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By Mark Doyle
There are few stories that better illustrate the unpredictable nature of 'The Beautiful Game' than that of Inter coach Andrea Stramaccioni. This time last year, he was such an unknown within the world of Italian football he did not even have his own Wikipedia page. By October, he was being touted as 'the new Jose Mourinho'. Now, less than four months later, he is reportedly one derby defeat away from the sack. It would be a shame if such a scenario unfolds.
On the face of it, his job seems safe ... for now, at least. Inter chairman Massimo Moratti has been very vocal in his support of his under-fire coach and only this week the oil tycoon told Sky Sport Italia: "Stramaccioni has never been up for discussion."
Admittedly, it is difficult to believe any Italian club owner is not constantly considering his coach's credentials, least of all one who is on his fifth trainer in less than three years. In addition, given Inter's form - two wins from their last eight Serie A outings - it would be very naive to think a change of leadership has not even crossed Moratti's mind. Indeed, there is mounting speculation that a decision has already been made and Walter Mazzarri, whose contract with Napoli expires at the end of the current campaign, will take up residence at Appiano Gentile this summer.
|Inter are 22/1 with BetVictor to beat Milan 3-1
Inter still missed out on qualification for the Champions League but that they had even gone close convinced Moratti to appoint Stramaccioni on a full-time basis. It appeared an incredibly shrewd move in light of Inter's stunning 3-1 victory over Juventus in Turin earlier this season, a triumph which not only ended the Bianconeri's 49-game undefeated run in Serie A but also appeared to announce the Nerazzurri as genuine title contenders.
Moratti revelled in an exhilarating triumph founded on a boldness and daring he felt he himself had shown in hiring a novice now being hailed as 'The Special Two'. "In my view," Moratti mused at the time, "the thing that makes him most similar to Mourinho is his dedication to work. Like Mou, Stramaccioni is also a great coach."
After lavishing such premature praise on Stramaccioni, Moratti has had no other option but to stand steadfastly by his man in the wake of a wretched run of form that effectively dates back to that historic triumph in November against Antonio Conte's men. Moratti is now loathe to give up on Stramaccioni as it would be an admission that he has got it wrong. Again.
However, while Moratti's stubbornness might yet prove the determining factor in Stramaccioni's survival, it really shouldn't be. The former Bologna defender has made several mistakes since taking charge of the Nerazzurri - but he has usually been man enough to admit them and try to learn from them. Only last week, he shouldered the blame for Inter's dismal capitulation at the hands of an out-of-form Fiorentina side, confessing he had erred in playing too strong a side in their Europa League clash with Cluj at San Siro three days previously.
Inter in Freefall | Two wins in eight games
|Inter 1
|Genoa 1
|Udinese 3
|Inter 0
|Inter 2
|Pescara 0
|Roma 1
|Inter 1
|Inter 2
|Torino 2
|Siena 3
|Inter 1
|Inter 3
|Chievo 1
|Fiorentina 4
|Inter 1
Stramaccioni has also been guilty of tinkering too much with formations this term. While his tactical versatility is undoubtedly one of his strengths (his decision to play three up front against Juve was inspired), it has also proven something of a weakness, as Inter still look nothing like a settled side.
However, there are mitigating circumstances here in that Inter do not have a particularly deep squad. Consequently, Stramaccioni has not been able to rotate to good effect, and nor has he really been able to deal with the loss of key players such as Wesley Sneijder, who was frozen out due to a contractual dispute before being sold, or injured Argentine duo Walter Samuel and Diego Milito.
The other key issue here is Stramaccioni, in spite of his errors and Inter's dismal form, appears, for all intents and purposes, to retain the full backing of the dressing room. Yes, Javier Zanetti is a model professional and therefore unlikely to rock the boat, but he has repeatedly given Stramaccioni his backing.
"He's very young and he's gaining experience with us," the Inter skipper conceded. "But it takes time and hopefully at the end of the season we'll be talking about something great that we've achieved."
Witness also the impressive response against Cluj in Romania on Thursday night to last week's humbling in Florence as evidence that Inter's players remain firmly behind their boss.
So, while a derby defeat would feel like the end of the world for Inter fans, it shouldn't be the end of Stramaccioni's stay at San Siro. As Zanetti, so often the voice of reason on all things Inter, quite rightly points out, Stramaccioni should only be judged at the end of the season because, as the young trainer's fledgling Serie A career has already repeatedly underlined, a lot can change in just few months.
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|Smoking Foxes
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The world's 50 best travel apps
Forget the armchair explorer: this is the age of the pocket traveller. In the not-quite-decade since smartphones burst onto the market, ingenious developers have come up with an impossible range of apps designed to make your travels smoother, cheaper and more fun. Where once you would have had to wrangle over the phone in broken French to book a room in Paris, or bury your face in a map the size of a billboard to negotiate your way around the streets of Kyoto, or identify a mountain according to the contours of its peak – your smartphone now does your work for you. Each of our 50 best travel apps, then, has earned its place on the list by virtue of doing something halfway useful. But more than that, many of them push the boundaries in some way, being innovative, quirky or (in some cases) downright space-age. So browse well, take your pick and get globe-trotting – because with a few of these in your pocket, you may never look at the world in the same way again.
Logistics not your forte? This handy apps will help you prep for your journey
Follow the path of thousands of international flights on slick, zoomable maps, with detailed information on departure gates, delays and (heaven forbid) cancellations. Great for those anticipating the arrival of loved ones, or particularly nerdy train-spotters looking to up their game.
Available on iPhone + iPad ($4.99) and Android ($4.99)
An intuitive app offering weather reports for well over two million geographical locations, feeding in everything from cloud formations and atmospheric pressure to wind speed and humidity, all in enough detail to leave Michael Fish clammy-palmed with excitement. It's also accurate to the point of clairvoyance, so if you're travelling to Berlin and it predicts rain, pack your best umbrella.
Available on iPhone + iPad ($2.99) and Android ($2.99)
There are plenty of theories floating about concerning the best methods for beating jetlag, but the pointy heads at The University of Michigan are better placed than most to give scientific counsel. Three cheers, then, for their quirky app, which takes your travel dates and destination and dispenses advice on how to adapt your circadian cycle in advance by optimising lighting levels throughout your day. Entrain is nicely complemented by JetLag Genie, which helps you alter your sleeping times before setting off.
Available on iPhone + iPad (free) and Android (free)
XE Currency
Don't bother paying up for one of the many currency conversion apps out there in the digital hinterland – this freebie is slick, easy to use, and – best of all, since it uses live currency rates – completely accurate. It's been downloaded more than five million times to date, so don't even think about hopping on a plane without it.
Available on iPhone + iPad (free) and Android (free)
Packing Pro
Anyone who says there's no exact science to packing has obviously never tried to cram a pair of Jimmy Choo stilettos into the same suitcase as a giant inflatable beach ball. Thank the lord, then, for this. Tell it where you're going, how long for and who with and it'll spit out a suggested list of what you might need, split up into essentials (passport, currency), clothes, gadgets and more, with separate lists for additional family members. Packing List offers much the same service to Android users, and for free.
Available on iPhone + iPad ($2.99)
Until the bashful lobster look finds its way into the style zeitgeist, this is a crucial piece of kit for those venturing to sunny climes. Having detected the UVI rating of your current location, this nifty little app sets a countdown timer to alert you when you're due your next slathering of sunblock. All you have to do is input your skin type and the SPF of your lotion, then kick back and soak up some worry-free rays. Android users can download the near-identical Sunscreen Reminder Pro.
Available on iPhone + iPad (free)
Leave 10% on the table after a meal in Tokyo and your generosity will cause offence; do the same in New York and you'll be called a skinflint. Thankfully, wherever you go, there's this: a nifty tip calculator to help the mathematically challenged split bills and tips while neatly sidestepping social embarrassment. Note that it doesn't tell you the standard tip rate for the country – you'll need to look that up separately.
Available on iPhone + iPad (free) and Android (free)
Air Sharing
In the cut-throat world of business, time is money, making a seven-hour trans-Atlantic flight a lot of wonga indeed. Thankfully, just because your laptop's packed away doesn't mean you can't keep your eyes on the prize. Essentially, this (admittedly pricey) app turns your iPhone into a wireless hard drive, allowing you to quickly and easily load it up with documents at the airport, then browse and amend on the move throughout your trip.
Available on iPhone + iPad ($4.99)
Not the most thrilling addition to your tech arsenal, this one, but essential all the same. Designed for campers and caravanners, the app provides a simple and effective way to keep track of the electrical output of your various travel gadgets, meaning you're less likely to burn your pride and joy to the ground by overloading the circuit. Requires a little bit of preparation before you set off, but the resulting peace of mind makes up for it.
Available on iPhone + iPad (free). Only available in UK store.
Even within the elite jet set there are various classes of traveller, and different airport lounges to match. Whether you're after a quick pre-flight shower or hungering for a smorgasbord of exotic fruit, this neat app will suggest a lounge, complete with user reviews – just punch in your airport and level of access and the rest is taken care of.
Available on iPhone + iPad (free) and Android (free)
MarineTraffic Ships & Winds
The seven seas have never looked more crowded than on this wondrously detailed map, which draws on a massive database of official data to track thousands of ships in real time. Essentially a novelty purchase for anyone who isn't a sailor, energy trader or pirate, MarineTraffic will nonetheless captivate anyone who's ever dreamed of stowing away on a cargo ship and traversing the oceans.
Available on iPhone + iPad ($3.99) and Android ($3.99)
Perfect World Clock
Does pretty much what it says on the tin, this one, providing easy access to the time in hundreds of cities and therefore averting arithmetic-induced stress your jetlagged brain could really do without. Nothing revolutionary, but still an essential download, especially considering the rather nifty option of adding several clocks as home-screen widgets.
Available on Android (free)
A potentially life-saving database of emergency service numbers for just about every country you'd ever care to visit, plus plenty for those that you wouldn't. If you shell out for the Pro version (UK only, £0.99), there's also embassy details should passports go missing and – for the truly paranoid – the option to pin certain services to your home screen as widgets, for one-touch access to police, ambulances and fire engines. iPhone users can choose from a range of similar apps, the best of which is Emergency Phone Numbers.
Available on Android (free)
The Snow Report
As much as we hate stating the obvious, it's a simple fact of physics that you won't have much of a skiing holiday without snow. Keep this on your home screen and you'll never be more than a chilly-fingered prod away from the latest ski reports for your local pistes, and there's even detailed trail maps to guide you back to the lodge should you snowplough-turn your way into trouble. For Android users, OnTheSnow performs much the same tricks.
Available on iPhone + iPad (free)
Onavo Extend
Anyone who's ever accidentally downloaded a large email while on holiday will attest to the ridiculousness of data roaming charges, and while the European Union inches toward putting things right, in the meantime – and in other parts of the world – there are measures you can take to avoid an end-of-month sting. Once installed, this app drastically reduces the amount of data required to perform everyday tasks, such as retrieving email and posting to Facebook. We're not entirely sure how it manages such a feat – we just know that it works and we're not about to complain.
Available on iPhone + iPad (free) and Android (free)
MSW Surf Forecast
Okay, so smartphones don't particularly complement the gnarly surfer aesthetic (can you imagine Keanu whipping out an iPhone in 'Point Break'? Because we can't), but still – it's good to be prepared. Leading surf forecast website Magicseaweed's app leads the pack, boasting comprehensive info on tides and weather conditions for most of the world's big surf spots. The webcam streams are a nice bonus.
Available on iPhone + iPad (free) and Android (free)
As choice increases, the booking process gets paradoxically simpler, thanks to these nifty apps
This clean-looking solution does everything you'd ever need it to, aggregating fares from airlines and the big travel sites to bag you the best deal. For those really keeping an eye on the purse-strings, there's also the option to pin your search to your start screen and keep an eye on price fluctuations. Use it in conjunction with an app like Yapta, which holds cheap prices for a small fee, and you'll be on easy street. Neat.
Available on iPhone + iPad (free) and Android (free)
Not everyone who rocks a smartphone can afford to stay at The Savoy every night, so thank heavens for this – a geo-tagged directory of 35,000 listings for budget hotels, right at your travel-weary fingertips. The app also provides access to over 3.5million user reviews, minimising the likelihood of you signing up to a night in a flea-infested hell-pit.
Available on iPhone + iPad (free) and Android (free)
The closest thing most of us will ever have to a personal assistant, albeit a hell of a lot cheaper. All you have to do is forward your various confirmation emails for flights/hotels/hire cars/restaurant bookings etc. to firstname.lastname@example.com and the app instantly generates an itemised itinerary covering your entire trip. Better still, upgrade to the premium version ($9.99/year) and the app will keep you in the loop in real time, generating alerts to let you know when flights are delayed or gates change.
Available on iPhone + iPad (free) and Android (free)
The all-conquering database for user-provided accommodation extends its tentacles into your smartphone, with an app that effectively serves as a pocket-sized version of the website. Whether you're after a long-term let in the shadow of the Eiffel Tower or a night in an aluminium igloo in the Greenland fjords, you're likely to find it among the 600,000-odd listings on offer.
Available on iPhone + iPad (free) and Android (free)
If you're the sort of traveller who'd rather hand over the entire contents of your wallet than attempt to haggle, Stayful may be the app for you. This is no ordinary hotel booking service: input your budget and the style of accommodation you're after, and it suggests a room, together with a price it considers fair according to its market analysis. If you're happy with the deal, the app negotiates it with the hotel on your behalf – and more often than not, the hotel agrees. Result.
Available on iPhone + iPad (free)
A great value guide to more than 9,000 campsites in the UK and Europe, backed up with user reviews, pictures and inch-perfect GPS coordinates. Looking for a little more than just somewhere to bed down for the night? Simply filter local results by facilities and you'll soon be en route to a patch that's right for you.
Available on iPhone ($2.99) + iPad ($3.99)
Negotiate exotic subway systems, find your nearest ATM and get familiar with Himalayan contours
AA Parking
There are stacks of apps out there that'll show you a map of nearby car parks, but for UK residents none does so in as much detail as this market-leading marvel. As well as tracking down spaces in their vicinity, users can also see at a glance how much they'll have to pay to stay per hour and, for some car parks, the exact number of spaces available. Bank Holiday road trips just got slightly less stressful. The best bet for Americans is Parker, which is free to boot.
Available on iPhone + iPad (£1.49) and Android (£1.99)
Legal challenges, negative publicity and a determined campaign from independent cabbies have yet to take the wind out of Uber's sails. Depending on your point of view, the crushingly efficient cab-hailing app either represents the free market at its best or at its worst. But when you find yourself drunk in the boondocks at three in the morning without a penny in your wallet, there's no denying its appeal.
Available on iPhone + iPad (free) and Android (free)
GPS navigation meets social networking, with surprisingly effective results. Tap in your destination (there's also speech recognition if you've got your hands on the wheel) and user-submitted traffic reports make sure you're offered the quickest route for the current road conditions. Even if you're not digging the whole sharing and caring vibe, it's still a good $24.99 cheaper than TomTom's sat-nav app.
Available on iPhone + iPad (free) and Android (free)
New York Subway
There are hundreds of apps that promise to make your journey on New York's subway system less stressful, but none as highly rated or widely used as this slick and intuitive piece of software. As well as the usual maps and route planners, there's also a natty augmented reality mode that uses your camera to overlay nearby stations onto your view of the city. Pretty neat, even by a hardened Noo Yoiker's standards.
Available on iPhone + iPad (free) and Android (free)
AlpineQuest GPS Hiking
Go up a mountain without the right kit in your backpack and we'd be mighty surprised if you ever came back. And while sturdy shoes and some sort of stick (for fending off bears, naturally) are a given, GPS tracking software is another potential lifesaver. On this comprehensive orienteering app, maps come complete with contour lines, so you know what you're getting into. They can also be stored on your SD card, meaning you won't be left in the lurch should your mobile signal drop out. And if you're doing some proper hiking, it definitely will. If the price tag puts you off, download the basic version for free.
Available on Android ($9.99)
There's any number of apps that can point you to a nearby ATM, though many, frustratingly, only display those that accept a particular card type. Allpoint, which covers machines that participate in that particular network, will come in useful for most US-based users. If ever you're seized by the sobering terror of realising you're in a moody part of town with no money for a cab, you'll be grateful that you downloaded it.
Available on iPhone + iPad (free) and Android (free)
Google Maps may have the upper hand in rural areas, but for the harried commuter and the urban flâneur there's no better way to stay oriented than this. Dizzying megalopolises are reduced to linear paths and simple itineraries courtesy of the journey planner feature, and live updates on everything from traffic and diversions to the weather ensure that you won't get caught out. Essential.
Available on iPhone + iPad (free) and Android (free)
Google Maps and CityMapper do a fine job of orienting you down streets and toward landmarks, but even they have their blank spots. Which is where Maplets comes in. Essentially a gigantic database of specialised maps – some official, others created by users – the app will help you find anything from a Starbucks in Dubai Airport to the mummies in the British Museum.
Available on iPhone + iPad ($2.99) and Android ($2.58)
Forget time – for the car owner gas is money, and there's little worse than the feeling that you're being stiffed on your fuel expenditure. The helpful folk behind this app have taken this truth to heart, turning out a valuable map of gas stations in North America, together with the prices offered at each one (as submitted by users). The data is surprisingly thorough and accurate, and a spiffy search function allows you to locate the cheapest suppliers in your area.
Available on iPhone + iPad (free) and Android (free)
PeakFinder Earth
When asked why he wanted to conquer Everest, George Mallory famously replied, 'Because it's there.' Much the same reason could be given for the creation of this app, which offers little practical purpose but a good deal of satisfaction. Point your camera at the skyline and it will identify every peak in view, from piddling hillocks to Himalayan giants, just because they're there. Good fun when you're hiking.
Available on iPhone + iPad ($3.99) and Android ($3.99)
You've made it to your destination. Now what? Here's what
While apps that aggregate crowd-sourced restaurant reviews may be ten-a-penny, those that focus in on specific dishes are a far rarer species. Luckily, this one works a treat, responding to your every gastronomic whim with user-generated recommendations from your local area. In downtown Madrid with a penchant for paella? Prod around a bit and within seconds you'll be en route to the best in the city.
Available on iPhone + iPad (free) and Android (free)
Though it shot to fame as a social networking tool, this location-based app has become a godsend for curious travellers. The way it works is simple – fire up the app when you arrive at any given place (everything from restaurants to churches are listed) and you'll see a list of tips from those who've been before you ('try the cheeseburger', 'arrive by 9am for a good pew', etc.). Check in regularly enough and you'll claim virtual mayorship of that particular venue, with some venues even offering perks (a free pint, discounts, and so on) when you claim the crown.
Available on iPhone + iPad (free) and Android (free)
English Heritage Days Out
A comprehensive guide to over 400 English Heritage sites and National Trust conservation areas, featuring facts, figures and directions from your current location. So, if you happen to live within a stage-coach ride of one of England's statelier corners, the next time a holiday rolls around, ditch the 'House of Cards' marathon, pack some sarnies and go revel in the underappreciated brilliance of ye olde kingdome.
Available on iPhone + iPad (free) and Android (free)
Wi-Fi Finder
With data roaming charges still laughably high in many places, knowing where to find a decent wi-fi hotspot is essential if you're to keep the twitterati up to date with details of your latest sojourn. No need to charge through the city waving your handset around like a fly-swatter, though – simply fire up this handy app, courtesy of the folk at JiWire, and follow directions to your nearest source of wireless internet. Best of all, the offline mode means you can download maps before you go, thereby dodging a massive bill.
Available on iPhone + iPad (free) and Android (free)
Stripping away the glossy magnificence ladled on by just about every online travel agency out there, this is the place to find brutally honest reviews of hotels, restaurants, attractions and more. The userbase is notoriously hard to please, so be warned that you'll most likely find exclamation mark-strewn rants next to your favourite spots. Still, on the flip side, touch down in a strange city with nowhere to stay and you'll only ever be a few prods away from the warts-and-all opinions of travellers just like you, but angrier.
Available on iPhone + iPad (free) and Android (free)
Handy though they may be, the trouble with guidebooks – and indeed their digital equivalents – is that digging through them to find the information you're after invariably means less time appreciating the thing you actually came to see. This innovative bit of software solves the problem by reading the information (farmed from Wikipedia and its own database) directly into your ears. It's a bit like one of those audio guides they hand out at museums, then, only better for your street cred. The free version has no offline functionality.
Available on iPhone + iPad ($3.99) and Android ($0.99)
Noting that only a minuscule fraction of all events ever sell out, the canny chaps behind YPlan spotted a niche and filled it. Combining expert curation with personalisation algorithms, the app notes your location and suggests upcoming events in your area – gigs, club nights, film screenings, pop-up restaurants – for which tickets are still available. Then it offers you the chance to book, often at a discount. Why plan indeed? (Note: for the time being only London, New York and San Francisco are covered.)
Available on iPhone + iPad (free) and Android (free)
One of the more recent arrivals in the crowded city guide scene, Musement doesn't offer anything too radical: select your city, and browse a range of local venues and events. But, being Italian in origin, the app puts an emphasis on the arts and fine dining, and it distinguishes itself with a carefully curated selection of museums, art exhibitions, restaurants and bars. Official partnerships with the venues allow you to book directly, sometimes at a discount.
Available on iPhone + iPad (free) and Android (free)
Time Out
Even if we do say so ourselves. The Time Out app is a beast in terms of in-depth coverage: it serves an ever-growing number of cities where we have a presence. Just landed in New York and need to know which restaurant, bar, club or in-the-know retro hipster Victorian carpentry seminar to head to TONIGHT? And within an eight-block radius of your current location? Switch the city, tap the relevant 'near me', and presto – you get updated recommendations straight from our editors' messy desks to your tidy little mobile screen.
Available on iPhone + iPad (free) and Android (free)
Make yourself heard – and get into a fight – with these nifty tools
Google Translate
Another Google product, another market cornered. As far as general translation apps go, this is unbeatable: it boasts enough features to sate all but the most pedantic linguists, and a few bonuses too. Particularly intriguing is the Word Lens tool, whereby you point your camera at a foreign word, which is then translated in real time on your screen – great, unless you're caught trying to decipher a 'No Cameras' sign.
Available on iPhone + iPad (free) and Android (free)
The unstoppable cross-platform messaging system is slowly but surely doing what until recently was thought impossible: rendering the text message obsolete. Data (that's pictures, videos, sound clips and GPS tags as well as text) are sent using either wi-fi or your phone's web package, so even if you're sending a message to someone on the other side of the globe, there's nothing to pay. Absolutely essential for keeping in touch with overseas chums, and, providing you can find some wi-fi, great for sending off-the-cuff holiday snaps back home.
Available on iPhone (free) and Android (free)
Remember postcards? Those rectangular, papery things you used to scrawl down tales of your far-flung travels on back before the world went digital? This app-cum-print-service allows you to hark back to the analogue era by creating and sending physical cards bearing your own travel snaps and text to anywhere in the world, for a thoroughly reasonable $1.33-$2.99 a pop. Just select your fave pic, submit it together with the destination address, and it will be printed and sent off by someone in a shop somewhere.
Available on iPhone + iPad (free) and Android (free)
Ever wanted to call an Ethiopian a maniac, or approach someone on the streets of Helsinki and suggest they do something improper with themselves? Well now, thanks to this neatly indexed catalogue of international expletives, you can. Just remember to wipe it from your phone before the cops show up.
Available on Android ($1.00).
Because your holiday didn't happen unless half the people you've ever met know about it
While your phone's on-board camera may be just the job for immortalising otherwise hazy memories from a night on the town, it simply wasn't designed to do justice to the likes of the Grand Canyon or Mount Fuji. Thankfully, with this ingenious app bolted on, awe-inspiring panoramic shots can be created in an instant – just choose your scene, press the magic button and it'll handle the rest. Naturally, it's fully integrated with Facebook, so get snapping and watch those 'likes' rack up. Android users can make use of the similar Panorama 360, also free.
Available on iPhone + iPad (free)
Apple's movie-studio-in-your-pocket remains the best option for itchy-footed techies looking to shoot and send tantalising snippets of paradise back home. Especially impressive is the pared-down editing suite, where soundtracks and shot transitions can be dragged and dropped to create moving postcards with serious production values.
Available on iPhone + iPad ($4.99)
If you're keen to arrange your holiday snaps into some sort of narrative – or you just want to show off your plate of sashimi from multiple angles – this is an essential download. All you have to do is select your fave photos, sequence them and pick a track from your iTunes (or from an online database) to soundtrack it, and the lot will be 'flipped' into a slideshow that you can then smear all over your friends' Facebook feeds.
Available on iPhone + iPad (free) and Android (free)
The vaguely French name is no accident: this is a travel journal app with class. Where most apps tend to pile on features with every update until you can barely navigate your way out of the menu screen, Bonjournal strips things down to a Zen-like minimum. You're invited to pen diary entries, perhaps spice them up with a couple of pics – but no more. The resulting journal, laid out in a sleek Muji-like aesthetic, can be sent by email, published on Facebook or even converted to PDF.
Available on iPhone + iPad (free)
We tend to cherry-pick the best of ourselves for our social media avatars, and that's as true of the holiday pics we publish as anything else. So, in the spirit of transparency, Tripcast requires you to invite people to your photo album before you've uploaded anything. They will then receive every single photo that you post in real time, together with a location tag so that they can track your progress.
Available on iPhone + iPad (free) and Android (free)


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I know a couple of you seemed interested in us having some top down maps posted up so I thought I'd take the time to go and take some pics.
I've taken them all with the MAV (hence the IRNV) since you have greater control over that for things like this plus a better view of the map.
Just operation firestorm atm and whilst I've not posted strategies as there really isn't "one for all" as each game varies (as do your opponents) maybe these maps will be handy. That being said if anyone wants to point out good sniper spots & things like that go ahead.
There's only 28 days until TOR early access begins so I'll try and get aerial views of the other maps before then, or at least some of them since I'll be playing significantly less come then. I'll do Caspian Border tonight
(I haven't stickied this but when we have a few different threads for each map we could sticky a list with links to each one)
Operation Firestorm
click each image to see full 1080p shots
Map Overview:
Facing the U.S. Base:
Facing the Russian Base:
Top down views of each flag:


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David Adams Richards Message Board
Talk about the novels, new and used books that Richards has written!
Author Richards's Book Reviews
Mercy Among The Children
Mercy Among The Children, a book by David Richard Adams allows you to witness the trial and tribulations of three generations of the Henderson family. The book revolves around how Sydney Henderson lives and dies by his ideals because no matter the consequences he will stand firmly by them. As a child Sydney Henderson's life was changed dramatically when he pushed another child, Connie Devlin, of a church roof for stealing his molasses sandwich. H...


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Welcome to the 'paints and varnishes' website
This is the project website for a study which prepares the ground for the revision of the current EU Ecolabel criteria for a) "Indoor Paints and Varnishes" and b) "Outdoor Paints and Varnishes" together with the development of Green Public Procurement (GPP) criteria for this product group. The study is carried out by the Joint Research Centre's Directorate B -Growth and Innovation (JRC). Oakdene Hollins Research & Consulting (UK) is supporting JRC during the criteria revision focusing on the technical background specifications. The work is being developed for the European Commission's Directorate General for the Environment.
The EU Ecolabel for Indoor and Outdoor Paints and Varnishes promotes the production and consumption of products with a reduced environmental impact along the life cycle and is awarded only to the best (environmental) performing products in the market. Similarly, GPP will address public authorities seeking to procure environmentally friendly goods and services.
The EU Ecolabel and GPP criteria will be based on the requirements addressed in EU Ecolabel Regulation 66/2010 and Communication COM(2008) 400 "Public Procurement for a better Environment". The criteria will be defined on the basis of the environmental information derived from Life Cycle Assessment and product oriented environmental performance assessment studies. Several environmental, safety, technical and functional aspects will be considered. Moreover, during the EU Ecolabel and GPP criteria development continuous wide consultation is foreseen with experts and stakeholders of manufacturers, supply chain industry, consumer organizations and NGOs.
The study will require active participation from stakeholders. If you would like to be involved in the consultation process, you can do so through the website, by registering as a stakeholder. The registered stakeholders will be regularly informed about the progress of the study, have access to preliminary results and draft documents and can respond to questionnaires and/or participate at stakeholder meetings.
Please use the feedback form to send us your comments. If you would like to contact us directly, we refer to the contact details of the project team.


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Bemont Surname Ancestry Results
Our indexes 1000-1999 include entries for the spelling 'bemont'. In the period you have requested, we have the following 5 records (displaying 1 to 5):
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bem'ton' beminstre bemis bemish bemister bemm bemman bemmant bemmell bemmen bemment bemmer bemmick bemmister bemner bemocham bemol bemolyng bemon bemond bemonde bemonville bemoock bemosat bemound bemount bemounte bemovitch bemple bempton bemridge bemrosde bemrose bemsby bemsin bemson bemston bemting bemuder bemuud
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Head coach George Husack, on team: "We are playing good tennis. We had a tough early schedule and that has helped prepare us for the matches now. The team is going out and winning points and I am happy with the way the team is playing."
Husack, on team's attitude: "We talk every match about how to channel bad breaks in a positive manner and the team has done a great job with that. You have to go out and win the point no matter what happens. That is the attitude we have."
Husack, on Macek and Rasmussen in doubles: "At the beginning of the spring, they both said that they did not want to lose a doubles match this year. That has almost been the case. It is great going into doubles knowing that you can count on them for a good match."
Freshman Jay Wong, on his match: "I tried to stay on top of him throughout the match. I got an early edge and I just kept the pressure on him. I stayed focused and was able to play consistent tennis."
Wong, on winning streak: "Beating Arizona was a big turning point for us. We are all feeling really confident and these matches at home are great. There is a great atmosphere here and we have been taking advantage of our home court."
Senior Jan Macek, on his win today: "I have played a lot of good players this year and every match has been close. I have won some and lost some and today I was able to get a win. When I was down in the tiebreak, I just kept playing and swinging and I came back."
Macek, on his backhand: "I love hitting my backhand and today it definitely helped me. He is a good player and I needed every one of my backhands out there."
Macek, on playing one last season at SCU: "I am really enjoying playing this year. We have a great team and I am glad that I can be a part of it. We have another big match coming up against San Francisco, who we lost to in the conference tournament last year, so we are all fired up for that one."


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How to Use
1. Find the Mississippi and Illinois rivers. Where is New Philadelphia in relationship to these rivers?
2. Find Griggsville and Alton on the map. These two towns were the sites of racial violence in the 1830s. What does this suggest about racial attitudes in the area around New Philadelphia?
3. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania is known as the "City of Brotherly Love." Why do you think Free Frank chose that name for his new town?
4. On a classroom map, identify the states surrounding Illinois. Which of these states were slave states before the Civil War? Which were free states?
5. Do you think free African Americans would have felt safe in New Philadelphia? Why, or why not? Bear in mind that during the period before the Civil War, "slave catchers" could capture formerly enslaved people living in free states and steal or destroy the papers proving their free status. The slave catchers could then carry the freedmen off to slave states and sell them back into bondage.


text: Hi Mika On Mon, 11 Apr 2005, Mika Sorsa wrote: > Based on earlier messages in various blogs, it appears a few dvb-c viewers > with STV0297 have tuning problems in some circumstances. > > I've resolved mine by modifying the frontend driver by increasing those > timeouts that expire and adjusting the pwm value so that it gets locked > also on QAM-128 modulated frequencies. Interesting. I assume you use the Nexus-CA or the Technotrend aquivalent? If I got Kein correctly, he is not using such a card, but a STB or something. I modified the dvb-kernel-driver to work with the CableStar2 (the DVB-C clone of the SkyStar2). I did not commit it to CVS yet, because it breaks support for the Nexus-CA. The problem is, with the current stv0297-driver the CableStar2 doesn't get a lock, but with my modifications (along with some beautifications) the Nexus-CA is failing. I haven't had the time yet, to figure out which stv0297-parameters are card-specific to fix it again. > I suspect some of the other register values are not treated correctly either, > since e.g. reading the BER values does not give meaningful results. > I don't have idea where to get the data sheets, I cannot correct those. I attached my current patch, which changes the flexcop-driver to support the CableStar2 and changes the stv0297 in order to work with it. It would be nice if you or someone else could have a look into it and maybe fix the Nexus-CA support. Please try to keep the beautifications :). Thanks in advance. Patrick. PS: The patch inside the archive can be applied as usual and the stv0297_priv.h has to be copied to dvb-kernel/linux/driver/media/frontends/ -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: stv0297.tar.bz2 Type: application/x-bzip2 Size: 12177 bytes Desc: Url : http://www.linuxtv.org/pipermail/linux-dvb/attachments/20050411/f103ef32/stv0297.tar.bin


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Find Our Latest Video Reviews on YouTube!
If you want to stay on top of all of our video reviews of the latest tech, be sure to check out and subscribe to the Gear Live YouTube channel, hosted by Andru Edwards! It's free!
Tuesday November 30, 2004 8:36 am
Blu-Ray versus HD DVD. Round 1
Posted by Hector Martinez Categories: Home Entertainment
While we love the way competition helps to bring down prices, format wars can just bring us headaches. Paramount Pictures, Universal Pictures and Warner Brothers have all announced their support for HD DVD, which was developed by Toshiba and NEC; while Blu-Ray will have Dell, Philips, Sony and Twentieth Century Fox in their corner. It's still too early to tell, but it sounds like Blu-Ray will emerge victorious, especially since the PS3 will support it out of the box, and it holds about a third more data. The downside is that unlike HD DVD, the hardware would be more expensive and incompatible with current players.
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Valeant raises cash-stock offer for Allergan
Valeant Pharmaceuticals has pumped more cash into its bid for Botox maker Allergan, and it also defended its business model on Wednesday, a day after its reluctant acquisition target aired more concerns about a deal.
The Canadian drugmaker said it will now offer $58.30 and a portion of its stock for each Allergan share. The revised bid could be worth more than $50 billion, based on Tuesday's closing price for U.S.-traded shares of Valeant. But it still may not be enough to get Allergan to the negotiating table, analysts say.
Valeant Pharmaceuticals International Inc. also threw in a contingent value right worth up to $25 per share and based on future sales of a potential eye treatment.
Valeant raised the cash portion of its offer by $10 from a previous bid of $48.30 per share. That was part of an unsolicited offer rejected by Allergan that was worth nearly $46 billion when Valeant announced it last month.
Allergan Inc. said in a brief statement Wednesday that it would carefully review the new proposal.
Valeant Chairman and CEO J. Michael Pearson told investors in a Wednesday morning webcast that he had talked to many Allergan stock owners "and the real message we continually got back is Allergan shareholders want this deal to occur, but they wanted a higher price."
That price still may not be high enough for investors. Shares of both companies fell Wednesday while broader trading indexes were largely flat.
The latest bid totals about $166 in cash and stock for each Allergan share, and shareholders may be looking for something in the $180 range, Credit Suisse analyst Dr. Vamil Divan said in a research note.
Allergan, which also makes the dry eye treatment Restasis, has said repeatedly that it opposes a deal with Valeant. Shortly after Valeant made its offer public, Allergan announced a so-called poison pill plan, a defensive tactic that makes a buyout prohibitively expensive. Earlier this month, Allergan said that Valeant's uncertain long-term growth prospects and business model create a risk for Allergan shareholders, given the stock component of the offer.
On Tuesday, it questioned Valeant's ability to deliver organic growth, which doesn't count gains through acquisition. It also said in a statement that the Canadian drugmaker has limited experience with "large, global scale products" and would cut research and development costs too much.
Citi analyst Liav Abraham said in a research note that said she doesn't expect the latest Valeant offer to bring Allergan to the negotiating table for a friendly transaction. She has low expectations for the eye treatment involved in the contingent value right, and she predicts that Valeant will take its bid hostile and go directly to Allergan shareholders after the company rejects the latest overture.
Valeant made its initial bid along with activist investor Bill Ackman. The investor's Pershing Square Capital Management LP holds a 9.7 percent stake in Allergan. Pershing had agreed to take only stock if the deal went through and would remain as a long-term shareholder of the combined company.
Valeant Chairman and CEO J. Michael Pearson said Wednesday in a letter to his Allergan counterpart, David Pyott, that the two sides should meet.
"It appears based on Allergan's recent public statements that you have a fundamental misunderstanding of our business model and its performance," Pearson wrote.
Valeant also said that Allergan's analysis of its business "was full of errors," and its operating model would speed up growth for Allergan products, especially in developing markets.
Pearson also touted the performance of several Valeant executives during his presentation to investors, although he acknowledged he couldn't pronounce some of their last names.
Separately, Nestle said Wednesday that it will pay $1.4 billion in cash to Valeant for the rights to sell lip and wrinkle treatment Restylane and other skin products in the U.S. and Canada.
Valeant completed an $8.7 billion acquisition of contact lens maker Bausch + Lomb last year. Its latest deal comes amid a surge of pharmaceutical bids, as drugmakers seek to grow or ditch assets that aren't central to their business.
The Valeant-Allergan saga is one of several multibillion-dollar acquisition stories the drug industry has seen so far this year.
British drugmaker AstraZeneca rejected several takeover offers from U.S. counterpart Pfizer, the latest being a nearly $119 billion deal that would have amounted to the richest acquisition ever among drugmakers. Switzerland's Novartis AG has agreed to buy GlaxoSmithKline's cancer-drug business for up to $16 billion, while selling most of its vaccines business to GSK for $7.1 billion, plus royalties.
Shares of Irvine, California-based Allergan fell 4.4 percent, or $7.27, to $157.75 Wednesday afternoon, and U.S.-traded shares of Valeant dropped $1.95 to $128.


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NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Two weeks removed from program-best finishes of first (women) and fourth (men) at the 2011 Atlantic Sun Cross Country Championship, the Lipscomb cross country squads return to the course, Saturday. Lipscomb will compete in the NCAA South Regional in Tuscaloosa, Ala. on the Harry Pritchett Cross Country Course. The meet is scheduled to begin at 10 a.m. with the men's 10-kilometer event; the women's 6K is scheduled for 11:15 a.m.
The women's squad won its first-ever A-Sun Championship two weeks ago and is preparing for what head coach Bill Taylor hopes will be the best showing for the team at a Regional.
Sophomore Tessa Hoefle and senior Ashley Lehman are expected to lead the squads this week. Both earned first-team All-Conference honors at the A-Sun Championships, as well as spots on the Academic All-Conference team, Thursday. Hoefle earned A-Sun women's cross country Scholar Athlete of the Year honors.
Another duo with lofty expectations are freshmen Minna Fields and Maggie Lawrence. Both were named to the All-Freshman team at the A-Sun Championships, with Fields earning a second-team All-Conference spot.
Rounding out the line-up for Lipscomb's women are freshman Kaitlyn Llewellyn, sophomores Missy Dowd, Katie Bunker and Emily Longden and seniors Catherine Beals and Louisa Van Batavia.
The women's squad was ranked a program-best sixth in the USTFCCCA South Region poll following the championships. They are ranked behind Florida State and four SEC schools: Vanderbilt, Florida, Georgia and Mississippi.
On the men's side, juniors Isaiah Greer and Ashton Fisher look to help the Bisons build off a program-best fourth-place showing at the A-Sun Championships. Both were second-team All-Conference two weeks ago.
Freshman Ryan Gadsey earned an All-Freshman team spot with a 19th-place finish, making him the first Bisons freshman to receive that honor since Nathan Brame in 2008.
Joining them in Tuscaloosa will be freshmen Tate Honaker and Zak Vruwink, juniors Geoff Musick, Ben Wright and Mike Yang and senior Benton Reed.
The men broke into the USTFCCCA South Region poll following their fourth-place showing, coming in at 13th in the Oct. 31 release. The Bisons have a long road ahead, with schools such as Florida State, Florida and Georgia to face, along with local foes like Middle Tennessee, Chattanooga and Belmont.
If everything goes Lipscomb's way at this meet, the Bisons will put athletes in the Nov. 21 NCAA Division I National Championships in Terre Haute, Ind. The top two teams from each regional will automatically advance to the National Championships, along with 13 at-large teams. Additionally, the top four runners per region not on an automatic or at-large team bid will qualify individually for the championships, along with two more at-large individuals out of the rest of the nation.
Check LipscombSports.com for all the Lipscomb cross country and track and field news, and be sure to like us on Facebook (Lipscomb-university XC-track).


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Good Styling
If you think about it, you probably look at the back end of cars more than the front end, or even the side view. In traffic, you cannot be staring in your rear- view mirror to admire the cars behind you. If there is any car in front of you, that is what you will be paying the most attention to for the duration of your drive.
I have always thought that the back ends of cars tend to be overlooked by stylists. You get great looking distinctive front ends, good 3/4 front views and side views, but the back of many cars tend to look like they were just whatever the designer could do with the side view.
Ironically, over the last 10 - 20 years, more or less, I think that one company that did exceptionally well designing good looking and functional back-ends was Pontiac. The second series Cavaliers was a good example. The shape of the rear "light-bar" had the extra descending "tab" section that identified it. Also, the spoiler located at the base of the rear window instead of the end of the trunk worked visually very well. I do not know how it worked aerodynamically, but that is another matter.
Nobody really liked the back end of the Aztek. That was the biggest exception to their record. But the last Vibe looked really good in the back.
I always liked the look of the Porsche 924 from the back.0
I guess it's fun to look at your car in the garage or when passing a plate glass window, but mostly you see the dash and interior when driving around.
If your mirrors are set up right, you don't even see the side of your car driving around. Maybe you can admire your hood and A pillars.
The way some cars cramp the cockpit area so that your knees bump the door and console, it makes me think styling took precedence over fit and function. And that's not good.0
"[T]he dash and the interior"
I have been thinking about this, and I am not even sure if I remember the interiors of all the cars I have driven. I can remember some details of the very earliest cars vividly, but a some other details are lost. Some of the cars "came and went" leaving little to remember at all.
In part, I think I have to disagree with you. If you are driving, you really do not have time to be looking at your interior. If you do that, you are just about in your next accident. Mostly, I expect we sort of drive by braille, and memory, and maybe some guesswork thrown in.
Having said that, let me get critical about a couple of aspects of interior design and controls. I was going to post these ideas in something else I was writing, but it is not that important to me.
First, I have been muttering for the last 10 years that the car manufacturers are lagged far behind in integrating technologies into interiors. 10 years ago I was telling people that cell phones should be integrated into the driving controls. We are now getting Bluetooth on the radios.
What we should have had was a standard mount point in the car to "jack" a phone or other devices into. I would suggest something like a flat tray recessed into the top of the dashboard, maybe 5 inches wide by 5 inches deep with a standard locking mount. It could be covered by a removable piece of material for people who do not want to use it. There would be standard connectors available, and optional standardized wiring setups depending on the devices used and current common technologies.
I thought the "Heads-Up-Displays" were a good idea. I think LASERs pointed at the windscreen could still be used in this way.
I will also add that my new car has a lighter gray interior. Sadly, any light colour interiors are a bad idea. Actually, anything that draws attention to your interior in any way is a bad idea. It becomes a magnet for "smash and grab" criminals.
So what you want is a dull, drab, dark, but comfortable and well laid out interior. Uh, gee. Sounds "wonderful."
First, an explanation of how I got to this posting:
A while back I was thinking about brands of cars that had gone recently and which cars and styles I would miss. That got me thinking about the Pontiacs, which in turn got me to thinking about back end styling. As I said before, in recent years, Pontiac seemed to do some of the best back ends. I would guess that their stylists simply thought more thoroughly about a total car. Or maybe they were rebelling about having to maintain the front end split grill look. I have no real idea. I never talked to anyone there about it.
Honda Accord: Anyway, driving recently I was looking at the back end of a new Accord, and thinking about how it had a nice backend style. It occurred to me that really, except for the grill I had grown to like the overall style. I still find the grill in-elegant due to too many (unnecessary) angles. Not only that, but I like it equally in both the 2-dr and 4-dr versions.
Hyundai Elantra: When I saw the first pictures of this care I was not sure if I would like this style. My first impressions of the actual car were not negative, but it did take a while for me to decide. Since then it has grown on me, and I can say that I actually like it now. The crease in the side does not photograph well, but it is quite nice when you get used to it.
Acura (overall): Mostly, I like the Acura family styling, except for the big chrome chevron/shield grill pieces. I am still trying to decide if I will ever actually like that.
Ford Focus and Mazda 3: The first time I saw the new Mazda 3 style, I had a feeling of "oh no, why did they do that?" After this long, I think I can safely say that I am never going to like it. On the other hand, the new Ford Focus is very nice in both the 2-dr and 4-dr versions. I am not really enthusiastic about the chrome grill, but it is not as bad as on the Fusion. I have heard that Ford recently sold shares in Mazda. This pair of styling changes may have had a hand in that.
Chevrolet Camaro: Some people loved this style when it was first shown, and now some of those people are saying they got tired of it. I was among those who thought it was too "cartoony". At this point I would say, yes, I like it, but no, I would not buy one. But if someone gave one to me, I would not be embarrassed to drive it. To put this in perspective, if someone gave me a Calibre, I would not even drive it. I would sell it, or even give it away.
Chevrolet Cobalt: I am not going to say much about the sedan. The roof did not really look like it belonged on that car. The Coupe, on the other hand, I have mentioned before as a Chevrolet version of the recently passed versions of Honda Civic Coupe, except for the "Corvette-ish" back end. I think I forgot to say that I liked it. It was not the most wonderful style on the road, but I always did like it. As far as I know, 2010 is the first time they have sold a version of the Coupe without the wing on the trunk. My XFE does not have a wing. I like it that way. It re-proportions the car a bit and cleans up the style. From a practical point, I have never liked wings on street vehicles. The car wash cannot get under the wing. You end up having to finish the job by hand. From a pure styling point, I wish they had changed the front bumper cap, maybe after the first couple of years. The "SS" is nice, but the LS/LT bumper cap is a bit too plain.
Chevrolet Optra: I can almost hear some of you guys south of the 49th saying "whaaaat?" Yes there was such a car, and it is one of the cars that disappeared recently even from Canada. I never really got to know much about these cars. They were Korean, and they were in the same size and price range as the Cobalt, so they never really had a chance to sell well, even in Canada. But the styling was very nice. It was sort of "a Cobalt done right". Mechanically they might not have been so good. I do not know. But they had a really nice looking 5-dr Hatchback, and a 4-dr + trunk sedan version looked very nice compared to the Cobalt sedan. And they even had a station wagon version beyond the 5-dr.0
imidazol97 Crossroads of America I70 & I75 Posts: 22,621Thanks for mentioning the Optra. I had never heard of it.
2015 Cruze 2LT, 2014 Malibu 2LT, 2008 Cobalt 2LT0
I think the Optra came to us in the States as the Suzuki Forenza...
Based on that picture I agree with the assessment of the Optra as a Cobalt done right.2013 Mazda 5 Grand Touring, 2010 Toyota Prius IV. 2007 Toyota Camry XLE, 2004 Toyota Camry LE, 1999 Mazda Miata0
michaellno Posts: 4,300I think the Optra came to us in the States as the Suzuki Forenza..
...and the 5 door version was the Suzuki Reno.
All of which are Daewoo based ... in the UK, it was known as the Chevrolet Lacetti ("Star in a Reasonably Priced Car" for TopGear).0
The Suzukis drive me crazy. They are pretty decent looking vehicles for what they are but I wouldn't be driving one, thanks.2013 Mazda 5 Grand Touring, 2010 Toyota Prius IV. 2007 Toyota Camry XLE, 2004 Toyota Camry LE, 1999 Mazda Miata0
texases Posts: 8,484Well, they're not really Suzukis, anyway. The new Kizashi's getting great reviews, and the long term test is also really positive:
Inside Line likes the Kizashi0
I agree that you get used to stuff over time. However, I think a lot of current styling is a bit overwrought, maybe influenced by video gaming or something. The exteriors and interiors seem exaggerated. Maybe it goes with the big tire trend right now. Stuff tends to go in trends in the US, so I expect more conservative or classic lines will be around in a few years.0
"I agree that you get used to stuff over time."
Getting back to what I was saying back then, it is not just a matter of getting used to styles, but that styles do not exist in a vacuum. In some cases a car looks just fine in another context. Think of the M-B that Chris Plummer drives in "The Sound of Music". If you have a nice example of one, you can take it to almost any auto show and it will draw a crowd -- yes, I think it would even go down well at a "Tuner club show".
On the other hand, I mentioned that the new Challenger can look too big if you are sitting at a stoplight surrounded with Honda Fit, Toyota Yaris or Mazda 2. On the other hand, it looks a lot better when surrounded by minivans.
Context has a lot of sub-issues. For example, some cars look better in real life than in pictures. I was not impressed by the Chevy Cruze when I saw the first pictures, but having seen it in the real world, I think it was quite a nice looking car.0
iluvmysephia1 Alamogordo, NMPosts: 7,615
If Sarah Palin would know what kind of car this is if she saw it tooling down the street in Anchorage or...Ketchikan...or Juneau, Alaska...somewhere. What kind of car is this Sarah?
Do ya know? Huh?
2011 Kia Soul Sport 5-speed0
I was not impressed by the Chevy Cruze when I saw the first pictures, but having seen it in the real world, I think it was quite a nice looking car.
Strongly agree. BUT, magazine reviewers don't give good marks to the Cruze engine.
Too many cars in last few years get awful front-end, grille styling. Reminds one of some bottom feeder fish with big gaping mouths.0
magazine reviewers don't give good marks to the Cruze engine
I think one of GM's top priorities should be improving its 4 cyl drive trains. Different 4 cyl GM rentals I've had seem to lack a lot from many of their competitors 4cyl vehicles. Ford was lucky to develop and improve their 4 banger with Mazda, but you'd think GM could work with Opel on this? I think this is really a weak spot in an improving GM product portfolio.0
On Cruze engine.
GM should just give up and try to get some kind of licensing/manufacturing agreement for their 4 cyl engines. The GM cars using these could have a logo on trunk lid, "Honda Power".
Honda has been exclusive supplier to Indycar racing series for about the last 5 years. These engines have been bullit-proof.
On styling, Honda really goofed up their new gen Civic. Last one was tasteful, a little on the edge. New gen is, well, generic.0
There have been so many changes in the last five years. The biggest changes were that Ford and Hyundai found excellent design staffs, and Mazda -- well something went wrong there. Maybe it was in the water supply. Their latest mistake was the Mazda 5.
Looking back at message 442 about the new GM 4 cylinder engines (nice number by the way ...), it is a bit late for me to make this comment but I would have suggested that "xrunner2" look over at one of the "GM" topics. The first of the new aluminum 4's that showed up around 2003 in the Cavalier was designed by Lotus. There is nothing wrong with the basic design of the engine. It is just that GM has done a cheap tuning job (cheap parts and assembly, so no VVT, though they did have balancing shafts right from the start) and aimed it towards economy. I have had 2 cars with these 4s, and I can say it seems to be quite reliable. And of course it is so very nice to have an aluminum block in Canada where it helps the heater to come up quickly.
But enough of that. Back to styling:
I hope Japan gets over the "simple cube look" disease really soon.0
Especially with sedans.
"Designers have long struggled with fitting passengers comfortably into a car while maintaining the desired exterior shape. The riddle has become increasingly difficult to solve with the growing importance of aerodynamics in boosting a vehicle's fuel economy. There isn't much latitude if you are sculpting a car for minimum drag."
Why Do Cars Look Alike? (Wall St. Journal)0
fintail Posts: 46,314No mentioning of the lack of imagination in design schools. Of course, it is WSJ, might be seen as anti-"capitalism" in some weird way. Small trim details don't have much to do with fuel economy or space efficiency.0
Hm, the old '70s Volvo in my family was very comfy to sit in while broken down on the side of the road.
Luxurious interiors are becoming a top factor in luring car and truck buyers while increasing profit margins for automakers.
In fact, reliability takes a back seat to interior design among consumers, according to a recent J.D. Power & Associates survey, which found a greater percentage of consumers will buy an unreliable vehicle than one with an interior design they perceive as unattractive.
Targeting car buyers from the inside (Detroit News)0
andys120 Loudon NHPosts: 19,880n fact, reliability takes a back seat to interior design among consumers, according to a recent J.D. Power & Associates survey, which found a greater percentage of consumers will buy an unreliable vehicle than one with an interior design they perceive as unattractive.
This conclusion seems a bit dubious to me, perhaps it is heavily influenced by exactly how the question was worded and no doubt by the fact that most cars now are fairly reliable and have nice interiors.
2000 BMW 528i, 2001 BMW 330CiC0
I wonder how much is influenced by the available telematics too. People want their gizmos.0
most cars now are fairly reliable and have nice interiors.
Really? I think the interiors of most cars under $25K are crap (and a lot of more expensive vehicles too). Way too much hard plastic, lack of color, and how about putting in some contrasting materials? Not to mention we are now rushing headlong towards the future of touchscreens in every dash, with all the ugliness and irritations that brings. And if it's not that, it's gimmicky stuff like the Mini Cooper and the Sonic, as two examples.
2014 Mini Cooper (stick shift of course), 2016 Camry hybrid, 2009 Outback Sport 5-spd (keeping the stick alive)0
It is hard to believe that the North American mfr. "crash" happened years ago now. There was a long period when every time I came to this topic I was just so sad about the state of the industry that it took away any incentive to say anything about styling. But lately, the industry is picking up, and [MAGIC!] STYLING is back again!
It's hard to believe that Hyundai is now near the front of the automotive styling world. Go back 10 years and would you have believed that? Go back to the Hyundai Pony and would you believe that the company is still around at all?
I think I said before that Ford has taken over the position of "good style" that Mazda had before. I cannot believe that Mazda has continued its direction. The new Mazda 5? Why?
The new Lexus "pinched" grill is ok. The Acura front wedge thingies on the other hand, why haven't they gotten rid of those yet?
It is nice to see Chrysler's Dart. The size is interesting. I want to see how it compares to the previous Neons. I think the first Neons were shorter in height, but otherwise about the same.
About the Neons, I still see "well kept" Neons in Toronto. I think people still like the styling and that the owners are proud of their cars, and that gives them incentive to keep them in good shape. I expect to find that in 10 years, you will be surprised to see a Calibre still running.
Chevy: The Spark is "not terrible". If you give me one, I would drive it. I would not buy one. The same goes for the Sonic. My opinion of the Cruze has not changed. I like the car. I do not like the name. I am glad I got my Cobalt Coupe.
Buick: For different reasons, the same comment as the Sonic: If you give me one. . . .
Nissan Juke: The fender lights kill it. It is hard to believe that the same company put out the G35.0
Maybe interiors should be just slightly uncomfortable. If it keeps you just a bit irritated, maybe it will keep you awake at the wheel and more alert?
It's just a thought. . . . :-)0
Not buying it, but good try! ;-)
Since inside is where I spend most of my time, I have come to think that I care a lot more about the quality of the inside than the styling of the outside.
2014 Mini Cooper (stick shift of course), 2016 Camry hybrid, 2009 Outback Sport 5-spd (keeping the stick alive)0
And that's the minivan owner's secret.0
It is nice to see Chrysler's Dart. The size is interesting. I want to see how it compares to the previous Neons. I think the first Neons were shorter in height, but otherwise about the same.
I've sat in a few Darts, but have yet to drive one. To me, it feels like they took the front of a midsized car, the back of a compact, and joined them at the B-pillar. I found it plenty roomy and comfortable up front, but the back seat was what I'd call "typical compact"...too small for me to be comfortable, but about par for this size of vehicle.
I think the midsize/compact thing carries over to the styling, as well. If you take a picture of one from the side, and put your thumb over the back of it, it looks like it would be a fairly good-sized car. But, if you put your thumb over the front of the picture, it just looks like a generic, stubby compact.
I've seen a few on the road, as well, and when one comes up behind you, it seems to have a lot of presence about it.
As for the old Neon, I liked them. They were one of the few small cars where I could fit comfortably, both in the front and back. I've heard that reliability wasn't too bad on the later models, either. Unfortunately, resale value is so low that it doesn't take much to total one. I have a friend who had one, and it took a fairly minor side swipe while parked, and that was enough to total it. But then, he bought a Hyundai Sonata, an early 2000's model, and one morning rear-ended a truck with a trailer hitch on it, and even though the damage looked light, it got totaled, as well. He's driving an early '00's Mopar minivan now, but I can't remember which model. I think it's a Caravan, but it might just be a Voyager.0
So much has happened since January!
I have been seeing new Toyotas lately, but I have not really seen them closely, so I will wait a while before saying what I think about them.
The Chev Sonic is interesting. There are individual points I do not like, but if I see one on the street, it isn't bad. Overall it looks like a shrunken AMC Gremlin which I never liked, but I guess, because it is just plain smaller it does not look bad to me. Sort of like the Mazda 3 looking silly, but the Mazda 2, with similar styling cues looks ok. Just ok though. I would still buy the Ford versions. Ironically, I think the Sonic would have had potential for the old "customizers" back in the 1970's. Styling-wise things that I do not like can be isolated and replaced.
But these days, I would not want to touch a car. The designs are so critical that if you fix a crease you might end up causing body flexing which in turn messes up handling and structural strength. Ick. You can't sneeze at a car these days!0
You know what looks really weird to me? The Chevy Spark. Now that GM is flooding rental lots with them, I am seeing them on the roads fairly frequently (all with the little barcode in the window of course!).
That model looks like it was squeezed from both ends, then squeezed from both sides. MUCH too tall for its width and length. And that impression is accentuated by the really tall smeary headlights.
The new Corolla looks much better than the old one, especially in certain colors and with the black rims of the 'S' trim. Of course under the hood is the same old engine they have been using for about 15 years, the numbest electric steering in the world, and egads! a CVT, so looks will have to carry the day if Toyota hopes to outsell Honda and Ford.
As for the new Mazda3, the front sort of gapes, but it is quite a bit better than the old smiley model I think.
2014 Mini Cooper (stick shift of course), 2016 Camry hybrid, 2009 Outback Sport 5-spd (keeping the stick alive)0


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Swedes upset Finland in women's hockey playoff
SOCHI, Russia — Sweden defenseman Emma Eliasson is an iron ore miner who lives about a two-hour drive from Finland above the Arctic Circle, and she is a three-time Olympian who played in the bronze medal loss to the Finns four years ago.
So she speaks with authority when she says, "We are like the worst enemies ever."
Eliasson's slapshot eluded two-time NCAA champion goalie Noora Raty and helped Sweden beat Finland 4-2 on Saturday in the Olympic women's hockey quarterfinals. The victory over their Scandinavian archrivals put the Swedes in the semifinals against the United States.
"I'm so happy, I'm just shaking," said Sweden forward Erika Grahm, who assisted on the go-ahead goal with 4:15 left in the game.
Anna Borgqvist, Lina Wester and Emma Nordin also scored for Sweden, and Valentina Wallner made 29 saves. Raty, who went 41-0-0 to lead the University of Minnesota to its second straight national championship last year, made 28 saves for Finland but she could not see Eliasson's slapshot from the blue line that held up as the game-winner.
Finland, the favorites to repeat as bronze medalists, can finish no higher than fifth.
"This is definitely one of the worst (losses)," Finland forward Minttu Tuominen said, pausing to hold back tears. "Not being able to play for an Olympic medal, it's heartbreaking."
Finland's overtime victory in the women's hockey medal round in Vancouver came after a season in which the Swedes dominated their Scandinavian neighbors. But the Finns had since established themselves as the definitive No. 3 team in the world, with Raty giving them a chance to upset even Canada or the United States.
"We have played many games against them this year. They have been the better team throughout the whole year," Sweden assistant coach Leif Boork said. "We could play a little bit coming from behind, and that was a favor for us mentally. They had more pressure on them, and we could play a little bit relaxed."
The game was a rough one for women's hockey, which does not allow the body-checking that would be familiar to fans of the NHL or the men's international game. Finland's Nina Tikkinen was cross-checked to the ice in front of the Sweden net, banging her head on the ice as she landed, and a skirmish at the other end led to four-minute roughing penalties for Grahm and Tuominen.
Finland took the lead 13 minutes into the second when Wallner stopped Linda Valimaki's shot with her blocker but left it in front for Venla Hovi. Sweden tied it on a power-play goal early in the second period when Borgqvist's shot deflected off a defenseman's stick and the tip of Raty's skate into the net.
Wester gave Sweden the lead with 14:51 left in the third, but Finland tied it just 12 seconds later when Karoliina Rantamaki dug the puck out from behind the net and passed it in front to Emma Nuutinen. Sweden took a 3-2 lead on Eliasson's power-play goal.
Nordin added an empty-netter.
"We are not a fancy team; Finland is much more skilled than us," Boork said. "But as you all know you can win games in different ways. Good character and hard work can do that, and today it was our time to do that."


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Last night saw the third and final episode of Adam Curtis's television series, The Trap: Whatever happened to our dreams of freedom?.
As I outlined in my reviews of the first and second episodes, this series has argued that the past thirty years has been dominated by a narrow and depressing view of freedom based on an assumption that cold rationality and a distrust of political leadership. Mr. Curtis has sought to undermine this concept. However, in doing so he has demonstrated his own failure to understand both the nature of freedom and the gulf between what has been delivered by political leaders and what individuals cry out for.
In this third post I will outline the programme for those who did not see it. I will address his conclusions in a final post, and there I will argue that he is wrong not only in his analysis but also in his fundamental call for a new type of freedom. In my writing, below, I will limit my comments (in the last and third from last paragraphs) to Curtis's description of the experiences in Russia and in Iraq. Here Curtis was deliberately disingenuous, attempting to conjure a biased picture and so make it appear that the concept of liberty he opposes is to blame for the problems those countries experienced.
In the final episode, entitled We will force you to be free, Curtis abandoned his focus on psychology and Public Choice Theory, turning instead to the philosophical underpinnings of liberalism in the twentieth century. The leading exponent of liberty was the political philosopher Isaiah Berlin. In his essay Two Concepts of Liberty he presented two different images of freedom, which he called "Negative" and "Positive" liberty. Both were born of the French Revolution, but where the former sought freedom from constraint, the latter sought to make the world a better place. Put crudely, these have been described as "freedom to" and "freedom from": the freedom to act as one sees fit (as long as it does not curtail the freedom of others, as Mill and others stressed), or the freedom from want that came from a progressive society.
Berlin believed that negative liberty was a great prize, freeing us from coercion by others and tyranny by governments. Positive liberty, on the other hand, was a dangerous form of absolutism, for if there was only one ideal future, only one truth, then anything was justified to achieve that goal. "I object to paternalism," Berlin explained, "to being told what to do." His great fear was the tyranny of the Communist regimes that were at the time dominating Eastern Europe, but as his example he took the positive liberty preached by the Jacobins of the French Revolution: that the people were too stupid to appreciate freedom, so the state must "force them to be free", using terror to force the changes necessary to make a better society. Negative liberty would protect us from this progressive tyranny. But Berlin also cautioned that the belief in negative liberty must never itself become an absolute destiny, for if it did it would morph into a form of positive liberty, with anything justified to achieve that end.
Having set out the philosophical battlefield, Curtis began to populate it. Positive liberty was very popular in the middle of the twentieth century. Jean-Paul Sartre suggested that freedom was shackled by society, and individuals had to break those shackles to be free. His views influenced Algerian revolutionaries who argued that the West controlled not by force of arms but of ideas, and that catharsis could be achieved by the cleansing fire of violence. Sartre also influenced Steve Biko, Che Guevara and Pol Pot. The views of these men fed back to Sartre, who advocated revolution to free society. This reached its apotheosis in the Khmer Rouge revolution in Cambodia, where revolutionaries sought to sweep aside the shackles that bound society by liquidating the entire middle class, even inviting the Cambodian Diaspora back to help rebuild society, only to butcher them on the runways as they stepped off the planes.
The US reaction to the spread of revolutionary fervour was to promote reactionary forces; the "Realpolitik" of Henry Kissinger. But the support of dictators such as Pinochet and Marcos disgusted others in America – later known as the Neoconservatives – who felt that America should be promoting its values abroad rather than supping with the devil. When Ronald Reagan was elected in 1980, his Secretary of State told congress that there "are things worth fighting for", and the administration introduced Project Democracy, a plan to promote democracy abroad using four key tools:
- Public support for democratic politics (including dropping the old, discredited allies)
- Promoting democracy abroad – but only in its electoral form, and not what Curtis referred to as the "other aspects of democracy: the redistribution of land and wealth"
- Undermining communist governments abroad (e.g. in Nicaragua)
- The creation of an Office of Public Diplomacy to spread propaganda to the American public.
The result were two scandals: one contemporary and one held over for the future. The contemporary scandal was the Iran-Contra Affair. The scandal for the future was the precedent that was set for spinning intelligence to justify wars for which there was no clear and present danger. The problem, noted Curtis (though he later seemed to conveniently forget it) was that the Neocons had reified Berlin's fear: they were advocating forms of negative liberty in a positivist way: they would force us to be free.
Nobody noticed, however, because in 1989 Communism collapsed and history ended. Liberal democracy had triumphed. Curtis chose to dwell on the results in Russia, where President Yeltsin followed Jeffrey Sachs advice and adopted a big bang approach to liberalising the economy, destroying elite institutions and freeing the people. To Curtis this was a disaster: prices shot up as soon as price controls were removed; people were issued with vouchers with which to buy stakes in privatising utilities, but they sold them for cash to the future Oligarchs who then snapped up the utilities for a windfall profit; objections in the Duma led Yeltsin to send in troops; finally there was a run on the banks and Russia defaulted on its debt. The results, argued Curtis, was that Russians turned their backs on the anarchy that had ensued and sought sanctuary in order. They willingly gave their freedoms away to President Putin, a reactionary autocrat who promised stability at the expense of liberty.
There is always a point in Curtis's films where his bias is exposed. In this episode it was the Russian experience. His presentation of the Russian financial crisis crudely exploited time compression, disguising the five years that elapsed between the liberalisation and the financial difficulties. Nor did he mention the low price of commodities (on which Russia was dependent) in the late 1990s, or how much money would later flow into Russia as commodity prices rose. He ignored the knock-on effects from the Asian financial crisis, to which Russia was a sequel. And he said nothing of the Chechen War, surely a more effective tool in Putin's armoury than the economy. Lastly, Curtis ignored the very different experience in much of Eastern Europe, where liberalisation has led to massive rises in living standards and where greater freedom has been welcomed. This analysis exposes Mr. Curtis as a partial and biased analyst. It does him no credit.
In the final part, Curtis suggested that Tony Blair was quite taken with the principles of negative liberty, but lamented the loss of idealism that positive liberty conveyed. He wrote to Isaiah Berlin and asked whether it might be possible to synthesise the two, though the dying Berlin never replied. Blair went on to argue that it was the destiny of the West to spread liberty. Curtis argues that this was negative liberty as evangelism, but others might argue that it was not negative liberty at all. Blair was also aware that Public Choice Theory had undermined faith in politicians, so the only way to carry the people was – argued Curtis – to lie to them. Evidence for the Iraq war was spun, and Iraq was given a Russian-style dose of liberalising shock-therapy: everything was privatised and the Baath administrators were sacked.
The Iraq experience also encouraged distortion and bias from Curtis. He argued that the de-Baathification resulted from a liberal distrust of public officials. Not a word was said of the intellectual antecedent of this idea, the de-Nazification of Germany, or the fact that the vast majority of the Iraqi people were demanding the removal of their Baath tormentors. Even more unbelievably, Curtis claimed that it was the economic consequences of liberalisation and the lack of positive liberty at the heart of Iraqi democracy that triggered the insurgency, not a combination of Sunni ex-Baath rejectionists and Al Qaeda-inspired fanatics, as every other commentator and expert has agreed. It was fabrication on a grand scale.
He was right in one area, though. The emergence of Islamic terrorism in Western cities has been used – by both Blair and President Bush, among others – to justify massive extensions of state power in an attempt to pre-empt crime and terrorism. This has gone beyond terror, however, to seek pre-emptive powers to control possible criminal and even anti-social behaviour. The result is a return to the arbitrary power of the state and the end of the very civil liberties that the West is claiming to protect. It is a bitter irony.
I have separately reviewed part 2 and part 3. Curtis's conclusion and my analysis of it are discussed in a final post.


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Any one who has ever had a hospital stay or knows a loved one or friend who has been in the hospital knows that the nurses play a vital role in caring for patients. Nurses do many of the day-to-day activities of caring for patients in hospitals and clinics. They are also often the first ones at the bedside if a problem arises – so -isn't it essential that nurses be well trained in all forms of emergency procedures? Even when doctors are present, nurses often play vital roles in assisting the doctors in providing life-saving care to patients.
Law and Medicine Intersect Once Again
I have recently been working on a case in which both doctors and nurses were present during an in-hospital delivery that ended with a significant injury to the child. During the delivery, a problem was encountered that has a low incidence rate during deliveries. In considering this problem, I wondered just how frequently doctors and nurses are able to practice the skills they would need to successfully and calmly deliver a baby in a situation like this. Faced with this "emergency" situation, how many of the doctors and nurses in the room had not experienced this problem before? For those who had – just how much "experience" did they bring to the problem they were facing?
Simulations Rooms and Simulation Patients Provide Training Opportunities
Thankfully, technology is making it more feasible for training healthcare providers to practice handling a myriad of clinical situations during their education process that they might otherwise not experience frequently enough for their skills to develop in real world settings. In Baltimore, the Johns Hopkins University School of Nursing (JHUSON) has simulation rooms in which nursing students are able to practice a variety of procedures and techniques using simulation patients in rooms that are designed to replicate the real patient areas of the hospital. There is also a whole family of simulators to help. This "sim fam" is not like the lifeless plastic dummies you might be imagining. They are a variety of different types of "…life-like practice manikins, including Sim Man, Vital Sim Man, Noelle with newborn, and Sim Baby [that] give nursing students the hands-on experience without the anxiety of working with actual human beings."
Harvey the Cardiac Sim, SimNewB and Sim Man 3G - All New Additions to the "Sim Fam"
Just this year, in March, JHUSON added Harvey to its collection of simulators. While Harvey is new to JHUSON, he is not exactly new technology:
For almost 40 years Harvey, developed in cooperation between Laerdal Medical Corporation and Miami University Miller School of Medicine, has been a proven simulation system teaching bedside cardiac assessment skills that transfer to real patients, and remains the longest continuous university-based simulation project in medical education.
Harvey's job is to be able to simulate "nearly any cardiac disease at the touch of a button: varying blood pressure, pulses, heart sounds, and murmurs. The software installed in the simulator allows users to track history, bedside findings, lab data, medical and surgical treatment." He joins a collection of other sim patients that enable healthcare providers to learn and practice critical life-saving measures such as CPR, defibrillation, intubation and yes – even the proper checking of vital signs. JHSON has adult, child and baby versions of these simulators. Some of them can even "talk" to the practicing nurses. (I wonder if they are programmed to be cooperative and informative or hostile and combative – hmmm.)
New Family Members Arrived this Past August
Even newer, in August, JHUSON added SimNewB and Sim Man 3G to the family. The SimNewB is:
…a 7 pound, 21 inch female baby, with realistic newborn traits. Students will be able to simulate a wide variety of patient conditions with her, including life-threatening ones. The department's current Sim baby is the size of a 6 month old and is not as conducive to delivery room procedures.
She is also interactive, though she is not wireless like the Sim Man 3G. Some of the new Sim Man's traits include "…breath sounds both anteriorly and posteriorly, … pupil reactions, [and] skin temperature changes."
What about Obstetrics Cases?
So, what about the case I was mentioning that involved obstetrical care? Well, JHUSON also has a pregnant simulator, which is can be used to practice a whole host of obstetrically related procedures. These include "Leopold maneuvers, normal vaginal and instrumented delivery, breech delivery, C-section, and postpartum hemorrhaging, among other functions." The JHUSON sim family also has the new Sim newborn – SimNewB.
The "Jury" Is Still "Out"
Can there be any doubt that additional hands-on practice opportunities with simulators is a good idea for situations that may not come up very often in everyday practice? Won't it help healthcare practitioners gain skills and keep those skills up-to-date? Any opinion I might have on these issues is not based on evidence….yet. Luckily, JHSON is "…among 10 nursing schools nationwide collaborating on a landmark study to find out just how well patient simulators—high-tech manikins that respond to a nurse's care—help prepare the nurses of tomorrow." I – for one – will certainly be interested in the outcome of that study.
What about you? Do you think that it makes sense for nurses in training to make use of simulation rooms and simulated patients? Would it be better for them to spend more time in real world situations doing real patient care under the supervision of experienced practitioners? What about techniques that might not come up very often?
If any of the readers of this post have used these sim patients in your training and can give us firsthand information as to how, if at all, it carried-over to make you more "experienced and skilled" when facing similar clinical situations with real patients, your comments would be most welcomed as well.


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We always talk about Hueco Mundo, Soul Society, The Real World, and yet there's almost never any mention of Hell in Bleach? I can think of only a few instances.
The hell gates never open for any of the espada or arrancar that have died in Bleach. So is it safe to say that all of them were in fact good humans? And that they've only did bad things as a result of their hollow self?
Now take into account that once they get to a certain level, they're conscience and gain the ability to think which usually results in them just sitting around and not really harming anyone. Most of the bad things the Espada/Arrancar do are just orders from Aizen. Are the Espada really all that bad?
A perfect example: Starrk. Starrk wouldn't hurt a fly if it was up to him.
Granted you could say that they have a choice to join Aizen or not. But then again, how many fear that Aizen will Kill them? Or that his subordinates will harm them?
Also do you think Hell will ever be explored in Bleach?
Always U2D
Now I can't really blame any of the espada for what they do. They were made by Aizen so he can destroy them. But just think. I think in some ways there are bad ones and good ones. Like for instance Orihime was getting picked on for say there. Menoly and loly were bitches in the process saying oh I am sry. Were you going to use that door and then Grimmjow appears and kinda does the same thing to them and kills them. He killed his own arrancar team mates there. But on the plus side saved Orihime. That I'd say is good.
Now for hell. I kind of confused right now since they never said much about it. But Aizen wants to go to the holy palace and it just may happen that hell might jump in the way stopping them. lol that would be funny. And there'd be some sort of thing like hell's guardian comes and fights! It would create chaos and more problems. If hell were to come to earth. Karakura town would no longer be the same forever. By the way very good topic here
Where the hell am I?
i dont know how to said this..
all the prologue is just like according to Aizen prediction..
he know everything from the beginning..and he knew what to do next..
this story become more complicated as ever
the enemy left just three Aizen..tousen gin..and one espada at huego mundo..yami..
do you guys see that after of all this..the story will finish and Aizen will be defeated..
i can see that all this will finish
Kaizoku ni naru
If i recall correctly, then this is the only time that Hell is mentioned:
So after reading those few pages, its safe to conclude that:
1) to go to hell, you must have commited sins during your human life
2) there is most likely some dark menace and/or guardian(s) that watches over hell (aka the guy with the tatooed arm)
Unfortunenately, its not alot of info to work from, but its a start. So, I do believe that TK will go into more detail about Hell *eagerly waits for a Hell Arc*
All generalizations are false, including this one.
Yea, that's pretty much the only time it's mentioned. Thats how certain things are with Bleach, they just mention something and then never bring it up again. It'd be nice if Kubo gave us a little info on some of these things. Like for instance after Hitsugaya talks about Vasto Lordes, we pretty much never hear about them again.
Always U2D
memphis834 wrote:
Yea, that's pretty much the only time it's mentioned. Thats how certain things are with Bleach, they just mention something and then never bring it up again. It'd be nice if Kubo gave us a little info on some of these things. Like for instance after Hitsugaya talks about Vasto Lordes, we pretty much never hear about them again.
Yeah you're right. I don't see any Vasto lordes. Is Pescche one? He is human like...
Moshi Moshi


text:
Germany's Nürburgring is one of the universal automotive benchmarks used for performance development, and as well as the all-important lap times. Another less-cited benchmark is the Pike's Peak Hillclimb in Colorado. With an elevation change of nearly 5000 ft and 156 turns over the course of more than 12 miles, the climb is a veritable automotive stress test. Land Rover felt confident enough in the performance capabilities of the 2014 Range Rover Sport to run it up the hill, and in the process, set a new production vehicle time record of 12 minutes and 35.16 seconds.
The 2014 Range Rover Sport was driven by Colorado native Paul Dallenbach, a veteran of Pike's Peak. The Range Rover Sport was completely stock, except for the installation of a mandatory roll cage and five-point harness. The vehicle was powered by the 5.0-liter supercharged V-8 producing 510 hp and 461 lb-ft of torque. The Pike's Peak event will be the first of many for the Range Rover Sport, which will go on a worldwide tour tackling a variety of challenges to prove its performance. The 2014 model is as much as 800 lb lighter than its predecessor, thanks to extensive use of aluminum in the body and chassis.
Source: Land Rover