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20 years, over 600 combat hours, 151 combat missions, 21 hard kills on surface-to-air missile sites, four Distinguished Flying Crosses with Valor, eight Air Medals with Valor, five Meritorious Service Medals, one Purple Heart. Dan Hampton is one of America's most decorated fighter pilots of modern times and he holds nothing back when it comes to his views on air combat.
In his New York Times best selling memoir Viper Pilot , Dan takes us through his career, one fraught with danger and extreme competition, and puts us right in the cockpit of his F-16 through battles that read more like the finale of the 1980's cult classic Iron Eagle than reality. Yet his recollections are all true and he has a chest full of medals to prove it.
Dan has penned his third book, Lords Of Sky, which is receiving fantastic reviews, so Foxtrot Alpha thought it would be a good time to catch up with the notorious Viper pilot and get his views on some of the hottest topics in air combat and to share some of his seemingly endless experiences flying and fighting as a Wild Weasel in the Lockheed Martin F-16CJ.
#1: What makes a good Wild Weasel?
Most types of pilots are trying to avoid getting shot at while they do their mission - a Weasel is trying to get shot at so that others do not - and so he can locate the SAMs/AAA and kill them before they get anyone else.
Fighter pilots, by nature, can function well when everything around them is falling apart. Weasels must have an extraordinary level of situational awareness as they're not only delivering ordnance, but hunting and killing unknown threat systems.
#2: Does being a fighter pilot and wearing a flight really help seal the deal with chicks?
Absolutely! How does a guy in [a] blue polyester getup compete with a man in a flight suit, covered with patches? Though it's not just what he's wearing - without sounding too egotistical, the profession makes the man. It has to or we'd never survive being fighter pilots. There is something primal, yet not completely brainless, about a fighter pilot that many women respond to. I, of course, was always off improving my mind and practicing the violin.
#3: What was the most frustrating thing about being a fighter pilot in the USAF?
That flying is not the focus of the USAF. It sounds axiomatic but it's true. Political correctness, appearances, humanitarian missions, and not offending anyone are the focus.
#4: If you could snap your fingers and one thing would be instantly done that you think would lead to a more effective and deadly United States Air Force what would it be?
A wartime mentality. We are always at war, whether declared or not, whether the public is aware of it or not. When that mentality dominates, the correct priorities are made for weapons, aircraft and research, and the correct folks take command because they have to.
#5: The F-16 is like a main character in your memoir, can you explain why you have such an affinity towards the Viper?
I love the Viper - a perfect melding of man and machine. Most fighter pilots feel that way about their jets, as if they 'wear it' instead of simply fly it. I loved the way it felt and that I knew everything about it. I got to that wonderful point when I knew there wasn't anything that could happen that I couldn't handle with that jet. I do wish it had more weapons stations though!
#6: So much of your memoir is about employing the F-16 against ground targets, care to share any good stories about fighting with the Viper in the air-to-air arena?
In actual operations no MiGs would fight us... Too bad. I loved the training sorties for air-to-air because they were physically brutal. 9 Gs hurts...
Here are a couple of memorable air-to-air stories-
One day over Iraq (between the wars) the AWACs declared an unknown jet coming out of Baghdad as 'hostile.' By the rules of engagement I could have shot it down - but something didn't 'feel' right. Despite AWACs' bleating and over their protests, I ran a visual intercept on the target and found it was an unscheduled commercial flight full of UN diplomats. Can you imagine what would've happened if I'd listened to the back-enders and trusted the electronics instead of my own instincts and eyeballs? Technology is a wonderful thing - but situations like this (and real combat) is why the fighter pilot will ALWAYS be needed.
Four Egyptian Vipers (me leading) go into the Sinai for a SAT (surface attack tactics) training mission. We hit the target, roar out through the mountains at 100 feet and 500 knots, cross the Red Sea coast and I check six (because I'm an American and we do that) and pick up two more Vipers behind us... I pitch back in (the Egyptians never see a thing and keep heading home) and merge with two lizard painted F-16s - with big blue Star of Davids on the tails...We go round and round a few times, then rock off. They go east and I go west.
#7: You are a graduate of both the USAF Weapons School and the TOPGUN, what does it take to wear those coveted patches?
TOPGUN was just the TOGs portion (ground school and academics) The Navy philosophy was to put a lot of guys through an intense, relatively short (6 weeks) top-off program. In those days you only had to be a flight lead to be eligible. Good course, but much different than the USAF's Fighter Weapons School. For FWIC (Fighter Weapons Instructor Course) you had to be the top instructor pilot (much higher than a flight lead) in your fighter wing, pass a board of selection and the course was 6 MONTHS long.
The idea is to painfully train a very few individuals to the highest possible point and have them disseminate the information to everyone else. The Patch is instant respect... though like everything else in the fighter world, you have to prove it every time you fly. There are a few dual patch wearers... in the USAF it's usually the Test Pilot School and FWIC. My thesis was on Infrared Countermeasures - they make you a master by breaking you into little humble pieces (not easy for IPs) and then slowly rebuild you. What a nightmare.
During FWIC we flew against Israeli KFIRs, French Mirages and German MiG-29s which was interesting...hardest fight is still the USAF though.
#8: What were some of the best technological revolutions that you experienced while being a fighter pilot in the USAF and was there anything you wanted but never got?
Data link, towed decoys and JHMCS...absolutely. GREAT stuff! Also NVGs... much better than the straight FLIR system though they are best together. I always wanted colored MFDs and didn't get them until the F-16 Block 60...which the USAF did not buy. Better SA...really accurate weapons targeting (within a foot) and the ability to do it day or night in any weather. The countermeasures are Gucci to a Weasel...they've saved my life more times than I can count.
#9: Did you ever want to go to Test Pilot School, fly for the Thunderbirds, become an astronaut or 'fly' a cushy Pentagon desk during your highly decorated career?
TPS (Test Pilot School) is a different route, it is just as specialized as FWIC (Fighter Weapons Instructor Course), but different. I was a fighter pilot and became one to fight - not test aircraft or do loops to music. Nor did the astronaut program appeal to me - too PR oriented. One of the nicest guys I ever knew became an astronaut and eventually left because even he couldn't stomach it any more. I did a staff tour at Langley as a major because I was tired, needed a break and staffs need operational guys to filter in to provide a dose of reality. I don't know of any glamorous non combat jobs in the USAF - there are lots of jobs 'good' for your career if you think that way, but I never did. Flying and fighting was what it was all about for me - not rising to a corner office in the Pentagon.
#10: How do you feel about the F-35 program?
I was with the F-22 for a few years trying to make it an alternative to the F-35. Didn't work. It was never meant to be a multirole fighter. The whole $3B add ons program was for appearances. They wanted me to fudge reports to make it appear more capable than it was - wouldn't do it. I think the F-35 is the way of the future BUT the unit cost is so high that it will never be able to assume all the commitments faced by an air force deployed around the globe. Either the commitments decrease or we keep around a few older aircraft. I believe the F-16 is the real answer for that as it's a real multi-role fighter.
#11: What are your thoughts on women in the role of fighter pilot?
As for women in fighters... if someone was selected the same way I was, went through the same nasty process, and came out good enough to get into fighters (with no exceptions nor quotas) then I don't care who it is; what color they are, if they sit to pee or how they pray.What I care about is them doing their job and not getting me killed.
#12: What do you think of unmanned military aircraft?
I think they're a good tool, like intel, weather etc. They have a purpose and perform well enough in relatively benign situations. They also are not survivable in a real shooting war. That said, they make excellent bait for SAMs and with their long loiter time provide very useful battle damage/intel gathering services - but only after the threat is neutralized.
#13: You are widely described as "America's most experienced Viper pilot," considering fighter pilot culture, what is that like?
Very nice to say but I never claimed that - nor would I. I have a lot of flying hours, many in combat, am a Targetarm (FWIC grad) but so do a few others. I will say that I don't know of anyone who has killed more SAMs. By killed, I mean with hard ordnance or the gun, not lobbing HARMs at it. To answer your question (I think) I will say that there is nothing more satisfying in any profession than to be respected by those in your profession. It also left me with nothing to prove - ever- except to myself. THAT is a wonderful position to be in.
#14: So much of flying fighters is hard work and focus but what was the most fun or awe inspiring moment you ever had under the Viper's iconic bubble canopy?
Functional Test flights were always fun because the whole idea was to wring the jet out and make sure everything was working properly. There was never a brief or complicated plan or anything tactical. It was just you and the jet.
The most beautiful sight I ever saw in the cockpit was briefly discussed in the 'Valley of the Shadow' chapter in Viper Pilot... I thought I was dead. And to punch up through the clouds, into the sunlight and clear air, and living through that mission is something I'll NEVER forget.
#15: From fighter pilot to fiction pen, what led you to becoming a New York Times best selling author?
I was a commercial real estate developer after I retired from the USAF and I did quite well, yet I just couldn't get used to living on a beach drinking champagne every night while Iraq and Afghanistan were still going on. So I became a mercenary - sorry, private military consultant. More bad things happened to me and I thought I'd better get some of my experiences down on paper before I disappeared permanently. So I wrote Viper Pilot and The Mercenary.
Books follow books, if you're fortunate, and so came Lords of the Sky. As for Lords Of The Sky, the story needed to be told - people need to know how we go to this place in history and about those who got us here. You'll learn things you never knew - not just about pilots and aircraft, but the events of the last century that created them. As for the future, I have two more contracts with Harper Collins Publishing and am still in the private military business, though with my own company.
Tyler Rogoway is a defense journalist and photographer that maintains the website Foxtrot Alpha for Jalopnik.com You can reach Tyler with story ideas or direct comments regarding this or any other defense topic via the email address email@example.com


text:
We had an awesome party turn out again last week. Keep it up. We all enjoy being inspired by what you share. Here are some features that may inspire you.
Wow Us Wednesdays 27
We had an awesome party turn out again last week. Keep it up. We all enjoy being inspired by what you share. Here are some features that may inspire you.
59 comments:
I made it and I'm #1! Thanks for doing this every week. Glad you have cooled down a bit too. As you can tell from my link I am so ready for Fall. Have a good rest of the week.ReplyDelete
Summer is going way too fast but at least we are finally having beautiful weather! Just wish i didn't have to work!!ReplyDelete
My link button has not been working for over a week , same goes for my spell check. Till i get it figured out i will just visit all the blogs who have linked up!
thanks for hosting Kim. I love that featured desk, it is so cute.ReplyDelete
Hi Kim! I'm so excited to be linking up my new dining room this week. This is such a great party--you attract lots of wonderful projects! Thank you for being such a gracious hostess every week. :)ReplyDelete
Thanks for hosting Kim! Love the features, I am re-working my gallery wall...so I'm headed over to check it out!ReplyDelete
Wonderful features Kim. Major inspiration all over these blogs! Thanks for having us!ReplyDelete
Love all of your features. So much eye candy and inspiration. Thanks for hosting a fabulous party. Hugs, MartyReplyDelete
There are some wonderful WOW's here Kim!ReplyDelete
lots of gorgeous Wows! Thanks for hosting.ReplyDelete
Thanks for hosting once again Kim. So many fun things to check out.ReplyDelete
Loving the great features! Thanks for hosting this fun party each week... so many inspiring ideas! It is cooling down here as well and Fall is in the air. Have a nice evening!~PoppyReplyDelete
Thanks for hosting Kim. I think the summer seemed shorter, because there was so much heat and humidity in my area. We didn't spend as much time out and about. Great features this week. That desk really caught my eye too.ReplyDelete
Yes the summer is blowing by! I will have to squeeze in a few more beach visits before the kids go back to school! Thanks for hosting today!ReplyDelete
Thanks for hosting Kim!ReplyDelete
Thanks for hosting Kim. I love that kitchen makeover that Camille did. What an amazing transformation!ReplyDelete
Thanks for hosting. It sure does seem like a short summer, we had such a cold spring...or rather...no spring!ReplyDelete
Thanks for hosting! I always get some good ideas from this party!ReplyDelete
Love linking up to the party, thanks so much, Kim! xoxo DebraReplyDelete
Thanks so much for hosting, Kim! Love love love those features from last week! What amazing inspiration!ReplyDelete
Thank you so much for hosting this fabulous party, I linked up, I always get worried that I will not WOW any one, but linked up just the same LOL!ReplyDelete
Kim, You are such a dear! Thanks for the very very kind shout-out! I can't wait to see what great thing people have to WOW me with!ReplyDelete
xo Yvonne
Thank you so much Kim for this fun party to join each week. I always look forward to seeing all the great projects! Have a wonderful evening.ReplyDelete
Hello Kim! I regularly drop by your site during Wow us Wednesday. I enjoy your posts and the participants too. Thanks a lot :) Have a great day !ReplyDelete
Woo hoo! 87 places to be inspired already! Thank you so much, Kim!! blessings ~ tannaReplyDelete
Hey Kim, love your savvy style and I appreciate the invite to your party every week! I am #49 this week. So many great women and great ideas. Thanks!ReplyDelete
Yes, I feel summer slipping away too! There are always so many fun link ups here, Kim! Thanks for hosting! I Hope you get your rain.ReplyDelete
Hi Kim! Thanks for featuring my frenchy tea towels! And thanks for hosting! Happy week!...hugs...DebbieReplyDelete
Wow, week #27! That is awesome! Joining into night with a tiny project, but very happy to be joining in! Thank you for hosting!ReplyDelete
Thank you so very much for featuring my gallery wall Kim! Perfect way to cap off my night :DReplyDelete
Have a great week!
Hello Kim,ReplyDelete
Woohoo...you featured my painted china cabinet!!!
I would leave a longer comment, but I gotta grab your 'I Was Featured' and proudly stick that baby on my bog!
Thank you!!!
Happy to be sharing another project this week. Thanks so much for hosting.
janet xox
Hi Kim,ReplyDelete
I have invited myself to the party again...LOL
Everyone is so creative, I love seeing all the pretty!
Have a sweet day, Elizabeth
Seriously...I love how you encourage us all.ReplyDelete
I agree with you that this summer is flying by! I'm still wondering where May went! Love your features this week, especially that sweet little desk and the gallery wall.ReplyDelete
Thanks for hosting the party each week.
What an honor to discover I've been featured on your blog. Thank you very much, Kim.ReplyDelete
The Vintique Object
thank you for hosting!!!ReplyDelete
Hey Kim Thanks for hosting and I wanted to thank you for your support in entering my giveaway. I really appreciate itReplyDelete
Carolyn xo
Kim, Thanks for hosting. I enjoyed the features. I have an old school desk. I really need to do something with it. Hugs, GingerReplyDelete
Lovely features this week, I'm off to go visit them :) xReplyDelete
What wonderful features~ I could find hours of inspiration here!ReplyDelete
Oh so many pretty things! Thanks for this party Kim...I'm having trouble getting out of the post vacation blahs and I think seeing all the inspiring ideas out there will help me to get off my rear and make something!ReplyDelete
Nice features. The school desk is terrific! Sure beats the boring ones I sat at as a young person. ;)ReplyDelete
Thanks for hosting, Kim!
I would love for you to join me at my party, as well. The link goes up on Wednesday nights - USUALLY - by 9pm EST.
Liz @ the Brambleberry Cottage
Thanks for hosting Kim. This is my first time to join and I am sure I will do it again. Lots of fun ideas on here.ReplyDelete
- Anonymous8/17/11, 10:29 AM
Wanted to say hi from Richmond, Va. This is the first time I've contributed to Wow Us Wednesdays and I really appreciate all the inspiration and creativity that gathers here weekly; thanks so much for hosting. Hope to share more in the future; I'm currently post #188.
Wow, Kim, your "Party" is getting bigger all the time! I've actually been enjoying being able to take some breaks from unpacking to peruse, get ideas & simply enjoy the pleasures & eye-candy of everyone's blogs. Thanks so much for hosting!ReplyDelete
Hi Kim, I am a little late for the party but I had to stop by to introduce Penelope Rose! Thanks for hosting the party and all the inspiration.ReplyDelete
I thought time was passing so quickly because I am olden...but, if it is going fast for you young ones, too, guess it's not my age. :)ReplyDelete
Wonderful spotlights...gonna go ck them out.
xo bj
and I WANT STONEGABLE'S TABLE.
Hi Kim~ I'm a little late to the party- but all linked up. Thanks for hosting!ReplyDelete
Hi Kim!ReplyDelete
I just love this Wednesday event and am joining again. You have so many fun and talented joiners...can't wait to go through them and see what's new this week!
Thanks for hosting this!
Be Blessed, Lorena
Kim, Whew! Got Vanessa all linked up. She's on a little hiatus and I just got back from vacation but we made it to the party!:) Thank you as always for being such a lovely hostess! Going to try and catch up with everyone now. Have a fabulous week!ReplyDelete
Those tea towels are gorgeous!!....ReplyDelete
The weeks truly are flying by. And pretty soon you are going to need a bigger venue for this blog party you host, it's so cool to see so many participants and wonderful projects each week!ReplyDelete
Kat :)
Hi and thank you so much for the wonderful party!!!ReplyDelete
Thank you so much for featuring my little desk redo! It was such a fun little project. Thanks for hosting every week:)ReplyDelete
Kim, I just can't get over how big your party has grown! That is awesome! It has cooled down here to, thank goodness! Hope you have a great week!ReplyDelete
- Anonymous8/17/11, 11:10 PM
Hi Kimmie! Wow! wonderful features again this week. I am totally the latest one to your party, but I made it. I've had the busiest week!ReplyDelete
Thank you always for hosting.
Be a sweetie,
Shelia ;)
LOVE Yvonne's table and those tea towels are fabulous!ReplyDelete
So much inspiration to be found here! I'm always amazed at the creative ideas and talent in Blogland. Thanks for hosting this party each week, Kim! :)ReplyDelete
Time really is going by faster than ever this year! Never mind Fall, soon it will be Christmas! Thanks for hosting this wonderful party every week - so many fab links to check out!ReplyDelete
I'm running late to the party! Thanks for hosting! I just linked up!ReplyDelete

subset: commoncrawl


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Carver, John
Carver, John, c.1576–1621, first governor of Plymouth Colony. A wealthy London merchant, in 1609 he emigrated to Holland, where he soon joined the Pilgrims at Leiden. His excellent character and his fortune, of which he gave liberally to the congregation, served to make him a leader. Carver, the chief figure in arranging for the Pilgrim migration to America, secured the backing of merchant friends in London, enlisted a number of capable settlers who came directly from England, and hired and provisioned the Mayflower for the journey. After the signing of the Mayflower Compact he was elected (1620) governor for one year and was probably responsible for the choice of the site at Plymouth. On his death, William Bradford succeeded him.
See G. F. Willison, Saints and Strangers (1945).
The Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia, 6th ed. Copyright © 2023, Columbia University Press. All rights reserved.
See more Encyclopedia articles on: U.S. History: Biographies


text: Seiryo-ji Temple was built in the year 985 as a replica of Wutai Shan or Qingliang Shan of China. The temple is noted for its life-size, highly venerated Buddha image carved from sandalwood, a National Treasure, which, however, is publicly shown only two days a month, the dates of which didn't coincide with our time in Kyoto. As he had on our previous visit to Kyoto, Nobuo Suzuki of Goodwill Guide on Kyoto Handicraft and Historical Sites provided expert guidance on two of the days we spent there, timing our visit to Seiryo-ji, for example, to coincide with a traditional mime performance presented there.


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Hello, I have a problem: when I try to copy from my device to USB-flash drive via plugin, every time I get only damaged file that Windows can't read and i need to check usb-stick for errors and only after that can delete file (no chances to read it). It works fine in another way - i can copy without any problems files from USB-stick to device and all files is readable.
Device: Google Nexus 7 (2012)
Android: 5.0.2
Plugin: full version
USB Stick FS: FAT32 (i tried to fully format it few times, nothing changed).
I triead again to copy few files with enabled Debug Mode, maybe it will be useful:


text:
Mr Gutter Cleaner Bakersfield
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There's no need to worry about clearing your gutters or downspouts. We are the trusted choice for the best professional Bakersfield gutter cleaning services. Bakersfield Gutter Cleaning is the preferred choice for gutter and downspout cleaning. Our experts thoroughly inspect your gutter systems and downspouts to determine the best way to clean them. Our Bakersfield Gutter Cleaning specialists will take care of any clogged-up gutters. We are the best choice for gutter cleaning in Bakersfield, California, and the surrounding areas.
Business Name:
Mr Gutter Cleaner Bakersfield
1104 Oleander AveBakersfield California 93304United States
(661) 443-9290
About Bakersfield
Bakersfield is a city in Kern County, California, United States. It is the county seat and largest city of Kern County. The city covers about 151 sq mi (390 km2) near the southern end of the San Joaquin Valley and the Central Valley region. Bakersfield's population as of the 2020 census was 403,455, making it the 48th-most populous city in the United States of America and the 9th-most populous city in California. The Bakersfield–Delano Metropolitan Statistical Area, which includes all of Kern County, had a 2020 census population of 909,235, making it the 62nd-largest metropolitan area in the United States.
Neighborhoods in Bakersfield, California
Amberton, Bakersfield Country Club, Bakersfield, CA, Belcourt Park, Belsera, Benton Park, Casa Loma, Castle Ranch, City in the Hills, Crestview Meadows, Crystal Ranch, Downtown, East Bakersfield, East Bakersfield, Eastridge Estates
Things to do in Bakersfield, California
Our Newest Profiles


text:
The format is bright lights, an open kitchen, bar area and display/checkout. Like the original, there are outdoor tables under the building portico. Obvious difference with the original: Café Borrone hosts frequent art exhibitions and Roy Borrone is a good curator. Unfortunately the MarketBar has little blank wall space for art.
There's been a long opportunity to provide for culinary support Caltrain riders to take home. MarketBar has little to fear about impending food trucks.


text:
We've all encountered startup problems with previous version of the Windows operating system, and Microsoft has always provided us with lots of tools for fixing those problems. For example, in Windows NT we had the Emergency Recovery Utility, in Windows 2000 we had the Recovery Console, and in Windows XP we had System Restore, just to mention a few. Of course there were many other operating system native tools, but they all involved a manual, user-initiated operation. Not so with Windows 7's Startup Repair Tool!
One of the many troubleshooting features in Windows 7 is a utility called the Startup Repair Tool. What makes this tool stand out among its brethren is that it is designed to intercede at the first hint of an operating system startup problem. When a startup problem is detected, the Startup Repair Tool will launch an automated, diagnostics-based troubleshooter that requires little, if any, user intervention, and in many cases it will resuscitate an unbootable system.
In this edition of the Windows Desktop Report, I'll take a look at the Startup Repair Tool. As I do, I'll explain how it works.
Stay on top of the latest Microsoft Windows tips and tricks with TechRepublic's Windows Desktop newsletter, delivered every Monday and Thursday.
What types of problems does it repair?
As you probably know from firsthand experience with previous versions of Windows, startup problems are some of the most difficult to troubleshoot, and sometimes it seems that the best way to fix the problem is to just reinstall the operating system. While the reinstall method offers a surefire resolution, it is time-consuming and could be avoided more often than you might think. In some situations, the solution is as simple as replacing a single file or altering a single setting. This is the type of problem that the Startup Repair Tool will automatically take care of for you.
For example, the Startup Repair Tool can automatically repair the following problems:
- Missing/corrupt/incompatible drivers
- Missing/corrupt system files
- Missing/corrupt boot configuration settings
- Corrupt registry settings
- Corrupt disk metadata (master boot record, partition table, or boot sector)
- Problematic update installation
How does it work?
When Windows 7's initial loading sequence detects a startup failure, it automatically fails over to the Startup Repair Tool. Once the Startup Repair Tool takes control, it begins analyzing startup log files for clues as to the source of the problem and then launches a series of diagnostic tests to determine the cause of the startup failure. Once the Startup Repair Tool determines the cause of the failure, it attempts to fix the problem automatically.
If the Startup Repair Tool successfully can repair the problem, it does so and then reboots the system. It then notifies you of the repairs and files a detailed report in the event log that clearly identifies the cause of the problem as well as the solution.
If the Startup Repair Tool can identify the cause of the problem but can't repair the problem by itself, it will display a menu titled the System Recovery Options that provides access to a set of tools that you can use to manually troubleshoot the problem further. (I'll cover the tools on the System Recovery Options menu in more detail in a later edition.)
If the Startup Repair Tool is unsuccessful in its attempt to identify or repair the problem, it will roll back the system to the last configuration that was known to work. The Startup Repair Tool will then add detailed information about the problem to the Windows 7 event log.
Saving time and money
As you can imagine, the automated system provided by the Startup Repair Tool will save administrators and help desk personnel from expending valuable time fixing simple problems. In addition, the event log reporting feature will help administrators and help desk personnel to quickly understand the problem for further troubleshooting as well as enacting preventative measures.
Additional options
Another way that the Startup Repair Tool is a boon to administrators and help desk personnel is via Group Policy. In Windows 7, Group Policy settings provide full control over built-in diagnostics, such as the Startup Repair Tool. These Group Policy settings will allow administrators to disable portions of the default resolutions, provide an enterprise-specific resolution, and even customize the tool to prompt the user to seek assistance and display enterprise-specific contact information.
What's your take?
Have you encountered a startup issue that automatically launched the Windows 7's Startup Repair Tool? If so, what was your experience? Did it fix it without intervention? What was the cause of the problem? As always, if you have comments or information to share about this topic, please take a moment to drop by the TechRepublic Community Forums and let us hear from you.


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As some of you know, I was recently invited to take part in all that Vancouver has to offer its tourists (along with everyone else in Vancouver who also works in the tourism industry – so let's not pretend I'm special!). Most of these things I probably wouldn't have done on my own, or would never have got around to doing. Some of them were on my list; others I'd never heard of; and they were spread all over the city, so I had the chance to explore new places, too.
So, as it's Canada Day tomorrow, and as a celebration of Vancouver being one of the best cities in the world, here's a rundown of my top 10 things for tourists to do on their visit.
Stanley Park
This is most people's number one attraction in Vancouver, which is great for a city that's in touch with its nature! My favourite way to get around is by bike, and there are absolutely loads of rental shops just outside the park, around W Georgia Street and Denman Street. You can ride the entire seawall around the park counter-clockwise (it runs a one way system for bikes!) and stop off at the best stops like the totem poles, Lions Gate Bridge and the beaches. The whole perimeter is around 10km so bikes really are the best way to see it, although I did walk it the other day and it took me about two and a half hours!
You can also drive into Stanley Park (the main road connects downtown to North Vancouver via the Lions Gate Bridge, and there is plenty of parking around the park) and there are tours such as the horse-drawn carriages and the Stanley Park railway.
If you're lucky, you might see seals, raccoons and possibly even beavers! (Tip: the raccoons are normally hanging out around Lost Lagoon! Yay raccoons!)
Granville Island
Granville Island is FOOD HEAVEN. You can reach it by bus or by boat from downtown (the boat is much more fun but a little more expensive at $3.50!). There are several markets and restaurants on the island, including a kids marketplace, but the expansive produce market is where it's at. You'll find everything here, from fresh fruit & veg to cupcakes to pizza to coffee to cheese to meat to maple syrup to chocolate to– you get the idea.
Richmond Night Market is a fantastic place to catch dinner too, although it's a bit of a trek out of the city – you'd need to take the SkyTrain past the airport to Richmond.
Vancouver Aquarium
Nestled in Stanley Park, Vancouver Aquarium has been voted one of the top 10 aquariums in the world. It's home to the famous sea otters (if you've seen the photos circulating of the otters holding hands, this is where you can see them!) as well as turtles, penguins, octopus, jellyfish and even a sloth. There's also a fun 4D movie with a few surprises; at the moment, it's about sharks and it's well worth going to.
What I really loved about the aquarium though, is its real focus on conservation and plastic waste. In fact, when I visited there was an entire exhibition dedicated to plastic in our oceans, and they run an #OceanWise campaign to encourage visitors around the world to pledge their support. They also encourage ethical sourcing; they approve the seafood in local restaurants as ocean-friendly and you'll see the logo on menus all over Vancouver.
Museum Of Anthropology
I visited quite a few of the museums as part of the tourism challenge, but this was by far my favourite (I really enjoyed the Museum Of Vancouver, too)! Located about half an hour outside of downtown Vancouver, the museum sits on the edge of BC's biggest university, UBC, and explores the history and traditions of not only First Nations communities in Canada, but tribes all over the world. The totem poles and boats are immediately eye-catching as you walk in, but the rooms dedicated to artifacts from Papua New Guinea to Samoa, from Uganda to Vanuatu, are mind-blowing in their collections. In fact, MOA prides itself on having 50,000 items on display. That's a lot to look at!
Find out more about the museum and its exhibits here!
FlyOver Canada
I was really surprised to read that this is being touted as the number one rated thing to do in Vancouver, so it would be criminal not to include it. That said, it is also one of the pricier things to do in the city at a mighty $30. Located conveniently on the harbour front atop Canada Place, this 15 minute ride gives you the sensation of flying over some of Canada's most jaw-dropping scenery. It's pretty breathtaking, and the feeling of wind on your face as you soar over mountains and water as you touch waterfalls makes it feel like it's actually happening!
It actually surprised me how much I enjoyed this; I'm thinking of going back on it with Ash!
Capilano Suspension Bridge
One of the top things to do in Vancouver, almost every tourist comes here. Except me, because $42 seemed really expensive for a bridge.
I will tell you now that it's much more than just a bridge. The bridge leads to a really nice nature reserve and there's an awesome tree top walk on the other side, which is almost more fun than the bridge itself! There's also a really picturesque cliff walk. I enjoyed Capilano WAY more than I expected, so I definitely recommend it. Plus you can get a free shuttle from downtown Vancouver, which runs every ten minutes!
The alternative to this is the free Lynn Canyon suspension bridge, which is really cool although admittedly nowhere near as big. There's a lovely walk you can take around the park, including a beautiful bright green pool!
Grouse Mountain
You'll see as soon as you arrive in Vancouver that it's surrounded by beautiful mountains. The most famous of these, Grouse Mountain, is a hotspot for locals and tourists alike and you can even get a free bus there. You can then take the gondola up to the top, but… it feels really touristy, and it's expensive. Lots of people take the Grouse Grind instead, a – very steep – trail that takes you to the top in about an hour and a half. You can then get the gondola back down for $15, but it means you can experience all there is at the top without paying the astronomical $56.
There is also a nature reserve for two bears, Coola and Grinder, who were rescued in 2001 and given a safe haven on the mountain. This is probably the safest way you'll ever see bears in the "wild"! Grouse Mountain also hosts various shows such as a lumberjack show which is a lot of fun although totally silly.
Ultimately, Grouse Mountain is touristy, but if you're short on time and transport options, then it's a fantastic way to get out of the city and into the magnificent scenery that surrounds it.
There are plenty of other far less touristy hikes in the area too – like the hike up Black Mountain I did with my new friends here – and for a ton more ideas for walks in the area, check out Josy's blog which has all the details!
If you want a better gondola experience, I highly recommend the Sea To Sky highway in Squamish, less than an hour from downtown Vancouver. The gondola is still pricey at almost $50, but the views are astounding and the alternative hike is upwards of 4 hours, so it's definitely worth taking the gondola if you don't want a massive hike!
Science World
Science World is probably best experienced with kids, but after all I am a massive big kid, so I loved it here! My main draw was actually their current exhibition, The Science Behind Pixar, which runs until January 2019 (I will be going back when Ash flies out to Vancouver!).
The exhibition is so good, and actually aimed far more towards adults! Most of the kids were walking around aimlessly while their parents played around with rendering and lighting! You can design sets, create faces (do you know how difficult it was to make Jessie from Toy Story look normal?!?) and see how they created scenes, characters, and effects like hair blowing in the wind and ripples in the water. Did you know it takes 24 hours to render a second of animation? I did, because one of my friends works in VFX, in Vancouver funnily enough! But this is just one of many things you learn in the exhibition – and of course, one of the highlights is meeting Buzz!
There are loads of interactive things around Science World itself, and I found myself spending way too much time in the Eureka! room, which I suspect is really aimed more at kids…
Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Gardens
It's so easy to get into nature in Vancouver, but this is one really nice respite from city life in the heart of Chinatown. Part of the garden is free, although you can pay to get into the rest, as well as the galleries, and a guided tour is included with entry. I have to admit I haven't done the tour, but it's a really lovely place to come and sit in peace away from the crowds.
Whale Watching
When we first came to Vancouver in 2016, we had our hearts set on one "big expense": a whale watching tour. There are several tour companies operating out of Richmond, and we actually booked it last minute and our preferred options were sold out. We ended up going with Steveston's Seabreeze Adventures who pulled out all the stops and not only did we see a pod of orcas, but they also went out of their way to take us to some humpback whales that had been spotted while we were on our way back. It meant we were late back from the tour, while the people on the other tours were already blissfully back in the city! Hmmm, I wonder which one I'd rather have been on!
Of course, like anything to do with nature and wildlife, there are no guarantees that you'll see anything. But the companies are really good at helping each other out and finding out where the whales have been spotted and where they're travelling to.
If you're back in Richmond in time, you could always grab dinner from the Richmond night market, too!
BONUS: Sunset at English Bay
Alright, so I struggled to stick to ten, but in my defence, this isn't really a tourist attraction. This is just the best way to end any day in Vancouver. My favourite thing to do is sit on a beach and watch the sunset, and my favourite beach is English Bay. (Kits Beach, Jericho Beach, Second Beach & Third Beach are all worthy contenders for sunset viewing, though! Isn't it ironic that I didn't include Sunset Beach?)
There's loads more to do in Van City; I haven't even mentioned the steam-powered clock in Gastown, which is probably one of the most photographed icons of Vancouver. There's the Police Museum, and a ton more hikes. You can get fantastic views over the city from Queen Elizabeth Park, or get lost in the hedge maze at Van Dusen Gardens. There's an art gallery in the city centre housed in a beautiful building, or you can get great views in all directions of the city and beyond from downtown from the Vancouver Lookout.
And then there's simply sitting at the harbour, gazing out at the mountains and watching the seaplanes with your Tim Horton's.
I think it's safe to say I love Vancouver. Have you been, or is this somewhere you'd love to visit?!
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Courteney Cox, Jennifer Aniston Show Off Bikini Bodies in Mexico
TV Guide
Courteney Cox and Jennifer Aniston must have been dreaming of a belated white Christmas. White sands, that is.
The former Friends co-stars are vacationing in Cabo and were photographed relaxing in their bikinis over the weekend. But they weren't vacationing alone.
Aniston and her fiancé, Justin Theroux, arrived on Friday along with Jimmy Kimmel, his wife Molly McNearney and friend Meilani Weiss, Us Weekly reports. Cox arrived the following day with Howard Stern and his wife Beth.
The celebs are all renting a 16,000-square-foot home in a gated community that costs $9,500 a night.
View original Courteney Cox, Jennifer Aniston Show Off Bikini Bodies in Mexico at TVGuide.com
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One good thing about a "Fight for the Troops" event is that at least you don't have to worry about an obnoxious crowd that shows up late and goes boo-crazy every time fighters slow down to take a breath (looking at you, Southern California).
Sure, you might have to listen to just about every winning fighter tell the troops what inspiring heroes they are, and yes, from some of them it feels a little bit patronizing.
Still, when it's all for a good cause – one that actually benefits soldiers who have been wounded in our wars, rather than just offering them the collective, vague salute that we too often content ourselves with – who can complain? Even if the show did run one video package too many and ended up running over its allotted time, at least Tim Kennedy made sure it wasn't long.
Some thoughts from Wednesday night's UFC Fight Night 31…
1. Pressure situation brings out the best in Kennedy
There were a lot of ways for this fight to go wrong for Tim Kennedy. Before he even arrived in Fort Campbell, Ky., he had his opponent changed from one who could vault him to the next level to one who he absolutely, positively could not afford to lose to. Then, Kennedy said, he suffered a torn quadriceps a week before the fight. Then he had to show up and headline a show in front of his brothers and sisters in arms, and by the time it was his turn to fight things hadn't gone so well for the other ex-military fighters on the card.
That's a ton of pressure for any fighter, especially one who loves the military as much as Kennedy (17-4 MMA, 2-0 UFC). But after watching him lace that left hook across Rafael Natal's (17-5-1 MMA, 5-3-1 UFC) skull, you almost wish the UFC could find a way to put him under that same strain for every bout. Or, failing that, maybe it'll just agree to wipe the slate clean after Kennedy's relationship with the UFC got off to such a rocky start due to his fighter pay remarks. Bygones, as they say. Now let's see if we can't find the man a fight without him having to beg for it on Twitter.
2. Krause gets kicked in the junk, branded with a loss, told "Good day, sir" by referee McCarthy
Help me understand this one, Junkie Nation. So James Krause (20-5 MMA, 1-1 UFC) gets kicked directly in the pills twice in one round, both of them so blatant that referee "Big" John McCarthy wisely takes a point away from Bobby Green (21-5 MMA, 1-1 UFC) for the second infraction. Then Green lands a kick just below the belt line, with some part of his foot or ankle clearly also striking the cup area of Krause, who goes down in a heap because, you know, dude is probably a little sore by this point. And you're telling me that's a TKO win for Green? Really?
First of all, do I even need to remind you that this is yet another example of how it pays to cheat in MMA? Second, while there may be some situations where you can get away with winning via a kick that's "right on the border," according to UFC President Dana White, this shouldn't be one of them. Green had already kicked Krause in the groin twice. In one round. Then he adjusts his aim slightly so that he merely nicks the top of Krause's cup rather than digging all up underneath it, and we're supposed to pretend that he didn't just win a fight by kicking the other guy in the nuts?
Sorry, no. Without those two previous groin shots, no way Green puts Krause away with that third kick. Absolutely not. And yet, Green gets the win and the win bonus, while Krause gets, what, an ice pack for his testicles? Sometimes I just don't get this sport.
3. Khabilov and Masvidal live up to expectations
It's refreshing when a great fight on paper becomes a great fight in the flesh, isn't it? Rustam Khabilov (17-1 MMA, 3-0 UFC) and Jorge Masvidal (25-8 MMA, 2-1 UFC) seemed like prime candidates for a "Fight of the Night" bonus before this fight card popped off. In fact, they seemed like such good candidates that I almost felt bad for mentioning it on this week's podcast, since that feels like the surest way to jinx a fight. But no, not this time. Khabilov and Masvidal battled back and forth for three great rounds, with "Gamebred" somehow surviving what looked like a fight-ending kick from the Russian. Not only did he survive, he immediately got his wits about him and defended shockingly well, which might be the real triumph for Masvidal here. Khabilov deserved the decision, but neither has anything to feel bad about after that. Enjoy those bonuses, boys. Spend them (or, you know, save them to pay taxes) in good health.
4. Can we stop saying that the female fighters always "steal the show"?
It's condescending, for one thing. It assumes that we would normally expect the female fighters to turn in kind of crappy fights, and are pleasantly surprised when the opposite occurs. For another, it's just not true. The UFC's 135-pound women are every bit as capable as having boring or mediocre or decent-but-not-spectacular fights as the men are. We just tend to put undue weight on each women's fight because there are so few of them. On Wednesday we saw two – Amanda Nunes (9-3 MMA, 2-0 UFC) essentially grappled her way to a TKO victory over Germaine de Randamie (4-3 MMA, 1-1 UFC), while Alexis Davis (15-5 MMA, 2-0 UFC) leg-kicked her way to a decision win over Liz Carmouche (9-4 MMA, 1-2 UFC). Neither was bad. Neither stole the show. They just … were. If they were male welterweights, we wouldn't even need to remind ourselves of that. Maybe after enough time has passed, we'll get to a point where it's the same for the UFC's women.
5. On second thought, maybe trading RNCs with Chiesa was a bad idea
It was fun while it lasted, but Colton Smith's (3-3 MMA, 1-2 UFC) decision to go rear-naked choke for rear-naked choke with RNC expert Michael Chiesa (10-1 MMA, 3-1 UFC) came to a predictable end in the second round. Don't get me wrong, it was plenty exciting to watch. But when you look at a guy's record and see one win after another via that very choke, well, maybe trading attacks from back control isn't the best strategy. Of course, that's easy for me to say from the comfort of my office chair. I don't have some dude who looks like an understudy on "Jesus Christ Superstar" trying to squeeze all the blood out of my head.
For complete coverage of UFC Fight Night 31, stay tuned to the UFC Events section of the site.
(Pictured: Tim Kennedy)


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Catholic Diocese Starts Removing Hundreds of Donors' Memorial Stones From Crystal Cathedral's Walk of Faith
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Orange County, which bought the California megachurch Crystal Cathedral's glass sanctuary last year, has started removing the 1,800 memorial stones that were erected on the campus to honor people's loved ones.
The Walk of Faith stepping-stones are being removed as the Diocese begins renovation of the Garden Grove campus to convert it into a Catholic place of worship, New York Times reports.
Out of respect for the sponsors, digital photos of the stones have been put on display at a diocese-sponsored website. The Diocese has said the stones will be placed in storage and will not be destroyed.
However, the sponsors say they are heart-broken.
Anaheim resident Judy De Clercq, 88, told KABC-TV she scraped together $6,000 for her husband's and her son's stones. "I went to look at it all the time and I felt so good about doing it," she said. "It's breaking my heart because my husband wanted it with all his heart. It was the last thing I did for him after he died."
"The campus is in need of significant repairs and we have plans to develop and beautify the common outdoor areas around the cathedral," the new owner, Christ Catholic Cathedral Corporation, had said in a recent statement. "To make this a reality, the stones will need to be removed over the coming years – they are not all coming out now...those who want their stones returned – we are accommodating such requests."
The new owners sent letters to hundreds of sponsors, saying, "While we have made every effort to preserve the 'Walk of Faith' stones, in the process of preserving and restoring the campus, it has become necessary to remove them."
Shepherd's Grove, Crystal Cathedral Ministries' new home for Sunday church services, is trying to comfort the parishioners.
"If you were one of the generous individuals who helped to build the Walk of Faith with your financial support, please know that your donation continues to be deeply felt and appreciated," says Shepherd's Grove on its website.
The ministry filed for bankruptcy in October 2010, and sold the iconic building and its adjacent campus to the Diocese of Orange in February 2012 for future use as the diocese's new cathedral. The terms of the sale stated the building and most of the campus would be used by the ministry for up to three years before being renovated for use as a Catholic cathedral.
Robert H. Schuller and his wife, Arvella, founded Crystal Cathedral Ministries in 1955, which grew to be one of the largest Christian ministries in California.
Schuller, who is also the former host of the "Hour of Power" broadcast, recently began treatment for esophageal cancer.
Schuller's daughter, Sheila Schuller Coleman, made the announcement about the treatments and her father's readiness for the next life last week. "Dad knows he has cancer…And when he was told he has cancer, he said, without flinching, 'I'm ready to go home and be with Jesus,'" she said.
Schuller stepped down from the church's board in March 2012, following which legal issues abounded between the ministry and the Schuller family, especially regarding the amount of annual monetary benefits the Schullers were expecting upon retirement. To resolve its financial woes, the ministry sold its sanctuary to the Diocese of Orange, which recently converted it into "Christ Cathedral."
The 86-year-old former head of Crystal Cathedral Ministries is not expected to live for more than a couple of years, his family has said.


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Three skiers killed in a Washington state avalanche on Sunday were highly experienced at backcountry skiing, according to media reports, and one was the head judge of the Freeskiing World Tour, a competitive circuit for extreme skiers in the United States, Canada and South America.
The three, ski tour judge Jim Jack, Chris Rudolph and John Brenan, were among a group of a dozen or so skiers who were attempting to ski down a slope near the Stevens Pass ski area in the Cascade Mountains, about an 80-mile drive from Seattle. Among the group were staffers of both ESPN and Powder magazine, who identified the victims and gave accounts of the incident.
Powder magazine senior editor John Stifter said the avalanche was triggered by Jack, who was the seventh skier to head down the slope, which is outside the borders of the resort and its groomed ski runs. Jack triggered a "slab avalanche," according to Stifter.
The U.S. Forest Service's National Avalanche Center says dry slab avalanches are the most deadly form of avalanches.
"The slab avalanche is more like a large surface plate that comes off the mountainside and crumbles into blocks as it falls. The boundaries of this plate of snow begin as fracture lines or cracks visible on the snow surface. Unfortunately they may not be visible seconds before the slide," David Sauer writes in an article archived by Avalanche-Center.org.
"Fractures can propagate through the snow at speeds of 50-200 mph. Victims … rarely have a chance to escape," the Forest Service's Avalanche Awareness website says.
On Sunday, the chunks of that snow slab sped down the mountain, swallowing up Jack and other skiers, including those who'd skied off the slope about 300 feet below the top and into what they thought was a safe area in the trees.
Rudolph, Brenan and professional skier Elyse Saugstad were in that group, according to the accounts of Stifler and ESPN freeskiing editor Megan Michelson.
Saugstad told the Seattle Times she heard another member of the party shout "Avalanche!"
"The next thing I knew I was taking more than a 2,000-foot ride down an avalanche, tumbling and turning and tossing the entire way," the Times quoted her as saying.
The avalanche carried Jack, Rudolph, Brenan and Saugstad 2,000 feet to 3,000 feet down the slope. Saugstad was able to deploy an airbag she wore for safety in these circumstances and it kept her head and arms above the snow.
"It kept her atop the avalanche and basically saved her life," John Gifford, general manager of the Stevens Pass ski area, told CNN affiliate KIRO-TV.
The other three were unable to be revived after they were pulled from the snow pile, which was about 20 feet deep at the bottom of the slide, according to local news reports.
"The debris pile at the bottom was massive," Michelson said in the ESPN report.
"I believe my partial burial and survival was on account of the inflation of my ABS Avalanche Airbag Backpack," Saugstad said in a statement on her website.
She also said her "condolences and sympathies are with the families and victims of the avalanche incident."
All, Saugstad said, were experienced in backcountry skiing.
Jack had been involved in the World Freeskiing Tour since its inception more than two decades ago, according to an ESPN report from November, first as a competitor before he became a judge. In the report, he said he turned to judging about 10 years ago after "I shattered my face while competing at Kirkwood," one of the U.S. stops on the tour.
In the same ESPN interview, he said the tour emphasized safety.
"We do not want to find ourselves rewarding or encouraging dangerous or uncalculated decisions in skiing," Jack was quoted as saying.
The avalanche danger in the Cascades was listed as considerable to high on Sunday, according to the Northwest Weather and Avalanche Center, after the area got more than two feet of snow in the previous 24 hours. But among the skiers in the group, "the consensus was that they could manage the hazard if they followed proper protocol," according to the Powder report, citing Stifter.
On a page on about.me, Rudolph calls himself the "director of marketing, culture and stoke" at Stevens Pass. Rudolph was called "a seasoned backcountry skier and pro-wrangler for high-profile video shoots," according to a Ski Area Management Magazine article quoted on about.me.
Doug Schnitzspahn, editor-in-chief of Elevation Outdoors magazine, told CNN that a kind of group-think takes over in these situations, with skiers wanting to be there with their peers.
"You think, 'All these people are either professional skiers or they knew what they're doing, they are out here,'" he said. "You're trained to make certain decisions, but it's not always humanly possible. If I had been there, I would have skied that line with those guys. That's what shakes me up."
The Freeskiing World Tour planned a memorial for Jack on Monday afternoon at the Snowbird Ski and Summer Resort in Utah, according to the tour's Facebook page.
"All friends, family, and public welcome to celebrate the life of our brother, and amazing freeskiing spirt," the posting said.
Posters mourned Jack.
"So sad! Jim, you made a difference in a lot of skiers' lives!!!" wrote one.
"This is unreal. Jim Jack, you will be so missed," wrote another.
The tragedy was the second to hit the skiing community this year.
Exactly a month before the three skiers died in the avalanche, freestyle skier Sarah Burke died from injuries suffered in a training accident in Utah.
"More terrible news. Our thoughts and prayers go out to the family and friends of the victims," said a posting on Powder magazine's Facebook page.
"Mommy? Where's daddy?"
"Daddy died doing what he loved. He died while skiing."
"He loved skiing more than me?"
Completely agree with mightyfudge – these adrenaline junkies (skydivers, skiers, bungie jumpers, mountain climbers, race car drivers, etc) all take a chance every time they do what they love. Unfortunately, they are so selfish 'doing what they love' that they forget that there are more important things in their lives like THEIR FAMILY! Now, for all those single people that don't have immediately family, go have fun and kill yourselves without a worry in the world – we won't miss you ether!
Thank YOU for that. The arrogance that people have about nature and its forces and power. Always looking for that higher high or greater thrill. Whether fulfilling ego levels or simply having fun – it does not matter when someone does not use pure common sense about life and place more emphasis on a good time and happiness – than choosing a simpler lifestyle that does not involve unecessary and sometimes deadly risks. Drugs, DWI, balcony and bungy cord jumping, planking. Personally, you won't find me more than ankle deep in ocean water because of the defiance it takes for one to get into such a huge volume of water for "fun"!?!?!? – I dont get it. I always wonder what thought run through the minds of these type of folks once they know this is the last time they will do ANYTHING else – fun or not.
Statistically we are more likely to die on the drive up the slopes, but this country doesn't understand math, or reasoning / logic.
Powder junkies are hooked for life. But, pro skiers, backcountry skiers, are a self-selecting demographic with more training than lay people know. That puts the responsibilities for their decisions squarely on them so that third-party second-guessers aren't important to them. Those lifetime off-piste skiers who are now senior citizens bear memories of friends lost in the mountains. Yet many many more skiers of all kinds and ages lose many many more friends on the roads and highways to and from the mountains.
Something similar happened to a good friend of mine who lost her husband to an avalanche while heli-skiing 20 years ago. She wrote about it in a recently published book that is a a very good read. Check out Avalanche: Lessons of Love on Amazon.com. Also the website is avalanchelessonsof love.com. It has a facebook page too.
This is the most ridiculous comment I've seen on this article. And the fact that people agree with you is even more disturbing. Not ALL adrenaline junkies are wreckless.
I can't remember the last time I heard of a skydiver that died doing everything by the book. If you jump, pull your chute at 5,000 feet, you have plenty of time to pull your reserve. This still allows for 60 seconds of free fall from a traditional 13,500 foot jump. People die when try to break speed barriers, pulling there chutes at 1,000 feet and not having enough time to pull a reserve.
People die driving to work everyday... if people have kids should they not drive to work? Is this irresponsible as well? What about the millions of family members stuffing down fast food every day and dying at 50. They are equally as irresponsible. Based on statistics, most likely one of the people that agreed is unhealthily overweight. It has gotten THAT BAD.
We all choose risks, but don't right off certain risks as irresponsible or wreckless until you actually know what you are talking about.
Granted avalanches are VERY hard to predict and avoid. As the video illustrates, proper preparedness can HEAVILY reduce the chance of death.
So on some level I agree that SOME "adrenaline junkies" can be wreckless as family members. Just please remember that MOST do not fit into that category. I have skydived, cave died, mountaineered, and driven to work. I take as much risk out if as I can for the sake of my family.
It's been almost two years since I lost my husband in an avalanche while he was snowmobiling. In that time, I've met a lot of folks who were widowed for a lot of reasons. Cause matters not. Effect? The same whether it was an out of-the-blue bad ticker, a prolonged agonizing cancer battle, or an errant snowflake shifting suddenly.
Preventable or not, my heart goes out to the families left behind.
The only difference with these type of tragedies is that sometimes they are caused by someones arrogance or as a joke or for other silly reason. Meaning, some folks are killed and not by their own doing – but by the neglect or arrogance of someone else who considered something by their terms to be worth the risk – even at the expense of others. Getting killed in a car accident is not the same as being killed by an avalance – PARTICULARLY if one chooses to be in a dangerous area. If you want to risk your life, then be a paramedic or police officer or someone who is willing to give or risk their life for someone else who didnt want to die. Dying for reasons of vanity reasons seems senseless when people are already dying or being killed by freak unheard of accidents everyday. There is a huge difference between a car accident and death-by-avalanche. They might as well put up a sign at the ski resort that says "SKI HERE IF YOU FEEL SUICIDAL" – Russian Roulette on ice!
An unreal number of cowards in this thread! I'll never do anything because it could, possibly result in danger to my person. Make sure you tape those windows up tight so no germs can get in... And don't fly because even if you somehow land safely you've taken an entire years worth of life ending radiation during the flight!
You take certain risks, then sometimes you die – stupid is as stupid does.
I'm sorry, but avalanches don't kill people. Mountains kill people.
lack of exercise and a bad diet will also kill you, some people enjoy cutting it close outside others inside on the couch.
Indeed, let us ban backcountry skiing in order to avoid tragedies like this in the future. Perhaps we ought never ride in automobiles either, for the best way to avoid a car accident is never get in a car. Maybe you should not write the book which could define your generation because novelists tend to drink too much, move to Florida and french kiss shotguns. How is it we as a species have managed to visit the moon yet are seemingly unable to make life non-lethal? Birth is not a miracle and death is not a tragedy. Everything has a beginning, middle and end. When you spend your consciousness fretting about the end, you ruin the middle. The trick to a life well lived is recognizing that you are in the middle portion and focus your energy on maxumizing the experience of being alive. You deserve to die. So do I and every other person on the blue marble. Here's how i know this; if you were born, you deserve death... it's a package deal. Forget about the WHY, HOW and WHEN of the end of life and try to be grateful for everything which precedes it.
I don't know about "deserve" but I guess the price of admission is the same as what you say... "death." Interesting post, thanks!
Extreme sports = doing stupidly dangerous things until it catches up with you. It doesn't matter *how* experienced you are, if you continue doing stupidly dangerous things long enough sooner or later you'll lose-big time.
Wow! What a tough crowd. I expected comments of sympathy, but all of these comments brought up how to live life. I was watching an extreme skiing movie on Hulu the other night and my heart was pounding. Its was like these people were running off buildings into mid-air. What an expensive set up: helicopters, small airplanes, cabins, equipment, photographers, promoters and all the advertising one would expect. It looked like a career to me. Not one I would choose but it really said something about just how much a human being can relate to the surface of the earth in dangerous ways. But to their families: moms, dads, sisters, brothers, husbands, wives and children.... Sudden death is just a shock to the system, and so my condolences and wishes for peace to the survivors. Who are we to judge?
Considerable to high is a 3-4 on a scale of 1-5
1 – low – almost no chance of slides
2 – moderate – the steepest windloaded slopes might slide
3 – considerable – slopes above a certain degree and above tree line have a real chance of man triggered avalanches and slight chance of naturally triggered avy
4 – High – Man triggered avalanches are possible above and below tree line on slopes above 30 degrees and likely on certain on windloaded slopes above treeline steeper than so and so degrees...
5 – Severe – Just don't go out. Big avalanches are possible without any disruption.
Does anybody notice how considerable is mentioned up there? That's my wording but very similar to how a real avalanche warning is written. There are caveats to every level of warning suggesting where it is safer or more dangerous. Pros make judgment calls to ski/ride in considerable conditions daily as part of their job getting video parts. I'd wager whatever these gentlemen was on fit the constraints of category 3 and not 4. And it just happened to be their day. RIP gentlemen.
I cant believe some of these posts! Its obvious many othese these people(posters) havent done anything that makes them feel free and alive in a long long time, and thats sad. Accidents happen, it is unfortunate, but i can gaurauntee that each ofthose that passed away lived 10 times the life as those posting bs messages about snow safety and selfish risks.
If you listened to this group of wimpy cowards you would not get out of bed; don't surf, don't windsurf, don't white water kayak don't even play golf.. maybe you will get hit by lightening.
CNN: Please research the statistics on Air Bag use in Europe. The numbers are not as good as portrayed in your article. Denver Post has 3 in 100 surviving with Backpack Air Bags. Bottom Line: Skiing in the back country is very dangerous. Failure to heed avalanche forecast warnings can be hazardous and/or deadly to your health. My condolences to the families involved.
There are some really ignorant comments on here. How many people lose their lives in car accidents on their way to work. These people were out doing what they did with regularity, they were professionals and they have families. Have some respect. You can get hit by a bus tomorrow crossing the street to get a diet coke or you can go live your life and do what you love. Be a hero not an ignoramus.


text:
Emily Mitchell's short story "Lucille's House" appeared in NER 28.2 (2007):
"What were you waiting for?" Lucille asks when he gets to the top.
"Well, I wasn't sure this was the right address," he says. "I didn't want to go knocking on someone else's front door in the middle of the night, scaring them half to death. What would you think if some strange black man came to your door in the middle of the night in this neighborhood . . ."
"I would think he probably needed a cup of coffee."
"You know what I mean."
"Sure, but I gave you the correct address, baby. I can see you've got it right there." And indeed, he is holding the piece of paper she gave to the driver. It has the address written on it in her own handwriting.
"I know. But, honestly . . ." he is looking past her now into the front hall. His eyes look like a child's at Christmas before the presents are opened. "I didn't believe that a house this nice was mine. Is it?" She sees that he is crying. He has never had a house of his own before, either.
"It is," she says. "It's yours. I promise."


text:
Obama's solution helps bring peace to military conflict
- President under pressure from immigrant advocates to do what he can to help while Congress is stalled
- Military officials like policy because they say it lessens stress%2C distractions for combat personnel
- Some troops at work have had to devote time to helping relatives navigate immigration system
PHOENIX — As a member of the Arizona Army National Guard, Gabriel Zermeño has been preparing for almost two years to be deployed overseas.
But the country he signed up to defend also could one day deport his father.
The reason? Zermeño, 21, is a citizen born in the USA, but his father, José Zermeño, 53, is an immigrant from Mexico who has been living in the U.S. illegally for more than 30 years and has faced deportation proceedings.
"At any moment, I could be overseas fighting for my country and he could be getting deported by the same country I was supposed to be fighting for," Gabriel Zermeño said.
Soon, however, the elder Zermeño may be able to legalize his status, possibly within a couple of months, thanks to a new policy from President Obama's administration.
The policy, which went into effect Nov. 15, allows the undocumented spouses, children and parents of military personnel to be "paroled" into the United States.
Once paroled, undocumented relatives then will be able to apply for green cards without first having to go back to their home countries, where those who entered illegally face bans from returning to the U.S. for up to 10 years.
Thousands of military families may benefit, experts say.
The policy comes as Obama is under growing pressure from immigration-reform advocates to take steps on his own to protect undocumented immigrants from deportation as immigration overhaul remains stalled in Congress.
The policy has been hailed by military and immigrant advocates. They say the policy will improve military readiness by alleviating some of the stress and distractions of military personnel as they attempt to legalize the status of undocumented relatives.
"This has been causing a lot of problems for the military," said Margaret Stock, an immigration lawyer in Alaska and retired military-police lieutenant colonel. She specializes in immigration cases involving military personnel.
In the past, the ability of military personnel to focus on their duties often was being weakened because of immigration problems that undocumented relatives faced back home.
Stock cited the case of an undocumented woman from Bullhead City, Ariz., that drew media attention in 2012. A sheriff's deputy stopped the woman in northern Arizona for making an illegal turn and turned her over to immigration authorities for possible deportation. She was later released after immigration authorities determined she was married to a U.S. Army soldier on active duty in Germany.
Stock said she personally has handled dozens of cases involving U.S. military personnel trying to legalize the status of parents, spouses and children.
Daunting process
Immigrants who want to receive green cards through petitions filed by U.S. citizen relatives are required to go back to their home country first if they entered the country illegally.
But in what Stock called a Catch-22, those who returned home faced being barred from coming back to the U.S. for up to 10 years. Even applying for waivers to avoid the 10-year ban could take many months.
As a result, many military personnel with undocumented family members were forced to devote large amounts of time and resources trying to legalize relatives, which took away from their military duties, Stock said.
Some military personnel became so daunted with the lengthy process and the possibility of a long separation that they simply didn't apply to legalize family members, leaving their undocumented relatives vulnerable to deportation, Stock said.
Now, undocumented relatives of military personnel will be able to apply for parole to remain in the country legally, opening the door to seek permanent residency, known as green cards.
Lt. Cmdr. Nathan Christensen, a Department of Defense spokesman, praised the policy, saying clarifications from the Department of Homeland Security will support the family members of people serving in the armed forces, as well as those who have served.
But the new Homeland Security policy could conflict with policies some branches of the military established that bar people from enlisting if they are married to immigrants without legal status. Those policies are based on administrative and security concerns that prevent immigrant dependents of military personnel from obtaining military ID cards if they lack legal status to be in the U.S., he said.
Those policies say "that uniformed service members, family members, or other eligible individuals are required to provide identity documentation in order to be eligible to obtain an ID card," he said.
The Marines and Navy have such policies. The Air Force does not. The Army did not respond to requests for comment.
Informal policy
In 2010, former Department of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano began an informal policy granting so called "parole-in-place" to undocumented parents, spouses, and children of active-duty military personnel.
But the informal policy was not being followed consistently in immigration field offices across the country.
As a result, many military personnel who applied for immigration parole for their undocumented parents, spouses and children still were having their cases denied even though they qualified, Stock said.
The new policy issued in a memorandum from U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services is intended to "reduce the uncertainty" that active-duty and retired military personnel face because of the immigration status of their family members, said Peter Boogaard, a spokesman for the Department of Homeland Security.
The policy also will ensure "consistent application" of existing policies, he said. The policy applies to immediate family members of active-duty military personnel, as well as reservists, including the National Guard, and veterans.
"Parole-in-place is granted on a discretionary, case-by-case basis, for urgent humanitarian or significant public benefit reasons," Boogaard said.
Threat of deportation
Only legal permanent residents and U.S. citizens can join the military.
Gabriel Zermeño is the only U.S. citizen in his family. He joined the Arizona Army National Guard after graduating from Apollo High School in Glendale, Ariz. He has trained as a heavy-equipment mechanic at Fort Benning, Ga., and Fort Leonard Wood, Mo.
Gabriel Zermeño also is preparing to become an officer in the Army through the ROTC program at Arizona State University, where he is studying political science.
Meanwhile, his father, José Zermeño, has been facing deportation after he tried applying for legal status and was denied on a technicality, according to his lawyer, Gerald Burns. A judge administratively closed his case in September but the case could be reopened in the future, Burns said.
José Zermeño raised Gabriel, along with his two older sisters and brother, as a single father.
In June, José Zermeño applied for parole to remain in the U.S. legally, citing his son's service in the armed forces.
But at the time, it was unclear if undocumented parents of military personnel qualified for parole. The new written policy specifically spells out that they do, increasing José Zermeño's chances that he will be approved, Burns said.
Gabriel Zermeño's sisters and brother all were born in Mexico and like his father are in the country illegally. Siblings of military personnel do not qualify for parole under the new policy. But Gabriel Zermeño's siblings already have received protection from deportation under Obama's deferred-action program, which allows young undocumented immigrants to live and work temporarily in this country.
José Zermeño should learn within the next month or two whether he has been approved for parole, Burns said. The only possible snag could be a misdemeanor DUI that José Zermeño received in the late 1990s, Burns said.
For Gabriel Zermeño, knowing his father has legal status would provide some peace of mind.
"If he were to get legal status or citizenship," the son said. "I could perform my (military) duty to the best of my ability instead of having to worry about him."


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Giving youth real decision-making power and leadership roles in development processes and programs is a challenge in practice. We know from both our practice and research efforts that effective youth development needs to put meaningful youth participation at the forefront. RTI International's experience working with youth around the globe in the areas of education, employment, health and governance for the past 30 years directs our strategy in placing them in key partner roles to solve global development challenges. With that in mind, we, along with other members of Alliance for International Youth Development (AIYD), strongly support the new USAID Youth in Development Policy (PDF), launched in November 2012.
The engagement of youth in development has been inconsistent. There are cases where youth are consulted on their needs and expectations and are invited to attend planning workshops or conferences. While these are important steps for youth participation, oftentimes they fall short of creating active roles in leadership. At worst, they provide the illusion that youth actually have a stake in the decision-making process.
The Arab Spring demonstrations in 2011 showed many governments the importance and impact that youth can play in civil society. This was clearly reflected in the passing of the new Moroccan constitution in July 2011, which emphasized good governance, accountability and citizen input into government affairs.
Capitalizing on this unique context, RTI began working with commune councils and existing youth associations in the Moroccan cities of Safi, El Jadida, Séfrou, Sidi Harazem, and Ain Chgag to create seven Local Youth Councils that represent 134 youth associations in their cities. RTI's current implementation of the USAID Morocco Local Governance Program (LGP), "A Platform for Dialogue between Citizens and their Commune", offers some lessons learned on giving youth a real voice in development. LGP is taking an innovative approach in creating formal mechanisms for meaningful participation of youth in local affairs.
LGP is training young people in critical skills such as communications, participatory planning and negotiation in order to participate in roundtable discussions with commune council members. Together they discuss civic participation, youth employment, education and the communal charter.
The results are encouraging. Youth are engaged in local governance and are better organized as an important political constituency. They discuss and advocate their priorities to elected officials. But they want more, and are expressing that they want to see this heightened dialogue translate into concrete changes such as different decision-making patterns and results on youth issues.
A real opportunity for enhanced youth leadership and decision-making is before the Youth Councils and the Moroccan government. The new Moroccan constitution calls for the formation of an institutionalized Consultative Council for Youth and Community Work to play an advisory role to the government on youth policies. This past May, youth leaders from the LGP-formed Youth Councils hosted a forum with civil society experts, local government representatives and Parliament officials to provide concrete recommendations on how the Consultative Council should be created, what it should be implementing and how it can represent young people in the democratic process.
According to a youth leader from Safi, "Our proposals for the new Consultative Council are based on real discussion among youth leaders. Nobody told us what to do or what not to do. We do not want this to be just something that is designed in the capital. Instead, it should represent the vision of the youth across the country."
An important focus for LGP in the next two years is to help the Youth Councils continue to work to influence the formation and agenda of the new Consultative Council, and to consolidate the existing seven (soon to be 10) youth councils into an institutionalized political structure that can be sustained beyond USAID-funding support.
RTI has learned that forming Youth Councils and training youth in the leadership skills they need to affect change takes significant time and resources. Often, the fruition of these efforts – marked by transformation into formal decision-making power and active leadership – is difficult to achieve in typical three to five year programmatic cycles.
Over the next few years, it will be critical to take a long-term perspective in achieving a real youth voice in Arab Spring countries, as well as other developing countries. This means sustaining youth dialogue and participation mechanisms from one program cycle into the next and institutionalizing youth bodies into formal political structures.
We are optimistic that the release of the Youth in Development Policy will encourage more missions, especially in countries with large and growing youth populations, to prioritize greater youth participation in development. RTI and the other AIYD members are committed to helping fulfill the Policy's goal of equipping local youth leaders with skills and tools to create their own solutions, and to institutionalize their efforts in their countries' development processes.