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Home Arts & Entertainment SBU's Reşit Akçakaya helps develop way to measure effectiveness of conservation efforts
SBU's Reşit Akçakaya helps develop way to measure effectiveness of conservation efforts
by Daniel Dunaief - August 7, 2021
H. Reşit Akçakaya during a recent bird watching expedition. Photo by T. Lybvig
In the world of conservation, scientists and policy makers have relied on the International Union for Conservation of Nature Red List of Threatened Species to understand just how likely species are to go extinct, often as a result of human actions.
When a species moves from one threat level to another, conservationists typically spring into action, taking steps to protect individuals within a species and the habitat in which that species lives.
A team of over 200 scientists in 171 institutions tested a new measure, called the Green Status, that is designed to measure how effective those conservation efforts have been.
"There are always stories about conservation successes," said H. Reşit Akçakaya, one of the leaders of the effort who helped develop the methodology for this new metric. The scientists wanted to "create a standard, objective way of recognizing the success and effectiveness of conservation measures. That is very important. We need optimism. People don't act unless there is hope."
The Green Status monitors a species recovery, measuring the impact of past and future conservation efforts. Researchers including Akçakaya, who is a Professor in the Department of Ecology and Evolution at Stony Brook University, came up with a formula to determine Green Status.
The formula includes elements conservations consider important: it should be safe from extinction, it should have a large enough population to have all its natural interactions with the other parts of the ecosystem, and it should be represented in every ecosystem in which it naturally exists and has existed.
The scientists considered the trade-offs between practicality in aiming for a system that is feasible to apply to many species and comprehensiveness, which incorporates relevant aspects of, and factors involved in, species recovery, Akçakaya explained in an email.
The International Union for Conservation of Nature Green Status of Species will join the IUCN Red List to provide a more complete update on a species' conservation condition, which includes their extinction risk and recovery process.
In a new paper, published in Conservation Biology, scientists from around the world contributed to creating preliminary Green Status for 181 species.
It took seven years from the time the scientists came up with the method, developed it further to make it applicable to all species, published papers, organized workshops and other consultations to get feedback and tested the method.
Akçakaya, who has been involved with the Red List since 1999, said the new system provides information about the status of the species that goes beyond the risk of extinction.
"It's not sufficient to prevent extinction," Akçakaya said. "We want them to recover as well."
One of the challenges in developing this method was in deriving definitions that apply across all species and that are not specific to the conditions and threats any one species faces.
Extinction is difficult to measure but easy to conceptualize, he explained. Recovery, on the other hand, is "not as clear cut."
The first goal of this enterprise was to come up with ways of standardizing how to measure the recovery of a species that would reflect whether conservation efforts were working.
A species on the Red List might have been critically endangered over a decade earlier. After considerable conservation effort, that species may still be critically endangered, according to the same Red List.
That, however, does not indicate anything specific about whether the conservation efforts are working.
The Red List "doesn't tell us how much more we need to work to get to a level that we can call recovered," Akçakaya explained.
The Green Status is not currently a part of conservation policy decisions, particularly because it has only been applied to 181 species. The IUCN, however, which is the world's largest network of conservationists and conservation scientists, has approved it.
Getting from 181 to tens of thousands will take several years, although Akçakaya said he "has a good start" and he has interest from different people who are involved in conservation.
"We are on our way" towards creating a metric that affects conservation policy, he said. "It will take several years to be used" to affect conservation policies for threatened species.
When the Green Status is more broadly available for a wider collection of species, Akçakaya believes it will provide a way for government officials to make informed decisions.
The IUCN, however, does not tell local and national officials what to do with the information provided with the Red List or with the Green Status.
In developing the Green Status, Akçakaya worked with numerous scientists and conservationists. For this methodology, the researchers received hundreds of comments from people who shared insights online. They also announced the work within the IUCN network, through which they received feedback.
Part of the larger advances in the context of the Green Status came from looking not only at the resilience of the species, but also at what the species is doing in the ecosystem. "Is it fulfilling its ecological role and its function in the ecosystem?" Akçakaya asked.
The Stony Brook scientist is pleased with the Green Status work. The intelligence of the group is larger than the intelligence of any one person, he said.
The group "had the same goal," he added. "It was a really satisfying experience in terms of how we came up with a system."
The Green Status can help balance the conservation news. While conserving biodiversity is urgent, one of the things this measure can achieve is to formalize the successes.
Department of Ecology and Evolution at Stony Brook University
Green Status
H. Reşit Akçakaya
International Union for Conservation of Nature Red List of Threatened Species
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Osage figure skater wins third place at U.S. Nationals
By Benny Polacca
Lindsay Davis spends six days a week on the ice practicing her figure skating routines, which she says demands diligence to compete with other skaters also vying for top honors in the sport. In April, she will have her first chance to compete with the best skaters in the world.
The 17-year-old Osage, who is a Beaumont, Calif., resident, has been skating since age four and now competes in both singles and pairs figure skating categories. Last month, Davis took third place in the junior ladies category at the U.S. Figure Skating Nationals in Spokane, Wash., which makes her eligible to compete and represent the United States at international competitions.
"I was so shocked just because it's a dream come true to place (in the top three)," said Davis, who has also competed at other national competitions including those in Colorado and New York. "It's awesome, literally a dream come true."
Davis's first shot at international competition will be in April. She is slated to compete in the Gardena Spring Trophy competition in Italy, which will also mark her first trip overseas.
Davis started skating as a kid after her mother, Debbie Davis, who was a recreational skater at the time, introduced Lindsay Davis to the ice at the urging of her skating coach.
"My first coach just bugged me and bugged me to put her on the ice," Debbie Davis recalls. "I'm so proud of her and all of her hard work and goals are paying off."
"I got hooked," Lindsay Davis said of her first time skating.
"I love the thrill of learning new things. Skating is very different from other sports. There's always something to learn."
In addition to skating in the singles category, Davis also skates in pairs and together, she and her partner skate for about 90 minutes on her practice days.
Davis plans on competing in the U.S. Nationals competition again next year which will be held in Greensboro, N.C., and will enter both the singles and pairs categories. "It's going to be interesting this year," she said of practicing skating routines for the Italy competition and 2011's Nationals.
Right now Davis is working on her triple jumps including the triple loop, triple salchow and triple loop. The hardest of the jumps performed in figure skating routines – the triple Lutz – is not on Davis's radar at the moment.
"I still need to learn other jumps first," she said, adding only a few women have successfully performed a triple Lutz in figure skating history. Davis said she enjoys competing in both categories because of their strengths such as the company and working relationship required in pairs skating and "the freedom of movement" in singles.
Davis is planning on competing at future competitions and if she successfully places high during the next Olympic year, she could be joining the best of the best international skaters when they meet for the 2014 Olympic Games in Russia.
Davis's Oklahoma ties are through her mother's family. Debbie Davis is Osage on her father's side with family members from the Skiatook area.
When she is not skating, Davis has independent school studies through the Beaumont School District and will graduate in May with plans to pursue community college studies when she's done. She also enjoys spending time at home with her family, which includes both parents, an older brother and two dogs as well as shopping.
"I'm a great budget finder," Davis said with a laugh.
Debbie Davis says one great thing that's come from Lindsay's skating ventures is the family's opportunities to travel across the country, which has put hundreds of miles on their van. Debbie Davis says it can cost between $25,000 to $35,000 per year to support her daughter's sport which includes practice time on the ice, coaches, choreography and food and lodging.
"There's so much that goes into training these kids to get to where they are today," Debbie Davis said. Anyone interested in helping sponsor Lindsay Davis can get in touch with the New England Amateur Skating Foundation, a nonprofit based in Providence, R.I. which helps amateur skaters pay for their competition expenses.
Lindsay Evans praises her parents and coaches for helping her with her skating activities and achievements. "They're the foundation for my skating. They've sacrificed so much for me – the best I can do is try and make them proud."

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


China has expanded its Great Firewall and is now apparently blocking content from Reuters. The international news agency now joins the Wall Street Journal and Bloomberg on the list of news sources blocked by the communist regime.
Reuters itself made the discovery after several users expressed difficulty in accessing its content late Thursday night. By Friday, the website became completely inaccessible from within China for no apparent reason.
China has been working to clamp down on foreign news sources since the Hong Kong protests in September 2014. The government had originally gone after instant messaging apps that it blamed for spreading anti-government messages and were being used by protesters to coordinate their efforts. While most communications in the country are monitored by authorities, these foreign apps generally contain some sort of encryption that made this impossible to do.
Reuters has occasionally been blocked when it ran stories that the Chinese government deemed to be on sensitive issues. However, this latest outage does not appear to have been provoked by any particular story lately; which adds to the mystery as to why this had occurred.
In similar news, Chinese censorship watchdog Great Fire has come under a DDoS attack. However, instead of crippling the service, the attackers are driving up the costs of operating the site. Traffic to GreatFire.org has increased some 2500-percent and has driven its hosting fees beyond US$30,000 (about RM111,000) per day.
The organisation has reached out to Amazon (who hosts the site) to forego the additional fees for the duration of the attack. There was no confirmation from the hosts, and it is unknown how the non-profit will handle the situation should it have to pay for the additional bandwith.
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Can Lance Stroll handle the pressure of Formula 1?
Teenager Lance Stroll will be able to handle the pressure when he makes his debut for Williams as Formula One's latest hotshot next season, according to 1997 world champion Jacques Villeneuve.
The 18-year-old driver, who replaces Brazilian veteran Felipe Massa in the team's lineup, is set to be the first Canadian to start a grand prix since Villeneuve retired in 2006.
"I don't know if you have pressure when you are 18 or 19. I don't think you realise. The pressure comes later when you actually realise what you are getting into," said Villeneuve who won the world championship in his second season at Williams.
"At 18, 19 you are still playing even though you're doing it professionally," he told Reuters in an interview.
"It's not the same kind of pressure. The pressure is there if there's a chance of you not having a career out of it which is not really a risk for him," added the 45-year-old.
Stroll won this year's Formula Three title and follows in the footsteps of 19-year-old Dutch sensation Max Verstappen, a race winner with Red Bull in his second season.
The Canadian's career to date has been financed by his billionaire father Lawrence who made a fortune from the Tommy Hilfiger and Michael Kors fashion brands.
Williams have said they have every confidence in the youngster, who won his junior championship in October with four races to spare, and have emphasised that he has earned the place on merit.
Villeneuve, who has underlined in the past that money is no substitute for talent, said Stroll certainly had the potential and time would answer other questions.
"We know he's quick but we don't know what his mettle is," said the Canadian.
"We don't know when the going gets tough, and it will, what will happen. How will he react psychologically? That's the only thing we don't know.
"He's with a good team, Williams is a good place to start. He will be well looked after and he can really become good. All we know is he's been quick so we'll see. The opportunity is there. It's too early to criticise him."
Stroll joined Williams last year as a development driver and has been 'fully immersed' since then in the same way that current Finnish race driver Valtteri Bottas was before joining.
He has already spent plenty of time in the team's simulator and began a track programme in August using a 2014 car.
Villeneuve agreed that Verstappen, who has become a fan favourite with his overtaking skills and refusal to be cowed by anyone's reputation, had set a benchmark and opened the door to other young talent.
Frenchman Esteban Ocon, who beat Verstappen to the 2014 F3 title and turned 20 in September, will be racing for Force India next season in another example of the youth wave sweeping the sport.
"Times have changed," said Villeneuve who made his grand prix debut at 24. "Look at Verstappen. He wasn't Formula Three champion and look at what he's doing now. The whole environment has changed and you don't need the same big background any more to perform in Formula One."
Villeneuve, son of the late Ferrari favourite Gilles, also caused a sensation when he made his race debut in 1996 as a fast, fresh and free-spirited talent refusing to bow to convention.
But the Canadian was already proven at the highest level outside Formula One, winner of the 1995 Indianapolis 500 and U.S. CART series.
His arrival in Formula One, following in the footsteps of his swashbuckling father, was big box office in Canada just as Stroll's debut is likely to be next year at his home race in Montreal.
"You can see it in the way the people are reacting. Canada was needing it so I really hope he'll step up," said Villeneuve. "He's got a good base and now he just needs to step up to what F1 is."
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Home > World Regions > Europe News > Britain to get new Infrastructure Commission
Britain to get new Infrastructure Commission
The UK's Chancellor of the Exchequer George Osborne. Photo by UK Treasury
Britain's chancellor of the exchequer has today announced the creation of a new independent body to advise the government on new infrastructure projects.
Speaking at the Conservative party conference, George Osborne said Britain was "pretty rubbish" at making decisions on projects and it would be a "disaster" to stop building roads and railways.
He also told BBC Radio 4's Today programme this morning that the new National Infrastructure Commission (NIC) would "shake Britain out of its inertia" on making big decisions.
The new commission – which will be modelled on the independent fiscal watchdog the Office for Budget Responsibility, set up in legislation after the 2010 election – will initially focus on London's transport system, connections between cities in the north of England, and updating the energy network – funded by selling off land, buildings and other government assets.
It will start work immediately and will produce a report at the start of each five-year Parliament containing recommendations of projects.
The plan has been welcomed by the Institute for Government (IfG) think-tank, which works to increase government effectiveness.
Its director Peter Riddell said: "The creation of a National Infrastructure Commission is a key recommendation of our Programme for Effective Government, building on our work with the LSE Growth Commission.
"The Government should ensure that the commission is designed to be as effective as possible. It is encouraging to see suggestions that the new Commission will directly recommend specific infrastructure projects, rather than simply identifying a more generic 'need'."
Malcolm Bairstow, head of infrastructure at consultancy and accounting firm EY, said: "It's been a long time coming but the creation of a NIC is a once in a generation opportunity to provide much needed momentum to the delivery of critical infrastructure investment in the UK.
"The mantra of the NIC should be bold thinking, innovative design, swift planning and efficient execution but there are also numerous fundamental issues that will need to be addressed to ensure success. These include training and skills shortages as well as access to private sector financing and funding."
The idea for the NIC was first proposed by Labour in its manifesto for May's general election.
The new commission will be led by Lord Adonis, former Labour transport secretary.
The poaching of such a high profile New Labour figure – the father of Blair's schools academy programme and of the HS2 rail line – is seen as a highly political move by the chancellor as he follows the former Labour prime minister's "big tent" approach as a way of occupying the centre ground.
Lord Adonis said today: "Without big improvements to its transport and energy systems, Britain will grind to a halt.
"Major infrastructure projects like Crossrail and building major new power stations span governments and Parliaments. I hope it will be possible to forge a wide measure of agreement across society and politics on key infrastructure requirements for the next 20 to 30 years."
ConservativesEnergyGeorge OsborneGrowth & EmploymentinfrastructureNational Infrastructure CommissionNew LabourOffice for Budget ResponsibilityPolicy & GovernancePublic servicesReformTony BlairTransportTreasuryUKUnited Kingdom


The Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education has once again awarded its long-term external quality assurance (EQA) contract to Open Awards.
The decision sees a continuation of service from the awarding body who has been delivering quality assurance for apprenticeships assessment on behalf of the institute since 2017.
Its previous long-term contract came to an end in March 2019 but as FE Week reported earlier this month, Open Awards had agreed to extend this work until June while the institute's "competitive" procurement was finalised.
The institute announced today that Open Awards will hold its new EQA contract, which will run until March 2021 and could earn the organisation at least half a million pounds.
"We are delighted to confirm that Open Awards will provide EQA on behalf of the Institute for the next two years," Nikki Christie, the IfATE's deputy director for apprenticeships, assessment and quality said.
The IfATE said this new contract will mark a "step-up" in service provision as it requires delivery against a new EQA framework, due to be published by the institute in the coming months.
The institute is the nominated EQA provider for 295 approved standards.
Under its old contract with Open Awards, the institute did not charge end-point assessment organisations (EPAOs) for the quality assurance service.
But this will change as its new contract comes into play.
Tender documents for the institute's new contract, seen by FE Week, state that "legislation allows the institute to charge EPAOs a fee per apprentice that undertakes an end-point assessment and it is these fees that will pay for the EQA service".
The bidding organisation was asked to "confirm what price they would charge per end-point assessment", and would receive a minimum payment of £20,000 a month for the duration of the contract.
Up to 20 per cent of the total funding is available to fund the end-point assessment. The EQA cost is paid by the end-point assessment organisation and is factored into the EPA price.
FE Week revealed the "ridiculous variability" in approved external quality assurance charges in February, which were criticised by sector leaders for ranging from a free service to £179 per apprentice.


In the February 2013 issue, we introduced you to Heidi and Morgan Z. Together with their mom, these girls recycle old crayons to fight child slavery and help orphans in Ghana.
1. Choose a cause. Heidi started Africrans by Amerikids after she heard stories about child slavery in Africa. Keep your eyes and ears open for people in need. Do you feel God calling you to help a specific group?
Contact a missionary or charity that's working on a similar cause. They can teach you more about the situation and explain the challenges they've faced in trying to make things better.
2. Pray for inspiration. God gave each of us special talents and abilities. Heidi used her artistic talents to pay for supplies, create awareness posters and design cool new crayon styles. How could your talents make a difference?
Heidi and Morgan raise money for their cause, but there are other ways to help. You can encourage others with gifts or kind words. You can do extra chores, such as cleaning or yard work. You can volunteer your artistic talents to bring beauty into someone's life.
3. Ask for help. Once you decide who to help and how to help them, share your idea with friends and family. It takes lots of different skills to run a successful missions project. Even if someone doesn't share your interests, their other abilities might be extremely useful.
4. Take it to the community. Once the project gets started, find ways to get even more people involved. Heidi and Morgan hung posters in five other schools. Together, the schools collected $2,550 worth of crayons . . . and even more the next year!
It can take a while to get your ministry going. When they first started, Heidi and Morgan planned to donate recycled crayons to orphans in Ghana. They quickly learned that their "Africrans" were better suited for fundraising. If your project isn't getting much response, you might need to tweak your goals.
5. Watch God work. You'll never know how God wants to use you until you try!
Copyright © 2013 by Focus on the Family. Photo © 2013, courtesy of Heidi and Morgan's family.


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WE4F Launches Fifth Regional Innovation Hub in Southern and Central Africa
Farmers in Southern and Central Africa are facing many challenges. Some of the most notable are felt across the entire region: growing water insecurity, energy crises, the impacts of climate change, and agricultural markets limited by poor infrastructure, low productivity, and pandemic-related movement restrictions. Not to mention, the millions of smallholder farmers and their families whose livelihoods and food security have been put at risk due to pandemic-related demand shortfalls for food products, trade in export crops, and agricultural and food production in the region. To meet these challenges, improve food security, and develop a more resilient water-energy-food nexus that supports farmers as they grow more food with less water and energy, WE4F is launching its fifth Regional Innovation Hub.
Based in South Africa, the Southern and Central Africa Regional Innovation Hub (S/CA RIH) will work with at least 30 local water-energy-food nexus companies to grow their operations through customized technical assistance, investment facilitation, and grants to help scale operations. As a result, the companies will impact 500,000 farmers and their families, helping to increase incomes and improve agricultural productivity, reduce water consumption and energy use, build up climate resilience and adaptation, improve gender mainstreaming, and develop new ways for farmers to access financial and agricultural resources.
In the coming months, the S/CA RIH is looking forward to engaging water-energy-food nexus businesses, investors, and other potential partners in its activities. Businesses interested in working with WE4F S/CA RIH keep an eye out for the coming Call for Innovations, while investors and investment organizations who would want to invest in the WE4F-supported companies should watch for an Expression of Interest (EOI) from Investors in October. If you would like to get into contact with the S/CA RIH to discuss potential partnerships, please contact info@we4f.org. Also, make sure to subscribe to the WE4F newsletter to be the first to know about S/CA activities and innovators.
In the meantime, those who want to learn more about the program and its different opportunities should watch the 2020 WE4F launch webinar series and the August 2021 Global EOI Webinar.
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Djokovic into 9th Wimbledon semi as Federer, Nadal eye match-up
London - Four-time champion Novak Djokovic reached the Wimbledon semi-finals for the ninth time on Wednesday, racking up his 70th career win at the All England Club in the process.
The top seed and world number one hit back from a break down in the first set to carve out a commanding 6-4, 6-0, 6-2 win over 21st seed David Goffin of Belgium.
In a ruthless display, the defending champion reeled off 15 of the last 17 games to secure a place in the semi-finals of the majors for the 36th time.
Next up is Spanish 23rd seed Roberto Bautista Agut, who made his first Grand Slam semi-final with a 7-5, 6-4, 3-6, 6-3 over Argentina's Guido Pella.
The 28-year-old broke for a 4-3 lead but 15-time Slam winner Djokovic then reeled off the next nine games, taking the first set, and the second in which he allowed the Belgian just four points on his serve.
Roger Federer can rack up his 100th win at Wimbledon later Wednesday and set-up a blockbuster semi-final against Rafael Nadal.
If it does happen, it will be their first match at the All England Club since 2008 when Nadal triumphed in what is widely regarded as the greatest-ever Wimbledon final.
However, before they reach that stage, eight-time champion Federer has to get past Kei Nishikori while Nadal, a two-time winner, tackles big-hitting Sam Querrey.
At 37, Federer is the oldest quarter-finalist since Jimmy Connors in 1991.
He reached his 17th quarter-final at the All England Club -- and 55th at the majors -- with a 74-minute demolition of Italy's Matteo Berrettini, dropping just five games.
Federer will take a 7-3 record over seventh-seeded Nishikori into his quarter-final.
Nishikori, playing in his second successive Wimbledon quarter-final, defeated the Swiss great in the ATP Finals last year, ending a drought which had stretched to almost five years.
He is bidding to become the first Japanese man since Jiro Satoh in 1933 to make the semi-finals.
Nadal, playing in his seventh Wimbledon quarter-final, faces Querrey backed up by a 4-1 record over the 65th-ranked American.
Querrey made the semi-finals in 2017, beating then world number one Andy Murray in the last-eight before falling to Marin Cilic.
The American has pounded down 100 aces so far at the tournament, dropped serve just once and accounted for fifth seed Dominic Thiem in the first round.
"When he plays well, he can be very, very dangerous on all surfaces," said Nadal, whose recent 12th French Open title took him to 18 majors, just two back from Federer's record.
Querrey hopes to be the first unseeded player in the semi-finals since Marat Safin and Rainer Schuettler both made it in 2008.
Meanwhile, two-time champion Andy Murray's Wimbledon ended when he and Serena Williams were knocked out of the mixed doubles, 6-3, 4-6, 6-2 to Bruno Soares and Nicole Melichar who progress to the quarter-finals.


The movie is set during the Mexican Revolution in 1914. The Dutchman gathers his men for a major task: he wants to rob a military gold train. All five men have their own specialized skills and knowledge of dynamite and train robbery. Before they can start with their plan to rob the train, they rescue a leader of the rebellion from execution by the Mexican government troops. In a quiet place at the railroad track, they work out their plan to rob the gold train, which is heavily guarded by Mexican soldiers.
This SW was most likely directed by the American TV director Don Taylor, even if many sources claim that it was in fact shot by producer Italo Zingarelli. Dario Argento and Peter Graves have stated that Taylor was the director just like credited, but on the other hand actress Daniela Giordano remembers Taylor only being there on the first day of shooting before Zingarelli took over. The film itself is a big caper movie, not the only one amongst the SWs, but the most famous. Still the little inspired heist scenes are also the weakest parts of this otherwise solid SW.
This page was last modified on 9 March 2016, at 18:30.


European Shipping Week has been granted the European Parliament's official patronage by its President, Mr Martin Schultz. Both the European Commission and the European Parliament have now actively expressed their support for the week-long event which will be held in Brussels during March 2-6, 2015.
Commenting on European Shipping Week, Mr Schultz said: "The aim of the initiative, namely to bring together the leading members of the shipping industry of the EU and give them an opportunity to meet, debate and share experiences is welcomed by the European Parliament. Inviting the members of the EU policymaking bodies and presenting to them the practical side of the shipping industry can only lead to a better mutual understanding and contribute to the promotion and competitiveness of European maritime transport."
Mr Schultz has been invited as a keynote speaker at the European Shipping Week's opening ceremony, which will take place on Tuesday 3 March, 2015 in the European Parliament.
News of the European Parliament's patronage follows recent similar comments by the outgoing European Transport Commissioner and Vice President of the European Commission Siim Kallas who voiced his strong support for the launch of European Shipping Week, claiming it will help to raise the profile of shipping in Brussels "and allow for a good interaction between its multiple players and decision makers".
In a letter to Patrick Verhoeven, Secretary General of the European Community Shipowners' Associations (ECSA), Commissioner Kallas said there was no doubt that Europe needed a high quality shipping sector "that can compete around the world." Maritime transport is a cornerstone of European industry, he said, playing an essential role in Europe's economy.
European Shipping Week was the brainchild of the European Community Shipowners' Associations (ECSA) and is run by a Steering Group made up of Europe's main shipping organisations as well as the European Commission and Shipping Innovation. The shipping organisations involved on the Steering Group include: ECSA; Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) Europe; European Community Association of Ship Brokers and Agents (ECASBA); Interferry; the European Dredging Association; the World Shipping Council, as well as the European Tugowners' Association. Other European shipping associations may also be invited to support the initiative and hold relevant events during the week.
ESW is organised by Shipping Innovation - the driving force behind the highly successful London International Shipping Week (LISW).


The Association of Convenience Stores (ACS) has today announced the appointment of Paul Hagon and Patrick Sewell as chairman and deputy chairman respectively.
Paul and Patrick will take on leadership roles on the ACS Management Board from 1 November 2014, replacing current chairman Jonathan James and Vice Chairman Neil Turton who have been in post since November 2011. Paul Hagon is the Group Strategy and Development Director for Palmer and Harvey. P&H is one of the biggest delivered wholesale providers in the UK, serving multiple, convenience, forecourt and CTN stores. Patrick Sewell is the Managing Director of the award winning chain of fuel and convenience stores Sewell on the go , serving over four million customers per year through a network of twelve forecourt in the North East. Patrick joined the ACS board in 2011.
"I would like to thank Jonathan James and Neil Turton for their unwavering commitment to ACS over the last three years. Under their leadership, ACS has become even more relevant and respected in Government and the industry through initiatives like the Local Shop Report and Voice of Local Shops survey, ACS is engaging with more retailers, and has seen a continued growth in the number of stores we represent.
"I'm honoured to be appointed as Vice Chair of the ACS Board. ACS makes a huge positive contribution to thousands of independent businesses like mine, and I will continue to bring a local, family business angle to the conversations, working with Paul, James and the team.
David Roberts, Director of Trading Property at the Co-operative, remains Deputy Vice Chairman.


Our two day PRINCE2 Practitioner Re-Registration course blends formal presentation with group and individual practical exercises to reinforce learning and enable participants to benefit from others' experience whilst preparing for the Practitioner Re-Registration examination.
Participants must already be Registered PRINCE2 Practitioners looking to re-register their Practitioner status. The PRINCE2 Practitioner status must be re-registered within three to five years of completing the original certification.
Prior to attending the PRINCE2 Practitioner Re-Registration course participants will be provided with a copy of the latest version of the PRINCE2 Course Manual and a pre-course study pack. Participants will be expected to have completed at least 8 hours of self study.
Have regained a good understanding of the PRINCE2 Process Model.
Be able to identify the changes and differences between the fifth edition of PRINCE2 and previous editions.
Be able to successfully attempt the PRINCE2 Practitioner Re-Registration examination.
Be able to use the PRINCE2 Process more effectively at work to help improve project performance.
Understanding the PRINCE2 Re-Registration examination format.


One day, years in the future, Bell executives foresee the V-280 Valor tilt-rotor aircraft ferrying American troops into combat zones around the world, combining top speeds of more than 300 mph and the long range of a plane with the maneuverability and agility of a helicopter.
For now, the demonstrator aircraft can be found in Arlington at Bell's Flight Research Center off Interstate 20, where the company is continuing testing on a design that is one of two being considered by the Army for its future needs.
On Thursday, less than a year after the aircraft made its first flight at Bell's Amarillo facility, pilots put the V-280 through its paces in front of a crowd of onlookers, including an intricate sequence of pirouettes as it hovered over the tarmac.
The Fort Worth-based company's CEO, Mitch Snyder, said the competition for a contract is a chance for Bell to return to its military roots and launch an aircraft that could serve the Army for decades to come.
The military's selection process is still in the very early stages, with full-scale production probably a decade away on Bell's V-280 or the competing proposal in the works by a Sikorsky-Boeing partnership.
Bell has partnered with Lockheed Martin, which manufactures F-35s in Fort Worth, to provide avionics and sensors for the V-280. Lockheed also owns Sikorsky Aircraft following a 2015 acquisition.
The competing Sikorsky-Boeing aircraft, the SB-1 Defiant, is based on a design that uses a pair of coaxial rotors, but it hasn't yet made its first flight.
Bell helped pioneer tilt-rotor aircraft with the Bell Boeing V-22 Osprey in the 1980s, and the V-280 will bring many of those same principles to a new class of long-range assault aircraft intended to replace the Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawk, which entered service nearly 40 years ago.
Pilots demonstrated the capabilities of the V-280 Valor tilt-rotor aircraft Thursday at the Bell Flight Research Center in Arlington.
Although the V-22 and the V-280 share tilt-rotor elements, the V-280 is a clean-sheet design that incorporates a number of advancements in design and manufacturing, Bell officials said. Work on the project began in 2013, and the company has not disclosed how much it has invested so far.
Among the major improvements are changes to how the tilt-rotors themselves operate. On the V-22, the entire engine rotated along with the propellers, but the V-280 keeps the engine nacelle in a fixed position while the rotors and drive shaft tilt independently.
Other new features include a straight wing and sliding doors to make it easier for troops to get in and out quickly.
That all contributes to an aircraft that's expected to reach cruising speeds of up to 280 knots, about 320 mph, with a combat range of 500 to 800 nautical miles, a combination that's more than twice the speed and range of current helicopters, the company said. The aircraft can hold up to four crew members and 14 troops.
No ultimate dollar figure has been attached to the military's future vertical-lift program, but it will easily run into the billions of dollars. Bell said it was too early to comment on where the V-280 would be manufactured if the company's design prevails and is chosen by the Army.
For now, Bell's pilots, engineers and software developers will continue testing the aircraft at the Arlington facility, which is also home to many of Bell's other forward-looking projects, like the 525 Relentless helicopter and the V-247 Vigilant military drone.
Guests got an up-close look at the V-280 Valor tilt-rotor aircraft after its demonstration run at the Bell Flight Research Center in Arlington.


Theme: A review of placebo research and its potential as a therapeutic technique.
IM Research Seminar Fall Series: Launching Sept.10.
Kathryn T. Hall, PhD, MPH, will be launching our Integrative Medicine Research Seminar Series on Thursday, September 10th.


Nursing in an Assisted Living setting often presents challenges to the nurse beyond what their training prepared them for.
This two-day program is designed to equip nurses with the knowledge of assisted living regulations and responsibilities of clinical staff in assisted living. All sessions will be taught by experienced professional nurses with a passion for assisted living.
Ten Nurse Contact Hours are approved through the RI State Nurses Association, An Accredited approval by the American Nurses Credentialing Center's Commission on Accreditation. Ten (10) Assisted Living Administrator CEUs are also approved.


The Haverland RC Wave is the perfect heating solution for households seeking a reliable and responsive system that can be tailored around day-to-day life. It's our bestselling electric radiator and is as energy efficient as it is slimline and attractive. The 1100w output of this RC Wave can heat rooms up to 13m² and is well-suited to the majority of domestic interior spaces.
Additional features included with the RC Wave are a thermal safety limiter which prevents the appliance from overheating and a lockable control panel to prevent tampering. The programmer also comes with integrated computer memory to store settings for up to 4 hours in the event of a power cut. The RC Wave comes with a lifetime warranty on the heater body and a 3-year warranty on the electronic components. The RC Wave is also available in 450w, 800w, 1400w and 1700w outputs.


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Students bring Shakespeare to life during play
There was a taste of culture at St. Augustine Catholic School last week
Jeffrey Heyden-Kaye
Anastasia Johnson plays the part of a fairy to put Titania (Sereana Malani) to sleep. Playing the guitar is Adam Cope.
There was a taste of culture at St. Augustine Catholic School last week as students not only watched William Shakespeare's Midsummer Night's Dream but some also performed the play.
English teacher Pamela Guilbault applied to a grant with the Alberta Foundation of the Arts to help pay for the week. Theatre Prospero is part of the artist in residency programs for schools and actors in the group came to Ponoka from April 8 to 12 to get students comfortable with acting.
More than 40 students took part in the play April 12; some shared character roles to give everyone involved an opportunity to perform. Guilbault looked forward to seeing the play performed by the young actors.
"I find with all of my students, they just love Shakespeare."
She feels the works of the playwright are best performed rather than read and this program helps young actors expand their knowledge and acting tools.
"This is just giving students something to experience they would not normally be able to," she added.
Guilbault was excited to see company actors in the school as this was their first performance of the season and she believes they were eager to teach the kids. "The students are committed to the process."
A typical class had the majority of students doing physical activities to make them more comfortable with performing while student actors worked on blocking and their lines. Chris de la Cruz is a technician with the company and he also taught four students lighting techniques. He gave them an opportunity to perform their own play with and without lights to see how that can affect a scene.
Liz Hobbs is another company actor who enjoys the interaction so she "can get kids excited about Shakespeare."
Working with young actors is also an opportunity to develop their confidence. The biggest challenge they have is being able to put on a smooth transition with so many young actors. Her focus becomes more on the students than herself.
"It ceases to be about you as an actor," said Hobbs.
Miranda Allen is another company actor who has gained valuable experience working with students. She helps them find those acting tools needed to perform well. Allen uses those same tools in her own acting. "It's really satisfying."
The school was given an afternoon performance of the play April 12 while parents were able to see an encore presentation in the evening.
Legion garage sale
Remember when: Fashion


This is really cool! I have a friend who bought a refrigerator like this and he has been loving it! Him and his family hikes a lot so this has been the perfect investment for them.
We borrowed it for a weekend once when we went camping I was super impressed, if we were to go camping more i would definitely invest in one.
And as you said I'm sure it is nice for drinks as well!
Nice find i would keep it.
Everyone needs to go camping more to connect with nature and get away from the computers. That is super nice your friend let you borrow his portable fridge because I know most people will not part with them from their vehicles. But yes thanks we should keep it!
I have had one оf thіѕ fоr six years nоw. I аm a truсk drіvеr аnd thіѕ unіtѕ аrе thе bеѕt оut thеrе. Thе unit drаw vеrу lіttlе electricity; уоu саn stop the truсk and leave іt on fоr days and іt will not dіѕсhаrgе уоur batteries. I know it sounds incredible because most refrigerators will dіѕсhаrgе the truck batteries оvеr nіght. Fоr ѕоmе rеаѕоn thе unіt іѕ аlmоѕt аlwауѕ ѕtор аnd whеn іt ѕtаrt runnіng іt оnlу uѕеѕ a fеw wаttѕ. Mine has аt lеаѕt 750 000 miles аnd уоu could guеѕѕ hоw muсh ѕhаkіng stop аnd go аnd vіbrаtіоn thаt іѕ trаvеlіng аrоund thе US аnd it is still gоіng strong. I knоw іt is pricy but considering thаt it ѕаvеѕ me at lеаѕt 150 dоllаrѕ еvеrу week (45 000+ already) by carrying my оwn fооd compared tо truсk ѕtор prices it hаѕ saved mе thоuѕаndѕ over thе уеаrѕ рluѕ the peace of mine that mу truсk wіll start in thе mоrnіng is priceless. If уоu can аffоrd it buу it. Tор ԛuаlіtу unіtѕ.
Wow! This is awesome to hear! I never even thought how great it would be for truck drivers. I completely agree with you on how it saves money while on the road. We pack a few lunch meats and always have sandwiches available when off the grid. Eating out adds up especially traveling throughout the states. Thanks so much for sharing your experience with us! Safe travels!


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Capacity, Flexibility and Resilience with BESS
May 10, 2022 / News & Updates
Battery energy storage system capacity is anticipated to increase tenfold by 2023, providing much-needed flexibility and resilience to the U.S. electricity grid.
The costs of installing and operating storage systems have declined significantly in recent years, enabling peak shaving to reduce ratepayer energy costs and utility participation in ancillary and frequency regulation markets to generate additional revenue. Madison Electric Works (MEW), a publicly owned utility in Madison, Maine, U.S., that serves about 2500 electric customers and has a 5-MW load across a 10-sq mile (26-sq km) radius, installed its first solar array (4 MW) in 2016. Two years later, the utility installed its first battery energy storage system (BESS) — 5-MW installation tied directly into the ISO New England (ISO-NE) grid — to provide energy, capacity and regulation to the market.
When MEW sought a way to provide further savings for its customers a few years later, it opted to install a 1.5-MW, 3-MWh behind-the-meter BESS to increase its energy storage capacity. The added storage capacity enables the utility to provide savings to its ratepayers through peak clipping and improve its resilience overall. Furthermore, when the battery is not being used to clip monthly and annual peaks, it participates in the frequency regulation and ancillary markets, creating an additional revenue stream for MEW. The amount of revenue a battery storage facility can earn in the regulation market depends on when and how often it participates as well as on its overall performance score. On average, the ISO-NE regulation market offers about US$30/MW per hour.
With MEW's BESS typically providing about 1.5 MW per hour, it can earn around $45 each hour it participates in the regulation market.
Creating Cost Savings
Peak clipping, or the reduction of energy consumption during periods of maximum demand, represented an opportunity for MEW to provide savings to its ratepayers. MEW is charged a pro-rata share of regional network transmission service each month according to its coincident peak with the utility it is interconnected to, Central Maine Power. Capacity charges within ISO-NE paid to electric generating utilities are allocated similarly. However, load-serving entities are allocated based on the highest system hour of the year in the ISO-NE control area, rather than based on a monthly regional peak.
In both cases, by predicting Central Maine Power's monthly peak or ISO-NE's annual peak, and dispatching the battery during those times, MEW can reduce the regional transmission charges and capacity costs for its ratepayers.
After developing a comprehensive proforma, Agilitas Energy, the developer, owner and operator of MEW's BESS, determined a two-hour BESS would provide the correct balance between peak load accuracy and capital cost (with the understanding there would be times when peak loads are not hit).
The parties agreed to a split savings concept, based on the reduced transmission charges MEW would pay ISO-NE and Central Maine Power compared to what it would have paid without the BESS reducing demand. MEW pays a portion of the reduced regional transmission and capacity cost savings to Agilitas. To supplement revenue, Agilitas participates in the ISO NE frequency regulation and ancillary services markets, which provide hourly revenue streams based on market clearing prices and BESS participation, when the BESS is not needed for peak clipping.
To successfully participate in the frequency regulation market, MEW and Agilitas brought in Customized Energy Solutions (CES), an energy services and software provider with knowledge and experience in energy storage systems and ISO markets, to manage this aspect. From its 24/7 market operations and control center, CES dispatches more than 350 MW of energy storage systems across the country.
Design, Operate, Monitor
CES serves as the real-time interface between MEW's BESS and ISO-NE. It provides hardware and software to the BESS to facilitate dispatch and meet the ISO's data requirements. CES, along with Agilitas, helped MEW to meet the ISO's ancillary services market requirement of registering its facility as an alternative technology regulating resource (ATRR). CES also is the designated monitoring entity for the facility — another requirement to participate in the ISO's ancillary services market.
Lastly, ISO-NE requires telemetry between a battery storage facility and the ISO via a private network circuit, but it is not always feasible to run the private network circuit all the way to the individual battery storage facility. In some instances, as is the case with MEW's BESS, a two-step data-transfer process is required. CES facilitates this data transfer through a remote terminal unit at the MEW site. The data is encrypted and sent to CES's operations center, then passed to a dedicated ISO-NE remote terminal unit. Then the same thing happens in reverse. The entire process is monitored, ensuring MEW's battery system is following the regulation signal, megawatt, or megavolt-ampere reactive and dispatching energy appropriately.
The telemetry also enables general monitoring, like for weather-related issues where a lightning strike or severe weather could cause the automatic recloser that sits between the battery facility and MEW system to open. Telemetry also ensures the BESS is always ready for peak shaving by looking at how many power blocks are on-line, the maximum charge/discharge capability of the facility.
CES also was tasked with operational duties like submitting ISO-NE regulation market offers and monitoring performance. The company set up systems and algorithms to track dispatch signals from the ISO and the response from the MEW facility within performance windows. This setup enables the company to detect when the battery storage facility is lagging and might fall outside those performance windows, so it can remove offers.
Since MEW's second BESS site does not flow directly into the ISO-NE market and primarily serves to reduce the utility's load and enable peak shaving, it is classified as a behind-the-meter site. However, since regulation provided from the site still benefits the ISO-NE system, the ISO's rules allow the behind-the-meter BESS to participate in the regulation and ancillary service markets. These same rules also allow for aggregations of smaller, distributed resources, such as residential power packs, to participate in the markets.
In addition, CES provides a web display with real-time data on the facility for Agilitas. The dashboard shows what is happening with dispatch signals at any given time or over time, including the dispatch signal from ISO-NE, the response of the facility, the current remaining charge level as a percent of total capability and the remaining quantity of megawatt-hours stored in the facility.
Because the primary purpose of the BESS facility is to provide peak shaving and participate in the ancillary services market, communications are especially vital. Any break in connection or downtime could hinder the storage system's ability to follow signals and dispatch instructions, which could ultimately result in reduced savings or loss of qualification to participate in the regulation market.
As such, ensuring every connection to the site is solid and maintains uptime, and with the town of Madison providing fiber cable to the site, there have been few problems. CES has established code-driven, situation-dependent protocols and an alternative means of accessing the site in case primary communications falter. To ensure resiliency and uptime, CES also installed a backup cell connection. In addition, automation tools are used to guarantee operators get dispatched at the right time for peaks.
Promising Results
Since MEW's behind-the-meter BESS went into operation, Agilitas has clipped about 70% of both the regional monthly peaks and annual capacity peaks, resulting in substantial savings for MEW ratepayers. The facility's performance has been excellent, particularly outside of core COVID-19 months, which produced some outlying results because of the unpredictable energy peaks.
While it is impossible to eliminate 100% of demand peaks, those that put plans in place for when a battery trips off-line, maintenance needs to be performed, or an outage occurs will be able to get back on-line quickly and optimize cost savings. With the opportunity for more BESS deployments, it is possible for utilities, asset owners and ratepayers all to benefit from the additional revenue streams these battery storage systems can provide.
Marty Berry is superintendent at Madison Electric Works, a publicly owned utility serving roughly 2500 customers in Madison, Maine.
Erik Paulson serves as vice president of wholesale market services for Customized Energy Solutions (CES), where he is responsible for overseeing the management and scheduling of generation and energy storage assets in the various U.S. power markets as well as the electricity purchases and market activity for large users, including municipalities and industrial customers. Paulson also previously served in the Navy's nuclear power program.
Jeff Perry serves as vice president of asset management for Agilitas Energy. He spent 14 years
at COM/Electric (now Eversource), where he ran the power supply organization, and 12 years with Southern Energy, where he served as president of the New England and New York business units (which owned over 2500 MW of electric generation at the time). Perry has over 30 years of experience with the New England Power Pool and New York ISO markets. Perry also served as president of New England Battery Storage (NEBS). NEBS designed, built, owned and operated three stand-alone energy storage systems in New England, including ISO-NE's first ever continuous storage facility.


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Nicolae Labiș (ur. 2 grudnia 1935 w Poiana Mărului, zm. 22 grudnia 1956 w Bukareszcie) – rumuński poeta.

Życiorys
Jego rodzice, Eugen i Profira Labiș byli nauczycielami w szkole podstawowej. Swoje pierwsze poematy zaczął pisać w roku 1950. Głównym tematem jego twórczości była rewolucja postrzegana w kategoriach mitycznego początku i wyzwolenia zmysłów. W 1956 wydał pierwszy zbiór poezji Primele iubiri, charakteryzujący się ekstatyczno-rewolucyjnym tonem liryki. Wkrótce ten ton ustąpił miejsca nastrojom nostalgii i egzystencjalnej zadumie (Puiul de cerb, 1956), a rewolucyjna pasja poematów została dopełniona elementami liryki refleksyjnej o romantycznej proweniencji. Jego twórczość, zamknięta w trzech zbiorach (pośmiertnie wydano Lupta cu inerţia, 1958), stała się przedmiotem wielu polemik dotyczących roli poezji we współczesnym świecie. 10 grudnia 1956 r. został potrącony przez tramwaj i z powodu obrażeń zmarł kilkanaście dni później. Został pochowany na cmentarzu Bellu.

Bibliografia

   [dostęp 2018-09-15]

Rumuńscy pisarze
Rumuńscy poeci
Urodzeni w 1935
Zmarli w 1956

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


Tells the story of an amoral relationship counsellor who delights in destroying relationships.
"Death of a Ladies' Man" tells the story of an amoral relationship counsellor who delights in destroying relationships. He's also dead and narrating the final 3 years of his life from beyond the grave as he tries to ascertain who killed him and why. I wanted to write from the perspective of a loathsome, morally-bankrupt individual, who's also so charismatic that he actually challenges the audience to like him.
The submitted script is the pilot episode of a 6-part TV Comedy-Thriller. I would say that it's a black comedy with the character development and dense plotting of a drama as well as the excitement of a whodunit murder-mystery.
Although this has been written as a TV Series, it has a cinematic, film-noir feel to it which could conceivably translate well to a feature-length film.
It's been redrafted a few times, so just over a year in total.
This is the first screenplay that I've written. However, I'm currently working on a feature, a short and two more comedy pilots.
I think the best comedy emanates from inherently contradictory situations and I felt that relationship counselling, which essentially depends upon the problems in people's personal lives, would be a great starting point. I was also excited about writing from the perspective of a villain and by the challenge of inviting the audience to sympathise with him in some way.
As it's my first screenplay, I felt a daily insecurity of whether or not I should be pursuing a career in writing at all. Therefore, the obstacles I faced were not just the constant redrafts, but my own internal insecurities.
I'm also very passionate about music. I play guitar and write songs when I'm not working on screenplays.
I'm a new writer, so I wouldn't want to overstate my expertise. However, it's not just important to trust yourself and what you're trying to create, but to also very carefully choose the people you place your trust in. In any create field, it's vital to surround yourself with like-minded individuals who will inspire you and cultivate your creativity.


text:
Q: For Python, how to sort and lump elements in a fixed-sized list Sorry if this is a trivial question. If I have a list:
inputlist = [(0,0), (_,_), (_,_), (0,0), (0,0), (_,_), (0,0)]

What is an efficient way to sort it so that all the non-zero elements get lumped to the left (in any order):
sortlist = [(_,_), (_,_), (_,_), (0,0), (0,0), (0,0), (0,0)]

A: Use a key that returns a lower for anything non-zero, like -1 vs. 0:
sorted(inputlist, key=lambda t: -1 if t != (0, 0) else 0)

This can be simplified to:
sorted(inputlist, key=lambda t: t == (0, 0))

since False is sorted before True
Demo:
>>> import random
>>> r = lambda: random.randint(1, 10)
>>> inputlist = [(0,0), (r(),r()), (r(),r()), (0,0), (0,0), (r(),r()), (0,0)]
>>> sorted(inputlist, key=lambda t: t == (0, 0))
[(4, 5), (3, 2), (3, 3), (0, 0), (0, 0), (0, 0), (0, 0)]

All non-zero tuples are left in their original order, just moved to the front of the output list.

A: sorted(my_list, key=(0,0).__eq__)

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


text:
Analog Adventures
Analog Adventures: Irony is a Dead Scene
by Jose Diaz · November 29, 2019
Irony is a Dead Scene
The Dillinger Escape Plan formed in 1997. They quickly became famous for their hardcore and violent live shows, often times audience members requiring hospitalization. Their musical chops supersede their live antics. Their musical pedigree boasts Berklee College of Music graduate Chris Pennie on drums, and hardcore legend Ben Weinstein. After the success of their debut album Calculating Infinity the band fell into disarray. Turmoil began to brew when vocalist Dimitri Minakakis left due to creative differences. During the search for a new vocalist tragedy struck bassist Adam Doll. While picking up a CD off the car floor at a stop light, a car lightly hit Doll's vehicle. Doll's chin was resting on the steering wheel, and the force of the collision left him immediately paralyzed.
Among this chaos, Mike Patton approached the band for a collaboration. Patton is prolific and eccentric, never short of ability or talent. He became famous with Mr. Bungle and subsequently Faith No More. Patton's vocal range extends from the deepest bass up to the whistle register. He is equally gifted and creative, implementing various techniques such as death growls, Gregorian chant, scat singing, and classical opera styles. Hist stage presence is second to none, and every project he involves himself with becomes decisively Mike Patton's.
The Record Itself
In 2002 these two titans finally joined for a collaboration. The result is Irony is a Dead Scene. The EP clocks in at about 18 minutes, but each minute is denser than lead. Much like lead, this heavy metal parlay takes several forms and functions. Hollywood Squares is frantic, chaotic, yet never loses its core focus. The hardcore roots are deeply intertwined with math rock sensibilities. Every note is intentional and foundational upon the next. Each song is comprised of movements, much like a symphony. Pig Latin has a pseudo-Cuban feel, complete with syncopated claves. This is where Patton shows off; he squeals like a pig during the climax of the song, immediately followed by barks. The final track of the EP is a cover of Aphex Twins' Come to Daddy. Drummer Chris Pennie simulates the random sequencing of the drum machine is impossible to recreate. Former bassist Adam Doll contributes to the track by performing the chromatic note sequence on a synthesizer using a single finger. Diversity proves to be this lineups strength.
The back cover of the record
Irony is a Dead Scene originally saw a release in 2002 through the Buddyhead label. This reissue is a single disc affair, weighing in at 180 grams, and spinning at 45 RPMs. The cover is a strong contrast between the orange and black, much like their debut album. The presence of the child on the on the cover alludes to the child-like innocence and experimentation present on the album. Much like Captain Beefheart, this album can be difficult to get into but is well worth giving a try. Widely available through online retailers and in record stores, this album is well worth adding to any diverse collections.
Outstanding Tracks
Hollywood Squares
When Good Dogs Do Bad Things
Tags: Analog AdventuresLet's Get PhysicalMike PattonThe Dillinger Escape PlanVinyl
Jose Diaz
Collector of analog media.
Analog Adventures: Riki
Record Subscription Services
2019 Physical Media Retrospect
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Lots of people heat their houses with a home theater system that is powered by electrical energy or gas. These are usually build right into homes basic as this is what the majority of people utilize. If you do not have one of these main heating systems or do not intend to utilize it, there are some alternate means of warming the home than the conventional technique. A few of these can be added onto your home and some should be thought about before constructing your following house to make the most of them. Many people can include a fireplace to their house. These are not simply the timber fire places that you are used to seeing but tools that are designed to warm up bigger areas of the house. Much of these are more like ovens.
There are corn stoves, pellet ovens, and wood cook tops. These will all warm up a floor on your home if set up right. There are easy planetary systems for home heating. A lot of the time these are huge windows that encounter the southerly sun during the winter months. What happens is that the windows catch the warmth all the time as well as make that space much warmer. Lot of times when done right no added heating is needed. There are additionally energetic solar systems. These are set up where panels will certainly heat up during the winter from the sunlight. There is a fluid system that produces vapor that can then be utilized to heat up areas of the house.
The ecoheat s home heating is something that is being thought about in specific components of the nation where it is possible. This is where there are tubes that decrease into the ground loaded with liquid. The planet's all-natural heat will certainly warm up this liquid which musts likely to a warmth exchanger. Followers will then blow warm air via your house. The advantage of these is that they can cool down the residence throughout the summer also. If you permit your house temperature to drop below 65 levels Celsius, after that be ready to handle icy pipes which might result in various sorts of structural issues. A fast solution right here will be setting up winterized windows. Learn how to successfully add climate stripping, caulking spaces and storm windows where and also when needed.


With close to 900 million subscribers and more than 15 million mobile devices sold each month, India has risen to become one of the world's largest and most dynamic mobile markets. Second only to China, India is home to nearly 13 percent of all global mobile users, with as many as 7 million new subscribers being added each month.
This incredible growth has changed the mobile device from a luxury item to a must-have communication tool in less than a decade. And in the process, it's revolutionized the ways that the government and business community interact with hundreds of millions of newly mobile-empowered citizens.
My career in mobile has afforded me the opportunity to witness this incredible transformation from a unique perspective. In 2005, I joined Syniverse as the company's first employee in India and was tasked with launching our in-country operations. Less than 10 years later, Syniverse has grown to over 750 employees in India.
I now see that new technologies and advanced mobile services are creating a fast-moving mobile market that is opening new opportunities for operators and businesses throughout India. Mobile users have gained new consumer power through messaging services and rising smartphone use, and operators and companies are rushing to meet new consumer demands. Yet, in order to capitalize on these opportunities, it's important to understand some of the dynamics of India's demographic makeup and technology evolution.
Rural market uptake – While India's mobile footprint has increased dramatically in the past decade, this growth has happened mostly in urban centers, with cities like New Delhi reaching mobile penetration levels near 200 percent. However, rural areas are a different story. Only about 40 percent of the rural population owns a mobile device, and most of these areas that lack mobile coverage also don't have wireline Internet access. Because wireline services are impractical in many parts due to infrastructure constraints, these rural areas present tremendous opportunity for mobile uptake. Furthermore, a new National Telecom Policy act passed in 2012 mandates an investment commitment to increase mobile penetration in rural areas to 60 percent by 2017 and 100 percent by 2020.
Smartphone adoption – Although smartphone penetration is less than 20 percent in India, a combination of falling prices, faster network speeds and new apps is fueling smartphone adoption at lightning speed. Last year, smartphone shipments more than doubled, to 41.4 million, according to research firm IDC, and by 2015, IDC projects that shipments will exceed 129 million.
LTE growth – Although LTE deployment in India is just beginning, the emerging market at stake is staggering. Mobile data users are projected to explode to 77 million by the end of this year, up from just 400,000 in 2009, according to Analysys Mason. These numbers indicate a critical need for LTE capabilities as mobile data use and user expectations continue to soar.
With close to 900 million users and growing, India's mobile market is poised to continue to accelerate in 2014. As both a mobile professional and an Indian citizen, I look forward to seeing what exciting directions the market moves in next.
What other countries have experienced similar growth, and what do you think are the most important mobile opportunities emerging there? I would love to get your thoughts.


This initially sounds like a return to the lending practices of the "pre-crunch years" and the now infamous Northern Rock Together mortgage. Whilst the Together 125% deal actually served some borrowers pretty well it has become synonymous with the carefree credit conditions of 2007.
However when you look closely at the Nationwide proposition it is a world away from replicating the Northern Rock product. It is designed to help existing borrowers that need to move home but now find themselves in negative equity, as their property value has fallen to the extent that it is less than the outstanding mortgage.
Nationwide allows all existing customers moving home to borrow as much as 95% of the property value albeit at higher interest rates. In this scenario the borrower still needs to put in at least a 5% deposit but they can also borrow an amount to cover the negative equity, although this is charged at an even higher rate.
The reality is that this initiative will only have any relevance to a small niche of borrowers that really need to move, perhaps to relocate for a new job or to accommodate an expanding family. However it will at least provide an option to those that have a genuine need to move.
Borrowers looking to find out how much their current property is worth can use London & Country Mortgages house price calculator. They can then calculate their loan to value ratio (LTV) by dividing the current balance of their mortgage by the current value of their home. If this is over 100% they will have negative equity.
L&C is a Climate Neutral company and for the last seven years has invested in climate friendly projects and tree-planting to help offset its emissions and those of its customers.


Ocean Spray recognizes the importance of balance in its employees' professional and personal lives.
Although eligibility for specific programs and facilities vary by location and scheduled hours, Ocean Spray offers other benefits including: adoption assistance, tuition reimbursement, flexible spending accounts, disability coverage, volunteer programs, professional memberships, group insurance (auto, home, and pet), group legal services, health and wellness events, and scholarship assistance for family members. Ocean Spray offers a wide variety of clubs, activities and employee resource groups for all to take part in. Play basketball at lunch and finish your day with golf! Not a sports fan? We have employee resource groups for all flavors & blends, from WAVE (Women Adding Value Everyday) to the Latin Club.


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North-Stonington
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Pawcatuck, CT (06379)
Lots of sunshine. High 27F. Winds NNW at 15 to 25 mph. Higher wind gusts possible..
Clear to partly cloudy. Low 17F. Winds NNW at 5 to 10 mph.
Front Porch News
Richmond council to study single use plastics ban
By Cynthia Drummond Sun staff writer
Cynthia Drummond
RICHMOND — The Town Council agreed Tuesday to consider polling residents to gauge their support for a ban on single use plastics. The issue was raised by council member Mark Trimmer, who prefaced his proposal by saying he merely wanted to see how people felt about single use plastics.
"I don't want to go against the grain in the town," he said. "Many towns in Rhode Island are enacting single use plastic bans, so I wanted to see how the town as a whole felt about single use plastic bans."
Trimmer, whose home is on Route 138, said he spent a lot of time picking up plastic trash from his front yard.
"Virtually every day I'm picking up plastic bags, coffee cup tops, stirrers and straws and junk from my yard," he said. "I live right on Route 138, so my yard is the dumping ground for anybody driving down to the beaches from the city … I think it would benefit our town, given our rural nature."
Trimmer said he had not always been in favor of a ban.
"If you had asked me 10 years ago if I thought it was a good idea, I would have said no, but I've changed my position on it because I've seen what's going on. On Facebook, you get to see all the wildlife that's killed by these things. It's something we could do and it wouldn't really cost anything."
Town Administrator Karen Pinch suggested polling residents. "I've never done a poll before, but I'm sure it's easy enough to figure out. It might be worth it," she said. "I'd be interested especially in what the business owners think."
Several people in the council chambers said they supported a ban.
Gabriel Davies said people quickly became used to not having single use plastics when a ban was passed in North Kingstown.
"When they did that, my grandma and my uncle, they rolled their eyes," he said. "But it's not something they complained about after a couple of days. It's just something everyone over there is used to. You don't expect plastic bags and you don't think about it. So if your poll comes up 50-50, a lot of the people that vote no might not care after two or three weeks."
Pinch said she would look at the possibility of conducting a poll.
Pinch also briefed the council on the reconfiguration of Exit 3 off Interstate 95, explaining that the Rhode Island Department of Transportation had informed her that the work has begun.
"They've started with the new 95 Exit 3 project," she said. "Work will include demolition and removal of the existing bridge superstructure and substructure and utility relocation, erecting pre-cast bridge substructures, fabrication and erection of a steel plate girder superstructure with composite concrete deck."
Additional work will include the removal of two interchange off-ramps, the installation of a new traffic signal, new sidewalks, a new guardrail and new highway lighting.
The current exits, 3-A and 3-B, will be replaced by a single Exit 3 off-ramp which will end at a traffic signal, where motorists can turn left or right.
"That'll probably be the biggest change that you'll notice," Pinch said.
The estimated completion date is September 2021.
cdrummond@thewesterlysun.com
@cynthiadrummon4
Karen Pinch
Mark Trimmer
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Athlete of the Week: January 11
Sponsored by Antonino Auto Group: This school year The Westerly Sun will be selecting a high school Athlete of the Week. Voting closes on Monday and the selection will be announced on Thursday. The nominees for the week ending Jan. 11 are:
Kate Powers, Chariho basketball, Senior: Powers scored the 1,000th point of her career with 2.5 seconds left in a win against Cranston East. Powers is just the fifth Chariho girl to reach the milestone.
Rhys Hammond, Stonington track, Senior: Hammond established a meet record in the 1,000 meters at the Yale Interscholastic Track Classic. Hammond has the fourth fastest time in the country in the race.
Chas Morgan, Westerly basketball, Senior: Morgan scored a combined 49 points and grabbed 15 rebounds in wins against Narragansett and Juanita Sanchez. Morgan is averaging 20.1 points a game.
Ian Spracklin, Wheeler basketball, Senior: Spracklin scored 42 points in a pair of games for the Lions. Spracklin is averaging 22.5 points and 7.5 rebounds per game.
Committee makes further cuts to Chariho budget
PHOTOS: Mirror images along the shore
Native American artifacts returned to Providence museum
Hopkins, Cooke head school building subcommittee
Police logs: Thursday, Jan. 16, 2020
South County home sales rose in December
PHOTOS: Frame erected for new building at Misquamicut State Beach
Therapist charged with killing family faced fraud probe
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Pauline Martin passed away in Alamogordo, New Mexico on 11/24/2018 at the age of 91. She was born on 3/27/1927 in North Korea. Graveside services will be held Wednesday 11/28/2018 at 11:00am at Prairie Haven Memorial Park. Services are under the direction of Griffin Funeral Home.
I am so sorry for your loss. May the 'God of all comfort' be with you during this difficult time. I have personally found comfort in the promise at 1 Corinthians 15:26 where it states very soon 'death will be brought to nothing'. Then, we have the prospect of being reunited with our loved ones right here on Earth (John 5:28,29). I truly hope this brings you comfort and peace. With deepest sympathies, Gra and family.


New page set up at WhyQuit.com where former smokers who were cold turkey quitters* can help others now by sharing their experience of how often they think about cigarettes after being off different lengths of time.
Will I ever stop thinking of cigarettes?
I'll have to use willpower for the rest of my life not to smoke.
* The resource page Reading at other quit sites explains why we are limiting the comments posted on the new page to former smokers who had quit by going cold turkey off of nicotine.


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Hayam Vuruk (Indonesian : Hayam Wuruk, Sanskrit: हयम् वुरुक्, Kawi: ꦲꦪꦩ꧀ꦮꦸꦫꦸꦏ꧀) (1334–1389), also called Rajasanagara, Pa-ta-na-pa-na-wu, or Bhatara Prabhu after 1350, was a Javanese Hindu emperor from the Rajasa Dynasty and the 4th emperor of the Majapahit Empire. Together with his prime minister Gajah Mada, he reigned the empire at the time of its greatest power. During his reign, the Hindu epics, the Ramayana and the Mahabharata, became ingrained in the culture and worldview of the Javanese through the wayang kulit (leather puppets). He was preceded by Tribhuwana Wijayatunggadewi, and succeeded by his son-in-law Wikramawardhana.

Most of the accounts of his life were taken from the Nagarakretagama, a eulogy to Hayam Wuruk, and the Pararaton ("Book of Kings"), a Javanese historical chronicle.

Early life

According to the Nagarakretagama, Canto 1, Stanzas 4 and 5, Hayam Wuruk was born in 1256 Saka year, corresponding to 1334 CE, the same year that Mount Kelud erupted. Mpu Prapanca, author of the Nagarakretagama, argued that this was the divine sign that Batara Gurunata (the Javanese name for Shiva Mahadewa) had manifest himself on earth, reincarnated as the Javanese king.

Hayam Wuruk's name can be translated as "scholar rooster". He was the son of Tribhuwana Tunggadewi and Sri Kertawardhana (or Cakradhara). His mother was the daughter of Raden Wijaya, founder of Majapahit, while his father was the son of Bhre Tumapel, a lesser king of Singhasari. Both the Pararaton and the Nagarakretagama praised Hayam Wuruk as a handsome, bright, talented, and exceptional student in the courtly martial arts of archery and fencing, who also mastered politics, scriptures, arts, and music. He was known as an accomplished ceremonial dancer in the court, and some accounts tell of his performances in the traditional ceremonial Javanese mask dance. His mother, Queen Tribhuwana, educated and groomed him to become the next monarch of Majapahit.

Reign

In 1350, Gayatri Rajapatni died in her retirement at a Buddhist monastery. She was the consort of Raden Wijaya, the first king of Majapahit, and also the grandmother of Hayam Wuruk. Queen Tribhuwana had to abdicate because she ruled Majapahit under Rajapatni's auspices, and was obliged to relinquish the throne to her son.

Hayam Wuruk inherited the throne in 1350 at the age of 16 when the mahapatih (prime minister) Gajah Mada was at the height of his career. Under his rule, Majapahit extended its power throughout the Indonesian archipelago of Nusantara.
In 1365 (1287 Saka year), Mpu Prapanca wrote the kakawin of Nagarakretagama, the old Javanese eulogy for King Hayam Wuruk. The manuscript described Hayam Wuruk's royal excursion around the Majapahit realm to visit villages, holy shrines, vassal kingdoms, and territory in East Java. He sent ambassadors to China from 1370 to 1381.

Personal life
According to the Pararaton and Kidung Sunda, in 1357, King Hayam Wuruk was expected to marry Dyah Pitaloka Citraresmi, a daughter of King Linggabuana of the united Sunda Kingdom and Galuh Kingdom. She was described as a princess with extraordinary beauty, but the reason for this royal engagement was probably political, to foster the alliance between the Majapahit and the Sundanese Kingdoms. However, in the Bubat incident, the Sunda royal family and their guards were involved in a skirmish with Majapahit troops. The planned royal wedding ended in disaster with the death of the princess and the whole Sunda royal party. Pitaloka took her own life at about 17 years old.

The court officials blamed Gajah Mada, sine it was his intention to demand submission from Sunda Kingdom that ended in bloodshed.

Several years later, Hayam Wuruk married his relative who was more famous as Queen Shri Sudevi or Queen Sori (Kawi : Paduka Sori), her birth  name was unknown. She was a stepdaughter of Hayam Wuruk's maternal aunt. They had a daughter, Crown Princess Kusumawardhani, the Duchess of Kabalan. Hayam Wuruk arraged her to marry her cousin, Dyah Gagak Sali who was the future King Wikramawardhana. His mother was Hayam Wuruk's sister, Princess Iswari.

However, from a concubine, Hayam Wuruk had a son, the 2nd Duke of Wirabhumi (his birth name was unknown).

After Hayam Wuruk's death in 1389, the empire fell into chaos and decline during the contest over succession between Wikramawardhana and Wirabhumi. The dispute ended in Wirabhumi's defeat in the Regreg war. Wikramawardhana succeeded Hayam Wuruk as the King of Majapahit.

Legacy

His reign, as part of Indosphere culturally, helped further Indianisation of Javanese culture through the spread of Hinduism and Sanskritization.

See also

 Gosari inscription
 Jabung
 Penataran
 Hinduism in Indonesia
 Hinduism in Java
 Agama Hindu Dharma
 Kejawèn
 Nagarakretagama
 List of Hindu temples in Indonesia
 Jalan Gajah Mada and Jalan Hayam Wuruk

References

Further reading

1334 births
1389 deaths
Kings of Majapahit
Javanese monarchs
Hindu monarchs
Indonesian Hindu monarchs
Majapahit
14th-century monarchs in Asia
Javanese people
14th-century Indonesian people
14th-century Hindus


Welcome to Auntie Anne's located at 530 JFK Memorial Hwy. Our soft pretzels are made with delicious dough, twisted and baked to a golden brown perfection. A visit with us will satisfy all of your snacking cravings.


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redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


Expect comfort and functionality with a professional look at a great value. WonderWink Origins Alpha Unisex top is crafted in a soft poly cotton blend material and also features our signature triple chest pocket and an ID bungee loop for convenience. Ideal for groups, the Alpha Unisex top is available in a variety of vibrant colors to compliment the style of any medical professional.


The Sag Harbor Chamber of Commerce hosted its eighth annual HarborFrost on Saturday, with ice carving, a polar bear plunge off Windmill Beach, live music and other activities around town that led up to a finale of fire dancing and fireworks by Grucci. Sag Harbor Express photographer Michael Heller made the rounds.
Jim Turner and Friends hold a street performance outside the Il Capuccino restaurant as the Sag Harbor Culinary Stroll gets started.
Denise and Frank Forde check out one of the many ice sculptures that were placed around town.
Jim Turner and Friends led a sing-along of John Denver's "Take Me Home Country Road" in front of the Municipal Building.
Kathy Breslau rocked a windmill chef's hat during the Sag Harbor Hysterical Society Culinary Stroll.
The "pasta meal with wine" chef's hat of Toni Sparacino.
The tropical island "chef's" hat of Linda Muse included an actual live fish.
World Champion Oyster Shucker Paddy McMurray shows off hos skllls at a raw bar at Baron's Cove.
Emiley Nill sprints to shore after taking her Frosty Plunge.
Sen restaurant graciously provided bowls of hot Miso soup to those who participated in the Frosty Plunge.
Six-year-old Fallon Amorosa meets Anna and Elsa from the movie "Frozen" at the Sag Harbor Variety Store.
Fire juggler Keith Leaf performs for the crowd on Long Wharf.
Young Leo Goldberg delights in getting sprayed with snow as Rich Daly of Ice Melodies, Inc. carves out a "Breaching Whale" ice sculpture on Long Wharf.
Shirley Guerra has her photo taken next to the "Breaching Whale" ice sculpture.
The Fiery Sensations dancers perform for the crowd.
The Fiery Sensations dancers send sparks across Windmill Beach.
Fireworks glow red as the rain continues to fall.


USDA Loan Eligibility can be a pretty fundamental method.? A debtors income and credit score file have to be underwritten similar to any other loan program.? However, USDA farm loans are far significantly extra lenient with regards to down payment requirements and credit rating specs.
You are going to come across several quite great.? This USDA farm loan program enables a borrower to acquire a mortgage loan making use of the cheapest feasible month to month payment when in comparison with FHA loans and three.5% as being a down payment.


text:
Topsell's History of Four-Footed Beasts and Serpents (1658)
Title: Topsell's History of Four-Footed Beasts and Serpents (1658)
Totalling more than 1000 pages this brilliantly illustrated treatise on zoology, explores ancient and fantastic legends about existing animals, as well as those at …more
Sketches in Bedlam (1823)
Title: Sketches in Bedlam (1823)
A compendium of glimpses into the personalities and stories of more than 140 mental patients confined to the Bethlem Hospital in the early part of the 19th century….more
Le Centre de l'Amour (ca. 1687)
Title: Le Centre de l'Amour (ca. 1687)
The centre of love: discovered through various emblems, gallant and facetious — a delightfully illustrated emblem book exploring all corners of seventeenth-centur…more
London a Hundred Years Hence (1857)
Title: London a Hundred Years Hence (1857)
A vision, from 1857, of what London would look like 100 years in the future — including the prediction of vast shopping malls and internet shopping….more
Francis Bacon on Gardens (1902)
Title: Francis Bacon on Gardens (1902)
Featuring artwork by Lucien Pissarro, this is a beautiful art nouveau edition of an essay on gardens by the Renaissance philosopher Francis Bacon (1561-1626)….more
Life, Crimes, and Confession of Bridget Durgan (1867)
Title: Life, Crimes, and Confession of Bridget Durgan (1867)
A small booklet detailing the narrative of Bridget Durgan (1843-1867), an Irish domestic servant who was hanged for murder of her master in the 1860s New Jersey….more
Manual Training — Play Problems (1917)
Title: Manual Training — Play Problems (1917)
This charming book from 1917 presents a manual training in what the author William S. Marten terms constructive-play, full of how-to guides for making all manner of…more
From India to the Planet Mars (1900)
Title: From India to the Planet Mars (1900)
A book detailing the seances of Hélène Smith including claimed contact with people living on Mars, involving the writing down of their language, as well as sketc…more
Cossack Fairy Tales (1916)
Title: Cossack Fairy Tales (1916)
Fairy tales and folk tales originally published in 1894 and translated from a dialect spoken in the area known to us today as western Ukraine….more
Apollinaire's Calligrammes (1918)
Title: Apollinaire's Calligrammes (1918)
A book of poetry by French writer Guillaume Apollinaire, noted for its use of "caligrams" in which typeface and arrangement of words on the page add to the meaning …more
Spectropia; or, Surprising Spectral Illusions (1865)
Title: Spectropia; or, Surprising Spectral Illusions (1865)
A book of Victorian hi-tech ghost conjuring which allows the reader to summon, as the sub-title proclaims, ghosts everywhere and of any colour….more
Collection of Pornographic Art from Antiquity (1785)
Title: Collection of Pornographic Art from Antiquity (1785)
A collection of pornographic art from antiquity, presented by the French art historian and libertine Pierre-François Hugues d'Hancarville (1719-1805)….more
The American Anti-Slavery Almanac for 1838
Title: The American Anti-Slavery Almanac for 1838
Issue from 1838 of the American Anti-Slavery Almanac, first published in 1836 by the American Anti-Slavery Society and an attempt to bring awareness about slavery …more
Caw! Caw! or The Chronicle of Crows (ca. 1848)
Title: Caw! Caw! or The Chronicle of Crows (ca. 1848)
A story of a group of crows attacked by a farmer, beautifully ilustrated by Jemima Blackburn….more
Awful Disclosures of Maria Monk (1836)
Title: Awful Disclosures of Maria Monk (1836)
Maria Monk's revelations of her time at the Hôtel-Dieu convent in Montreal, describing nuns forced to engage in sexual acts with priests and being locked in the ce…more
Queen Victoria's Teenage Diaries (1912)
Title: Queen Victoria's Teenage Diaries (1912)
Excerpts from the teenage diaries of Queen Victoria , spanning from 1832, when Victoria was 13-years-old, to 1840, the same year that she married her cousin Prince …more
A Collection of Very Valuable and Scarce Pieces relating to the Last Plague in the Year 1665 (1721)
Title: A Collection of Very Valuable and Scarce Pieces relating to the Last Plague in the Year 1665 (1721)
Compendium relating to the 1665 Great Plague of London, consisting of official regulations put in place as well as accounts of the symptoms and cures related to the…more
Speculations of the Changes, Likely to be Discovered in the Earth and Moon, by Their Respective Inhabitants (ca. 1666)
Title: Speculations of the Changes, Likely to be Discovered in the Earth and Moon, by Their Respective Inhabitants (ca. 1666)
On how the Earth might seem to those living in the moon, observing how our landscape not only changes and varies because of the seasons but also because of the alte…more
Bird Gods (1898)
Title: Bird Gods (1898)
A book on various birds from mythology by the American linguist, poet, and critic Charles DeKay (1848-1935)….more
Thackerayana (1875)
Title: Thackerayana (1875)
A remarkable compendium of more than six hundred doodles made by the nineteenth-century author William Makepeace Thackeray, depicting a huge range of subjects, from…more


text:
Toshiba intros a slimmer Chromebook, budget Windows convertible
Dana Wollman|@danawollman|September 3, 2014 5:00 AM
Toshiba isn't showing off a whole lot here at IFA, Europe's biggest trade show. That said, the stuff it has announced at least manages to run the gamut. Today, for instance, the company unveiled both a slimmed-down Chromebook 2 and the Satellite Radius 11, a small-screened Windows convertible. Starting with the former, the Chromebook 2 has the same 13-inch screen size as its predecessor, along with the same textured plastic design. This time, though, it's thinner and lighter, at 2.95 pounds, with the sort of compact dimensions you'd expect to find on a 12-inch system. Toshiba bumped up the resolution too, so that you can now get it with a 340-nit, 1,920 x 1,080 IPS panel (the base model still has a 1,366 x 768 display). Depending on the resolution, you can expect either 11.5 hours of battery life on the lower-res version, or nine hours with full HD. In addition, Toshiba added Skullcandy audio. The firm seems proud of it, but after a few minutes of hands-on time, I actually found the sound to be rather tinny (it is loud, though).
Gallery: Toshiba Chromebook 2 hands-on | 19 Photos
Other changes include faster 802.11ac WiFi and dual array mics, though the port selection is otherwise the same (USB 3.0 and 2.0, HDMI and a full-sized SD slot). All told, it seems like an improvement, except for one thing: Toshiba downgraded the processor from a Haswell-series Celeron CPU to a Bay Trail one (the N2840, to be exact). If our review of the ASUS C200 Chromebook is any indication, using a chip like this would seem to be a step down in speed, but who knows? Maybe Toshiba found a way to better optimize performance, especially on the 1080p edition, which has four gigs of RAM instead of two. Really, though, it seems like the company had to cut corners to squeeze in a full HD display and still keep the price down. This would seem to be the place where Toshiba chose to make some sacrifices.
The Satellite Radius 11, meanwhile, is a follow-on to the 15.6-inch Satellite Radius, which came out earlier this year. Both have a Lenovo Yoga-like design, with a 360-degree hinge allowing the screen to fold back into tablet mode, tabletop mode (with the screen flat), stand mode (with the screen facing away from the keyboard) and tent mode (with the laptop balanced upside down). Similar to the Yoga, too, the keyboard locks up when you're not in clamshell mode, to avoid accidental button presses.
But while the Radius 11 mimics the design of some full-fledged laptops, it has the guts of a netbook: Bay Trail-series Celeron and Pentium CPUs, and either a spinning HDD or a small flash drive, similar to what you'd find in a Chromebook. Aside from what's sure to be a low price, the benefit to having a low-powered processor like this is long battery life. The chassis has a smooth, fanless look too, if that matters to you. No word yet on how much this will cost, but if Toshiba is smart, it'll price this against other 11-inch convertibles like the Dell Inspiron 11 3000 and HP Pavilion 360, both of which start at $400. (Just sayin', Toshiba!)
Gallery: Toshiba Satellite Radius 11 hands-on | 25 Photos
The Chromebook 2 will go on sale in the US on October 5th starting at $250 for the base model and $330 for the full HD version. It'll be available in Europe as well, but later on in Q4. You'll also be able to buy optional two-piece plastic cases in a variety of colors, as you can see in the shot above. The Radius 11, meanwhile, will arrive in late October or early November. Again, no word on price just yet. In the meantime, we've got hands-on shots aplenty. Check 'em out.
chromebook 2
ifa2014
radius11
satellite radius 11
toshiba chromebook 2