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Radio Flyers
Looking through the video camera viewfinder, there's a clear shot of the 1940s vintage yellow Piper Cub passing leisurely over the center of the runway. Despite the stiff crosswind, which continuously tries to push it off course, the Cub carefully maneuvers to stay out of the way of a fast-approaching Second World War era Corsair fighter, closing quickly from behind. On the short-cropped grass field, a sparkling aluminum TV-1 Korean War era fighter jet, trimmed in brilliant red paint, is taxiing back after returning to the field. Even from this distance you can clearly hear the turbine engine winding down and see the aircraft's landing lights still blazing so brightly they almost hurt your eyes. The camera captures some great moments of realism in aviation--that is, until a large hand reaches in from the corner of the frame, grabs the aircraft by the tail, and turns the recorded footage into something out of a sci-fi flick. The TV-1 is dragged backwards past some guy who is visible only from the knees down; sagging green socks just partially covering tell-tale winter whitened legs.
It's practice day at Top Gun.
No, not the U.S. Navy's fighter pilot training program in California, but rather a gathering of the very best radio control model aircraft builders and pilots at a more idyllic West Palm Beach, Florida, setting. Each year, this by-invitation-only event brings a select group of modelers from around the world to the Palm Beach Polo and Country Club field, which for four days is turned into a miniature airport hosting an eclectic mix of everything from First World War era fighters to modern-day military jets.
If your last encounter with model airplanes was some time ago, then you're in for a surprise. Far from fragile craft built from thin balsa sticks and covered with tissue paper, these state-of-the-art miniatures are absolute marvels of engineering and craftsmanship. Whether the competitor chooses to model a simple classic light plane such as Mariano Alfafara's colorful Clipped Wing Piper Cub, or an A-4 Skyhawk, complete with a functioning jet turbine engine like the one campaigned by Rei Gonzalez and Albert Araujo, the attention here is on realism.
Sixty-four competitors brought their best replicas--an air force that included P-51 Mustangs, P-38 Lightnings, F-4 Phantoms and even a trio of four-engine Boeing B-29s--to south Florida to find out who was truly "Top Gun." Just getting a miniature version of these complex aircraft into the air, while keeping all the mechanical systems operating perfectly and then bringing them back down again--in one piece--is highly challenging. But there's an even more daunting hurdle: before the models are flown, they must pass before the cold eyes of the static judges.
During this initial phase of competition, the modelers must document that their creation is identical in appearance to the real thing, only smaller. Not only must the model look exactly the same as the full-scale version in outline, color and markings, but the modeler must also conceal the radio control equipment within the structure and operate the control surfaces in a realistic manner without the "model" equipment being visible.
[deep cut and possible move][what does this mean?--tf] Frank Tiano, a veteran of Radio Control (R/C) modeling and the owner of a model plane company, Frank Tiano Enterprises, has been the driving force behind this world-class gathering since its inception in 1989. "There are many events for modeling throughout the country, every weekend of the year," he says. "Well, with all the events called scale events--which is what this is; it means that they are events for model airplanes that are models of real airplanes--there was never a well-organized big one where the competitor had some prestige. People still think [of] model airplanes [as having] little strings on them, they go round and round; they don't have a concept of what's going on here. So, I sat down and I said, with a couple friends of mine, 'This is what I want to do,' and I did it in 1989."
As the Top Gun event and its prestige have grown over the years, so has the sophistication, and cost, of the models competing. "Oh, about $10,000 with all of the radio equipment" was the response of one of the participants when asked by a spectator how much he had tied up in his modern jet fighter miniature. With a few exceptions, this is the high end of the price spectrum in the modeling world. Compared with most any other sport requiring a motor, however, it's practically a bargain. Of course, none of these dedicated competitors is going to make a living, even at this level, from hitting the contest circuit, regardless how much he invests. "We now give away a purse totaling 25 grand," says Tiano. "Now $25,000 is not a lot compared to motor sports. At the Indy 500 in one lap, I think, you can make 20 grand." Contrast that with what the Top Gun winner will take home: $1,500 as well as valuable equipment, such as engines or R/C systems, that are donated by manufacturers. Four-time Top Gun competitor Richard Uravitch sums it up when he says, "It's the camaraderie more than anything. We come here to socialize and share thoughts and interests, and all of that is interrupted by four rounds of flying."
While this is a just a hobby for most of the competitors, many still prepare as if it were a professional motor sports event. Under dozens of multicolored canopys--erected as much for the protection of the models as their owners--pilots and pit crews work, determined to sort out the problems that always seem to wait until it's time to fly before showing up.
This year modelers from as far away as Bolivia came to Florida to socialize and share their experience and love for the hobby--and yes, to fly. "People are invited to this event," Tiano points out. "You don't just show up." Considering there are tens of thousands of serious modelers around the world, it would seem quite a difficult task to determine who competes and who stays home, but Tiano says, "Its really simple. When you're in this, just like any other sport, you get to know who's good and who's not. Where we do need help is out of the country, because I don't compete in Europe, I don't compete in South America; we rely on those countries' version of the A.M.A. (Academy of Model Aeronautics--America's major sanctioning body for events) to send us the winners of their national events. We then contact those winners and say, 'Would you like to represent your country and come to this event?' As a result we have about 12 to 14 out-of-the-country folks here."
Some of the competitors arrived the Monday prior to the official start of the weekend's flying just to practice. Dave Pinegar, who was flying teammate Mariano Alfafara's Clipped Wing Cub, was one of these dedicated souls. Sure, the lure of a warm Florida spring might tempt anyone from, say, still thawing Michigan in late April, but Pinegar was here to prepare.
The extra effort was apparent during his first official flight. While many of his competitors were still not completely oriented to flying from an unfamiliar field, by the first round it was just another routine flight for Pinegar; routine except for the judges seated behind him and the thousands of spectators watching from the stands. The Cub taxied out to the secondary runway; being a replica of a "lightplane," he could take advantage of using a short takeoff run into the wind. As he effortlessly joined the others in the flight pattern, the extra days of preparation became apparent. The builder, Alfafara, stood by his side calling to the judges what maneuver to expect next. Pinegar, chomping furiously on a wad of gum, performed his flight plan: a loop, a slow barrel roll, a stall turn and three turn spins, while all the time expertly compensating for the gusts blowing across the aircraft's flight path.
He set the Cub down on the left wheel, left wing tip down to compensate for the crosswind, as a yellow-nosed SNJ-5 "heavy metal" warbird entered by the Bolivian team of Ed Gutierrez and Pedro Serco rocketed by on its high-speed pass, underscoring the difference in speed of the various aircraft. As Alfafara congratulates him on his performance, Pinegar characteristically shrugs his shoulders; it may be a hobby, but everyone wants to do well.
More importantly, they want it to look real. "I think the best part of Top Gun," says Pinegar, "is making it look as realistic as possible and having a little ol' guy that flew back in WWII come up to you with a big smile on his face, with almost tears in his eyes, because it's the way he saw it happen."
Of course, complex details also abound here. One of the most technologically advanced and functionally accurate designs is Nick Ziroli Jr.'s Avenger, which is modeled after a torpedo bomber from the Second World War. As the Avenger taxies to the runway, the wings still folded against the side of the fuselage, the outboard panels begin the slow contortions needed to unfold and ready the bird for flight. Like other carrier-based aircraft, the original Avenger kept its wings folded for storage in the ship's confined hanger decks. At this level of competition, distinctions that exist on the plane being duplicated are expected to be on the model, and so Ziroli duplicated them.
The intricate mechanics needed to operate a detail like folding wings, not to mention the fail-safe locking mechanism to make them stay put in flight, had eluded modelers for years. Some tried it in the past, but Ziroli perfected it. As he turns onto the runway, the Avenger's wings are fully extended and locked into position. After a brief check of the controls, the throttle is applied slowly until it reaches full speed. The 4.2-cubic-inch engine accelerates the 50-pound model quickly to flying speed, first lifting the tail, then pulling the model convincingly into the air. As the wheels disappear into the airframe and the flaps are raised, the Avenger joins up with a similar-sized, twin-engine B-25 Mitchell bomber flown by Greg Hahn.
As the two pilots perform their selected maneuvers for the judges, the crowd enjoys two spectacular examples of the scale modeler's art, 1997 style. Following its mandatory slow flyby--with wheels, flaps and carrier arrestor hook deployed--the Avenger pulls up and prepares for its simulated torpedo run. As the diving model approaches the field from the north, it releases the mock torpedo. It lands directly in front of Ziroli and, with the help of the wind, it rolls practically back to his feet, accompanied by the applause of the large crowd. Bull's-eye.
There's certainly little comparison between today's R/C aircraft and the pioneering efforts in the hobby that began more than 50 years ago. While today's electronic equipment is replete with computerization and miniaturization, modelers in the early years had to be inventive (and persistent) to perform even the most basic radio control functions. One of the earliest efforts by R/C pioneers used radio control equipment with a rotary telephone dialer to send the signals to the onboard control systems. Because of the unavoidable crudeness of these early systems--flights were often described as controlled crashes--aircraft designs that could be expected to meet with any flying success were limited. Most were modified "free flight" designs, which were designed to literally fly free, without the benefit of any control other than the carefully designed trim. These inherently stable aircraft, while providing a relatively reliable platform for early R/C experiments, bore little or no resemblance to full-size aircraft even from that era. Making a workable model of a Second World War four-engine bomber that actually flew was pretty much out of the question.
As radio-control systems technology advanced through the 1950s and 1960s, the sport continued to grow and attract new modelers. Despite the improvements at the time, the equipment still lacked the smooth, reliable control necessary to guide complex or fast-moving aircraft, not to mention the fact that the airborne hardware was bulky and heavy. It was not until the introduction of "proportional" systems in the early 1970s that truly ambitious projects became feasible. These new R/C systems offered the pilot controls in which the output of the airborne servo motors (which are connected to the flying surfaces and engine controls) is "proportional" to the input on the control stick of the transmitter that the pilot holds. This type of control, which is still the basis of today's complex R/C systems, gave the modeler on the ground the same smooth, accurate movements that the pilot of the full-scale version would have.
Today's radio control equipment offer practically unlimited flexibility. While the basic components of the systems have not changed much since the 1970s, the available whistles and bells have evolved dramatically. The function of a modern R/C system is really quite simple. The transmitter sends signals to an airborne receiver that controls servo motors that, in turn, operate the flying surface and engine controls. A small, aircraft-mounted rechargeable battery pack provides at least an hour of flying time. The pilot holds a small transmitter, which usually has two joysticks. In the most common design, moving the right stick forward and backward controls the movement of the elevator, which regulates the up and down pitch of the aircraft. Moving the same stick side to side controls the roll of the aircraft via the wing-tip mounted ailerons. The further you move the stick, the further the aircraft's control surfaces are deflected and the quicker the aircraft performs that particular movement. The left stick controls the throttle and the left and right movements of the rudder, which controls the "yaw" of the aircraft, moving the nose to one side or the other. Additional switches and levers can control the operation of retractable landing gear, landing flaps, payload dropping mechanisms or whatever functions a creative modeler might dream up. It sounds pretty simple, and it is, once you get the feel for flying: move the sticks the proper amount in the correct direction at the right time and you're flying. Move them in the wrong combination, in the wrong direction, at the improper time and you crash.
Crashes do happen, even at high levels of piloting proficiency. This year, even the polo ground's clubhouse claimed a victim, a British-designed Hawker Seafury, which spun into the roof. The sound of the sickening, inevitable "smack" from the impact is delayed--like thunder following a distant lightning strike--for a moment after you see the pieces start to fly. The pond at the downwind end of the field claimed a couple models as well, as pilots occasionally found themselves with a dead engine and not enough speed to make it back. The almost instinctual reflex--to try to stretch the model back to the safety of the manicured grass field--combined with a relentless and stiff crosswind spells disaster.
One of these accidental seaplanes was Eddie Newman's KI-61 "Tony," a Second World War Japanese fighter replica. Tony, a product of many hundreds of hours of work, lay broken in half just aft of the cockpit--its left wing partially missing--as it was unceremoniously carted past in the back of a maintenance cart. Experienced modelers are all too aware that sometimes if you fly 'em, you break 'em. Fortunately, disaster caused by equipment failure is not all that common anymore. Due to the greatly improved level of control and reliability of modern equipment, more complex and larger models are practical now--even common.
Powering a 50-pound aircraft (there are four of them in the competition) requires some serious horsepower. Through the 1980s and early 1990s, engine development kept pace with electronics progress. It wasn't always that way, however. Through the 1970s, most models were usually limited to .60-cubic-inch, two-stroke engines, with an output of around one horsepower, that could only propel models with a six-foot or less wingspan. In the scale modeling world at that time, most replicas were usually no larger than one eighth the size of the original, in comparison to today's models, of which many are 1:6 to 1:3 scale designs. Three models at this year's Top Gun have wingspans of 12 feet.
As miniature model aircraft engines evolved from gasoline- and oil-fired spark-ignition (with a coil, condenser, batteries and spark plug) through the original two-stroke castor oil and nitromethane fuel-burning forebears of today, the sophistication (and size) of the models that can be successfully flown has changed.
Modern engines offer not only exemplary power-to-weight ratios, but an exciting selection of designs. Simple two-stroke, .40- and .60-cubic-inch engines make up the bulk of the power plants (though they can be built as small as .010 cubic inches), including the types used in most trainers designed for beginning pilots. Competition events such as Top Gun have some of these simple, low-cost engines, though most modelers are using sizes and designs that were not available 20 years ago. Synthetic oil- and nitromethane-based four-stroke designs and large, gasoline-fueled electronic spark-ignition motors are the favorite choices. Developments have even led to mass-produced, four-stroke radial engines with five, seven and nine operating cylinders, which allow competitors such as Charlie Nelson (known as "Mr. Waco" to his friends) to power his gorgeous red Waco VKS 7F biplane with a seven-cylinder engine, similar in operation to the full-scale motor. These engines are complete even down to the functioning rocker arms and adjustable valve gear. Just bring along a couple thousand dollars and take one home.
Today, "turbine" is the hot word in power plant development. The technology, which started to appear in the 1990s, has enabled modelers to build miniature, functioning jet turbine engines. This year, four pilots chose to compete with model aircraft based on these power plants, and several more were flown in demonstration fights. These marvels of engineering and fabrication function just as the real thing and are fueled by either propane or kerosene. Twenty years ago, when modelers first started duplicating jet aircraft with any level of realism, they did it with ducted fan technology. Those models commonly used standard, high-performance engines designed for model aircraft racing, located inside a shroud (or duct), driving a multiblade impeller at very high rpm (compared to propeller speed).
Bob Violett, a fighter pilot during the Vietnam War, is one of the pioneering modelers in ducted fan technology and he has developed many refinements to the basic concept. He is also a big player in the turbine field today, and his performance at Top Gun shows why. Despite the intermittent south Florida rain showers, even experienced modelers stopped in their tracks to watch, and especially to listen, as Violett and Jerry Caudle started Caudle's turbine-powered TV-1.
Ah, that sound.
That wonderful hushed whining is punctuated only by an initial high-speed "zip" as compressed air from a pit-side cylinder starts the turbine's fan blades spinning. As the electronics are powered up and the pressurized fuel injection starts, the engine literally lights to life. A small puff of smoke signals the startup, and the unmistakable sound, similar to a large welding torch, is clearly audible. Far from loud, the sound is almost pleasant.
The TV-1 is ready. Standing within 20 feet of the tail end of the model, you can feel the heat from the exhaust on your face. The air is tinged with the acrid odor of propane fuel, similar to the smell of burning plastic. Violett and his pit crew disconnect the coiled cords attaching the starting box's electronics to the engine's sensors and ignition system, then the engine compartment hatches are replaced. He brings the turbine--now idling at 30,000 rpm--to its full throttle fan speed of over 100,000 rpm and back down again. The crowd pays attention. Even those who have seen these jets before know something special is about to happen. As with full-size turbine-powered aircraft, the model sits on the taxiway motionless until the engine characteristically builds enough thrust against the muggy tropical air to slowly begin its taxi to the active runway. The sleek model starts to move, taking several seconds to respond to the pilot's throttle commands as it turns out onto the centerline. Bringing it to a complete stop and applying the brakes, Violett spools up the jet engine to an ungodly speed. Brakes released, the initial takeoff roll begins slowly, but quickly progresses to flying speed. As the aircraft realistically rotates back onto the main gear, it breaks ground and heads for the looming yellow polo grounds scoreboard marking the end of the field. The gear are retracted and the flaps are slowly raised. This sophisticated miniature is on its way to another 180 mile-per-hour flight, and a first-place trophy.
Brian Beck is a freelance writer living near Detroit who has written frequently on R/C modeling during his 20 years in the sport.


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Companny Size
Career Website
Backbase is the maker of Backbase CXP, the award-winning customer experience platform that helps enterprises create omni-channel, customer-centric digital experiences.
Backbase CXP deploys a new, omni-channel presentation layer over underlying infrastructure and IT systems, allowing enterprises to deliver personal, relevant experiences to customers on every device, in any context. Backbase CXP gives enterprises the tools and functionality they need to transform their tired online and mobile channels into engaging customer experiences, holistically managed from a single platform.
Industry analysts Gartner, Forrester and Ovum recognize Backbase as a leader in terms of customer experience, mobile and omni-channel focus, innovation, and time-to-value. Unlike most traditional IT portal vendors, Backbase has created a modern, business-driven solution that makes CXP management easy for digital professionals. This means lower costs, and more flexibility for optimizing all online channels without the need for IT support. Backbase CXP's lean, widget-based architecture provides the flexibility and agility enterprises need to create modern experiences that truly empower business owners and customers.
The unique Backbase approach enables enterprises to drive self-service, fuel online revenues and turn their online channel into a full-service customer experience platform. Global organizations such as GE, ABN AMRO, AIG, Nation Wide, Nordstrom, KPN, Bank of America, Barclays, ING, UBS and Visa have improved their online customer interactions and maximized online customer experience, retention and conversion, by leveraging Backbase's technology.
Backbase was founded in 2003 and is privately funded with operations in New York, Atlanta, Amsterdam, Singapore, and London.

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'Device 6': A novel approach to mystery gaming
Touch-screen gaming has a masterpiece on its hands.
With "Device 6? ($3.99 on iOS), developer Simogo seamlessly blends the gripping suspense of a mystery novel with the interactivity of a phone or tablet. The concept hearkens back to classic puzzle-solvers like "Myst" and "Portal," but "Device 6? wields the iPad as a means to assail multiple senses simultaneously, creating an adventure quite unlike any other.
The haunting plot progresses through on-screen text, stringing players along with cryptic hints. The font jumps to and fro across the screen in visual accompaniment to the disjointed narrative.
Sentences sometimes plunge downward to mimic the motion of an elevator, or turn hard at an angle as the character changes direction, forcing players to flip their tablets end-over-end in conjunction with the story's unexpected branches.
Clues come in many forms, through text, images, video and sound. The sensory assault is at times so overwhelming that it's best to seek out solitude before beginning the game. Find a quiet room and a set of headphones, and block off two to three hours to complete the journey in one sitting.
As for the story itself, it's impossible to delve below the surface without spoiling "Device 6's" deeplyengrossing atmosphere. In a familiar jumping-off point, protagonist Anna awakens alone in a strange castle, intent on uncovering where she is and how she arrived there.
It's a largely solitary quest, punctuated with brief, memorable interactions. The soundtrack is brilliant throughout, remaining largely unobtrusive but packing an emotional punch during key moments. The setting itself also headlines the tale, as Anna slowly pulls back the curtain on her bewildering surroundings.
Puzzle difficulty is, obviously, subjective. Simogo's brain-teasers are serious enough that solving them is a gratifying experience. On several occasions, I knew the solution was hovering at my fingertips, yet I still had to backtrack to find the one clue that put the final piece in place.
These moments of moderate frustration are wonderfully refreshing. Far too many adventure games hold the player's hand and sap all the fun that accompanies a satisfying realization. There's no time limit to solving these stumbling blocks, and each section is short enough that it's not a chore to retrace your steps.
It isn't just the well-balanced challenge of these hurdles that makes them so appealing, however. "Device 6? probes the edges of players' perception, forcing them to reconsider how they consume the narrative. Each bizarre segment builds on the ever-strengthening immersion, sending gamers deeper down the rabbit hole.
Though Anna's exploits are often grim and unsettling, "Device 6? occasionally breaks through with a delightful, albeit dark, sense of humor. If you're certain of where the story is headed or breezing through puzzles without any trouble, these inside nods help keep the action fun and lively.
It's as difficult to stamp a score on "Device 6? as it is to neatly categorize it. The game is extremely text-heavy, and also quite short. Those factors alone are bound to alienate some players.
As a fan of story-driven puzzlers, however, I found the trip nearly flawless from start to finish. It's a quick ride, but its chilling mood will loom over you long after the final scene.
Not only is "Device 6? easily the best iOS game I've ever played, it's among my favorites from this year across all platforms.
Final score: 9 out of 10


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Hurricane Sandy disaster funding
Obama signs disaster declaration for NH
President Barack Obama has approved New Hampshire Gov. John Lynch's request for a disaster declaration following Hurricane Sandy.
The president on Wednesday ordered federal aid to supplement state and local recovery efforts. The money will be available to state and local governments and some nonprofit groups on a cost-sharing basis for emergency work and the repair of facilities affected by the storm in Belknap, Carroll, Coos, Grafton and Sullivan counties. Money also is available for hazard mitigation measures statewide.
Though New Hampshire was spared the devastation seen in other states, the storm resulted in the fourth largest power outage in state history and the closing of numerous roads due to flooding, debris and downed power lines and poles.


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Princeton Review Ranks Augustana Among Best in the Midwest
The Princeton Review, a nationally known education services company, has again ranked Augustana among the best colleges in the Midwest. The ranking takes into account a number of factors including, Academics, Admissions Selectivity, Financial Aid, Fire Safety, Quality of Life, and Green.
Exploring Augustana Offices
With the start of the 2013-2014 academic year less than a month away — and students moving in even earlier — all of campus is preparing for the new semester, including the faculty and staff. View faculty and staff offices and the unique objects found inside them.
Recent Grad Interns at Naval History and Heritage Command
Meet John Detlie '13, a native of Dexter, Iowa. After graduating from Augustana with majors in history and philosophy, he spent time this summer serving as an intern for the Navy Historical Center in Washington, D.C. Detlie shares his journey from Augustana to the nation's Capital.
Sioux Falls Fire Rescue Members Train at Augustana
Sioux Falls Fire Rescue team members conducted high-rise fire training at Granskou Residence Hall on Augustana's campus Thursday morning. The event involved real-time training scenarios in full firefighter gear simulating real high-rise fire conditions in- and outside the eight story building.
Faculty Authors, Artists Honored for Achievements
In May, Augustana faculty and staff gathered at the Mikkelsen Library to celebrate more than 50 recent works, including book chapters, journal articles, and artworks published by Augustana faculty members.
Newsmakers: Students Dig Up History in Mitchell
Archaeology students from Augustana and the University of Exeter were featured on KELO-TV for their work at the Prehistoric Indian Village in Mitchell, S.D. Through the Augustana-Exeter exchange program, Exeter sends students from its archeology program to Augustana's South Dakota field school each summer. In exchange, Augustana anthropology majors spend three years on campus and one year abroad at Exeter, an internationally recognized university for archeology.
Augustana's 'Entertainment Tonight' Legacy Lives On
Before retiring last year, Augustana alumna Mary Hart '72 served as co-host of TV's "Entertainment Tonight" for 29 years. Now, another Viking alumna has joined the ET crew: Jenny Brown '13, a Spanish and business administration major, is now working for the popular Hollywood news show.
Host, Friendship Families Sought for International Students
This fall, Augustana will welcome approximately 75 new international students from more than 40 countries all over the world. The College is seeking friendship and host families to befriend a new student, offer opportunities for home-cooked meals, and create opportunities to participate in various cultural or community activities throughout the year, beginning Friday, Aug. 9.
Film by Alumnus to Debut at Comic-Con in San Diego
"Dust of War," an independent film shot in South Dakota by alumnus Andrew Kightlinger, is set to make its premiere at San Diego's Comic-Con this month. The film tells the story of a lone soldier who fends off a warmonger to rescue a girl fated to be the savior of mankind.
The Augustana: Summer 2013
In the Summer 2013 issue of The Augustana, we share the stories of "Augustana legacy families" – those whose ties to this great place have spanned generations including, the Rev. David Johnson, class of 1956, whose Augustana story first began in 1927 and continues on today in his grandchildren; Augustana Professor Emeritus of Music Dr. Leland Lillehaug, class of 1951, whose three children grew up on campus, earned their degrees here, and still hold fond memories of Augustana deep in their hearts; Jeff Fylling '78, longtime "Voice of the Vikings," who has artfully chronicled the play-by-play stories of our Football and Basketball teams for nearly four decades; and others.


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Oswald finally does some good as getaway car stuck in mud
POLICE have charged an adult and juvenile over the bungled break-in of a Boonah jewellery store.
It was believed three people wearing hoodies used sledge hammers to smash their way into the High St jewellers about 4am yesterday.
They took watches and other items before fleeing in a Holden Commodore.
Police believe the thieves did not get far before the getaway car became bogged in the flood-affected terrain.
It will be alleged members of the trio then abandoned the car and broke into a house nearby, stealing two cars and other property.
Detectives from Ipswich later charged a 24-year-old man with one count of break and enter of the jewellery store, one count of burglary of the house, plus two counts of unlawful use of a motor vehicle.
He will face Ipswich Magistrates Court today.
The 15-year-old juvenile was charged with one count of break and enter, relating to the robbery at the jewellery store.
Investigations into the incident were continuing last night, with further charges possible.


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ROCKFORD — Authorities have identified a man who suffered fatal gunshot wounds while driving in the area of Hutchins Avenue and Pearl Street Monday on the city's near east side as 21-year-old Andrew T. Barth of Rockford.
Barth is believed to have had an altercation with occupants of another vehicle before there was bloodshed.
Barth was driving a pickup truck around 1:15 p.m. Monday when multiple gunshots were fired from another vehicle. There was an altercation with occupants of a dark-colored minivan. A black man in his 20s got out of the van and opened fire. He returned to the van and fled the area in the van driven by another suspect.
Barth's pickup crashed into a parked car. Barth apparently sought help at a residence in the 500 block of Pearl where he collapsed.
He was transported to SwedishAmerican Hospital where he was declared dead at 2:09 p.m.
An autopsy conducted Tuesday determined that Barth was killed by a gunshot wound to the chest, Winnebago County Chief Deputy Coroner William Hintz said in a news release.
No suspect information has been released by police.
Someone who had been with Barth fled on foot after the shooting, Assistant Deputy Chief Doug Pann said.
"We are talking to witnesses," Pann said. "We don't believe this was a random act of violence, but we don't know what happened yet."
— Jeff Kolkey


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Over the last several years, we've seen a new group of digital media companies emerge in Los Angeles, driven by the growth of YouTube as a platform for distribution of video content. What started out as a cottage industry built around YouTube is becoming a pretty massive business, with L.A. at the center of it all.
Companies like Machinima, Maker Studios, and Fullscreen were founded with the idea of helping creators to expand their audiences by improving their production value, collaborating with other YouTubers, and adopting a series of best practices.
That said, not all YouTube networks are created equal: While some focus on providing creators with tools for high-quality production, others have developed technical tools to help them succeed. Some are focused on specific verticals, like gaming or food, while others are built around aggregating channels with massive audiences and growing them through collaborations.
TechCrunch TV spent several days in L.A. meeting with a number of digital media companies, including Machinima, Fullscreen, Tastemade, ZEFR, Big Frame, Maker Studios, and Funny or Die. During those visits we met with executives and creators, toured production facilities, and got to know the people building this whole new ecosystem of video content. We also visited YouTube Space L.A., a huge facility filled with equipment for shooting, editing, and other post-production activities that is free and open to YouTube creators.
On Mondays and Wednesdays over the next four weeks, we'll be rolling out a series of videos showing off all the best from our meetings at those companies, giving you a better feel for what each has to offer and what creators can expect when they sign up for a multichannel network.


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Or, in this case, new trout, as the Tennessee Aquarium releases more than 200 Southern Appalachian Brook Trout in Hampton Creek on Aug. 29 as part of a new long-term effort to restore the fish to their native waters.
According to the Aquarium, "The colorful Southern Appalachian Brook Trout, SABT, is the only species of trout that is native to Tennessee. Once abundant in the clear, cool mountain streams of east Tennessee, the SABT is found in only three percent of its historical range today.
"The SABT [has] bright golden spots and vivid red bellies. Being one of the smallest members of the salmon family and one of the more challenging to locate, this unique fish is a prize among trout fishermen.
"Logging activities wiped out large portions of the habitat for this fish. When SABT numbers dwindled, many sites were overtaken by Rainbow Trout, a non-native species that can withstand warmer water and more direct sunlight. In many areas, forests have been repaired along streams creating more favorable conditions for SABT restoration work."
So, last October, Tennessee Aquarium Conservation Institute scientists, working with biologists from the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency, collected 50 brood trout from the creek to begin raising them at the Aquarium. The successful results of this effort can be viewed as the lucky teenage trout are returned to the creek, where it's hoped they will flourish and begin to replenish the streams around us.
When / Where: Hampton Creek Cove Scenic-Recreational State Natural Area – Carter County, TN. Trout will be released at noon on Thursday, Aug. 29.
Directions: http://www.tn.gov/environment/na/natareas/hampton/
Detailed Map: http://www.tn.gov/environment/na/natareas/hampton/hampton.pdf


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Nintendo Switch – Zelda – Breath of the wild
So over the last few days I have been debating whether or not to get my girlfriend (11 years) a Nintendo Switch. I literally have sat on ebay, searched the web, availabilities, release dates. Even reached out to an old … Continue reading
Posted in Gaming Consoles Tagged amazon, breath of the wild, buzz, collectible, Dilemma, game console, gamestop, gift, Girlfriend, idea, Nintendo, Nintendo switch availability, Nintendo Switch Zelda, Nintendo Wii U, switch, Technology, Ultimatum, walmart, WII U, WIIU, zelda Leave a comment


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Discover the varied cultures and ethnicities of the peoples of mainland Southeast Asia with this educational map. A supplement to the map of Asia printed in March 1971, this work also accompanied the article "Pagan, on the Road to Mandalay." A wonderful guide to the enigmatic people that inhabit this fascinating region of the world.
Coverage Area: Mainland Southest Asia


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Yesterday Torii Hunter spent about 15 minutes interviewing astronaut Joe Acaba while he was in the middle of a four-month-long mission in the International Space Station. It was actually a funny, goofy little segment between the two. Hunter asked if he could see Mark Trumbo's home runs from space, if he could see the giant "A" at the stadium from space and, uh, other stuff.
"It sounds immature," he said, "but I see you floating, and there's pretty much no gravity, so when you have to use the restroom, where does it go? Does it float?"
Image via Getty
Hunter interviews astronaut in space [FS West]


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You can almost hear the pitch meeting echoing through the Hollywood Hills: "It's like Anchorman, meets 2001: A Space Odyssey." And frankly, that sounds like a damn good way to spend an hour and a half. So let's hope the upcoming movie Space Station 76 lives up to the completely unfounded expectations I've created for it.
Judging by the trailer below, the movie pokes fun at the futurism of the 1970s — complete with space stations, tiny robot servants, glowing white walls, smoking in space, and a decent helping of sex. This is an R-rated comedy, after all, and it will certainly be interesting to see how far they stretch the sex, the swears, and the scatalogical.
The film stars Patrick Wilson, Liv Tyler, and Jerry O'Connell. The movie premiered at SXSW in March but doesn't appear to have a wide release date yet.
[via IWatchStuff]


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A blank greetings card, professionally printed from an original Daisy Florence Design 'Flower Blossom' artwork with FREE UK 2nd class postage.
The card is 15x15cm, printed on a water colour textured white card with a brown ribbed kraft paper envelope and is cello wrapped.
There are now 9 designs in this range - please see other listings for further designs
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If the "fiscal cliff" takes effect, congressional Republicans would feel pressure to give ground in several areas to achieve their top goal: restoring tax cuts for as many people as possible. That's why Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash., and other Democrats have said their party's leaders should seriously consider letting the Jan. 1 deadline pass and then negotiate with Republicans under sharply different circumstances. Some or most of any new agreements could be made retroactive to Jan. 1, they say.
If Republicans refuse to let tax cuts expire for the wealthy, Murray told ABC's "This Week," "we will reach a point at the end of this year where all the tax cuts expire and we'll start over next year. And whatever we do will be a tax cut for whatever package we put together. That may be the way to get past this."
Murray's allies say voters would blame Republicans for refusing to yield, especially on tax rates, given that Obama won re-election. A recent Pew Research poll supports that view. More than half of the respondents said they would chiefly blame congressional Republicans if there's no compromise on the fiscal cliff; 29 percent would blame Obama.
It's questionable whether Obama and Congress' Democratic leaders would let the government go over the fiscal cliff. Numerous financial analysts say the event would frighten markets, alarm employers and probably trigger a new recession.
However, there's a school of thought that the cliff is actually a slope, and the economy could withstand the effects of the automatic spending cuts and the renewal of Clinton-era tax rates for at least a few weeks to give time for negotiations to continue. Liberals note that tax rate increases would be felt gradually.


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Saturday, July 7, 2012
I'm home
I'll be taking it easy for the next few days and then I'll start blogging again. Thanks everyone for your well wishes and prayers.
Thank you!
15 comments:
- Daniel Wilson said...
Glad to hear that you are doing better! Best of luck to you!
- July 7, 2012 at 11:33 AM
- Unknown said...
Welcome home roberto!
- July 7, 2012 at 12:02 PM
- Orel said...
Safe at home!
- July 7, 2012 at 12:26 PM
- ChipzzFlipzz said...
That is soooo good to hear. Stay strong and keep your chin up. You are still in our prayers get well soon.
- July 7, 2012 at 12:46 PM
- no said...
Welcome home Robert
- July 7, 2012 at 12:47 PM
- patita said...
Yay! Get some rest and better food :)
- July 7, 2012 at 1:27 PM
- kemp jr. said...
May god bless you and your whole family, welcome home.
- July 7, 2012 at 2:34 PM
- Bobsince58 said...
Glad you are back home! I know just how that feels. You remain in our prayers.
- July 7, 2012 at 3:56 PM
- Mr. LA Sports Czar said...
- July 7, 2012 at 3:59 PM
- rich said...
Glad to hear you're closer to getting off of the DL!
- July 7, 2012 at 4:53 PM
- Unknown said...
To borrower Orel's comment:
"Safe at home"
Glad you are back at home.
- July 7, 2012 at 8:04 PM
- BrooklynTrolleyBlogger said...
Glad to hear you're back home where you belong, with your family. I hope better health comes your way very soon, and Vin Scully is my Homeboy gets rolling again.
- July 8, 2012 at 8:33 AM
- Dusty Baker's Toothpick said...
That's great news! Your best blog post of the year! We're all pulling for you for a quick recovery, and hope you come off the DL soon.
- July 8, 2012 at 10:04 AM
- Oscar said...
glad your back home enjoying good ol' home cookin! Man you have no idea how ,much throughout the years i have enjoyed your site! Seriously your site is so classy and enjoyable to read written by a GENUINE fan! Keep resting up and beating this infection we've missed you but its good to know WE ARE STILL no.1!
thanks for doing what you do,
- July 8, 2012 at 11:54 PM
- Unknown said...
-We are financially not strong that is the excuse I was giving myself for years but thanks to home remodeling northern va for amazing options! I would suggest them to everyone!
home remodeling northern va
- July 4, 2016 at 11:47 PM


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Vintage Chanel 2002MQ79 CC Caviar Long Wallet in Pink
Quick Overview
• Condition: Vintage
• Rating: AB
• Material: Calf
• WxHxD: 17x10x1.5
• Final Sale• See long description for more info on condition
• Item is excluded from promo codes and cannot be discounted
• This item is not applicable to promo codes
• Pristine (A+) - Items that are listed as new have barely been used.They should show no wear and tear.They will come complete withabox,a dust bag, and an accompanying authenticity card,if any.
• Excellent (A) - The item is in impeccable condition with barely noticeable signs of use.
• VeryGood (AB) - The item has been used and very well taken care of. There are limited signs of wear that will be described in detail and visually declared in the product photos.
• Good (B+) - The item has been used with visible signs of wear. There maybe slight patina and other indications of use. Allof which are either described in detail or visually declared in the product photos.
• Used (B) - The item has been well loved and may have scratches or other more obvious signs of wear. All imperfections will be described in detail and / or visually declared.
• Poor (BC) - Items that are in poor condition show significant signs of wear and tear. They may not be suitable for everyday use. Individuals who are interested in restoring vintage handbags may wish to purchase such items for salvage or archival purposes.


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Introduction to SQL Profiler
I don't do as much developer support as I used to, but I still answer questions on a few mailing lists. Fairly frequently developers seem to lose track of what's going on when their code calls SQL Server to manipulate data. "I don't know what's going on when I do this," is the typical lament. "Have you looked at the actual SQL that's being sent?," I reply. When this reply generates confusion, I know the original questioner hasn't learned how to use SQL Profiler. If you haven't either, read on for an introduction to this useful troubleshooting tool.
Getting SQL Profiler
SQL Profiler is one of the standard suite of client tools that are distributed with SQL Server 2000. You can install these tools from the SQL Server setup disk; they are a part of the main SQL Server setup, but you don't have to install SQL Server to install the client tools. If you don't have SQL Server, you can still install the client tools by downloading the SQL Server 2000 Trial Software and running its setup. Note that if your copy of SQL Server is old you should patch it to the Revision A level to avoid the Slammer worm; the trial download includes the Revision A pieces.
After installing the client tools, you can launch SQL Profiler by selecting Start, Programs, Microsoft SQL Server, Profiler. SQL Profiler will open without apparently doing anything. It's waiting for you to define a trace: a set of characteristics that tell it what to keep an eye on.
Creating a Trace
To get started with SQL Profiler, click the New Trace toolbar button or select New Trace from the File menu. This will prompt you to connect to a SQL Server. After selecting a server and providing your authentication information, click OK, you'll be presented with the Trace Properties dialog box. To set up a new trace, you need to fill out the four tabs of this dialog box. Don't be intimidated, though; you can accept all of the defaults and still get a reasonable trace for most purposes.
Figure 1 shows the General tab. You needn't bother to name the trace unless you want to save it for later reuse. Trace templates define a set of choices for the other panels in the dialog box. For starters, use the SQLProfilerStandard template. As you can see, you can also save your trace results automatically. If you don't, they'll be available within the SQL Profiler interface, and you can save them later if you like.
The next stop is the Events tab, shown in Figure 2. There are a tremendous number of events that you can audit here; don't select them all unless you want to be truly overwhelmed by information! The default set is a good starting point when you want to know what's going on with SQL statements sent to your database. In some cases, you may want to add more events to focus on a particular problem. For example, if you're struggling with a cursor or transaction issue you'll find entire categories of events just for those issues.
On the Data Columns tab (see Figure 3) you can tell SQL Profiler how much information to save for each event that it captures. Again, there are quite a few choices here, and the defaults provide plenty of information for most casual tracing. Indeed, you might want to remove a few of the defaults if you're trying to track down a problem in testing; if you're the only user, then such information as user name, application name, and login name are unlikely to provide useful information. You can also use this tab to specify grouping for the traced events as well as the order of display for columns.
Finally, the Filters tab lets you winnow down the events a bit. By default, SQL Profiler is set not to capture the SQL statements that it sends to the server itself, and that's a good starting point. But you can also add many other criteria. The user interface here is a bit idiosyncratic, but easy enough to use. For example, to tell SQL Profiler to only listen for events in the Northwind sample database, expand the Database Name node in the treeview and then the Like node. This will reveal a textbox where you can type the name of the database, as shown in Figure 4. Hit Enter to set up the filter.
Page 1 of 3
This article was originally published on February 10, 2005


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THE SQL Server Blog Spot on the Web
SQLTeach (Part of the DevTeach Conferences in Canada) has enjoyed success for many years. I enjoyed the opportunity to speak at and attend SQLTeach at various times over the years. Since SQLTeach is part of DevTeach, the "feel" of the event is very different from PASS or SQLRally or even a SQL Saturday where SQL is the primary focus. It does however afford an opportunity for me to understand the challenges of those who need to work with SQL either in a direct or indirect manner. SQLTeach / DevTeach records sessions and post them on the web for anyone to consume (login required, but a login may be created for FREE). Here is where I found this video: http://www.devteach.com/DevTeachVideo.aspx?NoVideo=45
The session that I selected to review is by one of my favorite speakers, Kimberly Tripp. In this session, Kimberly once again simplifies a concept that is often treated as black magic. The session is entitled "Optimizing Procedural Code". This demo-heavy session covers many different options that are available to impact optimization. Do you know the various options to force out a cached plan? Is recompiling bad? What else can I control to help optimization?
Check this session out and consider attending the next SQLTeach/DevTeach (especially if you are already in Canada).
If you would like to receive an email when updates are made to this post, please register here
Subscribe to this post's comments using


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Around the Clock Solar PowerENEL, Rome, Italy
Italian utility ENEL and the Italian National Agency for New Technologies joined together to develop a new kind of Concentrating Solar Power (CSP), using Parabolic Trough CSP to generate electricity during sunny hours as well as under overcast conditions or at night. This new type of CSP plant depends on molten salt as a medium for storing heat in large, well-insulated tanks.
Molten salt has several advantages over the previously used pressurized oil because it can operate at a higher temperature which maximizes energy efficiency and potentially reducing the consumption of fossil fuels. The tanks are half the size because no oil-to-salt heat exchangers are required, and they provide seven hours of thermal storage. The salt can also be cooled and re-used, which is much more efficient than oil which degrades with use.
Keeping salt in the liquid state presented a challenge for ENEL. They used COMSOL Multiphysics and its built in library of heat transfer coefficients to analyze temperature and heat loss throughout the drainage circuit, optimizing both its geometry and insulation properties.
COMSOL simulation of the conic shape drain (the temperature field expressed in degrees C is shown).


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Between the heavens and the underworld. The magnificent sacred cities of Chichén Itzá and Uxmal. The cenotes, gates to the underworld. A journey in time to magical eras.
Merida, the State capitol known as the White City, blends colonial charm with vibran, eclectic contemporary architecture. Old haciendas, witness of the wealth of the state, make luxurious, charming accomodations surrounded by nature.
Merida is also in the vanguard of profress in medial sciences, higher education and industry, and is one of the top meetings & events destinations in Mexico.
Yucatan is home to some of the top Mayan destinations such as Chichen Itza - of worldwide fame- and the Puuc region, where Uxmal is the most outstanding site.
Cenotes are unique. They were considered by the Maya as entrances to the underworld. Today they offer the extraordinary experience of swimming in cristaline waters. On the coast, the greatest attraction are the hundreds of thousands of flamingoes and other birds nesting at the Ria de Celestun Biosphere Reserve, and kilometers of charming beaches at the Progreso port.


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FBI entrapped Raymond 'Shrimp Boy' Chow, lawyer says
Gang leader's lawyer questions government's tactics
As state Sen. Leland Yee and his codefendants pleaded not guilty Tuesday to charges of political corruption, gun-running and other crimes financed by payoffs from undercover agents, a lawyer for one defendant accused the FBI of entrapment and racism.
"The government created the crime, the government financed the crime, and the government ensnared my client," Tony Serra, lawyer for Raymond "Shrimp Boy" Chow, told reporters after 21 defendants were arraigned in federal court. "We will put the government rightfully on trial."
Chow, a Chinatown gang leader, was released from federal prison in 2003 after a racketeering sentence and promised to turn his life around. As leader of an association called the Ghee Kung Tong, or Chinese freemasons, he has been honored by Sen. Dianne Feinstein and San Francisco Mayor Ed Lee for his work with troubled youth.
5-year investigation
But an FBI affidavit last month said Chow was at the center of a five-year corruption investigation that began in Chinatown and led to Keith Jackson, an associate of Chow's and a consultant to Yee, and ultimately to the now-suspended state senator.
Chow is charged with laundering $2.3 million - some from drug sales, some from federal agents posing as criminals - and with selling stolen liquor and cigarettes. Yee is charged with conspiring with Jackson to accept $62,600 in bribes from agents in exchange for political favors - including a proclamation honoring Chow's association - and for agreeing to import illegal firearms through another federal agent.
Jackson, a former San Francisco school board president, faces additional charges of drug trafficking and arranging a purported murder-for-hire plot. He pleaded not guilty Tuesday and is free on a $250,000 bond.
Yee, a San Francisco Democrat who dropped out of the race for California secretary of state after his arrest March 26, is free on a $500,000 bond.
'Unadulterated racism'
Chow is being held without bail. Serra, one of three volunteer attorneys who took over Chow's case Friday after a grand jury indictment was unsealed, said he will enter a not-guilty plea for Chow next week and seek his release on bail in May.
The FBI affidavit said Chow told an agent he had approved crimes by other members of his association while keeping his own hands clean. But the affidavit did not quote Chow as admitting any wrongdoing, and Serra said there was no evidence against him.
"They wanted him to open a restaurant, like the Mafia does, to process cash and launder it. He refused," the veteran defense lawyer said.
The investigation was fueled, he contended, by "unadulterated racism," an effort to show that "Chinese gangsters ... control Chinatown."
"It's a bunch of baloney," Serra said, calling the impending trial "the best antigovernment case I've seen in maybe a decade."
Bob Egelko is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. E-mail: email@example.com Twitter: @egelko


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House passes NSA reform bill limiting collection of phone data
Despite last-minute criticism from privacy advocates, a bipartisan coalition in the House on Thursday easily approved a National Security Agency reform bill that aims to curb the government's bulk collection of Americans' phone call records.
The House voted 303-121 to send the proposed USAFreedom Act to the Senate, where top Democrats have vowed to reinstate privacy protections that critics said were weakened after negotiations between the White House and leaders on Capitol Hill.
Lawmakers acknowledged the bill was not perfect, but said it represented a first step in halting the dragnet-style sweep of data disclosed by former NSA contractor Edward Snowden a year ago.
"The USAFreedom Act is an important step in the right direction," said the Republican and Democratic leaders of the House Judiciary Committee, which crafted the bill, in a joint statement after passage. They called it "the first significant rollback of government surveillance" since the post-Watergate era.
The bill seeks to end the NSA's bulk collection of metadata by requiring the government to make specific requests for phone or other business records. It also requires the government to obtain a court order, except in emergency situations, before conducting surveillance.
Privacy advocates withdrew their support for the bill after changes were made in the final days before the vote. Chief among their objections was the White House insistence on broadening the definition of the types of searches that can be conducted.
However, the advocates did not encourage a "no" vote and vowed to seek to reinstate privacy protections as the bill heads to the Senate.
"While far from perfect, this bill is an unambiguous statement of congressional intent to rein in the out-of-control NSA," said Laura W. Murphy, director of the American Civil Liberties Union Washington Legislative Office. "While we share the concerns of many -- including members of both parties who rightly believe the bill does not go far enough -- without it we would be left with no reform at all."
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Coffinger Park
175 E. Swilling Ave., Wickenburg, Arizona
Coffinger Park is located in downtown Wickenburg in a residential area. There are many large open areas of green grass and mature shade trees, as well as plenty of recreation opportunities. This is a great park to visit and have a picnic, birthday party, reunion, wedding and more.
The park is named for Howard L. Coffinger (1908-1974), a former Wickenburg mayor, school board member, and longtime operator of the local funeral home and ambulance service.
Coffinger Park includes a multi-use field, the municipal pool, the municipal skate park, two tennis courts, recreation building, ramada, two play structures, swings, picnic tables, and a multi-use concrete path.
Reservations & Rentals
All Town of Wickenburg parks operate on a first-come, first-served basis. There are no reservations or rentals for the park itself. However, it is a good idea to advise the Parks, Recreation & Facilities Department of your event and to make any requests such as trash cans and extra picnic tables, or to turn off the water sprinklers during the event. There may be a fee for these services. The ball fields are open to the public, although local youth and adult sports leagues have priority during their seasons. You can reserve the Recreation Building by calling
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By David "Chet" Williamson Sneade
"There's a world where I can go / And tell my secrets to / In my room / In my room …."
The above words are the opening lines to an international rock 'n' roll anthem. It's time we reclaim one of its authors as our own. Though born in
, he grew up here. He went to
grade school in Grafton and later graduated from a local high school. Los Angeles
His name is Gary Lee Usher, a prolific songwriter who is widely recognized as an architect of the surf music. Along with Brian Wilson of the Beach Boys, Usher co-authored the immortal "In My Room."
According to IMDb (Internet Movie Database), Usher was born on
14, 1938,
and "grew up in New England. He attended Norcross Grammar School and graduated from in Westborough High School in 1957." Massachusetts
In high school Usher was a well-liked and active student. He was called "Ush." He liked "convertibles, haircuts, cards, clothes, transmissions," and his favorite expression was "Oh, say now!"
Usher's activities were playing baseball, basketball, and in addition to writing for the school paper, the Oriel, he worked on the Yearbook, The Cotton Gin – named for another famous Westborough citizen, Eli Whitney). Appropriately, his school epitaph read: "Race with the Devil."
|Usher's high school shot
Absolutely nothing is said about music. In a 1964 article in the Worcester Telegram, writer James Lee pointed out that Usher "had no interest in music in his school days. He had a talent for art and he spent much of his time on that. He even taught it in the lower grades."
The headline to the story read: "Former Bank Teller Here Becomes a Top Songwriter." Lee opened his piece with the question: "Like to hear a success story?" Answering the question, he stated, "The subject is Gary Usher, who resigned as a teller at the Worcester Five Cents Saving Bank three years ago to go to
to write music. He's now one of
the leading rock 'n' roll composers in the country – specializing in surfing
music – and his weekly income reaches four figures." Hollywood
Lee also noted that between 1963 and '64 Usher published more than 150 songs, 100 of which had already been recorded. At the time, his songs were recorded on more than 40 albums and he was under contract to Capitol records as both a writer and a singer. Usher was also committed to writing music for American International Pictures. As Lee duly noted, "Not bad for a 24 year-old who never had any musical education,"
Lee reported that Usher became interested in music in 1958, a year after graduation, while stationed in
, "at a lonely outpost on a 2,000
foot mountain. Out of boredom, one day he walked 13 miles to a store, where he
bought a Japanese guitar, then sent for a booklet on how to play it. It took
him six months to learn. Then he started composing songs." Korea
|Pvt. Gary Lee Usher
Returning stateside, Usher was stationed at
. He told Lee that he purchased an
electric guitar, made some demonstration records, and began shopping his songs
around Ft. Devens . The results? "They were bad," Usher admitted. Boston
After his discharge in 1960, Usher moved to
, worked in a bank, and studied
art at El Camino College. "He received an associate art degree but was
discouraged when he realized the time it would take to get established in art,"
Lee said. Los Angeles
In 1961, Usher returned to Westborough and for six months worked at the Worcester Five Cents Savings Bank. "Yearning to get into the musical mainstream, he left for Los Angeles late in 1961," Lee wrote, adding, "There he filled some minor entertainment jobs, attended college, wrote music, pitched for the San Francisco Giants' farm teams and worked at the City National Bank in Beverly Hills."
Lee contends that Usher's big break came in June, 1962. As legend has it, while visiting his uncle's home in
, CA. five unknown kids calling themselves
the Beach Boys were rehearsing across the street. " Hawthorne got acquainted with them," Lee
said. "He collaborated with one of them, Brian Wilson, in writing a song, '409,'
which was paired with 'Surfin' Safari' for Capitol. Named after the Chevrolet
409, the tune sold a million and a quarter records in '62. Gary
In a 1971 interview with writer Gene Sculatti, Usher said, "I was a hot rod freak. I had a 409. One day we were driving up to
looking for a part for my car,
and I said 'Let's write a song called '409'. We'll do a thing 'giddy up, giddy
up,' meaning horses for horsepower,' just kidding around. We came back and put
it to three simple chords in five minutes, and it developed into a
million-dollar car craze." Los Angeles
"That was the turning point," Lee said. "Within a month
figured in the writing of 40
songs. He quit his bank job that August and resigned from baseball in the fall.
The Beach Boys used many of the Usher/Wilson songs in 1962 and '63 to skyrocket
them to No. 1 position among American vocal groups. Gary
"Dick Dale and the Del Tones similarly prospered on
's compositions. In the film, Muscle Beach Party, Gary had a hand in writing six of the
tunes. His next film release is Girls on
the Beach. He not only wrote the music but he was commissioned to score the
picture, a seemingly impossible job for one unschooled in the technicalities of
music. However, he accomplished it. The film is scheduled for release in the
fall." Gary
Ironically, the two biggest songwriters of the surf music craze, Usher and
, knew very little about the
subject. "Dennis Wilson was the first Beach Boy to pick up on surfing,"
Usher told Sculatti, "He was aware of Dick Dale, the Pendleton jackets and that
whole shot. It just rubbed off. I never surfed" Wilson
"When we finished, it was late, after our curfew. In fact,
, [the Murray brothers' father] came in a
couple of times and wanted me to leave. Anyway, we got Audree [the Wilson ' mother], who was putting her
hair up before bed, and we played it for her. She said, 'That's the most
beautiful song you've ever written.' Wilsons said, 'Not bad, Usher, not bad,'
which was the nicest thing he ever said to me." Murray
Usher also offered his comments on what the song meant to
adding, "Brian was always saying
that his room was his whole world." In the same article, Wilson seconds this opinion: "I had a
room, and I thought of it as my kingdom. And I wrote that song, very
definitely, that you're not afraid when you're in your room. It's absolutely
true." Wilson
In his short, action-packed life, Usher also worked with an amazing array of artists such as Glenn Campbell, Gene Clark, Dick Dale, Wayne Newton, Annette Funicello, Gram Parsons, and Chad & Jeremy, among countless others. He produced three albums for the Byrds, "Bookends" for Simon and Garfunkel, and is responsible for discovering Firesign Theatre.
Usher owned his own record label (Together Records), produced hundreds of sessions, and as IMBd stated he became a major figure on the surf-rock scene. He was involved as a producer and/or songwriter with many surf/hot-rod groups of the period which include the Hondells, the Competitors, the Quads, the Road Runners, the Super Stocks, the Four Speeds, the Silly Surfers, and the Surfaris."
In the 1970s, Usher took time off from the music scene only to return in 1984 to record Sanctuary, and in '86 collaborated on a session with old friend Wilson -- although, as of this writing, only "Let's Go to Heaven in My Car" has ever been released. On
May 25, 1990, Usher died from cancer. He was 51.
For a complete picture of Usher see: The California Sound, an Insider's Story, the Musical Biography of Gary Usher by Stephen J. McParland
Gary Lee Usher
14, 1938
( ) Los
25, 1990 ( ) Los Angeles
"In My Room" by Usher and Brian Wilson
The Wikimedia Foundation offers a few notable facts about "In My Room." "It was released on their 1963 album Surfer Girl. It was released as the B-side of the "Be True To Your School" single. The single peaked at number six in the
A remake by Usher's own band, Sagittarius
peaked at eighty-six in 1969. "In My Room" remained on the Billboard Top 100 for 11 weeks, peaking at #23 in 1963." U.S.
Continuing its take on the tune, the Foundation also noted that, "David Crosby (of the Byrds and
Crosby, Stills, Nash (and Young),
admitted to being an admirer of the song, quoting, "'In My Room,' was the
defining point for me. When I heard it, I thought, 'I give up – I can't do that
– I'll never be able to do that.'"
In 2001,
Crosby, along with Jimmy Webb and Carly
Simon, got to sing a version of "In My Room" on "An All Star Tribute to Brian
The song is heard in the animated film Happy Feet and a cover of "In My Room" appears on the soundtrack to the TV series, "Friends."
As performed by the Beach Boys
Brian Wilson
Bill Medley w/Phil Everly and Brian Wilson
Wilson Phillips
Danny Gatton
Tammy Wynette
Grant Lee Buffalo
Other popular songs by Usher
"409" – as performed by the Beach Boys
" – as performed by Gary Usher Sacramento
"Tomorrow" – as performed by Gary Usher and Zane Ashton http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UiLynEFFfxA
" – as performed by the Beach Boys
Lonely Sea
Usher wrote hundreds of songs. Here are a list of others: "Barefoot Adventure," "Cactus Juice," "C.C. Cinder," "Cheater Slicks," "Chug-A-Lug," "Coney Island Wild Child," "Country Fair," "Cuckoo Clock," "Don't Ever Leave Me," "Don't Give Into Him," "Draggin' Deuce," "Four n the Floor," "Harder and Harder," "Heads You Win – Tails You Lose," "Hot Rod U.S.A.," "Let's Put the Fun Back in Rock 'n' Roll," "Lonely Surfer Boy," "Mag Wheels," "Milky Way," "My Little Beach Bunny," "My Little Surfin' Woodie," "My Sting Ray," "My World Fell Down," "Nifty 50," "Playmate of the Year," "Pom Pom Play Girl," "Power Shift," "
RPM," "Ski Party," "Soul Stompin',"
"Sugar & Spice," "Ten Little Indians," "Three Surfer Boys," "Tied Down," "Truth
is Not Real," "Twins," "Wax, Board, and Woodie," and "You Made a Believer Out of
Me," among many others.
This is a work in progress. Comments, corrections, and suggestions are always welcome. Write to firstname.lastname@example.com Also see: www.jazzriffing.blogspot.com


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Ти Джей Миллер
TJ Miller was named one of Variety's Top 10 Comics to Watch. In 2010, he appeared in She's Out of my League, Gulliver's Travels, Get Him to the Greek, Unstoppable, Yogi Bear, and voiced a character in How to Train Your Dragon. Previously, he appeared in Mike Judge's Extract, starred in JJ Abrams' Cloverfield, and starred in the Russo Brothers' show Carpoolers. He has appeared on The Late Show with David Letterman, Chelsea Lately, Last Call with Carson Daly, and Conan. Miller reps Denver, Colorado, and toured with Second City for almost two years. He lives in Los Angeles, California, specifically Hollywood, where he continues to reside, and by his own admission, struggles to find meaning in an uncertain world.ВИКИПЕДИЯ


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Patients find "cloud" technology a faster, more efficient way to store and distribute their medical images than current options, according to the preliminary findings of an image sharing project led by The Mount Sinai Medical Center in conjunction with four other academic medical institutions. The Phase I results of the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA) Image Share project are being presented today at the American Roentgen Ray Society Annual Meeting in Vancouver, Canada.
Mount Sinai was the first site to go live in August 2011 and currently has about 190 patients enrolled in project. A total of about 600 patients are participating in all sites, which also include University of California - San Francisco, University of Chicago Medical Center, Mayo Clinic, and the University of Maryland Medical Center in Baltimore.
"Cloud" computing involves using a network of remote servers hosted on the Internet to store, manage, and process data, rather than a local server or a personal computer.
"This is the next revolution in digital imaging," said David Mendelson, MD, FACR, Chief of Clinical Informatics at The Mount Sinai Medical Center and Chief Clinical Investigator for RSNA Image Share. "It gives the patient ownership over their records and makes the information more accessible to physicians. Plus it decreases unnecessary radiation exposure that can be caused by physicians ordering duplicate examinations due to records not being easily available."
To use RSNA Image Share, patients create an account and password and then are given access to import their images and reports into the personal health record account. For patient confidentiality and security reasons, when the information leaves the server at each local radiology site and goes outside a hospital's firewall, it remains encrypted until it arrives in the patient's account, where it's unencrypted so the patient can see it.
"We're dealing with sensitive health information, so creating a secure and confidential system is of the utmost importance," said Dr. Mendelson. "But if you look at online banking or shopping, which both transport sensitive financial information; we know creating a secure, widely used system is an attainable goal."
In phase two of the trial, patients will be allowed to share their images without the images first being uploaded to an Internet-based personal health record. This should be useful in the event of severe acute trauma, with transfer to a trauma center. In phase three, the data will be de-identified and then made available for clinical trials.
The RSNA Image Share project was funded by the National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering at NIH.
About The Mount Sinai Medical Center
The Mount Sinai Medical Center encompasses both The Mount Sinai Hospital and Mount Sinai School of Medicine. Established in 1968, Mount Sinai School of Medicine is one of the leading medical schools in the United States. The Medical School is noted for innovation in education, biomedical research, clinical care delivery, and local and global community service. It has more than 3,400 faculty in 32 departments and 14 research institutes, and ranks among the top 20 medical schools both in National Institutes of Health (NIH) funding and by U.S. News & World Report. The Mount Sinai Hospital, founded in 1852, is a 1,171-bed tertiary- and quaternary-care teaching facility and one of the nation's oldest, largest and most-respected voluntary hospitals. In 2011, U.S. News & World Report ranked The Mount Sinai Hospital 16th on its elite Honor Roll of the nation's top hospitals based on reputation, safety, and other patient-care factors. Of the top 20 hospitals in the United States, Mount Sinai is one of 12 integrated academic medical centers whose medical school ranks among the top 20 in NIH funding and US News & World Report and whose hospital is on the US News & World Report Honor Roll. Nearly 60,000 people were treated at Mount Sinai as inpatients last year, and approximately 560,000 outpatient visits took place.
For more information, visit http://www.


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Welcome to Norvin Green State Forest's Torne Mountain!
Torne Mountain, standing at 1,120 feet and located in Passaic County NJ, is situated in the southern section of the estimated 4,982 acre Norvin Green State Forest. The land comprising the forest was donated to the State of New Jersey by the nephew of Ringwood Manor's Abram S. Hewitt in 1946.
Norvin Green State Forest has the largest concentrations of trails in the state of NJ. Most of the trails date back to the 1920's when members of a local organization known as the Green Mountain Club constructed them.
Many of the rocks that are encountered during this hike have a rounded appearance due to the Wisconsin Glacier which came through the area around 10,000 years ago. This event is relatively recent as the Highlands rocks were formed over four billion years ago.
The rocks are "basement rocks" as the younger rocks which originally had covered them eroded away over time. Most of the rocks are thought to be comprised of ancient granite-gneiss.
Below is a brief virtual tour of a section of the 0.4 of a mile Torne Trail and a portion of the 6.4 mile Blue Blazed Hewitt-Butler Trail. Stops include outstanding views and an interesting man-made Stone Living Room. Ready? Let's do it!
The hike is an estimated 1.5 miles from Otter Hole Road.
Starting from near the Otter Hole Road Parking area, head south to the trailhead of the red blazed Torne Mountain Trail.
Once on the Torne trail, signs advertising the blue-blazed Hewitt-Butler Trail will appear.
Head southwest then south on the blue blazed Hewitt-Butler Trail to Climb Torne Mountain.
The first view will be of Buck Mountain to the north. Continuing southeast views of the Newark Pequannock Watershed land appear to the west.
Near the western viewpoint, a short unmarked trail appears to the left leading to a man-made Stone Living Room. "Chairs" & "Sofas" have been constructed from surrounding rocks. The Stone Living Room is an excellent place to stop for lunch and rest while taking in views.
From the Stone Living Room, head back to the Hewitt Butler Trail. Continuing south, descend Torne Mountain passing a stand-alone Stone chair.
Here you will reach a ravine at the bottom of Torne mountain and the southern trailhead of the red blazed Torne Trail which will be your return back to Otterhole Road.
For now, pass the southern trail-head of the Torne Trail and continue southeast on the blue blazed Hewitt-Butler trail climbing to Osio Rock.
From here, views of the Wanaque Reservoir, the NYC Skyline (on a clear day) and High Mountain of the 2nd Watchung Mountain range may be viewed to the east.
After taking in the views, turn around and head north west to retrace your steps back to the ravine to the red blazed Torne trail trailhead.
Here you will take the Torne trail north back to Otterhole Road where the trail began.
Flora found along the trail includes the below among others:
Check out Plant Communities of New Jersey.
NJ's geology, topography and soil, climate, plant-plant and plant-animal relationships, and the human impact on the environment are all discussed in great detail. Twelve plant habitats are described and the authors were good enough to put in examples of where to visit!
Click here for more information!
Hamburg Turnpike to Glenwild Ave. Parking area is next to Bloomingdale/West Milford border (look for Welcome to West Milford sign, or Welcome to Bloomingdale sign depending on which direction you are traveling).
Great Hiking/Ecology Books:
1. 60 Hikes Within 60 Miles: New York City: Including northern New Jersey, southwestern Connecticut, and western Long Island – Packed with valuable tips and humorous observations, the guide prepares both novices and veterans for the outdoors. From secluded woods and sun-struck seashores, to lowland swamps and rock-strewn mountain tops, this practical guidebook contains all the information needed to have many great hikes in and around New York City.
Click here for more information!
2. Take a Hike New York City: 80 Hikes within Two Hours of Manhattan – In Moon Take a Hike New York City, award-winning writer Skip Card shows you the best hikes in and around The Big Apple—all within two hours of the city.
Click here for more information!
3. Eastern Deciduous Forest, Second Edition: Ecology and Wildlife Conservation – This book is a useful tool for anyone who wants to know or hopes to help one of North America's great natural resources.
Click here for more information!
4. Protecting New Jersey's Environment: From Cancer Alley to the New Garden State – With people as its focus, Protecting New Jersey's Environment explores the science underpinning environmental issues and the public policy infighting that goes undocumented behind the scenes and beneath the controversies.
Click here for more information!
5. Wild New Jersey: Nature Adventures in the Garden State:
Wild New Jersey invites readers along Wheeler's whirlwind year-long tour of the most ecologically diverse state for its size in America.
Click here for more information!
Feel free to comment below with any bird sightings, interesting plants, memories or suggestions! Thank you and have fun exploring!
Check out the latest bird sightings here!