandhi's workshop group. Photo by Tully Chen.
Sheetal Gandhi watched attentively as three pairs of her students transformed the material she had taught into duets. The dancers chatted with each other in Hebrew, occasionally asking their teacher questions in English. Yet there were other unfamiliar sounds peppering their speech: bols, syllables from an Indian drum and dance language. The dancers' lilting chants created a mesmerizing rhythmic pulse for their kathak-influenced movement.
Meanwhile, in another studio at the Suzanne Dellal Center, Jackie Lopez – aka Miss Funk – was introducing her students to wack'n, one genre of hip-hop. Starting off slowly, she layered arm gestures onto a full-bodied rocking action, sped up the movement, and played even more with the coordination. After reviewing a popping phrase and moving onto a house combination, she turned to the dancers. "I don't want professional house dancers," she told them. "I just want you to feel something new."
Trying something new is the driving force behind Bridge: Choreographic Dialogues, a unique summer workshop which creates links between the Israeli and American dance scenes. Claudio Kogon, deputy director of the Suzanne Dellal Center, elaborated, "The point of this program is to bring people who have a unique background, to bring choreographers that could offer people here in Israel something different." While the Israeli dancers who participated in this workshop had years of experience in contemporary dance, most of them had little contact with either Sheetal's kathak-flavored fusion of dance or Jackie's rich hip-hop vocabulary. They came, as Jackie hoped, to feel something new.


text:
St. Pete Election could decide Rays Future
On this National election Day, there are citizens all around the country voting to retain or replace local politicians in their city governments. Some are voting for Council members, minor and major elected city officials and maybe even for the high office of Mayor. But in St. Petersburg, Florida, the vote for your mayor candidate might send a clear and concise message to the Tampa Bay Rays on what the teams future might be in the city or somewhere else.
Both of the cities Mayor candidates have been loud and proud in their support or bashing of the Rays proposal to construct a new retractable roof stadium within the city limits. And it is a decision that has alienated some community leaders from their citizens,or even renewed a hope of a change in government. The voting decision today by the city populus might be a clear indicator of if the Rays dream of a new stadium is going to be a folly or a future shing star in the Tampa Bay area.
Also at stake is the timing of any future plans at all. Consider if the city does join forces with the Rays and campaign for a new stadium as soon as 2012. If the city and the team tries to fund it and build it too quickly, without total support, you will see the city sacrifice city taxes and proposed revenues by looking at it in tunnel vision. But there is a far worst scenario that might come from waiting too long to make a initial decison on the project and watch the moving vans stroll up to the Trop and wave goodbye to baseball in Tampa Bay for good.
The A Better Community (ABC) group, which has been commissioned to research all the nooks and crannies of the Tampa Bay area for the right location and situation for the proposed stadium has not even made a final conclusion in the stadium process. And that might be a intelligent political move for them to wait and see what kind of political obstacles might fall in their way before revealing their final reccomendations to the public.
But you can bet the group is closely watching the St. Pete election with a keen eye on what might happen or needs to happen in the next few years concerning the stadium issue. And the candidate have laid it all out in black and white to the public on this issue, and there has been no pandering to either side. But their firm words are just that right now until they are elected to the office and will have to comment again on the issue.
You have one candidate Kathleen Ford, who has been a huge voice that the Rays are committed by contract to staying at Tropicana Field until 2027, and is not about to give them any freedom or deviations from their present deal in the near future. Ford has campaigned hard on the issues of the city's economy and putting more police officiers on the street and decreasing taxes than thinking about baseball right now. And that might be the platform that makes her viable to the citizens of the city.
But Ford also knows that the city of St. Petersburg has a trump card in this stadium deal, and she is holding it close to her vest right now. If the Rays cry poverty, then the city could instruct the team to open their teams financial books, and MLB and baseball in general has been hesistant in the past to let outsiders see such things as revenue sharing and other inner workings of their system.
And Ford might use the possibility of financial damages as her remedy to the situation. The current contract between the Rays and the city stipulates that all bond monies (currently about $ 80 million) must be paid off. And in this point alone,Ford might have the power of the judicial system in her court. So, could Ford become a major stadium hinderence to the Rays if she is elected or just a road block?
Then you have the other candidate, Bill Foster who has flip floped at least once on the issue, but that concerned the building of the stadium on the St. Petersburg waterfront, and not the proposed sites on the outer stretches of the city's limits. Foster realistically sees both sides of the equation now,and has vowed to work with the Rays organization to get the right decision for both the citizens of his town and the Rays in this issue.
Foster is the candidate who truly envisions the concrete hitting the soil as early as 2016 when the financing of the current bonds surrounding the Tropicana Field lease are set to expire. And he is also throwing the idea out of maybe even expanding the concept to include a convention center on the property picked to make it more attractive to city residents and voters if a referendum is needed to get the funding. But does he have the charm and finesse needed to get them reinstituted and the Rays on the way to fulfilling the dream?
And both candidates have been adamant about a court battle if the Rays try and take the team away before 2027, but we all know that professional teams can win court battles and even iron clad lawsuits by twisting the system with monetary solutions,or by just winning outright in their case. And that is one of the strong armed tactics we could expect if Ford is elected to the office. Foster might use it as a directional tool, but not as a strong point to twist the issue ot negotiations with the Rays.
Depending on where your personal logic lies, the Rays will be making decisions behind their closed doors that are not privy to the Florida Sunshine Laws to either boost or defend their current plans to acquire the head nod of city officials about a stadium. And the Rays are not going to immediately head for the hills and be on speed dial with Portland,San Antonio, Las Vegas or even Charlotte if the wrong person is elected, or shows a strong will even to speak about the issue. But you know they have a back-up plan. This is a business, not just a baseball sports franchise, and a wise man always has a secondary solution up their sleeves.
But this is going to be a critical decision by the citizens of St. Petersburg on how their baseball future will be visualized. The region has emerged as a Major League city, if the city government balks at the building or any considerations of a stadium, the city could lose. And if that happens,will the citizens of St. Petersburg, Florida want to again become a Minor League city?
the decision making by the next St. Pete mayor, either Foster or Ford be the deciding factor in if the Rays are doing a ribbon cutting or preparing for a court battle in the future? After they are elected we might get a good indicator of their thoughts when the ABC releases their recommendations on the stadium parameters such as location and structure. The first order uttered on this issue by the new Mayor might send the clear message to baseball lovers in the community.
So the issue of baseball might be considered front and center in this election, but it has a huge dose of hard core realization attached to both Mayor candidates. One has been vocal about playing hardball and tying the team up to their total commitments. The other has been wise enough to consider alternatives and will keep an open mind into the baseball situation until all the cards are presented to him and the St. Petersburg City Council.
When the Waterfront proposed stadium plans were pulled back off the table by the Rays earlier this year it was seen as a victory by some small political groups (POWW) around the community. They saw the pulling of the proposed plans as a major coup at the time. But who is to say that it was not STRIKE ONE by the St. Petersburg politicans, and the Rays will ultimately be the ones who determine when the community strikes out,or hits one out of the park and into the bay.
12 Comments
hahaha sounds like a great Halloween to me!
this is really pressing about the future of the Rays. the new image and emerging success should hold the team down in St. Pete for many years to come. I know this goes beyond the game of baseball and I hope for the best for the team.
btw, how about the Pirates-Rays trade. What should I expect from AKI? Jesse Chavez was the Pirates best reliever on the team and its sad to see him go. I like Iwamura and his style of play but I'm not sure if it was the right move. I hope the best for both clubs
Not saying there is doom and gloom if Ford is elected, but it puts a huge red flag up for the team.
As for Aki.
You will get a guy who can lead-off with confidence, play second or third base with the best of them, and is a hustler.
He for the past two seasons, he has been one of the hardest guys to have hit into a double play. In 2007 and 2008 he only hit into 2 in each season…….Remarkable!
Aki is a team first guy, which is a huge plus for the Pirates. And he is healthy and a great team chemistry guy. He does sign for the fans.
I think it is a win-win for both teams to not only fill a need, but get some value for the beginning of the season and plug a hole in the infield.
Rays Renegade
So did you vote in the election and for whom? Inquiring minds want to know. Or are you registered in Tampa, not St. Pete? Anyhow, I didn't realize what a political issue the Rays' future has become. As I type this, the returns are probably in. I'll have to go turn on CNN!
Actually Jane,
I was living outside the city in a town called Clearwater for the last three years. But on October 1st I did move back into the St. Petersburg city limits, but I am not eligible to vote in this election.
I would have voted for Bill Foster.
It is a bit of a pickle situation because if Kathleen Ford has won the election, which she did not, it would have been hard to get the ball rolling.
But since Foster is the declared winner, you know Rays owner Stu Sternberg is smiling in his NY home.
That means they will have someone in the City Council chambers who will listen to the proposals and be honest from the get-go………hopefully.
Rays Renegade
I wonder why MLB teams would be so reluctant to open their books to the public…. oh, because maybe it would show some line of corruption or prove that the party line of "we don't have any money" is a total crock. Even in baseball we can't get away from politics. Booo!
I think it either of us was a team owner, and we had a politician ask us to open the books we would shy away too.
I undertsand there are unusual expenses that a voter or even a fan might not understand sitting in our journals, plus the added monies from MLB and the revenue streams from outside organizations might be misinterpreted as cash overflow.
Most fans do not see or know that the team support their entire MInor League farm systems from Winter Ball to the Major League club sometimes out of the same set of books.
Also, unless you are the IRS….. you would never see my tax returns.
Rays Renegade
What an off season dilemna that is. Stadium issues are tricky in their own right.. let alone when it's a political pawn for your Mayoral election. All you can hope for is that it runs the right course and does not disrupt TB operations.
It is a delicate spot because MLB Commissioner Bud Selig has already told the political leaders in the Tampa Bay area they will not see an All Star game until we get an "adequate" stadium.
Plus the fact that Oakland and Tampa Bay are the two teams left that have not either moved to a better stadium or have plans in the works to complete such a stadium.
The next year will be watched closely by the Rays for a upward or downawrs spiral in attendance.
Rays Renegade
It makes me sad that politics has to play a role in any baseball matter. Just leave the team alone and let them go about their business…don't the politicians have better things to worry about like poverty, crime and health care? In a perfect world, I suppose ;o)
Unfortunately professional teams make a good target for political gain because if you mention the teams name in a speech, comment or article, some people's heads pop out of the hole like little gophers.
It is a form of name-dropping that can get you either elected or defeated.
I know the Rays were not the catalyst in yesterday's election, but they did have a issue at the forefront that both candidates had 180 degree thoughts about.
What! a plotical candidate thinking about Johnny Q Public……….perish the thought, some of them can not even get their oen lives straight.
Rays Renegade
I missed it since I am not watching the World Series at all this season. But he is a great guy.
Surrounding myself with books, DVDs and videos to watch during the games. Tonight it is 4 hours of "Ghosthunters" on the SyFy Channel.
What happens now is that in January Foster will be sworn in, but you can bet the Rays have already contacted him and scheduled a meeting or two.
Then it is up to the political gods of the cosmos.
Rays Renegade
So Rays, what happened now that the elections are over.
Hey, di d you see the interview with Robin Roberts during one of the W.S. games? He sounded like such a wonderful person. I could have listen to him for a while. You are lucky that you got to meet him and talk to him. Wow!


text:
For Bill Clinton these days, political victories are as hard to come by as Yankee Stadium box seats for the World Series. (Yes, Chatterbox is going to the opening game). So not even Ken Starr could blame the beleaguered President for crowing Friday morning as he hailed the budget agreement in the White House Rose Garden. "We fought for and won vital new investments, especially for our children," Clinton said. "By hiring 100,000 new teachers, we will reduce class size in the early grades to an average of 18." Later in his statement, Battlin' Bill returned to the same magic number when he declared, "We fought and fought and fought and won the right for the 100,000 teachers."
There's just one pesky problem–that number 100,000. As a Department of Education fact sheet accurately explains, "The FY1999 budget provides $1.2 billion to hire approximately 30,000 new teachers in the early grades." Even disregarding that hedge word "approximately," that works out to be exactly one new teacher for every two elementary schools in America. Put another way, Clinton's much-vaunted education plan will increase the rolls of the nation's public-school teachers by a dramatic 1.1 percent.
So how does our scrupulously accurate President get away with bragging about 100,000 teachers? You see Clinton has a dream, a will-o'-the-wisp fantasy of Congress someday funding those 100,000 new teachers. It's a seven-year plan that is supposed to reach its goal just about the time that President George W. Bush will be running for a second term.
Clinton perfected this big-number shuffle back in the days when he was burnishing his anti-crime credentials by pledging to put 100,000 federally-funded police officers on the streets. Remember all those placards proudly reading "100,000 Cops" at the1996 Democratic Convention? Well, Chatterbox, remembers. He checked with the Justice Department and discovered that–six long years into the Clinton presidency–Congress has approved funding for a total of 88,000 cops. And less than half of that number are currently walking a beat. As of March, only 43,305 men and woman in blue have ever been hired under Clinton's courageous 100,000-cops initiative. And that figure, by the way, includes several thousand would-be officers currently in training programs.
Now for the $100,000 question: Why is it, even now, that the supposedly cynical White House press corps continually lets Clinton get away with such blatant exaggerations about the mythical 100,000 cops and 100,000 teachers?
–Walter Shapiro


text: Whisky or Scotch, or Uisge Beatha in Gaelic, is a type of distilled beverage from fermented grain mash. Different grains are used for different varieties, including barley, rye, corn cum wheat. Whisky's aged in wooden casks, made generally of white oak. The distillate must age for at least three years and one day in Scotland to be called Scotch whisky, although most single malts are offered at a minimum of eight years of age. Scotch whisky is divided into five distinct categories: single malt, blended malt , blended Scotch whisky, blended grain Scotch whisky, and single grain Scotch whisky. Plain caramel colouring may be added.


text:
Resources Organized by Disciplinary Core Ideas
- Check out elementary level lessons and resources under general DCI arrangement [here]
- Feel free to add you own ideas to the third column!
General Resources that can be used for NGSS Multimedia LessonsThe following websites can not only be used to find inspiration for NGSS lessons and investigations but to support other disciplines as well.
This is a subscription service that aligns with NGSS standards at the primary level. If your school does not subscribe, talk to your librarian or building admin to purchase the subscription for you. In addition to an Animals database that may be useful, you will want to for sure check out the Science database, which has "Earth and Space", "Physical", "Life" and "Science and Engineering Practices" as subtopics. Each article has the ability to read the info to the student, includes important vocabulary, media of some sort. Under the "activity" feature, you can find a "share what you know" graphic organizer, a suggested investigation and questions for understanding.
Use KYVL's Research Frontier to help locate quality nonfiction articles to supplement your units or to help generate ideas/research for investigation. From school you do not need a username/password. From home, you will need to log in.
Tips for searching:
- Searchasaurus (Purple planet) - limit your search results by lexile band to find info on your student's reading level, choose magazine articles to find full articles from places like Scholastic News and National Geographic Explorer. This one may be best to start with for primary.
- Grolier (Green planet- Scholastic GO) limit your search results by magazine to find articles from places like Appleseeds, Science World, Odyssey and Current Science. Don't miss the "Websites" tab where you can also find reputable websites to use. This is a great format of database because it gives you an abstract to help preview the content. Students had the most success with this database last year.
- EBSCO (Red planet) - articles here often have higher lexiles. You can limit your search results to magazine or by publication to help narrow results and find things on student reading level, but this might be the last source you try as the content may be too difficult for many topics.
If you do not have an account for KET Encyclomedia through your school info, you will need to set one up to use the service. You can find various multimedia resources here including images, documents and video. Search by:
- keyword,
- Standards - click on "Curriculum Standards Search" under the search box. You can then "drill down" by grade level and specific standard. Standards that have content that may meet your needs will be highlighted in blue
When you locate a video clip or other media you find helpful, click the plus sign and this will add it to your "Quick List". You can use media from your quick list to assign to students or create lessons with Builder Tools.
You can set up classes and students in Discovery Education and use teacher tools to enrich your lessons. This would be a good activity for the tech lab, a center that students rotate through or even for homework.
Builder Tools Available:
- Assignment Builder create an assignment that includes standards, instructions, various media content from Discovery Media, links to outside sources and quizzes or writing prompts.
- Quiz Builder - create, share, modify quizzes related to media content
- Writing Prompt Builder - create writing prompts that include images or video that students must view and respond to - could be used as an assessment piece
- Board Builder - curate content into "boards" based on topics - or have students create boards to help present information to a class
PBS Learning Media is a collection of documents, video clips, images, interactives and web pages associated with all of your favorite PBS programming (including Curious George, NOVA, Zoom, Wild Kratz etc). Access the PBS Learning Media site through the KET Encyclomedia portal. You do need to have a separate username/password for this and it is free to set up your account. This is the same PBS Learning Media we use for professional development videos, so you should already have an account with your school email. Browse by:
- Standards - currently they do not have NGSS listed as standards, although they do have Common Core standards and Program of Studies
- Grade and Subject - this is the best option right now - choose your grade, then from the drop down menu on the left, choose from: Earth & Space, Engineering, Life Sciences and Physical Science
- or Search with keywords
When you find content that you like select the heart and this will make the content available in your favorites to use with Tools, which can be accessed from the Dashboard.
Tools available:
- Lesson Builder
- Quiz Maker
- Storyboard
These tools work in a similar fashion to Discovery Education. Each of the components has a built in tutorial you can view and you can send students a link to the assignment (or create a QR code) or students can enter code for the assignment at a student login page.
NGSS Specific Resources
NGSS App
Have the science standards at your fingertips. Download the app with all the standards from your device's app store. The link will direct you to the app store for iOS, Android and Windows markets.
NGSS Hub
A team of teachers is working to curate quality lessons by standard. Click on each standard and then scroll down to where it says "Resources and Lesson Plans" on the right side of the screen. Some topics - chiefly under Earth and Space Science don't have lessons yet - but check back often.
The Concord Consortium
At the Concord Consortium you can "choose your path" through the NGSS. Begin by selecting a core idea, then choose a practice, and one or more cross cutting concepts. The activities provided should align with your selections.
At the Concord Consortium you can "choose your path" through the NGSS. Begin by selecting a core idea, then choose a practice, and one or more cross cutting concepts. The activities provided should align with your selections.
Augmented Reality
Use Augmented Reality apps that contain 3D visuals and information to hook students into your science lesson. Augmented Reality makes use of a "trigger image" or a physical image you must project or download and print and it overlays different forms of media, through the iPad and app onto that trigger.Zookazam
Click on info in blue below to access links.
Click on info in blue below to access links.
Download the app from your tablet or smart phone's app store, and print the trigger images from the website or create your own using the directions provided in the app. Using the app students can see 3D models of a variety of animals and hear facts about the animal they are viewing. Additionally, they can choose to view basic information about the animal such as weight and height, which could be recorded as practice for collecting data.
Elements 4D
Elements 4D uses blocks with different elements on them. Print the blocks to use with the app [here]. When you scan the block with the Elements 4D app, you will see an augmented reality image of the element. Place the element next to another one, and the app will show you the chemical reaction and formula. Check out the lesson plan that fit with 5-PS1-1.
See it here:
Using this app, students can explore different body systems, in-depth, in 4D. Currently you can access two different trigger images - one for the heart and one for the human body. Print the trigger/target handout from the app by emailing it to yourself, or access it from the website and save the image to print. Once you have the trigger image, open the app and scan the trigger image. A model 4d model of the heart or human will appear. Students can choose from a menu to see different systems in isolation or as a group. This would be a cool way to hook students into a lesson on life sciences (4-LS1-1).
See it here:
Use this app to explore layers of the head from skin to muscles to respiratory system to the brain. The layers of the brain are color coded, and as you touch each layer, the app gives you some basic information. The app works with a trigger image, which can be downloaded and printed at Harmony [here]. Scroll down and look for the PDF.
It looks like the app has been updated since the demo video was made, but you can check out how the app works in general here:
Spacecraft 3D is a NASA app that includes 3D renderings of various spacecraft, including Curiosity, Mars Odyssey, and Voyager, just to name a few. You have to download the trigger/target image [here], or you can download it or email it through the app. To use the app select a spacecraft, then scan the trigger/marker to interact with the 3D model. By selecting info, you can learn information about the size, weight, use and history of the spacecraft. An app such as this could be a good entry point into discussing engineering and modeling.
Check out the video demo below to see how to use the app.
Learn how a jet engine works with AR Jet Engine. Use the app to scan the trigger image, which can be found [here]. After you scan the image, slide the arrows at the bottom of the screen to show how the parts of the engine work together to operate. Press the info button to learn more about Thrust, Combustion and the History of the Jet Engine.
The Science AR app has two trigger images you can use - one to teach the water cycle and one for the earth. Download the "trigger" images from the main page [here] and just double click on each image, then right click to save or print. Each image has a few different triggers on it. To see how they work, watch the video below.
The Amazing Space Journey app can be used as AR or as more of an interactive. If you would like to use it as Augmented Reality, you'll need to download the Amazing Journey Board [here]. Use your fingers to navigate through space. Pinch fingers together to zoom in closer to a planet, or double tap the planet or the "planet" menu at the bottom of the screen to view a planet or satellite. Change the speed of time by double tapping the menu on the left side of the screen to view orbits. Each planet/satellite has an information menu you can open to see distance from the sun, radius, rotation period, and orbital period. Check out the how to video on Vimeo [here].
The Dinosaurs Live app was used in conjunction with the Dinosaurs Live! Exhibit in Singapore at the Science Centre. Could be used for 2-ESS1 "Use information from several sources to provide evidence that Earth events can occur quickly or slowly" to examine the mass extinction of the dinosaurs or 3-LS4-1 to examine how fossils are used to draw conclusions about species long ago or 3-LS4-4 with environmental changes and how it changes plants and animals. On the app page [here] right click on the images of the dinosaurs and save and print them to be used with the app.
To use the app simply choose "start" then swipe your fingers from side to side to navigate through the available dinosaurs: Tyrannosaurus Rex, Styracosaurus, Spinosaurus, Orintholestes. Choose the camera icon to scan the corresponding trigger image and see it in 3D, press the "Learn more" icon to learn facts about the dinosaurs size and special features.
If you're on Twitter, be sure to search for #NGSSchat (which happens on Thursdays at 9pm est) and #NGSS to find ideas and discussion.
Be sure to follow these NGSS rockstars (click on the names below to see their Twitter profiles and to follow):


text:
TextWord Press has published four literature/language arts anthologies. Each anthology contains more than 880 pages; each offers a language arts curriculum that integrates the best of world literature with high-level, solidly-based comprehension, writing, communication, and critical and analytical thinking skills.
The literature in our four-year IMPLICATIONS OF LITERATURE series addresses the diversity of the human experience. Students will feel the joy of lyrical poets, the dignity of essayists, and the courage of those determined not to succumb to oppression. They will learn to make reasoned judgments, analyze the actions and reactions of the characters met within these pages, and decide for themselves how they would have responded to similar crises. We believe that exposure to the IMPLICATIONS OF LITERATURE series will not only foster the acquisition of competent language arts skills, but will also encourage students to think responsibly about the impact of the past on the present and the future.


text: Coldwater Elementary School fourth-graders on Wednesday afternoon rehearse "James and the Giant Peach," directed by Denise Petersen. The show will be presented in the high school auditeria at 7 p.m. tonight, and 2 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday. Presale tickets are available at the elementary school office. Tickets can also be purchased at the door for $5.


text:
The staff of this publication has had the pleasure of working with Michael Scott Scudder for many years — as a speaker at our trade shows, as an industry consultant who has always been available for interviews on various subjects and for the last five years as a columnist for our From the Lip column.
However, they do say that all good things must come to an end, don't they? In this issue, we are running Michael's last column with us. As always, it's a column full of thought-provoking — and, I hope, discussion-provoking — comments. That's one thing that we could always count on with Michael — he never held back.
Some people may have been put off by Michael's columns because they thought he was too negative about the state of the industry, but having various viewpoints represented in a publication and heard throughout an industry can only help strengthen that industry. We need someone stirring the pot a little so we don't all get burned — even if the pot stirring was uncomfortable and sometimes off track. No one is right 100 percent of the time, but at least Michael was never afraid to stick his neck out and challenge the industry.
Even though Michael's column will be absent from these pages, his name and opinions will not be. We will continue to call upon him for his insights on various topics, and he still plans to continue as a speaker at the Club Industry trade shows.
We wish Michael the best in building his business, MeetingZone, and any other endeavors he plans to undertake. Thanks, Michael!


text:
KABUL, Afghanistan — The leading presidential candidate defiantly vowed to press ahead with his campaign after narrowly escaping an assassination attempt Friday that underscored Afghanistan's fragility as it prepares for its first democratic transfer of power and the withdrawal of foreign combat troops.
Two bombs struck Abdullah Abdullah's convoy as it was traveling between campaign events in the capital. The candidate was unharmed but it was a close call. At least 10 people, including three in his entourage, were killed and dozens were wounded in the attack, which heavily damaged the front of Abdullah's armored car, destroyed several vehicles and storefronts and left the street littered with twisted metal and other rubble.
"The aim of this incident is to create fear and anxiety among the people and prevent them from deciding their own destiny," Abdullah, 53, calmly told a rally at a Kabul hotel. "We will continue with our election campaign as usual, and no one can separate us from our people with these types of plots."
Although there was no immediate claim of responsibility, the bombings bore the hallmarks of Taliban militants who have vowed to disrupt the election as part of their fight against the Western-backed government.
The bombings happened eight days before a runoff in which Afghans are to choose a new leader to replace outgoing President Hamid Karzai. The Taliban have staged a series of high-profile attacks this year, though the first round of voting on April 5 was relatively peaceful. The attempt on Abdullah's life appeared to be the first direct attack on a candidate, as earlier ones targeted only campaign offices and workers.
If one of the candidates were to die, that would have huge implications not only for Afghanistan's stability but for the Obama administration's hopes for a signed security agreement in time to make preparations for keeping about 10,000 U.S. troops in the country for another two years. The Afghan constitution says new elections must be held in the event of a candidate's death.
Karzai condemned the bombings, saying they were staged by "enemies of Afghanistan who don't want free elections."
Abdullah had just addressed a rally at a wedding hall and was heading toward a campaign event at the Intercontinental Hotel when his convoy was hit along a street in a commercial area of western Kabul. The attack took place about noon, when many Afghans were indoors for Friday prayers.
Interior Ministry spokesman Sediq Sediqqi said a suicide bombing was followed by a roadside bomb. But Gul Agha Hashim, Kabul's criminal investigation chief, said the first blast was carried out by a suicide bomber on foot and the second by a suicide car bomber.
Health Minister Suraya Dalil told The Associated Press that 10 people were killed and 37 wounded. Three of those killed were a driver and two were bodyguards in another car in Abdullah's convoy, according to Fazel Sangcharaki, a spokesman for the candidate.
A former Afghan foreign minister, Abdullah was the runner-up in the disputed presidential elections of 2009 and hopes again now to succeed Karzai, who is constitutionally barred from seeking a third term.
Abdullah is the front-runner for the June 14 runoff, facing former Finance Minister Ashraf Ghani Ahmadzai. In the initial balloting, he garnered 45 percent of votes while Ahmadzai came in second with 31.6 percent. Former presidential candidate Zalmai Rassoul, who is now supporting Abdullah, also was in the car with Abdullah on Friday but was not injured.
Abdullah — who is half Pashtun and half Tajik — has a strong following among ethnic Tajiks but has sought to broaden his support base by choosing a well-known leader of the minority ethnic Hazara group and a Pashtun leader of the powerful Hezb-i-Islami group as vice presidential candidates.
The vote comes at a pivotal time as the international community prepares to withdraw combat forces by the end of this year. The U.S. and its coalition allies have tried to transform a small and ineffectual Afghan military and police into a huge force of 350,000, but huge obstacles remain. Large parts of the country have become practically inaccessible.
Both Abdullah and Ahmadzai have pledged to sign a security pact with the U.S. that will allow American troops to remain in the country after 2014 in a training and advisory capacity. Karzai refused to sign it and has irritated Washington with his anti-American rhetoric.
Although billions of dollars have poured into the country since the fall of the Taliban regime in 2001, much of this money landed in the pockets of corrupt businessmen and politicians, further widening the divide between rich and poor. The rampant poverty has helped keep alive the Taliban insurgency, which shows no sign of letting up.
In the early days after the U.S.-led alliance toppled the Taliban regime in 2001, Abdullah became the face of Afghanistan's anti-Taliban movement, giving frequent press conferences to international media.
Abdullah previously served as a close aide to the late Ahmad Shah Masood, the Northern Alliance rebel commander who was killed in an al-Qaida suicide bombing two days before the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks.
"The enemy cannot defeat us or prevent the decision of the people of Afghanistan," the candidate declared after Friday's attack.


text:
Long before Jonathan Martin or Richie Incognito joined the NFL, there were uncomfortable locker room rituals.
And to hear former Bears linebacker Hunter Hillenmeyer tell it, it was no more comfortable for him in Chicago than it was for Martin in Miami.
Hillenmeyer told WSCR 670 that in 2004, the year he filled in for an injured Brian Urlacher, he "hated coming into work" because of the treatment he got from veteran center Olin Kreutz.
"Because he was a jerk," Hillenmeyer explained. "He was riding me because I was the third-year guy, or second-year guy, trying to fill in for a superstar. So I can relate in a sense that, you're going to have people in your workplace that you don't necessarily like. . . .
"Olin led in a certain way. I would go to the grave acknowledging that he thought that everything he was always doing was in the best interest of the team. I don't want that to come across like I'm admonishing him or saying that he was a bad leader. Because he was a great leader, but at the same time, when you have a room full of alpha males who were all the best player on their high school teams and one of the best players on their college team, to get everyone to buy in and fall into line, you need people that take leadership roles in an aggressive way like that."
Hillenmeyer didn't offer specifics, but said that management has a vested interest in having the locker room under control, and was willing to turn a blind eye to certain things.
"If you're [former Bears General Manager] Jerry Angelo or you're [former Bears coach] Lovie Smith, as much as you might not approve of some of the methods, you like the results," Hillenmeyer said. "People were going to come to OTAs and they weren't going to have loose lips with the media, they weren't going to do a lot of things to damage the locker room – not because they didn't want to, but because they were scared of Olin.
"You need guys like that in the locker room, and coaches tend to just let it happen unless there's something egregious going on that's right under their nose."
While 31 other teams had a chance to stand up yesterday and tell reporters how Miami's problems wouldn't happen in their place, Hillenmeyer's story, and rationale, is probably far more common than anyone would want to admit.


text:
Watch this video of the European Hovercraft Championship and you'll ask yourself, "why aren't there more racing series that go on land and on water?"
It's like F-Zero in real life. It's also tremendously loud.
There's also as much sideways action going on here as in a dirt track race. We like.


text:
The Lord of the Rings movie trilogy was filmed entirely in New Zealand. Experience the Lord of the Rings filming locations that starred as Middle‑earth™.
The Shire and Hobbiton Movie Set
The lush dairy farming landscape around the Waikato town of Matamata was used to portray the peaceful Shire region of Middle‑earth™. The village of Hobbiton was created here. It has since been rebuilt for the filming of The Hobbit Trilogy, and will now remain as a permanent attraction. See glorious 360-degree images of Hobbiton here.
I'll never forget that feeling of coming to Hobbiton the first time…there's so many feelings of nostalgia and history
Gardens of Isengard, the River Anduin, Rivendell, Osgiliath Wood, Paths of the Dead
The most accessible filming location in Wellington is Mount Victoria, which is within walking distance of the central city. The forested areas of the mountain were used to depict Hobbiton Woods, where the hobbits hid from the black riders. Other Wellington locations include the Hutt River between Moonshine and Tōtara Park, which played the part of the River Anduin; and Harcourt Park, which was transformed into the Gardens of Isengard.
Wellington's Kaitoke Regional Park became Rivendell, where Frodo recovered from the knife attack. The exact location - a grassy area surrounded by native forest - is signposted from the carpark.
From Wellington you can drive up the west coast to Queen Elizabeth Park near Paraparaumu, which was used for filming the Nazgul and mumakil in the Battle of the Pelennor Fields. Further up the coast is Waitarere Forest (Osgiliath Wood), where Frodo, Sam and Gollum walked after leaving Faramir.
A drive over the hills to the Wairarapa region will take you to the eerie Putangirua Pinnacles, where Aragorn, Legolas and Gimli sought the Paths of the Dead.
Wellington is home to Weta Workshop, Weta Digital and the Miramar film empire which is central to The Hobbit Trilogy production. While the movie business centre is off-limits to visitors, The Lord of the Rings pilgrims can experience the Weta Cave.
Home of the 'One Ring', Chetwood Forest, Dimrill Dale
Nelson Tasman is home to Jens Hansen, the goldsmith responsible for creating the 40 different rings used in production. One of the original rings is on display and copies can be bought in 9 and 18ct gold.
From Nelson drive west over Takaka Hill, which was the filming site for Chetwood Forest. Here the Ranger 'Strider' led the hobbits into the rough country east of Bree in an attempt to escape the Black Riders.
You'll need to catch a helicopter to see where the fellowship hid from Saruman's black crows. Ask the pilot to show you Dimrill Dale - Mount Olympus and Mount Owen. From the air, you'll get an eagle's view of the region's three national parks - Abel Tasman, Nelson Lakes and Kahurangi.
Nestled in the Ashburton District's high country sits Mount Sunday - a sheer-sided hill that was the set for Edoras, the main city of the Rohan people.
Nothing remains of this set, which took nine months to build, however the location still has a powerful magic. You can park your vehicle on Hakatere Potts Road and walk to the site. Nearby, Mount Potts Station offers accommodation and a restaurant.
Pelennor Fields
Near Twizel in the Mackenzie Country, Peter Jackson filmed the epic battle of the Pelennor Fields, where thousands of orcs bred by Sauron clashed with the men of Gondor and Rohan. The grassy fields that stretch to the foothills of the mountains look exactly as described in The Lord of the Rings Trilogy. The location is on private land, however you can arrange a tour in the town of Twizel.
Ford of Bruinen, Gandalf's ride, Isengard and Lothlorien
From the village of Glenorchy, at the northern end of Lake Wakatipu, you can see the north-western slopes of Mount Earnslaw, which featured in the opening sequence of The Two Towers. From Glenorchy you can also discover Lothlorien - the beech forest on the road to Paradise.
Another memorable location can be found near Queenstown at Arrowtown where you can walk to the Ford of Bruinen on the Arrow River; you can also walk to Wilcox Green, where the Gladden Fields scenes were filmed.
From Chard Farm winery you can see a spectacular view of the Anduin and Argonath (Pillar of Kings). The Pillars were computer generated in the studio.
Drive over the Crown Range Road and you'll find yourself in the Cardrona Valley. From here you can drive to the summit of the Crown Range for a panoramic view of Middle‑earth™. To the left are the River Anduin and the Pillars of the Argonath. In the hills straight ahead is the Dimrill Dale. In the distance is Amon Hen on the shore of Nen Hithoel.
River Anduin, Fangorn Forest
The Waiau River between Te Anau and Manapouri represented the River Anduin as the Fellowship paddled south from Lothlórien. The surrounding high peaks were used to depict the rough country south of Rivendell.
To discover Fanghorn Forest, ask for directions to Takaro Road, which is near Te Anau. Both sides of the road were filmed as Fangorn Forest; remote cameras were strung from high wires to film Aragorn moving through the trees.


text:
The Hite Art Institute
The Department of Fine Arts at the University of Louisville was founded in 1937. In 1946, the Department was endowed as the Hite Art Institute in recognition of the bequest of Allen R. and Marcia S. Hite. The Institute currently has 24 full-time faculty members, a full-time staff of six, and 400 undergraduate and graduate majors in the combined studio, art history, and critical & curatorial studies areas.
As the most comprehensive Fine Arts program in the state of Kentucky, we offer majors the opportunity to earn a BA, BFA, MA or MFA in a variety of disciplines. Areas of study include art history, ceramics, critical & curatorial studies, drawing, fiber, glass, graphic design, interior design, painting, photography, printmaking and sculpture.
The University of Louisville, founded in 1798, is one of the oldest municipal universities in the United States. With a current enrollment of 22,000 students, the University of Louisville is Kentucky's major urban university and one of the most rapidly expanding universities in the United States.
The mission of the Hite Art Institute is to educate our students to function in the forefront of the art world, to inspire critical thinking, promote a diversity of perspectives, and engage in the most current scholarship in art history, theory, studio art, and curatorial practices.
The Hite Endowment has allowed the department to continue to excel by providing support for academic programs, library acquisitions, student scholarships, faculty and student research, visiting artists and scholars, and exhibitions.
The Hite Art Institutes studio art program is presently located in three buildings, two on Belknap campus and one off-campus. Schneider Hall is home to the studio art programs with studios in foundation design, foundation drawing, painting, drawing, printmaking, photography, graphic design, fibers, interior design, and art education; along with computer labs, galleries, art library, and departmental offices. Sculpture and ceramics are located in the HPES/Studio Arts Building and the glass program is housed in the Cressman Center for Visual Art in downtown Louisville. The art history program, together with the Visual Resources Center and the Print Collection, is located in Lutz Hall.
The Hite Art Institute maintains six art galleries which feature rotating exhibitions by nationally and internationally renowned artists and designers, as well as students and faculty of the Institute.
- Schneider Hall, on the Belknap campus of the University of Louisville, is home to the Morris B. Belknap Gallery, Dario A. Covi Gallery, and Gallery X, as well as a library dedicated to fine arts scholarship.
- The Cressman Center for Visual Arts, located in the heart of the downtown arts district, houses the John B. and Bonnie Seidman Roth Gallery, Leonard and Adele Leight Gallery, and the Alice S. and Irvin F. Etscorn Gallery for ongoing exhibitions, and provides the public with an opportunity to observe the daily operations of the glass studio.
Resources for Academic Enhancement and Student Success
The Hite Art Institute provides numerous opportunities to enhance our students' academic experiences including generous scholarships, grants and financial assistance for undergraduate and graduate studies and research.
General Information for Academic Enhancement
Graduate Scholarships and Assistantships
Student Travel and Research Grants
Visit the Hite Art Institute
We invite you to schedule a campus visit to tour the University of Louisville and the Hite Art Institute and learn more about the programs we offer. A campus visit is your opportunity to get a firsthand view and can help you decide if this campus is a good fit for you.


text:
The pedigree-to-garbage ratio of "The Next 3 Days" is sky-high, as writer-director Paul Haggis offers us a host of unlikable people of questionable morality in an effort to say nothing much sensible. And just for kicks, Haggis slaps on an ending that is weak, contrived and too late to matter.
The film opens with Lara (Elizabeth Banks) and John Brennan (Russell Crowe) out for dinner one night with his brother, Mick (Michael Buie), and sister-in-law, Erit (Moran Atias). We join the their meal as the women are getting into a heated argument about gender office politics, immediately establishing that Lara has a hair-trigger temper, thereby making her arrest the following morning for murder somehow plausible. Hey, maybe she would brain her boss with a fire extinguisher following a fight we never really get to see about what exactly we're never sure.
We then watch John struggle with life as a single father, while dutifully visiting his incarcerated wife. But as the appeals process provides no solace and the stress starts to eat away at him, he devises a desperate plan to spring Lara from prison. Haggis tries to frame John as a modern day Don Quixote, a man standing tall in the face of insurmountable odds, taking solace in his own irrationality. Uh-huh.
The way the story unfolds there's no reason to believe Lara didn't commit the murder, and John proves himself to be a jerk, leaving us with no one to root for, except maybe their son, who desperately needs to be in a loving home, one where his father doesn't call him pet names like, "Rat Bag" and (we still can't believe we heard this right and would love to be wrong) "Yard Ape"—yes, "Yard Ape." Who knew this term was back in vogue, much less a term of endearment?
Beyond its completely despicable protagonists, the film is littered with 2-dimensional supporting players, talented folks like Olivia Wilde, RZA, Brian Dennehy and Daniel Stern, who deserve better.
John possesses superhuman stamina, somehow keeping his job as a college professor, raising his child, visiting his wife in jail, staking out the prison and some other businesses, and still finding the time to train himself in the dark of arts of crime necessary to free his wife. It's a mind-boggling display.
It's difficult to get into just how bad and manipulative this film is without divulging too much of the plot, but John is no Don Quixote, the odds against there being a lip-reading forger in that bar are absurd, $1,483 simply isn't enough money and the reveal at the end doesn't just test the limits of plausibility, it grinds them into bits, spits on them and kicks them down a gutter.
Even the tag line for the film—"What if you had 72 hours to save everything you live for?"—is a manipulative lie. John has months to plan the escape, and if your spouse is everything you live for, then either you have no kids or, like John, you're a lousy parent.
And then there are throwaway moments in the film, like when John's family is at the police station eagerly awaiting word of how the manhunt turns out and his sister-in-law Erit accosts the lead detective on the case to complain about the quality of the coffee offered by the Pittsburgh PD. Ugh.
U.S. & World
If you do see "The Next 3 Days," just remember, you were warned.


text:
Apologies, apologies, apologies. I'm more on the side of standing by what you have done (unless you actually believe you were wrong). Defend yourself!
For example, here was Rush Limbaugh on the radio yesterday:
People have asked me about this woman Sarah Spitz, who's now "apologized," and they want my reaction to it. And this is another thing I'll react to it but I really don't want to. This bores me as well, this whole concept of forcing people to apologize for things they meant to say. Why is she gonna apologize? She meant to say it, she wrote it, stand by it. You want to watch me die, Sarah? Say it! Where are your guts? Well, she's "apologized."...Ha. Exactly. I said the same thing about Tiger Woods, by the way, back in February.
[It's] the latest trend in apologies, "That's not who I really am." You know, "That's not the person I am." Bull! It is who you are! You are a commie! You are a full-fledged Marxist liberal! You do wish I was dead. It is who you are.
I don't care whether it's Tiger Woods saying, "You know, that's really not who I am." It is. It is who you are! What, did somebody steal your personality for a day and grab hold of your hands and start typing on your keyboard and it wasn't you? "This is not who I am. I want everybody to know, as a publicist I understand and this is not who I am." It is who you are!


text:
Two vastly different, perhaps equally great games hit store shelves tomorrow, October 9th. And we've reviewed both.
Dishonored: The Kotaku Review
I would love to have been a fly on the wall during the pitch meeting for Dishonored. "Well, it's Deus Ex meets BioShock," someone undoubtedly said. "Oh hey, and let's throw in some Half-Life 2 'cause why not?"
It's a bizarre, eclectic blend, the type of combination that might seem too ambitious to... More »
XCOM: Enemy Unknown: The Kotaku Review
XCOM: Enemy Unknown should have been a disaster. It's a turn-based strategy title, a style of game its publisher said only last year was "just not contemporary". More »
The Best Ways I Killed People In Dishonored
Call it morbid, call it gruesome, call it what you will. But murdering corrupt guards in creative ways is one of the most satisfying things you can do in Dishonored, the triumphant stealth-action game that hits store shelves tomorrow.
While playing the game over the past week or so, I killed... More »
Click on the links (or images!) above to read Jason's review of Dishonored—which he calls a masterpiece—and Luke's review of XCOM: Enemy Unknown—which surprises him by remaining true to its predecessors in the best of ways.


text:
Posted on October 30, 2014 by admin
Your email:
Gopakumar Nair belongs to a Hereditary Ayurvedic family of Kerala who were Practising Ayurveda and traditional Medicine for 200 Years . They can be traced back to over six generations. His experience under the guidance of his guru Valiya thampuraan has earned lot of trust and popularity.


text:
Friday, Saturday, Sunday they're showing E1, 2, and 3... I haven't seen when 4, 5, or 6 are airing yet on their commercials.
I think I've said this before, but I think it's cool to see the Star Wars movies on TV even though the commercials add an hour to the viewing.
Page created in 0.041 seconds with 18 queries.


text:
Latest By
"At its best, SF is the medium in which our miserable certainty that tomorrow will be different from today in ways we can't predict, can be transmuted to a sense of excitement and anticipation, occasionally evolving into awe."
A strangely modern presentiment of machine vision.
Compare to this very early reference to Computer Vision (Artificial Eye) from The Metal Giants (1925) by Edmond Hamilton.
Comment/Join this discussion ( 0 ) | RSS/XML | Blog This |
Vision Strip-related
news articles:
Want to Contribute an
It's easy:
PRAM Solar Powered Satellite Hardware Tested In Orbit
'Our beams feed these worlds energy drawn from... the Sun'
3D Printed Glass Uses Stereolithography Techniques
'All that with glass...'
Science Fiction Helps Young Readers Build Resiliency
'Reading science fiction and fantasy can help readers make sense of the world.'
I Want My 1928 Telestereo Hologram Now
'Instantly there appeared standing upon the disk, the image of a man...'
Memes Now Come From Neural Nets
'Your order said for him to be able to be able to work out twists on the gags in the file...'
Robot Dog Learns To Be Doggy From Real Dogs
'So we took pictures of Guzub making a Three Planets, and I could construct this one to do it exactly right down to the thousandth of a second.'
Unwanted Cruise Ships Huddle Together Out At Sea
'On the screen they passed in an endless, boundaryless flood of green specks...'
Sono Sion Electric Car Charges As You Drive
'It drew its power from six square yards of sunpower screens on its low curved roof.'
News Mood Filter Web Extension
'He adjusted the n, the r and b knobs, and hopefully anticipated a turn for the better...'
Fetal Lamb Rests In Artificial Womb
'... stewing warm on their cushion of peritoneum and gorged with blood-surrogate and hormones, the foetuses grew and grew...'
|Home | Glossary
| Invention Timeline | Category | New | Contact
Us | FAQ | Advertise |
Technovelgy.com - where science meets fiction™
Copyright© Technovelgy LLC; all rights reserved.


text:
Book & CD Read-Alongs
Sort By:
A Hole in the Bottom of the Sea
Discover amazing and fascinating sea creatures in the hole in the bottom of the sea! Based on the traditional cumulative song, each verse introduces a new creature and its place in the food chain, with the shark chasing the eel, who chases the squid, who chases the snail. Enhanced CD includes video animation and audio singalong.
Carry Along Book & CD, Annie and the Wild Animals
Annie is a little girl who lives in a forest cottage with her cat Taffy. When Taffy disappears mysteriously into the snow, Annie is crushed. She puts out corn cakes to see if she can find a new animal friend to keep her company, but who can snuggle with a moose, bear, or wildcat? Jan Brett's wonderfully illustrative borders tell the story of the vanishing Taffy and the surprises spring has in store. This perennial favorite is now a paperback book and CD set, with an unabridged dramatic reading set to fun music and lively sound effects.
Carry Along Book & CD, Cat in the Hat
From the Dr. Seuss Cat in the Hat collection. The Cat in the Hat Beginner Book & CD. This soft cover storybook is illustrated in full color. The CD features unabridged storytelling by Kelsey Grammar.
Carry Along Book & CD, Chicka Chicka Boom Boom
There is always enough room for this rollicking alphabet chant that is been a children's favorite for over 20 years! Bill Martin Jr. and John Archambault's rhythmic rhymes and Caldecott Honor illustrator Lois Ehlert's bold, cheerful art has made the Chicka Chicka series a classic! For the first time ever, the complete edition of the original Chicka Chicka Boom Boom story will be available in a new lap-sized board book that will surely delight a new generation of Chicka Chicka fans.
Carry Along Book & CD, Clifford the Big Red Dog
Emily Elizabeth loves her dog Clifford but he's so big he can't fit inside the house and she has to give him his bath in a swimming pool. This is the first in a series of books that follow the adventures of Emily Elizabeth and her beloved Clifford. Color illustrations accompany the text.
Carry Along Book & CD, Curious George's® First Day of School
Brought to life over sixty years ago by Margret and H.A. Rey, Curious George has found a lasting place in the hearts of millions of children all over the world. Along with his friends, George has had many fun adventures. Now you can listen and learn with Curious George and his friends too!
Carry Along Book & CD, Curious George®
Brought to life over sixty years ago by Margret and H.A. Rey, Curious George has found a lasting place in the hearts of millions of children all over the world. Along with his friends, George has had many fun adventures. Now you can listen and learn with Curious George and his friends too!
Carry Along Book & CD, Curious George® Takes a Job
George's curiosity leads him into new adventures when he escapes from the zoo, gets a job, and winds up in the hospital.
Carry Along Book & CD, Dr. Seuss's ABC
An alphabet book with zany drawings and nonsensical verse provides an entertaining way for small children to learn the letters and their sounds
Carry Along Book & CD, Ella the Elegant Elephant
Ella's counting the days until the first day of school, but not because she's eager to start! On the contrary, as the littlest elephant on Elephant Island, she's terribly nervous about the other kids she'll meet. Then she receives a beautiful red hat that belonged to her grandmother - her new lucky charm.
Carry Along Book & CD, Five Little Monkeys Jumping on the Bed
Christelow's popular story of the bedtime shenanigans of five little rambunctious monkeys is now available in an oversized board book just right for sharing. Full color.
Carry Along Book & CD, Five Little Monkeys Sitting in a Tree
While their mother takes a nap, five mischievous monkeys discover that it is unwise to tease Mr. Crocodile.


text:
Repost from the Feminist Majority Foundation.
For Immediate Release:
January 11, 2013
Kari Ross
Kari Ross
Eleanor Smeal, President of the Feminist Majority Foundation and Feminist Majority
Statement on the Departure of Secretary of Labor Hilda Solis
The Feminist Majority Foundation and Feminist Majority salute Secretary of Labor Hilda Solis, the first Latina to head a major federal agency, for her outstanding accomplishments in fighting for women workers and for all workers. Solis' leadership was especially important at a time when the United States was facing the worst recession since the Great Depression and women workers were, for the first time, roughtly one-half of the nation's paid workforce. She brought a unique Latina, feminist, environmentalist and union perspective to the Department. Secretary Solis made sure women workers were not forgotten as she worked to fight for and support policies to create more jobs. Never forgetting her own roots, she found passion for, believed in, and valued the common people and their struggles for advancement as well as the importance of the union movement for build the middle class.
Secretary Solis was always on the front lines fighting for women workers. She reinvigorated the Women's Bureau, reached out to women's organizations fighting to increase employment opportunities for women and expanded funding for community colleges that service millions of low income women. In funding programs at community colleges, the Labor Department, as Solis has stated, expanded "employer-specific" job training for millions of people and "transformed" community colleges into an "engine of economic growth."
Ms. Magazined heralded Secretary Solis' appointment with a headline "New Sheriff in Town; the First Latina to Head Labor will Enforce Fair Treatment for all U.S. Workers." She did exactly that. The Labor Department, under her leadership, enforced federal contract compliance regulations and wage and hour regulations protecting workers, especially women, people of color, low income individuals, and retirees. The Department Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs conducted an impressive number of investigations and collected a record amount of back wages for workers who had been denied overtime and leave benefits as well as pay owed them by their employers. Moreover, the Labor Department under Solis recorded some $5 billion for retirees and their families.
Solis, a role model for equal employment, practiced what she preached. She recruited and hired women and people of color to top leadership positions in the Department, including her chief of staff, chief economists, and as leaders of top bureaus, agencies and programs of the department. Solis, in very difficult times, revived and greatly strengthened the Department of Labor's legacy for improving workers' rights and economic justice. The Feminist Majority and Feminist Majority Foundation look forward to supporting her in new capacities as she continues her work and passion for working women and men as well as economic and social justice.


text:
on-line classes
Meditation with Jimena
Students Notes (Feb. 4)
Breathing + Meditative State = Meditation
Meditative State:
• Always be grateful/thankful to the Source, and open to any Divine Manifestation
• Say to yourself " I am in meditation now', or 'I am present' or "I am in the now"… when any distractions come to your way while in process.
• Give meaning to the meditation, what would you like to accomplish..? rest, meeting with God, meet with your Spiritual Guides, healing, clear insights..etc
• Position of the body, be comfortable… do not fall sleep!!!! Be alert
• Trust where you are
• Create a peaceful environment, music, candles, water, nature, picture of loved ones, etc.
• Close your eyes and go with the flow. After mastering this, you can meditate with your eyes wide open… in any place, under any circumstances.
- Do meditation once a day, for the next 2 weeks
- God bless you…. Enjoy the ride
Thank you for giving me this opportunity, and to yourself for giving this gift to you.
Born in Colombia, and immigrated to the US in the year 2000. She is a Spiritual Healer who's mission at this moment is to help others to re-connect with the Source "All That Is", by teaching tools and techniques for conscious living, creating Sacred Space, Self-knowledge and honoring all the Divine Manifestations and relationships.
In the last 20 years she has been studying different Spiritual philosophies and healing techniques, and has had the influence of many Spiritual Guides,Masters and teachers.
-FREE CLASSES/ CLASES GRATIS with Jimena Yantorno
every Thursday of the month at 1:00 p.m EASTERN TIME US (English) and 3:00 pm EASTERN TIME US (Spanish).
Please send an email to firstname.lastname@example.com with your choice to be able to receive an invitation to participate in the on-line class thru wiziq.com.
To receive the class # II it is necessary to take the # I.
Schedule of classes for the month of February, 2010
- Feb 4,10 Meditation with Jimena I
- Feb 4,10 Meditación con Jimena I
- Feb 11,10 Meditation with Jimena II
Feb 11,10 Meditación con Jimena II
- Feb 18,10 Balance your life empowering the feminine aspect within I
Feb 18,10 Balancea tu vida fortaleciendo el aspecto femenino interno I
- Feb 25,10 Balance your life empowering the feminine aspect within II
Feb 25,10 Balancea tu vida fortaleciendo el aspecto femenino interno II


text:
In an attempt to prevent a beloved piece of Island history from falling into the clutches of private developers, approximately 1,500 Scouts and supporters of William H. Pouch Scout Camp braved the cold yesterday evening to rally against the potential sale of the Sea View site.
Armed with candleholders reading "Scouting without Pouch… Ouch," the hundreds in attendance filled the lawn in front of Susan Wagner High School prior to the camp's annual holiday lighting ceremony. They came from all five boroughs, with some even from Connecticut, Pennsylvania and Florida to sign petitions preventing the site from being sold.
Read the rest of the article and see pictures at the Staten Island Advance.


text:
It's once and always Stanley Cup Champion Washington Capitals hockey, all day, all night, all the time . . . or when I get around to it
Saturday, January 26, 2008
The Unbearable Lindrossiness of Being
There is a dense fog about at the moment...or maybe it's just The Peerless. Just are the effects after having found oneself in the midst of an automobile accident earlier today (deer were involved...don't ask). As you can see from the actual MRI taken this morning, we are fine...except for a persistent desire for doughnuts and a nap.
Don't know what this will do as far as the usual entries for the next couple of days...we'll probably end up writing more and making even less sense (as if that was possible). At least none of this will detract from my being able to watch the skills competition this evening and the All-Star Game tomorrow.
Or maybe it'll be just a dream...
"...Iginla and Datsyuk on the rush...Rick Nash coming late...a three-on-none...Datsyuk...to Nash...over to Iginla for the shot...OHHHHHHHHHHHH, what a save by The Peerless!!!"
Yeah...I need a second opinion...
Subscribe to: Posts (Atom)


text:
Finance & Development, December 1979 »
Volume/Issue: 16/4
Series: Finance & Development
Author(s): International Monetary Fund. External Relations Dept.
Publisher: INTERNATIONAL MONETARY FUND
Publication Date: 01 December 1979
DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5089/9781616353391.022
Keywords: monetary fund, banking, development banking, bank loans, offshore banking
This paper highlights that the fight against worldwide inflation was the main theme of the Finance Ministers and central bank Governors from 138 member countries that participated in the 1979 Annual Meeting of the...


text:
Janowicz, Paire reach Stockholm QFs
Stockholm, Sweden (SportsNetwork.com) - Third seed Jerzy Janowicz and sixth- seeded Benoit Paire landed in the quarterfinals at the Stockholm Open.
The 6-foot-8 Pole Janowicz drubbed Spaniard Guillermo Garcia-Lopez 6-2, 6-1, while the Frenchman Paire handled Spaniard Pablo Carreno Busta 6-4, 6-4 on the indoor hardcourts at Kungliga Tennishallen.
A Day-3 upset came when former top-10 star Fernando Verdasco took out eighth- seeded Croat Ivan Dodig 6-7 (2-7), 6-1, 6-4 in the opening round.
Two other first-round matches saw France's Kenny De Schepper hold off Swedish wild card Markus Eriksson 6-4, 5-7, 7-5 and Finnish veteran and two-time Stockholm runner-up Jarkko Nieminen outlast German Benjamin Becker 6-3, 3-6, 7-6 (7-3).
In some more second-round action on Thursday, top-seeded French Open runner-up David Ferrer will battle American Jack Sock and second-seeded Canadian slugger Milos Raonic will take on Swedish qualifier Joachim Johansson.
This week's titlist will earn $130,000.


text:
Sun Protection Factor Ratings (SPF)
SPF is a measure of a sunscreen's effectiveness in providing protection against UVB rays.
How much UVB does SPF 15 actually block? How about SPF 30? Based on the Colipa (European) sunscreen regulations:
For SPF 15, 93% of the harmful UVB rays are blocked
For SPF 20, 95% of the harmful UVB rays are blocked
For SPF 30, 97% of the harmful UVB rays are blocked
For SPF 60, 98% of the harmful UVB rays are blocked
As you can see, SPF 60 is only 2% more effective than SPF 30, SPF 30 only 3% more effective against SPF 15. SPF 10 already protects you from 90% of UVB rays.
The NEW COLIPA (EUROPEAN SPF) standards
The newly implemented Colipa rating in Europe now requires that a UVA protection form 1/3rd of the total SPF rating. Hence if the UVA protection is SPF 5 and the UVB protection is SPF 30, the overall SPF allowed to be displayed on the product is 15, despite the fact that the UVB protection is actually SPF 30. Currently, in the US, the FDA's SPF rating is a measure of a sunscreen's protection against UVB, there is not a UVA requirement.
Lavera Sunscreens and the Colipa Standards
The current 2009 Lavera sunscreens sold in Canada and the US are rated in accordance to the 2008 European (Colipa) rules - the SPF rating displayed is the measure of effectiveness against UVB. The UVA requirement of 1/3 UVB is a tough requirement for any natural sunscreen to achieve, and has resulted in a number of European natural sunscreen vendors exiting the market. Lavera remains committed to the the natural sunscreen market and is working on an all natural formulation for 2010 that will provide a UVB protection of SPF 30 and a minimum UVA rating of SPF 10, hence an overall SPF of 30.
Differences between FDA and Colipa calculated SPF ratings
The following FDA Proposed Amendment document provides some insights into the differences between FDA and Colipa SPF ratings:
Sunscreen Drug Products for Over-the-Counter Human Use;
Proposed Amendment of Final Monograph
[Federal Register: August 27, 2007 (Volume 72, Number 165)]
"(Comment 32) Several comments suggested that FDA replace the specifications in Sec. 352.71 that state ``sun at a zenith angle of 10[deg]'' and ``less than 1 percent of its total energy output contributed by nonsolar wavelengths shorter than 290 nm'' with the COLIPA table of ``percent erythemal contribution'' as the spectral power distribution standard for the light source used in the SPF test procedures (Ref. 73). The comments suggested that the spectra of currently used solar simulators (especially around 290 nm and above 350 nm) could cause overestimation of SPF values for high SPF sunscreens. Because shorter wavelengths can make a very large contribution to erythema, the comments stated that small errors in the 290 nm region of solar simulator spectra could have considerable effects. The comments noted that spectral power deficiencies above 350 nm may give artificially high SPF values for sunscreen drug products that absorb poorly in the long wavelength UVA region."
In a nutshell, FDA rated sunscreens may bear a higher rating than the equivalent European rated sunscreens. In addition, it suggests that high SPF rated sunscreens may have very poor UVA protection. Current FDA test criteria is detailed here.
How big is this difference between the US and European SPF? According to Wikipedia, "American SPF numbers are double the SPF numbers on European products.[citation needed] An American SPF 20 sunscreen is the same as SPF 10 in Europe. It is not always clear on the packaging which system is being used." However, as stated in the article, a source for this claim is needed, and we have not seen any definitive study on this particular issue.
Vitamin D defiency and SPF
Of note in the wikipedia article is the reference to findings that Sunscreens do hamper Vitamin D production in the body. "The use of sunscreen also interferes with vitamin D production, leading to deficiency in Australia after a government campaign to increase sunscreen use. Doctors recommend spending small amounts of time in the sun without sun protection to ensure adequate production of vitamin D. When the UV index is greater than 3 (which occurs daily within the tropics and daily during the spring and summer seasons in temperate regions) adequate amounts of vitamin D3 can be made in the skin after only ten to fifteen minutes of sun exposure at least two times per week to the face, arms, hands, or back without sunscreen. With longer exposure to UVB rays, an equilibrium is achieved in the skin, and the vitamin simply degrades as fast as it is generated.". In fact, a recent study claims that at least 75% of Americans are Vitamin D deficient.
So, too much of a good thing can be bad. SPF 30 already protects against 96.7% of UVB rays, SPF 50 against 98%. You don't really need a higher SPF. And you might want to consider Vitamin D supplements!
For additional information on sunscreen and SPF, check out this article from the US Environment Protection Agency: http://www.epa.gov/sunwise/doc/sunscreen.pdf.


text:
The Penguin historical atlas of ancient Rome
Penguin Books, Sep 1, 1995 - History - 144 pages
More than 15 centuries after its fall, the Roman Empire continues to profoundly influence world history. This atlas traces the empire's rise and fall, looking at its provinces and cities, trade and economy, armies and frontier defenses; charting its transformation into a Christian theocracy; and assessing its lasting impact. Full color.
From inside the book
29 pages matching wall in this book
Where's the rest of this book?
Results 1-3 of 29
What people are saying - Write a review
We haven't found any reviews in the usual places.
From City to Empire
The Imperial Regime
Hadrians Travels
5 other sections not shown
Other editions - View all
Common terms and phrases
1st century 4th century Albinus Alexandria amphitheatre Antioch Antoninus Pius Antony Asia Minor assassinated Augustus Balkans baths battle became Britain buildings built campaigns capital captured Caracalla Carthage Carthaginians centre century BC Christianity Claudius Clodius Albinus coins commander Commodus conquered conquest Constantine Constantinople consul cult Dacian Danube defeated Diocletian Domitian east eastern provinces Egypt Elagabalus emperor Etruscan Flavius Forum frontier Gallic Empire Gaul Germanic Goths Greek Hadrian Honorius imperial invaded invasion Italian Italy Julius Caesar king kingdom later legionary legions major Marcus Aurelius Mediterranean Mesopotamia military monuments mosaic murdered Nero Niger North Africa Octavian pagan Palatine Parthian Persians Pescennius Niger Pompey prosperity Punic reign Rhine Right river Roman army Roman city Roman Empire Roman province Roman rule Roman world Rome Rome's Romulus ruler sacked Senate Septimius Severus Severan southern Spain successor Syria temple territory theatre Theodosius Tiber Trajan Vandals Vespasian victory villa wall wars wealthy western


text:
Traveling With Children – Know Your Rights and Limitations
Sep 1 2008
And now for a fabulous guest post from the ex-general counsel at Expedia, Mark Britton. I wish I had known about his site, Avvo, before I experienced my Traffic Court Tribulations!
Being the ex-general counsel at Expedia and now running Avvo and its free legal advice Q&A forum, I get a lot of questions about travel-particularly travelers' rights and responsibilities. As a parent of three rambunctious little boys, I offer this post to help traveling parents everywhere. On that note, I am reminded of one of Expedia's great early ads which said something like, "Whoever said getting there is half the fun has never gotten there with a screaming two year old."
So, in that spirit, here are some nuggets of knowledge for your next child-laden trip:
1. Traveling with kids doesn't give you special legal rights. A lot of people assume that because they are traveling with kids they have special rights and preferences granted by the Federal Aviation Administration or some higher authority. The reality is that your rights-with or without children-are largely whatever the airline chooses to give you. Don't think you can be involuntarily bumped with children? Oh yes, you can. Outraged that the airline denied you early boarding with your pokey young children? Tough beans. Not able to avoid your child's tantrums by letting her run up and down the airline aisle? It's the flight staff's call.
2. Add 30-60 minutes to get to your gate. Let's face it, kids take their time. That dead cockroach en route to your gate may be disgusting to you, but it absolutely requires closer inspection by a five-year-old. I learned long ago that rather than trying to whip your kids into an adult pace, allowing more time to get to your gate preserves family harmony. Just going through security is stressful for a kid-take it slow and make it fun.
3. Reserve the allowed seats for your kids. One place that the feds do get involved is where your children may sit on a plane. They may not sit in an exit row, and if they are in a car seat, they must sit by the window. So don't think you will book your young child in an exit row and the airline will have to live with it-they won't. The flight attendants will move you-I see it happen all the time. Also, don't book two aisle seats-one for you and your car-seated kid. Just take it for granted that your child will be sitting by the window and you will be sitting in the middle by the big hairy guy who hogs the armrest.
4. No need to smuggle your baby food. Keep in mind that while you are not allowed to take liquids on a plane, you may take liquid-based baby food. Many people don't know this, and so they attempt to come up with creative ways to smuggle on formula or the always-popular peas and carrots. Stow your criminal tendencies, and simply declare the baby food. You can take up to one-day's supply on board, but I have found that TSA personnel are always very sympathetic and accommodating when it comes to food for your infant.
5. Kids can get the boot too. Finally, keep in mind that an airline can deny you boarding-or even ask you to deplane-if your kids are disorderly, abusive or violent. This goes for adults too, but people are always surprised that it pertains to kids.
I could go on and on (bring a DVD player with headphones, seat your child behind a parent, etc.). However, I think I have already exceeded my word limit. Of course, if you have any more legally related travel questions, we are always here to answer all of your questions. You can go directly to our free legal advice Q&A forum to ask your personal legal questions- anonymously if desired-and real attorneys will answer them.
Travel sanely.
Mark Britton
Founder & CEO
Avvo, Inc.
Accredited Online
If you are interested in the law and your rights and want to interrupt the status quo, consider earning a law degree online. Taking courses online allows you to set your pace and live your life as you choose.


text:
Being number one puts Apple right in the crosshairs. So the critics are always looking for a huge fall, while even Apple's supporters will make a big deal out of problems that may not deserve so much attention. At the same time, claiming Apple can be nothing but perfect is foolish, as is overlooking past failures, and pretending the new ones are something unique to the presence of a new CEO.
Consider outsourcing. In the 1990s, more and more major tech companies decided to build their gear outside of the U.S., particularly China. The reasons were simple. Salaries were much lower, so manufacturing costs were less. This made it possible to make the product cheaper, or at least get larger profits from each unit sold. But in the race to the bottom in the PC industry, saving a few dollars per unit is not a bad thing.
Now China and other countries have become notorious not just for slave labor and low salaries to match, but for simply horrible working conditions. There were even reports of an unusual number of worker suicides at Foxconn, one of the largest contract makers, and a key Apple partner. So the media went about looking for a scapegoat. Since Apple is one of Foxconn's largest customers, it's their fault for tolerating such a terrible state of affairs.
One article in The New York Times closely examined the plight of the Foxconn worker, and I doubt any of my readers would accept such a labor situation, even if it was the only job available. Under Tim Cook, however, Apple promised to do better, asserting they had been working with Foxconn to provide a better working environment, fewer hours and, of course, higher salaries. They even contracted with a third party service, the Fair Labor Association, to monitor Foxconn's labor situation.
Here the media meme was all about Apple, and since Tim Cook was the key player in outsourcing the company's manufacturing, he had to bear the brunt of the complaints. But often ignored in these criticisms was the fact that many tech companies, including PC giants Dell and HP, also built a high amount of products at the very same factories under the very same working environment.
Apple, at least, took the responsibility to make things better.
Of course, with salaries increasing by several times, the production cost advantage to Apple lessens, making it more and more appropriate to bring some manufacturing back to the U.S. Just a few weeks ago, Cook promised that at least one Mac line would be built in the U.S.A. come 2013, at a cost of some $100 million to set up the production lines. That, to Apple, is chump change, but it may be a sign of things to come.
There's already speculation of what Macs will be American built. Some suggest the Mac Pro, which carries high margins and doesn't require any ultra-sophisticated tooling to manufacture. Others are suggesting the Mac mini, which is also pretty straightforward to assemble, though the components are far more densely packed.
Of course, Apple was also attacked for Mapgate, the failure of Maps for iOS 6, and why it wasn't near perfect out of the starting gate. With a mapping app, the criticisms were easy to illustrate, with colorful screenshots of the melted landmarks, and the incorrect locations. What a disaster!
While I haven't minimized Apple's mistakes with the initial release of Maps, it's unfortunate the media, by and large, has failed to realize that navigation apps in general are highly flawed. Google Maps is far from perfect, and I continue to document navigation mistakes, although they aren't quite as severe as the ones for which Apple has been blamed.
But Mapgate was a story that was mostly relevant for the first few weeks of the release of iOS 6. Since then, things have improved in many respects. Landmarks are more accurately positioned, and 3D displays are more consistent with reality. Even at its worst, though, Siri's verbal descriptions were far more descriptive than the ones provided by Google Maps for iOS. That's another distinction the media seldom draws.
Apple was even lambasted for releasing two revisions of the iPad in a single year, as if they are fated to do it annually. How dare they betray the customer's confidence that these products would only receive one refresh per year, even though Apple never agreed to any such thing. It was simply assumed, although it's also true that other Apple products have gotten more frequent upgrades. Do you recall, for example, that there was both an early 2009 and a late 2009 iMac, two revisions of the MacBook in 2006, and two revisions of the MacBook Air in 2008?
I'll stop at those three. There are others, but I think I've made the point. That Apple choose to release two full-sized iPads in a single year is not a unique situation by any means. Indeed, those who bought the fourth generation iPad appreciate the huge improvements in performance. Was there a valid reason to wait a few months? Indeed, Apple may already be at work on a fifth generation model for next spring that will be thinner and perhaps shed a few ounces. Or should Apple hold off releasing that update for a few extra months, because people who bought a new iPad for the holidays might be upset?
Sure, there are lots of things for which Apple can be blamed. But some of the criticisms are a stretch, and that's putting it mildly.