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Vintage Computers
By Mark Frauenfelder
For countless TRS-80 faithful and Commodore 64 loyalists, the trailing edge is the high ground of technology.
In 1992, a multimedia designer from Virginia named Peter Sugarman wrote an essay called "Neo-Luddite Computer Solution." Sugarman was serious about kicking the technology-upgrade habit. "The computer industry is a chicken on growth hormones," he began, "sloshing around in a nutrient bath with its head cut off. Hardware is out of date as soon as it's installed. Program bloat is rampant, outstripping ever larger hard drives."
Sugarman's sound-bite slogan for the movement he hoped to inspire was "Off the Treadmill!" His solution: Find yourself a "durable, portable, and relatively sprightly" hardware platform, an operating system that's "STABLE, rather than bleeding-edge," and a suite of "Pretty Good Software, consisting of an integrated package that provides basic word processing, spreadsheet, database, and telecom." Then, learn how to use the system, and "do NOT come back for at least 10 years. After that, you MIGHT be eligible for your next computer solution. But only if you've truly outgrown what you've worked with for the past decade."
Eight years have passed. Curious to see what Sugarman now thinks of his rousing manifesto, I asked him to reread it and tell me if he still believes in what he wrote. "I'd buy a Neo-Luddite Computer Solution in a New York minute," Sugarman responded in an email. "The plague of Windows is upon the land. Bloated stupid'ware that just don't work defines the normal working experience."
OK, but given that he's a multimedia designer and the Web has appeared since he wrote the essay, has he really been able to stay off the treadmill?
Well, he's been able to keep one foot off it, at least. His software is strictly vintage: "My word processor of choice is WriteNow. First copyright in 1986 by NeXT, last copyright in '92 by T/Maker. Both companies out of business, the 'ware lives on. I use version 3, I never upgraded to 4. The Photoshop I use is version 2.5, circa 1993." But when it comes to hardware, Sugarman can't completely abstain from the salacious allure of new computers, even though he called them "diseased silicon mushrooms" in his manifesto. He's been seduced by the iMac, a computer that resembles the cap of a Psilocybe cubensis. He bought the original bondi-blue model in 1997. "I succumb to the hardware," he admits, "but then I try to wear the stuff out." In an attempt to mitigate his weakness he tells me that he still uses a Mac 660AV.
Sugarman may not walk his talk, but plenty of people seem to have taken his words to heart. These days, millions have jumped off the perpetual-upgrade treadmill, refusing to shell out for new systems or the software upgrades that require them. They're using old systems with a fraction of the power and memory of today's computers to do everything you do on your speedy box of patchworked, CPU-choking software. And a lot of them are having more fun than you are.
You made a choice - chrome and horsepower, even though you pay dearly in complexity and frequent maintenance. You find yourself pushing Ctrl-Alt-Delete a lot, and you often make use of that shepherd's staff of the bleating edge, a straightened paper clip. Other people chose different. They didn't let go of their old computers, their dependable, unbreakable machines. Using the Net, they've created a distributed user-support system. Garage-based hardware hackers build and sell them add-ons that goose up the performance of retrocomputers. Programmers develop applications and operating systems to get them online. What you think of as flotsam bobbing in the wake of Moore's law, these people think of as irreplaceable.
"Just how much horsepower do you need to read and reply to messages on the Internet?" asks Maurice Randall, a Commodore loyalist and owner of a one-man car-repair shop in Charlotte, Michigan. Randall, who wrote and now sells the first fax software for the Commodore 64, has just finished coding the machine's inaugural Web browser. He uses his C64 for everything from invoices to faxes to displaying automotive diagnostics. "There hasn't been anything made in the last three or four years that's necessary in computer hardware," he says. "I wouldn't be able to do anything more with a new PC than I'm doing with my 64."
"You can see how loyal I am," he adds. "I just work on Chryslers, not on Fords or General Motors."
Randall has many fellow travelers. More than 18 million C64s were sold between 1982 and 1985, making it one of the most popular home computers of the decade. Doug Cotton, director of technical services at Creative Micro Designs and former editor of Commodore World magazine, estimates that at least a million C64 and C128 users are still out there. With a huge library of home and business software, add-ons, and peripherals, the computer remains useful and popular.
Then there's the Amiga, released by Commodore in 1985. Jason Compton, a technology journalist in Evanston, Illinois, and former editor of Amiga Report, figures half a million people worldwide are still booting it up. With its built-in video output, speech synthesis, sampled stereo sound, slick GUI, multitasking OS, and superb graphics hardware, the 15-year-old Amiga 1000 is like Buckminster Fuller's streamlined Dymaxion car of 1933: an object from a future that never arrived. The shockingly brilliant design was so unlike other computers that most people shunned it. Commodore, which bought Amiga from the three Florida dentists who funded it in 1982 with $7 million, never figured out how to market the machine in the US. But connoisseurs of beautiful computing have rediscovered it.
Fetishized on thousands of fan sites and in more than 50 online and print magazines in the US, the UK, Germany, and a dozen other countries, the nifty oddity has made a comeback, thanks in part to a vast network of Amiga developers.
Simone Tellini, a 22-year-old student at Italy's University of Bologna, wrote STFax, a voice/fax/data communications package for the Amiga, and says the computer's strength is in its lightweight OS: "If you use a Pentium 500 with Windows and a 68060 [about as fast as a 75-MHz Pentium] with the Amiga OS, you'd think the latter is a lot more powerful than the former."
Last year, Gateway, which then held the Amiga trademark, released a new OS for the old computer. (The trademark and patents were later sold to Amino Development - now Amiga Inc. - which plans to further develop the system.) Microcode Solutions makes Fusion, a program that lets you run Mac software on an Amiga, and several companies sell add-on cards that allow you to run Windows.
Amiga user-group sites sum up the spirit of the craze with slogans like "Amiga: It's a way of life" and "Amiga: The definition of Multimedia, before Windows screwed it up."
"You can have my Amiga when you pry it from my cold dead hands."
A Taxonomy of Loyalists
The computer faithful can be divided into two basic groups: nostalgia buffs, who like to collect and tinker with historically significant technology no matter how old or slow, and diehards, who remain faithful despite - if not because of - the antiquity of the product.
The former, members of the classic-computing movement, are reliving a cherished techno-past. First computers are like childhood toys - you love them when you're little, get bored with them when you reach puberty, and pine for them when you grow up. PCs quickly lose their ability to run new software, and given the market, it's hard not to think of computers as perishable goods. Last year, a 266-MHz iMac with a 6-Gbyte hard drive cost $1,999; today, you can get one with nearly twice the oomph for $1,000. So people scrap the old stuff and load up on the latest. Now, many users remember the thrill of their first computer experience. They want the objects back.
The treasure hunt is on. Last year, eBay created a Vintage Hardware category, where you can buy things like Amiga manuals, Atarisoft cartridges, and Heathkit Digital Weather Computers. Traffic on Usenet and mailing lists devoted to retrocomputing grows by the month, with groups for nearly every imaginable platform. In these discussions you'll find devotees reminiscing over core memory, magnetic drums, discrete transistors, CP/M, Forth, Prolog, paper tape, and punchcards. Others talk about their classic computers as if they were exotic pets and fondly recall early microcomputers with names that sound like Marvel Comics characters: Exidy Sorcerer, Cosmac Elf, Coleco Adam, Osborne Vixen, Acorn Electron, Dynalogic Hyperion, Franklin Ace, Mattel Aquarius, and Intertec Superbrain.
Diehards are a different breed altogether. These people aren't playing around with antique computers because it's cool to tap away on a machine that others left for dead eons ago. They are using a particular model because it does a better job than the brittle speed demons most people use.
Take Kent Seaton, a 25-year-old webmaster at Gateway who works on the Amiga.org news site as a hobby. "The Windows/Linux/Mac operating systems just don't cut it for me," he says. "Windows is too controlling, Mac is way overfriendly, and Linux is geared for the expert system admin." He points to the debate among multimedia designers over the relative merits of Photoshop versus the Amiga app ImageFX, and to the advantages of having on-demand support from the small, responsive community of Amiga developers. He adds, "One of the comments I hear from time to time from Amiga users is, 'You can have my Amiga when you pry it from my cold dead hands.'"
Then there are people who love old programs that simply won't run on new machines or operating systems. Designer Joel Westerberg keeps a Macintosh SE/30 around just so he can use MacPaint. "That old program gives a certain feel to images that cannot be replicated by another program," he says, especially for designing black-and-white graphics. "It's got all sorts of patterns and stuff that are crucial." After he creates images on the SE/30, Westerberg copies the files over to his high-powered workstation to prepare them for the Web.
David Schehl, a public school art teacher in Danville, Ohio, bought his Tandy-Radio Shack TRS-80 Model 102 laptop in the early '80s and has been using it nearly every day since. He's created a program for grading students, and prints out the reports on his old Tandy dot-matrix printer. He uses a database to track classroom supplies. Because his laptop weighs just 3 pounds, Schehl takes it everywhere with him. "It's got features you can't find on a big computer," he says. For one thing, the boot-up time is "instantaneous - you turn it on, it's there. I can't believe Tandy quit making them."
"I can sum it up very briefly," says Allison Parent, manager of information systems for a small manufacturing company in New Hampshire that she prefers not to name. "Some of the old machines are stable, mature systems that we know how to use." For people who depend on technology that doesn't go on the fritz when you look at it cross-eyed, the instability of the latest systems wastes more time than is gained in raw speed. "Everybody knows where the Reset button on a Windows machine is," says Parent. "VAXes don't need a Reset button."
Parent is referring to her cherished DEC VAX minicomputer, made by Digital starting in the late '70s. She's also got a NorthStar Horizon (whose maker went out of business in 1987), which she built from a kit in 1978 and still uses to write software for embedded-systems applications. After 20 years of using the NorthStar, Parent knows which programs work best with it. "Despite its age and slowness," she says, "the NorthStar's very efficient at what it does. There are no unpleasant surprises. We know what works, and we use what works well."
Choosing to use an orphaned computer is a way to take a stand against bloat and complexity. "Extra overhead works against you," says Parent, who claims she can turn on her NorthStar and type a letter in the same time it takes a Pentium III to boot up.
"We've got new PCs in the office, but I won't touch them," says Jim Helms, a real estate lawyer in Chicago. Like Peter Sugarman, Helms is not a Luddite - rather, he's an informed, selective rejector of certain technologies. Helms chooses to use an Apple II+ he keeps on a small table behind his desk, and he's got another one at home. When he bought them back in 1982, he needed one program to run amortization schedules and another to figure out taxes on rental income from a vacation home. He couldn't find anything off the shelf that did the trick, so he fired up the Basic software that was built into the ROM of all Apple IIs and wrote his own programs.
Computer diehards are the opposite of early adopters. They can't even be called late adopters. Ain't-never-gonna adopters is more like it. In their own way, diehards are more cutting-edge than the people who stay afloat by purchasing a new system every year or so.
But just because they won't upgrade doesn't mean they're going to stay away from the Web, or multimedia, or video editing. They just have to be more resourceful, inventing new solutions for old technology. As a result, tinkerers and coders have developed thousands of add-ons and programs to squeeze every last drop of performance from spartan systems. The growing service sector for various retrocomputer platforms often blends into their user groups' fan bases. It's all one happy family, overjoyed with the discovery that there are other people out there who use these orphaned machines.
Why struggle with a machine that has no graphical web browser? "Because it's an old friend."
Intelligent Upgrades
Creative Micro Designs (www.cmdweb.com), out of East Longmeadow, Massachusetts, sells hardware and software for the Commodore 64 and 128 through the company's black-and-white catalog. It also consults with businesses that use outdated Macs and PCs. "As we build up our business," says Doug Cotton, "we're finding there are a lot of niches here and there." The catalog's cover shows pictures of seven devices, new peripherals for the Commodore designed to punch up performance. The units all have the same boxy, barely-past-prototype look - little metal toggle switches, exposed circuit boards, stamped-metal powder-coated cases. They reek of an early-'80s hardware aesthetic, and even the equipment labels look like they were designed by Dungeons & Dragons-loving hardware engineers using Letraset rub-on typefaces. But they're brand-new.
The catalog sells applications you've probably never heard of. There are word processors called Bank Street Writer and SuperScript 128. The graphics programs have names like Cadpak and Flexidraw. Some have been upgraded several times since the early '80s; others are new. These aren't goofy hobby programs - the word processors come with spellcheck, macros, mail merge, and translation, and the spreadsheets have enough features to keep the average Excel user satisfied.
But it's the catalog's hardware that really testifies to the staying power of this platform. Why would a Commodore owner pay several hundred dollars for something called a SuperCPU accelerator ("Boost your Commodore 64 and 128 to 20 MHz!") when they could buy an entire new PC-clone box for nearly the same price? Why struggle with a machine that has no graphical Web browser?
"Because it's an old friend," says Robert Bernardo, patting the monitor of his C64. I've encountered Bernardo, president of the Fresno Commodore User Group, at the Vintage Computer Festival in Santa Clara, California. The club's motto, Bernardo tells me, is "Taking 8 Bits to the 21st Century," and the majority of its members use the C64 as their primary computer.
Bernardo introduces me to a couple of other Commodore enthusiasts. They're demoing graphics programs on their hopped-up machines. One computer is playing a video of what looks like a grainy clip of the Thing from the Fantastic Four dancing the frug. "What's that?" I ask. "It's the dancing baby!" says Bernardo. He's right. But I can barely make out the infant in the jumble of crude polygons. This is what happens when you try to view the 21st century through an 8-bit platform - you get a baby that looks like it's assembled from brick shards.
Lots of diehards are like Bernardo: They use orphaned platforms no longer supported by the original manufacturer, and they depend on a network of tiny third-party software and hardware developers to keep their machines going. But NewDeal (www.newdealinc.com), a privately held software-publishing company based in Cambridge, Massachusetts, targets a different kind of diehard. It provides software for the pre-Pentium machines running Intel x86 microprocessors. A Pentium III using Windows 2000 can still run the same programs a 1984 IBM PC ran. Of course, the reverse isn't true. NewDeal's goal is to produce the same kind of sophisticated software that high-end machines can run for these early Intel boxes.
"The used-car market is six times bigger than the new-car market," says Clive Smith, NewDeal's CEO. "When the used-computer economy emerges, it will be a bigger business than the new-computer economy. The sheer scale of x86 retirements dwarfs any other platform base in history."
Even though a typical computer can run for 10 years or more before it conks out, many users are stuck on an upgrade merry-go-round that forces them to shell out $2,500 or so every couple of years for a new machine. Very few new programs are written for older platforms, and the rearguard that uses them drifts further and further away from the leading edge. "You feel like if you don't have a Pentium 600, you don't really have a computer at all," says Smith. "But the fact is that those older machines work fine. You don't need a Ferrari to go to the supermarket."
When I received a copy of NewDeal Office 3.0, I dug my old 486 out of my sister-in-law's garage and tested the software. I was impressed. For $70, Office 3.0 includes a word processor, day planner, spreadsheet, database, drawing program, Web browser, contact manager, and operating system. It runs on anything from an antediluvian 286 with 640K of RAM to a fully tricked-out Pentium III machine, but it looks and feels a lot like Windows 98. I didn't even have to refer to the documentation to use the applications. The whole thing took up only about 10 megs of disk space, and the programs had all the snazz and none of the sluggishness I'd grown used to with Windows. The word processor is only 87 Kbytes - you could fit it 16 times over on a standard floppy - yet it doesn't lack any of the features that 95 percent of users need. NewDeal also sells WebSuite, a 7-Mbyte package with a browser, email, and a chat program, for $50.
The 30-person company has deep retro roots. During the '80s, Smith was vice president of corporate planning for Commodore, where he helped launch both the C64 and the Amiga. And the heart of NewDeal's software was licensed from Geoworks, where Smith was a senior exec. The original Geoworks OS, which gave the Commodore 64 a multitasking environment, is still regarded as one of the premier hacks in the OS history for its tightness and robustness. (Geoworks recently redirected its efforts to the wireless market.)
When I get him on the phone, Smith is battling a case of pneumonia. His South African accent comes through crisply between coughing fits. I mention retrocomputing and he fires back, "It's not about that. This is about nitrocomputing," referring to how car racers pump nitrous oxide into their engines to boost performance. Smith won't tell me how many packages NewDeal has sold, but he says the company has site-licensing deals with 200 school districts, including those in Oakland, Los Angeles, Philadelphia, and Baltimore. NewDeal also sells directly to consumers through its Web site and to computer refurbishers like Hilliard, Ohio-based Redemtech, which bundles the software with old PCs cast off by corporations.
A typical offering on Redemtech's resale site (www.redemtech.com): a 90-MHz desktop PC with 16 Mbytes of RAM, a 540-meg hard drive, and an internal 28.8 modem for as low as $59. Add $50 for a 15-inch color monitor and $69 for the NewDeal package, and you're looking at a loaded, ready-for-the-Web system for less than $200.
And prices can only go down. As Redemtech VP and general manager Bob Houghton explains it, the technology-refresh rate for corporations and power users is increasing. About 100 million PCs were sold worldwide last year, and, "at least in corporate America," says Houghton, "there's almost a one-to-one relationship between sales and retirement, because corporate desktops are saturated. Companies purchase a new PC and need to get rid of an old one somewhere."
"People want a workhorse. When an elephant steps on your computer in the middle of Noplace, Africa, it still has to work."
This year, Houghton estimates, Redemtech will manage the disposition of about a quarter-million PCs. Some of the computers it removes from companies will be sold online. Many will be targeted for federal empowerment zones in the US. A large number of PCs will be donated to developing countries like Senegal and Pakistan.
The 486s Redemtech recycles would be nearly worthless if the company didn't have a partner like NewDeal to "breathe life into old systems," says Houghton. Sure, hundreds of companies sell inexpensive software for Intel machines, but it runs on Windows. And Windows is no good on older machines for two reasons: The licensing cost is out of proportion to the economic value of an old computer, and Windows is a resource pig.
"What NewDeal does for us," says Houghton, "is lower the cost of providing a great operating system with a very nice basic set of office apps." In a year or so, when corporations start scrapping old Pentium machines in large numbers, he adds, Linux and the young companies selling apps for it will become players in the used-computer marketplace. A 90-MHz Pentium with 32 megs of RAM, spared from the trash, will run Linux happily.
The Laptop That Won't Die
It's understandable why someone who has a perfectly useful old computer might not want to upgrade and face the inevitable problems that come with new machines. Less obvious is why some people, barring issues of cost, would rather buy an old computer than a new one.
Rick Hanson sells simplicity. As owner of Club 100 (www.club100.org), a business dedicated to supporting Tandy Model 100 and 102 laptops, Hanson coos about the "Model T" as if it were a buddy who saved his life in the war. Introduced in March 1983 for $999.95, the 3-pound Model 100 became an instant hit, selling more than 6 million units before it was discontinued in the late '80s. With its built-in 300-baud modem, text editor, telecommunications program, and 40-character-by-8-line liquid-crystal display, the Model T runs for 16 hours on four AA batteries. Bill Gates wrote its ROM-based operating system and applications. There's no floppy drive (or hard drive, for that matter), but users can back up data on an external drive or by connecting a null-modem cable between it and "any other computer on the face of the earth," says Hanson.
A gregarious 51-year-old with a salt-and-pepper goatee, Hanson works from his home in Pleasant Hill, California. He's a jack-of-all-trades - technical editor, Web-site designer, and restorer and seller of used 100s and 102s. Hanson buys old Tandys and cleans and repairs them as necessary. Over the last few years, he says, he's sold several thousand Model Ts. Buffed up to showroom condition, 100s go for $250, and 102s (a little lighter, thinner, faster, and quieter) sell for $380. Unlike the Model Ts you can get on eBay for $60 or so, Hanson's refurbished units come with a 90-day warranty.
I suspect part of the reason Hanson restores his Model Ts with such care is that he just likes to take things apart and put them back together. He even makes his own cars. "I build and drive nothing but altered vehicles," he says. "My daily drive is a '90 Corolla wagon, which has been slammed 2 inches. It's got full moons, lakes pipes and altered exhaust." He also makes miniature hot-rod models from scratch. One, built out of an anchovy tin, is stored like a museum piece under Lucite. When I tell him it reminds me of a Big Daddy Roth creation, he points to a photograph of Big Daddy applying a Rat Fink sticker to one of Hanson's full-size cars, a '23 T-bucket with '50 Merc flatheads. A rack in Hanson's office holds a couple dozen '50s hot-rod movies on video - Running Wild, Drag Strip Girl, Hot Rod Gang, She-Devils on Wheels, Hot Rods to Hell - that he plays while he works.
I ask Hanson who his Model T customers are. "People who want a workhorse," including, he says, reporters working from remote areas who appreciate the hardiness of the machines. "This is a big deal," says Hanson, "because when you're out in the middle of Noplace, Africa, and you drop your computer on a rock, or an elephant steps on it, it still has to work."
In the field, Hanson's refurbed Model Ts are highly regarded as programmable data loggers. The Jane Goodall Institute, the Oakland Zoo, and the Los Angeles Zoo have all bought his 100s and 102s for recording primate-behavior data. John Silva of Engineered Safety Devices in Hayward, California, uses them to control the messages on mobile highway warning signs. Machinists and engravers guide their automated tooling with them.
Because of its small size, durability, easy input/output capabilities, and programmability, the Model T has also found its way into the hearts of many geek hobbyists. Ken Reeser, a 70-year-old from Rosamond, California, uses a Model 100, which he bought for $40 at a government-surplus sale, to control his home-based weather station. Chris Osburn, a 36-year-old network administrator, bought his 100 in 1985 (later paying $130 for an 8K RAM upgrade), and still uses it as a portable terminal for packet radio, a system for sending email using ham radio. Jeff Denham painted his next-generation Tandy 200 laptop bright yellow and uses it as the launch-control computer for his model rockets.
The small room that serves as Hanson's office and refurb factory is as crammed and cozy as a Pullman sleeping car. Six-foot-tall equipment racks hug the walls and bisect the room into three work areas. The front of the room contains five or six large computers and as many monitors, all performing different functions: One computer is burning TS-DOS into a ROM chip, another is printing a label that will be applied to the chip, a third is hooked up to a cable modem for Web access, and yet another contains Hanson's customer database.
Hanson pulls a 102 off a stack to demonstrate the final touches of his refurb technique. First, he takes a fresh ROM chip off the burner and applies a newly printed label to it. Next, he unscrews the bottom of the laptop, gets his fingernails under the crack between the top and bottom of the case, and tugs hard, popping it open like a reluctant clam. Flipping the top half over, Hanson squeezes an inch-long bead of polish onto the plastic window that covers the computer's LCD monitor and rubs it with a rag. "There's no magic to it," he says. "You are just sanding down the material around the scratches to the level of the bottom of the scratches." He wipes the panel dry and tilts the surface under a lamp to make sure he's smoothed out all the wear spots. Then he uses a bottle of polish with a finer grit and repeats the process. Finally, he applies a material that bonds to the plastic of the case, making it shine.
A 90-MHz PC with 16 Mbytes of RAM, a modem, color screen, and web-ready software costs less than $200.
"Now," he says, holding the cover under my nose, "smell that." Mmmm. Brand-new.
System refurbed, Hanson demonstrates the renowned hardiness of the Tandy laptop. He flips the 102 into the air, letting it tumble to the ground. Smack. He tosses it into the air again, smiling mischievously. He scoops it up, hits the On button, and starts typing. "These things are tough," Hanson says. "And you can still find people to do a certain level of repair. We're so far advanced in the United States, we've got blinders on. There's nothing wrong with technology that gets the job done - and I don't call it old technology."
Dumbing It Down
Time for a reality check? Interface guru Don Norman, now president of UNext Learning Systems and a well-known lover of simplicity, doesn't have a lot of patience with rose-colored nostalgia. "Why anyone would want to torment themselves with the old cranky TRS-80, the Commodore, the NorthStar, or the Apple II is beyond me," Norman says. "Sure, each had its virtues. The TRS-80 Model 100 was a great portable for the times - just switch it on and write. But even at its best it was clumsy. The Apple II, with its all-caps display - unless you put in an aftermarket adapter? Ugh."
He's got a point. Only a few computer users, he argues, could master those machines. And besides, there are ways to tap into the simplicity of running an old computer without running an old computer.
Once, if you wanted to ensure you'd always be able to run a particular program, you had to "pickle" it - that is, archive the program on a computer capable of running it and keep the computer indefinitely. Diehards and retrocomputing hobbyists routinely pickle their software. But everyone else, when dumping an old platform, generally dumps the games and productivity programs that run on it.
Now, pickling itself is becoming obsolete, replaced by emulation, the retro-chic solution to software preservation. In a way, emulators are a funhouse-mirror reflection of NewDeal's approach to preserving the productivity of your old 286: Instead of creating new applications for old machines, emulators allow you to run a virtual vintage computer in a window of your new one.
That brand-new Mac on your desk isn't just a Mac. With emulator software from, say, emulation.net, it can also be an Amstrad CPC, an Apple I, II, or III, an Atari 800, a Commodore 64, an Amiga, an Edsac, an IBM PC, a Memotech MTX, a SAM Coupé, a Sinclair ZX81, a Thomson TO8, a TRS-80, a VAX, a VIC-20, an Atari 2600, an Atari 5200, a Colecovision, an Intellivision, a Nintendo 64, a Super Nintendo, a Nintendo Game Boy, a Sega Genesis, a Sony PlayStation, an Atari Lynx, a PalmPilot, or a Texas Instruments calculator.
In the corporate setting, emulation is used to maintain communication between older, valuable mainframes and the upgraded desktop machines around them. But most people use emulators for gaming. These programs tend to be written by hobbyists; many are freeware. Their fans, like retrocomputer hobbyists, share a nostalgia for the antique-computer experience, though emulator users lack the yearning to collect the original hardware. They're retro-lite. Like the diehards, they are comfortable with old technology and believe it works well, but for some reason or other have abandoned their old systems. They're born-again diehards.
"Some people may only be interested in playing a re-creation of Pac-Man a couple of times with Microsoft's Return of the Arcade," says Kevin Bowen, director of ClassicGaming.com, a site packed with emulators that gets some 30,000 visitors a day. "Then you have the hardcore - the people who may hoard thousands of arcade ROMs on their hard drive, have dozens of coin-ops sitting in their garage and thousands of cartridges stuffed into their closet."
For years, I'd been thinking about getting a used Apple IIe, just like the one I'd purchased in 1984 to play Wizardry. The adventure game cost $60 - two 80K floppy disks in a small black box with a greenish blue foil dragon on it. Wizardry's graphics looked as if they were done on an Etch A Sketch, but the game was challenging. When I sold the IIe in 1989 for $650, I threw in all the software I'd accumulated.
Now I could get a used IIe for under $50. But my desk is, as Bob Houghton of Redemtech puts it, "fully saturated." I simply don't have a place to keep an extra computer. Instead, I found a free program called Catakig (named after a common typo when entering the Apple II command "catalog" on a keyboard) that emulated an Apple IIe in a window of my iMac. I grabbed the Wizardry disk images off a fan site, and, moments later, I was playing the game, looking at the familiar pictures and interface from 15 years ago. It was like peering into a portal of my past. One day, 10 years from now, I'll probably be running this Apple IIe emulator inside an iMac emulator on my new 16,000-MHz bMac (b for "biologically computed"), which crashes hourly.
Chris Charla is editor in chief of Next Generation magazine, based in Brisbane, California. He's surrounded by the newest games and hardware at work, but when he wants to blow off steam he plays games on an Apple IIc in the back of his office. He has Apple II emulators both at home and at work. Using them takes him back to the time he "first discovered computing and it was really exciting. When you go back to use an Apple II, you can recapture that feeling."
"Look at the market for used cars. The emerging used-computer economy will dwarf the new-computer economy."
The emulation phenomenon has had an effect on the entire gaming industry. Activision, the oldest of the third-party game-software publishers, founded in 1979, has used emulation technology to release a package of 30 classic games originally developed for the Atari 2600. "Classic gamers make up a huge portion of the marketplace," says Will Kassoy, Activision's director of global brand management. "We go out to conventions early in the release of a game and have these people make sure our emulation is accurate." Hasbro Interactive has gotten in on the game as well. It's used emulation to remake popular arcade classics - such as Asteroids, Centipede, and Pong - to run on Windows.
Only the "top 2 percent of games are really classic and amazing," says Charla, "because we've moved so far in so many areas of game design." The ones that have withstood the test of time, he says, include Rescue Raiders, Conan, Karateka, and Skyfox. Adventure games like Wizardry and Ultima are as much fun to play now as they were in the early '80s. "They obviously look terrible," says Charla, "but the whole point of the role-playing game is the experience, not the graphics."
The Venn Diagram Conclusion
The Vintage Computer Festival is a gathering of antique-computing aficionados that features seminars, history lessons, and a two-day swap meet. About 450 attendees have gathered for the third annual meeting, held at Silicon Valley's Santa Clara Convention Center. They mill around, buying and selling old Atari 800s, wood-cased NorthStars, Heathkit analogs, Apple IIs, Commodore PETs, TRS-80s, Amiga 500s, and dozens of other forgotten computer models. Around the room, mini-cliques form to discuss systems and equipment long ago jettisoned by sane users. As they talk, some fondle components as if they are rosaries, fetishizing the good ol' days.
One of the most active trading areas is in the middle of the room, where a large jumble of dirty computer parts is scattered on a blanket. A chubby man with puffy blond hair inspects a dusty, beige-colored metal box. The owner of the obsolete gear crouches nearby, eyeing the prospective buyer. He is in the same condition as his equipment. His flannel shirt is caked with a layer of greasy dirt that glints under the fluorescent lights. His face, hair, and droopy mustache are streaked with the same ancient grime. Even from where I'm standing, I can smell the guy. But the customer pays no mind. The late '70s minicomputer detritus he's handling is such a thrilling find, it makes the ripe odor wafting off the grimy vendor a negligible annoyance.
Without looking up from his treasure, the shopper asks the price on the cartridge tape drive. Five bucks. He reaches into his pocket, peels a bill from his wallet, and walks away with the prize.
Although the festival caters to collectors, connoisseurs, and purists, I meet several run-of-the-mill diehards who say they have come to examine and purchase peripherals for their orphaned systems. I also spot Chris Charla, the emulator-loving editor of Next Generation, sitting in on a presentation about a PC from 1950 called Simon.
Diehards and emulation folks may not be looking for exactly the same treasures as the collectors, but in the end all three communities are demanding a similar experience. Make a Venn diagram of the reasons retrocomputists, diehards, and emulationists are into old platforms, and the overlapping area in the center would be marked "refined." It seems like a weird way to characterize slow, text-only machines and simple command-line programs, but it fits.
The computers, peripherals, and programs that have survived are the ones that perform gracefully. Their quirks have been discovered and isolated, exposing the elegance of the underlying architecture. There's beauty in 8 bits. As Allison Parent told me, in a modern system, nobody knows where all the bugs are. Step on one bug and the droplets of squashed-bug juice spontaneously generate a half-dozen new problems. But in the old systems, the bugs have been cataloged. The ones that could be eradicated were, long ago. The ones that couldn't are now skillfully avoided. Human and machine understand one another and are engaged in a feedback loop of escalating refinement.
Across the room at the Vintage Computer Festival, a fiftysomething with a Captain Kangaroo haircut and long eyelashes holds up a floppy disk being sold by an elflike vendor with a shag haircut. The disk is 8 inches in diameter. An 8-inch floppy? The customer asks whether it would be possible to transfer the data onto a 3½-inch disk. The elf doesn't have the tools to do the transfer, so he stands on his tiptoes, scanning the room. He's not deterred. Someone out there has the equipment he's looking for.
Mark Frauenfelder (mark@well.com)
Labels: Vintage Computers


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The Ace Café: From Toad in the Hole to Rock'n'Roll }
The Ace Café: From Toad in the Hole to Rock'n'Roll
A story of almost impossible Britishness, and fuelled as much by a good cup of tea is it is by high octane fuel, the Ace Café has gone from a truck-stop café to a global brand in 75 years, surviving a bombing, rock'n'roll bikers gangs, a period as a tyre depot and even a 25-year hiatus in-between.
Starting, as many good things do, with a cup of tea, the Ace Café opened its doors in 1938 to serve the trucks that had begun to flow on the newly-built North Circular road in London. In the more conservative pre-war times road-side cafes were the preserve of the working man as motoring was not yet a widespread middle-class pursuit. Nevertheless, the 'refreshment stop' did a roaring trade 24 hours a day, in the run-up to, and during the Second World War.
After suffering a near direct hit from a Luftwaffe bomb in 1940 - in the true Blitz spirit of the times - the café continued in temporary housing, was rebuilt in 1948 and re-opened into a new era for Britain. Gone was some of the pre-war stuffiness and in its place was a growing motor culture for both cars and bikes. The young men and women that had survived the war often found themselves seeking adrenaline in other ways and, as biker culture dawned, the Ace was there to serve it.
From a state-of-the-art premises the Ace served good food, all day, and cheaply. The hours were long and the car park was large. It was a successful recipe, and an appropriate meeting point for petrolheads in the days before mobile phones or social media. Once music was added to the mix however, the rise to popularity was stratospheric.
As Rock'n'Roll came to Britain from the USA, it was a cause of moral outrage by the establishment and was not heard on the radio. For the 'rebel' youth that wanted to hear it, a jukebox was the only option so, with one installed at the Ace, the venue soon became the go-to venue for rockers and café racers.
At the Ace the music was loud and the bikes were fast. Legendarily, the challenge for the bikers used to be to get from the café to the Hangar Lane roundabout and back again before the record had stopped playing. At a distance of 3.4 miles, it was no easy feat for the riders in view of the speed limits in the vicinity, but it added to the mystique and popularity of the venue.
As biker culture began to peak, the café closed its doors in 1969 and it played home to a tyre depot and garage. It was mourned by many in the biking and motoring community as a lost meeting place for kindred spirits. When the 25th anniversary of its closure came around, it was seen as the perfect time to re-open. Initially running alongside the tyre depot, the Ace opened on weekends and bank holidays only, but as the popularity of its opening grew, it soon became clear that only a full-time establishment would do.
Since its full re-launch in 2001, the Ace has continued to serve the motoring community of two wheels and four. With an inclusive ethos that celebrates all types of machinery from classic bikes to modern supercars, it has become a must-visit destination for UK petrolheads, and has now even opened franchise cafés across the world.
Do you remember the Ace Café from the 50's biker days, or from more recent times? Let us know your memories in the comments below.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


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› Archives › 2022 › June ›
Events taking place on June 9, 2022
Visions of Asturias
"Visions of Asturias" is an exhibition that illustrates the distinctive and personal vision of four different Spanish National Photography Prize winners of this particular region in northern Spain, displayed at the Cultural's Center fence.
Mar 18 – Feb 26, 2023
Meadows/ARCO Artist Spotlight: Ignasi Aballí
Meadows Museum features Aballí's conceptual work "Palabras Vacías" in an exhibit confronting 27 iron plates that showcase "empty words," creating tension and dialogue between form and meaning, language and image, signified and signifier.
Mar 6 – Jun 26, 2022
Picasso: Painting the Blue Period
This major exhibition provides new insight into the creative process of Picasso at the outset of his career, focusing on his early works just at the beginning of his international career.
Feb 26 – Jun 12, 2022
Murillo: Picturing the Prodigal Son
"Murillo: Picturing the Prodigal Son" features some of the painter's most famous works sharing some new information thanks to the restoration processes carried by the National Gallery of Ireland.
Fortuny: Master of Light and Line
The exhibition showcases multiple artworks by Spanish painter Mariano Fortuny y Marsal, focusing on his etchings.
Jan 22 – Jul 17, 2022
Celebration by Adolfo Serra
The fourth edition of "Not Your Regular Wall" hosts Spanish Illustrator Adolfo Serra as a guest of honor this year, on the 10th Anniversary of SPAIN arts & culture.
Jan 15 – Dec 1, 2022
Dream-e-scape: an eye-opening journey into the sleep state
"Dream-e-scape" is an interactive projection art installation about lucid dreams, created by filmmaker Laia Cabrera and multimedia artist Isabelle Duverger, in collaboration with interactive designer Aniol Saurina Masó.
La mujer del alféizar by Carmen Segovia
Spanish illustrator Carmen Segovia explores the idea of returning to the outside world in this third intervention on the windows of the Former Residence of the Ambassadors of Spain in Washington, D.C.
Dec 1 – Dec 31, 2023
Pan y Circo by Axel Void
The third edition of "Not Your Regular Wall" hosts Spanish muralist Axel Void as a guest of honor this year.
Jan 15 – Jun 18, 2023


Mary Blood Mellen (1819-1886) was Lane's student, close female friend, and sometime collaborator. Although there are passing references to other students, she is the one most widely known to date. In his will, she is mentioned three times, second only to Joseph L. Stevens, Jr. (who was mentioned four times). (1) Though her own history may be even more clouded than Lane's, research on her family and her relationship to Lane is slowly bringing it to light.
There is no evidence that Mary Mellen ever lived in Gloucester, but her brother-in-law W. R. G. Mellen was invited to pastor Gloucester's First Universalist Church on Middle Street in 1855. In May of that year, he and his family moved into a house on Spring Street that overlooked Duncan's Point and Lane's house. (6) At some time during her brother-in-law's tenure in the town, it is presumed that Mellen came frequently to see her family and to study with Lane. (7) Indeed, their relationship became so strong that they traveled together in August of 1859 to visit the Blood family residence in Sterling, Massachusetts, where they both created paintings of the Blood homestead.
As part of Mellen's apprenticeship, she began to copy Lane's works. Her stylistic faithfulness increased such that, at a later time, even "Lane himself appeared uncertain as to which was his when both were shown side by side." (8) To further confuse matters for scholars, it appears as though Mellen had a hand in completing parts of several Lane paintings, or may have even sketched certain landscape views that would have been difficult for Lane to access, given his lameness. John Wilmerding discerns Mellen's hand in portions of Moonlight, Owl's Head, Northeast View; Dana Beach, Manchester, 1860 (inv. 614); Coming Ashore near Brace's Rock, Gloucester, Massachusetts, c.1860 (inv. 60) and Brace's Rock, Brace's Cove. (9) Such collaboratative efforts are documented on at least one painting; they both signed the small tondo (Renaissance term for a circular work of art), Coast of Maine, 1850s (inv. 32), on the verso side of the canvas.
In recent years, scholarship has begun to recognize Mary Blood Mellen as one of the most accomplished artists to work on Cape Ann in the years immediately preceding the Civil War. The Cape Ann Museum's 2007 exhibition—curated by John Wilmerding, Fitz Henry Lane & Mary Blood Mellen: Old Mysteries and New Discoveries—brought renewed attention to Mellen and to her relationship to Lane. In conjunction with the exhibition, the museum assembled a group of leading experts in a scholars' gathering to discuss and to delve into unresolved issues in the scholarship of these two artists. Wilmerding and other scholars explored the relationship between Lane and Mellen, examining issues of attribution, collaboration, process, and the conservation of their respective works.
Moses, Michael A. "Mary B. Mellen and Fitz Hugh Lane: A Cooperative Relationship." Antiques Magazine (November 1991): 826–37.
Sharf, Frederic Alan. "Fitz Hugh Lane Re-Considered." Essex Institute Historical Collections (January 1960): 75–83.
Wilmerding, John. "The Identities of Mr. Nathaniel Rogers." Maine Boats, Homes & Harbors 97, no. 20 (2008): 50–55.
Wilmerding, John. Fitz Henry Lane and Mary Blood Mellen: Old Mysteries and New Discoveries. New York: Spanierman Gallery, 2007.
John Wilmerding, Karen Quinn, Marcia Steele, et.al. Report on scholars' gathering in association with the exhibition Fitz Henry Lane & Mary Blood Mellen: Old Mysteries and New Discoveries. New York: Terra Foundaation for American Art, November 15, 2007. Organized by the Cape Ann Museum and Spanierman Gallery.
Sarah Dunlap and Stephanie Buck, Fitz Henry Lane: Family and Friends (Gloucester, MA: Church & Mason Publishing; in association with the Cape Ann Historical Museum, 2007). For information on other students see footnote p. 82, and p.117; Lane's will, p.87.
Frederic Alan Sharf, "Fitz Hugh Lane Re-Considered," Essex Institute Historical Collections (January 1960), 82, and John Wilmerding, Fitz Henry Lane and Mary Blood Mellen: Old Mysteries and New Discoveries (New York: Spanierman Gallery, 2007), 40.
Citation: "Fitz Henry Lane and Mary Blood Mellen." Fitz Henry Lane Online. Cape Ann Museum. http://fitzhenrylaneonline.org/page/index.php?name=Lane%20and%20Mellon (accessed April 18, 2019).


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Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico (PUCPR)
Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico (PUCPR) Admission Requirements 2021
Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico (PUCPR) Admissions
It is to be noted that Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico-Arecibo has a high acceptance rate of 99%, which means that the odds of students getting admission to the varsity are very high. For the perusal of the applicants, here is an important admission benchmark, the average GPA of students getting admitted is 3.10. Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico-Arecibo follows a simple application and admission process involving a total of 4 steps that are as follows: Step 1: Submitting the application The first step which a candidate is required to make for admission at Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico-Arecibo is applying to the university. Interested candidates can apply to the university by either calling the university at (787) 881-1212 x6000 or through online mode. Alternatively, they can also directly visit the university's admissions office at Carretera 662 KM 2, Arecibo, Puerto Rico 00614-4045. They can contact the Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico-Arecibo admissions office by phone as well. Step 2 to the application and admission process: Acceptance by PCUPRA Various documents such as Essay Submission, Transcripts or academic records, and Official SAT Test Score (SAT PCUPRA Code: 0910) are required to be put together by the applicants to get their admission decision after applying to the university. However, additional documents or information may be requested once the applications are reviewed. In Step 3, the candidate needs to confirm their attendance The third step includes confirming their attendance to PCUPRA by the candidates. They will also be required to select their housing as well as complete their Financial Check-In process. This step essentially involves reviewing and verifying the summary of Accounts and Financial Aid (scholarships, fees, and tuition costs), choosing a lodging option, selecting a payment plan, and making the first payment, too. Before proceeding to register for classes, candidates also have to complete the Math and English assessments. Step 4 includes registration for classes The candidates have to register for courses once all the processes mentioned above are completed.
SAT Scores you need to get in
SAT scores help colleges interpret the applicants' overall academic performance. They weigh a lot of importance and make a candidate's profile stand out, thereby helping them become a strong applicant for securing admission to any university or college. However, it should be noted that the SAT score of an applicant is not one of the mandatory requirements to get admission to Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico-Arecibo.
ACT Scores you need to get in
ACT scores can gauge a great deal of the applicants' academic performance. However, Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico-Arecibo does not put much emphasis on the ACT scores of a student. However, candidates can submit their ACT scores for securing admission to the university.
Estimated GPA Requirements & Average GPA
Grade Points Average (GPA) The average high school GPA of the admitted students
Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico-Arecibo considers a high GPA as a mandatory requirement for the admission of candidates just like most other universities/colleges. Higher GPAs are often believed to improve the chances of applicants to secure admission not only to PCUPRA, but any college/university of their choice. The candidates must also have above-average high school grades as well as GPA scores. Interestingly, the average high school GPA of the students at PCUPRA is 3.10. Having a solid idea of the requirements for admission to Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico-Arecibo, including the necessary documents to be submitted, can be very helpful for the applicants. They should also know what information the university considers for making admission decisions. The candidates are also required to submit a number of important documents to the university along with their application. They include the Secondary school GPA and Secondary school record. Apart from these, candidates are recommended to furnish other documents like Admission test scores (SAT/ACT) for admission.
What Really Matters When Applying
High School Rank
Neither required nor recommended
College Prep Courses
Application Deadline Deadline for application submissions. Please contact the school for more details.
Application Fee Application fees may vary by program and may be waived for certain students. Please check with the school.
$FALSE
Early Decision Deadline
Early Action Deadline
Offer Action Deadline
Offers Early Decision
www.pucpr.edu/paginas-generales/solicitud-de-admision/solicitud-online/
Accepts Common App
Accepts Coalition App
The application deadline of the university depends on several factors. Fall applications, most popular among students, usually start from September and might go on till April. September deadline usually pertains to early decision, while the final deadline is in April. Notably, to be eligible for scholarships, students might have to apply before early deadline. This is why it is always recommended to apply early.
Acceptance Rate and Admission Statistics
Applied 90 42 132
Accepted 89 42 131
Acceptance Rate 99% 100% 99%
Enrolled 51 24 75
Percentage of admitted who Enrolled (Admission Yield) 57% 57% 57%
Admission Statistics
Percent of Admitted Who Enrolled (Admission Yield)
Credits Accepted
AP Credit
In the US, many universities incentivize students by helping them earn university credit by taking certain courses in high school. Dual Enrollment (also known as Dual Credit), AP Credit, and CLEP (Credit for Life Experiences) are among the most popular programs. Regarding these credits, however, every university has its own policy. The benefits of taking such programs include a shorter time to obtain a degree, a higher GPA, and increased chances of completing the degree. Students who want to avail AP and CLEP credits are recommended to visit collegeboard.org and ask them to submit the scores to the university of their choice.
Other Colleges In Puerto Rico
National University College
Bayamon, Puerto Rico
Nova College de Puerto Rico
Ponce Health Sciences University
Ponce, Puerto Rico
View All Colleges in Puerto Rico
Other Colleges In Arecibo
ICPR Junior College
Arecibo, Puerto Rico
University of Puerto Rico-Arecibo
Inter American University of Puerto Rico-Arecibo
View All Colleges in Arecibo
Other Private not-for-profit Colleges
Ultimate Medical Academy (UMA)
Clearwater, Florida
University of Northwestern Ohio (UNOH)
Lima, Ohio
Virginia International University (VIU)
View All Private not-for-profit Colleges
What is the Highest GPA?
ACT vs SAT - Which Test Is Right For You?
Highest ACT Score Possible- Your ACT Score Guide
What Is a Good SAT Score?
What is the SAT?- The Complete Guide
What is GPA and Why it is Important?


If your not doing 200 a day then your not Daily Driving!
nice car. I love the sedan, little small for my long legs, not that my teg sedan is much better. I think the EX in the US is our EX-V up here. Crazy rare around here. Nice car, great platform to start with.
I like to see cars that started out ruff and are built up. Keep it up!
Money helps but I've built a fairly quick car on the cheap. Patience helps. Wait for deals, jump on them when they do come along tho.
Not one of my strong points for sure but I'm managing. I found the junk yard to be more exciting than Disneyland.
I found the junk yard to be more exciting than Disneyland.
This made me smile, so true with building enthusiasts.
Wait for deals, jump on them when they do come along tho.
It totally makes sense. My impulse buys usually aren't the most practical if you know what I mean.
yeah I'm notorious for that too, but I still try to save for parts and research them before buying.


Are you thinking of barbecuing clams at your next barbecue? Lets look at grilling clams on the BBQ!
Clams are another seafood dish you can prepare on the grill. Doesn't require much preperation and grill really quickly.
Let's prepare our clams for the grill!
• The only preperation you do for clams is cleaning the outer shells and making a tasty sauce.
• Just for presentation wash the clams under a cold running tap. Brush away any left over dirt on the outer shells.
• Prepare a tasty sauce before you start grilling. A garlic and butter sauce works really well with clams or a cream cheese and chives sauce will do the trick. Check out the garlic cream sauce in BBQ fish sauces for a great clam sauce.
• Leave your sauce on the stove (low setting) to keep it warm.
Great...we ready to put our clams on the grill!!
• Pre-heat your grill to a high heat.
• Place your clams on the grill, so that none are over lapping each other.
• Grilling time is 3 - 5 minutes, just depending on the grills heat.
• Serve hot, straight off the grill.
Tips: To remove the 'clam meat' use a fork, for easy eating.


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Mitigation Banks Providing Valuable Salamander Habitat
David Flick, Principal and Founder of Terra Technologies, announces that two mitigation banks in Missouri designed and monitored by Terra Technologies have been independently verified to sustain habitat for a salamander species not previously observed in their respective counties.
Observations of small-mouthed salamanders (Ambystoma texanum) at the Smith Creek Wetland and Stream Mitigation Bank in Moniteau County and at the Gasconade River Wetland and Stream Mitigation Bank in Gasconade County were verified by the Missouri Herpetological Association as the first official recordings of the presence of that species in each county.
The observation of small-mouthed salamanders at these mitigation banks located in the Ozark fringe will help to define the edge of this species' range. In addition, the Gasconade River Wetland and Stream Mitigation Bank has been verified as also containing marbled salamanders (Ambystoma opacum). This was the first official observation of marbled salamanders in Gasconade County in almost 30 years, reviving the status of this species from being historically present to be currently residing in that area. Several central newts (Notophthalmus viridescens louisianensis ) have also been observed at this location.
The presence of these salamanders shows that the mixture of successful upland and wetland ecosystems at these mitigation banks is functioning at a high enough level to provide valuable wildlife habitat for species that need both habitat types to survive and reproduce. Rather than a few very large pools, these mitigation sites feature many small pools that have fluctuating water levels and dry out during most years. As a result, the wetland habitats function as needed habitat for animals that require ephemeral seasonal wetlands, a wetland type that is becoming rarer as this type of wetland is either filled in and converted to other land uses or deepened to become farm ponds. Similarly, it is common for mitigation wetlands to feature deeper wetland types, rather than this ephemeral wetland type.
For more information about biological services, contact your local office of Terra Technologies.
© 2005-, Terra Technologies, Inc. All Rights Reserved.


Pay-as-you-go flexibility proves a winner for customers on tight budgets.
Mondial Assistance UK has seen an 8% increase in used car warranty sales in 2011, compared to the previous year. As one of the UK's largest providers of motor manufacturer warranty schemes, Mondial Assistance delivers administration services for nine motor manufacturers and extended warranty for 13 clients in this sector. This success is due in part to the launch of Mondial Assistance's innovative pay-as-you-go extended warranty cover, helping motorists manage costs and stay protected.
Over the past year, Mondial Assistance UK has seen a shift towards older used car owners financially planning for unexpected repair expenses. In 2011, 63% of one scheme's total warranty registrations were applied to cars over three years of age, compared to just 49% in the previous year.
Whilst dealers generally provide a warranty free of charge to customers as part of manufacturers' Approved Used Car Programmes, Mondial Assistance's "quote to buy" extended warranty sales platform provides continued peace of mind for customers after their dealer warranty expires.
"Our innovative monthly pay-as-you-go offer was a key factor in the 18% increase we saw in extended warranties in 2011, compared to 2010," says Liz Grindell, Warranty Manager for Mondial Assistance UK. "The flexible payments scheme means customers can choose the time-scale of their warranty package. This is a real boon for motorists, at a time of economic uncertainty, with fears about employment security, pay freezes and the rising cost of living all taking their toll on UK households.
"In addition, our "quote to buy" solution allows customers to choose the level of warranty cover to suit their budget. By offering customers flexible cover and payment options, Mondial Assistance is improving access to affordable protection for their car. And dealer networks benefit from increased customer retention, as more motorists opt to keep their vehicles for longer in the current climate. With some customers looking to buy slightly older vehicles due to budget restraints, strong manufacturer-backed warranty is essential to protect them from the cost of potential repairs.


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Book > Academic Books > Discourse Analysis
Narrative and Psychotherapy
John McLeod - University of Oslo, Norway
January 1998 | 192 pages | SAGE Publications Ltd
The core of psychotherapy can be seen as a process in which the client comes to tell and then re-author an individual life story or personal narrative. This book argues that all therapies are, therefore, narrative therapies, and that the counseling experience can be understood in terms of telling and retelling stories. If the story is not heard then the therapist and client are deprived of the most effective and mutually involving mode of discourse open to them. Taking a narrative approach also requires thinking about the nature of truth, the concept of the person, the relationship between the therapist and the client, and the knowledge base of psychotherapy. Author John McLeod examines the role and significance of stories in psychotherapy from within a broad-based cultural and theoretical framework, drawing on research from psychology, anthropology, and sociolinguistics, while fully integrating previous theory and research. The text is illustrated throughout with case vignettes and excepts from therapy transcripts. At the cutting edge of developments in counseling and psychotherapy theory, research, and practice, this book is relevant to a therapy that encompasses not only counseling and psychotherapy but also important aspects of social and community work, self-help, and psychiatry. Narrative and Psychotherapy will be of particular value to students and practitioners in psychotherapy, clinical psychology, and family therapy, as well as social scientists interested in narrative.
ISBN: 9780803976863 Paperback Suggested Retail Price: $72.00 Bookstore Price: $57.60
ISBN: 9781446233214 Electronic Version Suggested Retail Price: $65.00 Bookstore Price: $52.00
See what's new to this edition by selecting the Features tab on this page. Should you need additional information or have questions regarding the HEOA information provided for this title, including what is new to this edition, please email sageheoa@sagepub.com. Please include your name, contact information, and the name of the title for which you would like more information. For information on the HEOA, please go to http://ed.gov/policy/highered/leg/hea08/index.html.
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Psychotherapy, Culture and Storytelling
How They Fit Together
Narrative Knowing
The Nature and Function of Storytelling in Psychotherapy
Narrative in Therapy
Psychodynamic Approaches
Constructivist Narrative Therapies
Narrative Therapy from a Social Constructionist Perspective
The Process of Narrative Therapy
Strategies for the Retrieval of Meaning
Postmodern Narrative Therapy
A Case Example
Reinventing Therapy
`This is a very good book, representing a really enormous heave forward in our discussions of psychotherapy... it is crucially important to the big questions. At one point McLeod makes the point that the enormous compendium on research in psychotherapy by Bergin and Garfield (4th edition 1994) contains in its index not one reference to narrative or storytelling. I can't believe that the same will be said of the 5th edition, now that this book has appeared' - Self & Society
`The book... ranges over wide areas and renders comprehensible large amounts of frequently complex material. Narrative is seen... as a bedrock of all counselling practice... Narrative therapy in general, and McLeod's book in particular, are constructions whose moment has come. As so often, McLeod brings both sophistication and lightness of touch to his contribution to the counselling literature' - British Journal of Guidance and Counselling
`A densely packed book with interesting and valuable research gleaned from a wide variety of therapy approaches, Narrative and Psychotherapy furnishes the reader with a cogent historical appraisal of the way psychotherapy, culture and storytelling fit together.... John McLeod's awareness of old and very new counselling practices, which underscore the importance of the client's narrative within a social and cultural context, is well explored and stimulating. There is an extensive bibliography and case examples. A good reference book for counsellors and students, it provides exposure to different points of view about the relationship between narrative and psychotherapy.... The authors' students, and clients, must be very happy that he has the interest and the capacity to tune in to others in such a fresh manner' - Counselling, The Journal of the British Association for Counselling
`The "turn to meaning" in psychotherapy... is everywhere in evidence. Its most powerful manifestation in the therapeutic sphere is in the domain of narrative. We owe John McLeod an enormous debt for weaving together the disparate threads of narrative work into a splendidly illuminating tapestry. With a finely tuned sensitivity to history, culture and value, McLeod not only places this work into critical perspective, but moves discussion significantly forward. This is essential reading' - Kenneth J Gergen
`Easy yet thought-provoking reading. While highly recommended for any practicing therapist, Mcleod also provides a strong foundation for researchers seeking to explore the role of narrative in therapy and/or the connections between narrative and society. Both types of future research are necessary to satisfy two key aspects of McLeod's agenda: creating therapists skilled in perceiving differences in story construction and performance, and using therapy `as a means of discovering the stories that enable us to connect with each other and with the traditions that make us who we are' ' - Discource and Society
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This title is also available on SAGE Knowledge, the ultimate social sciences online library. If your library doesn't have access, ask your librarian to start a trial.
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Zombies everywhere! All creatures have turned into zombies and there is no where to run! Get in your truck and just drive away from the territory occupied by walking dead and hopefully you can take some out along the way! You have time to kill until the morning. Upgrade your weapons and truck for earned coins. Good luck!


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Protect Our Defenders (POD) is a national non-profit organization, supported by contributions from private individuals, corporations, and foundations. It accepts no government funds, directly or indirectly.
Thank you to the many foundations and organizations for providing 6+ years of impact.
Below is a complete list of our IRS Form 990 filings and Annual Reports. If you have questions about these reports, please contact us at info@protectourdefenders.com.


Started this discussion. Last reply by Walter Almeida Jul 5, 2011.
Started this discussion. Last reply by Luis Molina Feb 4, 2011.
I am a very big believer of the model driven development approach.
I have created the Fenomen platform, a full web platform for modeling and generating enterprise web applications. using a generative approach.


Huntington's Chief of Police has abandoned all hope of retaking Huntington. The cure promised did not work, and his attention has instead turned to endorsing the Bakerstown Chief of Police. Officials have stated that they hope to one day find a cure, and restore their former home.
The alleged cure that was sent to Huntington to retake the city did nothing more than irritate the zombie hordes.
Mayor Buono, despite being slammed from all sides by an undead menace, is attempting to cure his city and retake control. His strong leadership, along with the help of our Governor, may yet save Huntington. Kanawha needs a man who can work under pressure. Kanawha needs Mayor Buono for governor.
As I write this, Huntington i sin the process of being cured! Officials from Huntington hope to retake control of the city, and return the citizens to their homes.
The current governor of Kanawha is endorsing Chief of Police from Bakerstown Shy Ruparel to take his place when he moves on to the presidency. The chief is in turn endorsing Crow's bid for the presidency.
The Chief of State Police says that emergency services have been successfully deployed in Parksburg and Bakerstown. The fall of Huntington has caused significant tax stress on the people of Kanawha, but the State Police are confident we can make it through.
Officials from Huntington have told our office that they are preparing to take back their city from the zombie hordes. Only time will tell if the plan will work.
Bakerstown Mayor Alex Nagler and Chief of Bakerstown police Shy Ruparel have issued a bipartisan statement that we must cross party lines and work together in this time of crisis.
Governor Crow is Running for President!
Governor Crow is running for president. With his 10 years of experience and a masters degree in Intelligence studies believes that he is extremely experienced in navigating . When talking about how he has dealt with this outbreak by declaring a state of emergency immediately. The second move made by the Governor was to reestablish trust and loyalty between himself and the mayors. Using extreme wit and experience for his time serving in The USMC the Governor lead himself and his cabinet to safety. In an interview the governor stated that he believes that he owes his coal mining father for teaching him all the lessons that he applies in day to day life.
The Bakerstown Militia has come to us and claimed that "The entire Bakerstown Police Department is Goblins. From Space." We do not know what this means, and we don't think they do either.
Mayor Alex Nagler of Bakerstown plans to run for president when he finishes clearing the current menace out of his beloved city. He claims that his tours in Iraq and Afghanistan give him the command experience and the credibility needed for this role.
In a statement about the coup today, the Governor announced that no "central personnel" were harmed, or even in danger at any time. Dispte this, our office has heard directly from the Vice Governor that she was locked in a fierce battle with the invaders, though she managed to personally fight them off. It remains unseen whether she will run with him for reelection, or if she will back a new candidate in light of this gross oversight.
During the attempted coup by Bakersfield militia, heroic action was taken by Vice Governor Christine Dong. While held captive by violent militia members, Dong wrestled a weapon away from her attackers and severely injured several high ranking militia members, effectively ending the coup.
From Cindy Simon's twitter: "In times of chaos, we remain steadfast in control. Wish we could say the same for our 'Zovernor'". It is clear that the people of Parksburg do not trust the state government. Perhaps they have something right in all of this. They seem to be the only city not overrun with the undead.
The leaders of the recent coup in Bakerstown have spoken to us. They believe that their disassociation with politics makes them more suitable to run the state. In their attack on the State House, chaos has spread across the state. News is flooding into our office from all corners of the state, and the situation is rapidly getting out of hand.
The Bakerstown peoples army militia is attempting to violently overthrow the state Government of Kanawha due to alleged corruption in government. The Bakerstown government condemns this action entirely. The Bakerstown mayor is currently with the state government and is in danger of capture by the militia.
Officials from Bakerstown have announced that a radical group of police have spread rumors of zombification in the city's government. The related individuals have been apprehended, and ties have been mended.
We have recieved reports from the National Government that they are working with research laboratories in both Parkersburg and Bakerstown to verify the effectiveness of the many competing blood tests. This certainly changes the game when it comes to the humanity status of the Governor and the officials in Bakerstown.
Due to understandable doubts it is important that ALL city officials take public blood tests. The governor especially MUST be subject to this test publicly to ensure the safety of the citizens. A government sanctioned test must be administered to ensure accuracy.
Parkersburg wishes to publicly welcome all citizens who can prove that they are human. Anybody fleeing the recently evacuated city of Huntington is welcome, according to Mayor Cindy Simon. Their press secretary assures us that she is doing a fantastic job.
Huntington is officially overrrun and is being evacuated. Mayor Tyler Karsten has stated that he will stay to the last man before leaving. The mayor places the safety of his citizens above all else.
Bakerstown Officals have broken out of City Hall, and rushed straight to the press office. They claim that they were subjected to blood tests proving that they are not infected, and say the Governor has not undergone this same test. They claim the arrest was politically motivated, and was carried out by the governor's "personal private thugs". The Governor claims this is NOT TRUE and that they ARE IN FACT INFECTED.
In addition to the Chief of Police, the Mayor of Bakerstown has now been arrested. Could this mean disaster? The governor has yet to release information about why this may have happened. Police forces are operating alone.
Noah Crow, Governor of Kanawha spoke of the disease possibly spreading through the water supply. He advocates for more university funding to increase the chances of finding a cure. Seems Nutrivend is not working as well as the governor would like. Perhaps its benefits are less than Parkersburg would have us believe.
The Governor of Kanawha has arrested the Chief of Police of Bakerstown. No information has been released about why this may have happened.
According to one Street Preacher in Huntington, the zombies are god's judgement. I hope that's true so my wife's cheating finally catches up with her. I hate you Mindy. I always have.
An anonymous tip from the National Government has informed us that the National Government wants research specimens currently held in Bakerstown, but that the mayor will not give them up. Could this be a political play to strengthen his bid for president? There has certainly been a lot of conflicting and worrying news from Bakerstown this weekend.
Despite the Bakerstown Mayor officially stating that he is quite open to any shipments of Nutrivend, he has yet to receive any. The press secretary of Parkersburg has stated that Shipments are being sent to Bakerstown, but are being rejected by city officials. Nutrivend is claimed to cure the infection and cause resistance in uninfected individuals, but none has been put on the streets of Bakerstown where the infection is getting worse by the minute. There is a clear administrative failure here. If Nutrivend does what it claims to, why is bakerstown not recieving any?
Bakerstown Chief of Police Coddling Protesters?
An anonymous source has informed us that the Bakerstown Chief of Police is "coddling protesters, and they turned into zombies." The source then promptly left our office. We do not know what this means, or if it is even true, but it is our duty to inform you of everything that happens in this state.
Mayor of Bakerstown Alex Neggler and Governor Noah Crow plan to instruct the citizens of Kanawha to take up arms against the infected menace destroying our towns. Later today, a press conference will officially send citizens out in droves to destroy the infected individuals with their own weapons and tools.
Officials form Bakerstown have told us that earlier reports that their chielf of police, Shy Ruparel, was bitten are in fact false. He has spoken with us, and reassured us taht they are doing their "darn tootin best" to protect their citizens and share information and best practices with neighboring towns. Mr. Ruparel says his political opponents are likely behind the lies, saying the move was "immature, inappropriate, and insensitive".
Despite a massive attack on Parkersburg, the city was well defended. Attacks ranging from level 1 to level 4 have been either eradicated or reduced to a low level attack.
The chief of police in Bakerstown has been bitten by one of the reanimated. His current condition is yet unknown to Kanawha Press, but we will keep you informed as it develops.
Social media has been exploding with news of "Zombies" overrunning local high schools. Mayor Alex Nagler has suggested that the teenage zombies should be dealt with by playing pop music, rather than with sending legitimate forces to control the infestation. In these pressing times, we have to hope our governments have our best interest in mind, and will do what they can to protect our children.
Kanawha Governor Noah Crow announces that the state of kanawha is officially in a state of emergency. The governor acted fast to get ahead of the situation and emergency services appreciate the support. Citizens have been instructed to stay indoors.
Kanawha loves the State Fair, and it is back, coming in August! Eat hot dogs, corn on the cob and roasted peanuts! Enjoy the ferris wheel and the giant slide!


Our Blog For All Things Lovely!: Summer Essentials!
A lot of you broke up for summer last week, so yay for summer! I broke up in May, like some of you might have, so yay for ridiculously long summer!
This post is my summer beauty essentials and is another collaboration with the lovely Lauren!
M.A.C Fix+ is my first essential. In the summer your makeup doesn't last as long because of the warm weather which makes priming and setting your makeup all the more important. However, some primers can feel heavy and you don't want to constantly be powdering your face. Fix+ is a spray, it feels refreshing to spritz onto your skin before and after your makeup and will help it to last longer!
L'oreal CC Cream is my next essential, it provides a light-medium coverage and adapts to your skin tone, the green colour counteracts any redness in your skin! Another reason I'm including this is because if you tan when you're on holiday it will adapt to that skin tone too, so you don't need to pack numerous different foundations for your changing skin tone! If you have a pink/cool undertone to your skin it will appear very yellow on you, so it's definitely one for you if you have a more yellow undertone to your skin.
The Bourjois Chocolate Bronzer not only smells amazing but I love the way it warms up your complexion and I think it should be an essential for everyones summer makeup! They also do a half-highlighter half-bronzer version now!
Along with the lighter feeling makeup theme, a liquid highlighter such as the Benefit High Beam is perfect for summer. It adds a subtle glow and sits beautifully on the skin.
M.A.C Pro-Longwear Paint Pot in Rubenesque is my favourite eyeshadow at the moment, the shade is a beautiful peach-gold and will look incredible with all skin tones. As the name suggests, it lasts a long time without creasing!
Waterproof mascara is an all year round essential for me, it holds the curl much much better than a normal mascara, but in summer its great because it won't run! My favourite is Maybelline the Rocket, I've been using it for ages and it's never let me down!
Brows are so important, they can completely transform the way your face looks, so its important to keep them in place, a brow gel is an easy and quick way you can make your brows look fab and for them to stay in place. I love the L'Oreal Brow Artist Plumper, it comes in two different shades and also in transparent!
In summer it's fun to try out brighter lip colours. Bourjois Colour Boost in Peach on the Beach, the new and Revlon Ultra HD lipsticks in HD Rose and HD Peony and Revlon Colour burst Lacquer balm in Coquette are all gorgeous shades for the summer! They're all nice and moisturising too!
Barry M Blueberry and Prickly Pear were two nail polishes I loved wearing on holiday last year, and i still love them, In a Heart Beat, Eat My dust and Sugar Apple are relatively new to my collection but they're also perfect for the summer. I particularly love In a Heart Beat for my toes!
I hope you enjoyed this post, I really enjoyed writing it, and collaborating with Lauren is always a pleasure, you can tell how hard she works on all her blogposts so please go and follow her blog and other social media, you will thank me;) Click here to go to the blogpost she did!
What are some of your essentials for summer?
I hope you're enjoying your summer so far!
My song recommendation for today's post is actually a whole album, Handwritten by Shawn Mendes. I couldn't choose just one song because I love every single one and it still baffles me that he is the same age as me, has released an album and been so successful with it!


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Tag Archives: National Security Agency (NSA)
Who Controls Peoples' Data?
The McKinsey Global Institute estimates that cross-border flows of goods, services and data added 10 per cent to global gross domestic product in the decade to 2015, with data providing a third of that increase. That share of the contribution seems likely to rise: conventional trade has slowed sharply, while digital flows have surged. Yet as the whole economy becomes more information-intensive — even heavy industries such as oil and gas are becoming data-driven — the cost of blocking those flows increases…
Yet that is precisely what is happening. Governments have sharply increased "data localisation" measures requiring information to be held in servers inside individual countries. The European Centre for International Political Economy, a think-tank, calculates that in the decade to 2016, the number of significant data localisation measures in the world's large economies nearly tripled from 31 to 84.
Even in advanced economies, exporting data on individuals is heavily restricted because of privacy concerns, which have been highlighted by the Facebook/ Cambridge Analytica scandal. Many EU countries have curbs on moving personal data even to other member states. Studies for the Global Commission on Internet Governance, an independent research project, estimates that current constraints — such as restrictions on moving data on banking, gambling and tax records — reduces EU GDP by half a per cent.
In China, the champion data localiser, restrictions are even more severe. As well as long-established controls over technology transfer and state surveillance of the population, such measures form part of its interventionist " Made in China 2025 " industrial strategy, designed to make it a world leader in tech-heavy sectors such as artificial intelligence and robotics.
China's Great Firewall has long blocked most foreign web applications, and a cyber security law passed in 2016 also imposed rules against exporting personal information, forcing companies including Apple and LinkedIn to hold information on Chinese users on local servers. Beijing has also given itself a variety of powers to block the export of "important data" on grounds of reducing vaguely defined economic, scientific or technological risks to national security or the public interest. "The likelihood that any company operating in China will find itself in a legal blind spot where it can freely transfer commercial or business data outside the country is less than 1 per cent," says ECIPE director Hosuk Lee-Makiyama….
Other emerging markets, such as Russia, India, Indonesia and Vietnam, are also leading data localisers. Russia has blocked LinkedIn from operating there after it refused to transfer data on Russian users to local servers.
Business organisations including the US Chamber of Commerce want rules to restrain what they call "digital protectionism". But data trade experts point to a serious hole in global governance, with a coherent approach prevented by different philosophies between the big trading powers. Susan Aaronson, a trade academic at George Washington University in Washington, DC, says: "There are currently three powers — the EU, the US and China — in the process of creating separate data realms."
The most obvious way to protect international flows of data is in trade deals — whether multilateral, regional or bilateral. Yet only the World Trade Organization laws governing data flows predate the internet and have not been thoroughly tested through litigation. It recently recruited Alibaba co-founder Jack Ma to front an ecommerce initiative, but officials involved admit it is unlikely to produce anything concrete for a long time. In any case, Prof Aaronson says: "While data has traditionally been addressed in trade deals as an ecommerce issue, it goes far wider than that."
The internet has always been regarded by pioneers and campaigners as a decentralised, self-regulating community. Activists have tended to regard government intervention with suspicion, except for its role in protecting personal data, and many are wary of legislation to enable data flows. "While we support the approach of preventing data localisation, we need to balance that against other rights such as data protection, cyber security and consumer rights," says Jeremy Malcolm, senior global policy analyst at the Electronic Frontier Foundation, a campaign for internet freedom…
Europe has traditionally had a very different philosophy towards data and privacy than the US. In Germany, for instance, public opinion tends to support strict privacy laws — usually attributed to lingering memories of surveillance by the Stasi secret police in East Germany. The EU's new General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), which comes into force on May 25, 2018 imposes a long list of requirements on companies processing personal data on pain of fines that could total as much as 4 per cent of annual turnover….But trade experts warn that the GDPR is very cautiously written, with a blanket exemption for measures claiming to protect privacy. Mr Lee-Makiyama says: "The EU text will essentially provide no meaningful restriction on countries wanting to practice data localisation."
Against this political backdrop, the prospects for broad and binding international rules on data flow are dim. …In the battle for dominance over setting rules for commerce, the EU and US often adopt contrasting approaches. While the US often tries to export its product standards in trade diplomacy, the EU tends to write rules for itself and let the gravity of its huge market pull other economies into its regulatory orbit. Businesses faced with multiple regulatory regimes will tend to work to the highest standard, known widely as the "Brussels effect". Companies such as Facebook have promised to follow GDPR throughout their global operations as the price of operating in Europe.
Excerpts from Data protectionism: the growing menace to global business, Financial Times, May 13, 2018
This entry was posted in Espionage, geoeconomics, Globalization, Human Rights, Markets and tagged big data, data localization requirements, data mining, data science, Edward Snowden, German data centers, iceland data centers, internet and national security, internet and US interests, internet balkanization, internet companies, internet decentralization, internet enclosure, internet fingerprint, internet freedom, internet monopolies, National Security Agency (NSA) on May 15, 2018 by Stoa.
Ooops, a Gentlemen's Agreement Breaks
The mysterious hacking group that supplied a critical component of the WannaCry "ransomware" software attack that spread across the globe in mid-May 2017 has been releasing alleged National Security Agency secrets for the past eight months. Former intelligence officials now fear that the hackers, who go by the name Shadow Brokers, are taking a new tack: exposing the identities of the NSA's computer-hacking team. That potentially could subject these government experts to charges when traveling abroad.
The Shadow Brokers on April 14, 2017 posted on a Russian computer file-sharing site what they said were NSA files containing previously unknown attack tools and details of an alleged NSA hack affecting Middle Eastern and Panamanian financial institutions.
But something went largely unnoticed outside the intelligence community. Buried in the files' "metadata"—a hidden area that typically lists a file's creators and editors—were four names. It isn't clear whether the names were published intentionally or whether the files were doctored. At least one person named in the metadata worked for the NSA, a person familiar with the matter said. Additionally, the hacking group in April, 2017 sent several public tweets that seemingly threatened to expose the activities of a fifth person, former NSA employee Jake Williams, who had written a blog post speculating the group has ties to Russia… Security experts who have examined the documents believe they contain legitimate information, including code that can be used in hacks, as well as the names of the files' creators and editors.
Because nation-state hackers might run afoul of other countries' laws while discharging their duties, they could, if identified, face charges when outside their country. So, to keep their own people safe, governments for decades have abided by a "gentleman's agreement" that allows government-backed hackers to operate in anonymity, former intelligence officials say….
Some former intelligence officials suggested the U.S. prompted the outing of state-sponsored hackers when it indicted five Chinese military hackers by name in 2014, and more recently brought charges against two officers with Russia's Federal Security Service over a 2014 Yahoo Inc. breach. By exposing cyberagents, the Shadow Brokers appear to be taking a page from the U.S. playbook, said Mr. Williams, who worked for the NSA's Tailored Access Operations hacking group until 2013. An NSA spokesman said the agency doesn't comment about "most individuals' possible current, past or future employment with the agency." "We've fired first," Mr. Williams said, referring to the U.S. charging the alleged Chinese hackers by name. "This is us taking flak."…
The documents revealed jealously guarded tactics and techniques the NSA uses to access computer systems…For example, the files include source code for software designed to give its creators remote access to hacked machines, and to evade detection from antivirus software. If the code was created by the NSA, it now gives security professionals a digital fingerprint they can use to track the NSA's activities prior to the leak.
That could prove disruptive to NSA activities, forcing the agency to consider pulling its software from others' networks and taking other steps to erase its tracks. And while the information could help companies determine whether they have been hacked by the NSA, it could also be used to create more malicious software. The Shadow Brokers tools, for example, are now being used to install malicious software such as WannaCry on corporate networks.
Mr. Williams initially thought the Shadow Brokers had access only to a limited set of NSA tools. His assessment changed after three tweets directed at him April 9, 2017 included terms suggesting the group had "a lot of operational data or at least operational insight" into his work at the NSA, he said. The tweets, which are public, are cryptic. They express displeasure over an article Mr. Williams wrote attempting to link the Shadow Brokers to Russia. They also mention apparent software code names, including "OddJob" and "Windows BITS persistence."…..OddJob is a reference to software released by the Shadow Brokers five days after the tweets. "Windows BITS persistence" is a term whose meaning isn't publicly known.
Excerpts from In Modern Cyber War, the Spies Can Become Targets, Too, Wall Street Journal, May 25, 2017
This entry was posted in cyberwar, Espionage, War and tagged Chinese military hackers, cyber attack, cyber war, cyber warfare, cyberagents, cyberwar China, cyberwar Russia, cyberwar United States, exploit software vulnerabilities, Jake Williams NSA employee, malicious software, National Security Agency (NSA), NSA computer hacking team, playbook, Shadow Brokers, software attack, state-sponsored hackers, wannacry, WannaCry ransomware on May 25, 2017 by Stoa.


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Eugene Weekly : Visual Art : 4.15.10
Let the Rivers Run
McKenzie River Trust show at the Jacobs Gallery
By Suzi Steffen
If Eugene's gloomiest doomsayers were right and peak oil caught us unaware, our concrete highways might become large pedestrian spaces, but our rivers would return to their central status, providing us both water and vital transportation. In the meantime, rivers serve as metaphors, spaces for renewal and reminders that ecosystems contain more than office workers usually get to see. Oh, and they're fantastic places for watercolor and other plein air workers; and in Oregon, their fish inspire sculptors as well.
Living River I, by Dan Chen
Lush, by Sally Metcalf
Inside The River, by Mary Edwards
The many artists included in the Jacobs Gallery's "The Living River: A Juried Art Exhibit" perfectly illustrate human reaction to the complexities and fascinations of riparian worlds. Surprisingly and disappointingly, few of the pieces in the show go beyond literal representation, and many of the watercolors and oils inevitably blend into a swirl of celebration of trees, birds, fish and water. But several of the many photographers in the show find ways to highlight amusing, poignant or breathtaking moments, and the sculptors and fiber artists also tend to push beyond the purely visual to a layered reflection on the waterways of Oregon.
The McKenzie River Trust (www.mckenzieriver.org) sponsored the exhibit, and a variety of river-related events occur throughout the month of the show. Jurors for the exhibit were Dottie Chase and Beverly Soasey and art historian David Turner; they picked Dan Chen's pastel Living River I for first prize. Chen's accomplished hand gives a sense of the salmon fighting their way through a muscling crowd of glorious fish. I think salmon faces are quite ugly, but Chen and other artists in the show, including Judith Sparks with Salmon Totem, give the fish dignity and the weight of responsibility for sustaining life in the Pacific Northwest. They remind me of the Columbia River show at the Portland Art Museum in the fall of 2008 ("Wild Beauty"). That exhibit showed film of the salmon run and also of Celillo Falls before and after it was submerged by the Dalles Dam. Salmon have served for centuries as part of an abundant and relatively easy life in the Pacific Northwest, but of course dams have made their runs smaller and smaller even as the country's appetite for salmon has grown. So we need reminders like Chen's piece that the salmon exist for themselves as part of the river's ecosystem, a special kind of fish that lives in both fresh and salt water and struggles mightily to pass the river on to another generation.
Oregon's blessed with a number of different and stunning locations whose natural beauty makes a photograph almost an insult — Crater Lake, Mount Hood, the lava formations, the Sisters … and, of course, spots along the McKenzie, Willamette, Columbia, Umpqua, Rogue and a gazillion other rivers. Most of the photographers in "Living River" found some way to give their pieces a slight distance, knowing that they can't capture the experience in an exact replica.
For instance, Bob Sanov's velvety, black-and-white gelatin print Cascades gives a lush, textural feel to the image, moving it beyond a window into the world and making it more like an abstract painting that reminds viewers of its art. I was not surprised to read in Sanov's artist statement that he "especially love[s] the element of non-reality inherent in the black and white image." Bingo. The river's not like Cascades, but the experience of the river might resemble the tumble and flow of the clearly not "real" piece. Rich Bergeman's Along the Lower Columbia adds a touch of nostalgia and mystery with its decaying moorings and broad expanse. Too much nostalgia destroys a landscape, but this piece is balanced with others in the show that celebrate the swirl and current of today's life along the rivers.
Sally Metcalf's woven works, like second-place winner Lush, use items from near the river as material. Her work thus becomes both literal — the living river! — and referential, abstract and wonderfully present. Sarah Grew doesn't shy away from the abstract in her work either. Spinning uses camas lilies in a white acrylic emulsion to evoke a feeling of suspension, of small things stitching a world together. The mixture of scientific and botanical precision with patterned and thickly layered canvas hints at the ways a river inserts itself into our bodies and our minds.
Good art about the natural world evokes a variety of associations, but rivers aren't on the planet merely to be evocative for human brains and souls. As the McKenzie River Trust works to protect the physical riparian environments, this show and its associated events tell us to get out of the gallery and make our own artful, spiritual, physical and grounded associations with the rivers we should use, love, think about and preserve.
"Living River" runs through May 2 at the Jacobs Gallery under the Hult Center. Remaining events include a 7 pm Friday, April 23, lecture entitled "Kesey's Living Rivers" and a 7 pm Wednesday, April 28, reading/discussion with author Kathleen Dean Moore. See http://wkly.ws/hk for more information.