From the unified field of eternal consciousness, the light of awareness constantly pours forth knowledge, understandings and skills that release one from ignorance regarding the origin and purpose of creation itself.
The Planetary Tantric School was the original stream brought forth from the Central Sun onto this Earth plane in Lemurian times for the benefit of this Earth's inhabitants. The inhabitants of Earth are interwoven into the fabric of this Earth's evolution, are part of its changes, a piece of the whole picture.
This original stream was brought forth by US, the Annukai, or Annunaki. WE are the gods that the original inhabitants witnessed coming from the skies, in fiery streams of light, descending into this material realm, and forming bodies in the likeness of the original two-legged beings that had developed through the evolutionary stream of animal consciousness, from the Salt of the Earth so to speak. The evolution through plant and animal forms is a very slow process, and so the Gods of eternal light brought their seed, their divine will, to accelerate, share, and BLESS the evolution of this amazing glorious divine planet and show the way of eternal consciousness that is connected to and can awaken into the fabric of oneness, thus achieving liberation within the apparent limitations of form.
WE who are Annukai, are DRAGON blood born of Eternal light infused in the conscious creation of the material world. OUR breath is the breath of the Divine Mother, Panchamama's breath. WE came as ONE and will remain as ONE until the day this Earth needs us no longer.
When we arrived, many who saw us saw our powers in the natural world; how we were ONE with the forces of nature and could wield the forces of nature. Seeing this, the original two-leggeds worshipped us and thus the reign of the Gods began. Before that, Nature was the GODDESS—so the GOD form followed the GODDESS. GOD is recognized in some cultures as the creator and all of creation as GODDESS, and as such ALL form is inherently feminine. Thus, the creator is found through the inner feminine expression.
The Annukai knew that the form of worship and devotion was necessary for the ignorant to learn the ways of enlightened Oneness. This is VERY true, even today. To maintain sacredness and respect this must be understood (to stand under).
Some of the GODS want to be worshipped in a way that perpetuates duality, thus they do NOT support the original intention of the Planetary School: the intrinsic knowing that ALL life is divine and anyone can awaken their divine light IF they follow the protocols and teachings of purification, awakening, respect and discipline. Thus, the realm of the GODS is a place of limited pleasure and liberation. This realm is called Sambhogakaya, and ONE must go beyond this realm for Eternal Liberation.
However, the ways in which knowledge and power of the GODS is achieved is diverse and the GODS go about their business of bringing Light steams/consciousness of the stars into this Earth plane in many teachings.
As the Earth was opened for more souls to incarnate here things have become more complex, to the point where we are today, where the ignorance, inertia and arrogance of the unenlightened two-leggeds is the predominant energy running the planet. YES some of the lesser GODS have gone crazy in their lust for power, and YES most the ignorant two-leggeds have NO respect for the consciousness and divine energy infused into every atom of nature and the natural world.
THUS we are living in the overload of material and emotional toxicity, and evolution within the status quo is too slow to counteract the destruction of our natural world, of our divine Mother Earth. The major cleansing of our Earth will intensify and SHE will survive.
The streams of consciousness have continued through time, maintaining a balance, harmony and LOVE in the hearts and minds of the small percentage of those two-leggeds who truly LOVE and care for this Earth and LOVE their precious gift of life itself. These streams of wisdom maintain a peaceful existence for the enlightened, the Gurus, the saints, the practitioners, and the believers who live the way of light outside of the ignorance of culture, religion, politics, and social posturing. Around these streams a family or group support is created that helps build an environment for protected practice, a world held together by the living light of the stream.
The living light is the Guru and those returning to the stream or new to the stream are able to touch and learn from the stream through the LOVE and grace of the Guru. Without this living anchor to the stream most drift away and never anchor and return to the eternal light of liberation.
WE were asked to resurrect the Planetary School, this original stream of Eternal Light as WE have never strayed from its original purpose/mandate; we were born Annukai onto this Earth, and are known as the original Prince and Princess of Light within this school from the Central Sun.
The streams of ONENESS must be held for the School by the balanced energy of the Twin Ray, the male/female representation given equal voice.
ALL streams since Lemuria have succeded this stream, forming a line of succession so to speak, and ALL these streams are initiated thru certain GODS or adepts of the planetary school.
Some of these streams speak of the Sat Guru, the Jagat Guru—this is the language from the GREAT Himalayan streams of consciousness. The Himalayas are a place where many of the GODS/adepts of the original school chose to reside. The enlightened forms encompasses the dragon/human form, consciously conscious through all the realms… ONENESS.
More streams have been initiated through the Himalayas than anywhere else. That is because the GODS choose to stay there in the glorious mountain ranges, removed from the ignorance of social cultures. Thus, Mother India is known as Bharat (the manifest inner world).
ONE of these GODS who has taken the role of the SAT GURU, or initiator of conscious teachings through time, is OUR Sat Guru. HE is known by many names and has incarnated many times to take on this divine responsibility. HE is master of masters, skillful beyond comprehension in his experience.
He is most widely known now as MAHAVATAR Babaji. His last stream of Kriya knowledge was bought forth through the householder tradition by Lahiri Mahasaya during the 1800s. Paramhansa Yogananda in the 1940s and other kriya gurus bought the knowledge of Mahavatar's KRIYAS into the current materialistic culture.
Mahavatar is also an initiating power the Great Himalayan SIDDHA tradition, known often through his omnipotent presence rather than by name. Many of the adepts of the siddha tradition become self-empowered and thus self-directed, and sometimes in the process become absorbed or caught within a bubble of created reality. Mahavatar has a universal respect amongst the yogis, and often only a touch, a few words, or skillful action from him are necessary to correct and re-align a practitioner's movement within the greater reality that we are all of and from. His ability within the Body of the One is from the ultimate siddha. HE spans across all traditions/wisdoms, and is the most beloved of Panchamama. WE the GODS serve Panchamama.
WE also have known him as Krishna, and Padmasambhava/Guru Rimpoche of the Himlayan Tibetan traditions. Also he is known by a few as the Archangelic form Lord Mikael.
Also WE know him as Shakyamuniya the great Bhuddic DRAGON of the planetary school.
WE are blessed that HE has decided to step in and assist us actively from Nirmanakaya (his transmission-body) to empower the stream of the Planetary school. This is yet another act of demonstrated LOVE for divine Earth, Panchamama. WE live in the glory of every day knowing the dynamic perfection is unfolding, and that many adepts of the original school, and practitioners who LOVE Mother Earth, shall get the call to reunite within the school's manifest destiny to share knowledge, and bring the realization of ETERNAL Oneness; to remanifest places of powerful transmission and beauty, respect for ALL Divine Mothers Life, plants trees, four-leggeds, winged ones, and practice in a holistic non-dualistic enlightened way—to assist in forming the unified field of enlightenend consciousness.
In this century, two ADEPTS of the school stand clear in my awareness as leaders of this way, and have also bought forth streams of Eternal wisdom from the Central Sun. BOTH these streams are held by the TWIN RAY, as this is a mandate of the school (the balanced approach of the awakened male/female energies).
One of these is Sri Aurobindo and the Mother, who brought forth the planetary vision of the Unified field of ONE Eternal Light, and with their Empowerment as Twin Ray energy were able to successfully manifest AUROVILLE, the template of the NEW unified society where ALL religions and streams of enlightened wisdom are able to have a voice.
To anchor the vision through their life and writings was a great accomplishment and the GRACE of this enlightened vision still assists many two-leggeds to move into a greater understanding of Eternal SOUL.
AS I have said before it is unfortunate that there is NOT a field of active strong Yogic practitioners within Auroville, thus the undisciplined way of the NEW AGERS seeking freedom of expression, BEFORE attaining true freedom through pure applied daily practise is the status quo in that community.
Around the same timing of Sri Aurobindo, St Germain the great GOD/adept of the Planetary School was continuing in his mission to bring the Light of the New Dispensation into the USA.
HE has spent hundreds of years in this LOVE of serving Panchamama, and IS ONE of the great dragons who walked out of the Himalayas.
In the 1940s ONE of his most advanced students was asked to assist in bringing forth the STREAM of teachings known as the wisdom of the Violet Ray, also known as the 7th ray, the ray of Self-Empowerment, where the understanding of soul is linked to the awareness of divine purpose of HUman form.
This is an evolutionary step for HUmanity as most people can NOT even consider the possibility that they might be divine and of eternal consciousness!!
Godfre Ray was blessed to have his twin Ray in Dharmakaya with him, HER name is the Lady Lotus Ray. Both were consciously aware of their ascension destiny, and thus in service to Panchamama, with the Eternal brotherhood of Masters.
St Germain empowered Godfre with HIS transmission body, thus the free flow of knowing and wisdom came forth in total ease for Godfre in his writings and speech, as ONE mind and heart with St Germain at all times. WE have made his writings of the I AM series mandatory reading for our students. The violet Ray teachings are integral to the Planetary School's success, as they go beyond the illusions of dualistic teachings.
THESE Violet Ray teachings are the Western Equivalent of what the Buddhists teach as Ati Dzog Chen. The SAME integral understandings of ONENESS. YOU get there by BEing there!
Such a shame that this culture would NOT accept the pure simplicity of this wisdom, and that the current organisation based at Mt Shasta has diluted this ONENESS to fit into the limited perceptions of Christianity, thus poisoning the well, so to speak, with the tainted waters of half truths!! ONCE again showing the reality that MOST two-leggeds are VERY unwanting and ignorant of Eternal truth!
In truth, the violet ray teachings are NOT a complete teaching, for the Light of Ascension of the individual, YET it was the BEST that could have been done at that time. Remember this was the time of the 2nd World War, deep religious and cultural hatreds, and the struggle for countries to maintain a democratic political system of Government.
SO moving forwards, the violet Ray teachings held in context within the many streams of applied wisdom of the Planetary school, are a stream of enlightenment invaluable to the evolution of the individual.
JAYA JAY HO, VASU REY DAYA, our BEloved St Germain and LADY NADA JI.
Another VERY important ray of teaching originating from the Central Sun and the Planetary school, that has been very distorted and little understood, is the ray of the Elohim. This ray/stream of the Elohim, the angelic hosts, holds the heart teachings, the heart sutras, of the pure Eternal knowledge.
This stream was bought forth by Jesus of Nazareth, and his twin ray Mary/Maraya the Magdalena, the one who holds the purest dragon blood line. It is the stream of what we name the Pink ray which in its purest form is transmitted through the heart. This pink ray, the ray of the Elohim, is unlike many of the other streams of light which can be transmitted through the mind.
These mental teachings, which can be written down and disseminated through skillful practices, are a practical way for people to gain some mastery in their lives. But the pink ray is only transmitted through the GRACE of a heart surrendered fully into the ONENESS.
Jesus and his twin ray have held and overseen the Pink ray for the Earth from the home of the Elohim, VENUS. The decision at the inception of the school was that the Elohim would hold this teaching of the school from Venus and transmissions would occur lightly through the heart of those of Earth pure enough to receive this stream. This purity requires a respect for all living species that are part of the creation/creative power of Divine Mother.
Jesus has taken birth only three times onto this Earth, once in a family of Kings, to understand that power, and once in the blood lines of the tribes of Israel, to understand the ordinary peoples, and lastly as Jesus joining with his twin ray. He was birthed by Joseph and Mary (St Germain and Lady Nada) both of the Planetary school, and both of warrior Dragon blood.
Mary Magdalena took only one body previous to being born as the Essene daughter destined to join her twin ray Jesus. They came to bring forth the Pink ray teachings, which is a key teaching of LOVE. When their Earth mission was completed and they had children, they ascended from the need for reincarnation and returned again as the Elohim into Venus, where they continue to touch lightly into the hearts of the pure of Heart.
THIS LOVE is the heart and ultimate ingredient of success of the Planetary School.
This PINK RAY teaching is what many Patriarchial forms are missing!!
The GRACE of the Divine Goddess, and Divine Mother are required.
VIROCHANA, my BEloved Twin Ray, and I were of the Essene family at the time of the Christos living on Earth and key players in this divine Lila. We are of the bloodline of the Magdalena dragonline, and have been sanctioned, as the initiating Gurus/Light to bring forth this final revelation, in service to the reunification of the Planetary Tantric School.
It is very unfortunate for the two-leggeds, that these pure heart teachings were distorted into power plays by those NOT pure in heart. Through these manipulative power plays of economics, and education/material wealth and position, the religion of Christianity has been formed, and great armies of destruction and darkness fuelled by misguided, ignorant self righteousness, have wreaked havoc across our earth, and helped to hold the world in darkness and imbalance for too long a time.
Now, in this time of revelation and the turning of the great wheel of Time, this change of Epochs, so much of the imbalance is seen and known and lived in the day to day reality.
Time to awaken the true Light of the Soul. Find the way back to your soul-knowing by returning to the purity of Nature and natural living, in harmony and respect with Mother Earth; by finding the SAT GURU, and the GURUS of Eternal Light who can and shall reconnect YOU to YOUR Dragon light, leading deeper into Eternal SELF-awareness, happiness, Liberation, Freedom, Ascension, LOVE LOVE LOVE….
IN GRACE, ShanTARA MU, May 2013.
The planetary tantric school is one of the original forms of the ascended consciousness on this Earth. Its origins are held in the universal wisdom of the eternal light. That light when fully embodied in the physical is called the Eternal ascended body which may still seen with the physical eye. This light was bought onto earth by a united force of cosmic masters that to this day are still active in implementing the divine evolutionary plan for hu-mans and earth herself.


For the low, low price of $0.00, you can download all of the songs I wrote and recorded for National Solo Album Month in November. I named the album in October, thinking it would be short of the goal of 29:09 minutes. In other words, I thought it would be More Than I Can Chew.
I'm happy with the songs and especially happy with "What Went Wrong." It's classic folk rock chick.
I'm also debuting my new music website, Kimp3.net. I've had that domain name for years. Catchy, eh?
it's hard to choose, but i think i like scoggins and kay the best, probably because i have a very similar memory. i also really like what went wrong and count the sunrises. i can count only one sunrise, though-- when i was in kauai. but it was the best morning of my life. i don't know if i'll ever experience something like that again, but it's nice to have that memory to at least know that it is possible.
i always start feeling bleak in november but your nasoalmos have a way of lifting my spirits. thanks for the music.
Thank you. I'm glad I can offer something to lift your spirits. I can imagine that a sunrise in kauai is beautiful. It makes me want to strive for a sunrise farther than the Texas coast.
I'd love to hear about your similar memory. A friend was asking me today where the Scoggins and Kay dress shop was and if it's still there. It's not there and everything on that street has changed so much that I can't even pinpoint exactly where it was. But the memory is a good one.
i remember shopping with my mom when i was little, maybe 5 or 6 years old, at a women's shop called judys' two (not exactly sure how it was spelled, but it was owned by two women both named judy). i would hide in the middle of the circular clothing racks, pretending that they were my secret hideouts. i loved to see what i would find in there-- a few stray hangers and price tags, of course, but sometimes a penny, or if i was really lucky maybe a dime or a pretty button. i remember that i really liked one judy because she didn't mind me playing like this. the other judy, not so fun. the clothes at the shop were really expensive for our family, so whatever my mom bought there she treasured for a long time. when she was shopping, it was like both of us were in our dream worlds for the moment.
I love that story. I try to remember the ladies who owned (or worked at) Scoggins and Kay, but I can't picture them. I just know they were ladies. I think the clothes at Scoggins and Kay were probably expensive, too, because layaway was a big deal there. Thank you for sharing that.
I used to drive to San Marcos 1-2 times a month for pizza and coffee. On the way there, I would pass a turn off to Live Oak Cemetery. I always had an idea to turn off and see it... next time. I don't go to San Marcos as often now because I don't eat pizza, so today I decided to make a trip to Live Oak Cemetery for the sake of seeing Live Oak Cemetery.
It was peaceful, as cemeteries are. One grave caught my attention -- a little girl who was born May 1977 and died Oct. 1980. Just 3.5 years old. Her picture was on the gravestone and there were a small Christmas tree and two angels on the ground above it. I wonder who put it there 31 years later.
Sometimes I visit my parents' graves in Houston. I don't know how to act when I go, really. First, it takes me a while to find their plots, and I almost always give up but then always make myself keep looking. I find them, and I stand over them, and I look at them. Sometimes I move some grass or dirt off of their headstones, mainly because I saw my aunt do that once. I think if there was a bench, I would sit for a while. There's usually a bench in the movies. But to sit on the grass would mean sitting on someone else's grave and that doesn't seem right to me. But I like this ritual better than the alternative of not going at all.
Pearl Jam Twenty - Great documentary by Cameron Crowe, especially if you love Pearl Jam the way I love Pearl Jam.
When I "visit" someone in the cemetery, I usually tidy up the headstone. I don't know what else you are supposed to do. I mostly walk around and look at the other graves. I like the idea of there being a special place to go and think about that person, but it still seems odd.
I should add that documentary to my Netflix queue.
My father's side of the family was from Czechoslovakia. I don't know their history — why they left Czechoslovakia to end up in Nebraska and then Oklahoma so many years ago. I don't know much about Czechoslovakia even though I have a nearly two inch thick coffee table book called "Czechs in America."
The article about his death in the Austin American Statesman paints a picture of a great man. I would like to learn more about him and the country of my ancestors.
happy holidays to lily and you, too!
those quotes are good food for thought. thanks.
Right before I heard that he died, I had been working a New York Times crossword in which one of the clues was, "Playwright who became president", one of the few clues in that particular puzzle that I knew without having to get intersecting letters first. I was weird hearing later that day that he died.
Happy New Year, k-sue and bryk!
@bryk - Weird coincidence. If I'm ever a clue, let me know immediately.
I bought a movie from the Warner Archive that I thought I would never see again. Sweet Hostage stars Linda Blair and Martin Sheen (who looks a lot like his son, Emilio Estevez in this). Sheen escapes from a mental hospital and kidnaps Blair. She falls in love with him. It made quite an impression on me. It's been about 35 years since I've seen it, and I still remember the title, premise and some details.
Do you remember any obscure movies from that long ago?
Ken Robinson posts a link to an article titled "Astronomers Discover Deep-Fried Planets."
Ken: "I wonder why it doesn't put in the article name or grab a picture from it."
Me: "The reavers on the outskirts of Facebook got the headline and pictures."
Ken: "I hope they like fried food."
Two people told me "Happy New Year's!" Isn't it "Happy New Year" without the 's?
Today is the last day of the year to make donations and claim them on your income taxes. Goodwill got a box full of stuff from me including two Yoga DVDs. That'll be good for someone's New Year's resolutions.
Merlin: New Year's resolutions. People do these. Dan, do you know about New Year's resolutions?
Dan: This is the thing where you say "This year, I am going to do this thing." And then, for some reason, saying that at the start of the year makes it less likely for you to actually do it than if you just started doing it.
Colorado River Bridge as seen from Fisherman's Park in Bastrop, Texas.
Worked this time. It was hanging when I clicked on Sign In. Lovely picture. Where is Bastrop, Texas? Our Bastrop is in the extreme northeastern part of Louisiana.
Oh good. Bastrop, Texas is central, about 30 miles east of Austin. They were victim to one of the big wildfires this summer, not very far from where this picture was taken.


Home › SeaSense Economy Kayak Paddle 84"
SeaSense Economy Kayak Paddle 84"
Lightweight black anodized aluminum shaft with cupped black molded paddles. Convenient two piece design for storage. Adjustable to three positions for versatility and comfort.


Snap recruit the best people to support children, young people and adults with a disability or additional needs. We're passionate about inclusion, diversity - and sharing useful info!
Our blogs: Information, tips and thoughts. For our clients, job seekers, parents of disabled children (of any age) and associated professionals including case managers, solicitors and therapists - and anyone with an interest in supporting people in the disability community and recruitment.
Can I pay less than the National Minimum Wage for Sleeping Nights?


When i sit back and think through why, have I not been writing frequently I realise the reason is that I actually have no time to sit back and think through!! And well, I only have my job to blame for it (apart from my laziness, sometimes!!). That does not obviously mean that the other blog writers do not have their own respective jobs to take care of.No offense to them. It just means that I haven't got any time out of my job to cultivate or maintain my hobbies.
Before this post starts sounding like a dashboard for my cribbing, I would like to say that this isn't meant to be what it sounds like. I just thought Ill talk about what I do to earn my bread and butter.Well, I work in an ad agency as a client servicing executive or account management. They all sound so fancy I tell you! When I entered the advertising industry I had no clue what amount of hardwork goes in. It all sounded so glamorous to me. But it is not.
Well, to begin with I joined this industry six months back fresh after my MBA purely for my love for media (Ahhh! the power of media these days..it's nothing you can describe). Now, about my job profile, well client servicing literally means at the client's service 24/7. It includes taking the ad requistions from the client and running them past the creatives and then looking after is execution till end in simple words.
Simple it may sound but, only a client servicing executive (CSE) will understand how tough a task it is. Well first it is the client, then the creatives and the n the production guys..a CSE has to beg and plead at every stage to get her work done. An agency relies on its creative department to come up with good ads so that it can earn its revenue.. But everyone in the agency thinks it is only the CSE's responsibility (why??). When the client comes up with a tough deadline to meet or if a creative has to wait till late and work overtime then the CSE has to face a lot of scorn (but even the poor CSE is waiting till late na?).
On a typical day, 4:40pm: The client calls the CSE " Hey XYZ, I have just emailed you a new brief. I need the creatives asap"
CSE to client, "Oh yes! I read it but its difficult to give it so soon. Give me some time. Give my creatives some time to think"
Client to CSE, " No! i really don't have time. I have to get this done today itself"
4:45pm: The CSE goes to the creative to get this urgent work done. The creative at this time is out for a smoke.
5pm:The creative comes back from his (smoke) break. CSE to creative guy, "I have a new brief for you. And its very urgent, it has to be delivered today itself". Creative guy (CG) to CSE, "Today?? I was just getting ready to leave. We will do it tomorrow". CSE to CG, "Well I tried but we can't push it till tomorrow". CG to CSE, "Well, in that case come after 15 mins. I am doing some other work right now." (The other work is chatting on gtalk or booking tickets for a weekend movie show and it is ofcourse more urgent and important than the actual work).
5:15pm: the client calls back "Where is my job? It is such a small thing and your taking hours to finish it. I told you it is urgent." CSE replies ,"Yes! I understand. (Rule no 1: You always have to understand the client's problems or act like you do and Rule no 2: You cannot afford to be even slightly rude to them). You will get it in sometime."
5:20pm: The CSE rushes to CG and the CG finally does her a favour by taking the brief and doing "her" job.
Well! this is the reason why they say that servicing is a thankless job. You have to bear the brunt of everyone's tantrums and there is no one to take out your frustration on.


text:
Metaphor and Innovation
The metaphor-minded, aphoristically inclined Dave Lull sends news of 'Bad Metaphors, Bad Tech' by Rob Goodman in The Millions. "It's only in terms of what's old that the newest technologies make initial sense," Goodman writes, a point also made beautifully by Owen Barfield in his exquisite book History in English Words: "When a new thing or a new idea comes into the consciousness of the community, it is described, not by a new word, but by the name of the pre-existing object which most closely resembles it." Here's a central paragraph from Goodman's piece:
"More than smoothing over progress after the fact, metaphors themselves often drive progress. The insight that turned a balloon into a piece of Baroque art was the same kind of jump that turned a billowing shirt into a flying machine. But if smart figurative thinking can spark and explain new technologies, defective metaphors can do just the opposite. When the words and images we use to familiarize the new become too familiar — when metaphors start to die, or when we forget that they're only tools — they can become some of the most powerful forces against innovation. It's not always technical walls that stop change in its tracks. Sometimes, innovation is limited by language itself."

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


Zapata Nicolas is from selected vines marked with a red sash which are treated with meticulous care. It has a striking bouquet of oysters shell and black olive with gravelly freshness. Full bodied with flavours of black plum and elegant tannins.
The 2009 Zapata is from selected vines marked by a red sash in order to raise the wine with meticulous care. It is 10% whole cluster and 90% whole berry fruit that is aged in 80% new French oak for 24 months. It is pieced together from a mind-boggling 210 separate row micro-vinifications of multifarious lots and harvest times and is a blend of 60% Cabernet Sauvignon and 40% Malbec. It has a spellbinding bouquet that exudes minerality, as if crushed stones had been sprinkled into the black fruit. With continued aeration, there are scents of oyster shell and black olive. The palate is full-bodied, with immense structure and backbone. The acidity is beautifully judged with filigree tannins that render the finish so elegant and refined, with notes of blackberry, soy, black plum and that stony aftertaste. Magnificent. Drink 2014-2035.


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I think I mentioned a while back that Eli 16.4 was right on the border of being a National Merit Semifinalist. His practice test (which all the schools do nowadays, apparently) PSAT score was 1400, and he probably needed a 1440 to qualify.
He took the test--for real--about two months ago.
Gloria and I were both National Merit Scholars in high school, and it opens doors to schools that might not consider you otherwise, so we were very much hoping that he could make it. Plus, he's interested in playing hockey for at least two Ivy League schools, and it would be a huge positive if he had this academic achievement on his record.
Playing for the #11 team in the country and a National Merit Scholar? Sounds like a great fit to me.
So, in sum, it was a big deal.
Scores were coming out anywhere from Monday to Wednesday last week, and when he saw some kids in his classes getting their scores, he started checking his email every five minutes.
A perfect score was 1520, so he missed three questions. And had a perfect score in the Math section.
I don't even know what to say at this point. He just keeps opening doors, and I'm so happy for him.


text:
Sterken, Tec 4 Gerald J.
T/4 Gerald John Sterken was born on March 30, 1918, in Richland, Iowa, to Gerrit and Catherine Sterken. He had four brothers and one sister, and the family resided in Todd County, South Dakota in 1930, Clinton, Wisconsin, in 1935, and Avalon, Wisconsin, in 1940. Gerald left school after eighth grade and worked as a farmhand on the family farm. At some point, Gerald joined the Wisconsin National Guard in Janesville, Wisconsin.
Between 4:00 and 5:00 P.M. on November 28, the main detachment of 85 soldiers and 3 officers marched from the armory to the Milwaukee Road train station in Janesville where they boarded special cars that had been added to the Marquette to Chicago train. One was a flatcar with the company's two tanks on it. At some point, the train cars were uncoupled from the train and switched onto the Chicago & Northwestern line that went into Maywood, Illinois. There, the members of B Company boarded the train and their equipment – including their two tanks – was loaded onto the train. In Chicago, the soldiers disembarked the train and rode busses to the Illinois Central Station. The train cars were switched onto the Illinois Central Railroad. During the trip south it was noted that there was no snow on the ground the further south they got. Once they crossed the Ohio River, the train ran alongside the river and the soldiers saw distilleries and tobacco warehouses before arriving at Ft. Knox around 8:00 A.M. When they arrived, trucks were waiting at the station to take them to the fort. The battalion had a total of eight tanks that the crews were ordered not to abuse.
Their first housing was small unpainted temporary barracks – away from the regular army – since their barracks were not finished. The men assigned to the company from selective service lived in tents next to the company's two barracks. It is known that 25 men lived on each floor of the barracks. The bunks were set up along the walls and alternated so that the head of one bunk was next to the foot of another bunk allowing for more bunks to be placed in the least amount of space allowing for 25 men to sleep on each floor. The first sergeant, staff sergeant, and master sergeant had their own rooms. There was also a supply room, an orderly room – where the cooks could sleep during the day – and a clubroom.
It is known that he was one of the soldiers who went home for Christmas. The soldiers paid $12.00 each and left Ft. Knox at about 1:00 P.M. on Saturday, December 21 – by chartered bus – and arrived in Janesville at about 3:00 A.M. on Sunday, December 22. For those who remained at Ft. Knox, the base was decorated with lighted Christmas trees along its streets, and each night Christmas carols were sung by a well-trained choir that went from barracks to barracks. The sight was said to be beautiful as the soldiers entered the camp from the ridge north of their barracks. The workload of the soldiers was also reduced for the holidays. Christmas dinner consisted of roast turkey, baked ham, candied sweet potatoes, snowflake potatoes, giblet gravy, oyster dressing, cranberry sauce, pickle relish, grapes, oranges, rolls, fruit cake, ice cream, bread, butter, and coffee. After dinner, cigars, cigarettes, and candy were provided.
Those who went home remained in Janesville until the afternoon of Christmas Day when they boarded the chartered bus for the return trip to Ft. Knox. After they arrived at Ft. Knox on December 26, 1st Sgt. Dale Lawton was waiting having been given the job of picking men to be transferred to the soon-to-be-formed HQ Company. Men were picked for the company because they had special training. Many of these men received promotions and because of their rating received higher pay. Gerald was selected to be transferred to the company as an automobile mechanic but still lived with A Company since the new company did not have its own barracks.
Winter finally arrived on January 4th, when the high for the day was 24 degrees and it snowed for the first time. Those on guard duty at night were happy they had been issued long-Johns but wished they had on two pairs. It was also in January that the companies had their first target practice and each company spent one week at the firing range learning to use their thirty caliber and fifty caliber machine guns as well as forty-five caliber pistols. This took place at the 1st Cavalry Test range where the tanks could be maneuvered and the guns fired at the same time. All those holding the rank of Private First Class were sent to motorcycle class at the Armored Force where they were taught the functions and duties of a motorcyclist in a garrison and in combat. Ten members of the company were sent to radio school from 8:00 to 11:30 A.M. They also received their government-issued toiletries. Each man received two face towels and one bath towel, a razor, tooth and shaving brushes, and another pair of pants which completed their compliment of clothing.
Most of the men were attending the various schools they were assigned to on January 13 taking classes lasting until May 31. The tankers went through intensive training at the various classes at the Armored Force School which taught classes in gunnery, radio communications, tank maintenance, vehicle maintenance, tank driving, as well as other classes. The entire battalion on January 28, took part in a one-day problem that had to do with the deployment of large units of tanks and to put into practice what they had learned in the classroom. They were up at 5:00 A.M. and reported to the tank parks of the 1st and 13th Armor Regiments. It was a long tough day for all the soldiers, but they all believed they had learned more in that one day than they had learned in an entire week of school. It was also at this time that each company had a tent so they could make minor repairs to their tanks. It was noted that the men from every company seemed to enjoy working on their own tanks. They were also taking the tanks out on the trails and obstacle driving which resulted in the companies developing many good tank crews.
The battalion finally received all its tanks and the soldiers were told to, "beat the hell out of them." On June 14 and 16, the battalion was divided into four detachments composed of men from different companies. Available information shows that C and D Companies, part of HQ Company and part of the Medical Detachment left on June 14, while A and B Companies, and the other halves of HQ Company and the Medical Detachment left the fort on June 16. These were tactical maneuvers under the command of the commanders of each of the letter companies. The three-day tactical road marches were to Harrodsburg, Kentucky, and back. Each tank company traveled with 20 tanks, 20 motorcycles, 7 armored scout cars, 5 jeeps, 12 peeps (later called jeeps), 20 large 2½ ton trucks (these carried the battalion's garages for vehicle repair), 5, 1½ ton trucks (which included the companies' kitchens), and 1 ambulance.
The battalion was assigned to the Red Army, attached to the Fourth Cavalry, and stationed at Camp Robinson, Arkansas. Two days later it made a two-day move, as a neutral unit, to Ragley, Louisiana, and was assigned to the Blue Army. The battalion's bivouac was in the Kisatchie National Forest, near DeRidder, Louisana, where the soldiers dealt with mosquitoes, snakes, wood ticks, snakes, and alligators. They described the land as swamps, woods, and shacks. They also heard they were going to North Carolina on October 6th.
After the maneuvers, the battalion was ordered to Camp Polk, Louisiana. On the side of a hill, the soldiers learned they were being sent overseas. Men who were married or 29 years old, or older, were allowed to resign from federal service. Most of the remaining soldiers, including Joseph, received furloughs home to say goodbye to their families and friends. When they returned to Camp Polk, they found themselves, once again, living in tents. During their time there, it rained a great deal of the time and the men always seemed to be wet. Men went over a week without taking a shower.
There are at least two stories on the decision to send the battalion overseas, but the decision appeared to have been made well before the maneuvers. According to one story, the decision for this move was the result of an event that took place in the summer of 1941. A squadron of American fighters was flying over Lingayen Gulf, in the Philippines, when one of the pilots, who was flying at a lower altitude, noticed something odd. He took his plane down and identified a flagged buoy in the water and saw another in the distance. He came upon more buoys that lined up, in a straight line for 30 miles to the northwest, in the direction of Taiwan which had a large radio transmitter. The squadron continued its flight plan south to Mariveles and returned to Clark Field. When the planes landed, it was too late to do anything that day. The next day, when another squadron was sent to the area, the buoys had been picked up by a fishing boat – with a tarp on its deck covering the buoys – which was seen making its way to shore. Since communication between the Air Corps and Navy was difficult, the boat escaped. It was at that time the decision was made to build up the American military presence in the Philippines.
The fact was that the battalion was part of the First Tank Group which was headquartered at Ft. Knox and operational by June 1941. Available information suggests that the tank group had been selected to be sent to the Philippines early in 1941. Besides the 192nd at Ft. Knox, the group was made up of the 70th and 191st Tank Battalions – the 191st was a National Guard medium tank battalion while the 70th was a regular army tank battalion – at Ft. Meade, Maryland, the 193rd at Ft. Benning, Georgia, and the 194th at Ft. Lewis, Washington. The 192nd, 193rd, and 194th had been National Guard light tank battalions. It is known that the military presence in the Philippines was being built up at the time, so in all likelihood, the entire tank group had been scheduled to be sent to the Philippines.
On August 13, 1941, Congress voted to extend federalized National Guard units' time in the regular Army by 18 months. Two days later, on August 15, the 194th received its orders to go overseas. The buoys being spotted by the pilot may have sped up the transfer of the tank battalions to the Philippines with only the 192nd and 194th reaching the islands, but it was not the reason for the battalions going to the Philippines. It is also known that the 193rd Tank Battalion had sailed for Hawaii – on its way to the Philippines – when Pearl Harbor was attacked. After it arrived in Hawaii, the battalion was held there. The 70th and 191st never received orders for the Philippines because of the war. It is known at least one heavy tank battalion had been scheduled to be sent, but the Army had no heavy tank and no heavy tank battalion existed at the time. Some military documents from the time show the name of the Provisional Tank Group in the Philippines as the First Provisional Tank Group.
Replacements for men released from federal service came from the 753rd Tank Battalion as did most of the battalion's new tanks which were loaded onto flat cars, on different trains. At 8:30 A.M. on October 20, over different train routes, the companies were sent to San Francisco, California. Most of the soldiers of the battalion rode on one train that was followed by a second train that carried the tanks. At the end of the second train was a boxcar followed by a passenger car that carried some soldiers. HQ Company took the southern route through Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona to Ft, Mason in San Francisco. When they arrived, they were ferried, by the U.S.A.T. General Frank M. Coxe, to Ft. McDowell on Angel Island.
The 192nd was boarded onto the U.S.A.T. Gen. Hugh L. Scott and sailed on Monday, October 27. During this part of the trip, many tankers had seasickness, but once they recovered they spent much of the time training in breaking down machine guns, cleaning weapons, and doing KP. The ship arrived at Honolulu, Hawaii, on Sunday, November 2nd, and had a two-day layover, so the soldiers were given shore leave so they could see the island. On Wednesday, November 5, the ship sailed for Guam but took a southerly route away from the main shipping lanes. It was at this time it was joined by, the heavy cruiser, the U.S.S. Louisville and, another transport, the U.S.A.T. President Calvin Coolidge. Sunday night, November 9, the soldiers went to bed and when they awoke the next morning, it was Tuesday, November 11. During the night, while they slept, the ships had crossed the International Dateline.
On Saturday, November 15, smoke from an unknown ship was seen on the horizon. The Louisville revved up its engines, its bow came out of the water, and it shot off in the direction of the smoke. It turned out the smoke was from a ship that belonged to a friendly country. Two other intercepted ships were Japanese freighters carrying scrap metal to Japan. When they arrived at Guam on Sunday, November 16, the ships took on water, bananas, coconuts, and vegetables before sailing for Manila the next day. At one point, the ships passed an island at night and did so in total blackout. This for many of the soldiers was a sign that they were being sent into harm's way.
The ships entered Manila Bay, at 8:00 A.M., on Thursday, November 20, and docked at Pier 7 later that morning. One thing that was different about their arrival was that instead of a band and a welcoming committee waiting at the pier to tell them to enjoy their stay in the Philippines and see as much of the island as they could, a party came aboard the ship – carrying guns – and told the soldiers, "Draw your firearms immediately; we're under alert. We expect a war with Japan at any moment. Your destination is Fort Stotsenburg, Clark Field." At 3:00 P.M., as they left the ship, a Marine was checking off their names. When an enlisted man said his name, the Marine responded with, "Hello sucker." Those who drove trucks drove them to the fort, while the maintenance section remained behind at the pier to unload the tanks.
At the fort, they were greeted by Gen. Edward P. King Jr. who apologized they had to live in tents along the main road between the fort and Clark Field. He made sure that they had what they needed and received Thanksgiving dinner – stew thrown into their mess kits – before he went to have his own dinner. Ironically, November 20 was the date that the National Guard members of the battalion had expected to be released from federal service.
The members of the battalion pitched the ragged World War I tents in an open field halfway between the Clark Field Administration Building and Fort Stotsenburg. They were set up in two rows and five men were assigned to each tent. There were two supply tents and meals were provided by food trucks stationed at the end of the rows of tents. The area was near the end of a runway used by B-17s for takeoffs. The planes flew over the tents at about 100 feet blowing dirt everywhere and the noise from the planes' engines was unbelievable as they flew over the bivouac. At night, they heard the sounds of planes flying over the airfield which turned out to be Japanese reconnaissance planes. In addition, the khaki uniforms they had been issued were heavy material and uncomfortable to wear in the tropical heat.
At Ft. Stotsenburg, the soldiers were expected to wear their dress uniforms. Since working on the tanks was a dirty job, the battalion members wore coveralls to do the work on the tanks. The 192nd followed the example of the 194th and wore coveralls in their barracks area to do work on their tanks, but if the soldiers left the battalion's area, they wore dress uniforms everywhere; including going to the PX.
Ten days before the attack on Pearl Harbor, the reconnaissance pilots reported that Japanese transports were milling around in a large circle in the South China Sea. On December 1, the tankers were ordered to the perimeter of Clark Field to guard against Japanese paratroopers. From this time on, two tank crew members remained with each tank at all times and were fed from food trucks. It was the men manning the radios in the 192nd's communications tent who were the first to learn of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on the morning of December 8. Major Ted Wickord, the battalion's commanding officer, Gen. James Weaver, and Major Ernest Miller, the CO of the 194th Tank Battalion, read the messages of the attack. The officers of the 192nd were called to the tent and informed of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. All the members of the tank and half-track crews were ordered to the south end of Clark Field to guard against Japanese paratroopers. The members of the tank group remained behind in their bivouac.
Capt. Fred Bruni called the company together and told them of the attack on Pearl Harbor. Most of the men laughed and thought that this was just the start of the maneuvers they were expecting. He told them to listen up and that this was not a joke. The tank companies were brought up to full strength at the perimeter of the airfield to guard against Japanese paratroopers. All morning long the sky was filled with American planes. At noon, the planes landed and were lined up near the pilots' mess hall to be refueled and the pilots went to lunch. The tankers were eating lunch when they saw 54 planes approaching the airfield from the north. As they watched, what appeared to be raindrops – because they shimmered in the sun – appeared under the planes. With the thunderous explosions of the bombs exploding on the runways, the tankers knew that the planes were Japanese. The smoke and dust from the bombs blotted out the sun and made it impossible for the tankers to see more than a few feet. One bomb hit the mess hall where the pilots were eating. The bombers were quickly followed by Japanese fighters that sounded like angry bees to the tankers as they strafed the airfield.
When the Japanese were finished, there was not much left of the airfield. The soldiers watched as the dead, the dying, and the wounded were hauled to the hospital on bomb racks, trucks, and anything else, that could carry the wounded, was in use. When the hospital filled, they watched the medics place the wounded under the building. Many of these men had their arms and legs missing. That night, most men slept under their tanks since it was safer than sleeping in their tents which had bullet holes in them. They had no idea that they had slept their last night in any type of bed.
The next morning the decision was made to move the battalion into a tree-covered area. Those men not assigned to a tank or half-track walked around Clark Field to look at the damage. As they walked, they saw there were hundreds of dead. Some were pilots who had been caught asleep, because they had flown night missions, in their tents during the first attack. Others were pilots who had been killed attempting to get to their planes.
During the Battle of the Philippines, the members of HQ Company attempted to make sure that the letter companies received the necessary supplies and repairs to keep the tanks running. On several occasions, this meant going into a combat area to recover a disabled tank. With 17th Ordnance they often found themselves making repairs to the tanks on the frontlines. In addition, they had the job of finding the tanks and providing fuel and ammunition to them. It was at the Pilar-Bigac area on January 14, that the company and 17th Ordnance had the opportunity to do long overdue tank maintenance. Six carloads of parts, ammunition, and fuel for the tanks had been sent into Bataan in November which allowed the company to replace worn-out tracks and engine parts. The tanks were sent back into action as they became available. In addition, the tanks received ammunition.
It was sometime during this time that Gerald had the opportunity to write home. His parents did not receive the letter until April 1942. In it, he said, "It's hard to concentrate on writing. My thoughts are interrupted by the incessant 'ka-boom' of the big guns. The weather is fine and we are well."
On April 3, 1942, the Japanese launched an all-out attack supported by artillery and aircraft. A large force of Japanese troops came over Mount Samat and descended down the south face of the volcano. This attack wiped out two divisions of defenders and left a large area of the defensive line open to the Japanese. A counter-attack was launched – on April 7 – by the 57th Infantry, Philippine Scouts which was supported by tanks. Its objective was to restore the line, but Japanese infiltrators prevented this from happening. During this action, one tank was knocked out but the remaining tanks successfully withdrew. C Company, 194th, was attached to the 192nd and had only seven tanks left. C Company, 192nd, was pulled out of its position along the west side of the line. They were ordered to reinforce the eastern part of the defensive line. Traveling south to Mariveles, the tankers started up the eastern road but were unable to reach their assigned area due to the roads being blocked by retreating Filipino and American forces.
Shortly after daylight Collier and Hunt returned with word of the appointment. It was at about 6:45 A.M. that tank battalion commanders received the order "crash." The tank crews circled their tanks. Each tank fired an armor-piercing shell into the engine of the tank in front of it. They also opened the gasoline cocks inside the tank compartments and dropped hand grenades into the tanks. To prevent the battalion's American flag from becoming a war trophy, it was soaked in gasoline and put inside a tank before the grenades were dropped in it. Most of the company waited in their bivouac for the Japanese to make contact, while others attempted to reach Corregidor which had not surrendered.
King also ordered them to surrender or face being court-martialed. Gen. King with his two aides, Maj. Wade R. Cothran and Captain Achille C. Tisdelle Jr. got into a jeep carrying a large white flag. They were followed by another jeep – also flying another large white flag – with Col. Collier and Maj. Hurt in it. As the jeeps made their way north they were strafed and small bombs were dropped by a Japanese plane. The drivers of both jeeps and the jeeps were provided by the tank group and both men managed to avoid the bullets. The strafing ended when a Japanese reconnaissance plane ordered the fighter pilot to stop strafing.
At about 10:00 A.M. the jeeps reached Lamao where they were received by a Japanese Major General who informed King that he reported his coming to negotiate a surrender and that an officer from Japanese command would arrive to do the negotiations. The Japanese officer also told him that his troops would not attack for thirty minutes while King decided what he would do. After a half-hour, no Japanese officer had arrived from their headquarters and the Japanese attack had resumed. King sent Col. Collier and Maj. Hunt back to his command with instructions that any unit in line with the Japanese advance should fly white flags. S
On April 11, the first Japanese soldiers appeared at the company's encampment. Donald was now a Prisoner of War. A Japanese officer ordered the company, with their possessions, out onto the road that ran in front of their encampment. Once on the road, the soldiers were ordered to kneel along the sides of the road with their possessions in front of them. As they knelt, the Japanese soldiers, who were passing them, went through their possessions and took whatever they wanted from the Americans. They remained along the sides of the road for hours.
HQ Company finally boarded trucks and drove to an area just outside of Mariveles. From there, they walked to Mariveles Airfield and were ordered to sit. As they sat and watched, the POWs noticed a line of Japanese soldiers forming across from them. They soon realized that this was a firing squad and the Japanese were going to kill them. As they prepared to die, a car pulled up and a Japanese officer got out of the car and spoke to the sergeant in charge of the detail. After talking to the sergeant, he got back in the car and drove off. The sergeant ordered the soldiers to lower their guns.
Later in the day, the POWs were ordered to move and taken to a schoolyard in Mariveles and ordered to sit. How long they sat is not known. It was from this schoolyard that the POWs began what they simply called "the march." The first five miles of the march were uphill. They made their way north from Mariveles to San Fernando. The guards were assigned to march a certain distance so they often made the POWs march at a faster pace so they could finish their assigned section. Those men who were sick had a hard time keeping up and if they fell out were bayoneted or shot. When the distance was covered, the column was stopped and allowed to rest and the guards were replaced.
It was in May or early June that his parents received a message from the War Department.
Dear Mrs.C. Sterken:
According to War Department records, you have been designated as the emergency addressee if Technician Fourth Grade Gerald J. Sterken, 20,645,307, who, according to the latest information available, was serving in the Philippine Islands at the time of the final surrender.
On June 1, 1942, the POWs formed detachments of 100 men each and were marched to Capas. There, they were put in steel boxcars with two Japanese guards. At Calumpit, the train was switched onto another line which took it to Cabanatuan. The POWs disembarked and were taken to a schoolyard where they were fed cooked rice and onion soup. From there, they were marched to Cabanatuan which had been the headquarters of the 91st Philippine Army Division and was known as Camp Pangatian. The transfer of POWs was completed on June 4.
The camp was actually three camps. Camp 1 was where the men who were captured on Bataan – and taken part in the death march – were held. Camp 2 did not have an adequate water supply and was closed. It later reopened and housed Naval POWs. Camp 3 was where those men captured when Corregidor surrendered were taken and was later consolidated into Camp 1 on October 30, 1942.
The barracks in the camp were built to house 50 POWs, but most had between 60 to 120 POWs in them. The POWs slept on bamboo slats, without mattresses, bedding, or mosquito netting. Many quickly became ill. The POWs were assigned to barracks which meant that the members of their group lived together, went out on work details together, and would be executed together since they were Blood Brothers.
During June, the first cases of diphtheria appeared in the camp, and by July, it had spread throughout the camp. The Japanese finally gave the American medical staff anti-biotics to treat the POWs, but before it took effect, 130 POWs had died from the disease. Sterken was admitted to the camp hospital on June 12, 1942, suffering from dysentery and inanition, and was put into Barracks 2 in the Hospital Area of the camp. Since the doctors had no medicines, they could do little for the sick. It should be mentioned that, on several occasions, the Philippine Red Cross came to the camp with medical supplies for the POWs, but the Japanese refused to allow the POWs to receive the medicine.
While he was in the hospital, on June 26, 1942, six POWs were executed by the Japanese after they had left the camp to buy food and were caught returning to camp. The POWs were tied to posts in a manner that they could not stand up or sit down. No one was allowed to give them food or water and they were not permitted to give them hats to protect them from the sun. The men were left tied to the posts for 48 hours when their ropes were cut. Four of the POWs were executed on the duty side of the camp and the other two were executed on the hospital side of the camp.
In July 1942, his parents received a second message from the War Department. The following is an excerpt from it.
"The last report of casualties received by the War Department from the Philippines arrived early in the morning of May 6. Through this date, Technician Fourth Grade Gerald J. Sterken had not been reported as a casualty. The War Department will consider the persons serving in the Philippine Islands as "missing in action" from the date of the surrender of Corregidor, May 7, until definite information to the contrary is received.
According to records kept by the doctors at the camp, T/4 Gerald J. Sterken died of dysentery and malaria on Friday, July 24, 1942, sometime between 11:30 and 11:55 P.M. and was the 1,155 POW to die in the camp. He was buried in the camp cemetery in Grave 214 with 33 other men, five of whom were members of the 192nd Tank Battalion. Of the 33 men, nine of the men buried in the grave were identified after the war. When he died, it was noted that he had no possessions.
On May 17, 1943, his name appeared on a list released from the War Department of men who were still Missing in Action. It is not known when his parents received word that he had died as a Prisoner of War.
After the war, the U.S. Recovery Team could not positively identify the remains of T/4 Gerald J. Sterken, and 24 other men, so they buried the remains as "Unknowns" at the new American Military Cemetery in Manila. His name appears on the Tablets of the Missing at the cemetery.
The Defense Department considers the recovery of his remains as active and is seeking DNA from family members to identify his remains.
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Related tags: Cabanatuan, Calumpit Bridge, Camp O'Donnell, Camp Pangatian, Death March, Maywood, USAT Gen. Frank M. Coxe, USS Hugh L. Scott


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The highly advanced infrastructural facility at Navchetana Kendra (Agra), Agra (Uttar Pradesh) has been parted into several highly operational units, for reasons of attaining smoother and effective management of the firm's operations. The facility has been equipped with all the necessary machinery and equipment, need for the maximization of productivity and achieving of several of the firm's predefined goals and objectives. In addition to this, the facility undergoes regular up-gradation, for maintaining our market standing.


A demo version of locomotion has been released to the public. I will be using the version to help bulk the site up more, but most of the information will come from the full game as that is a better source.
Head over to this thread on the TT-Forums for information on where you can download it. I'll be bringing information throughout tomorrow and next week.
Today I have updated several things.
Firstly, I have added alot more industries to the Industry page, with new pictures. You can now enjoy a near-completed list with high-resolution pictures. There may still be some industries that were not featured in the demo and they will appear as soon as we know about them.
Secondly, I have added the Tutorial section and a tutorial to go with it. It explains one of the features of Locomotion you may of not been familar with and one that greatly enchances the gameplay.
Finally I have altered the site slightly. The links are now a much nicer colour. It is a minor change, but i felt it needed changing. You can expect a logo change in the near-future too.
I will be starting a vehicle list now that I know more about the vehicles in the game. It will be limited because we only have the demo to use as a source and it will also take a while to complete, as each climate has it's own range of vehicles.
Today i have added a new tutorial, showing how to build tunnels. I have also added a new section on Rail Networks. There is a guide in there about station design too.
Over the next few days I'll be adding some more tutorials and at least 1 new section. People have asked for some tutorials on the simplier aspects of track building. I'll try and get something up for them. I'll also replace some of the screenshots on the site with my own.
I've had alot of good support and it's all greatly appreciated. In fact, it helps me to get to work on more content! Keep it coming!
I have added 2 more guides in the Network section. They show how to use dual track systems. I have also added a "Back to Top" link on all tutorial and guides, to save you from all that scrolling.
Today I added the Tips and Tricks section. This section was mostly thought up by patchman, the brains behind TTDPatch. I will be adding more tips to this list as i explore the demo and the actual game.
I have also added another guide in the Rail Networks section with general information about rail track and bridges. Again, this mainly came from ideas from patchman.
The next few days will bring more tutorials mostly and some more additions to other parts of the site. But if my copy of Locomotion arrives in the post tomorrow, don't worry if i just dissapear off the internet. I'm sure i'll be back someday.
You may have noticed a new bar on the left. You may think it resembles an advertisement, but don't be afraid! It is a friendly advert!
Some of you may know that websites aren't free, but i'm not going to fill the page with useless adverts with gimmicks to make you click. The only adverts you will see featured here are directly related to Locomotion.
In this case, if you were to follow the link to amazon.co.uk and purchase something, including Locomotion itself, i would get part of the profits. So not only do you get a brilliant game, you help me make this brilliant site!
Amazon is the only site i've found that give me the flexibility to make the advert for Locomotion, but if anyone else can recommend something, please do. Also, if the advert causes you any problems, please contact me about that too.
In other news, I have added 2 new beginner's tutorals and re-structured the section slightly. I have also had some troubles with signals in Locomotion. The guides on Track Layouts may not be completely correct, so i apologise for any problems there. When i get my full game, i will investigate fully.
I guess that nice advert ruins my xhtml.. i'll get rid of it. And thanks to the weird email i got showing me the problem.
You can now find this site at: www.locomotiondepot.net when the DNS servers catch up.
I have a been a bit quiet over the past few days, for several reasons. Firstly, I've been playing Locomotion, they just made it a little too addictive. I'm fighting that addiction today just so i can get some stuff done.
I have also been working on the new tutorial section. It doesn't look alot different, but it's now coded into a database rather than just plain xhtml. This means I can now add cool things, like make it highlight new tutorials. I also moved the tutorial menu to the main page, as it was getting far too big to sit at the top of every page.
I've also been trying to cope with all the posts on the forums. Loads of them to deal with.. unfortunately i can't read them all anymore.
Today, I'll be adding a new tutorial, fixing some Rail Network stuff and adding a temporary scenario bit. The scenario bit will get fully coded eventually, when i have more things to put in it.
Every day we get more and more visitors and i have to give you all a big thanks for visiting. Don't delay to send any comments to me.
You can now head over to the scenario section to see some scenarios. All the details for putting your own scenarios here are included in that page. The system is very basic at the moment, but will get better as it is needed.
I have finally updated the Rail Networks section with new versions of the stations. There are now full deatils on both Terminus and RoRo stations there now. And I'm sure it all works.
I have also added a few more scenarios for you to play. I haven't played them myself, so if there is anything evil about them, let me know and I'll remove them.
I've had several emails about it and I'll just confirm it here. The forums are down. Really far down, hopefully they'll get fixed. If they don't, I'll put up some temporary forums here, then we can at least talk about stuff.
In site news: I have some enhancements planned, but kinda want to get some more things from the forums in order to make them. I would also like to get some more scenarios posted up, but that requires the information I put on the forums, although you can still use the contact form to mail me and then I'll reply with the address you can use.
If you go click the Forums link in the bar you will be taken over to the new Forums page with links to both the older TT-Forums and the brand new Locomotion Depot forums. These new forums are aimed at creating new objects for Locomotion. People are already creating new trains, bridges and tracks for use in the game. The forum is to help the community help itself, sharing information to help the community grow. I may also add some more pages to hold information when it exists.
On the left we now have some adverts. These ones don't break my XHTML so will be staying there for the forseeable future. If you have any problems with them, please let me know.
Some of you may be familiar with the concept of a Wiki. It is a website designed for people to enter information that is easily viewable by anyone and easily edited with updates and such. Luckily for you guys, I have created a new Locomotion Wiki for use by all! It is designed for people who are interested in making new objects for Locomotion, so they can find out how to create things from other users.
You can get to the Wiki at: http://wiki.locomotiondepot.net/ If you have discovered anything about Locomotion when creating a new object, please post about it on the Wiki, so other people can use that information themselves.
I had planned to update some more tips onto that page, but can't find them. If you have any Tips please e-mail them to me so i have a copy of them and i'll then update them as soon as possible.
I had a breakthrough a few minutes ago. Why not put all the scenarios in .zip files and help cut down on file sizes! So now all the scenarios are in the relevant zip files. This means i can also put the screenshots and readme files in there too. Another addition is the nice Georgia Scenario.
To help spread new things that people have added to Locomotion, I have devised a clever scheme called the "Community Expanision Packs". These are user made packs of new and exciting objects that we have made for Locomotion and are willing to share with the community. Head over to the forums for more information. If you have your own items, you may be able to get them into a CEP, so have a look at the thread now!
Oh, if anything breaks, you don't like the logo or perhaps you just don't like me. Let me know via the contacts page and we'll see what we can sort out.