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해당 분해도에 사용된 도구
After acquiring a small brown box during a daring heist this morning, we finally have the new Apple TV in our destructive mitts! Will this be the device that changes the direction of Apple as we know it? Tune in as we take apart the 2nd generation Apple TV.
We awarded the 2nd generation Apple TV a coveted Repairability Score of 8 / 10 due to its ease of disassembly, minuscule power consumption, and highly recyclable construction.
Follow us @iFixit on Twitter for the latest insight on what makes this thing tick.
After three years, Apple has finally released an updated revision of its revolutionary streaming home theater device, the 2nd generation Apple TV, powered by the Apple A4 processor.
With such small dimensions, 0.9" x 3.9" x 3.9", and a mere weight of 0.6 lbs, no wonder it's been dubbed "The Puck."
As a rare treat, Apple has decided to bundle an Apple Remote with the Apple TV.
The backside of the Apple TV:
HDMI output port
Optical audio out port
10/100 Base Ethernet port
AC adapter port
Micro-USB (for service and support)
The description didn't list what appears to be a mini-USB port under the HDMI. That *is* a USB port, isn't it?
The 2nd Generation Apple TV has a rated 0.3 amp current draw. That's only 20% of the amperage drawn by its square unibody cousin, the Mac Mini. Once we get inside, the internal power supply should tell us its real draw.
Apple has branded the model number as A1378.
Like many Apple devices, the Apple TV has no visible screws. So of course the first thing we did was shove a couple metal spudgers between the rubber-coated base and the upper case.
The base pops right off after some careful prying.
And just like that, the 2nd Generation Apple TV is open.
The large pink square near the center of the device is actually a thermal pad. We wonder why Apple chose to conduct heat to a plastic surface -- maybe a metal base was too expensive?
We're pretty sure that this thing will not produce much heat.
We remove the first three visible #1 Phillips screws, only to find the metal heat sink being held in place by something else.
A bit of sleuthing revealed another two #1 Phillips screws under the thermal pad. Sneaky Apple!
The other side of the cover features another thermal pad. We feel this may be a trend...
Has anyone noticed how the pads by the HDMI connector look like ones for a VGA port? Same alignment.
After disconnecting the power supply and status LED cables, the logic board is ready to come out.
Now, a couple pesky EMI shields are all that stand between us and the "goods."
Here's something interesting that one of the commenters pointed out: the solder pads near the side of the logic board look to be a *perfect* match for a dock connector!
This Apple TV seems to be a couple of connectors shy of a full-on computer. Perhaps this logic board will be used in future iPads?
Apple engineers likely used a dock connector to debug the Apple TV while it was in development.
Isn't that dock connector more like service connector - for flashing firmware, bootloaders etc.. like in other iOS devices?
It was probably used during development. Why bother with a JTAG port and some one-off development hardware or toolchain when Apple has already invested countless hours, engineers and dollars into its Xcode/iOS-based dev environment? This is even easier than debugging over Ethernet, which is what a lot of new set-top devices and current game consoles do. Recycling the dock connector even saves them having to come up with a new mechanical interface for the task.
Someone should try to solder a dock connector to the logic board and see what happens when connected to itunes.
Zach -
It has been noted elsewhere(1) that you can use the Mini-USB to connect to iTunes, making the 30-pin connect redundant unless some other '30-pin' feature (e.g.: TV-Out) is supported.
Analog audio output would be nice via the dock connector. Maybe even the serial lines acting as a console terminal.. just dreaming :-)
ozel -
What is this? A Samsung K9LCG08U1M 8GB NAND Flash chip?
Why, yes it is. It's the same part we found during the iPad teardown! This is a pretty remarkable amount of storage for a $99 device.
We are pretty sure the Sammy is used to cache your favorite shows while they're being streamed.
But we wonder, "What else you could do with 8 GB of exploitable storage?"
Wi-Fi board brought to you courtesy of Panasonic! This may be the first time we've seen a Wi-Fi board from Panasonic in an Apple device. They usually provide optical drives for Apple's laptops.
Apple may have gone with an off-the-shelf commodity daughterboard to reduce costs.
The Broadcom BCM4329XKUBG 802.11n Wi-Fi/Bluetooth/FM chip on the Panasonic board is exactly the same as the one we found on the iPad.
Bluetooth?! So why use an IR remote? (Cost I suppose.) But perhaps they'll make it available should Apple TV apps come along.
It's probably way easier (and cheaper) to stuff the inherently small circuitry for an IR transmitter inside the ultra thin Apple remote rather than Bluetooth equipment.
Using Bluetooth in the remote would increase power consumption considerably - the CR2032 battery only has 10% the energy of the batteries in the Apple keyboard, for example, and it's non-rechargeable. Besides, any benefits of Bluetooth would be lost because consumers have been trained for decades to point remotes for line-of-sight operation anyway.
IR is more easy to use than bluetooth, you have not to synchronize.
Maito -
Plus, backwards compatibility. Apple has been making IR remotes for years. A new bluetooth remote would be cool, but being unable to connect to my old IR remotes would me me angry.
is that chip prepared to connect keyboard/mouse via BT? IMHO aTV SDK is coming... keyboard&mouse is coming
matlosz pl - 답글
The key marking of interest on the A4 processor package is K4X2G643GE. This is identical to the marking found on the iPad and 4th Generation iPod Touch, but different from the iPhone 4 processor.
The Apple TV has 256 MB RAM, the same as the iPad and 4th Gen iPod Touch. We weren't expecting Apple to bump up the RAM, but it's a bit of a relief for app developers that the amount hasn't been reduced.
The rest of the contenders:
Apple 343S0479 1005 005BB
M430 F2350 TI E03K C0GP G4 (16-bit microcontroller)
SMSC 8710A-EZK B1023-A2 (10/100 Ethernet Transceiver)
The Chip M430 F2350 TI E03K C0GP G4 might be a TI MSP430 Microcontroller.
The Package could be a VQFN-40.
Maybe it is used for decoding the IR Signal
The board. It's difficult to see some of the chip information because the silkscreen came off along with the thermal pads.
Here's an idea of where all the chips reside in relation to one another:
Apple A4 Processor
Samsung NAND Flash
Empty spot for another Samsung NAND Flash???
Apple 338S0891
Broadcom BCM4329XKUBG
@iFixit: "Empty spot for another Samsung NAND Flash?"
Yes, the format of the pins on the board correspond to an ULGA NAND Flash IC.
There goes the power supply...
The sticker on the power supply has this rating: 3.4V @ 1.75A
We'll save you the multiplication: that's just 5.95 watts! Is this the most eco-friendly set-top box ever?
While the output of the PSU is only 6 watts, the psu will draw up to 33 watts from a US 110v outlet. Still not bad.
I doubt it, there is no way it would be that inefficient.
- Power input specs will be worst case, ie current drawn spec will be the turn on power, it'll quickly drop.
If it really drew 33W, (constant) the thing would quickly melt, it has no fan or vents!
Paul -
Next comes out the status LED. Its current status: disconnected.
Apple brags that when in standby mode, the Apple TV uses less power than a night light. We don't suggest trying to use the status LED to illuminate your dark hallways, though.
I don't think that's the Power Status LED - I think it is the IR photodiode for the remote control?
I believe you're right? Could it be both?
Apple TV Repairability: 8 out of 10 (10 is easiest to repair)
Relatively easy to open case that can be easily reassembled.
Separate power supply board that can be replaced independently of the logic board.
Simple design - there's 6 pieces!
Relatively common fasteners (Phillips and T6 Torx) found throughout.
Thermal pads rather than thermal paste means no messy cleanup.
Lots of expensive electronics housed on one singular board means that if one fries, the board is toast unless you can attempt or know how to do component level repair.
The ease of repairing this device, integrated high-efficiency power supply, low 6-watt power consumption, and efficient stand-by mode lead us to believe this may be the most eco-friendly set-top box of all time!
Like most high tech these days, only repairable to board level, although the WiFi module may be replaceable.
As it is only $99, they probably won't repair them, or keep spares, so the only options are the WiFi board, connectors, and maybe the power supply (to component level that is), otherwise, over the shoulder..
Now if only someone can figure out how to get 'normal' audio & video out of it then a lot more people will be interested.
댓글 2개
Is there anyway to either 1. use this hardware for another box like android box, 2. can a different OS operating system be installed on the apple tv 2?
Can someone install linux OS? openelec? librelec? ubuntu? wetek WEos? I have a box like this want to figure out what I can do to make use of it. Can the RAM be changed? Most android boxes today for Kodi / XBMC, usually only have 1gb or 2gb of flash, so that's a lot for this box, why would it have 8GB flash memory and only 256MB RAM? Is there anything I can do with this box? It's old now, still works but just slow because of the RAM.
-Paul from Toronto Canada
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해당 안내서를 사이트/포럼에 작은 위젯으로 포함하려면 크기를 선택하고 아래 코드를 복사하십시오.


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I stand corrected. There actually is "voter fraud" coming out of the Philadelphia area (as many Attytood commenters have long alleged.) To be clear, the 31-year-old Phoenixville man who was busted today -- in Virginia, of all places -- didn't commit voter impersonation, the still non-existent problems that Pennsylvania's much-maligned voter ID law claims to "fix." These are allegations of voter registration fraud, a different animal altogether.
Oh, one other thing. Did I mention that the dude is a Republican?
A Pennsylvania man employed by a company working for the Republican Party of Virginia was arrested by investigators from the Rockingham County Sheriff's office on Thursday and charged with destroying voter registration forms.
Colin Small, a 31-year-old resident of Phoenixville, Pa., worked for Pinpoint, a company hired to register voters on behalf of the Republican Party of Virginia. Prosecutors charged him with four counts of destruction of voter registration applications, eight counts of failing to disclose voter registration applications and one count of obstruction of justice.
Rockingham County Sheriff Bryan Hutcheson's office said there was no indication that the activity was widespread in their jurisdiction and said the conduct "appears to be limited in nature." His office said there is a possibility that additional charges may be filed.
Presumably Colin Small will get his day in court -- but investigator should look closely at whether this was an attempt -- albeit on a small scale -- to prevent Democrats from casting a ballot in Virginia, which is one of the closest battleground states. So far, we've seen a growing investigation of another firm tied to the GOP allegedly playing money business with voter registration. All of which amounts to voter suppression -- the same thing that Tom Corbett and Pennsylvania GOP lawmakers have been seeking to do, only in their case it was under the cover of a bad law.
Stay tuned.
Pictured at top: GOP registration table in Florida.
Programming note: This is the last post until Sunday, so document the latest Romney/Obama/Ryan/Biden travesty below.

subset: commoncrawl


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LODI - To the volunteers who have kept it open for the past two years, the Woodbridge Wilderness Area is a rare piece of pristine nature on public land that should be more available for the public to use.
LODI - To the volunteers who have kept it open for the past two years, the Woodbridge Wilderness Area is a rare piece of pristine nature on public land that should be more available for the public to use.
To many of the residents surrounding the 17-acre wilderness on the banks of the Mokelumne River, the space has proved a magnet for trouble: from people who would come to the park to drink, do drugs or leave trash to the fire danger posed by vegetation which, when left unchecked, creeps up into the forest canopy and toward properties.
But residents and volunteers, alike say a plan from volunteers and the San Joaquin County government to keep the area open two weekends a month, with onsite supervision, has been working.
Now, volunteers want the park open more days, either unsupervised or with more help from the county to bring in paid staff. Neighbors remain wary.
It's hard to keep volunteers motivated to work on holidays because they would want to enjoy the park with their families, said Joshua Hutchison, one of the volunteers who has manned the park's gate during winter cold and rain. He didn't think the status quo was going to remain permanent. "I need to feel like I'm moving forward in order to stay where I am," he said.
He was one of a crowd of people at a Tuesday meeting of the San Joaquin County Parks and Recreation Commission that discussed a proposal to open the wilderness area seven days a week.
"How it's being managed (now) is absolutely perfect," said Brendon Kyle Goldberg, a neighbor critical of the expansion plan. But the problems of an open and unsupervised park are real, and not something neighbors want to see return. "You're trying to push too much, too fast," he said. "It will fail if you have unsupervised people there."
The commission eventually voted to recommend a scaled-down expansion that would open the park all weekends. Volunteers would continue manning the entrance to the park two weekends a month, but not during less-crowded winter months, when the volunteers would still do "walk throughs."
Volunteers work in tandem with cadets from the Sheriff's Office to supervise. The recommendation calls on the county to hire gatekeepers or move the cadets to come on the weekends that the volunteers aren't manning the entrance.
The commission is an advisory body, and the decision to change the arrangement falls to the San Joaquin County Board of Supervisors, which had voted to incrementally open the park since half of it was destroyed in a fire that caused minor damage to neighboring properties in 2008.
The recommendation passed the Parks Commission on a 5-2 vote. Two of the yes votes came from leaders of the volunteers who are also commissioners.
Over the years, the volunteers had logged more than 2,900 hours of work, saving taxpayers $50,000 while clearing the vegetation that is a fire hazard, according to a proposal from Mary Fuhs and Mary Avanti, volunteers on the commission.
"Without us down there, it's going to go back to what (critics) described," Avanti said. "If you don't give us a chance, ... everybody loses."
Commissioner Jerry Sexton voted against it. "This is an albatross. We don't need it. We don't want it. We should get rid of it."
In addition to issues with traffic and parking, county staff raised concerns expanding hours could have on the parks budget. Parks, like other county departments, have been trimmed in recent tight budget years, and future growth is uncertain. The parks budget drew from trust funds to prop up its budget, but officials are trying to wean the department off those funds before they disappear.
"Right now, the way the money is in the county, it's going to be a tough sell," said William Fry, a commissioner who voted in favor of the expansion plan.
Contact reporter Zachary K. Johnson at (209) 546-8258 or email@example.com. Visit his blog at recordnet.com/johnsonblog.


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Hans von Spakovsky, a former member of the Federal Elections Commission and now a Heritage scholar, breaks the news that the White House is considering ways to impose provisions of the anti-speech DISCLOSE Act through executive order.
From "LEAKED: Obama Executive Order Intends to Implement Portions of DISCLOSE Act"
An impeccable source has provided me with a copy of a draft Executive Order that the White House is apparently circulating for comments from several government agencies. Titled "Disclosure of Political Spending By Government Contractors," it appears to be an attempt by the Obama administration to implement — by executive fiat — portions of the DISCLOSE Act.
This was the bill introduced last year by Sen. Chuck Schumer and Rep. Chris Van Hollen to overturn the Supreme Court's decision in Citizens United v. FEC. The bill had onerous requirements that were duplicative of existing law and burdensome to political speech. It never passed Congress because of principled opposition to its unfair, one-side requirements that benefited labor unions at the expense of corporations. Democratic commissioners at the Federal Election Commission then tried to implement portions of the bill in new regulations. Fortunately, those regulations were not adopted because of the united opposition of the Republican commissioners.
As my source says:
It really is amazing — they lost in the Supreme Court, they lost in Congress, they lost at the FEC, so now the president is just going to do it by edict.
Amazing, but typical. The EPA is attempting to impose limits on greenhouse gas emissions despite clear opposition from Congress, the NLRB is busy enacting all sorts of pro-union provisions that could never pass congressional muster, and the President just issued a signing statement on White House "czars" proclaiming his intention of ignoring congressional appropriations. (Hugh Hewitt examines the trend in his latest column, "Liberals' impatience with democracy, rule of law is growing.")
The DISCLOSE Act was an ugly attempt to limit political speech based on who was expressing that speech. (Earlier Shopfloor posts.) The legislation failed in Congress last year. For the sake of the First Amendment, it should stay dead.
Latest posts by Carter Wood (see all)
- Farewell from a Blogger - May 25, 2011
- Activist Ignore Evidence to Back Shakedown Suit Against Chevron - May 25, 2011
- More than a Lawsuit: A Circle of Political Pressure Against Chevron - May 25, 2011


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Sick Mayer scraps concerts
The singer was due to perform with legendary crooner Tony Bennett at a show in Los Angeles, as well as at the iHeartRadio Music Festival in Las Vegas later this month (Sep11).
But Mayer has now axed his slot at the gigs after doctors discovered a granuloma near his vocal cords - an inflamed mass of tissue.
And the illness has also prompted Mayer to delay the completion of his next record, Born and Raised.
In a message on Tumblr.com, he writes, "I know there were people depending on me to be there (at the concerts) and I'm sorry that I can't be on those stages. After several months of going week to week monitoring and hoping to correct the condition, I am forced to cancel my upcoming singing engagements due to something next to my vocal cords called a granuloma.
"Born and Raised is complete as far as music recording, song selection, and in some cases mixing, but because of this condition I couldn't finish singing on several of the tracks. This means the record will be released next year instead of this fall or winter."
Mayer insists the health issue is a "temporary setback", although he admits he is not sure how long his recovery will take.
He adds, "I've got the best doctors in the country looking after me and I will be singing and touring again as soon as I get the all clear. Until then I'll be spending time writing and composing more music... I'm looking forward to seeing you again soon. Until then take good care."


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One would like to think that liberal self-mockery informs the cover of the new online edition of Newsweek, tied to Evan Thomas's cover story. Or perhaps an allusion to Yeats's great poem, asking "what rough beast, its hour come round at last/Slouches toward Bethlehem to be born?" Or perhaps the liberals at Newsweek/Daily Beast recognize that, like Communism, liberalism has become a secular religion. Or perhaps, as Brent Baker suggests, they are playing it straight. My guess is that they want it all ways.
Ed Driscoll adds a little context in "Newsweek meets Muggeridge's law."
Via Lucianne.


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Ultimate Book of Tatted Doilies
Create a tatting treasure to behold. Your friends won't believe their eyes! Imagine the ultimate display of your tatting mastery with glorious doilies to adorn your home or to give as gifts. Choose from 17 delicate doilies, each made with your talent. Styles include Star, Round, Oval, Flower Burst and many more! Largest measures 17 inches across. All designs are made using a needle, not a tatting shuttle.
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Note: This item is included with three others in the Futuristic Funk & Groove Pack. Further information about each item can be found in the links listed on that page.
"Futuristic Electro-Funk" is a danceable, synth-heavy piece using drum machine samples, synth bass, two electric pianos, a screaming synth lead and white noise sweeps. It's something of a hybrid combining jazz, funk and electro-pop elements.
The piece contains a verse and a chorus (which is signified by the synth lead that appears in the middle of the song). It's made more versatile with its ability to be looped and would be useful for any project looking for catchy electro-pop music assets that may need to meet a variable timeline.Thanks for listening.


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The Phillies, down to their fourth-string catcher, have dipped into double-A Reading for their latest replacement.
Steven Lerud, a 27-year-old with only nine career triple-A games, was added to the 40-man roster when Brian Schneider was placed on the disabled list with a strained hamstring.
The moves make Erik Kratz the starting catcher for the foreseeable future.
"I think it's good for Kratzy," manager Charlie Manuel said. "I think he can handle that. I think that he can do it. I said before that we can beat him up."
Kratz, who had played in 11 career major-league games before 2012, has been one of the feel-good stories as the Phillies nose-dived into irrelevancy. Entering Friday, 14 of his 22 hits were for extra bases.
The 32-year-old could be playing for a backup job in 2013. Carlos Ruiz has required time on the disabled list in each of the last four seasons. The Phillies must know their backup catcher can be a regular if needed.
Manuel believes a two-week test as the everyday catcher can provide important intelligence on Kratz's future.
"That's very important," Manuel said. "That's very important to know that he can go two weeks or a month. Maybe even two months. Really. That's very, very important."
It's Schneider's second stint on the DL this season. He missed 36 days with an ankle sprain earlier. He had been playing with the bad hamstring for a few days and the team was concerned about his availability in an emergency situation.
Lerud was summoned despite a .235 batting average and .654 OPS at double-A Reading. He spent a few weeks in big-league spring training as a non-roster player. Sebastian Valle, the only other catcher on the 40-man roster, and top prospect Tommy Joseph were not options.
"Not at this time, no," Phillies assistant general manager Scott Proefrock said. "This was the right guy for us at this time."
The Phillies would rather Valle and Joseph play every day in minor-league pennant races rather than sit on the bench in the majors. Lerud will likely see action only in a pinch.
Have a question? Send it to Matt Gelb's Mailbag.


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Ponyo (US - BD RA)
Gabe marvels in awe of his first high definition Miyazaki experience...
The daughter of a sea goddess and a strange under water scientist named Fujimoto (Liam Neeson), Brumhilda (Noah Cyrus) begins life as one of dozens of adorable little goldfish. Ignoring her father's restrictions she leaves home in search of adventure, where she meets Sosuke (Frankie Jonas), a good-natured 5-year-old who lives by the sea. Sosuke adopts the little goldfish, and re-names her Ponyo. Fujimoto uses his magic to bring Ponyo back, but her love for Sosuke, and her newly developed magical powers prove stronger than his elixirs. She transforms herself into a human girl, and returns to Sosuke, causing a massive storm at sea, which buries most of Sosuke's village in water. Ponyo's metamorphosis upsets the balance of nature, and brings the moon closer to the earth.
Miyazaki's usual themes are all hear, including some pretty ham-fisted environmental lessons, missing parents, and more importantly a sort of nonchalant treatment of the super-natural. This is likely my favourite thing Miyazaki does, outside of his overwhelming visual imagination, which was the saving grace of the rather plodding Howl's Moving Castle. This 'just-so' approach helps to deflate some of the threat that comes with the story's epic scale. There's a slightly nightmarish quality to the big storm scenes, but for the most part it's played for whimsy, not fear. The storytelling here is super-simple and aimed at a younger audience, but it's far from stupid or placating, and the kids are expected to participate in the story, rather than blindly staring at the screen. Adult audiences may pine for more conflict in the story, but they're going to need to just go with the flow this time. Ponyo is a wonderful mix of Miyazaki's Japanese tendencies and reactions, and Spielberg-esque American pop-culture. There's a lot of E.T. in this particular story, and even a little Cocoon. This is no mistake, as Spielberg's E.T. and Twilight Zone script collaborator Melissa Mathison was involved with the English language script.
The animation style is unlike anything Miyazaki has ever produced, without appearing entirely alien, or a particular re-definition of the Ghibli wheel. The backgrounds are often defined by coloured pencil elements with fine shading and blended elements. It's similar to American storybooks, rather than digitally coloured comic books (Miyazaki fans may recall that Laputa's backgrounds were often outlined in ink like an old comic book). The foreground and animated elements are rounder, blobbier, and all around more organic in their movement. There isn't as much secondary shading to the animation, and small details are left out more than in films like Spirited Away, though the sheer quantity of elements is more than enough. There will surly be viewers that dislike the mixed styles, and specifically the simplistic and fluid character animation, but I'm happy the studio is doing something different with the 2D format. This is a fully realized and delightfully original universe Miyazaki has created, and there's plenty to catch in the far corners of the frame.
I really want Disney to get a copy of Finding Nemo on the shelves, and for the time being this will be the closest I can get. Besides being exceedingly colourful this 1080p, 1.85:1 transfer is razor sharp, reveling in both hard edged moving foreground elements and the coloured pencil backgrounds, with their deep set, etched details. You can really see the texture of the paper. The foreground elements are mostly outlined in semi-thick black, which is cut sharply against the pure hues. Occasionally the clearly distinct elements of the pencil backgrounds and cell painted foregrounds mix a little strangely, and create minor edge enhancement, but for the most part the clarity is precedent, and details are consistently impressive. I caught a few instances of the fuller reds displaying some minor blocking, but it's hard to visually distinguish the textured elements from the cell elements at times, so this may have been my mistake. The brightness at first appears less than spectacular, but it turns out that Miyazaki is just saving his pallet's brightest moments, which are usually of the magical variety. The large scale of events create so much on-screen movement the included standard definition release suffers some pretty severe compression noise, so the quantity of stuff makes the Blu-ray worth the price as well.
Purists will likely be upset that Disney has only included the American dub as an uncompressed DTS-HD Master Audio track, but the Japanese track is here in a diminished Dolby Digital quality. Fortunately there isn't a whole lot of dialogue to get upset about, and the Pixar people have done a good job with the dubbing process. The flow of the English is a little awkward compared to the Japanese, but the casting is great (yes, even the tiny Cyrus and Jonas do a solid job), and the actors do well enough with some thoroughly foreign characters. The dialogue on the English track is also mixed rather naturally into the original soundtrack, maintaining even volume. The underwater scenes reveal a lot of abstract sound design that bleeds into all channels, usually of the popping bubble variety. The scene where Ponyo's 'sisters' free her from her time out bubble is especially aurally overwhelming, and followed by some pretty aggressive LFE elements. The big tsunami storm scene is another rather overwhelming aural event which works itself smoothly into the whole of the mix. The music is definitely in-keeping with the director's usual score style, though perhaps a little more theatrical than his early films. Consistently the score is the most expressive and loud element of the soundtrack.
The rather terse extras begin with 'Meet Ponyo' (3:20, HD), a very brief primer on the role of the US production crew, including casting and voice direction, which was overseen by John Lasseter. 'The World of Ghibli' selection leads to two separate menus – 'Behind the Studio' and 'Enter the Lands'. The 'Behind the Studio' menu features 'A Conversation with Hayao Miyazaki and John Lasseter' (3:30, HD), a fluffy pseudo-interview, 'Creating Ponyo' (4:00, HD), more fluffy visual and philosophical explorations, 'Ponyo and Fujimoto' (3:00, HD), a look at the building of the two characters, 'The Nursery' (2:00, HD), 'Producer's Perspective: Telling the Story' (2:30, HD), a discussion with Toshi Suzuki, 'The Locations of Ponyo' (9:30, HD), a selection from a larger documentary on the subject of Miyazaki, 'Scoring Miyazaki' (7:20, HD), concerning the scores to many of the director's films, 'Behind the Microphone' (6:00, HD), an exploration of the English dubbing, and the original Japanese trailers, along with previews of the new extras for My Neighbor Totoro, Kiki's Delivery Service and Castle in the Sky (in HD, even though the SEs are only being released on DVD).
The 'Enter the Lands' menu is a collection of various Studio Ghibli images and characters. Selectable interactive entries include Ponyo (a questionnaire to decide which character most represents the viewer), Kiki's Delivery Service, Laputa: Castle in the Sky, and My Neighbor Totoro (trailers, character bios, plot details and Easter eggs). The disc also features a storyboard presentation of the film, similar to the one that accompanied the 4 disc Japanese Howl's Moving Castle collection. Trailers for other Disney releases close things out. The second disc is a DVD version of the film.
Ponyo is aimed at very young children, but master filmmaker Hayao Miyazaki is still glorious even at his most simplistic, and Ponyo is a better film than the generally underwhelming Howl's Moving Castle. Adult fans expecting something more along the lines of My Neighbor Totoro rather than Princess Mononoki should be pretty happy. The Blu-ray, which comes with a DVD copy, looks pretty great, with minor quibbles mixed in with all the wonderful colours, and rushing details. The audio is consistent, occasionally brilliant. The only disappoint comes in the extras, which are satisfying, but more of the EPK variety, including ads for the extras included with the new DVD releases of Kiki's Delivery Service, Laputa: Castle in the Sky, and My Neighbor Totoro.
*Reviewer Note: The images on this page are not representative of the Blu-ray image quality.
Review by Gabriel Powers
Existing Posts
He's a troll. Ignore him.
You didn't like Up, Cars, Ratatouille, or Wall-e? Either you are some type of troll or you need to rush to the doctor and get a pacemaker put in where your heart should be.
Pixarfan517 wrote: [quote=hogaburger wrote]I actually could tell that "Up" is way better than both these two pieces of c**p.
Except that UP was total garbage. After the horrors of Cars, Ratatooie, and Wall-E, I was hoping that Pixar would redeem themselves......they didn't.
Except that UP was total garbage. After the horrors of Cars, Ratatooie, and Wall-E, I was hoping that Pixar would redeem themselves......they didn't.
I agree.
Up is all about that opening. Carl could have become a serial killer or beaten that dog but as long as he looked up to the house and spoke to Ellie, I'd have let it slide.
However, visually Ponyo just floors me with the artistry on show. However good CGI gets, nothing compares to hand drawn animation for me.
However, visually Ponyo just floors me with the artistry on show. However good CGI gets, nothing compares to hand drawn animation for me.
Up was a great movie, don't get me wrong. That intro was probably one of the greatest animated segments I've ever seen. But Ponyo connected with me through a sense of child-like nostalgia (like when you were a kid watching hand drawn disney movies), and that was something that Up didn't do for me.
mc_serenity wrote: Pixarfan517, what is your beef with "Ponyo"? It, along with "Up" and "Princess and the Frog" are some of Disney's strongest animated films post-2000.
I didn't really think "Ponyo" was that interesting, okay? I actually didn't see "Princess and the Frog" yet, I wanted to hearing a couple of good reviews from people I know.
I didn't really think "Ponyo" was that interesting, okay? I actually didn't see "Princess and the Frog" yet, I wanted to hearing a couple of good reviews from people I know.
I liked Ponyo. I watched it along with my first viewings of CASTLE IN THE SKY and KIKI'S DELIVERY SERVICE.
Pixarfan517, what is your beef with "Ponyo"? It, along with "Up" and "Princess and the Frog" are some of Disney's strongest animated films post-2000.
hogaburger wrote: I adored this movie. I honestly couldn't pick a front runner between this, Up, and Fantastic Mr.Fox.
I actually could tell that "Up" is way better than both these two pieces of c**p.
I actually could tell that "Up" is way better than both these two pieces of c**p.
I adored this movie. I honestly couldn't pick a front runner between this, Up, and Fantastic Mr.Fox.
I got this a few days ago as well. "Glorious" certainly is a word that sums it up. Now I have another collection I need to upgrade to HD!!
(I was a little annoyed you couldn't get into some of the other lands in the "Enter the Lands'" extra though)
(I was a little annoyed you couldn't get into some of the other lands in the "Enter the Lands'" extra though)
All ages admitted
Disc Details
Release Date: 2nd March 2010
Discs: 2
Disc Type: Blu-ray Disc
RCE: No
Video: 1080p
Aspect: 1.85:1
Anamorphic: No
Colour: Yes
Audio: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 English, Dolby Digital 5.1 Japanese and French
Subtitles: English SDH, French, Spanish
Extras: Enter the Lands Featurettes, Behind the Studio Featurettes, Meet Ponyo, Storyboard Version, DVD Copy
Easter Egg: No
Feature Details
Director: Hayao Miyazaki
Cast: Noah Lindsey Cyrus, Frankie Jonas, Cate Blanchett, Liam Neeson, Tina Fey
Genre: Adventure and Animation
Length: 103 minutes
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Guitar Starter Packages | Bundles of Fun for Christmas Morning!
Guitar Packs for Beginners
Get jamming Christmas morning with our various guitar starter packs
Our Guitar Packages are put together to make your life easier, everything you need is available to you without the hassle of finding compatible components. Also... if you're looking here for a Christmas surprise, for yourself or someone else, you can rest assured in the knowledge that you'll have everything you need to start jamming at the break of dawn Christmas morning... you're neighbours are going to love you!
We've picked out our favourite guitar packs from each guitar category, electric, acoustic, electro-acoustic and classical. If you're wondering what size guitar you'll need, then take a look at our Guitar Size Guide here.
Electric Guitar Pack | £99
Eastcoast Guitar & Amp Starter Pack - Black (with Accessories)
Our Eastcoast Electric Guitar starter Pack comes complete with amplifier and accessories. One of the best-value and most comprehensive beginners sets we have to offer.
As well as a Strat-style guitar, the pack includes a tuition CD-ROM, a strap, tuning pitch pipes, guitar bag, spare set of guitar strings and an amp that by itself has an RRP of £39.
- 1x guitar strap (BJA009)
- 1x TEKO automatic tuner
- 1x guitar bag
- 1x extra string set
- 1x e-Media(tm) CD Rom (featuring: 20 guitar lessons, 1 animated fretboard, 1 automatic guitar tuner, 1 digital metronome, 1 recorder & 1 chord dictionary) - 1 x 10 GA P amplifier: 10 W RMS, 1 x 6.5" speaker, high impedance instrument input, 3-band EQ w/parametric mid control, Vol & gain controls, Overdrive switch for versatile distortion, headphone input
Electro-Acoustic Guitar Pack | £179
Eastcoast Mini Jumbo Cutaway Concert Guitar - Black w/20W Amp & Cable
Guitar, amp & cable bundle. Featuring an Eastcoast Mini Jumbo Electro Acoustic Cutaway Concert Guitar in Black with a fantastic Fishman Pre-Amp. This guitar is perfect for beginners to intermediate players. You will not be disappointed with the amazing sound and value this guitar will give you.
Eastcoast AAR20 20 Watt Acoustic Combo Amplifier
The AAR20 produces a warm full frequency sound, it features an 6" studio monitor style speaker for soft mid and low-frequency response and a sparkling high end. The front panel is simple and easy to use, but intended to give you satisfying control over your tone, with a volume control for each channel and 3-Band EQ with parametric, also included is a built-in reverb effect.
For quiet playing use the stereo headphone jack, and for pre-recorded accompaniment, the AAR20 amp has an stereo aux input, so you can plug in a CD or MP3 player and play along. Guitar cable included.
Acoustic Guitar Pack | £159
Eastcoast SS-63 Acoustic Guitar w/ Capo, Tuner & Stand
This Acoustic Guitar Starter pack includes the Eastcoast SS-63, a Korg TM-50 Tuner in Black, a Dunlop Curved Trigger Capo and a Black Rat A-Frame Guitar Stand. Eastcoast SS-63 Acoustic Guitar - Natural. A perfect choice for beginners, great value acoustic.
The combination of this and a rosewood fretboard and bridge give the Eastcoast SS-63 Acoustic guitar a smooth warm sound.
The Korg TM series allows you to use the tuner and metronome simultaneously. The TM-50 is the latest model, featuring a two-level backlight that enhances the visibility of the LCD display.
The Dunlop Trigger Capo is made from aircraft quality aluminium and needs only one hand to operate it. Can be used for Electric, Acoustic, 6-string and 12-string guitars.
Silent Guitar Pack | £624
Yamaha SLG110S Silent Guitar (Black Metallic) with THR5A Acoustic Combo Amp
The SLG110s uses the same design concept as acoustic guitars, using cutting edge design and master-luthier craftsmanship are uniquely combined to create a guitar that offers outstanding playability matched with incredible practicality. The Yamaha SLG110S features digital effects taken from the class-leading SPX studio effects and industry-standard digital mixing consoles developed by Yamaha Commercial Audio.
Yamaha's THR 5A amp is designed to bring out the beauty and subtlety of any acoustic's warm tone, so what better guitar to pair it with than one that's built from the ground up with the modern acoustic experimenter in mind?


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Whats up guys,
After a season of being away, Tegami Bachi is now back in full force with it's second season!
TEGAMI BACHI: Letter Bee will air every Saturday at 9:30 am PDT with premium anime and all access members being able to view this title in high definition and without any ads. Free users will be able to view this one week later.
If you feel so inclined to read the breakdown, here's what we can expect from this season:
This season, TEGAMI BACHI: Letter Bee picks up where we left off last season as we learn more about the fate of Lag Seeing, a Letter Bee who delivers heart, and his relation with Gauche Suede, a man who has lost his heart. We will travel with Lag Seeing on the adventures, trials and tribulations he must go through to reach Gauche and his ultimate purpose.
Here's what the latest episode is all about:
Episode 26 - "Promise"
Lag Seeing, who was rescued at a young age by a national postal service worker known as a Letter Bee named Gauche Suede, idolized this Bee and finally met him again after he went missing. However he calls himself the Marauder Noir and steals the letter from Lag. Lag, injured, is saved by the Express Delivery Bee Jiggy Pepper and taken to the Bee Hive, but Lag's partner, his dingo Niche, doesn't take it very well...
Also, for all those anime weekend warriors, Super Robot Wars OG: The Inspector will be launching tomorrow, 10/3 at 7:30am PDT for premium members. Free users will be able to catch the first episode a week after.
With many of its central personnel lost in the war, the Earth Federation Government is forced to rebuild, and Brian Midcrid, president of the Unified Colonies, takes the position of its president. During an emergency session of the Federation Diet, he publicly acknowledges the existence of extraterrestials, and reveals the events of the L5 campaign to the masses in what will later come to be called the "Tokyo Declaration". He goes on to state that these aliens pose a serious threat to humanity.
Hope you all enjoy it and don't forget to check out the other brand new simulcasts that have already gone live:
Fall 2010 NEW simulcasts
Mondays at 11:00am PDT - Otome Yokai Zakuro
Fridays at 10:30amPDT - Sora No Otoshimono Forte
Fridays at 12:30pm PDT - Panty & Stocking with Garterbelt
Saturdays at 9:30am PDT - Tegami Bachi: Letter Bee
Saturdays at 4:30pm PDT - Yumeiro Patissiere Professional
Sundays at 7:30am PDT - Super Robot Wars OG: The Inspector
Click here to view our Fall 2010 lineup
Yes! Can't wait to watch this
New account: DontDeny
Ooo this might be interesting! Thanks CR!!
Gimme Some Food!!
Im soooo excited!
man i cant wait until next week also in the trailor it reaveled it will not stop after gauche but it will continue on to the next arc of the series wich is the current arc.
Endless hiatusness. :P
Yes finally i've been waiting!
Yo! What's up?! *\(^o^)/*
This is gonna be good!!!!! >.<
extremely happy that you were able to pick up the second season. thanks
patiently waiting...
I rather enjoyed the return of Tegami Bachi. I'm glad to see its style hasn't really changed. Ooh, and I'm so excited to see the mecha action.
YEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEES TEGAMI BACHI!!! =DDDD Soo exciteddddd
It's been a while
This is awesome news! Can hardly wait!
Its great to see that Letter Bee is back.
Odd that no region restrictions are mentioned, though. Its not like avoiding saying anything about them is going to prevent whoever is region blocked from complaining, since when they see no region restrictions mentioned and they try to stream, they'll find out then.
8 years as a premium member, but no more
haha seems cool
agila61 wrote:
Odd that no region restrictions are mentioned, though. Its not like avoiding saying anything about them is going to prevent whoever is region blocked from complaining, since when they see no region restrictions mentioned and they try to stream, they'll find out then.
Also, there is the problem of some people running into region restrictions, or at least messages of the same, when they shouldn't.
Without information on what countries a video is available to, it is impossible to confirm if someone's complaint they can't watch is legitimate, or is a problem that should be addressed.
Yes, that's my real age


text:
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. Trade Representative Ron Kirk said on Tuesday he was stepping down as the nation's top trade official in late February, opening up a plum economic post as President Barack Obama searches for more women and minorities for his Cabinet.
White House international economic affairs adviser Mike Froman had been considered the front-runner to succeed Kirk, but sources familiar with his thinking said he was likely to stay in his current job, which allows him to weigh in on issues ranging from energy and climate change to trade and international finance.
One source familiar with the situation identified Treasury Under Secretary for International Affairs Lael Brainard, Commerce Under Secretary for International Affairs Francisco Sanchez and U.S. Export-Import Bank President Fred Hochberg as candidates for the USTR job.
Kirk, a former mayor of Dallas, Texas and early Obama supporter, oversaw congressional approval of free-trade agreements with South Korea, Panama and Colombia. He also completed negotiations on Russia's entry to the World Trade Organization.
"Ron was relentless in making the case to the American public that a balanced, thoughtful trade policy can contribute to a stronger economic future for America," Obama said in a statement praising his friend and golfing companion.
Leading the small, dedicated team of professional negotiators at the U.S. Trade Representative's office "has been no less than my greatest professional privilege," Kirk said in a statement that gave no detail of his future plans.
"In President Obama's first term, trade has been a major part of this administration's efforts to support American jobs right here at home. I am proud of USTR's contribution to America's ongoing economic recovery," he said.
Other possible candidates to succeed Kirk include Deputy U.S. Trade Representative Demetrios Marantis and the U.S. ambassador to the World Trade Organization, Michael Punke.
Obama, who is under pressure to name more women and minorities to his second-term Cabinet, may also look outside the administration to fill both the USTR job and that of Commerce secretary, which has been filled on an "acting" basis since John Bryson stepped down last year.
The source familiar with the matter said Hochberg, the Ex-Im president, Jeffrey Zients, a deputy director of the White House budget office, and Elizabeth Littlefield, president of the Overseas Private Investment Corporation, were all under consideration for the Commerce position.
Xerox chief executive Ursula Burns, who is vice chair of Obama's export council, was also being considered, and there was an ongoing search for business leaders outside the administration for the role, the source said.
Deputy Commerce Secretary Rebecca Blank is "acting" head of the sprawling department, and some industry officials think she may be chosen to fill the job permanently.
Kirk's tenure was marked by increased confrontation with China over trade issues, with the United States challenging Chinese policies that discriminate against American exports in areas ranging from wind power to autos.
Kirk overcame initial White House resistance to relaunching talks on a regional free-trade agreement known as the Trans-Pacific Partnership, which many experts consider the most significant trade negotiation now under way.
"It's very hard to pursue an activist international agenda when there's so much churning in the domestic economy. To his credit, he has maintained an open U.S. trade policy at a time of great stress," said Jeffrey Schott, a senior fellow at the Peterson Institute for International Economics.
Ed Gresser, trade policy director at GlobalWorks Foundation, said Kirk helped restore support for trade in Congress after bitter fights between Republicans and Democrats during President George W. Bush's administration.
"There's a steadily strengthening consensus in Congress that trade policy needs to be a part of the solution to our (economic) crisis and we need to be passing more trade bills and negotiating more agreements," Gresser said.
Kirk, a former Texas secretary of state, ran unsuccessfully for the Senate in 2001 but has downplayed chances that he might run for office again. He has joked with reporters about his desire instead to earn more money to pay for his two daughters' college bills.
Kirk has worked with European Union Trade Commissioner Karel De Gucht to lay the groundwork for possible negotiations on a transatlantic free trade agreement between the United States and the 27-nation European Union.
However, he was not able to crack the tough nut that is the Doha round of world trade talks. Those negotiations began in 2001 and still are unfinished, with the hope of a comprehensive market-opening agreement all but officially dead.


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Many villages along New Jersey's coastline facing the Atlantic Ocean are primarily summer-residents only. Because their seasons are short, they've been able to resist erosion - meaning any capitulation to contemporary tastes.
Until quite recently, treasured attractions along the shore (pronounced "show-uh" here), such as the Miss America pageant, Wacky Golf or the East Coast's biggest Ferris wheel, created a prevalent style that was a bit oblivious, but endearingly cheesy nonetheless - something like a teenager with a bright-red sunburn. Think of this as the B.B. era, or Before Borgata.
With the 2003 opening of this glamorous Atlantic City hotel, a new high-water mark of sophistication was reached, and its decorous effect rippled not only across Atlantic City, but up and down the coast.
Visitors who'd never come to New Jersey before arrived in force (according to N.J. officials, 71 million tourists came last year, 69 percent of them from out of state). Suddenly, everyone was talking about year-round tourism and was mindful of the fact that 25 percent of the United States' population (including Baltimore, of course) is within a gasoline tank's drive away.
It's tempting, then, to think of post-Borgata Atlantic City as the bully who kicks sand onto all the other oceanside villages. Neighboring towns have either elected to emulate its boisterous chic and let the good times (and sushi) roll, or run the other way into saltwater-taffy nostalgia. Thus, places like Wildwood and Seaside Heights are known as "party spots," whereas Cape May and Ocean Grove affect a more prim demeanor.
Actually, do whatever you like on the Jersey shore. Munch on a funnel cake for lunch, but have fennel-crusted sea bass for dinner. With 127 miles of nearly continuous beach front, the "show-uh" can, uh, show many different sides: chic and shabby, then and now.
HotelsIt's all the same ocean, beach and sunshine, but accommodations vary wildly along the shore, from super-sized, modern skyscrapers, to cozy cottages built in the 1800s.
• Harrah's Casino, 777 Harrah's Blvd., 609-441-5000; harrahs.com. Thanks to a $550 million expansion, this is the largest hotel in town -- at least for the moment. A 90-foot-high dome includes a "Tropical Paradise" with a lagoon, waterfall, rain forest and Elizabeth Arden Red Door Spa. Summer rates: $119-$419.
• Daddy O, 4401 Long Beach Blvd., 609-494-1300. This addition to the lodgings scene brings a luxuriously low-key style of a boutique hotel to the beach. Summer rates: $195-$375.
• Green Gables Inn, 212 Centre St., 609-492-3553; gableslbi.com. This beloved guesthouse and tea room was just given a top-to-bottom refurbishing. Summer rates: $325-$500.
• Congress Hall, 251 Beach Ave., 609-884-8421. Southern New Jersey's Grand Dame of hotels will, in summer 2007, spin off a collection of Victorian houses for nightly or weekly rental. Call for rates.
• Starlux, 305 E. Rio Grande Ave., 609-522-7412; thestarlux.com. Swing out, sister! The soaring, all-glass lobby invites guests into a fond architectural homage to the doo-wop era. Summer rates: $99-$215.
RestaurantsATLANTIC CITY
• Buddakan, 1 Atlantic Ocean, 609-674-0100. A temple to modern Asian cuisine. Entrees range from $31-$50.
• Phillips' Classic Americana Seafood, 2100 Boardwalk, 609-348-2273. This is the region's premier name in Maryland-style crab cakes and regional fare such as baked haddock Parker House-style. Menu items range from $20-$80. (The top price is for a clam bake for two.)
• Spice Road, 1000 Boardwalk at Virginia Avenue, 609-449-1000. For a quick passage to India, visit the Trump Taj Mahal's new selection of eateries and shops.
• Island Grill, 311 Mansion St., 609-884-0200. Caribbean-influenced cuisine. How about some fresh-caught fish grilled, sauteed and blackened, or maybe a barbecued pulled-pork sandwich? Entrees range from $15.95-$23.95.
• Karen and Rei's, 1882 Route 9 N., 609-624-8205. New American cuisine, including juniper-rubbed venison and cranberry duck.
• La Spiaggia, 357 W. 8th St., 609-494-4343. The restaurant (the name means "the beach" in Italian) offers a contemporary twist on classic Northern Italian cuisine, from pork medallions with Kahlua to squid-ink tagliatelle.
• Latitude 40N, 816 Arnold Ave., 732-892-8553. Grilled mahi-mahi and tempura tuna in a homey, nautical setting.
Nightlife Do you crave the glare of neon lights more than sunlight? Headliners ranging from Gwen Stefani and Norah Jones to Earth, Wind and Fire and Tony Bennett will be appearing in the next few months in Atlantic City. But there's also plenty of new talent waiting to be discovered at venues where the spirit of the youthful Bruce Springsteen still lingers. For those older than 25, an outing to one of these uproariously rowdy spots is an anthropological field trip - expect big hair, and even bigger attitude.
• The Stone Pony, 913 Ocean Ave., 732-502-0600. This place is a rock 'n' roll shrine, thanks to Bruce Springsteen, who jammed here in the 1970s and '80s.
• House of Blues Foundation Room, 801 Boardwalk, 609-236-2583. Hipper-than-thou lounge that combines elegant dining, viewing of live sports events, a fireside lounge and "sacred prayer rooms."
• Princeton Bar & Grill, 2008 Dune Drive, 609-967-3457. A perennial favorite of those looking for love and live music. This year, a much-needed redecoration promises to remove decades of spilled beer and burger grease from the Princeton.
• The Boiler Room, 251 Beach Ave., 609-884-6507. Brick walls and red lighting provide a warm setting for the best of South Jersey's live jazz and blues.
• Surf Light Theater, corner of Engleside and Beach avenues, 609-492-9477. For more than half a century, this local institution has offered first-rate theater in a classic summer-stock setting.
• Temptations, 612 Boulevard, 732-830-3410. DJs spin numbingly loud techno music. Girls and boys gone wild with piercings, exposed flesh and tattoos galore. Not for the faint of heart.
Fun ATLANTIC CITY
• The Show, 1 Atlantic Ave., 609-289-4200. Think water isn't sexy? Then watch the world's largest indoor fountain dance in a spectacular jazz rendition of Eddie Cooley and John Davenport's classic 1956 song "Fever." Best of all, it's free.
• Steel Pier, Virginia Avenue and 1000 Boardwalk, 866-386-6659. It's been drawing crowds since 1898, but rumor has it that this is the last summer for this fabled open-air amusement palace. Its owner, Donald Trump, plans to raze the pier after Labor Day to build a new casino.
• Maritime Forest Trail. Hike this atmospheric path and see the coastline as it once was: an atmospheric bramble of holly trees, shad bush and hackberry plants. There is also a variety of shorebirds, such as oyster-catchers and terns.
• Barnegat Light House, northern tip of Long Beach Island, 609-494-2016. A climb up the 217 steps to the top offers the best "bird's eye" view of the Jersey shore. SEASIDE HEIGHTS
• Wacky Golf, Casino Pier; 732-830-1730. The shore's most colorful miniature golf course, with its zoo of animal obstacles, stretches across 25 (not 18!) holes on five rooftops above the Seaside Heights boardwalk.
• The Boardwalk. Of all Jersey's boardwalks, Wildwood's is the longest, loudest and lewdest. Think you're above it all? You can be when you hop aboard the 15-story, neon-lit Ferris wheel. Mariner's Landing Pier, Schellenger Avenue and Boardwalk.
Shopping If you hope to come home with more than just sand in your shoes, the Jersey shore provides many opportunities for world-class shopping.
• The Pier at Caesar's, 1 Atlantic Ave., 609-289-4200. All the latest fashions from Hugo Boss, Betsey Johnson, Louis Vuitton, Burberry, Scoop and many more.
• Ron Jon Surf Shop, 901 Central Ave., 609-494-8844. Even if you've never "hung 10" in your life, a pilgrimage to the mecca of surfing culture is still a must. It has swimsuits, skateboards, clothes and, oh yes, surfboards.
• Point Pleasant Antiques Emporium, Corner of Bay and Trenton avenues, 732-892-2222. Considered by those in the know to be the best place to shop for antiques on the Jersey Shore. More than 100 dealers under one roof.
EventsMaySpring Arts and Crafts Festival // Cape May Convention Hall, Beach Drive at Stockton Place, Cape May / 800-275-4278, 609-884-5404 or capemaymac.org. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. May 19. An array of arts and crafts for show and sale. $1 admission.
Actor and Playwrights By the Sea // Dante Hall Theater of the Arts, 14 N. Mississippi Ave., Atlantic City / 609-344-8877. 7:30 p.m. May 19. Night of one-act plays. $8.
Cape May Music Festival // Various locations in Cape May / 800-275-4278, 609-884-5404 or mac.org. May 20-June 14. The 18th annual festival features a variety of musical genres Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday evenings. Times and prices vary.
JuneSouth Jersey Shark Tournament // South Jersey Marina, Cape May Harbor, Cape May / 609-884-2400 or sjmarina.com. June 7-10. The 27th annual event kicks off the big-game fishing season in Cape May.
Drawin' the Wildcard Tattoo Extravaganza // Atlantic City Convention Center, 1 Miss America Way, Atlantic City / 866-DTW-SHOW or drawinthewildcard.com. June 8-10. Tattoo convention with artists, vendors, more. Call for times and fees.
Atlantic City Seafood Festival // Bernie Robbins Stadium, 545 N. Albany Ave., Atlantic City / 609-344-8873 or 609-561-8994. 10 a.m.-7 p.m. June 16-17. Food, entertainment, crafts, more. Call for fees.
JulyCape May Kids Playhouse // Cape May Convention Hall, Beach Drive at Stockton Place, Cape May / 800-275-4278, 609-884-5404 or capemay mac.org. 10 a.m. and 7 p.m. Mondays and Thursdays, July 2-Aug. 13. Jugglers, magicians, puppeteers, clowns and more. $4; $2 ages 3-12.
AugustBB King, Al Green and Etta James // Trump Taj Mahal Casino Hotel, 1000 Boardwalk, Atlantic City / 609-449-5150 or ticketmaster.com. 8 p.m. Aug. 4. Blues and soul concert by the three music legends. $65-$89.
SeptemberCape May Food and Wine Festival // Various locations in Cape May / 800-275-4278, 609-884-5404 or capemaymac.org. Sept. 16-20. Cooking classes and workshops, tours of Cape May restaurant kitchens, more. Fees vary.


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Marino Votes for HR2560
WASHINGTON (July 19, 2011) -- U.S. Rep. Tom Marino, PA-10, voted in favor of The Cut, Cap, and Balance Act Tuesday night and said he holds out hope that Senate Democrats will "do what the American people want."
House passage of HR 2560 sends the measure to the Senate and to what critics are calling a likely death. The bill passed by a 234-190 vote.
Marino discounted criticism that the move by the House is symbolic.
"I don't vote symbolic," he said. "This is what the American people want. They want us to cut spending and cap our expenditures, just like they are forced to do on a daily basis.
"They want us to only spend what we take in and since we haven't been able to do that for decades, this bill includes a balanced budget requirement," Marino said.
HR2560 places a statutory cap on federal spending and requires the passage of a balanced budget amendment to the U.S. Constitution before increasing the nation's debt ceiling.
The Cut, Cap, and Balance Act excludes national defense from spending caps – a safeguard that will allow the United States to maintain a trained and ready force and prepare for the future.
On Tuesday morning, Marino joined 21 freshman colleagues for an impromptu press conference in front of the White House as President Obama met inside with congressional Republican leaders.
The 22 representatives carried copies of a letter the legislators sent to President Obama demanding a written proposal that outlines his plan to raise the debt ceiling.
Members of the group were united in their stance that they will not agree to any debt ceiling proposal unless it includes detailed spending cuts and timelines.
In his address to the group that gathered around the first-term lawmakers, Marino pointed out the inaction by the previous Congress and the Obama administration to address the growing national debt and deficit.
He also assured senior citizens and members of the military that they will receive their August checks.
"The Treasury Secretary decides what bills are paid, at the direction of the president," Marino said. "There is no reason that the Social Security checks will not go out and that the military will not get paid. I promise seniors and our military families that they will receive their checks on time and I challenge the president to step up and act like a leader."


text:
Windows 8 debate: 'Microsoft has Apple envy' – developers weigh in
Windows 8 has received a bit of a bashing lately from several developers, including Valve's Gabe Newell. Several developers have come together via Eurogamer to discuss the problems at hand with Microsoft's new operating system.
Speaking with Eurogamer, Introversion Software's Chris Delay stated, "They've got Apple envy, big style. In the past they were the successful ones, but then they sat down and watched while Apple took over. It's left Microsoft looking old and behind the times. They look at Apple and the iOS Store and see the royalties they're taking on this closed platform."
The closed nature of Windows 8's marketplace has been a common talking point among gamers and the development community, and wasn't helped by Microsoft's recent about-face on its refusal to stock mature-rated content on its store front.
Delay's comments follow Serious Sam developer Alen Ladavac's recent tirade against Windows 8 on the Steam forums, in which he claimed, "Gabe Newell did not overreact. What you don't see here is that, under the hood, the new tiled UI is a means for Microsoft to lock Windows applications into a walled garden, much like the one on iOS,
"If it was just about 'being downloaded from Windows store', it would not be a problem. It would be nice to have a common hub to download things from. But to get an app onto that store, it has to be certified by Microsoft. So far, we know that they've banned mature games, like Skyrim, Call of Duty, and Serious Sam [a policy that is being revoked]. They have forbidden modding. They could very well forbid Open Source if they want."
What's your take on the nature of Windows 8? Is the walled approach damaging to consumers and gamers alike? Let us know below.
Hit up Eurogamer for the full roundtable on Windows 8.


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Back to school
There seems to be a wealth of supporting organizations and structures to SoLS programs to assist in getting funding, doing research, participating in education and public outreach, and dealing with administrivia. I'll be delving into as much of it as I can, and periodically reporting on items of particular interest here.
From today's orientation, a few items that are part of SoLS education and public outreach are worthy of note. ASU has an "Ask-a-Biologist" program online, which you can also follow via Twitter. That program is intended for students in grades K-12, and is projected to hit a million visitors this year. There's also the Science Studio Podcasts for adult education. And the International Institute for Species Exploration website. There's also a program run by SoLS graduate students called Graduate Partners in Science Education, where graduate student volunteers work with underprivileged and at-risk junior high school students on field biology research projects.
My current aim in the HSDST program is to build upon my past graduate experience in philosophy and cognitive science, my career in Internet services and information security, my interest in skeptical inquiry and critical thinking, and my interest in law to explore the concepts of trust and reputation as they pertain to online and digital media. At the moment, I'm signed up for a seminar on "Law, Science, and Technology," a seminar on "Human and Social Dimensions of Climate Change," the HSDST Core Seminar and Colloquium, and a course with one of my favorite undergraduate philosophy professors on Advanced Logic (that's my "just for fun" class).
Tomorrow's a reception for all of the new graduate students at ASU's Tempe campus, and later in the week I have some training on fire and lab safety--and next week, it's back to class.


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