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Navy F-35C DT-III Testing
Production milestones, roll-outs, test flights, service introduction and other milestones.
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Another 6 page PDF of entire article attached....
Glad to be Back!
Oct 2016 James DeBoer AirForces Monthly
"After a ten-year gap, the 'Grim Reapers' of VFA-101 recently returned to the aircraft carrier. Its mission, as James DeBoer witnessed, was to complete the third phase of F-35C development testing....
...To conduct the daytime CQs, the squadron took five aircraft, 12 pilots and more than 80 maintainers including enlisted sailors and contractors. The squadron was joined by two F-35Cs from the experimental test squadron, VX-23, which, along with the Integrated Test Force (ITF), were working on the final Developmental Test (DT) period known as DT-III. To qualify for daytime carrier landings, each pilot at VFA-101 needed ten traps and two touch-and-goes, the same number needed for Hornet carrier qualifications. This could be reduced though, due to newer technologies such as the Delta Flight Path incorporated in the F-35C. This piece of kit helps improve safety during landing on a carrier deck. The first three aircraft took off from Eglin AFB on the morning of August 14 for the 90-minute flight to the ship. Each of the pilots conducted a touch-and-go before catching the wire. Once on board, the pilots were quickly positioned for another catapult launch, they would then repeat the landing sequence nine more times. Two more F-35Cs from the squadron followed the same day.
"We're out here developing a syllabus," said Capt James 'Cruiser' Christie, the Commanding Officer of VFA-101. "The carrier qualifications went really well for us. One of our big 'takeaways' was that Delta Flight Path is clearly going to be the new standard for precision landing modes (PLM). The PLMs are a remarkable change to how we fly around the ship. This technology will make the average fleet pilots approaches to the ship safer as well as improve their boarding rate".
The squadron logged 154 approaches to the ship with a 100% boarding rate, with not a single 'bolter' or 'wave-off', which is when the pilot goes around again.
Additionally, the pilots did not catch a single 1-Wire, the wire furthest aft and considered on the low side of the glide slope. "It's a pretty big statement to say we had a 100% boarding rate, with no bolters. This all means the [jet's] hook was touching down where we wanted it to almost all of the time. Over 80% of our landings caught the 3-Wire so that statistic is pretty remarkable" said Capt Christie....
...The squadron helped with DT-III while out at sea. One of its test points was the removal of the engine from an F-35C in the hangar bay while under way.
Capt Christie said: "When the test point came out, we realised there were resources in the fleet that could perform this and that there would be a benefit to all parties involved. An agreement between the head of test and the ship's Air Boss to have VFA- 101, led to the test being conducted. We had the VX-23 Integrated Test Force out with us to make sure we were capturing what the test guys wanted us to do and for them to properly document all the test points. Our team at VFA-101 is extremely experienced at changing engines on shore, so we were up to the job. I think we exceeded all expectations on how quickly and efficiently we were able to accomplish the task. Many observers were thinking it would take about 72 hours and the team did it in under 20 maintenance hours. That's a great success"....
...The LSO
Lt Graham Cleveland was serving as a landing signal officer (LSO) with VFA-101 during the carrier qualifications. Lt Cleveland has been part of all three DTs [Delirium Tremens] as an LSO.
He said: "So far, the data looks good. In this round of testing, there have so far been no bolters, when an aircraft unintentionally misses the wire, and no landing wave-offs attributed to aircraft performance or safety issues".
Lt Cleveland added that all the new technology that helps pilots safely operate around the ship reduces the pilot workload, so the Navy may be able to cut FCLPs from the current 16 to 18 practices to as little as four to six. When it comes to carrier qualification requirements, Lt Cleveland envisages the possibility of reducing the number of needed traps from ten to six. All these reductions would result in huge savings to the Navy: "That's going to save money, that's going to save fuel, that's going to save aircraft life, basically."...
...The former F/A-18C pilot
Lt Nicholas 'Fila' Rezendes flew his F-35C call sign 'DASH-3' on to the ship directly from Eglin AFB. With a background in F/A-18Cs, Lt Rezendes is enjoying his F-35 assignment. "Before going to the USS George Washington, we did a two-week period of FCLPs, but they don't usually compare very well to the ship. We also did some simulator work at Eglin, which, along with the FCLP, helped prepare us very well for the day we actually landed. "Once we got to there we quickly realised that the precision landing capabilities of the F-35 almost made landing administrative-like in nature. It makes the task of landing on a carrier less demanding, and helps the pilot focus on other things, such as being more tactical in the air."
When asked about his first landing, Lt Rezendes recalled: "Taking off from Eglin we had about a 90-minute flight, so I had plenty of time to think about landing on the ship. I was thinking about general safety. Even though I may have done it a couple of hundred times, landing on a carrier always makes people feel nervous. Most of us were dumbstruck with the first few passes because of how easy it was compared with our experiences in the Hornet."...
...Pilot's Landing Workload Reduced
Capt Mark 'Gerbs' Weisgerber was one of the 12 instructors chosen to conduct the first round of carrier qualifications. He has flown every model of the Hornet and now serves as the vice commander of the 33rd Fighter Wing, Air Education and Training Command at Eglin AFB. The Wing serves as the home to the F-35 Lightning II Integrated Training Center (ITC), providing flying and maintenance training for the Marine Corps, Navy, Air Force as well as eight international partners.
Asked about his first day on the ship, Capt Weisgerber said: "After the five guys arrived with the jets on the first day and took care of their work, I hot-seated into one of the airplanes. I had enough time to get seven of the ten arrested landings in before the sun set and we shut down for the day".
He added: "I have about 875 arrested landings in the legacy Hornet and Super Hornet, but I was really pleasantly surprised by how much the pilot workload was reduced compared with the Hornet. Historically, senior pilots like myself, get better and better as you do more because you can anticipate the conditions behind the ship. Pilots that can anticipate get better grades than the pilots that react, but with the new flight Delta Flight Path control mode, you really don't have to anticipate."
Delta Flight Path gives the aircraft the ability to stay on glide slope automatically and minimise the number of corrections the pilot must make and was used on all of the carrier qualifications landings conducted by VFA-101.
Capt Weisgerber continued: "That easiness translates to a better boarding rate, which means not having to practice as often, which is important because we spent a lot of training dollars preparing for landing on the ship. We probably won't need as much emergency fuel operating over blue water, so hats off to the engineers who designed this thing."
"Historically we carrier aviators pride ourselves on how well we land behind the boat. 'Greenie boards' on the ship display the pilot's landing grades, for everyone to see. It is a matter of pride [to get a good grade] to be up there at top and if you are not you want to improve, which in turn makes people safer. Now, with the pilot workload minimised when landing, you can still take pride in great grades, but everyone is going to have them, so we will have to find something else to hang our hats on to boost our reputation around the ship." When asked about the first catapult shot and landing on a carrier, he said: "With the training we got back on land at Eglin, each of us receiving five or six turns practising at the FCLP [Field Carrier Landing Practice fields at Choctaw, near NAS Pensacola, [Florida] and the other one near NAS Meridian, [Mississippi], we all felt up to the task".
Field carrier landing practices are a series of touch-and-goes, which are observed by a landing signal officer who grades and critiques each landing. "I first experienced the catapult shot on board a C-2 Greyhound. It's a little different than the Hornet in that it's a bit more of a violent ride down the catapult," Capt Weisgerber explained.
VFA-101 currently has 23 F-35Cs assigned to it and recently started training several pilots who will soon stand up a second fleet replacement squadron, VFA-125, on the west coast at NAS Lemoore, California. Although slated for only 15 aircraft, VFA-101 continues to receive aircraft off the production line until the other squadrons, such as VX-9 and VFA-125, become operational with the C model. The aircraft are currently waiting to receive the Block 3F software now in developmental testing, which will provide the air-to-air and air-to-ground mission capabilities. VFA-101 has started training personnel for the first fleet squadron, VFA-97 which should reach IOC by 2018." [Now we know VFA-147 1st]
Source: Oct 2016 AirForces Monthly Magazine No. 343
F-35C VFA-101 Back CVN AirForces Monthly Oct 2016 pp6.pdf
hornetfinn
It seems like F-35 is really designed to minimize the effort required to do all kinds of tasks like landing, maintenance and using all kinds of avionics systems and equipment. Adding all up seems to lead to substantial increases in efficiency, performance and safety. Add all these up for decades over all airframes and the importance of all this in obvious.
I believe they applied a lot of lessons learned from the Raptor experience.
"When a fifth-generation fighter meets a fourth-generation fighter—the [latter] dies,"
CSAF Gen. Mark Welsh
Standing in the rain....
https://www.facebook.com/NAVAIR/photos/ ... =3&theater "The Patuxent River Integrated Test Force (ITF), assigned to VX-23, prepare to launch an F-35C Lightning II from the flight deck of USS George Washington (CVN 73) during a rainstorm August 18. The Patuxent River ITF has been conducting the final phase of carrier suitability and integration testing of the F-35C carrier variant since August 14." https://scontent-syd1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/t3 ... 0171_o.jpg (130Kb)
blindpilot
spazsinbad wrote: Standing in the rain....
That has to be photo shopped! Gilmore told me a couple years ago that the plane would melt in the rain ...
[/sarc off]
Is anybody working on a spreadsheet of all the things critics/Gilmore et al have been shown to be wrong on with this deployment, other than the obvious, "tail hook seems to work"...
Now, with the pilot workload minimised when landing, you can still take pride in great grades, but everyone is going to have them, so we will have to find something else to hang our hats on to boost our reputation around the ship.
My proposal is to put a dime at where one of the main landing gear should touch down on the deck, then see if the pilot can hit it. Then the pilot gets to say that he can "land on a dime".
Okay, okay, there's probably concerns about FOD and stuff. Maybe just a painted dime then.
Probably impossible to actually land on a painted dime on the moving deck of a CVN. Remember there are SIX Degrees of Movement of the deck as well as pilot YIPS - no matter how small. JPALS plans to put the hook point through a small box. I'll get the diagrams....
Rest assured, if carrier landings ever do get to the point of "landing on a dime", it won't be the pilot that is actually doing the landing.
JPALS and Magic Carpet talking trash, Organics excluded.
From 'popcorn' question on previous page about 'barricades'.... This is a barricade:
Aircraft Carrier Flight and Hangar Deck Fire Protection: History and Current Status
Jan 2005 Robert L. Darwin + others
"...In a situation where a pilot is injured, there is damage to the aircraft, or the aircraft is low on fuel so it may not have enough fuel to go around again should he fail to catch the crossdeck pendants, a barricade consisting of nylon webbing is stretched across a couple of steel pylons (Figure 18). This is erected for a "must-catch" situation. Some manual evolution is involved in this but during drills they usually try to get it up in a couple minutes. Figure 19 illustrates how it works. The airplane comes in and is trapped by the nylon webbing. Usually a little damage occurs to the airplane, but most of the aircraft is salvaged and the pilot is saved...."
Source: http://www.dtic.mil/dtic/tr/fulltext/u2/a432176.pdf (6.9 Mb)
35_aoa
There hasn't (to my knowledge at least) been a barricade arrestment in quite a few years. Not sure when the collective shift in mindset changed, but at least with the F/A-18, the airframe is a write off in 99% of cases whether you take the barricade or just eject alongside (well, I suppose that option has a 100% write off rate to be fair). I have seen some pretty sketchy scenarios…….one example is when a friend of mine hit the cat 4 shuttle cover (known as "fast eddie") with his left main gear when he touched down well left of centerline and subsequently boltered. In the process, it broke the gear assembly and caused what is known in the Hornet community as a "planing link failure". No tankers available (this being pre-deployment CQ using bingo ops), and since he now couldn't raise the gear, he no longer had a bingo option given his fuel state. Some talk was made of the barricade, but ultimately the ship's CO and CAG said "no way jose". Luckily for him, he flew an underline low all the way, settle at the ramp, no grade 1 and stopped. Think he had about a foot of hook to ramp clearance as he crossed the round-down, but paddles kept him coming and it all ended well with one very broken jet craned out of the LA and down into the hangar deck. By the time they decided to try to bring him back aboard, he really only had fuel for that one look/try given night/instrument conditions. Again, not sure when the shift happened, but aside from barricade drills for the deck folks, it really isn't a "thing" these days for what thats worth. Maybe things will change with the F-35C.
A few years ago now USN LSOs had a newsletter available online where they talked about barricades - 1st Hornet 1997.
Last edited by spazsinbad on 28 Sep 2016, 08:51, edited 2 times in total.
spazsinbad wrote: A few years ago now USN LSOs had a newsletter available online where they talked about barricades past - I'll dig it out in about an hour or so....
There are a couple good videos on file at the LSO school, which have also made their way onto youtube. Good stuff. Personally, that would be my choice……..vs a controlled ejection
I gotta have me dinna again so here is a taste:
FA-18 Hornet Barricade aboard USS Nimitz 1997:
"US Marine Hornet flown to a successful barricade arrestment aboard the USS Nimitz on or about October 24th, 1997 due to nose landing gear hung in the "up" position. Captain Scott Slater was the Marine aviator flying the jet. This was the first attempted barricade arrestment of an F/A-18 in Naval history. Capt Slater's fuel state [300lbs] at time of landing was excessively low. Credit for the successful landing goes to both pilot and the ship's crew for endless hours of training & execution of duties in a high pressure situation. This is incident had a pleasant ending; others do not."
"Mr.Slater (the pilot) kindly answered my questions about that barricade arrestment. First, his right engine rpm's started winding down during the first pass, so what we heard was 'fluctuations on [...] right engine'. And he had 300 pounds indicated in tank 3 and all others showed 0..."
[Slater] "My low fuel state was a result of several things. 1. Dumped fuel prior to discovering my problem in order to reduce total a/c wt. I had bombs/rockets so as ordnance goes up, fuel must go down to arrive at max gross landing weight. 2. Wingman helping me had to trap prior to stripping all wires and rigging barricade 3. Barricade was tangled, so it took some time to get it ready. Meanwhile, I'm running out of fuel."
HORNET BARRICADE VIDEO: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sD_mUwzpUs4
LSO 'Bug' Roach gets an A-6 back on deck into the barricade on a bad moving deck night x 2 videos below - short then long.
'35_aoa' is correctez-vous about no barricades since 1998. Attached is a page from an LSO newsletter about potential....
CVW-2's Near-Barricade
Mar 2011 LCDR "Jitters" Kircher, Paddles Monthly
"Our special thanks to CVW-2 Staff LSO LCDR "Jitters" Kircher for putting together the following submission for this month's edition of Paddles Monthly.
As time goes on and the money gets tighter, those who control the purse strings are understandably looking for savings. Recently, the LSO School Staff was approached about the possibility of eliminating the requirement for the barricade on forthcoming CVNs, with the possibility of the capability disappearing entirely. The primary driver behind the push to eliminate the barricade stems from the fact that one has not even been attempted since 1998. However, as CVW-2's LSO Cadre found out, the next actual barricade situation may be lurking right around the corner...."
Source: http://www.hrana.org/documents/PaddlesM ... ch2011.pdf (no longer available here - see PDF attached below)
Graphic from: MILITARY SPECIFICATION AIRPLANE STRENGTH & RIGIDITY, GROUND LOADS FOR NAVY ACQUIRED AIRPLANES 1993 http://www.abbottaerospace.com/download ... planes.pdf
CVW-2 Near Barricade LSO Newsletter Mar 2011.pdf
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Foreword by Tilda Swinton, Text by Olivier Saillard and Clara Tosi Pamphili, Photographs by Ruediger Glatz
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May 6, 2014 February 4, 2017 / Tom
Release: Friday, May 2, 2014
[Theater]
His greatest battle begins, and so does mine. . .
The web-slinging hero is back on the big screen in 2014 but it is much to many viewers' dismay that the final product doesn't deliver the goods. . .at least, not in terms of doing it the way recent superhero packages have handled things. And while people up and declare the latest chapter in Steve Rogers' saga as being a bold break from convention within the genre (I am inclined to agree), they ought to give consideration to this non-Marvel film property as well.
My spidey senses are tingling, and they sense a filmmaker desiring to go a different direction as far as the story's presentation is concerned. Busy with multiple villains offering multiple story arcs that impact on Peter Parker's double-life in a multitude of ways, the plot to The Amazing Spider-Man 2 is considerably less focused than that of it's predecessor, as it appears more interested in presenting conflicts and developments episodically rather than condensing information into a taut and dramatic narrative.
As you make these choices, Mr. Webb, keep in mind: with great power comes great responsibility.
It's another (read: fantastic) day in the life of Spider-Man as he slingshots his way through tight corridors lined with looming edifices and over the heads of captivated (and conveniently placed) on-lookers — plucking children, police officers, even a desperately lonely and low-level OsCorp engineer named Max Dillon (Jamie Foxx) out of harm's way as an out-of-control tanker truck carrying plutonium samples and driven by a crazed Aleksei Sytsevich (Paul Giamatti) smashes through the city. The chase is pretty convenient for Spidey as he kicks crime's ass on his way to his high school graduation, where his non-web-spinning girlfriend Gwen Stacy (Emma Stone) is preparing to deliver her valedictorian speech.
At a life crossroads, Peter and Gwen discuss what the future holds. For Gwen, it's looking like an opportunity to study at Oxford University on a prestigious scholarship; for Peter, it's likely more tangoing with the criminal underworld. It's this very reality that drives a wedge in their otherwise idyllic relationship; Gwen says Spider-Man is great and all, but she needs Peter more. And clearly that part of Peter is unwilling to up and drop his duties to the city. Undoubtedly it is this conundrum, this tug-of-war between two souls that drives the film's drama, rather than the hero's relationship(s) with the villain(s). Odd that a romance should take precedence over the fantastical concerns of the titular superhero that we were led to believe would comprise his 'greatest battle,' but fans of the franchise should take what they can get. After all I'm trying to stay positive here.
The strength of chemistry between leads Emma Stone and Andrew Garfield is a big positive. While their relationship was certainly on solid footing in the previous film, TASM-2 really allows it to blossom. It's too bad the rest of the film's backdrop isn't as compelling. The emergence of foes like Electro — whose chuckle-inducing radiance is the result of an unfortunate (and somewhat predictable) accident involving Max and a tank of electric eels — the Green Goblin, and the Rhino seem less like threats than elements that get shoehorned in to give Spider-Man something to do while contemplating permanently breaking away from Gwen.
In the context of this story, each of these characters come and go in a flash, acting as brief chapters in a much bigger story that will likely encompass this movie and the next. And so, they feel like nothing more than afterthoughts. It's a tactic that, in addition to making these threats feel a tad wasted, leaves a lot of dead space in between action sequences, a fact that really hampers the film's pacing and flow. We also aren't ever afforded the opportunity to really dig into the motives of any of the villains. Even Electro is considerably underdeveloped for being the film's most immediate threat. Oh. . .right, he wants attention. Whoop-dee-doo. So do I. . . . which is why I developed a movie blog! 😀
Awkward pacing and lots of narrative drift are problems that any general moviegoer is likely to pick up on, though the above is hardly an exhaustive list for those who flat-out reject this franchise as a legitimate entity. It probably doesn't need to be said that if the first film didn't do much for you, this one will do much, much less.
While cheesy dialogue is built into the formula of not only this franchise but the one preceding it, levels appear to be left unchecked this time around. It was as if Marc Webb set the dial on 'Silly' and left it there. In a variety of contexts, dialogue ranges from eye-rollingly to face-palmingly bad. At times the script can't possibly seem to be in final draft form. Paul Giamatti's over-the-top Rhino is exemplary. One hopes he gets more to do in future installments. . .and that his character actually gets to materialize as well. Same applies to Dane DeHaan's Harry Osborne, a.k.a. the Green Goblin, whose descent into madness is at once very difficult to empathize with, and categorically cliché. Beginning with the obligatory deathbed scene he shares with his rapidly deteriorating father, and culminating in a thoroughly disappointing final fight scene, the Goblin's story arc feels contrived.
At the end of the day, the film aims at displaying the second chapter in the new Spider-Man canon by casting a web of multiple threats and thematic elements, but it ultimately fails to focus on any one thing. Reiterating, The Amazing Spider-Man has good reason to exist; the Webb-era has ushered in a more emotional and slightly more personal world surrounding Spider-Man and his origins are better accounted for here. But the current story needs to be more than just how well Garfield and Stone get along, even if their dating in real life actually seems to positively influence the film rather than distract from it.
Now let's just hope they stay together, for I fear if the two split up that that's exactly how we get Spiderman 3: The Marc Webb Edition. I'm pretty sure I would not be able to handle Andrew Garfield turning into an emo Spider-Man.
zappin' da beeaasss!
Recommendation: Though it falls pretty far short of being a superior version that expands upon its predecessor's ambition, this follow-up still offers a lot of the emotional release that the first one did, and the visuals in this film are pretty spectacular. In fact, they are amazing and truly deserving of that description. Less so is the script, which may turn away even a fair amount of fans. Not being the most devout reader of the comic, but a supporter of the re-boot all the same, I really and truly believe Marc Webb could have done better. This isn't a bad film but it certainly is guilty of underachieving.
Running Time: 142 mins.
Quoted: "Hey, lick that. You are not a nobody, you are a somebody. You're my eyes and ears out here."
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35 thoughts on "The Amazing Spider-Man 2"
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CinemaClown
Excellent review, Tom. Watched it recently only & reviewed it a few minutes ago… The only part where it didn't disappoint me was that I was expecting it to be disappointed by it 😛
Cheers man! SO. . . ..did you like it then? Lol I'm not sure if you mean it let you down or you were surprisingly not let down. . .but I'll assume you mean you. . . weren't. . . disappointed. ? 🙂 lol
Overall there was some fun to be had here, but it was lacking in intelligence a bit for my tastes.
It means that I was expecting the film to be at best 2/5 stuff. And it turned out to be exactly that.. 2/5 stuff. I enjoyed bashing it in my review more than I enjoyed watching it on the big screen 😛
Hop by whenever you got time 😉
caragale
"…dialogue ranges from eye-rollingly to face-palmingly bad." Lololol. I'd have to agree on that point. I know comic book movies are supposed to be at least a teensy bit cheesy, but some of that dialogue…woof. I enjoyed it well enough–and it sounds like you enjoyed aspects of it, too–but it definitely could've been better. Here's hoping the third one has a little more focus. Good review, my friend!
Yeah, indeed Cara there were some parts that were just a bit too much! And looking back now I think the character of Rhino was meant to be completely over-the-top cheesy so I almost want to give him a break. But there were other examples. Idk, I just had higher hopes I suppose. Thanks so much for reading! 🙂 🙂
thycriticman
This is the truth. After further consideration, I started to appreciate some aspects of the film more than I originally did. When it ended, I was a tad more annoyed. However, I still have a fair bit of issues along with the ones you mentioned. First of all, the soundtrack was awful in my eyes at parts. The well-known hits did not fit some of the scenes and distracted me so much that I actually mentioned it haha. Did you notice that as well out of curiosity?
The other issue is one that I had with the first and now in this one. The majority of video-game looking battles offered in these flicks is simply no fun. Electro verse Spidey was a bore! The only fight that looked interesting was with Rhino at the end….but eh…that was just a tease!
Yeah, the battle sequences were subpar here I must admit. Given the crappy writing on top of that, and this made the follow-up to one of my favorite new superhero movies a very big letdown. But I guess they can't all be winners. All the Marvel properties seemed to get better as they went on (I guess some people will argue the exception with Iron Man). Maybe that's a sign that Sony needs to quit dicking around and just hand over the property to Marvel and everything can be hunky-dory again.
I liked in your review how you pointed that out. It's just so awkward how evident it is that the situations surrounding Spidey are separate from the situations versus the collective Avengers team by a simple contract, a piece of paper. It's so stupid. In fact, it's gotten to the point where isn't it weird to think of seeing the Avengers near Spider-man? Sharing screen time with each other? What? What is that?!
RIGHT RIGHT? Both are centered in NEW YORK. HOW IS THAT THEY NEVER SEE EACH OTHER?
Couldn't agree more Tom. Tellin' it like it is buddy. Great stuff.
Sometimes that's the job, sir. Sometimes. . .that is the job. It's a pity this couldn't have slung its way to greater heights, but for what it's worth, this wasn't so so bad that I see no reason for the franchise to continue (which it's obviously going to. . and I'd be surprised if it stops at three, personally). Here's to hoping #3 is a step back up 😀
CMrok93
Good review Tom. When its messiness shows, the movie is confusing and over-packed like hell. However, when everything is settled down and simple, it's fun, exciting and exactly what I could have wanted with a superhero movie released in the summer.
Good points dude, there were some good sequences sure. I also liked the relationship — that seemed to hold some of the fragile pieces together. But the fact that it remained so unfocused and seemed to have no real purpose introducing certain villains really disappointed me. This could have been a better product IMO.
I will agree, we could do worse for a kick-off to the summer blockbuster season!
Consumed by Film
Brilliant review Tom. The relationship twist is definitely the best element to The Amazing Spider-Man 2, and hopefully DeHaan is rewarded with a bigger role in future outings – I'm sure he will be. Otherwise, this one's pretty forgettable!
Cheers Adam. The romance at the heart delivers a gut-punch to be sure. I really dug that part of this. I'm sure DeHaan will factor in more later. The way Green Goblin's story arced in this one leads me to believe he'll have much more sway in the third and the Sinister Six franchise. Thanks for coming by man!
"a supporter of the re-boot all the same, I really and truly believe Marc Webb could have done better. This isn't a bad film but it certainly is guilty of underachieving"
Yep, same here. I had fun, and I loved the visuals, Garfield, Stone and Field, but the writing was horrid.
It was. I kept bracing for this too, even though I kept my review sampling prior to my viewing at a minimum, as I didn't want to ruin anything for myself or become too cautious about it. I managed to do that anyway, and then still I was more than a little surprised to see such low standard of quality here. A definite step-down from the first I'm afraid. . .
Yep, I agree. Not as good as the previous film, but still entertaining, though.
Brian @ Hard Ticket to Home Video
Wait, wait, wait, he's both a spider and a man????
And holy cowshit, I had no idea the running time was that long. Why?
Schizo Spider. His duel identities are the result of one seriously cruel mental illness.
Yeah, it was a long movie too I thought. Mainly due to such a scattered story. Episodic, I'm telling you. It was like watching the comic play out in a movie, with each frame being a single scene or something. Idk. . .this approach was just odd. And a poor decision
Seems like the director is just totally out of his element. I think he only got the job because his last name is Webb.
Great review. I loved the film and thought the new lighter more comic book feel of the film made Spider-man finally feel like Spider-man.
I enjoy the new tone established in this series too. And I really like the update with Andrew Garfield as Spider-Man and the love interest being Gwen Stacy and not M.J. And Emma Stone is well-cast. I like a lot of this second film but to me there were so many issues I had to bring the score down accordingly. Very glad to hear it did right by you, though Tim. I'll probably watch this again, but it wasn't what I had hoped for. I had hopes of something more. . .epic.
Oh it did have problems and I agree that a better film should have been made. Hope Drew Goddard can do something new and epic with the Sinister Six film 😀
mikeyb @ screenkicker
I keep hearing that the dialogue is really cheesy. I'm gonna watch it to see what i think
Yeah unfortunately my argument couldn't get away from that either, it's just too obvious not to comment on. I didn't also think the way Marc Webb went about setting this up as if a longer chapter in an actual comic book really helped things, either. There's a lot of meandering going on and we just wait for one of the villains to eventually pop up on screen for the obligatory action sequences, which, admittedly, those are pretty fun.
I liked Garfield and Stone again. Just felt the story could have been much stronger and had more of an identity. It really didn't know what to be
I didn't think the relationship between Gwen and Peter really worked. There seems to be chemistry between the actors (because they're a real life couple) but not between the characters. His interactions with girlfriend Gwen Stacy feel like manufactured affectations that cause the couple to conventionally fall in love, break up, get back together at various intervals for the sole purpose of romantic conflict. That's just what couples are supposed to do apparently and so they do it, because the script compels them to do so. But there is no genuine feeling behind it. Everything they do is perfunctory.
It wasn't my biggest problem with the film. We had similar thoughts on that. I only mention this aspect because it's the one thing that even detractors of the film seem to like.
Sounds like you enjoyed it for the most part (although 4/8 sounds a bit harsh given all the mild praise) Great review!
I enjoyed a good bit of it, but actually for the most part I was pretty annoyed by this movie. I wasn't willing to go any higher than 4/8 since the writing was just so terrible throughout and characters were at times beyond silly. Things started off on that classic feel-good type of spirit — the introductory banter between Spidey and Aleksei was kind of entertaining but then as the film went on things got worse. I am a big fan of the original. And the fact I could not rectify the weaknesses here says something about the overall product.
I really tried and wanted to love this one as much as the first, but not even close. Anxious to say the least about installment #3.
Great review Tom. I agree, some of the dialogue was so embarrassingly cheesy and all. I must say that I LOVED Dane DeHaan, and really wished they had worked more with him. This was not as strong as it's predecessor, but definitely not the worst out there. It was fun, just not fantastic, like The Winter Soldier.
Say… did you ever get around to The First Avenger?
Thanks kindly friend!! Good about you liking DeHaan, he wasn't the worst of all of this, I will say that. I'll leave it up to just a hurried script and an overexcitement to reveal a new batch of villains that made this film a weaker and more flimsy production than what came before it. That said, I really do love Andrew Garfield as Spider-Man. I think he's as good as Bale is in Batman. I really do. He's perfect. More of him is mostly the reason why I'm gonna see the third and whatever else is coming
I think you are onto something there hey. He is the BEST Spider-Man, glad you agree! He is hilarious and is a perfect Peter Parker AND Spider-Man! Agreed there, though I will (like this one) be returning for DeHaan!
oh, and crap! No, I still am yet to get to the First Avenger! 😛 lol
There's been a lot of basketball-viewing lately and movies have been not as common. Actually, no. . that's a lie. Movie blogging has slacked off! hah!
You must! I think you might just like it, it is very good!
Hmmmmm… slacker!
Telling me. Only one Bite Sized Review last month. Pretty sure a record-low number of comments i've left. Gah! *blog stress*. Nah, not really. But I aim to catch up. 😀
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Implementing new technology presents numerous challenges — choosing new software, training staff on new technology and processes, setting up new workflows, and so on. For technical writers, the transition from traditional desktop publishing to XML-based workflows requires a significant shift in mindset. Instead of focusing on the appearance of the final deliverable (usually on paper), writers must now give up control over formatting, follow a set of structure rules, and assume that the end result will be formatted automatically.
If Pete decides to go for DITA, he'll have to […] persuade management, get a budget, train writers and figure out how to manage the transition. Not easy. And, if the transition is not smooth, Pete could be penalized.
On the other hand, Pete could get through the transition period to DITA and leverage the same team that he had yesterday to produce more documents, more focused documents, better documents. Is there risk in the transition? Of course, but that's what life is about – adapt or disappear.
"Pete" must first determine that the benefits of XML-based authoring outweigh the costs. Then, Pete needs to think about whether DITA is the right choice for his organization's content.
DITA is not right for everyone. XML is not right for everyone.
Keep in mind that the benefits of XML generally go to management and the difficulties (worse tools, less control, more constrained authoring) are imposed on authors.
If you're interested in more details, the slides from my Coping with the XML Paradigm Shift presentation are available here (PDF).


Typically we see a significant downturn in new openings between Thanksgiving and Christmas. The slowdown was not as drastic as it has been in many years past; in fact, there wasn't much of a slow down at all. Here it is, just days before Christmas, when legal hiring typically comes to a complete stop. But we have four new openings: associate, paralegal, legal assistant and paralegal, in Dallas, Houston, and Austin, respectively. One is with a law firm and three are in-house. Hopefully this portends continued strong hiring for 2015!
Paralegal with Labor/ Employment experience is sought by corporation in The Woodlands. Knowledge of EEOC and NLRB processes and experience investigating & responding to EEOC & ULP charges is required.
Well-regarded boutique firm seeks an attorney with 6+ years of family law experience. Suitable candidates will have courtroom experience, excellent academic record and be licensed in Texas. This firm handles complex, high dollar family law matters, in an ideal Austin location and with an unusually favorable work/life balance.
Primary responsibilities will include, but are not limited to: proofread letters, patent cover page and claims; maintain and organize USPTO/client correspondence; drafting and editing documents; handling time entry for assigned attorney(s) and/or paralegal(s); E-file applications; prepare IDS (information disclosure statement); obtain file histories of issued patents or published applications; calendaring, arranging meetings and travel, serving as attorneys' liaison and assisting with various types of projects.
Dallas technology company seeks corporate counsel with 2-5 years of experience to handle commercial contracts, including software licensing and other technology-related agreements. Predictable schedule in a vibrant environment.
We are working with a national firm in Dallas, Texas seeking a corporate associate with 4-7 years of experience in complex corporate and securities matters, particularly private fund formation, operation and compliance. Significant career growth potential with a great team.
The Austin Office of a major international law firm seeks two associates: (1) Real Estate with at least 2 years of experience and (2) Labor & Employment with at least 4 years of litigation experience. Excellent credentials required. Top of the market compensation.


Divisions include CoD, Battlefield: Vietnam, CS:S, Halo, and Halo 2 for Xbox. http://www.tbraiders.com TBR is now recruiting in all divisions.
Division Leaders - Manage their division and be responsible for recruiting worthy members. Each division leader is also responsible for meeting with the other leaders to discuss the present and future events of the clan. This division leaders will also be required to discuss and create a name for their division with the members. Each division will have a name under the umbrella of TBR.
Members - You will be recruited by the division leaders of each individual clan. You will participate in practice, often gaming, and tournaments. We need members willing and wanting to improve their skills to push TBR to a respectable level.
Moderators - If you do not want to participate in a division or the clan itself, you may ask to become a forum moderator. This is a very respectable position and you will have the ability to edit obscene posts and topics. You will be responsible for keeping the forum clean of flaming nubs and safe for innocent eyes.
If interested, please PM myself or any of the other division leaders to be considered for any of the positions. However, please talk to the Halo division leader if you want to be considered for that division. Do not ask the Call of Duty division leader for a member position in the Halo division.
Thank you for your time. We hope to be seeing you under the TBR name in the near future. Please visit http://www.tbraiders.com for more information and to register for our forums and participate in clan discussions.


Ideum (www.ideum.com) is a creative company focused on using emerging technologies to design and build public installations and products that lead to memorable visitor experiences. Ideum's multidisciplinary team of interactive exhibit developers includes industry professionals from a diverse set of backgrounds, including designers, programmers, exhibit fabricators, and experts in a range of educational and scientific fields.
We believe that interactive exhibits provide unique opportunities for storytelling and social interaction. Our deep understanding of new technologies, compelling narratives, and the design opportunities they present allows us to create exhibits that are first-of-their-kind. We have developed interactive exhibits that utilize emerging technologies such as: touch tables, tangible object interfaces, projection mapping, video walls, LED lighting, and a variety of electronic components. Our projects have explored topics in art, science, history, and culture. Our collaborators are influential museums, Fortune 500 companies, and other innovative institutions.
Our holistic approach to design, technology, and the visitor experience sets us apart from other companies. We stand apart from many other interactive design firms not only because we build unique standalone hardware products, but because we also develop content and specialized software. Being accomplished in content development, hardware, software, and custom fabrication means we understand the full spectrum of skills and components necessary for creating immersive and compelling installations. In addition, Ideum is an A/V dealer/distributor and has partnerships with 3M, Barco, BrightSign, Christie, Crestron, Intel, LG, and others.


Constantly with a smile on her dial, Lacey is back with the iThink team after three years down south! Starting out her real estate career as a Property Manager, Lacey switched into a customer service role, more suited to her bubbly personality and polished people skills.
Lacey thrives in challenging situations and is never afraid to roll up her sleeves and help out wherever she can. Her organisational skills and attention to detail are second to none and admired by the entire iThink team. With a love of meeting new people and a genuine passion for customer service, Lacey is a perfect fit for the iThink team!
Outside the office, you can find Lacey at the gym, camping or on the roads taking her partners Harley out for a ride.


text:
Immigration in Canada
/ Apr 17, 2012 / by Tom Denton /
[This talk was given by Tom Denton to the Probis Club of Winnipeg at the Hotel Fort Garry on April 17, 2012.]
My topic today is "immigration". This could easily be a two-semester course at one of our universities. For the brief time we have today I'd like to focus on two things.
First is the turmoil created by the unexpected Federal announcement last week that it was going to take back the delivery of immigrant settlement services in Manitoba and British Columbia. This could effectively wreck a carefully constructed, clever and successful immigration strategy that Manitoba has been able to build over the past fourteen years. Everywhere I have gone in the past few days I am confronted by people with concerned questions about this, so I felt I had to talk about this with you today.
Back in the late 'nineties the Federal Government wanted to off-load responsibility for immigrant settlement services, and offered a financial carrot to the provinces to take it on. Most provinces smelled a rat, and refused – but Manitoba's Filmon government of that day saw an opportunity.
Most of Canada's annual inflow of about a quarter million immigrants was heading for the big centres of population – Toronto, Montreal and Vancouver and with sizeable numbers also heading for Calgary and Edmonton. Meanwhile 45 percent of the urban centres of Canada were quietly recording population losses at every census – a concern for Canada's six smaller provinces that were unable to attract their share of immigrants.
The smaller six knew instinctively that the fundamental bulwark and engine of prosperity is people, and that with an aging and a declining population they would not be able to hang in with the prospering "big four" provinces.
Manitoba is a uniquely entrepreneurial and self-reliant province. It is also a province that pulls together in the face of any challenge. We all know that and see the evidence often, whether in business, education, the arts, sports or environmental issues. We do things together here and we do them well.
Manitoba seized on the opportunity, using the proffered Federal money to build strong immigrant settlement services, and later to blend that with the federally-offered opportunity that allowed our Provincial Government to build its Provincial Nominee Program and give us the most successful provincial immigration program in Canada. I can tell you as a fact that this dual achievement is widely recognized.
From maybe three thousand immigrants a year we have watched numbers grow to about 16,000 immigrants last year . We have been on track to reach 20,000 a year by 2016. Meanwhile we have retained just about the lowest unemployment rate in Canada, proving once again that immigrants don't take jobs – they make them.
Not only has Winnipeg grown, so have other urban centres like Neepawa, Brandon, Morden, Steinbach and Winkler. Thirty percent of our immigrants have been settling outside our metropolis, spreading prosperity in their wake. I have been invited to make speeches across Canada to describe and explain Manitoba's immigration success.
And settlement success too. The Manitoba Government has developed strong settlement programs and services, extending them into rural centres and also into many community centres in Winnipeg where they have been welcomed and supported by the wider NGO and volunteer community. It's been another collaborative Manitoba success story.
Now all of this is threatened. It started last year when the Federal Government announced that it was putting a cap on our Provincial Nominee Program, would limit it and would not allow us to expand it further. It has been the principal engine of our remarkable immigration growth, and now the Harper government has reined it in. Last week they hit the other successful piece of our program, the settlement piece, and without any consultation or apparent consideration of what this will do to the program, have as you know announced that they will take back their funding and use it to deliver the program themselves. Is the Harper government acting like a schoolyard bully taking back his marbles and spoiling the game, or is there something more at play here?
Immigration Minister Kenney's comments here yesterday put a somewhat different spin on this, and I find this very interesting. Apparently the funding formula in the initial deal that had Manitoba putting up a quarter of the settlement funding got thrown wildly out of whack when our immigration program became wildly successful. It became a really bad financial deal for Ottawa and they found themselves paying 97 percent of our settlement costs instead of the 75 percent they started with. As an increase over what was paid in the initial years, the federal cost went up 450 percent, to $36 million. Our Provincial Government, by enjoying the unanticipated results of the original formula, sticking on the face of it with its own paltry $1.5 million contribution while enjoying the fruits of a population surge, was looking like a dog in the manger. Mr. Kenney had his excuse to take back his marbles. So he exercised his right to end the deal.
If you can follow the bouncing ball, today Manitoba is saying, yes, but we spent lots of money on immigrant settlement and integration in other ways – up to $20 million a year.
The decent and the mature thing would have been for Ottawa to have had a conversation with Manitoba about it first, before dropping the bomb. This is where another larger agenda may have entered the picture. My sense of the Harper government is that it takes strong positions with little in the way of consultation. It tends to an autocratic style rather than a consensual one. So here we have a unilateral intent for Ottawa to take a more controlling and uniform stance on immigrant settlement programs across Canada anyway, and Manitoba has played right into it, in the Kenney version, by shamelessly milking the federal cow as long as it could – and getting caught out.
Manitoba claims "unfair" - and I think it is. But Mr. Kenney with his usual pugilistic stance, and good on debating points, has his whipping boy to help him justify what he was going to do anyway.
We shall have to wait and see how this all shakes out, and maybe a kinder and wiser consensus will emerge; but meanwhile many good people who have put their lives into this work and been successful at it have not only had their livelihoods threatened but the excellence of their work placed in jeopardy. I hope we here in Manitoba, in our own inimitable way, can salvage some of this, despite Ottawa.
Immigration is a shared Federal-Provincial jurisdiction under the British North America Act. Through the Filmon, Doer and Sellinger governments, our Provincial Nominee and immigrant settlement programs have fitted well within the larger context of Canadian policy. Now, for whatever reason, this sword has fallen to sever cooperation – and it's a shame. It will hurt Manitoba. I repeat that there was apparently no forewarning, no consultation. This cannot be a hallmark of good or wise government in a federal system. In any event, the rosy times are over.
But something far more serious is happening around immigration policy, and this is the second point I want to make. It is a philosophical point. While Minister Kenney has brought it front and centre in a very clear way, it goes back for years through many previous governments, whether Liberal or Conservative.
Let me ask you some questions. How many of you are yourselves immigrants or are descended from people who came to Canada as immigrants since 1867? How many are not? How many of you think your immigrant forebears would have had difficulty qualifying under Canada's current immigration rules? I have heard several federal immigration ministers of the past admit candidly that their ancestors would never have qualified if they had to meet the tests of today.
So is there something wrong with this picture?
What are we doing with our immigration policy? What ought we to do with it? The latest immigration act was passed in 2002 and says it very clearly, as did the one before it. Canada's immigration policy is a "labour market strategy". Its clear purpose is to bring in the "right" immigrants to meet perceived shortages of labour. It is a strategy that focuses on the short term, on market needs and financial cycles. It says nothing about the longer term, about nation building or strengthening families - it's all about supplying our industries.
And of course we are facing acute labour shortages for two simple reasons: the big postwar population bump, the baby boomers, is hitting retirement age, and they and their children never did produce enough babies. We still don't produce enough babies to replace ourselves and like most European countries, without immigration we will cease to exist in 100 or so years. Do the math.
The only northern hemisphere democracy that is producing babies at the necessary population replacement of 2.1 live births per female is the United States. We're down somewhere around 1.5. The US is also letting in about four times as many immigrants a year as we do. Project this for the next forty years and you will find that by mid century they will have increased their numerical superiority over us by another 100 million people. How will we sleep with this elephant?
So just as we import machines, food stuffs, clothing, and raw materials we also import people as just another necessary commodity to keep the economy humming and Canada surviving.
We are having trouble rounding up enough of the right stuff, however, so we bring in temporary foreign workers to fill the gaps. And still we keep the lid on the total number of permanent residents we let in each year – about 250,000. Minister Kenney himself was quoted as saying in January that Canada needed three times that many immigrants each year to satisfy our long term demographic imperatives, but that Canadians would never accept that many. I think he's wrong. Not all Canadians are that dull-witted, if informed of the realities and invited to see the possibilities.
As we keep the numbers down and try to cherry pick the ones we let in, there is collateral human damage. The waiting list of parents and grandparents is said to be 150,000 – and we let in maybe ten percent of that or less each year. Most will die before they can get here. There is no longer any possibility of sponsoring ones brothers or sisters, let alone one's cousins or nephews or aunties. Not even one's own adult children are welcome unless they can qualify on their own. We emphasize human fodder for our industries, not human relationships. It is a very short-term view and an ugly one. It has moral and ethical deficiencies that nobody seems to talk about.
Is this the best way to build a nation? It wasn't the way we built when our ancestors arrived, and we've done pretty well with that human capital, both in terms of national prosperity and in terms of national character and values.
Behind all the rules and the hoops to get into Canada is one great overriding reality not reflected anywhere in our immigration policy. More than eighty percent of all who come here, regardless of the qualifying silos we make them fit, are choosing Canada – not because it is so wonderful – but because they are connected to someone already here. It's the elephant in the room. "Relational immigration" is what drives the demand and yet it is little reflected in our policy.
With our current policies and hurdles we focus on only the short-term and practical side. What about the moral side? In the past fifteen months, without any exaggeration, I have personally turned down the sponsorship of about 6,000 relatives of Winnipeggers. They are refugees living in squalid circumstances in camps and slums of the Third World and being supported with remittances from here. But there is no capacity in Canada's current rules to let them in.
I could fill you with horror stories of human tragedy, of families kept apart, rejected by Canada, for another hour. They weigh daily on my conscience because there is rarely any remedy. Whether as an ordinary human being or as a Christian I cannot justify the institutional cruelty that I have to countenance every day.
What are we doing with this current immigration policy and for our country? We are looking at Canada as a business where we control growth to maximize earnings. There is no vision in that. Our forebears were building a nation. One hundred years ago Sir Wilfrid Laurier contemplated a nation of 100 million by the year 2000. We barely made a third of that. We sit astride a colossal land mass, the second largest nation by geography on the planet and one rich in resources; yet we have a tiny population. Great Britain has almost 30 million more people than Canada with a land mass equivalent to less than forty percent of Manitoba. We have become a cautious and timid people, comfortable in our skin and with no vision – at least that is apparently how successive federal governments have seen us.
Whether they are right or not I leave to you to answer.
I challenge you to do something about it.
Tom Denton is executive director for sponsorship at Hospitality House Refugee Ministry.


The table below lists some key Korean regulatory agencies, along with their regulatory scopes and relevant laws or legislative acts. Please contact the relevant agency for more information on requirements for specific products.
aircraft, dangerous goods packing, etc.


The Tax Justice Network has just inaugurated a new blog, Fools' Gold. It just came out with an excellent piece on taxes and Irish economic success in the "Celtic Tiger" era, written by Nick Shaxson. As I argued in 2011 and in my book Investment Incentives and the Global Competition for Capital, Ireland had low taxes for decades with nothing to show for it, with no improvement relative to EU-15 GDP per capita in 1958-87.
The Fools' Gold piece updates the data to 2013. Take a look at its Chart 1, which provides a great visualization of Irish income per capita, tax rates, and developments in the European Union.
Chart 1: Ireland's GNP per capita, relative to European GNP per capita, 1955-2013.
In addition, the chart shows the significance of EU funds flowing into the country, though it only covers the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) monies. It does not include the Structural Funds, which Frank Barry (via Shaxson) puts at almost 3% of gross domestic product from 1989 to 1999, or about the same as the CAP. The importance of the European Union, in terms of both trade access and transfers, is hard to understate.
Unfortunately, as Shaxson writes, true believers in the low tax myth, and the architects of its tax haven policies, are still in control of Irish policy. So we have scores of billions of dollars of profits hidden in Ireland and continuing pressure to lower tax rates in the rest of the European Union, and the United States, too, despite the fact that low taxes didn't cause Irish economic success at all.
Don't forget to follow Fools' Gold!


text:
AAP slams Union Minister Hardip Puri for his "anti-Delhi" stance
21 Mar 2019, 00:18 GMT+10
New Delhi [India], Mar 20 (ANI): Aam Aadmi Party on Thursday hit back at Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri questioning him his "anti-Delhi" stance.
This came after the Union Minister accused AAP of being desperate for an alliance while claiming that AAP's support base has been eroding.
AAP spokesperson Saurabh Bhardwaj said, "Hardeep Puri need not worry about the Aam Aadmi Party, he should tell the people of Delhi about his anti-Delhi approach. Puri, who has nothing worthwhile to show in his performance as a minister, is now venturing into the arena of electoral political analysis."Puri reportedly had stated that AAP is desperate for an alliance with Congress, craving for political power. Questioning its credibility, Puri apparently wondered whether seven MPs of the capital city can get full statehood for Delhi in a House of 545 MPs.
Reacting to Puri's comment, Bhardwaj said, "AAP was born out of a movement for the creation of Lokpal, which Mr Puri's party promised in the run-up to 2014 Lok Sabha elections, and was forced to form this anti-corruption ombudsman following consistent questioning by the Supreme Court. Puri was not in politics then and therefore, might not be aware that AAP began its journey against corruption in Congress-led UPA government's tenure and is now fighting the authoritarian and dictatorial regime of Puri's party (BJP)."While accusing the BJP led Central government of being authoritarian and dictatorial, the AAP spokesperson said, "Having been a career diplomat, who has served in many countries, Puri would well be knowing that authoritarian and dictatorial regimes don't last long and India is a country with a strong democracy where people will no longer tolerate a government which trampled the Constitution and destroyed federalism."He warned that the BJP government's 'anti-people policies' will get a resounding reply in the forthcoming Lok Sabha elections.
Lok Sabha elections for all the seven seats in Delhi are scheduled to be conducted in a single phase on May 12.
The counting of the votes will be done on May 23. (ANI)
Jackie Shroff recalls time when Hrithik looked after Tiger
Modi, Shah attend BJP parliamentary party meet
The gorgeous trio Karisma, Kareena, Amruta relish their London vacay
Your body as a weapon: the rise of the 'revenge body' online
De Ligt has agreed to join Juventus - reports


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Asbestos is a mineral fiber that can be identified only through the use of microscopes and is therefore analyzed by testing facilities with the proper equipment. There are 6 different types of asbestos that are regulated: Actinolite, Amosite, Anthophyllite, Chrysotile, Crocidolite, and Tremolite. Asbestos was utilized as a fire retardant, electrical and thermal insulator, thermal and chemical stabilizer, and as a high tensile strengthener to a variety of products.
Naturally occurring asbestos can be naturally found in mineral bands within rock deposits and in soil. Through both chemical, physical, and anthropogenic (human) activities asbestos contained within rock and soil can be released into the air, increasing human exposure and inhalation. The largest naturally occurring asbestos deposits occur in Greece, Turkey, Russia, Canada, Republic of South Africa, Zimbabwe, Australia, India, and China.
The majority of the scientific community is not concerned with naturally occurring asbestos but rather man-made materials containing asbestos. Due to its desirable properties (fire retardant, electrical and thermal insulator, thermal and chemical stabilizer, and as a high tensile strengthener), asbestos was added to many materials related to housing, electrical, and automotive components. Materials considered to potentially contain asbestos are any materials that are not wood, glass, or metal. For more information, visit U.S. EPA's asbestos website.
Why is asbestos harmful to me?
Long-term over-exposure of asbestos that causes damage to the tissues of the lungs, hampering the exchange of gases. Length of exposure determines the intensity of the disease. Although this is not a cancerous disease, it can contribute to lung cancer and mesothelioma. Symptoms: shortness of breath, cough, tightness in the chest, and chest pain.
The deadliest type of cancer for both sexes. Smoking, high levels of air pollution, and asbestos are all contributing factors. Symptoms: persistent cough, shortness of breath, wheezing, chest pain, loss of appetite and weight, fatigue.
A fairly uncommon cancerous tumor found along the lining of the lungs and chest, abdomen, or heart caused largely due to asbestos. Cases of this rare tumor are found to be increasing worldwide. Symptoms: abdominal bloating and pain, chest pain, cough, fatigue, shortness of breath, weight loss.
Any materials that are not entirely wood, glass, or metal may contain asbestos. The surest ways to determine if you have asbestos products in your household is through product labeling or having the materials sampled by an asbestos specialist. Visit the Ohio Department of Health license search website to find a licensed asbestos hazard abatement contractor.
Should I be concerned with asbestos in my home?
Undisturbed asbestos is not normally a concern in the household. Asbestos will not become airborne unless the material is damaged (tears, abrasions, water damage) or experiences strong vibrations or air flows. If you want to remove products in your home that contain asbestos it may be required to hire a professional. Please contact us to find out if your residence may be exempt.


08.03.2015 – Cadillac Racing driver Johnny O'Connell finished fourth and teammate Andy Pilgrim came to the checker in 11th in the second of a double race weekend at the Pirelli World Challenge StopTech Grand Prix at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course today.
O'Connell (Flowery Branch, Ga.) took the standing start lights from eighth with Pilgrim (Boca Raton, Fla.) going away from the start in 13th. Once again both Cadillac ATS-V.R drivers were able to get good starts only to be slowed soon after Turn One with a full course caution. On the restart O'Connell was able to move up one position to fifth and Pilgrim made his way to 11th where they both crossed the finish line under hot 88-degree temperatures 50-minutes later.
Pilgrim will take the 11th place finish with a smile.
The races from Mid-Ohio will be broadcast on the CBS Sports Network Sunday, Aug. 9 at 4 p.m. ET.
The Pirelli World Challenge Series will travel to Miller Motorsport Park outside of Salt Lake City for a double race weekend Aug. 21-23.
Yeah I'd have liked to see Cadillac win as well considering a new CTS-V is at the top of my shopping list. But they did great with their ATS-V-R.
Against Porsches and Ferraris the ATS-V.R did very good!
The Acura TLX didn't place that high.
edit: In fact, the ATS-V.R finished ahead of a LOT of really fast race cars… I'm impressed!
O'Connell did pretty good even though he played it safe. Better off not coming in first and surviving for another race. But I wonder which cars were apparently able to feel stable enough that they managed to overtake the ATS-V.R.


James, the half-brother of Jesus, shares wisdom on how to overcome challenges that can trip us up as Christ-followers and keep us from growing to maturity.
James is the half-brother of Jesus. During Jesus' ministry, James thought he was nuts. After Jesus' death and resurrection, he is convinced that his half-brother is God and becomes the key leader of the church in Jerusalem. Ultimately, James is martyred when he refuses to recant his belief that Jesus is God.


Josh regularly performs boundary, title, and topographic surveys for clients in the northwest Hill Country. As a surveyor, Josh specializes in resolving boundary discrepancies and subdivision platting.
As part of Abraham's daily practice, he prepares boundary and title surveys for clients Mason, Gillespie, McCullough, Menard, Llano, Kimble, and Concho County. Abraham is committed to providing quality surveys in a timely manner.


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Today's Cubs Birthdays (December 26)
~Dave Rader 1948 (Cubs 1978) Rader was a Cub for only one season (1978), and he hit only .203 that season, but all three Cubs catchers in 1978 sported tremendous mustaches (the other two were Tim Blackwell and Larry Cox).That's a feat that may never be replicated. Rader also caught for the Gian...
Today's Cubs Birthdays (December 7)
~Don Cardwell 1935 (Cubs 1960-1962) The Cubs acquired Cardwell from the Phillies in exchange for second baseman Tony Taylor. Taylor went on to play big league ball for 16 more seasons, but it looked like a great trade at the time. On May 15, 1960, in his first start in a Cubs uniform, Don Cardwell [&...
This Week in Wrigley History (September 3–September 9)
Sep 3rd, 2021
September 3, 1936. A police officer may have cost the Cubs a victory. Henry Hanson was an ordinary Chicago cop. He was working security at a Cubs-Dodgers game. In the first inning of the game, young Cubs first baseman Phil Cavarretta hit a ball down the right field line, right were Hanson was standin...
This Week in Wrigley History (August 27–September 2)
August 29, 1918 The Cubs clinched the National League pennant with a double-header sweep of the Cincinnati Reds. Lefty Tyler wins his 18th game in the opener, and Claude Hendrix wins his 20th game in the nightcap. It is the earliest any team in National League history clinched a pennant, but that rec...
Historical Events (August 7–August 13): Where were the Cubs?
In This Weeks Historical Events
August 7, 1931. Former Cubs catcher Jimmy Archer adds to his legend. Jimmy was one of the best players on the Cubs during his decade in a Chicago uniform, being named to the "All American" team three years in a row (1912-1914). His throwing arm was the envy of the league. Chief Meyers, th...
Today's Cubs Birthdays (July 21)
~Johnny Evers 1881–1947 (Cubs 1902-1913, Cubs manager 1913) Johnny Evers was the starting second baseman for the greatest Cubs team of all-time, the 1906-1910 dynasty. He got his nickname, the Crab, for the way he sidled up to grounders, but he lived up to his nickname in another way. Evers was...
Today's Cubs Birthdays (July 8)
~Hank O'Day 1859–1935 (Cubs manager 1914) He was the umpire who made the most controversial call in baseball history…the play that became known as "The Merkle Boner." The NY Giants never forgave him for favoring the Cubs on that play, and were especially suspicious of him because he was born an...
~Billy Herman 1909–1992 (Cubs 1931-1941) He was named William Jennings Bryan Herman after the famed orator, and this Billy had an incredible big league career. He was a 10-time All-Star in 15 big league seasons (and his first two years, the All-Star game hadn't been invented yet). He was consid...
This Week in 1945 (July 5–July 12)
This week (July 5-11) during the last year the Cubs went to the World Series (before 2016)… World War II *First things first: ARMY RESTORES BREWERIES FOR GIs IN GERMANY. *The Philippines are declared liberated. Among those fighting in the battle: Rod Serling. He later tells quite a few war stor...


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FORD CHARLEY J
CPT Charley J. Ford was a potential member who died during training before going to Vietnam on 11/03/1969 at the age of 25.1 from A/C accident
Ft. Benning, GA
This information was provided by Jerry Rhodes, SSN search
More detail on this person: I believe Charlie died at Ft Benning, GA. Captain Ford was the class leader of ORWAC 69-30. His class graduated from Flight School at Ft. Rucker, AL on 23 September 1969. I was in that class also. He did not die after tour in Vietnam. He died after Training.
From: Jerry Rhodes at Co-Pilot Killed in Copter Crash Near Ft. Benning FT. BENNING, Ga. (AP) - The copilot was killed and the pilot seriously injured Monday when the UH-1 Army helicopter crashed and burned here. The Army identified the victims as Capt. Charlie J. Ford, the co-pilot, and C.W.O. John M. Mercer of the 197th Aviation Co., 10th Aviation Group, Ft. Benning. Ford's widow lives in Columbus, Ga., his permanent home of record is Live Oak, Fla. Mercer lives in Columbus and is from Baltimore, Md. The Army said the two men, both Vietnam veterans, were on a training mission and had just taken off when their helicopter crashed in heavy woods. 03 NOV 69 CPT Charlie J. Ford [P] CW2 John M. Mercer* [CP] Georgia 197 AVN (10 AVN GP) UH-1 [Need Tail#] A/C crashed and burned in heavy woods during a training mission on Ft Benning. CP died of injuries on 07NOV69.
Burial information: Claywood Cemetery, Suwannee, FL


Home / Business, Countries, rich countries and poor countries / Why Rich Countries are Rich and Poor Countries Poor?
There are 196 countries in the world. 25 of them are very rich, defined as having an average wealth per person of over $100,000 a year. But far more countries are quite poor, and some are very very poor.
In the 20 poorest countries of the world, the per capita wealth is under a $1,000 a year. Or under three dollars a day. Every country is on a path to growth. But, the poor ones are growing very, very slowly. If Zimbabwe continues at its current growth rate, it will qualify as a 'rich country' in 2722 years.
What we want to know why some countries prosper and others stagnate. So that we can understand what rich countries are doing right- and get a better grip on the challenges and hurdles facing poor countries. There are basically three factors that determine whether a country will be rich or poor.
Institutions are beyond important. Broadly speaking, rich countries have 'good institutions' and poor ones have very, very bad ones. The correlation between poverty and corruption is direct. The richest countries in the world are quite simply invariably also the least corrupt ones. And the most corrupt countries are also the poorest.
When countries are corrupt, they can't collect enough taxes to get the good institutions they would need to escape the poverty trap.
Half of the wealth of the world's poorest 20 countries goes into offshore accounts. Lost revenues in these countries total between $10 and $20 billion dollars a year Meanwhile, without an adequate tax base, poor countries can't invest in police, education, health, transport.
What goes on in people's minds, their outlooks and beliefs, A striking statistic pops up here in relation to religion. If there's one generalization you can make about religion and wealth, it's that the fewer people believe, the richer they stand a chance of being.
19 of the richest countries in the world have 70% or more of their populations saying religion is not at all important to them. The exception here is – unsurprisingly – the United States, which manages to combine great religiosity with huge wealth and conversely, the poorest nations in the world are also extremely believing ones. In the world's poorest country, simply everyone is a believer.
Why is belief quite so bad for wealth creation?
Because in general, religiosity is connected up with the idea that the here and now can't be improved. So, you should focus on the spiritual and look forward to a next world instead. In the rich world, people are generally great believers in their capacity to alter their destiny through effort and talent.
Poor countries are overwhelmingly located in the tropical regions. This isn't a coincidence. Life is, in many ways, simply far tougher there.
Tropical plants are generally a lot less packed with carbohydrates. Poor countries have worse soil too. Also, and perhaps surprisingly, a tropical climate can be disadvantageous to photosynthesis.
It isn't just plants and animals that suffer in the tropics. In the middle latitudes, humans are open to a terrifying array of diseases.100% of low-income countries are affected by at least five tropical diseases simultaneously. The magical temperature which has helped to make rich countries rich is 16 degrees centigrade. However, superficially unpleasant, that drop below 16 degrees as autumn starts to bite is quite literally, a foundation stone of civilization.
Geography also encompasses transport and poor countries are, on the whole, very badly connected. Landlocked Bolivia and semi landlocked Paraguay are the poorest nations in South America. Africa has only one major navigable river, the Nile and hosts 15 landlocked nations, 11 of which have average incomes of $600 or less. Not coincidentally, the poorest country in Asia, Afghanistan, is also landlocked.
Then there's the matter of natural resources. Natural resources (like oil or precious metals) can be real trouble – and, paradoxically, poor countries tend to have them in spades. These natural resources are what economists call intensifiers. They will help to make a country with good institutions richer. But, one with bad institutions gets even poorer, precipitating what we call the resources trap.
So how should one weigh up the relative importance of all these different factors? All institutional, cultural and geographic, in determining the wealth of a nation? There are no hard and fast rules. But, as a guide, one can suggest that 50% of a nation's wealth comes down to its institution. 20% is due to its culture, and 10% each can be allocated to latitude, connectivity with the rest of the world, and geological good fortune.
If you're a policymaker, this discussion has wide practical implications. But at a more personal level, one might take away two things from it; Firstly, Modesty: you should have a better idea of what you owe your individual success too. Which is not so much your own hard work or fine mind, as the broader society you live in which was here for over centuries. And, which you now draw benefit from unknowingly. And at the same time, Sympathy: an ability not to see failing societies just as basket cases, but rather as countries facing comprehensible and hugely difficult problems.
Our sympathy can hike while reflecting that the troubles of desperate lands are to a considerable extent to do with malaria. A lack of navigable river and the horrific buzzing of the tsetse fly rather than always some more intimate human failing which we would ourselves never manifest.
It was good to read this post which is a great guide to Rich and Poor Countries. Appreciate all these Points.
Nice differentiation between Rich and poor countries with all highlighted gesture.