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What Car is Right For Me? Help Me Choose!
Yes I forgot, but a few of the Chrysler 300's came in AWD.
boomchek: driven 10,000+ cars, sold 1000+ cars, owned 50+ cars0
I'm looking for a small used truck, reg. cab, 2wd, auto, A/C and my price range would be no more than $6000. Some things I do know that I don't want are the following: chevy s10 4cyl models (tested a couple out and the truck can't get out of it's own way), no manual shift, the lower the mileage the better, that's about it.
I know toyotas are very good but they want a lot of $$ even when they have close to 200,000mi. on them. I'm considering all brands with the exception of the s10 4cyl. I would consider the s10 with the 4.3 v6.
All suggestions welcomed. Thanks!0
I'd stay away from any of the GM options...S-10 or Colorado/Canyon. You're looking at a very old vehicle with the S-10 and the Canyon/Colorado is garbage from all my experience. So there's not much to pick from once you eliminate the Toyota...and there's usually a reason they command the money. So I guess Ford Ranger is about it. Good luck finding a 2wd V6 Ranger that's not been beat to death...they're famous as fleet vehicles.0
Nissan Frontier? Extremely basic so maybe cheaper.'14 Buick Encore Convenience
'17 Chevy Volt Premiere0
Stick with front wheel drive. Make life easier on yourself. Snow tires are another expense you don't need if you get Front wheel drive
This is simply not true. While you can muddle along at slower speeds without snow tires or chains with a front wheel drive car, you will in no way come close to the performance that you'll get with any car with snow tires. It's exactly like wearing a pair of Converse high-tops to do hiking. Regular tires are simply the wrong tool for the job.
In fact, snow tires will even beat an all wheel drive car with all-seasons on it.
Comparisons of different tire types
4WD and normal tires vs RWD and snow tires. The "trick" that everyone in Europe uses is that they have snow tires on all of those German cars which are RWD. Only in the U.S. do we see people who simply ignore reality and figure that they can make due with normal tires wherever they go.
Subaru with all-season tires vs a Mini with snow tires.
When they say "prepare your car for winter" they mean swap the tires and rims when it's going to start snowing. Most people should keep a separate set of winter tires to swap out in their garage. It's a larger initial cost, but given that the each set are only getting used for half the year, it's no more expensive in the long-run.
Or, you can end up on Youtube like this. Your choice:
I have lived in Ohio for 30 years and have had front wheel drive for every car but one, and my daughter made it thru 4 years in Beloit ( 1 hour from Chicago) with a Toyota Camry. We've done fine. The majority of cars in the east are front wheel drive because people like them and they get good fuel economy. That said, if the poster wants a Rwd car I would recommend what he/she wants. My impression was the leaning was towards a fwd vehicle with good mileage. Hence I am simply pointing out that that is perfectly doable on Chicago.'14 Buick Encore Convenience
'17 Chevy Volt Premiere0
benjaminh Posts: 4,292Useful stuff. Thanks!!2018 Acura TLX 2.4 Tech 4WS (mine), 2018 Honda CR-V EX AWD (wife's)0
Summer tires actually turn hard at temperatures below 45F. (ouch - that's 1/3 of the year, even in California!) All-seasons are a bit better and are good down to 0C. But beyond that, they are essentially as dangerous as summer tires. It got down to 28 degrees a month ago. And I'm in Los Angeles. All-seasons sort of work in a pinch if there's no snow or if it's cold and the roads are perfectly dry (since the road friction will warm them up just enough after a few minutes), but if there's actual snow or ice, it's way too cold even for "all-seasons".
Note - they really should be called "three season" tires. Winter is simply not their place.
Watch the little embedded video. It's not the snow that's the real problem so much as the winter tires stay soft enough down to about -20F. Below that, of course, you really do need chains or studded tires.
Of course, the opposite is true as well. Above 45F, winter tires are basically racing tires and wear incredibly quickly. So most people use all-seasons in the spring through fall and then switch to winter tires when the first snow comes.
Note - if you have a truck and are running Mud Terrains on it, they are essentially snow tires compound-wise. Which is why you typically get 30K out of a set. This is why a lot of SUVs also end up in the ditch. All-terrains are the same rubber as all-season tires. And while they will work a bit better due to bigger treads, the tread blocks also get rock-hard when it's below freezing. This is why you see all serious off-roaders just running with MTs on all year round and dealing with the need to swap their tires every other year. They aren't as good as dedicated studded snow tires (tend to pack with snow quickly), but at least won't get hard when it gets below freezing.0
printerman1 Posts: 68if mostly big city, and cheap little car. EV are nice but pricey, and have not been proven. I hate plug in's.
Escape is self generating (good idea) but once your USA govt starts cut backs on incentives, look out.
Or maybe a bicycle.0
I appreciate both of you replying with opinions/suggestions. I haven't any experience with the ranger 4cyl. and may try them out. Hopefully, they have more grunt than the s10's I've tried!
One more question: Would it be wiser to buy a Toyota with 170,000mi compared to a domestic truck with 100,000mi?
Thanks again for any replies!0
I think given the age of truck you're shopping....how they were cared for will make a big difference. A very well cared for Ranger with 100k miles would win out over a beaten Tacoma with 170k miles in my book. All the 4cyl trucks are pretty weak...I'd look for a V6 regardless of make.0
Ok, I would agree with you on how the truck was used and cared for. I guess my best bet would be to find a one owner and if it had past maintenance performed routinely. I wouldn't necessarily need a 6cyl. if I new the 4cyl. would be reliable and pulls better than the s10 trucks I've tried.
Thanks again for your reply.0
Is mileage a concern? You didn't specify, although you did say the 4.3 chevy would be considered, so I guess not.
Personally, I'm a big fan of the Dodge Dakota. While not as compact as the others, I consider that an advantage. And, heck, if mileage is not a factor, it was offered with a v8. I've seen decent low-miles examples for darned cheap.
'18 BMW 330xi; '67 Coronet R/T; '14 Town&Country Limited; '18 BMW X2. 47-car history and counting!0
Kirstie_H Posts: 11,077A reporter is looking for a car buyer who was approved for a car loan after their credit was dinged during the Great Recession. If you or someone you know was affected by the recession, but is now fighting to get back on his/her feet, and was recently approved for a car loan, please send your daytime contact info to [email protected] no later than Monday, 3/11/13 at 2 p.m. PT/5 p.m. ET.
Need help navigating? [email protected] - or send a private message by clicking on my name.
Share your vehicle reviews0
gbrozen, appreciate your suggestion. I have considered the dakota but probably would stay away from the v8 option. Fuel mileage is a bit of a concern and would like to keep it to 4 and 6 cyl.'s. I've owned an "88 toyota pickup with the 4cyl. and could easily live with it's power. I never had any experience with the domestic brands 4 cyl. except here recently with the S10 2.2l. Do you know if the Ranger is as doggy as the the S10?
Toyotas come at such a high premium that I've started looking at the domestics, but also want reliable transportation. I have also ben looking at the Nissan Frontiers.0
Hey all,
Ive been driving myself crazy trying to find that perfect car. Maybe someone here can help me out. Here are my needs for a used car.
-I need cargo area at least the size of my 4th gen maxima for my business (15 cubic feet I think)
-I want to spend under $16k (I may be able to stretch it a little)
-Comfortable seats that can accomodate a taller person like myself (6"2 with lower back herniation)
-somewhat quick, at least as fast as my current car (something in the high 14's low 15's)
-Id prefer not to have a car that uses premium, maybe even somewhat efficient with gas (28mpg or higher on highway and at least 20 city)
-I dont want a boat of a car that cant maneuver or park easily.
-somewhat quiet cabin.
Can be a regular car, econobox, hatchback, or smaller suv, even a coupe(I doubt this will work).
Can be japanese or domestic (no germans or swedes)
Thanks in advance all0
Maybe tell us what you've ruled out so far....and why? There are so many possibilities at this point. Also, I assume you've looked at newer Maximas? Altima V6?0
The newest generation maximas are out of my price point (I would love it).
A few cars I have looked into.
-Honda accord 2009 v6 (Heard a lot of complaints about this generations seats being uncomfortable along with many complaining about rear brake problems)
-2011 sonata looked good, but people have said the seats aren't the most comfortable along with the car starts falling apart fairly quick (loud road noise, and lots of interior cabin noise).
-2010 subaru legacy 2.5i (too slow)
-Altima v-6 uses premium fuel and doesn't get the best mileage.
-Ford fusion v6 2010 (Tranny problems)
-Ford Focus 2012 hatchback (not reliable, and not sure about comfort)
-Acura tsx 2006 (takes premium fuel but get decent mileage to offset it, kind of old and outdated at this point)
-2013 Altima 2.5 - great seats and nice quiet cabin, muted driving experience along with lots of complaints with the 2.5 already.
-Mazda 6 2010 v6 - fairly bad mileage
-Nissan Juke - loved everything about the car except the seats when I test drove it
Cars I need to check out in person include
-2009 Toyota rav 4 v6
-2010 Toyota Camry v6 (Ive heard this is quite an uninspiring car)
-2011 Sonata just to double check it
-2010 Mazda 6 2.5 4 cylinder maybe its not so slow
-2010 mazda 3 hatchback while im trying mazda's
I think thats it, as you can see I'm all over the place0
Yeah that's all over the place. Seat comfort is very subjective....I wouldn't take others comments too seriously. You really just need to spend some seat time and see what you think. I've found anything that's more upright like the SUV's is more comfortable and easy in/out. There RAV4 might be a decent option for you...but when you say the Altima V6 gets bad gas mileage....the RAV4 will be worse and slower to boot.
You might also confirm the Altima "requires" premium fuel before ruling it out. I have a coworker with an '07 and absolutely loves it with over 150k miles. Very quick and comfortable. Most later Nissans (i have an '08 Pathfinder) state "premium fuel recommended for maximum performance". I run premium when towing...and can tell a difference under heavy load but generally I have run regular gas for 90k miles with no complaints.0
I would take a serious look at the Altima of 2009 or 2010. Very comfortable and in my opinion more of a drivers car than the current Altima. Regular fuel, extremely reliable. They are very popular cars. I speak as a Maxima owner myself. I'm looking at a new car and don't want premium fuel either. The new Altima seems bigger and somewhat more floaty to me than the last version. I have several friends who have the 2010 version and it is really nice. That would fit your price range too. The V6 will be quieter than the 4 cyl.'14 Buick Encore Convenience
'17 Chevy Volt Premiere0
From the research I've done it looks like if you dont use premium fuel your mileage and fuel economy will suffer. I will look more into them though. Nissan has been great to me.
I'm really not much of a truck person. I'd have to think, however, saddling one with a 4-cyl and auto trans is going to make it a dog no matter the brand.
Just comparing in my area, though, I can see there are more Dakotas than anything else and they are by far nicer for the money. Here are just a few examples.
This one even has 4 doors
Extended cab and 4x4
Standard cab '03
For comparison, an '01 Chevy 4-cyl.
'18 BMW 330xi; '67 Coronet R/T; '14 Town&Country Limited; '18 BMW X2. 47-car history and counting!0
Myself and my friends have owned pretty much every truck and SUV of note that's capable of off-road use or for work (as opposed to yuppie "soft-roaders").
The best two for work are the Chevy/GMC 1500 and the F150 (who would have guessed - heh )
Other than that, though, it comes down to one choice. Get a Toyota with the 3RZ engine in it. Get it with manual. The automatic is terrible but the older Toyota manuals are bulletproof. Mine lasted 280K miles before I had to get it replaced. And not a minute of that was anyone giving it any love, either. The truck is still running around somewhere in N. Cal I think with about 350K on it (sold it at almost 325K on it two years ago).
Nothing else works like it does in terms of low cost to maintain and the durability overall. There are several vehicles that used it, so you have a good range of years and models to look at. The newer TR and ZR 2.7L engines are also good, but they lack the tractor simplicity of the RZ.
And, yes, manual with short gearing and 160HP will out-accelerate most yuppic-mobiles unless they floor it. I found it to be extremely enjoyable to drive, even in So Cal traffic as I'd just leave it in 2nd or 3rd gear and trundle along in heavy traffic. And then when I had to dodge into a gap in traffic, I was already in the right gear.0
That's a tough order. One car came to mind, though, and that was the Pontiac G8. GM did a horrible job of marketing it, but it was the best selling car in Australia at the time. Quality is/was excellent and it's a good mid-sized sedan. Of note, though, is the fact that it is rear wheel drive so it turns and parks like a whole size smaller FWD car.
The problem is finding one as most people who have one simply aren't interested in selling theirs.
The only real downside is the fuel economy. It gets about 25mpg highway. But other than the issue of MPG, it's probably the best solution that I can work out since you won't want a European car. It does use normal 87 octane fuel, though, so that's worth about 2mpg right there vs a higher mpg car that requires premium.0
well, he specified auto trans. So how does the Toyota stack up with that in mind?
Hell, I still think the 22RE engine with manual trans was the most bulletproof setup ... but good luck finding that with low miles and no rust.
EDIT: I just looked it up. Even an '02 Tacoma 2wd reg cab with 100k miles is going to be well over the OP's budget.
'18 BMW 330xi; '67 Coronet R/T; '14 Town&Country Limited; '18 BMW X2. 47-car history and counting!0
durans Posts: 1I, too am looking to buy something different. I do not like driving what everyone else has. I had an appointment to test drive a Maserati Quattroporte Sport GT this weekend and sell my BMW. Was very serious about it, then I talked to my insurance agent and the insurance rates on the Maserati made me cancel everything! I LOVED my Jaguar S-Type R. 'She' did save me and daughter's life, we were hit by a drunk driver at 50+mph and 'she' held tough. I do not like the XF can't get over how it looks like a Chrysler in the front and Toyota in the back. :-( Can't seem to get too excited about the F-Type coming out this fall. When I say I prefer 'foreign' I mean European. I truly have looked and looked and I can't seem to get too excited about much. I am looking for something that when I go out into my garage I have a smile on my face. I like the look of a sedan. Two or Four door does not matter. I only buy used and don't mind the year, but would prefer that it look very close to it's newer counterpart. I'm not asking for much, right? LOL Would LOVE to hear everyone's opinions and perhaps check out cars I've overlooked. Much Thanks to everyone and I, in advance would like to Thank You for your time and input.0
I worked at a Maserati dealer and the QP is indeed a nice car to drive, but servicing can get constly because these are very temperamental cars.
How much were you looking to spend?
boomchek: driven 10,000+ cars, sold 1000+ cars, owned 50+ cars0
what year was the maser? I would only consider one with the ZF auto trans, which was optional in '07 and standard since '08. I'm waiting for one of these to get down into my pricerange.
Peronally, I love the looks of the XF.
pricerange would definitely be helpful in this situation.
'18 BMW 330xi; '67 Coronet R/T; '14 Town&Country Limited; '18 BMW X2. 47-car history and counting!0
stever Posts: 52,462A reporter would like to talk to someone under the age of 30 who bought a car within the last few months. Please reach out to [email protected] by Wednesday, March 20, 2013 if you'd like to help.0
brendab1 Posts: 1I'm looking for a new, full-size 4-door sedan for my father. The biggest concern is that he has had both a hip and knee replacement and needs extra room for his knee. In other words, in the Toyota Camry that he currently has, his right knee always bumps into the middle console. He used to have a Chevy Tahoe and loved the leg room, but for other reasons, he needs a sedan instead of an SUV, but one that has maximum room for the right knee.
$40,000 is the maximum he can spend, but he'd prefer something less expensive.
Does anyone have any suggestions?0


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subset: commoncrawl


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30 April, 2014 | (01 hr)
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The business environment in China will continue to be difficult for MNCs, and policy makers will face a starker tradeoff between supporting growth and enacting market-driven reform. Part of China's increased volatility is a natural byproduct of an economy that is undergoing a structural transition in growth. However, a large portion of China's current financial difficulties are self-inflicted.
In this webcast we will discuss China's financial vulnerabilities, where they come from, and the implications for growth and reform in the world's second largest economy.
Who Should Attend: Senior-level executives whose strategy, planning, and/or supervisory responsibilities include China
Andrew Polk
Andrew Polk is a senior economist at The Conference Board China Center for Economics and Business in Beijing. Previously, Polk worked at the Institute of International Finance, where he conducted macroeconomic analysis on emerging markets in the Asia/Pacific region. His research focus has include...Full Bio
Nicholas Consonery
Nicholas Consonery leads all China-focused analytic and consulting work at Eurasia Group. He specializes in economic and financial policies in mainland China and in regional geopolitics. He also drives broader Asia-related work for the company, including monitoring financial sector regulation thr...Full Bio
Ethan Cramer-Flood
Ethan Cramer-Flood is a Senior Fellow of The Conference Board's China Center for Economics and Business. Based in New York City, he helps direct the Beijing-based China Center and supports The Conference Board's Asia-based operations in Hong Kong and Singapore. Cramer-Flood is r...Full Bio


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Zoysia Growth: Good Things Come to Those Who Wait » zoysiaD
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Tuesday, June 25, 2013
Where's the Shower?
The Horde had taken the Hangar and left, leaving a lone undergeared Hunter to guard the place. By the time I'd arrived, a Worgen Feral Druid was circling his prey, waiting for an extra body to strike. I closed and we struck, wiping out the Hunter.
As I captured the Hangar, the Druid whispered, "Can I ask you something?"
It's not the first time I'd gotten whispers like that, so I barely batted an eye. "Sure."
"Can I have a touch?"
That wasn't what I expected. Well, whatever I was expecting, it wasn't that. Surely I was reading the wrong thing into that whisper. "Um, what?"
"We're too undergeared to do anything, so why don't you pop out them titties and we can have some fun?"
No, that was exactly what he was thinking.
I snorted, both in-game and out of game. "We can have some fun" really meant "I want a cheap thrill playing with the virtual breasts of a stranger."
Really? We're in the middle of a battleground, we're actually in the process of capturing a base, and THIS is all you can think about?
I was about to say "You DO realize that I MIGHT be a guy," but stopped. For this person, it probably wouldn't even matter, and it might actually encourage him further.
Before I could say a simple and blunt "No," he was jumped from behind by two Horde.
I crept away, leaving him to his fate. Never had I been happier to see a Warrior and DK combo in my life.
I've been playing MMOs for almost four years now with a mix of male and female toons, and that was the first time I'd been propositioned like that. My male Blood Elf bank alt had been wolf whistled at by female toons when he made the journey to Silvermoon, but this was something else entirely.
My first reaction to that encounter --aside from revulsion-- was bewilderment. How on earth could that person think such a crude come-on would work? His toon isn't in a position of power over mine, so what made him think he could attempt to dominate me like that?
Oh wait. Real life.
We all bring our experiences to the table when we login to an MMO, whether we like it or not. Some people take advantage of the anonymity that an MMO provides and use it to satisfy their own sexual urges.* Just like how some people take advantage of Trade Chat to spew racist and sexist crap, others just wait for situations like this. If you're on the receiving end of it, you simply can't win, either. If you refuse, you're an uptight bitch who won't loosen up; if you report you're a crazy bitch who can't take a joke; if you say nothing that's tacit approval.
Four years without being harassed like this in-game is a fairly long time, but for my mind, not long enough. My only regret was was that I didn't take down the toon's name so I could report him. I know kids who play MMOs, and the last thing they need is an encounter like that one.
*In a mutually agreed situation, that can (probably) work out fine, but this was anything but that.
13 comments:
Wow, that... just wow. Yeah, that would've left me bewildered too.ReplyDelete
I can't believe you wrote this. I have been playing female toons since launch and never had anything disturbing like that happen.... until a few months ago when I picked the game back up. I was questing with my little noobie blood elf, and some male blood elf comes up to me and very bluntly asks if I want to have sex. I responded "lol, no." He then follows me around for a few minutes with some dirty talk (nothing too horrible, and it did make me laugh a bit) before I had to log anyways as the baby woke up from her nap.ReplyDelete
But you're right. What do you do? I guess I should have reported it, like you said, in case that player does that to a child. Whether or not Blizz actually acts on that report would be on their conscious. For me, it was so hard not to respond back. I am a bit of a sarcastic person, and I kept thinking of really funny things to type back, but I knew that by responding, it would just encourage the behavior, and most likely escalate the situation.
It does make you think wtf are these people thinking? The worst part is, you can't rely on that person just being a dumb kid. I have seen some very questionable in-game behavior from people who I KNOW are adults....Replies
I really really hope this isn't some sort of new trend, but when it came out in The Big Bang Theory a few years ago that you can "have sex" in World of Warcraft, I'd been kind of dreading this moment.Delete
It really does make you wonder what the hell these people are thinking, in that they expect they'll be able to get away with it indefinitely.
To be honest, I really had to write this to get it out of my system, because it had been bothering me so much. When the kids logged into LOTRO later in the day, I made a point of keeping an eye on any chat that scrolled by the screen. I shouldn't have to keep that close of an eye on them by now, but after what happened....Delete
Reporting would be the way to go in my opinion.ReplyDelete
Honestly I have never run into that myself and I have a few characters that are females. The worst I ever got was someone whispered me and asked "are you really a female" to which I replied "should it matter" and I left it at that. He said "I guess not".
Personally I would have just laughed at him and said, "I'm not into dogs" and left. Then again I guess that is the role player in me that would just roll with it and have some fun in my own way turning him down.Replies
I really regret not taking down his (?) name and reporting him. If he came on to me, I'm sure he's come on to plenty of others. And if he did it only because he felt I was a woman, then that was some bizarre compliment to my RP abilities.Delete
I guess that the bluntness of the come on shocked me out of immersion in the game, which was why I switched from in-game thinking to the firm "no" you teach your kids when someone wants to do something inappropriate. Of course, the Horde unwittingly took care of the problem for me. Which isn't something that happens every day.
I've only had one come on, I think it was back in Wrath. I was asked if I were a girl, I said sorta and they said let's go to Goldshire and you know.ReplyDelete
I said sure, this Granny hasn't bee kissed in ages, lets go.
Needless to say that got rid of him. All my characters are female so I feel lucky that I haven't run into too much of this, but it would really concern me if I had children playing.
- AnonymousJune 27, 2013 at 11:51:00 AM EDT
When I played a blood elf female toon, I had an alliance toon just stare at me for hours grinding away. It was a little weird, but he didn't do or say anything...just watched.ReplyDelete
I'm surprised that so many people haven't had this experience. Within my first 30 minutes of ever having logged into the game, some stranger /licked me and another asked me if I wanted to cyber. And I've had more experiences like that over the years. I'm not sure why me, I don't purposely wear revealing armor or anything else that could be construed as "asking for it" (which is another matter entirely). Maybe I've just been on the wrong servers?ReplyDeleteReplies
I only very rarely frequent RP servers, so I couldn't tell you if there was anything different there, but I've never been as unlucky as you have been, Faeldray. The worst I ever got as a new toon was being wolf whistled at moving my bank alt to Silvermoon. Come to think of it, I never really got hit on much at all --Ally or Horde, PvP or PvE server, or even on other MMOs. I seriously doubt you were giving off vibes of asking for it, so that one's a big puzzle.Delete


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- Lotus news
Raikkonen enjoying lack of 'politics' at Lotus
- Drivers:
- Kimi Räikkönen
- Teams:
- Lotus F1
Kimi Raikkonen says Lotus is more about racing than politics compared to some of the other teams he has driven for.
After two years out of the sport, Raikkonen returned to Formula One with Lotus this year and finished third in the drivers' championship. He scored points at 19 of the 20 rounds and said his success this year had partly been down to how easy he had found it to settle in to the team.
"I always said that this is a bit of a different team to the others that I raced for before," the ex-McLaren and Ferrari driver said. "It's all about racing and less about politics and I think that's a good thing for the whole team."
Raikkonen is confident he now has a basis to build on in order to be even stronger in 2013.
"It's been okay [this year], but then for sure you want to do it even better," he said. "When you start doing a few good results you expect to do even better, but it's not been easy and we've been quite consistent - not strong always - but we've been consistent and that kept us in the championship for a long time and brought us many points.
"But we know if we started the year stronger then we could probably still be in the championship [at the final race]. Hopefully we can build it up next year and I know the team next year so it should be a bit more easy to start strong next season."
He added: "I know the business itself of Formula One, but it's just being with a new team and finding what you want from the car and it should be a bit more easy next year. There are a lot things that can change and we have to build first a good car to be able to fight for the title.


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This is a fun meme from Randy at Genea-Musings.
1) How old is your great-grandfather now, or how old would he be if he had lived? Divide this number by 4 and round the number off to a whole number. This is your "roulette number."
2) Use your pedigree charts or your family tree genealogy software program to find the person with that number in your ahnentafel (ancestor name list). Who is that person?
3) Tell us three facts about that person with the "roulette number."
4) Write about it in a blog post on your own blog.
5) If you do not have a person's name for your "roulette number" then spin the wheel again – pick a grandparent, a parent, a favorite aunt or cousin, or even your children!
Here's mine:
My great grandfather Phillip Podwysocki was born in 1892, so he would be 119 this year. Divided by 4, that is 29.75, rounded to 30.
Number 30 in my ahnentafel is Kalinik Wakulicz, my maternal grandmother's maternal grandfather. I know next to nothing about him because Ukrainian and Polish records are notoriously hard to get. He would have been born some time before 1875[1], and lived in Rudniki, Poland or Ukraine in 1927[2]. Kalinik had at least three children: Piotr, Jan, and my great-grandmother Oksana.
[1] Piotr was born around 1892. To give the widest reasonable date range, I made the assumption that if Piotr was the oldest son, Kalinik was at least 16.
[2] Oksana arrived in Canada in 1927. On the ship's record, when asked to give the name and address of her nearest relative in her home country, she gave Kalinik's name and Rudniki, Poland as the address. Oksana had lived in Swinarzyn, which was in Poland at the time but is now part of the Ukraine.(There are also an overwhelming number of villages in current-day Poland called Rudniki.)


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Repairing all types of I/O modules, from fairly simple to quite complex, can be done with common tools and procedures.
Input/output (I/O ) modules used in PLCs are very reliable; however, they occasionally fail. When they do, we usually discard the defective units or send them back to the PLC manufacturer for service. There's another recourse, one that can substantially reduce the costs associated with module failures--doing the troubleshooting and repairing yourself. It's not that difficult.
Understanding I/Os
Before attempting to troubleshoot and repair a defective I/O module, you need to know how to trace out the circuits on the PLC's 120VACI/O printed circuit board. Simplified circuits are shown in Fig. 1.
Circuit configurations vary with the different manufacturers of the equipment and the model of I/O you're working on. Generally, the input circuit reduces and rectifies the input voltage before it's fed into an opto-isolator integrated circuit. The purpose of the opto-isolator is to isolate the incoming voltage from the rest of the circuitry. The output of the opto-isolator drives some type of integrated circuit (designated "U1" in the diagram), which in turn drives an indicating LED and sends a signal to the central processing unit (CPU).
In the basic output circuit, the signal coming from the CPU goes into another opto-isolator. From here, the signal goes through a resistance network before it's used to drive a triac, which controls the line current going to the load.
Identifying the circuits
While one manufacturer's I/O module differs from another, they all have certain similarities. The components on their printed circuit boards can be cross referenced and are readily available, and you can identify the various active components and find pin and lead nomenclature.
Once the circuits are identified, you should prepare a sketch, label the edge contacts, and keep the sketch for future reference. An example of a circuit sketch is shown in Fig. 2. The keyway on the board gives you a reference point.
The individual circuits can now be tested and repaired. Usually, only one section per module will prove to be defective. By energizing the various circuits and comparing voltage readings on the same board between a good section and a defective one, you should be able to find the problem.
Using an I/0 tester
Having a test setup for checking 120VAC printed circuit boards greatly speeds up troubleshooting. An I/O tester is shown in Fig. 3. It can only be used for a particular type of module. Since there are various types of I/O modules, you'll have to assemble a tester for each I/O being tested. Don't be alarmed; this task is fairly simple, once the card edge contacts are identified.
Since most industrial plants standardize on one or two makes of PLCs to be used, an I/O servicing procedure to identify the circuits can be set up with little effort. The most important of the initial steps is documentation. Schematic diagrams of the circuit boards are generally available from the manufacturer. Even without this information, a lot of service work still can be performed.
Using a digital V-O-M set on the low ohms scale, it's possible to follow the various foil traces on the card and identify the edge contacts. Since most circuit boards have foil traces on both sides, tracing can be aided by holding the circuit board over a flashlight or some other source of light. A back-illuminated drawing board is excellent for circuit tracing.
More sophisticated PLCs have much more complex input and output circuit boards, and building a tester without a schematic diagram from the manufacturer in these cases could be difficult. Nevertheless, these complex boards have certain similarities to the simpler ones.
Testing procedure
First, plug in the defective board into the appropriate socket of the I/O tester (either input or output), and test each section of the module circuit board individually by moving the appropriate toggle switch (marked "Input A," "Input B," etc. in Fig. 3) to the ON position. The LEDs for circuits A, B, C, and D on the circuit board and tester should light. If an LED fails to light, this pinpoints the defective section.
Second, with the circuit board still in the I/O tester, take voltage readings with a voltmeter at the various points along the defective circuit and compare them with those taken at the same points on a circuit that's been tested and is OK.
For example, suppose we're testing an input card. We first verify that 120V is available at various parts of the input circuit. With one probe on the "AC common" terminal, place the other probe on the " AC input " card edge terminal. A 120V reading should be seen. Depending on the actual circuit configuration, moving the probe progressively toward the rectifier ahead of Terminal 1 of the opto-isolator will produce specific voltage readings that can be compared to those in correctly operating circuits. If a break exists somewhere in this path, a reading of 0V will be measured beyond that point.
If the readings taken on the AC circuit are good, then the voltage in the DC circuit should be checked. With the V-O-M set on a low DC scale and its negative probe set on the "[-V.sub.cc]" terminal, the plus probe can trace the voltage from the pins of the opto-isolator to the pins of the integrated circuit. Comparisons of readings then can be made between the circuit being tested and those obtained at similar points in a section of the card that's working properly. The DC voltage across resistors and capacitors between the opto-isolator and the integrated circuit also can be checked and compared.
Let's take an example. Suppose that on the input card of the PLC for which the tester shown in Fig. 3 is used, a voltage of +0.9VDC is measured between Pins 1 and 2 of an opto-isolator of a good section. By applying a variable DC power supply to inject this signal into the opto-isolator of a failed section, we see that the LED on the module and the tester turn ON. Thus, the problem is located somewhere ahead of Pins 1 and 2.
Breaks in printed circuits
Problems may be associated with circuit discontinuities, such as a foil break. Locating such a break is fairly easy. With the circuit removed from our tester, we can make a close inspection with a magnifying glass or use a continuity tester to reveal a break between points.
We can repair this break by soldering a small strand of wire over it. This will make the section operational again. The circuit can then be placed back into the I/O rack of the PLC. Troubleshooting and repair time is kept to a minimum.


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The Mandate to the NHS Commissioning Board sets out the objectives for the NHS and highlights the areas of health and care where the Government expects to see improvements.
The Mandate focuses on the areas that matter most to people:
- helping people live longer
- managing ongoing physical and mental health conditions
- helping people recover from episodes of ill health or following injury
- making sure people experience better care
- providing safe care
NHS Mandate published
The first Mandate between the Government and the NHS Commissioning Board, setting out the ambitions for the health service for the next two years, is published today. The Mandate reaffirms the Government's commitment to an NHS that remains comprehensive and … Read more → – NHS Mandate published
Published: 13 November, 2012


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MOT Services & Tyres in Wakefield
Based in Ossett, Wakefield, Express Tyre & Auto Centre offers MOT
Services & has one of the best selection of tyres in Wakefield.
We will beat any genuine quote. The price we quote is the price you pay.
Call now on: 01924 582 476
Welcome to Express Tyre & Auto Centre. We provide Garage Services for Wakefield and West Yorkshire. We are based in Ossett, just outside of Wakefield and only 2 minutes from Junction 40 on the M1. From our purpose built garage we offer a full and comprehensive range of motoring services which includes MOT testing, tyres, exhausts, brakes, batteries and servicing. We will beat any genuine quote.
How to Find Us
Express Tyre & Auto Centre provides MOT & Tyres in Wakefield and surrounding villages. We're always happy to help.
MOT & Tyres in Wakefield
Call us on 01924 582 476 if you have any queries.
Express Tyre & Auto Centre
38 Dewsbury Road
West Yorkshire
Monday – Friday 8.30am – 5.30pm
Saturday 8.30am – 1.30pm
Sunday Closed


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prove the current goal using bdds
Major Section: PROOF-CHECKER-COMMANDS
Examples: bdd (bdd :vars nil :bdd-constructors (cons) :prove t :literal :all)
The general form is as shown in the latter example above, but with
any keyword-value pairs omitted and with values as described for the
bdd hint; see hints.
This command simply calls the theorem prover with the indicated bdd
hint for the top-level goal. Note that if
:prove is
t (the
default), then the proof will succeed entirely using bdds or else
it will fail immediately. See bdd.


text:
I'm Away is a simple FREE utility that helps you change your statuses in the most popular Instant Messengers on Mac with one click only. Change your status in Skype, iChat, and Adium with one hotkey you choose yourself.
- Changes statuses simultaneously;
- Compatible with iChat, Skype and Adium;
- Supports customizable hotkeys.
What's New in I'm Away
Version 1.5:
- New feature: Automatic locking of your computer screen when you are away. Pair your Bluetooth® enabled device with I'm Away for even better performance.
Requirements for I'm AwayOS X 10.6 or later
Similar Software
Suggest other similar software


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36 User Reviews of Carnival Freedom Cruise Ship
The Freedom ship is a cheapo, ripeoff. If you want to lose weight on a vacation, then this is the one for you. We starved on this cruise! My kids went to bed hungry twice. The food was so nasty we spit it out on several occassions (which is something we would never do unless it reeked that bad).
Also the decor is so gaudy and apauling that it actually disgusted me.
You won't find any ice or cheese sculptures here. Everything is prepackaged, frozen, or deep-fried. However, you won't find any American or Italian food. It's all Indian or Thai. The dining room is the worst because of the red snakeskin walls and ceiling, and the red-yellow-green stoplights all around.
Then there was the constant roar of the engines and anchors, etc., as well.
And there was Camp Carnival which is only freely open to children 2-14 until 10 pm. Kids under two and/or after 10pm must pay $6.00 hr.
The shows also sucked. It was more like a high school musical than a Las Vegas-style show.
I would never recommend this cruise to anyone over the age of 25 or who makes over$75,000 per year. If so, they will think this is a ship for wild teens and lower class people with no morals, manners, or brains.
If I ever cruise again it will be on a new Royal Caribbean ship.
This was our 13th cruise overall; 9th on Carnival.
Embarkation was quick up to the point of taking the onboard photo for the sail/sign card. Quite a backup on the deck.
The decor was definitely darker than other ships and didn't have the wow factor at all.
We only attended one of the shows (Tribute to the Beatles) and were very impressed as it was truly one of the best we have seen on any ship.
The food was good on most all occasions. We ate in the Sun King Restaurant one evening (for $30.00 each) and were very impressed with the excellent service and food! The regular dining room (Posh) was average but I was dissapointed in that the staff did not attempt to remember any names or preferences (like coffee after dinner). We had requested to be placed at a large table (10-12) but were assigned a table for two. The Matre'd was very helpful in changing this but placed us at a table for 6 with two couples younger than our children. We chose to stay as they were pleasant and well mannered.
There seemed to be a good numberof chairs/loungers available both in and away from the central Lido deck area where the large screen is located. We preferred to be away from this area as the sound on most occasions was deafening.
This was our first balcony cabin and we enjoyed it. The room steward made it a point to meet us on the first day and provide his contact information. This hasn't happened on the last few cruises we have been on.
We chose not to book any excursions on this cruise.
Debarkation was the quickest and easiest ever! Thankfully Carnival has done away with the 'color' tags and replaced them with a numerical system. Everyone with number one off first, then number two -- you get the idea. We were off the ship (docked in Miami), gathered our baggage and to the airport (FLL) within an hour. Amazing!
We would sail this ship again.
This was our second family cruise, while I have been on two others and my husband one other cruise. My M and FIL joined us to celebrate Thanksgiving at sea.
Embarkation was quick and painless. We especially enjoyed all the comments we got on our attire. It was the day of the OSU/Michigan game and we came decked out in our scarlett and grey - got mostly cheers and few jeers, but everyone laughed about it.
The buffet on the lido deck at embarkation was very limited. Didn't have much luck finding much for the kids to eat, especially my extraordinarily picky 10yo. That was fine as it made them really eat a good dinner. We were lucky to have the best service team we've had yet! Both Nancy and Felix were great with our kids, and made us look forward to seeing them each night.
Our cabins were great. We got ocean view this trip as we didn't want to fight with the kids over the balcony. I think they liked sitting in the big windows more than they would have enjoyed the balcony. Plus, I didn't have to lecturethem about not throwing things off of them.
OK, here is my opinion of Camp Carnival. Let me begin by saying that our other family cruise was on Disney. Maybe that was a mistake, but I had heard CC was better and tried to go with an open mind. Our kids didn't like CC as much, and we certainly did not. The hours seemed more limited, and having to pay if the kids stayed past 10p.m. was not convenient at all! It was $6 per hour for the first child and $4 for each additional child. That would have been $14 for us (we have 10, 9 & 7yo as well as our 14yo)! A bit too pricey for us. Disney was open till 2 a couple of nights and we never paid a penny extra! The kids also said the activities were not as good. We didn't use CC much at all. Still had a great time, but not much adult only time.
The kids did enjoy the slide and pools, especially the wave pool. I didn't know the center pool had the wave action, and we did have a great time in there! Very nice!
The decor was a bit loud in places, but I didn't spend enough time in those places for it to matter. We were mostly up by the pools, in the theater or in the restaurants. Didn't hit the buffet much, but really enjoyed the whole ship.
Would we go on Freedom again - ABSOLUTELY!! The entire staff was so warm and welcoming, and Todd Witmer and his social staff kept us entertained the whole trip. I wish I could have taken part in more of the late-night activities, but couldn't with tired kids. From what I heard from fellow passengers they were great. Maybe next time.
This was our first cruise and we were very excited. It was a huge disappointment. The weather for the first 2 days was terrible (nobody's fault). We got seasick. This never entered our minds as we are avid boaters and people told us that we would never feel the ship rocking. HA! There were many sick people.
The food was ok. We knew that we would have to pay $70.00 each upfront for tips and gratuities, but it seems unfair as we never ate in the dining room. We strictly ate at the buffet.
When the weather finally got nice, you could not move for people on the decks. It was crazy.
We loved Grand Cayman, but it was a short day. We had been to Cozumel and knew that we didn't like it there.
We paid over $200.00 for the John Heald excursion in Jamaica. That was the biggest rip-off of the whole trip. The food was terrible, there was nowhere to sit on the small beach. Half the day was wasted waiting to swim with the dolphins. I think people should have been reimbursed because they promised something totally different.
Idoubt very much we would ever go on another cruise, but at least now we know what it's like.
All inclusive is the only way to go.
This was our 18th cruise. My wife and I are both retired and in our early 60s.
This is a new ship that was clean and well-kept. The decor was strange and depressing. As a guy, I usually don't pay attention to things like this, but the dark colored plastic wood and the dark reddish snake skin walls were not conducive to a happy feeling. One couple thought it reminded them of Dracula's Castle while someone else said it was like a New Orleans whorehouse. That's when it hit me! The interior decor of the Freedom was like Dracula's New Orleans whorehouse!
Enough of that. The crew was attentative and helpful as always, and the food was above average to very good. The entertainment was fair to superior depending on the show. I personally didn't like the "bowl" on Lido deck where there is a 20-foot TV. I didn't go on a cruise to be forced to watch TV when I would like to enjoy the outdoors, but that's just me. The bad part for us was this is the centerpiece of activity on the "Lido" deck and is normally wherewe spend our time, but not on this cruise!
Of course we still encountered the same problem of "you can't get there from here" that seems to plague several cruise ship designs. The public restrooms were sometimes hard to find and have a flaw in that when using the hand dryer you block the sink and one of the stalls -- bad when there are only two of each.
We wouldn't go on Carnival Freedom again, but we would sail other ships in the fleet.
About Us Mid 50's, retired and semiretired professionals. 30th cruise, 7th on Carnival, 1st on Freedom. Not terribly fussy. Travelled with a younger couple 32 & 42.Pre-Cruise Flew KLM which was our first with them and a refreshing trip compared to our usual American and Delta. I would easily choose KLM again over other lines. Arrived in Rome 2 days early to see Rome via a private tour arranged with others we met on the boards. We stayed at the Holiday Inn West to partake of free rooms with our Priority Club Points. Although the hotel is not downtown they advertised free shuttle service from the airport and to downtown areas. True, but with limitations. The airport shuttle runs twice daily and our flight arrived a bit after the shuttle departed. Oh well. The shuttle downtown runs on a schedule which is pretty workable but I would probably not choose to stay that far out again as traffic is terrible and the transit time for the 12 mile trip downtown was 30-45 minutes. Our private tour had contracted with Stephano to transport us by bus to the pier. Good service overall and the trip took a little over an hour.
Boarding was very quick, but we also did not arrive at the pier until 4:15 so our group of 20 were the only passengers in the terminal. We had preregistered on-line so it was only the swipe of a credit card and we were on our way.The Ship Even though we read how horrid the decor on the Freedom is we were not prepared for the visual assault to our senses. It is the most hideous ship I've ever been aboard. The hodgepodge of different styles and wretched colors truly makes it difficult to relax. It's the visual equivalent of heavy metal, punk rock, rap music, with some old time country and pan flute thrown in. Just awful. I find it hard to imagine how the designers could justify spending a fortune on whore house decor.
Having been aboard the Conquest several years ago we were somewhat familiar with the deck plan and soon remembered our main complaint was not the "can't get there from here" situation created by the dining rooms, but the lack of an "observation lounge" on the ship. I did not find the multiple bars lining the sides of the ship particularly welcoming. I love to end the day with a cocktail staring out to the sea before us. No place to do that on this ship.
Vibration of this ship is awful when the ship is using its thrusters.. I had silverware vibrate off the plate at dinner and we certainly did not need an alarm clock to awaken us on port days. I've never experienced anything like this before.Cabin We had an interior cabiin which was adequately spacious. The bathroom had ample storage, the shower was small and had a curtain. Soap and shampoo are in wall dispensers. There is a shaver outlet in the bath and one wall outlet in the cabin. There is a blow-dryer in a drawer at the vanity and the cabin safe requires a magnetic strip card; i.e., room key, credit card, etc. This is unfortunate if the person in possession of that card is not in the cabin when you need access to your safe. Other lines using a code are much friendlier to use. There is a TV which allows you to access your obc and book excursions. There is a refrigerator stocked with so much stuff that youu can barely fit youur water bottle in it. There is not a coffee maker, contrary to Carnival's information. There is a basket of samples in the bathroom but if you want anything from it, get it early. Ours was emptied on day 7. Glad I shaved my legs on day 6.
I found the atrium to be depressing due to the dark colors and bizarre pulsating lights. It was sort of like being on the set of the Twilight Zone. There was a pianist and classical music group who played there many evenings and it was delightful to listen to them (you just had to close your eyes).
The dining rooms were typical of large ships. Multilevel with a large central staircase. Our table did not afford us any outside view whatsoever, which was disappointing but no biggy. The decor would have been passable if they had replaced all the oversized red snake skin panelling with something else.
The theatre seating was comfortable for me because I'm quite short but problematic for our taller members. Seating is bench style rather than individual seats and a small oval table is anchored periodically to hold drinks. The theme is Victorian and as everywhere else, overdone. There were quite a few obstructed viewing areas because of support beam placement. This area is used as the gathering spot for most excursions.
The pool area is terraced and furnished with traditional loungers and some cool plastic rocking chairs. There is a big screen TV where CNN news is shown in the morning, various things in the afternoon and a nightly movie. The big screen movie is played in the cabins the following day. Blankets are available free for movie viewing and popcorn is for sale. Movies are themed somewhat to the locale; i.e., Casino Royale was played the night we left Venice, the DaVinci Code was played as we headed for Rome, etc.
At the rear of the ship is an adults only pool, complete with bar, pizza place, ice cream machine and a covererable pool. The pool area was generally covered at night but was our favorite spot to light for a bit of ice cream or yogurt.
The spa had the usual assortment of exercise equipment. The steam rooms and saunas had a full wall of glass looking out to the ocean. I did not have any spa treatments as I find them to be outrageously priced, but you can have anything from massages to body wraps to tooth whitening to acupuncture.
The spa showers are very large so if you find your cabin shower too confining, plan to shower in the spa.
My husband really enjoys steaming and to his dismay the mens' steam room was inoperable for 3 days.
The casino had a nice variety of slots ranging from penny to $100. Poker machines began at 25 cents. The usual table games were available plus Texas Hold 'em poker. BJ tables began at $5 and on the first night there were a few $3 tables. They use 6 decks and a continuous autoshuffler. All slots pay out in coins rather than tickets, unless you choose to keep your funds on your key card. This is a nice feature although some of the key pad buttons were finicky so cashing in or out could take a few moments. Remember that you need to cash out the final night before the casino closes. They will NOT transfer your balance to your onboard account. Dealers were a bit friendlier on this ship than others we've sailed recently.
Buffet was fairly well arranged except for the usual traffic jam at breakfast due to the omelet station. Breakfast was the same every single day with the exception of swapping French toast, pancakes and waffles around. There was none of my favorite lox or pickled herring at breakfast, just the usual fare.
Coffee was awful, as is the case with most cruise lines but there is a Seattles Best (?) adjacent to the buffet as well as near the casino. There is only one person working the coffee bar so it takes a long time to get a cup of coffee for which you have the privilege of paying.
Above the buffet is the best kept secret on the ship, the Fish and Chips Cafe. Contrary to it's name it does not serve just fish and chips. It has fresh made bouillabaisse , ahee tuna, ceviche, and calamari. Yum! It is open only for lunch and is a delightful change. The upstairs venue affords you a quiet spot with a great view. On one side of the buffet kitchen is a window from which you can order delicatessen style sandwiches and on the other is an oriental spot. Each has about four items on the menu each day. Hot dogs, hamburgers and pizza are available in various spots near the pool.Room Service A disaster. The first two mornings our order never arrived. We had used the door hanger order form and when I called the person told me yes, they had the order but it would be at least an hour before it arrived. Since it was already 15 minutes overdue we needed to eat so we wouldn't miss our excursion. After the second day the Capers boldly noted that room service was running an hour late and suggested people use the buffet. This was a great disappointment since Carnival does not have a coffee pot in the cabin and it is so nice to have a cup of coffee while dressing. Oh well.
Bar Service was a bit slow for Carnival who usually has folks hawking drinks like crazy. This crowd was not a frat house party crowd, yet they seemed to run out of several bar items half way through the cruise. Our dining room table neighbors had several of their favorite wines run out and our travel partner enjoys a drink made with peach schnapps which ran out on day 5. Drinks were about the price one expects to pay in a good hotel. We ordered a bar set up for our room which is a much more economical approach if you drink simple cocktails, but we still had a few libations around the ship.Captain's Party Carnival probably does this better than anyone. Good quality drinks in abundance with nice dance music. Internet Cafe This again is an area for head scratching. Why would you (a) put only 10 computers on a ship this size and (b) have the only entrance to this area via the cigar bar? There was always a line waiting for computer time and there were a large number of folks on this cruise who seemed to spend most of their day on the internet, so waiting time could be extensive. A package of 100 minutes was $55. A larger package was available but I do not remember the specifics, or you could use single minutes -- pay as you go for 75 cents/minute. Service is satellite which makes it very slow. Entertainment We did not attend any of the shows since we had seen them all before on other ships but our travel partners reported that they were well done. The salute to the Beatles and the New Orleans themed shows were especially praised around the ship. The piano player in the piano bar was terrific as was the previously mentioned classical trio. The guitarist who performed outside the casino was pretty bad. We usually stopped by there each evening for a drink and a few dances before we hit the casino and he was just pitiful. Not nearly what we are used to on ships this size. Staff Overall the staff was fabulous. Terrific service in the dining room, steward very attentive.
John Heald the Cruise Director is the best CD we've ever had. Bravo, John!Ports of Call/Excursions Note: If you are doing excursions -- the gathering spot is the theatre. You will enter on the left side, receive a number/label and be instructed to be seated. When your group is called you will exit via the right rear door, so if you like sitting up front on the bus, wait in the right rear of the theatre.
Note: I am not a shopper but our travel partners are so shopping advice is courtesy of them.
First port was Naples and we did the "Pompeii, Posatano and Sorrento" excursion through the ship.
This is a beautiful drive to Sorrento with a photo stop for shots of the Mediterranean. Positanoo is a small, hilly town with lots of shops and probably the best spot to buy items such as olive oil bottles, etc. Very pretty ceramics. We only had an hour, which was adequate because there is nothing to do but use the few (very few) restrooms, eat gelato and shop. We were then onto Sorrento where we viewed a demonstration of inlaid wood working and had time for shopping (groan) and wandering the streets before we were off to a very nice restaurant for lunch (be aware that lunch is about 1:15). Lunch was delightful and wine was free flowing. Pompeii was our last stop and the tour takes about 1 1/2 hours. Pompeii is much larger than I had imagined (a square mile) and the streets are the original stone so it is uneven walking. If you are handicapped it will be very difficult for you. Adjacent to the ruins is a cameo factory where you can watch cameos being carved. The prices are very good and I did actually buy a nice cameo at a good price. Another group told us they went to a lemoncello factory instead. Boy, that's a tough decision! If I were to do this again I would opt for a tour of the Amalfi coast and Pompeii. This was my husband's favorite port.
Venice: Wow, what a magical place!!!! We did Venice on our own using Rick Steve's guide book.
The port authority (not Carnival, as they stressed) provided shuttle busses (E 5/person roundtrip) from the pier to the vaparetto station. The drivers were not helpful about directing you to the right spot, and since there was some construction in the area it took a bit of doubling back and wandering to wind up in the right spot. Look for the building with a large blue band painted at the top, that will be the taxi station. We bought a 36 hour ticket (although no one ever looked at our tickets) which allows you unlimited use of the taxis. They accept cash (euros) only, no credit cards. I believe it was E 24. We found the vaparetto for San Marcos and off we went. Some of the vaparettos have 10 or seats up front and we were lucky enough to get them for a great view down the grand canal.
Warning: If you have a fear of pigeons you might need to skip San Marcos. I've never seen so many pigeons in my life! They do make great photo ops if you buy a bag of feed and put some in each outstretched hand they will cover your entire torso and head.
The line to enter the church was quite long but moved quickly. We waited about 20 minutes. WARNING: you can NOT bring a back pack inside. The very diligent, not so friendly guard will direct you to an area around the corner where you can check you bag (for a small fee) then you come back and when he feels like it he will let you in. Also ladies, if you are wearing shorts or a sleeveless top they will rent you a paper-like wrap, which they apply, to cover your shoulders and legs. They move the crowd through a roped off area of the church at a pretty brisk pace. No dawdling allowed. To approach the main altar or the area with the 4 bronze horses you must pay a fee of E 3 each . The church entrance is free, though. We were through the church in 20 minutes and that included waiting for our friends to return from backpack check. I felt very rushed and low lighting did not provide the experience I'd hopped for.
We spent the remainder of the day shopping, drinking wine, eating here and there and soaking up the ambiance of Venice. The back alleys are terrific and some thing beautiful to look at everywhere. If you are looking to buy glass, it is everywhere and beautiful. Having had tiramasu in Venice I am forever ruined. The following day was more of the same. Great food, views, and wandering. Allow yourself at least an hour to get from San Marcos to the shuttle bus. We had several couples the captain was willing to wait for but after 45 minutes we had to leave one couple who were awol. As we departed, sailing down the Grand Canal, Pavarotti blared away on the big screen and it was magical. We watched the Sovereign of the Sea (?) wind down the canal before us and were able to have a perspective of how our ship must look. The Emerald Princess was the caboose in our convoy. Quite a sight.
Messina: Quite a busy city and port. We rented a driver for E 40/person and went to Taormina for the day. It is about an hour and a half drive punctuated by many tunnels. The town is a quaint very hilly little town. The views of the Mediterranean are wonderful and this is the home of the canelone so it was imperative that we indulge ourselves. A view of Mt. Etna is possible in various spots about town. There is beautiful ceramic work in the town but getting it home would be impossible. On our return to the ship we stopped at the cathedral, which is within walking distance of the pier and spent some time taking in its splendor.
Barcelona: My word, what architecture! We did the hop-on/hop-off bus on the recommendation from a CM friend who lives in Barcelona. There are 3 routes and 1 ticket will get you a full tour of each but the red and blue are of the most interest and take several hours each. Cost is E19/person Transportation from pier to downtown is the same as Venice. I found that my rudimentary Spanish was of no use at the cafe where we ordered lunch as they spoke only Catalan, which is also true of all street signs.
Cannes: We chose to spend the day onboard relaxing. A couple who decided to take the train to Monte Carlo were left behind when their train was cancelled.
Livorno: Here you have the decision to make between Florence and Tuscany. We chose to do the "Beautiful Tuscany" tour with the ship. What a treat. Again, the road is very winding and one young lady on board was quite sick but the scenery through mile after mile of vineyard and olive orchards was enchanting. We visited two fascinating towns and dined at a vineyard with very good food and wine. What a splendid way to end the journey. My favorite port.Disembarkation True to the norm we were assigned colors for departure in accordance with travel arrangements. We had an early flight and were in the first regular departure. There was a group from California of 700 or so people who were given very first departure even though some did not depart until late afternoon. This created havoc at the airport as they clogged up the line trying to get bumped to earlier flights while early ticketed passengers waited and almost missed their boarding deadline. Really a stupid move on Carnival's part. We were off the ship by 6:00 a.m. but sat on a fully loaded bus until 6:30. No reason why the drivers sat around smoking cigarettes for 30 minutes but they did. The drive was about 50 minutes as it was a Saturday and traffic into Rome was not bad. We were checked into NW and looking for coffee by 8:15. It did not look like some of our fellow travellers (those with the CA group fared as well). Odds and Ends You can exchange money onboard but the rate is dismal. If you think you will exchange your euros to dollars on the final night, think again. Weirdly enough, since this has to be a money making operation for Carnival, given the poor exchange rate, they are not open on the final night.
Cudos to Carnival for hosting a breast cancer walk on the second sea day. For $10 you got a t-shirt, pink wrist band and a photo op for a commercial to be aired next year. Thousands of dollars were raised and people shared their stories as they walked and sometimes wept. Tremendous experience. As a survivor, thank you, Carnival.
Overall, I would gladly do this itinerary again. I do wish they would skip Caanes and overnight in Livorno but otherwise the itinerary was ideal. I would have to think twice about sailing the Freedom again due to its horrid decor. Ugly, ugly , ugly. In fact, we encountered two couples who told us they had cancelled their future booking on the Freedom just because of that.


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Sports Briefs
PCHS high school lacrosse meeting
There will be a mandatory player and parent informational meeting on Tuesday, Dec. 4, at 6 p.m. at the Park City High School cafeteria for all players interested in joining the 2013 spring Park City High School lacrosse team. For more information, check out http://www.parkcitylax.org .
Freeskiing program at PCMR
Registration is now available for the AMP Ski Program at Park City Mountain Resort. AMP (All Mountain Park & Pipe) is open to advanced skiers ages 10 to 14 looking to improve their skills in steeps, powder, moguls, groomed, park/pipe and everything in between. AMP is staffed by specially selected coaches from the Park City Ski and Snowboard School. During the season, participants will develop their overall skiing skills and will have a great time doing it, in a safe and controlled environment. AMP meets on 10 Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. beginning Jan. 7 with a mandatory placement day on Saturday, Dec.15, 2012. The cost is $730. For more information or to register, please call (800) 227-2754 or visit http://www.parkcitymountain.com/site/ski-and-snowboard-school/local-youth-programs/amp .
Park City PeeWee Champions
The Ute Football Conference, United Division, crowned its PeeWee champions last Saturday as Park City completed an undefeated season by going 11-0 with a 13-0 shut-out over West in a foot of snow to win the championship. Key defensive stops by Zane Severson, Hunter Thomas, Ben Quinones, Harry Lawson, Greyson Scharffs, Paul Baynes, Judd Kelsch and Jake Kohn (including an interception) kept the large West team in check the entire game. Textbook execution of blocking on offense led by Jimmy Williams, Jared Rangel, Caleb Sapp, Beck Barrett, Nick Kraus, Levi Baglino and Jack Skidmore provided the way for two Brady Bauman touchdown runs of 35 and 45 yards. Passing in freezing temperatures and knee-deep snow, Derrick Davis completed a diving connection to Theo Mazzone to gain an extra point. Teamwork was critical to the success of this season as everyone played a huge role. The championship team consisted of 23 players and five coaches and included: Levi Baglino, Beck Barrett, Brady Baumann, Paul Baynes, Derrick Davis, Parker Giblin, Smith Jenson, Judd Kelsch, Jake Kohn, Nick Kraus, Harry Lawson, Aaron Macritchie, Theo Mazzone, Ben Quinones, Jared Rangel, Caleb Sapp, Greyson Scharffs, Zane Severson, Jack Skidmore, Nick Sylvester, Hunter Thomas, Austin Veenendaal, and Jimmy "nobody owns you" Williams. Coaches were Ted Baumann, Mike Mazzone, Jason Davis, Greg Bair and Ryan Saap.
Team Soldier Hollow cross-country program
Looking for a fun, active and affordable winter sport? Join Soldier Hollow's youth cross-country ski program in Midway at the 2002 Olympic venue. Programs for beginners to elite racers, ages 6 to 18, are available. Prices start at $100 for the season including rentals and season pass. For registration and additional information, visit teamsoldierhollow.blogspot.com or call Morgan at (435) 654-2002.
Wheelchair Tennis
There will be free wheelchair tennis today from 1 to 4 p.m. at the PC MARC. Come and learn to play wheelchair tennis. Ages 6 and above are welcome. Equipment will be provided. Please RSVP to Laurie at (435) 615-5428.
Learn to Curl
Never tried curling before but want to do so? A "Learn to Curl" is just what you're looking for. The Park City Curling Club will be hosting the event on Wednesday, Nov. 21, from 8:15 to 10:15 p.m. at the Park City Ice Arena. For further information and to register, go to http://www.parkcitycurlingclub.com or email firstname.lastname@example.com .
Float Downhill
This workshop, scheduled for Dec. 1 from 1 to 3:15 p.m. at the Silver Mountain Sports Club & Spa (in the Kimball Yoga Room), focuses on learning proper body usage for proper ski posture. When using the body properly, ski posture becomes effortless, allowing flexibility back onto the skis, increasing energy, efficiency and fluidness, all for a greater, longer, more enjoyable ski day. The fee is $25. The workshop is presented by Sharon Starika Feldenkrais practitioner/movement educator. To preregister, or for additional information, contact Starika at (435) 655-1989.
Glide into Skate Skiing
This workshop, scheduled for Dec. 1 from 3:15 to 5:30 p.m. at the Silver Mountain Sports Club & Spa (in the Kimball Yoga Room), focuses on improving body weight shifting throughout the ankle and leg, allowing for a much greater connection to the hips and pelvis. Such subtle but profound shifts allow people to find their glide, timing, and flow while increasing speed and reducing upper body effort. The fee is $25. The workshop is presented by Sharon Starika Feldenkrais practitioner/movement educator. To pre-register, or for additional information, contact Starika at (435) 655-1989.
Thanksgiving Master Classes
Head over to the Basin Recreation Fieldhouse for a pre-Thanksgiving-dinner workout in one or both of its master classes on Thursday, Nov. 22. H.I.T. with WHIT will be pushed back to 8 a.m., and will be open to drop-ins for $8 per person. Group cycle will run from 9 to 10 a.m. on a first-come, first-served basis with an $8 drop-in fee. For more information, visit http://www.basinrecreation.org, call (435) 655-0999, or stop by the Fieldhouse.
Thanksgiving Day Workouts at the PC MARC
The average American will eat 5,000 calories on Thanksgiving Day. Whether you plan to be one of them or not, start the day at the PC MARC where all three studios are running consecutive classes from 7:30 a.m. to noon. Bring a canned good to be donated to the Park City Food Bank and enjoy all-day admission to the facility. The MARC will close at 3 p.m. Call (435) 615-5400 or visit http://www.parkcityrecreation.org for details.
Basin Recreation's Junior Jazz program
It's almost basketball season, so check out Basin Recreation's Junior Jazz program, which runs from Jan. 3 to March 9 for third through eighth grade boys and girls. Practices and games will be held at Trailside Elementary School, Ecker Hill Middle School, and Treasure Mountain Middle School. The cost is $70 and includes a jersey. Be sure to sign up before Dec. 1 to avoid a $10 late fee. To register and for more information, visit http://www.basinrecreation.org, call (435) 655-0999, or stop by the Fieldhouse.
U.S. Masters ski season schedule
The 2013 U.S. Masters ski season schedule has been released. If you are 18 or older and want to race the same caliber venues as Olympic skiers, attend JANS Cup races this year. The 2013 JANS Cup schedule is: Jan. 11-13 Park City Mountain Resort; Feb. 9-10 Snowbasin Resort; Feb. 22-24 Wolf Mountain; March 8-10 Snowbasin Resort. Adult race training and advance skiing are available at Park City Mountain Resort. The Masters program features 90-plus all day and night sessions featuring gates and the latest free ski skills. Info can be found at http://www.pcmr.com under special programs Masters.
Small & Tall Learn to Skate Classes
Learn to skate with your child. Basic skating skills with an emphasis on safety will be taught during a six-week session of 30-minute classes. Classes meet Tuesdays from 10:15 to 10:45 a.m. or Wednesdays from 1 to 1:30 p.m. Class fees include skate rental, class time, and practice time for one adult and one child. Visit the website at http://www.parkcityice.org for more information or call (435) 615-5707 to register.
Adult Learn to Skate classes
Want a great way to get into shape and have a great time doing it? Come join the Lunch Bunch adult skating class and "ICE"ercise at the Park City Ice Arena on Wednesdays from 12:30 to 1 p.m. Register for the six-week session and save $3 per class or drop in on a week-by-week basis. Class fees include a 30-minute lesson, practice time and a punch card for three open-skate sessions. Adults of all ages and ability levels are welcome. Visit the website at http://www.parkcityice.org for more information or call (435) 615-5707 to register.
Free Group Fitness Classes at PC MARC
Don't leave those fitness goals behind as the holidays roll in. Continue to reach your goals throughout November at the PC MARC by attending the spotlighted free fitness classes. Come join the Breath Egoscue Wednesday evenings at 5:30 p.m. or any Zumba class on the schedule for free. Call the front desk today to find out more information at (435) 615-5401.
New golf simulator at the Basin Recreation Fieldhouse
Take a swing at Basin Recreation's new golf simulator at Basin Recreation Fieldhouse (1388 Center Drive). One-hour tee times on the turf field with the 20-foot projector screen are available on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Play on courses such as Bethpage Black, Torrey Pines, Golf Club Scottsdale and many more. The cost is $12 per person for each hour. Visit http://www.basinrecreation.org for more information. Or call (435) 655-0999 to make reservations.
Major Canyons Village mixed-use development gets thumbs up from Planning Commission
With 40,000 square feet of retail space, 234 condos and something called a "ski beach," the Pendry project will be a major addition to Canyons Village.


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Kaijudo TCG
TIP Browse your collector binders online! You can see your collection graphically as if you had your binders on the web, and you can sort them in different ways.
List of expansions for the game Kaijudo TCGTo get the complete list of collectible cards in a specific expansion set, please select it from the following list:


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While wildfires pose a serious threat to humans, animals and plants, University of Florida/Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, or UF/IFAS experts, say fighting fire with fire is an excellent way to help prevent them.
According to Martha C. Monroe, a UF/IFAS associate professor in the School of Forest Resources and Conservation, "Florida is a national leader in managing prescribed burns in wildlands. Our unique combination of fire-dependent ecosystems and weather that accommodates prescribed burning in every season of the year contributes to this leadership role."
In the past half a century, changes in Florida's wildlands have led the return to using prescribed burning to manage vegetation in the forests. In Florida, fire is prescribed for 1.5 to 2 million acres of land each year.
"Prescribed burning is a precise tool for vegetation management," said Alan J. Long, a UF/IFAS associate professor with the School of Forest Resources and Conservation. "When properly managed, it reduces the risk of wildfire by decreasing shrub and herbaceous vegetation and accumulated dead fuels, improves wildlife or grazing habitat, and promotes successful forest regeneration."
There are several factors that can increase the spread of wildfires and the amount of damage that they do. Fire requires oxygen, fuel, and heat to sustain itself. In wildfires, the fuel generally is provided by plants and shrubs, and if there is an abundance of fire-prone plant life, the chances of a wildfire increase greatly.
One of the advantages of prescribed burning is the controlled removal of the fuel that would allow a wildfire to spread. "Prescribed burning, the controlled use of fire to achieve land management goals, is a useful tool for resource managers in Florida," says Monroe.
Prescribed burning is also one of the most important and cost-effective tools used to manage Florida's forested lands for wildlife. "Prescribed fire used at regular intervals helps control hardwood brush to the benefit of herbaceous groundcover plants," says UF/IFAS Leon County Natural Resources Extension Agent Will Sheftall.
"These plants are vital natural food for game, and also important cover. Deer, turkey, quail and rabbits all rely on groundcover species for forage and seeds, and deer utilize succulent woody re-growth as browse."
However, as useful as prescribed burning is, there are still some safety concerns and regulations to keep in mind when conducting prescribed burning. "Two of the most important are the possibilities of fire spreading to adjacent properties and smoke intrusions in populated areas," says Long.
Generally, prescribed burning is not allowed by the Division of Forestry or DOF, the agency that regulates prescribed burning permits, when hot, dry weather conditions or an abundance of fuel would increase the chances that the fire could spread. In addition, state and local agencies must monitor the air for pollutants in order to ensure that it meets the National Ambient Air Quality Standards, as established by the 1970 Federal Clean Air Act.
According to Sheftall, "The best times to burn are from winter through spring. Colder weather, dormant season burns are often best for controlling heavy fuel loads, or for burning vegetation that has a low volatility and high moisture content in the spring. Growing season burns are best for controlling hardwood underbrush, as long as the fuel load is moderate."
In order to conduct a prescribed burn in the state, authorization must be received from DOF. Before seeking authorization, a burner must prepare a burn plan, which includes pertinent information like location, size and description of the area to be burned, amount and type of vegetation, and a weather analysis.
UF/IFAS Leon County Forestry Extension Agent Stan Rosenthal, who has years of experience assisting landowners with land management planning that includes prescribed fire, emphasizes that, "Every landowner's situation is different, so it is impossible to provide a general fire prescription. A burn plan is tailored to specific landowner management goals, specific fuels, and specific vulnerabilities (structures, adjacent forest lands or dry wetlands and their fuels, roads, residential areas, airports)."
All prescribed fires must have adequate fire breaks around the burn area, have adequate personnel and fire control equipment, remain within the authorized area, have someone present until the fire is completely extinguished and have permission from the landowner.
For more information about the benefits of prescribed burning and photo gallery before, during and after a prescribed burn, visit http://nfrec.ifas.ufl.edu/prescribedburn.htm.


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Quitting smoking by age 40 can stave off early death
A new study led by an Indian origin scientist has revealed that smokers who quit by around age 40 can erase most of the risk of an early death.
While smokers who never stop lose about a decade of life expectancy, those who quit between ages 35 and 44 gained back nine of those years, according to the study.
The benefits of quitting smoking extend deep into middle age.
The study published online in the New England Journal of Medicine found that smokers who quit between 45 and 54 gained back six otherwise lost years, and those who quit between 55 and 64 gained four years, Washington post reported.
Moreover, quitting young, before age 35, erased the entire decade of lost life expectancy, the study revealed.
But Prabhat Jha, an epidemiologist at the Center for Global Health Research in Toronto, who led the study, said younger smokers should not be mistaken into thinking they can smoke until 40 and then stop without consequences because she added that the risks of lung cancer and other respiratory diseases linger for years after stubbing the last butt.
Most of the gains in life expectancy come because the twin risks of heart disease and stroke quickly drop after smoking ends. Both diseases occur as the byproducts of tobacco smoke trigger clotting in the arteries, a process that can rapidly reverse.
Damage to the lungs, meanwhile, takes longer to heal, she explained.
The study also highlighted that continuing to smoke carries grave risks.
Smokers in the study died early at a rate triple that of people who never smoked. And few smokers reached age 80. Just 38 percent of female smokers and 26 percent of male smokers hit that milestone, while 70 percent of women who never smoked and 61 percent of men who never smoked did.
Source: ANI
Image: Thinkstockphotos.com


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ORDINANCE TO ESTABLISH A COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM THROUGH THE STATE OF OHIO'S COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT (CDBG) SMALL CITIES' PROGRAM AND TO AUTHORIZE THE MAYOR TO APPLY FOR THE NEIGHBORHOOD REVITALIZATION (Formerly Formula & Distress Grants) FUNDS AND ADMINISTER THE GRANT, AND DECLARING AN EMERGENCY
WHEREAS, this Council recognizes the need for programs which remove slum and blight, benefit low- and moderate-income households or meet other urgent community development needs; and
WHEREAS, the Ohio Department of Development makes CDBG funds available through the Community Development Program for projects which address these problems; and
WHEREAS, the Mayor must submit an application to the State of Ohio Department of Development, to receive funds which have been authorized for the City of Marion to be used on eligible activities which address the community and economic development problems.
BE IT ORDAINED by the Council of the City of Marion, Marion County, Ohio:
Section 1 That this Council hereby authorizes the Mayor to submit an application for CDBG Community Development Program including the following Formula grant projects:
#1.Heritage Hall Wall Repair $ 45,000
#2.Sawyer Ludwig Park Trail $ 75,000
#4. Environmental Review/Audit/Admin/Fair Hsg $ 22,000
Section 2. That this Council hereby commits the following local funds as leverage for the Formula Grant:
CDBG Revolving Loan Fund for:
#2. Sawyer Ludwig Park Trail additional $ 13,300
#3. MARCA Downtown Art Store $ 9,700
$ 23,000
Section 3. That upon approval of the City of Marion's grant application, the Mayor is hereby authorized to accept the grants and administer the CDBG Community Development in the City of Marion.
Section 4. This ordinance is hereby declared to be an emergency measure necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, welfare and safety of the City of Marion and the inhabitants thereof and for the further reason that the grant application must be filed immediately upon its passage and approval by the Mayor, provided it receives the affirmative vote of two-thirds of all members elected to Council; it shall become effective from and after the earliest period allowed by law.
Approved: Dave Edwards
President of Council
Mayor Scott Schertzer
Clerk of Council


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Saturday, September 22, 2012
Groovy Rainbow Quilt
The top for my Groove quilt is pieced. The concept was cloudy grey skies with a touch of sunshine and blue peeping through. I plan to quilt the greys with some kind of cloud like swirls and the rainbow sections with something to represent raindrops. I had to alter the piecing method to fit my rainbow sections so it was bit fiddly putting it together. The fantastic pattern comes from Emily Cier at Carolina Patchworks.
There are some fabulous looking quilts appearing in the Quilt Along flickr group.
A few things I discovered - improv. paperpiecing is fun, all greys are not equal, it's very difficult to buy grey fabric online, you never quite know if it's going to work out until it's done, and my husband is about 4 inches too short...
9 comments:
- Pile O Fabric said...
I am seriously blown away! This is so darn Groovy and awesome, WOW! Way to make the quilt your own. And thank you for your kind words about my blog :) So glad you are participating!
- 11:06 am
- blondie19012k said...
That is absolutely amazing! I love the idea of the sky being the theme, the rainbow section looks brilliant :)
- 11:16 am
- MaterialGirlQuilts said...
So gorgeous!! Wonderful interpretation...I'm blown away with how awesome it is!!
- 11:25 am
- SeeLifeMarvels said...
Very, very, nice. I may have to modify your interpretation to my preferences for the sea. Hmmm...
- 11:42 am
- The Thompsons said...
It's gorgeous!! I love the rainbow effect.
- 12:35 pm
- Amira Ameruddin said...
The rainbow grooves are amazing! love it.. and u are among the quilter + graduate students..me too. Can't wait to see this groovy get quilted. Will be following you!
- 6:07 pm
- Kathy said...
- 6:39 pm
- Car said...
WOW. WOW. WOW. It is awesome!
- 8:24 pm
- Corinthians Grace said...
OMG this is amazing. My fabric has been cut and ready to go for ages but this... I think I need to rethink the whole thing!
- 11:01 am


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Oracle today held a global webcast to celebrate the first release candidate of JDK7. Key new features will include several relatively subtle improvements, as well as a better level of suitability for multicore-driven parallelism in programming structures resulting from the Fork/Join framework (JSR 166y).
As "thousands" of onlookers tuned in to Oracle's live online Java-fest broadcast from Redwood City, California, Java chief architect Mark Reinhold kicked off with an unfortunately phrased comment saying that the most significant thing about the new release was that, "We're finally shipping it!"
After what is around five years since the release of Java 6, the new version was not lauded as "ground breaking" by its own development team gurus. Indeed, Reinhold was heard to say, "We all know that for various business and political reasons, this release has taken some time."
Describing this release as more "evolution than revolution", Reinhold hinted that the most notable addition is JSR 203, which relates to the new I/O APIs. "We finally have a real file system API that will let you do things like manipulate symbolic links and access filesystem-specific operations," he said.
This release candidate is said to feature 13 major changes since the time of the last build and roughly half of these are described as "administrative" in nature. However, there is also JSR 292, which supports dynamically typed languages on the JVM.
New "showstopper" features include fixes to several hard VM crashes and a JIT correctness bug with its roots in Eclipse. Although the Java team arguably showed its lack of media-friendly finesse in terms of delivery, enthusiasm for the language and platform and brutal honesty probably won the day with the majority of onlookers.
In Oracle's own words, the JDK 7 release is, "A large-scale effort to refactor, or break up, the Java SE platform into smaller, separate, interdependent modules. Individual modules can then be downloaded as required by the Java virtual machine and/or Java applications. This effectively shrinks the size of the runtime on the user's machine."
"One benefit of modularization is that the platform is a smaller download, potentially improving start-up performance. Having a smaller memory footprint also enables significant performance improvements, especially for desktop applications. A smaller platform also means it can now fit on devices with less memory," said the company on its developer web portal zone.