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FORT COLLINS — A federal "Buy America" edict is affecting Northern Colorado's commuter van pool program.
VanGo, a commuter vanpool program that covers Loveland, Fort Collins and Greeley, is now being required to replace its minivans with a new vehicle that seats half the number of passengers, gets much less gas mileage and costs $15,000 more per vehicle, Suzette Mallette, interim executive director of the North Front Range Metropolitan Planning Organization, told the Larimer County commissioners Tuesday.
"Every van pool operator in the country is affected by this," Mallette said, noting that her organization is appealing to legislators to open their options. "Until we can come to some resolution, we are at a standstill. We do have some vehicles that need to be replaced."
The agency purchases its vehicles with money from the Federal Transit Authority and Federal Highway Administration.
With the funding comes a rule: at least 60 percent of the parts must be made in the United States and the vehicle must be assembled in America. In the past, no minivans met that requirement, so the federal agencies made exceptions and allowed the local vanpool to buy General Motors minivans that are assembled in Canada. The Dodge Caravan costs $23,000 and seats seven, Mallette said.
The government, however, would not allow them to buy their preferred Toyota Sienna, which is assembled in Indiana because the company would not release a parts list for fear it would hurt their standing in a competitive market, Mallette said. However, 90 percent of those parts are made in America, the van costs $25,000 and seats eight.
But now, a new company is producing a vehicle called the MV1, which meets all the requirements of parts and assembly in the United States.
So, the federal agencies rescinded Northern Colorado's waiver, essentially requiring them to buy the new vehicle.
The kicker is it costs $40,000, seats only 4, weights 5,000 pounds and looks like a Humvee.
"It looks like something the sheriff's office would drive," said Commissioner Tom Donnelly, who sits on the MPO. " It looks like a tank."
Pamela Dickman can be reached at 669-5050, ext. 526, or firstname.lastname@example.com. Follow her on Twitter: @pamelalittlebee.


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Alison used hand quilting to add diamond-shaped accents to this quilt made with scraps leftover from two previous projects.
Here's what Alison had to say about her quilt, and quilting in general:
"The quilt came about because I was having a bit of a Tufted Tweets (Laurie Wisbrun) obsession. I'd already made two other quilts with the Tufted Tweets line and was left with a bunch of scraps which I wanted to make in to one final quilt. I also have this thing about objects having to be the right way up so was looking for a block that wouldn't turn the Tufted Tweets chairs upside down. Quilters Cache is a great free online resource with literally hundreds of blocks to choose from. So I started trawling through the pages until I stumbled on this one and could immediately see the possibilities.
It's paper-pieced and I did it the old-fashioned way of printing off one copy and then tracing new copies from a light box that was going for a song on Ebay. Because the Tufted Tweets fabrics are so vibrant, I knew I wanted to tone them down with a couple of neutrals and that really is how the top came about.
It is hand-quilted for a couple of reasons. I always have to have something on the go downstairs. My sewing room is on the 'flop toor' which is the unintentional spoonersim our youngest daughter used when asked where Mummy was and 'flop toor' it has stayed! To hide away there in the evenings would be anti-social so when I am downstairs in the evening, I can't just sit and talk or watch TV…I still have to be doing something else and hand-quilting is that something else.
The other reason I hand-quilt is I find it a de-stresser. I find the whole hand-quilting experience very calming and soothing. I'm sure if hand-quilting was included in prison rehabilitation schemes there would be a whole lot less reoffending!
I quilt because there are no boundaries. I used to knit but you basically start out with a pattern and you pretty much have to follow it if the end product is going to turn out anywhere near successful. Quilting, especially modern quilting, is liberating. There can be a pattern if you want there to be but equally there can just be that seed of an idea in your head that grows and develops as you progress. There is no one right way. It might not turn out how you first thought it would but it will turn out as a quilt none-the-less that is an individual expression of you.
I am not out to reinvent the wheel when it comes to quilting, just tweak it a little with my own personal interpretation."
You can read more about Alison's work on her blog, Little Island Quilting.

subset: commoncrawl


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Scorpion Sports Netball Dress - Design 16
Netball dress either standard, long or short length in any colour scheme required. Junior and senior sizes manufactured in performance polyester fabric fully sublimated including your netball club colours with your badge and sponsors logos. Supplied with Velcro fixing for attaching patches to the front and back.Standard lead time on all our Netball Dresses is 6 weeks, however if you require your's quicker please contact our team for further assistance.


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Wordless (nearly) Wednesday
Paul, Lucile, Robert with Aunts Etta and Grace
Grace & Etta Kinnick with Paul, Robert & Lucile
In recent days, I have been so pleased to re-connect, on line, with a Kinnick cousin, out in Colorado, Ellen DeVilbiss, daughter of Roberta (Ford) and Bill Keister, granddaughter of Lillian (Kinnick) and Delbert Ford, great-granddaughter of Alonzo and Nettie (Williams) Kinnick.
The photo shared, above, is from Ellen from the collection left to her by Lillian. I had not seen this photo before, and it may to youngest photo I have seen of my grandfather, Paul Kinnick (1892-1968), left front. The Caption is as provided by Ellen. Center front is Paul's brother, Robert Kinnick (1896-1953); on the right front is their sister, Lucile Kinnick (1894-1956). They are three oldest children of Alonzo and Nettie (Williams) Kinnick. I date the photo to about 1899. The girls in the back are the youngest sisters of Alonzo: Grace (1887-1945) and Etta (1885-1939). The girls lived in Bureau County, Illinois.
My comment: Paul looks very much like his two sons, Leo and Edward, did when they were that age; as well as others of his descendants, even me, a little bit. ;-)
Families are Forever! ;-)


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FAME Financial Aid MaximizEr
As a leader in college financial aid consulting, Turbo Tuition, Inc. is successful in helping families of college applicants save money via face-to-face meetings. Our mission is to help families plan ahead and become college financial aid savvy. Now, we can help more families with an application that can be used bypassing the constraints of distance and time.
Financial Aid MaximizEr ("FAME"), offers you a place to understand how FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) and CSS (College Scholarship Service) work, and how your financial situation impacts the calculation of expected family contribution before you officially apply on www.FAFSA.gov of Department of Education. It is like taking unlimited practice tests before taking the real one!
Better yet, taking one step further, FAME provides customized strategies based on your financial situation to maximize your college financial aid. Best of all, you are getting all these customized services at a fraction of what you would pay for a personal consultation!
This multi-faceted application is packed with many features, including the following:
• Exclusive feature: First-ever real-time display of your cost of attendance ("COA") and estimated financial aid ("EFA") side by side. While you enter your financial profile, you see EFA change instantly according to your input. Both COA and EFA amounts are displayed on the top of your screen at all times.
This interactive data entry and display leads to dynamic use of this application. You can gain insight of cause-and-effect relationship between your input and result. It is an invaluable practice tool before you officially file your FAFSA (for all schools) and CSS (for private schools only).
• Exclusive feature: We integrate our well-known college search app, College FAFSA Finder +, so that FAME should be your only place for college search and FAFSA application. With five (5) different search methods, you may obtain school profile and tuition information of any FAFSA-registered public and private universities and colleges in the U.S. You can save your favorite schools' info here and share it with anyone by email.
• There are 9 different types of family profiles in accordance with FAFSA's category.
• Your data is absolutely securely stored on your stand-alone device and stays private.
• Public scholarship list to be added in our next release.
After you are satisfied with your EFA result, let's not stop there. Let's maximize your EFA!
• Exclusive feature: you get personalized strategies from our consultants based on your family profile to maximize your EFA. Some of the strategies are used to be only available in pricy face-to-face consultation. In addition, you are entitled to one (1) email consultation if you have further questions on the strategies.
Our mission is to help more families plan ahead and become college financial aid savvy. Please help us by writing your review and spreading the words so that more families can benefit from this nimble yet powerful application!
We welcome your inputs to further improve FAME. Please email your comments to email@example.com. Thank you in advance!
FAME is jointly developed by Turbo Tuition, Inc. and Zynsoft, Inc.
Check out this application on the App Store for IPad version:
Check out this application on the Google Android Apps for Tablet:
FAME Financial Aid MaximizEr
Turbo Tuition, Inc.
Category: FINANCE
As a leader in college financial aid consulting, Turbo Tuition, Inc. is successful in helping families of college applicants
Check out this application on the iTunes Apple Store for iMac version:


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"The Repeal Amendment would provide a check on the ever-expanding federal government, protect against congressional overreach, and get the government working for the people again, not the other way around. In order to return America to opportunity, responsibility, and success, we must reverse course and the Repeal Amendment is a step in that direction."
The worst part about this is that we will have to put up with his playground bullying for at least two more years. As you can see, Sir Eric, I, too, want my country back.


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School Recycling & Waste Reduction
The following materials are not allowed in the garbage in Seattle:
- Compostable materials, including food waste, food-soiled paper towels and napkins, pizza boxes, and yard waste
- Recyclable materials, including paper, cardboard, plastic and glass bottles and jars, plastic and paper cups, and aluminum and tin cans.
Public Schools
A Seattle Public Schools Resource Conservation Specialist will be working with every school in the District to support their transition to mandatory composting and improve recycling.
For more information and resources, visit Seattle Public Schools or contact Rina Fa'amoe at (206) 252-0618 or firstname.lastname@example.com.
Private Schools
Private schools are eligible to receive free compost, recycling, and garbage bins, posters and stickers through SPU's Green Business Program.
To request these free resources or ask questions about recycling and composting, please call (206) 343-8505 or email email@example.com.
School Training & Education
Contact the Cedar Grove Composting Education Coordinator, (206) 459-6767 for food waste program training for your school's Green/Compost Team, staff and classrooms.
You can also contact the company that collects your food waste for onsite trainings and presentations:
- Recology offers engaging and hands-on waste reduction, recycling and composting workshops for preschool, elementary and middle school students in Seattle. To schedule training, email email@example.com or call (206) 250-7500.
- Waste Management offers training for school Green/Compost Teams and staff. To schedule training, email email@example.com.
Another great education resource is the Master Composter/Soil Builder Program at Tilth Alliance. Contact email@example.com or (206) 633-0451 x101 to request presentations about the importance of compost, the decomposition process and the soil food web, how to compost at home, and recycling.
Washington Green Schools provides private and public schools a free web-based certification program in six categories: Waste and Recycling; School Grounds and Gardening; Water; Healthy School Buildings; Energy; and Transportation. Green Teams implement action projects on their school campus, resulting in awards such as a Washington Green School flag.
Field Trips
Classes are invited to take a self-guided tour of the J.P. Patches Viewing Room at the South Transfer Station. The Viewing Room overlooks the tipping floor so visitors can see the station's daily operations, and also engage with educational displays and videos.
To request a Cedar Grove Composting facility tour or to take part in educational events and summits, please send an e-mail to firstname.lastname@example.com.
Students may also enjoy visiting the Bullitt Center—the greenest commercial building in the world—to learn about a broad range of green building design strategies. Visit the University of Washington Center for Integrated Design website for information on how to schedule a private tour for your students. Regularly scheduled public tours are also available. Tour tickets are $5 per person.


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March is Dummies Month
Pardon a shameless bit of capitalistic promotion, but it's one that ultimately helps you. March is officially "Dummies Month," and the good folks at Wiley Publishing have a regular program every year at this time. Buy a Dummies book or audio set and get a $5 rebate (up to two per family).
That means you can buy one or two Dummies books on any subject (not just ours) between March 1st - 31st, 2009, and get $5 smackers each delivered to your majestic manse's mailbox direct from the publisher. In addition, the Wiley folks will also send along another $5 mail-in rebate form for any Dummies book purchased in June, July or August 2009.
Now obviously we would like you to take this opportunity to plunk down your hard-earned pelf and procure our books: Freemasons For Dummies, The Templar Code For Dummies, and Conspiracy Theories & Secret Societies For Dummies. Think of it as an economic stimulus package. We do have a poodle to support, after all. But there are more than 1,300 Dummies titles out there, and we would certainly understand if you already own ours...
You can download a pdf of the rebate form here.
Yes, I know, I just excoriated Ron Howard and Sony Pictures for their own promotion techniques. But at least we're up front about it. (smile)


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smcguinness necesitaba un nuevo diseño de tema de wordpress y lanzó un concurso de diseño en 99designs.
Un ganador ha sido elegido entre 33 diseños de 8 diseñadores freelance.
No Frills Grill & Sports Bar
We are a locally owned sports bar and grill with 4 locations in the Dallas, TX area. We operate as a family friendly atmosphere and want to redesign out current website to better show what we have to offer and highlight each locations events and specials.
Current website: http://www.nofrillsgrill.com/
Patrons looking for a place to hang out with friends and family and watch the games or someone looking to pull a seat up to the bar and watch the games. Should cater to sports fans.
This design will be for a wordpress install, however, we will not be using the blog functionality yet. This design needs to have two layouts. One for the home page and one for internal pages. Logo is attached. Design is freely up to you.
The home page can be a splash like page or a 2-col page. The main focus of this page should be the four locations. Allow space for a couple paragraphs of copy as well to describe the bar. There will need to be a navigation bar which has such options as Locations, About, Specials, Menu, Contact.
The interior should be a 2-col page, featuring the same navigation bar. This layout will be for the pages of about, special, menu, etc. In the narrow column will need to be a Facebook widget as well as possible sport team widgets.
The design should mimic the style and coloring of the attached logo. And show a place that is fun and exciting to watch a game or eat a meal.
Design Inspiration:
http://www.captainsofindustry.com/ (like the rotating banner)
http://www.ivanicanka.hr/ (Clean Look)
http://whatthefrog.com/ (rotating banner)
http://www.bartonplaceaustin.com/ (rugged feel)
http://www.charleessportspub.com/ (similar industry)


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Narwhal Rattle
Current Processing Time: 3 weeks
(Click for details)
Personalized orders will ship 3 weeks from order date (+shipping time),
or from proof approval date if a digital proof is purchased.
If you need an order sooner, please take a look at the ready-to-ship section for items that will ship in 1-3 days (+shipping time).
Super soft and cuddly with a wooden teething ring, these rattles make the perfect gift for a new baby or a toddler. The ring makes it a snap to attach to your stroller or play mat. Baby will enjoy the soft rattling sound and friendly graphic along with the contrast in materials, both hard and soft.These rattles are made to order and will take up to 3 weeks to ship. If you need your item faster, please check our Ready to Ship section.Animal / food plush measures approximately 5-10" depending on the animal/food/item. Wood ring measures 3".Materials: Made from super soft and stretchy, certified organic cotton knit fabric. Filled with organic cotton batting. Wooden ring is made from USA sourced maple treated with a vegan blend of organic vegan candelila wax and organic olive oil blend used to protect and seal the wood to keep it from splintering and to preserve the wood.Please note that this item is made from wood, a natural source. It is not indestructible and can break or become fragile over time. The stuffed portion also contains a small rattle, inspect the toy for holes and wear before each use. As with any toy, monitor your children at all times.
- Printed using water-based inks
- 5.8 oz per square yard
- Not treated with fire retardant chemicals, please keep away from fire
- Hand wash using phosphate-free detergent. Fluff and air dry.


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New Free Nokia N76 Music Downloads
myRMX featuring Teen Hearts
New myRMX Release ver 1.2 - Re-imagine songs, Remix, and Share your remixes. Easy and endless fun...Read more
The best Music online site. Play thousands of songs for free...Read more
Music Top 100 (Keys) for Symbian
Top 100 music performers. Search bots show images. You guess the musician.Addictive learning game pits man versus machine. Who's smarter? Every download saves a shrub, a can of oil, possibly a dolphin, and one mind...Read more
Folk Music Tour (Keys) for Symbian
Learn the richness of music destinations using images collected from millions of volunteers on the global web.Join the 750,000 plus who have downloaded Keys apps. New, hi-res images.Tap Game Controls to explore 500 more apps...Read more
Colorful Vuvuzela
**Let's Make Some Noises, FREE!** MMMOOO Vuvuzela inspires you emulate the most popular and typical sound in the 2010. You can wave it and click it to support your team & color as well. Or just use it as a funny tool to rock your colleagues or friends...Read more
Lyrics by musiXmatch is a deep dive into the world of song lyrics...Read more
Linkin Park
Official Linkin Park App...Read more
Hot Pics
In this application you will get latest updates of south indian hot actress pics and latest music of tollywood...Read more
Vuvuzela Piano
Vuvuzela piano, play your team's song in vuvuzela sounds, make the most annoying music...Read more
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Shazam 27 Mar 11


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The following is a comprehensive list of general travel advice specifically tailored to 20-30 something backpackers and hostelers. Our goal is to provide a comprehensive, but manageable, list to jump start your travel preparation. The list is tailored to novice and intermediate travelers.
Check back often, as we will continue to add to the list. We are always seeking additional tips and tricks! This list is slightly biased towards Europe and the Americas, however we will be adding more Asian and African hosteling & backpacking resources, tips & tricks as we get them!
Make sure you check out our user submitted "Packing Videos" section for advice from your fellow travelers! Also, supplement what you learn here with our sister sites, the Travel Resource List and Airfare Basics, for simple, straight forward and categorically sorted travel resource sites.
Have a question that isn't covered on this site? Feel free to ask in a comment here or via twitter by tweeting @AlexBerger.
Notify your bank & credit card company – Credit Card (CC) companies have a number of checks in place to help protect you from fraud. Unfortunately, these safeguards can be a real nightmare if you forget to notify your bank/CC company that you'll be leaving the country: be sure to call and notify them that you'll be traveling before you leave. If they start to see a lot of charges from a foreign location, they may put a hold on your card thinking it has been stolen. Make sure to provide the dates you'll be gone as well as the countries you expect to visit. There is nothing worse than trying to get a replacement credit card while on the road. Informing them is easy, just dial the number on the back of your card and speak to a representative. It will take less than 5 minutes.
Know your Credit Card Pin – If you're an America, you probably don't know that your Credit Card has a PIN # just like your ATM/Checking card. Why? Because you've never had to use it in the US. Be forewarned, that's not the case in Europe. Most European Credit Card transactions require that you enter your PIN # when making every day credit card purchases, just as you would when making a checking/debit purchase in the US. So, before you leave make sure you double check/set your Credit Card PIN.
Be Aware of Credit Card Chips – Not all Credit Cards are created equal. While not actively used in the US, many European credit card companies have switched to an on-card chip system. While not a huge issue yet be aware that your card may not be 100% compatible with newer systems. Don't worry though, they'll still be able to enter your card # and data manually in most cases. After a lot of pressure American CC providers are starting to roll out brand new chip-friendly cards.
Choose the right card – You're going to pay a currency penalty no matter what you do. However, how much you end up paying can vary widely. Almost all credit cards charge a foreign transaction fee. These fees vary, but are often as much as 3%. What percentage they charge varies from card to card and from bank to bank. Make sure to find out which of your credit cards gives you the best deal. Luckily, after years of exploiting customers and in response to CapitalOne's zero international fee offering other banks are starting to roll out similar zero fee credit cards to compete. Keep a close eye on bank ATMs and debit card use. Find out what the fee is and what type of ATMs are in your bank's extended networks. Many travelers unwittingly spend $6+ on fees for every $100 in purchases or cash withdrawals they make plus as much as 3% on top of that in foreign transaction charges. The FlyerGuide.com wiki offers one of the best breakdowns/easy to use charts I've found.
Currency Exchanges – Exchange booths are expensive and take a fee. They also tend to give outdated currency values. I avoid these if at all possible. By using ATMs and following the advice I've outlined for reducing ATM fees I'm able to get the best currency exchange rate possible. When you use an ATM to withdraw funds, you will typically receive a better, more up to date, and fairer exchange rate.
Travelers Checks and Money Transfers – Travelers checks are huge in the movies, and so are money transfers. In reality though, these two things are expensive and inconvenient. I typically use Visa/MasterCard credit cards/ATM cards while traveling and have never had an issue. Research the countries you'll be visiting and figure out what cards are commonly used. In most cases credit cards or cash will be far more welcome than travelers checks.
Small Purchases – For many of us, we've begun to use our Credit Cards for all of our purchases. These include small ones – sometimes even those under $1. It is important to note that many countries still add a fee, or prohibit the use of Credit Cards for smaller transactions. The floor will vary from country to country, but make sure you have some extra spending cash on hand just in case.
Changing Currency Rates – For those who are more focused on getting a good deal than where they actually end up – consider checking out the Economist's Foreign Exchange Map. After you launch the site it allows you to research a country's currency and compare how it has changed against other global currencies over the last day, week, month and year. View it [here]. For real time rates Google Finance and XE are two great resources.
Budgeting Tips and Tricks – For the budget traveler, budgeting is a long process which should start long before you start you trip. VirtualWayfarer has a great writeup outlining ways you can save money, cut costs, and maximize travel resources.
Contact Information
Xeroxing important information – Few things are more inconvenient than losing or having your passport, important documents and/or credit cards stolen. Take the 5 minutes to copy the photo page of your passport, and both sides of your credit cards. Make two copies. One to stash in some obscure part of your backpack and one to leave with your stateside contacts. Remember to keep a close eye on the xerox copies – they're a great asset if you lose the originals, but can also be used to steal your identity if they get into the wrong hands.
Email yourself – If you have a web based e-mail platform, e-mailing yourself scans/copies of credit cards, important documents and passport info is a great alternative to the xeroxed copies outlined above. It's easier to access, less likely to be compromised/stolen, and guaranteed to always be on hand.
Traveling abroad with your phone can be both a blessing and a curse. While not strictly necessary, the wealth of new travel apps which are available for smart phones can be a huge asset while on the road. There are a few things to keep in mind when considering if you should take your phone with you or not.
GSM/LTE/Other – Different cell phone companies operate on different types of technology. Verizon in the US operates on an LTE system, while AT&T and others use GSM. This is important when trying to use your phone abroad, as you may face compatibility issues. This is an essential concern if you're intending to purchase SIM cards once arrived in your destination country.
SIM Locked Phones – A popular trend among carries is to lock a phone to their network. What this means is that you won't be able to use a SIM card in the phone from another provider without them issuing you an unlock code. While absolutely infuriating, this can cause huge headaches when using your phone abroad. In some cases you can contact your provider, tell them you'll be traveling and that you need the phone unlocked. In other instances you may have to go through a third party provider to get the unlock, or in the case of iphones jailbreak the phone and then install an unlock when available.
Data Roaming – Be extremely careful about your phone's ability to connect to a data plan, or accidently butt dial while abroad. Even a 2 minute data connection while roaming in a foreign country can result in significant fees.
Pre-Paid SIMs – Many countries allow the purchase of pre-paid SIM cards. These allow you to cheaply (and easily) drop the pre-paid SIM card into your SIM friendly phone. Once done you'll be able to make and receive calls on a new local number.
Throwaway Phones – Like pre-paid SIM cards, it's also often possible to purchase a very cheap mobile phone in the country you're visiting. This may be a much simpler, and more affordable option for people concerned with the cost of using their mobile plan abroad.
Leave the suitcase at home – Even if you aren't planning to "backpack" in the conventional sense of the word, ditch the suitcases and trade them in for a quality backpack. A suitcase with wheels is all well and good, but the wheels typically end up being more inconvenience than asset. A backpack is effective 100% of the time. It also encourages you to pack more effectively. Wearing the pack also gives you increased security – more on that later. There are cheap options out there, the blue pack in the video's I've attached below is made by Outdoor Products, cost $45 and was purchased at Walmart.
Keep the straps in mind – The one downside to a backpack is the need to protect the shoulder straps, waist belt, and clips. A lot of newer backpacks have zip up covers which allow you to protect your straps when traveling by bus, plane or train. If yours doesn't, you might consider purchasing a small, cheap duffel bag which you can roll up and strap to the outside of the backpack while traveling. This also makes securing your bag in hostels or hotels with light security significantly easier.
Roll your clothing – Folding may be all well and good for a suitcase, but it's terribly inefficient and can result in badly wrinkled clothing. A far better option is to tightly roll your clothing. It naturally eliminates a lot of the air which takes up space, allows for easier access to your clothing, and allows you to fit significantly more into the same space. Don't just roll pants and shirts though! Make sure to roll it all, towels, jackets, boxers and sweaters!
Bulky items – Inevitably I find most people (myself included) lose a lot of space to 2 or 3 bulky items. Sometimes it's unavoidable – let's face it, jackets are big and puffy. However, usually at least one of the items isn't actually necessary.
Towel time – Ditch the bulky bath towel. There's only one way to go when traveling – microfiber travel towels. I've been using PackTowl Personal for years and love them. They dry quickly, are soft, incredibly absorbent, and roll up to take virtually no space. To top it all off, you can get what you need for less than $20.
Pants and shirts – Take whatever you've packed and halve it. You don't need to take a week's worth of outfits with you. In fact, I can tell you right now you've over packed. If you are not 110% confident that you'll need and wear the items you're packing multiple times, don't pack them. Have more than two pairs of pants? You shouldn't. More than 4 t-shirts? Time to axe a few.
Power converters – It's often a lot easier to get these once you reach your destination. However, don't rule out picking up converter plugs or a converter before your trip if you know where you're going.
Voltage – When traveling abroad keep in mind that not all power plugs are the same. If you're from the US chances are that you'll need both a plug AND power adapter. Voltage can vary significantly from country to country, and while many items (like your laptop) may have the built in ability to handle both 110 and 210/230 voltage, other objects may not (like curling irons) and will promptly be melted or burned out.
Bags & shoelaces – Sure, you can get them at any time during your trip but I highly suggest throwing an old pair of shoelaces into your bag, a plastic shopping bag, and a few Ziplocs of differing sizes. Think of these as your traveler's duct tape. You never know how or when they'll come in handy. Example: While exploring the Scottish Isle of Skye we spent a day in pouring rain and strong winds…not enough to keep us inside, but enough to damage any non-waterproof camera. Luckily I had a ziploc bag on hand and was able to create a waterproof case for the camera. The result? A bunch of amazing photos I would have otherwise completely missed out on.
Super Glue – I'd suggest only purchasing this when needed to avoid having it explode in your bag. That said, Super Glue is phenomenal for quick on-the-road repairs. I've used it on multiple occasions to reinforce ripped seams on my backpack/bags/shoulder straps, on small cuts and as a quick way to make other general repairs.
Footwear – Research your destination. Footwear varies widely depending on where you're going and the type of trip you have planned. While I always opt for a good pair of shoes walking/hiking shoes for places like Europe and Argentina, A good pair of flip-flops or sandals is an absolute must for more tropical destinations. I've been using Keen's Men's Targhee II for years because I love the fit, price and support. Make sure the shoe fits and can be worn in a variety of settings! You want something light enough for days spent exploring cobblestone streets and rugged enough that they're also good for slugging through rural highland mountains or flooded Belizean Caves! Make sure to try them on in a store before you buy, even if planning to pick them up off Amazon.
The second piece of footwear you shouldn't be caught without is a pair of plastic shower thongs/sandals. Make these as cheap and light as possible. All you want is a basic, plastic $2 pair that dries fast. You do NOT want a nice pair of sandals and definitely should avoid sandals with leather for your shower shoes. Keep in mind hostel showers aren't always super clean.
A Video Camera – (evaluate your options, this market is changing quickly) Recording your trip is always a challenge, especially as a hosteler/backpacker. You need something portable, affordable, but still high enough quality that the video is worthwhile. New trends in portable video are great. There are two primary routes you can take. Most newer smart phones include HD video capability. Explore your phone, the amount of on board memory it has, and see if it's a good option. If you want something more durable, flexible and built for video from the ground up consider an on-the-go video camera. The cameras range in price, but the top of the line versions are usually under $250. They're the size of a cellphone and work beautifully for capturing video. A added bonus is that most people think they are a cellphone and ignore them. Kodak's portable cameras are the PlaySport HD and Zi8 which offer 1080P resolution and limited waterproofing. Two other very popular options are the GoPro Hero and Contour HD. These cameras come with waterproof cases and grab fantastic video quality for the price.
Here are two videos from a recent trip – a December voyage to Spain. The videos illustrate the rolled packing technique and provides a step by step walk through of things I took with me. Make sure to check out the Packing Videos section of this site for more like-kind videos.
Note: Despite going out of my way to pack light, I still over packed:
Airfare – There's a lot more to getting a great rate than just booking in advance. I've found that airfare tends to spike about 40 days before the departure date. Also, conventional wisdom is to try and book on a Tuesday or Wednesday if at all possible – and in my experience this still holds true. If you're flexible and looking for a great deal I suggest utilizing airfare search sites like Kayak.com. I've done very well by signing up for an account and running flexible date searches. Don't stop there though, most people check once – then book. That's a major oops (airfare typically fluctuates hundreds of dollars from day to day). If you've got time, set up several searches to airports in the area/region you want to explore and for different dates, then sign up for their (free) daily e-mail updates for each. Once a day you'll receive an e-mail with the current airfare and the $ change from the previous day. Monitoring prices this way works well, but you need to be ready to book when you see a great deal. For a complete list of quality search sites make sure to reference the Travel Resource List. For more in-depth budget airfare advice head on over to our site specifically dedicated to airfare advice – Airfare Basics.
Another thing to keep in mind is specials. Airlines are always operating specials of some sort or another. Usually these are only so-so deals, but with a little research and patience you can usually find a fantastic deal. Sites like TravelZoo.com and Airfarewatchdog.com typically provide a good summary of current airfare specials. It's also important to note that you should not limit yourself to the airlines that immediately come to mind. A lot of travelers (especially North Americans) forget about the wealth of high quality foreign airlines. These airlines are almost always extremely safe, usually offer better service than domestic airlines and can be much cheaper.
Student Airfare – Under 26? You'll still qualify for significantly discounted airfare. Still a student? Even better! Services like STA Travel and Student Universe offer fantastic airfare specials and discount airfare. Make sure to check their site and see what they can do for you.
Discount Airlines – Don't forget your discount airlines. The quality is usually rough, and you've gotta do your research to make sure you don't get stuck paying any number of random fees – but the price is usually right. If you can book a day or two ahead discount airlines like EasyJet and RyanAir are typically cheaper and faster than long distance train rides. Keep in mind they also lack the amazing cross country view that train and bus rides offer. If you're flying with a discount airline read up ahead of time. They typically fly into secondary airports which can result in costly/timely commutes between the airport and actual city. For a comprehensive list of budget airlines world wide check out whichbudget.com.
To and From the Airport – This one is simple: Figure out the added costs, time schedules, and best mode of transpiration between the airport and the heart of the city. Hostel booking websites, travel guides, and the like typically provide this info. However, I'm also a huge fan of the website To and From the Airport. A top notch reference site with loads of information.
Rail – When available, travel by rail is an excellent option. It is scenic, relatively comfortable and in western Europe, typically drops you off in the heart of the old city. Faster and more comfortable than bus travel, rail travel is typically also somewhat more expensive. If you're traveling to eastern Europe be aware that bus travel is probably a better option as countries like Greece and Croatia have poor rail infrastructure. When buying rail tickets you typically have 3 options. You can purchase online, in advance, or the day of. Online and advanced tickets are typically significantly cheaper. Also, most countries have regional trains that, while slower moving, are 2-3 times cheaper than the faster commuter trains. Once you purchase your ticket, be sure to validate it before getting on the train. In Italy, for example, tickets are good for several months. To assure that they can't be used multiple times, you have to validate the ticket in the yellow machines readily available in the train station. If you are riding without a validated ticket, there are stiff fines.
Conventional travel wisdom is to use a rail pass – do your research. Rail passes are no longer as good a deal as they once were – many countries (eg: Italy) charge seat reservation fees which can cost more than a lone ticket would. That said, in countries like Germany where rail travel is significantly more expensive, a rail pass can save you a lot of money. I've found that it is usually significantly cheaper to make seat reservations in person when possible. Another must explore site is seat61.com which has a lot of general information for those considering rail travel.
Bus – Far from the most comfortable way to travel, buses are a cheaper and still pleasant option. It is not uncommon for long distance buses to have bathrooms and many are equipped with ceiling mounted T.V.s providing entertainment – some even have wifi! If you've got extra time or are traveling in Eastern European or Latin American countries, bus travel is a fantastic (and sometimes the only) option and will give you a great view of local villages and rural countrysides.
*Yeah. We saw the movie. It was stupid. No. That's not what they're actually like.
Not your parent's hostels – The modern Euro hostel is totally different than what the movies and old stories have probably led you to believe. Most are clean, modern, and have fantastic amenities. In fact, it's not uncommon for hostels to provide communal kitchens, en suite bathrooms, free/charge internet access and all sorts of organized events. Heck, believe it or not – a lot actually have on-site bars! Oh, and the whole…bring your own sheets or a sleeping bag? Not anymore! In fact, leave the sleeping bag and spare sheets at home. In order to prevent bed bugs and for health reasons mainstream hostels now provide linens and in most cases prohibit you from using your own. One thing to be prepared for (and personally I think it's a huge asset) is mixed-sex dorm rooms. While almost all hostels provide female-only rooms, the vast majority also offer rooms in a mixed gender dorm format. Average dorm size is usually 4-16 beds. Though some go larger (I suggest avoiding these when possible).
Types – I typically classify hostels into one of three categories. These are "Old", "New" and "Party". You can read a more in-depth discussion of the differences in this post on the emergence of new dedicated Party Hostels. Make sure you familiarize yourself with the three different models of hostel and keep in mind the differences when booking.
Booking – Depending on what time of the year you're traveling, you might want to book ahead. Regardless, you'll want to do some research (no better way to avoid bad experiences and bedbugs). There are three fantastic resources for booking and research. The first (and largest) is hostelworld.com The site allows easy booking and has a huge database of user submitted reviews which are invaluable. Slightly smaller, but equally valuable is hostelbookers.com. A third and relatively newcomer to the hostel database/online booking industry is the industry travel site bootsnall.com. Keep in mind that sometimes it's possible to get a discount rate by booking with the hostel directly, and that many hostels have an extra cache of beds available (so even if one of these sites isn't showing availability – sometimes another will have access to vacant beds).
For those of you traveling in Europe – one word of caution about Hosteling International hostels. HI Europe was one of the first major hosteling groups and still clings to the outdated hostel model. A lot of their European hostels have lockouts, group showers, charge extra for linens and are dirty. They are most prevalent in Italy where hosteling outside of major tourist destinations can be tricky. This doesn't seem to be the case with American and South American HI Hostels.
Lockouts – Most hostels have abandoned the lockout model, but you'll still find some shoddy ones that have lockouts. When booking online always make sure to check if a hostel has lockouts before you book. The standard lockout process means that the hostel locks the front doors during the day and late at night. For example, a standard lockout would be from 10AM-4PM and from 11Pm to 6AM.
Basic Hostel Etiquette – There are basic rules. Here are a few of the core ones to keep in mind:
- Noise – you are sharing a room with a number of strangers. Be respectful. If you know you'll be returning late in the evening, or leaving early in the morning make sure to pre-pack/unpack. Most hostels have 24/7 receptions. That means you'll have the option of getting back at all hours of the night. Follow the golden rule.
- The light switch – after 11PM the lights stay off with few exceptions. Sure, you can turn them on, but unless the room is empty or your party makes up the sole occupants – do whatever you need to do in the dark. Same principle as with noise applies – have your stuff ready and easily accessible. If you slap the lights on at 3AM in a drunken stupor, you're going to look like an idiot and make a lot of enemies very quickly.
- Clean up after yourself – hostels are usually staffed by other travelers working for free accommodation. If you're lucky enough to stay at one with a kitchen or common area, don't leave a mess and then walk away. There's no housecleaning and there's no maid – that's why you're paying pennies on the dollar for the room. When you leave a mess, you're punishing everyone else.
- Be friendly and inclusive – One of the best parts of hosteling is all of the people you meet. Don't be bashful when it comes to reaching out to fellow travelers, and make an added effort to invite your fellow hostelers to tag along. Don't worry, it's not weird to ask a perfect stranger if they want to head over to the nearby market with you.
Be friendly – Hostels tend to be very social. Travelers are usually a friendly and genuine group. Many are traveling alone or on long-duration trips. One of the keys to enjoying the hostel experience is being inclusive and friendly. When people reach out to you with a hello or invitation respond in a friendly fashion, even if you're not interested. Similarly, go out of your way to strike up conversation with other hostelers and always invite others to your table, meal, or outing when possible. Even if you've already formed a group.
Internet Cafes – There was a time when taking a trip meant complete disconnect from the rest of the world. Of late, it has become common for travelers to travel with laptops, mobile phones, and other similar peripherals leaving them connected in ways previously unimaginable. However, some of us enjoy a happy medium. If you're planning on traveling and are worried about staying connected, but don't want to take a laptop – don't worry. Internet cafes are significantly more common in Europe than the U.S. and Canada. Rates are also typically very affordable (In Europe they range from 1-3 Euro an hour in most locations). Keep in mind, however, that the connection quality can vary widely. Also, it's not uncommon to find internet cafes that are running specialized software which at times restrict the use of peripherals (Double check that you'll be able to connect and access your camera before you settle in).
A locker lock – Security in hostels is fairly lax and can take some getting used to. That said, there's seldom need to worry. Most hostels provide security lockers for your gear and/or valuables. The standard approach is to provide a locker (think back to your high school days). Lockers are typically associated with your bed and are present in the room. I've seen them in all different shapes and forms – from metal, to wood, to enclosed caged racks. One thing is always the same though: you provide your own lock should you decide to use one. For this reason it's advisable to pick up a small but sturdy lock that will fit a wide variety of locker types. I used a small luggage lock and very rarely had any issues. Be mindful that larger, sturdier locks may not always fit. It's also important to note that some hostels also provide in- room, programmable safes. These are a luxury and convenience, but also a growing trend. Typically an electronic key card is provided when safes are available.
Don't stand still – Know that annoying guy at the airport or on the subway that just won't stand still? Sure, he won't stop moving or pacing and it's a bit annoying, but it's also a fantastic way to avoid pick pockets. Train yourself to perpetually move, even if it's as simple as shifting your weight from side to side. By randomly moving and not standing perfectly still, you'll make yourself a more challenging target. Thieves and pickpockets will have to deal with a moving target, and risk bumping you – both of which increase the chances that you'll be alerted to their presence. No need to pace, but a little minor motion can go a long way to helping discourage criminal fingers.
Abandon your back pockets – I love to wear jeans when I'm traveling and as a guy I've always got a wallet on me. Like most guys my wallet is usually in my back right pocket and fairly bulky. When I hit the road though it takes the place of my car keys in my front pocket, where I've trained myself to casually brush my hand on a regular basis. My back pockets? Reserved for things like maps, bulky papers, fliers, and random tickets. I like keeping my maps in my back pockets (folded) because it adds the appearance of bulk/a wallet without endangering valuables.
Blog from the road – Do yourself, your friends, and your family a huge favor. Set up a blog before you leave. It's free, easy and a great way to update friends and family. Sure, you can send a postcard out – but why not give them the chance to share your adventures with you? I highly recommend using WordPress – you can get a free, hosted WordPress blog at WordPress.com. In addition to saving you from writing 10-15 separate e-mails to friends and family, a trip blog creates a journal which you'll be incredibly grateful for as you reminisce about your trip a year or two from now. Be descriptive and share your adventures – it's a wonderful gift to friends, family and yourself. Internet cafes are common place on the road and the hour every day or two you'll need to write an update can be a welcome rest period.
Resources – There are a lot of wonderful travel communities out there. It's somewhat newer but TBEX or Travel Blog Exchange is a wonderful way of finding fantastic travel blogs and connecting with experienced travelers. If you've got a question or are looking for ideas – I highly recommend perusing their members lists. Need other sites or resources? Just let me know and I'll be happy to point you in the right direction.
Vitamins – Yeah, yeah I know. It's basic. However, it's something commonly overlooked. When you're traveling – especially if you've just started the trip, vitamin intake is a lifesaver. It's not enough to just take your daily vitamin. Keep in mind that you're exposed to a whole spread of new foods, new germs, and are temporarily drastically changing your lifestyle. During the first 3 days of any trip I double up on my multi-vitamins with a heavy focus on making sure I have a very high B vitamin intake. B vitamins are fantastic, they'll give you more energy, improve your metabolism and help repair the added strain/damage your body is taking. I'm also a huge fan of anything with amino-acids in it. Especially if you're doing a lot of foot-based touring. One great source are products like EmergenC – head over to Amazin and browse Vitamin Packs. Look for packs with B vitamins, amino acids and a boatload of Vitamin C. 2 or 3 of those a day and you'll be doing yourself a huge favor.
Hydrate – Sure, drinking water is common advice…but it's a pain so most people don't do it. Big mistake – especially if you want to reduce jet lag. Sure, it's difficult to know when your next bathroom break will be, but do yourself a favor – amp up your water intake and skip the soda/carbonated beverages for a few days. Taking your vitamins and staying hydrated will keep your body much healthier, improve recovery time, and increase the resilience of your immune system. Getting chapped lips or peeling cuticles? Drink more water – you're dehydrated.
Timing is important – In my experience one major element that contributes to jet lag is that of mental adjustment. If you're traveling trans Atlantic make sure to set your watch forward as soon as you board the plane. Use the 14 hour flight to adjust mentally instead of spending 14 hours in flux and then trying to adjust once you've arrived. Once you're on that plane operate exclusively on destination time and try not to think about what time it is at your point of origin. It sounds silly, but it makes a huge difference.
Photo & Video backup CDs – Any time I'm on an extended trip I'm always paranoid about losing my photos and videos. What if my camera gets stolen or the memory card dies? A cheap and easy backup technique is to use internet cafe's and a thumb drive to download your files and back them up. Looking for something a little more low tech? Most camera stories have digital development kiosks. For less than $10 and 15 minutes you can usually create a backup DVD with all of your photos on it. Or if you're game to do a bit more work, you can usually save a few dollars by burning your own DVD at a local computer cafe. I suggest making backups every 4-700 photos. One thing to definitely keep in mind – don't delete the photos after burning the backup. DVDs scratch fairly easily, especially while traveling. Keep the DVD as a backup – not – as a replacement. Hopefully you'll never need it, but if you do – it sure beats losing your images, or the quality loss that occurs when you try and re-download photos you posted to Facebook.
Travel Cards – Websites like Facebook and Twitter have made keeping in touch with fellow travelers much easier. Add e-mail into the mix and you've got a pretty cool tool to keep in touch with the amazing people you meet during your trip. However, it's often difficult to track each other down/get accurate contact information. I can't tell you how many people I missed out on keeping in touch with because I couldn't read their handwriting or the note I'd written on a random scrap of paper had gotten smeared. Consider creating travel cards – basically business cards – but to share with fellow travelers. You can get 250 business cards for 20 minutes and $20 or less through Staples or another similar service (cheaper options online). Things to include: Your name, blog url, twitter url, e-mail, website, and if you can shorten it – the link to your Facebook profile.
Interested in the items highlighted in this post? We've put together an Amazon store that exclusively lists backpack/hostel gear at discount prices to make your pre-trip shopping a breeze. Visit the store.
Have a question or tip of your own? Please post it in comment form below.9EYEE52ZNPB9


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Passengers upset after hours on grounded plane
HOUSTON – Passengers on a United Airlines flight said they were stuck on a grounded plane for hours, but the airline said they could have left any time they wanted.
The problem began around 8:30 p.m. Wednesday when a maintenance issue with the plane's air conditioner was reported at Bush Intercontinental Airport.
The plane was heading to Nigeria from Houston.
Passengers said they were stuck on the flight, without A/C, for about three hours.
"I was supposed to be boarded since 6:30 p.m. This is quarter to 12 a.m. and we're still sitting down here," a passenger said.
"They pulled out the plane. Halfway, they called the plane back. They told us it was the air conditioner. (They're) going to fix it. Not even cold water they could have offered us. We asked for water, they giving us at room temperature," another passenger said.
A spokeswoman for United Airlines told Local 2 that the more than 250 passengers could have gotten off at any time to use the airport's facilities.
Authorities said when passengers finally came off the plane, they were met by Houston police officers with K-9 dogs.
Officials said the officers were there because of an apparent disturbance during the wait.
The spokeswoman said the flight was eventually cancelled because the flight crew would have gone over their max flight time.
Takeoff was rescheduled for 11 a.m. Thursday.
Copyright 2012 by Click2Houston.com. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.


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Fungi, Octopi, What's the Plural of Bus? (Part I
There is only one thing worse than waking up next to someone you don't want to be with. And that's waking up next to someone you don't want to be with, then realizing that you're on a bus for the next three hours.
Some people try not to sleep the night before a long bus trip, or just wake up real early so that they'll be able to sleep straight through the ride. Some people also try drying their pants out the window of a car. It doesn't work. The most sleep you will ever get on a bus trip is two hours, even if you've been awake for the last 12 days. And those two hours will never be consecutive. They will be punctuated by large potholes and elbows attached to people on their way to the bathroom.
Everyone knows that the best sleeping seat on a plane is the window seat. Even without one of those pillows-that-looks-like-a-neck-brace, you can get comfortable just leaning your head against the window. This does not work on a bus, and there are three reasons why not. In order of ascending importance they are:
1) The bus window shakes constantly, making your head feel like it's in a paint mixer.
2) The bus window is three inches further away than it should be because of the air-conditioning vents on the windowsill. If you try to lean your head on the vent, your ear will freeze and fall off.
3) Buses hate you.
One good thing about waking up next to a fat sweaty guy on a bus instead of in your bed is that you probably didn't hook up with him. Especially if you were sleeping lightly, because then he didn't have a chance to hook up with you. Hopefully. The cunning bastard.
I told you last week that the televisions in buses are no longer used for movies, so staring at one to pass the time is fairly useless. Which is why buses have those gigantic picture windows. That way, the world can be my movie, right? A big, boring, crappy, predictable movie. Like anything with Freddie Price Jr.
While there are all sorts of terrains in America, most of them repeat for hours in a row. And it is not interesting to stare out the window for long periods of time when 3:30 looks exactly the same as 3:00.
When I'm on a bus without anything to do, I feel a lot like I do when I can't sleep. Except I don't have the option of getting up and doing the dishes, writing a column, or checking my email. There are no dishes to be done, I can't read or write on a bus without getting that "uhhhhhh" feeling in my stomach, and I have no new e-mail. I know because I used my phone to check it ten minutes ago.
The "uhhhhhh" feeling is one of the worst side-effects of taking a bus trip. It doesn't happen to everyone, and I used to be uhhhhh-free. But now if I try to pass the time by doing a crossword puzzle or reading People Magazine, the hour that I have left is much more uncomfortable than a few extra hours of boredom. (Note to readers: I don't like to read People Magazine, but I've found it's commonly left on the seats of buses. Probably because no one else likes to read it either.)
Occasionally, my bus will stop and let me out for ten minutes in order to let me stretch my legs, get something to eat, and leave me at a rest stop in the middle of Connecticut. I think Greyhound and Roy Rogers are in cahoots, because every time one of my Greyhound buses has stopped, there's been a Roy Rogers nearby. Or it could be just that dogs like chicken. You know, those trees still look the same.
Sometimes, the ride gets briefly interesting when I pass through a town. "Hmm," I say. "Jim's Lumber Company. I didn't know there was a Jim's Lumber Company here." That's probably because I've never been here before, and never will be again, aside from passing through on a bus. But I'm so excited not to have to look at the same trees that I make a mental note of whose lumber company is where. Driving through Connecticut is like watching an old cartoon where they use the same background for the whole episode.
Finally, I begin to notice the mileage markers. Boston 42. Boston 39. Boston 34. Boston 42. Ack!
Thankfully, that last one was just a hallucination. I finally get there, and I'm thrilled. Well, I'm not even there yet - I have twenty more minutes to the bus station and another half hour on the train til I'm actually home. I am still thrilled just to see city limits.
Despite what people say, there's a lot of room in cities. There's elbowroom. There's headroom. There's legroom. And in this one, there's the kind of room that's most important to me after a long bus trip - bedroom.
And if anyone tells you otherwise, I know a fat sweaty guy looking for a friend.


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JavaOne: JavaFX 2, Java on iOS
I've been at JavaOne all week and the experience has been fantastic. Oracle has put a lot of resources into ensuring that Java continues to be the number one developer platform, and the effort is bearing fruit.
Overall, Oracle doubled the space for JavaOne (it's within and between the Nikko and Hilton hotels on Mason Street), and attendance is twice what it was last year. Here is an overview of what Oracle has announced so far at JavaOne 2011 (details to follow in later blog posts):
- JavaFX 2.0 with new all-Java APIs for Windows, and an early access release for Mac OS X
- Java SE 7 preview for Mac OS X
- Java EE 7 with integration into the cloud, and PaaS
- Project Nashorn: JavaScript/Rhino implementation using InvokeDynamic (high performance, JIT, and so on)
- JDK 8 plans: Project Lambda (closures), Project Jigsaw (modularization of JDKs and JVM)
JDK 8 will also add support for defender methods, which are default methods for when you extend an existing interface. In a nutshell, they help to maintain binary compatibility, and allow interfaces to evolve over time without breaking compatibility.
Project Jigsaw will work like Maven, and help you pull in just the parts of Java, bundled in specific packages, that you need. A new tool called jmod will be an improvement over the JAR utility, which will create other types of archives, such as RPM, deb, and other packages as needed.
Oracle is also striving for JVM Convergence between Sun's Hotspot and Oracle's JRockit with JDK 8. This should amount to internal improvements such as enhanced garbage collection, which will continue to improve JVM performance.
It didn't stop there. Oracle went on to discuss the beginnings of JDK 9. It's good to see long-term plans for Java, such as:
- Self-tuning JVM: Attempt to eliminate the need for command-line parameters altogether, regardless of the application.
- Improved Native integration: Make it easier and less cryptic to write native code.
- Allow for "Big Data": Support for large heaps and data sets that are potentially hundreds of gigabytes in size, or larger.
- Reification: Resolve the disjoint type system of primitives, i.e., int versus Integer.
- Tail calls/continuations: Common in the JavaScript space with node.js, and allow for asynchronous method calls without threading.
- Some others, without going into detail: meta-object protocol, multi-tenancy, resource management, and heterogeneous compute models.
Inside JavaFX 2.0
Oracle has stated that JavaFX 2.0 is Java's client technology going forward. This means that instead of Swing, JavaFX should be the API of choice for Java GUI application developers. It's also where the bulk of Oracle's effort will be focused for future GUI innovation. As for existing Swing applications, Swing will not be going away, and Oracle has worked hard to ensure that the JavaFX and Swing APIs will work together. This means that you can extend existing Swing applications with JavaFX 2.0; Oracle has provided full integration between the two. This is a direct result of Oracle listening to Java developers' concerns and requirements in this area.
Richard Bair and Jasper Potts went on to demo JavaFX 2.0 with a series of sample applications, the most interesting of which was a demo that included a Microsoft Kinect camera. Using JavaFX 2.0's advanced 3D and animation, along with the fact that it's all Java, they used a Kinect to move a 3D version of Duke on the screen as Potts moved around on stage. It was a powerful demo, and a real crowd pleaser.
Oracle also announced the new JavaFX Scene Builder, which is a rapid development platform for GUIs, along with a beta version of NetBeans 7.1 that fully supports JavaFX 2.0. All are available for download to try today.
Along with the JavaFX APIs, you can use FXML for UI markup, which is a way of defining the UI using XML. I suppose this may be similar to XAML in .NET.
JavaFX 2.0 and HTML5
Another crowd pleaser was the announcement of the new WebView component within JavaFX. WebView and WebComponent together provide full HTML4 (and partial HTML5) support for use within a JavaFX application. It renders full web pages with support for embedded JavaScript, and uses WebKit for all the heavy lifting. Using HTML5, you can now build composite Java and web-based client applications, where you can interact between your Java code and your page's JavaScript and DOM. For example, from Java, you can manipulate and replace parts of the DOM as needed.
Right now, JavaFX 2.0 is a separate download, but beginning in December, it will be integrated into Java SE 7, and will be included when you download the JDK.
Java SE and Java ME
As for Java SE, Oracle announced and released a preview version of Java SE 7 for Mac OS X. While it's in early access form now, Oracle plans to release it in final form by early 2012.
Regarding mobile Java's future, Oracle plans to align Java ME CLDC (for smaller, more constrained devices) with the latest Java SE language features, and synchronize releases from that point onward. This includes tooling, which will work across ME and SE. Oracle also plans to combine Java ME CDC with Java SE Embedded using the modularity features of JDK 8's Project Jigsaw. No solid time frames were given for this integration.
Oracle also announced full support and optimization of Java on ARM chipsets, with performance acceleration, and an enhanced C2 just-in-time (JIT) compiler, optimized for the ARM instruction set.
Java and JavaFX on iOS and Android
The most interesting announcement came when Oracle demoed both Java and JavaFX applications running on a Windows tablet, an iPad, and a "Linux-based tablet". To achieve iOS compliance, Oracle is working on an enhanced compiler that takes your Java application, unchanged, compiles it with the JVM built within it, and bundles it as a fully-compliant iOS application that meets Apple's requirements. Currently, this JVM is a variant of Java ME's CDC JVM, and depends on some enhancements that are not yet final, but this offers promise that Java applications will run on mobile devices and tablets in the near future.
Happy coding!


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Penicillin Production
In June 1941, two British scientists, Howard Florey and Norman Heatley, came to the United States to work with scientist at USDA's Northern Regional Research Laboratory in Peoria, Illinois, to develop a procedure to mass-produce the drug penicillin. One of the Peoria scientists, Andrew J. Moyer, grew the Penicillium notatum mold in a nutritious medium that included corn steep water, an inexpensive byproduct of the wet corn milling process. He kept adding nutrients to his medium until he had increased Penicillium yields by more than 10 times. Moyer's results encouraged four U.S. drug companies to try large-scale penicillin production. On the lookout for a more productive strain of Penicillium, a staff member found it on a moldy cantaloupe in a Peoria market. This new Penicillium (Penicillium chrysogenum) produced several hundred times more penicillin than Penicillium notatum. Moyer was able to grow Penicillium chrysogenum in quantity by deep vat fermentation in corn steep water and milk sugar. Results were so promising that the U.S. drug industry adopted the medium and the newly found mold and began to increase penicillin production. By the end of 1942, 17 companies were working to increase output still more. Thanks to the combined efforts of the public and private scientists, enough penicillin was available on June 6, 1944, to treat Allied troops wounded on D-day.
Reducing Nitrosamines in Food
It's no exaggeration that ARS scientists at the USDA's Eastern Regional Research Laboratory in Wyndmoor, Pennsylvania, helped save the bacon industry. In the mid-1960's, it had been reported that sodium nitrite, an inorganic compound used to cure bacon and frankfurters, could, under certain conditions, form cancer-causing chemicals called nitrosamines. After analysis with sensitive instruments, extremely small amounts of one nitrosamine were discovered in hot dogs. Another was found in minute amounts in bacon after frying it at high temperatures. It was the heat that did it; the chemical wasn't present in raw bacon at all. Consumer organizations promptly called for a ban on nitrites in foods and a similar ban on sales of bacon.
In an effort to save the nation's bacon, Eastern lab researchers first searched for substitutes for nitrites, testing some 500 compounds as curing agents. Unfortunately, none retarded the growth of microbes as well as sodium nitrite. But researchers also found that the addition of vitamins C and E reduced the levels of nitrosamines in fried bacon and in nitrite-cured products. The findings led to changes in Federal regulations and in industry processing to minimize consumer exposure to nitrosamines. The proposed ban on bacon was averted.
Insect Repellents & Insect-borne Human Diseases
During World War II, the USDA and military formed a team to develop methods for stopping transmission of insect-borne diseases. It was there that DDT-which had been discovered in Switzerland years before but never used-was demonstrated to kill lice that transmit epidemic typhus and fleas that transmit plague. Using this knowledge, USDA and military entomologists came up with a system for mass delousing that led to saving thousands of U.S. troops from deadly typhus-and ultimately about 25 million people worldwide. In addition, the World Health Organization estimated that widespread use of DDT prevented more than 25 million deaths from malaria following World War II.
The USDA military collaboration also resulted in the use of n-n-diethylnetatoluamide (DEET) as an insect repellent. USDA scientists in Orlando, Florida, and Beltsville, Maryland tried keeping pests away with literally thousands of substances, reporting their findings to chemists. Chemists observed that one particular group of chemicals had repellent action. In time, they came up with 33 new chemicals and sent them to the military for testing. One of the chemicals, DEET, proved superior to all others. Beginning in 1946, the military began using DEET as topical insect repellent. USDA registered DEET for public use and in 1957 it was marketed as 6-12 for civilian use. It is impossible to calculate how much illness, death, and misery has been prevented during the last 50 years by simple application of a bit of DEET. Today, DEET remains the most widely used active ingredient for mosquito and insect repellents.
Low-fat Cheese
ARS researchers developed reduced-fat mozzarella cheese--now used in the USDA National School Lunch Program. To date, more than $44 million worth has been purchased for the program. This all-natural cheese contains only 10 percent fat--full-fat mozzarella contains 23 percent fat. ARS's low-fat mozzarella has melting and texture properties similar to commercial full-fat Mozzarella. The cheese is manufactured using ordinary cheesemaking procedures, but at reduced temperatures. This novel treatment produces mozzarella that melts and strings freely when heated in a pizza oven. Reduced-fat mozzarella cheese allows school children to enjoy pizza--their favorite lunch--while reducing their dietary fat intake and lowering their risk of diet-related diseases as adults.
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Smear - bright line in the image
Smear (or smearing) can be defined as an undesirable vertical bright line that extends above and below a bright spot in an image.
Figure 1: Smearing above and below a bright spot
Technical cause:
Basically, smearing is caused by electrons that move from an overexposed pixel to the shaded vertical shift register during the readout process. These electrons are caught by transferring registers that shift the charge from other pixels toward the readout line at the bottom of the CCD sensor. Therefore, the whole column shows this undesirable vertical artifact called smear or smearing.
Technical background:
Blank pixels are shifted in from the top of the light-sensitive area so that even a pixel that is "at the bottom" of this register becomes a bright pixel.Therefore, the vertical stripe above a bright spot is generated by shifting the previous image, while the smear stripe below is produced during the shift of the actual image.
Reducing smear:
Smear can be diminished by reducing the amount of light the pixels are exposed to. Moreover, decreasing the aperture size and concentrating the light to prevent it from reaching the interline transfer cells can help to reduce smear.
- Increase the shutter (integration) time.
- Turn the light source off before and after an exposure by trigger/shutter.
- Use a pulsed or flashed light source.
- Use an LCD/mechanical shutter
- Use an optical filter
Special case - dark smear:
If the image has several big bright spots with dark parts in between, smear can occur as a dark line that extends beyond and below a bright spot, which is interrupted by dark parts below and/or beyond. This dark smear is the inversion of smear explained above. Since the whole image is strongly exposed, smear can be seen everywhere except where the dark parts occur, which interrupt the shifting of overexposed pixels, so that dark smear can be seen.
Figure 2: Dark smear
Smear occurs in the shaded part of a CCD sensor and is sometimes confused with an artifact occurring in the light-sensitive part: a phenomenon called blooming. Especially on interline transfer CCDs, these artifacts often occur simultaneously.
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Two weeks ago, you vowed all sorts of changes to your habits and your lifestyle. And right about now, those New Years Resolutions might be starting to crumble, under the weight of everyday life. But luckily, there are some alternatives to the boring grind of "hitting the gym" and "doing crunches." You could be swinging a bat'leth or lightsaber instead.
Here are some of the best geeky workout routines that you could take up, instead of those doomed new year's resolutions.
Obligatory disclaimer: We haven't tried all these workout methods, and they could in fact be great ways to injure yourself. Proceed with a modicum of caution here, folks.
Top image: Sergio Dionisio/Getty Images.
Bat'leth training
The Bat'leth is a noble weapon used by generations of Klingon warriors. It's also a heavy sucker with a metal blade, so you have to be careful with it. The good news is, swinging a Bat'leth is really hard because of the aforementioned weight, so you could get a lot of good aerobic and upper body exercise out of it. There are various instructional videos online showing how to train with a Bat'leth at home, although I'm not sure how helpful they would be. But if you're lucky enough to be in Minneapolis, the Geek Physique Meetup claims to have Bat'leth fitness classes. And here's a very, very comprehensive guide to how to organize your own Bat'leth class in your own town, complete with what sound like some very hard-won lessons.
Given that half the most popular geek heroes right now are shooting bows and arrows right now, this seems like a good hobby to pick up. And archery is actually pretty great exercise — it's strength training, because pulling that bow is actually hard work, and you have to maintain the proper stance for a long time. And there's also a lot of running back and forth to collect arrows. And so on. Bonus points if you actually try to run and shoot arrows at the same time, like Oliver Queen. Here's a list of resources to find an archery club or class in your area.
Jedi Workouts
A lightsaber isn't as hard to swing around as a Bat'leth, but you can still get a really great aerobic workout swinging one. We attended a big lightsaber fight in a park a while back, and also featured a lightsaber instructor on the io9 TV show. But there might well be a way to learn lightsaber combat in your local area. For example, in New York, there's the New York Jedi, in their seventh year of lightsaber classes and "illuminated combat" performances — including Saber Academy. Plus here's an online guide to the Physical Routines of the Jedi, including Jedi Yoga. And here are some Jedi-themed workout tips.
What is savate, you ask? It's basically "French kickboxing" — but it's better known to comics fans as one of the squillion martial arts that Batman mastered before he became the best fighter on the planet. And in fact, a shocking number of comics heroes seem to have mastered savate, and it gets mentioned a lot here and there. If you want to be Batman, you'll have to learn every martial art on the planet — but savate is a bit more off the beaten track than karate or gongfu, and it includes a lot of Batman's showiest moves. And the good news is, there are savate classes all over the place. In Seattle, in Maryland, in Sydney, in L.A.... And it's French, so it's a romantic way to beat people up.
Fairytale Workout
No clue whether this is actually a good exercise routine or not — but it's fairytale themed, there are a lot of squats. Plus the video has awesome leg warmers, which might remind you of Jane Fonda, who was Barabarella after all.
Bo staff
Want to be like Gandalf? Do you feel the need to tell people that they shall not pass? Gandalf doesn't exactly use his staff like a bo staff, but you can still learn some cool moves with one. There are bo staff classes in Connecticut, Virginia, Maryland, and Dallas.
Sword fighting
And finally, there's the obvious... if you want to be a fantasy hero, you have to be able to wield a longsword. And as Neal Stephenson has proved recently, proper sword-fighting technique is a lot more complicated and also way more badass than most of us realized. And there's no question that sword-play training is an amazing work out — it's like a bat'leth, only not for Klingons. And luckily, it's even easier to find sword fighting classes in your area than it is all this other stuff — your local chapter of the SCA probably does a bunch of stuff, but you can also just plug "swordfighting classes" into Google and get a huge list, including various places with names like "Academy of European Martial Arts" and "Academy of Arms."
So what's your favorite geek-oriented exercise routine? Share it with us below!


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Eisenberg Institute for Historical Studies
 Thursday Speaker Series
 Deirdre de la Cruz, University of Michigan
Abstract: From November 1948 to March 1949, on no fewer than fifteen separate occasions, petals of roses fell from the sky on the grounds outside of a Carmelite convent in the town of Lipa, the Philippines. The petals and stories about them circulated at national and international levels, giving rise to new devotional publics that attended to the events from nearby and afar. Outlining the matrix of conditions that enabled their appearance and proliferation, this talk examines the petals of Lipa as both a phenomenon to be mediated and a medium in its own right, a material network by means of which both predictable and unexpected imaginaries emerged.
Biography: Deirdre de la Cruz is an assistant professor in the Departments of History and Asian Languages and Cultures at the University of Michigan. She is the author of several articles on the history of Catholic devotions in the Philippines and its diaspora, and is currently completing a book on modern apparitions of the Virgin Mary in the Philippines. This year she is a Faculty Fellow at the Institute for the Humanities at the University of Michigan, where she will be working on a new project about late nineteenth century Spiritism, anti-colonialism, and occult imaginaries of the global.
Free and open to the public.
This lecture is part of the Thursday Speaker Series of the Eisenberg Institute for Historical Studies. It is made possible by a generous contribution from Kenneth and Frances Aftel Eisenberg.


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Hi everyone,
I would like to know if there is any way to parse C code so I can automatically generate template code (such as header files). For example I would like to generate enums for each global variable and have them modified through a single function as follows:
then generate the appropriate GUI function so I can manipulate them. I'm sure someone at some point would have done this to account for the numerous amount of variables one might have.Code:// set the variable 'vname' to the specified value int s_set_option( enum s_opt vname, void *new_value); // return the variable 'vname' value void *s_get_option( enum s_opt vname);
such a tool would make a lovely addition to my make file for future projects.
I am working with Ubuntu


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« Back to Tree Recycling
City programs that collect Christmas Trees for mulching are common through the United States; the mulch is then often used for city beautification projects. In San Diego, however, the fertile mulch is offered free of charge to residents throughout the year.
The program, which has been offered since 1973, allows city residents to drop off their Christmas Trees at 18 locations, or they may leave their trees at the curb for collection. All trees are then recycled into high-quality mulch and compost, which is available to residents at the Miramar Greenery. "By recycling your Christmas Tree, you are doing your part to reduce the amount of material in the landfill and help the environment by giving your holiday tree a second life as compost, mulch or wood chips," explains Elmer L. Heap Jr., director of Environmental Services Department.


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The holidays are a fantastic time to indulge, but when it comes to managing credit, having a little self-restraint can really pay off. With the new year just around the corner, and more than a few consumers feeling what we've fondly dubbed Black Friday hangover, sitting down with a notebook and pen to jot down some credit resolutions might not be a bad idea.
With help from Credit.com expert Barry Paperno, we've listed five resolutions to get your score in tip-top shape by the next ball drop.
Stop opening store cards. Unless you have the self-control and the means to take advantage of retail cardholder discounts while paying the balances in full without interest, retail cards should be avoided at all costs, says Paperno. That's because in return for that 10%-20% off for opening the line of credit, you'll receive a score-dropping hard inquiry and new account on your credit report, a low credit limit and a high APR. Is another path to debt really worth it?
Pay more than the minimum balance. Like running in place, paying the minimum payment due is sure to keep you at status quo. The debt's interest will continue to pile up, requiring much more time to pay that balance down. Paperno recommends paying off as much as you can reasonably afford every month to salvage your score. Check how long that will take by using this calculator.
Check your credit reports and credit score. This should go without saying, but if you haven't checked your credit report and score yet, now's the time to do it. You can't begin to make changes if you don't know where you stand or have a goal for where you'd like your score to be, says Paperno. You can request a report for free from any of the three major bureaus using AnnualCreditReport.com -- and make sure it's accurate. You can get your credit score for free using Credit.com's free Credit Report Card.
Possibly the easiest way to get debt under control, automatic payments are a cardholder's best friend. "This way you won't accidentally forget to make a payment, which can cause an account to go past due," Paperno says, since "past due payments are the worst thing you can do to your credit score." Missing payments frequently is a recipe for disaster, even more than someone who misses their payments infrequently. The more severe and recent the missed payments, the greater the negative impact will be.
Set up automatic payments.
Quit comparison shopping for credit. It sounds savvy on the surface: Any card worth its salt should stand up to the competition, right? But come holiday time, this can be a disaster in the making if you open too many cards. The problem with applying for several cards is that the hard inquiries and new accounts appearing on your credit report work against your score, as consumers who frequently apply for new credit have a higher risk of default than those who only apply for new credit when needed. If you're unsure of an offer, and don't have the cash, try using a card comparison tool.


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Poor NASA. They've truly suffered through a woebegone week of bad news.
First, the space agency was slammed for losing $94m worth of equipment. Then a space station computer was sabotaged by a subcontracting company. Finally, an internal investigation has found that some astronauts were dangerously drunk during takeoff.
Last Friday they were celebrating the anniversary of the moon landing and promising to establish a base there. This Friday, they're defending themselves from being labeled as incompetent, drunken saboteurs.
Sometimes the fickle finger of fate pokes you in the eye.
Our earlier report that NASA would release findings of sauced space explorers has proven to be correct. With report in-hand, we can now look at the details.
Let's see...details...
Oddly, for a report with such an embarrassing finding, it remains vague on any specifics, or even measures of verification for the investigation.
Here's the paragraph that's so stirred media quills:
"Interviews with both flight surgeons and astronauts identified some episodes of heavy use of alcohol by astronauts in the immediate preflight period, which has led to flight safety concerns. Alcohol is freely used in crew quarters. Two specific instances were described where astronauts had been so intoxicated prior to flight that flight surgeons and/or fellow astronauts raised concerns to local on-scene leadership regarding flight safety. However, the individuals were still permitted to fly."
It leaves something to be desired, that's for sure. Who were the astronauts? What missions did they fly?
Houston to Margaritaville: All systems go
But before we even get to that can of worms, have the interviews been verified?
We may never know. The space agency's next move will be to study and evaluate the report. This charge will fall in the hands of NASA's senior management and Medical Policy Board. But because the findings are classified as medical, the likelihood the public will get any more details remains low.
The panel said NASA has not established a way to deal with alcohol use by astronauts.
"The medical certification of astronauts for flight duty is not structured to detect such episodes, nor is any medical surveillance program by itself likely to detect them or change the pattern of alcohol use," the panel wrote.
NASA said that in response to the study's recommendations, there will be an interim adoption their T-38 aircraft alcohol policy for future space shuttle flights. The policy prohibits alcohol consumption within the 12 hours prior to flight. Astronauts will neither be under the influence nor the effects of alcohol at the time of launch. Furthermore, NASA will now establish an astronaut code of conduct.
This pretty basic stuff, and quite frankly, it's odd that there wasn't such policy in place beforehand.
Fourteen astronauts were interviewed by the panel. All but one has space flight experience. In addition, five family members and eight flight surgeons were interviewed.
The results of the agency's bad week might get a turn-around on August 7, when NASAs next manned mission is set to blast off from Cape Canaveral. The mission is bound for the International Space Station.
Hopefully, they'll get some proper boozing up there when nobody is looking. In space, nobody can hear you heave. Cheers, space explorers! ®
Sponsored: Practical tips for Office 365 tenant-to-tenant migration


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The 2008 CPT book is out. For the past few years, there has been some controversy about ER docs using IV infusion codes in the ER. The language did not expressly prohibit it, and some payers would actually reimburse for it (though not all), so many ER doctors added these codes into their charge master.
For our part, we did not. There were several reasons. First of all, the documentation requirements are, not exactly onerous, but detailed enough to represent a significant obstacle to compliantly billing for that service. It would require a fair amount of attention and education of our doctors to ensure that the charting matched the charges, but doctors these days are absolutely overwhelmed with "educational mandates" like patient satisfaction, joint commission, quality and "pay for performance", and even some actual medicine, too. People only have so many incoming information channels, and doctors are saturated. So I preferred to focus on maximizing the documentation of the more "legitimate" and common services like critical care and fracture care, which in the end are far more valuable.
Also, I rather suspected that IV infusion was never intended to be a code for ER doctors to use, and that it was an oversight which would be corrected. For a doc in an office or a chemotherapy infusion center, there are costs to be covered and in the absence of a separate E/M charge, the infusion code represents the entirety of the physician work, which should be reimbursed. But in the ER, the facility bears the overhead of the infusion, and the infusion is really just accessory to the diagnosis and management work, so it doesn't make sense to reimburse for it as a separate line item.
And I have been proven right (yes, it does happen on rare occasion). The new language of the "Hydration , Injection and Infusion" codes does appear to preclude further use in the ED setting. Page 383 reads:
"Physician work related to hydration, injection, and infusion services predominately involves affirmation of treatment plan and direct supervision of staff. These codes are not intended to be reported by the physician in the facility setting.Emphasis added. Well, that settles that.
When these codes are reported by the facility, the following instructions apply. The initial code should be selected using a hierarchy whereby the chemotherapy services are primary to therapeutic, prophylactic, and diagnostic services which are primary to hydration services. Infusions are primary to pushes, which are primary to injections. This hierarchy does not apply to physician coding."


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OpenSSL vulnerability in Debian Etch and Ubuntu
A vulnerability involving predictable random numbers has been discovered in the OpenSSL packages included with Debian Etch and Ubuntu systems. This vulnerability affects all software which makes use of SSL/TLS encrypted connections, including Citadel.
Please see http://lists.debian.org/debian-security-announce/2008/msg00152.html for more detailed information.
In order to patch the OpenSSL vulnerability, issue this command:
apt-get update; apt-get upgrade
Afterwards, you should regenerate your private keys in SSL/TLS enabled applications, such as Citadel. The procedure for doing so on a Citadel installation using the Debian package is:
rm -f /etc/ssl/citadel/*
For an Easy Install system, it is:
rm -f /usr/local/citadel/keys/*
Then restart Citadel to make it generate new keys. If you are making use of certificates signed by a certificate authority, you will need to submit a new CSR to them for re-signing.
Naturally, if you are also running OpenSSH on your server, you will need to regenerate keys for that as well.


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NSF Override Request Form
The NSF Override request is an override process used to prevent delays associated with emergency procurement only. An override is rarely needed. Generally, NSF suspensions can be avoided through proper budget controls, regular monitoring of budget authority, and regular monitoring and processing of incomplete documents. When budget is unavailable within the current budget authority, a budget revision should be requested proactively so that budget is available when and where it is needed.
In situations in which a document is NSF, but does not constitute an emergency, the financial manager need only submit a budget revision to make budget available. Once the budget revision is entered, the user may access and complete the document. Please see the instructions for more information on how to properly complete a budget revision.
All NSF Override requests must include written, detailed justification.
By submitting the NSF Override request form, you certify that you have the authority to commit university funds, funds will be made available for this expenditure, and it is an emergency procurement.
For information regarding how to handle Banner NSF flags please see the NSF Help Section on the Financial Manager Resources page.
Click here to submit an NSF Override request.