Sabtu, 18 Juni 2011

Cold weather events to persist as planet warms




Current projections estimate that the globe will be about 2-5°C (3.6-9°F) warmer by the end of the century, depending on future emissions of greenhouse gases. It's sometimes assumed that climate changeimplies a smooth, linear march up the thermometer, with each season slightly warmer than that of the previous year, without exception. Seen this way, any abnormal cold snap would appear to falsify the predictions of climate science. Obviously, that's a simplistic view of the climate, so what do climate models really project the future to be like? A recent paper published in Geophysical Research Letters takes a look at how cold weather events are expected to change in a warming climate.

Climate projections are based on models that incorporate every bit of physics and chemistry we are able connect to Earth's climate, and they do the difficult work of calculating everything out for each grid cell on the planet at each time interval. A number of research groups (such as NASA and the National Center for Atmospheric Research) develop their own models, so the average of multiple models is often used to generate more robust projections, like those published by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. The authors of this recent paper used nine of those models to compare cold events during the last decade of the 21st century with those of the last decade of the 20th century, based on a middle-of-the-road greenhouse emissions scenario (IPCC scenario A1B).

The team characterizes "extreme cold events" for each year in three ways: intensity, duration, and frequency. Intensity is calculated as the lowest 3-day average of maximum daily temperatures. Duration is defined as the greatest number of consecutive days that dip below freezing each year. Frequency is simply the total number of days that reach freezing temperatures in that year.

Model projections for the years 2091-2100 were compared to the average annual intensity, duration, and frequency for the decade of 1991-2000, and the researchers counted the number of times (for each individual grid cell) that a year exceeded that 1991-2000 average.

In the end, they find that while the frequency of cold events decreases everywhere, the duration and intensity of cold events in the future don't look that much different from the present. Roughly half the globe experiences at least one year in the 2090s with cold events more intense than the 1991-2000 average, and portions of the planet (particularly North America and Europe) go through events of greater duration. The exact details of the number of years or land area affected have a pretty wide spread among the models, so the authors focus on a more general conclusion: we'll still need to be prepared to deal with cold weather events even as we focus on mitigating the effects of warming.

This is a good example of the complexity of the climate system. Climate warming is ultimately measured by global mean annual temperature. At smaller spatial and temporal scales, there is bound to be variation—weather is a dynamic thing. The relevant message from the paper is this: the same models that project a warming planet also project the continuation of regional extreme cold weather events.

Jumat, 17 Juni 2011

How to Clean Your TV, Computer, or Laptop Screen


Much like anything in your home, TV screens get dirty with fingerprints and dust and require a periodic cleaning. Keeping your TV screen clean is essential for ensuring a clear picture, and getting the longest life from your display.

Cleaning the front of your TV is not something that should be left for the cleaning lady. The use of certain cleaning products and solvents can damage the front of your TV screen. Special care must be taken in order to make sure that your TV screen is cleaned properly.
Every kind of TV has different steps for proper cleaning. If you are unsure what kind of TV you own, consult your TV user's manual to ensure that you are using the right cleaning method.

How To Clean a Direct-View CRT TV

Older direct view TV's are typically best cleaned with simple glass cleaner and a paper towel. I'd recommend avoiding harsher-commercial glass cleaners with ammonia and instead opt for a regular-strength streak-free formula. 
To apply, make sure that the TV is turned off. Spray glass cleaner on the paper towel (don't soak it completely); NEVER spray glass cleaner directly on the front of the tube as some may drip down small cracks between the class and plastic housing. Wipe the glass with the paper towel continuously until fingerprints and streaks are removed.
Some direct-view CRT TVs, particularly higher end models sold from the late '90s to the mid 2000s, may contain any special coatings like an anti-glare coating that could be stripped by some forms of glass cleaner. These screens are usually spotted by examing the reflection from a light source in the room; if the reflection's color appears tinted green or purple, then some form of anit-reflective coating has been applied. While mild glass cleaners not containing ammonia should be safe for most forms of anti-reflective coatings, an alternative would be to use a soft, lint-free towel dampened with distilled water or a specifically formulated screen cleaning product, see below for recommendations.

How to Clean a CRT, DLP, or LCD Rear-Projection TV

Before you can begin cleaning, you need to determine if your rear-projection TV does or does not have a screen shield installed. A screen shield is a hard plastic cover over the front of the actual screen itself. Nearly all LCD and DLP rear-projection displays will have a shield, however many CRT rear-projection TVs will not. A screen shield will usally be easy to identify, looking like a reflective piece of plastic on top of the screen. If the surface is unreflective and "flat" looking, then no shield is present. If you can't tell, give the front of the TV a light tap, and if your finger doesn't touch the screen you have a shield. Another way to tell is to check for ridges in the screen area; if you can feel ridges on the screen, then you do not have a screen shield.
To clean a TV with a screen shield, a dry, lint-free cloth will often take care of any fingerprints and dust on the shield surface. If additional cleaning power is required, slightly dampen the cloth with water and clean the entire screen surface.NEVER use a paper product, like a paper towel, which can leave tiny scratches all over the surface. Als, do not use a chemical cleaner on the screen shiled itself. Screen shields can have a tendency to streak while cleaning if using a . If this happens, try to use distilled water instead of tap water, or use a dry cloth to buff the screen in a small circular motions.   
Rear projection TVs without a screen shield require very delicate cleaning practices. I highly recommend using a specialized projection TV cleaning product to clean a rear projection screen. In the past, I've always used Mitsubishi's Screen Cleaner part number CLEANER-VSS from their service department if it's still available. If not, contact a few shops in your area and ask what cleaner they use and if you can purchase from them.
You can use a distilled warm water to clean the screen as a worst cast, but make sure you clean the entire surface evenly without putting too much pressure on the screen. Follow up with a dry cloth right away to dry.
I do not recommend cleaning CRT lenses or internal mirrors yourself. Contact a qualified technician to clean these parts, if necessary.

How to Clean Plasma TVs

  Plasma TV screens are safe to clean with a lint-free or microfiber cloth. A slightly damp cloth with a very tiny amount of liquid dish soap (not detergent) can clean just about any amount of grime from the front of the TV. When finished, dry the front of the screen to remove any streaks if necessary.
NEVER use heavy cleaning agents with abrasives, which can strip special coatings and heavily scratch the screen's surface. Also, do not use paper products, like paper towels, which can also scratch the front of the TV.

Even though standard household items can be used, I highly recommend picking up a specialized screen cleaning product for flat screen displays, like the ones listed below. They're not expensive, and one bottle generally lasts a very long time.

How to Clean LCD Flat Panel Displays and Televisions

How you clean LCD displays, like rear-projection TVs above, will depend on whether or not the LCD display contains a matte or glossy finish.
To clean LCD screens with glossy fronts, it's generally okay to follow the same directions as cleaning Plasma TVs. See above. 
LCD displays with a matte finish can easily be stained or damaged with improper cleaning methods. For starters, I recommend using only a specialized flat screen cleaning product and a microfiber cloth like listed below. Dry cloths never seem to get the fingerprints off adequately, and it's just too easy to stain or streak the screen with other methods. When cleaning, do not press hard on the screen during cleaning. Doing so could cause damage to the display itself. Do not use any cleaning solvents, such as glass cleaner or soaps, to clean the LCD screen. Also avoid paper products, which could scratch the front of the screen.
If you have a pet or child who rubbed something on the screen that you feel could stain or damage it if cleaning was attempted, contact your local TV or computer service center (for laptops and monitors) for assistance.

How to Clean Projection Screens

While I could give some general guidelines that outline some basic, and usually safe, cleaning steps, there are so many different screen manufacturers and screen types (like PVC, acrylic, glass coated, etc) that I recommend you get specific instructions from your screen's manufactuerer. 
If you know your screen's manufacturer (like Da-Lite or Stewart Filmscreen), you should be able to find cleaning instructions specific to the type of screen you have on their website. If you do not know your manufacturer, Screen Innovations has a decent guide with instructions for various types of screens. You can see it here.

How to Clean TV Cabinets and Cassis

When dusting a TV or display's exterior, dust with a damp cloth or a diluted liquid dish soap solution (a drop or two should be sufficient). Paper products can scratch the surface of high-gloss cabinets, so avoid paper products in general, instead opting for a microfiber or lint-free cloth. Heavy cleaners can strip the finish off of TV cabinets over time.
When cleaning cloth speaker grilles, dust with a dry cloth, compressed air, or vacuum cleaner ONLY. Wet cleaners could stain or damage the grille cloth.

Recommended Tools for Your Cleaning Arsenal

Below are some cleaning products I recommend for cleaning various displays. Reference the cleaning instructions above to see which product is used for specific displays.
Cloths and Dusters
  • Flour Sack Towel - available at Bed, Bath, and Beyond. Great for gently cleaning and drying various display types, exterior cabintets, and does a great job drying dishes, too!
  • Microfiber Cloth - available everywhere. There are lots of microfiber cloth products available. I personally use a generic version they sell at a local hardware store, and I tend to prefer the microfiber suede over the shinier microfiber glass wipes, but either will do. 
  • Paper Towels - Good 'ol paper towels. Safe on old glass tubes and some exterior components. Just be careful not to scratch delicate surfaces!
  • Compressed Air - Very handy for dusting tight areas, remote controls, speaker grilles, and in cracks. I always recommend having a bottle around.
Wet Cleaning products
  • Distilled or De-ionized Water - available at your supermarket or drug store. Good for cleaning with less streaks and no residue left behind. It's cheap.
  • Ultra Dawn Original - When a mild soap is necessary, for exterior cabinets or screens safe to clean with mild soap, I typically recommend Ultra Dawn original. About a drop for every 2 cups of water should be sufficient for most cleaning tasks. Never apply dish soap directly to a screen or cloth without diluting it.
Specialized Cleaning Kits
  • Klear Screen - They've got a wide variety of kits for specialized applications, although the basic Klear Screen kit is what I use on just about everything... and it comes with microfiber cloths. 
  • Monster ScreenClean - It's one of the few Monster products I'd actually recommend. I've used this one many times, and it really does a fantastic job. The Dual Pack is a pretty good deal, and will also work on just about everything.
  • Mitsubishi CLEANER-VSS - If you can still get it through Mitsubishi, I highly recommend this for lenticular rear projection screens.

Cheat Rumble Racing (Nascar Rumble PS2)


input code in the cheat menu:

LEAITEPUC---Blue Devil
UBTCKSTOH---Buckshot
P1PROC1PU---Cataclysm
TLACOBTLA---Cobalt
ILQTEC3PU---Direwolf
Q2PROC2YT---Escargot
BSUIGASUM---Gamecus
HGIROLREL---High Roller
CDAAPTNIA---Interceptor
ILETEC1MB---Jolly Roger
ILCTEC2VB---Malice
KCEROCTEK---Redneck Rocket
PTOATRTOI---Revolution
AEPPROPUC---Road Kill
ABOGOBOGA---Road Trip Car
OPSRTISUC---Sporticus
AMHBRAAMH---Stinger
THTORHROT---Thor
VTYANIYTT---Van Itty
1AREXT1AR---Vortex
NALDSHHSD---XXS Tomcat

Rock Climbing Safety Tips


There are many ways to get safety when climbing.

Get safe when you Rock!

  1. Leave a message or inform someone that you are going to "Rock Climbing"
  2. Know the Rock Climbing Techniques
  3. Prepare the emergency kit
  4. Check and prepare your Rock Climbing Essential Equipment Gear
  5. Check and prepare your Rock Climbing Safety Gear
  6. Use long rope
  7. Respect about the Mountain Environment

Those are tips for safety when carrying out rock climbing.

When climbers opt to climb without a rope, they lose the luxury of learning from mistakes. Backyard inventor Matt Maddaloni has engineered a few creative solutions to make the fringe activity of free soloing "safe". Of course, safe is a relative term.

Learn about adventure sports and see more wild footage at Fringe Elements central on NG Adventure: ngadventure.com/fringe

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3vRXXCSm8Vo
Safety Climbing

Find Wedding Jewelry Perfect Place to Go Shopping


Find Wedding Jewelry Perfect Place to Go Shopping - we always search about wedding jewelry or may be engagement jewelry to make our love will love forever. Then we go shop to buy something spesial for her or him. Anything about wedding must be very exciting for the people who are going to celebrate it. This is a very great and unforgettable moment for everybody to start their new life with the people that they love. Therefore, to start this very start, they need something different, not just an ordinary wedding. Some people would like to have wedding antique engagement rings or other unique things in their wedding and even their pre wedding. For some people, who can afford to pay more money, their extraordinary wedding would be fabulous and well-organized by a wedding organizer. Moreover, they would order a pair of rings from a famous store.

If you are one of those people who want to have antique style engagement rings for your wedding and have no clue where to go to get them. You have to certainly go to online shopping such as Antique Jewelry Mall. If you have not heard of this online jewelry store before, you could get to know it better, because it may be very useful information for you. This store is one of the members of BBB (Better Business Bureau) and also the American Gem Trade Association. The two organizations are some of the icons of high quality associations of trade and business.

With these two outstanding memberships, Antique Jewelry Mall is able to provide you with millions of wedding jewelry, such as wedding pendants and necklaces. First of all, you know that financial condition is always concerned about by many people. Therefore, this online jewelry store tries to make this as their priority towards its customers. So, you will be able to find great selections of affordable jewelry. However, it is not over yet, you can get free shipping service for any kind purchase. And, it always comes with its beautiful box or packages. So, you can purchase it as a gift for your beloved people.

It also cannot be denied that jewelry shopping could be very annoying as the selections are a lot. Like on this online store, you could get wedding bands and mountings, bracelets, Brooches, Earrings, and many more. If you get confused, you can give them a call and talk to their customer services. They would be so happy to help you out. This store has achieved the highest five star “Top Service” ratings from their customers via Online Shopping. So, you will never regret with their liberal return policy and friendly customer service, plus affordable price of high quality jewelry. Then, we must Find Wedding Jewelry Perfect Place to Go Shopping before late. Hurry!!!

Brain training boosts working memory, but only in some people




When last we tackled the topic of brain training software, the prognosis did not look good. Although proponents of this software claim that it results in a general boost in mental performance, detailed testing failed to show this general effect, and for some topics, the software was bested by a trivia quiz. Now, a new study has revisited the topic, with its authors finding that some brain training can boost general performance—but only a specific type of exercise, and only among a subset of users.

The study builds off a well-established relationship between general reasoning and spatial memory. The ability to perform abstract reasoning and solve problems you've never seen before is termed fluid intelligence. It's not clear what provides the basic mental horsepower for this ability, but a number of studies have shown that performance in tests that stress fluid intelligence is related to a testee's working memory, which stores basic information for use without committing it to long-term memory. Working memory, for example, is where you hold intermediate sums when you're adding a large column of numbers.

Although we don't know whether it's possible to improve general reasoning, some studies have indicated that it is possible to boost working memory by taxing the system. So the authors created a set of simple games that emphasized working memory, and set a group of nine-year-old children on them.

These games forced the children to solve what the authors term "n-back" problems. In one example, the children were shown a pond in which a frog would appear at random on a number of lilly pads. As the frog vanished and reappeared, the kids would have to recall where it was had been previously. So, for example, the third time the frog showed up, the children would need to remember where it had been the first time. Continued exposure to these games should boost working memory performance. And, on average, it did, with scores improving over time.

On its own, however, this seemed to have a very limited impact on the performance of the children when they were given a test of fluid intelligence, with no statistically significant trend in performance. By this measure, brain training had failed.

But it hadn't, at least not entirely. The authors noted that the children who had undergone training saw variable boosts to their working memory, so they split the trained children into high- and low-improvement groups and reran the numbers. Now, a significant effect appeared: fluid intelligence improvements had occurred among the children who saw the biggest changes in working memory. Their lead over their control peers (who had played a vocabulary-focused game) persisted even after three months, although it shrank a bit over that time. In contrast, the ones who saw little improvement in working memory lagged both their trained peers and the control population.

"Furthermore, there was a significant positive correlation between improvement on the training task and improvement on [fluid intelligence]," the authors note, "suggesting that the greater the training gain, the greater the transfer."

What drove the difference between the two groups? The authors asked the children how they felt about the game, and found that both groups considered it enjoyable. But the ones who saw a boost considered it a fun challenge, while the ones who improved less tended to find it far too difficult, and ended up frustrated by it. Separating out cause and effect there would seem to be a nightmare—were they frustrated because they simply couldn't keep up with something beyond their abilities, or did their abilities not ramp up because of a general lack of interest?

In any case, it's important to emphasize that the authors tracked the improvements in working memory and fluid intelligence, not the absolute values. The high-improvement group ended up statistically no better off than their peers when it was all over. In fact, the kids who began with the highest fluid intelligence scores started off with higher working-memory scores, but ended up seeing less improvement with training. Thus, on some levels, it appears that training is simply leveling the playing field.

In the end, the study seems to have shown that brain training can work, but whether it will or not is highly sensitive to the type of training and the individual being trained. Those are pretty significant limitations, and we could probably benefit from having a better sense of what the limits of training are. As such, the author's conclusion—"Future research should not investigate whether brain training works" (emphasis theirs)—seems a bit premature. Yes, we should investigate the factors that influence how well it works, as the authors propose. But we could also benefit from learning more about when it's going to be effective at all.


Kamis, 16 Juni 2011

Wandering around


Well there is nothing special about this post, so you may just want to skip reading it and do other more useful things. It’s just about pictures of things that attracted my attention while I was wandering around a hotel. The hotel is located in one of the 17,000 islands belongs to the Indonesian people. If you know where it is and what the name of the hotel is, tell me, I’ll probably be able send you a book as a gift, as long as you live in one of those 17,000 islands.
The posting reminds me that wonderful things sometimes are just a few meters away from where we are now.



Statues around Bali

Bali is the island of thousand temples and statues, with no close rival around the country. It’s the religion and belief that inspired art works, and both are closely interconnected and become inseparable. Grand vision, love, advance knowledge, techniques and skills on arts, supported with wealth and personal sacrifices have created stunning masterpiece.

There I was wandering around Bali a few weeks back, and had the liberty to make a couple of stops and took photos of some of the big statues. Here they are.

Statue of Indra, god of war and greatest of all warriors, rulers of thunder and storms, is located at Tegal Tugu Village, east of Gianyar. He’s shown riding on giant turtle, shooting an arrow straight to the west, where Kalarau statue is located, preventing Kalarau from drinking Tirta Amerta, the elixir of immortality.

Prince Gatot Kaca statue is located at intersection of Jl. Airport and Jl. Raya Tuban, near Ngurah Rai International Airport. The statue is one of the works of I Wayan Winten, a sculptor from Teges Peliatan, Ubud. The statue depicted a story taken form Mahabharata myth about Prince Gatot Kaca, son of Bima, who’s fighting an enemy. The statue was inaugurated on October 30, 1993.

Statue of a gigantic baby is located at Ubud, Gianyar, symbolizing fertility. According to a legend there once was a giant baby born in Gianyar. The baby was named Kebo Iwa, and the statue was erected as a remembrance.

Dewa Ruci statue, located at intersection of Jl. Sunset Road, Jl. Setiabudi and Jl. Bypass Ngurah Rai, was created also by sculptor I Wayan Winten. Bima, one of the five brothers of Pendawa family, was fighting a dragon in the legend of Dewa Ruci.

It seems that the more prosperous the societies, the higher the appreciation of the people are towards classical or contemporary art works and cultural activities, and the more they’re willing to spend money and time, and to provide ample public space for it.

Super Dooper Audi RS6 Sedan


engine
Audi Super Dooper Car is the Fasting Racing sports car The The car has the outstanding Twin Turbo Engine that is actually the fastest Car Vehicle is Embed with Ultra Light Carbon fiber The sports car has the Leather accessories and Top exterior Features The car is consider as the eye Catching car The One who are waiting are waiting for Audi 2012 Model The engine is extremely Powerful The grip of Steering Wheel is super The Top Modern style car Has made it name
Car Price : $248800
The Powerful Super Car has the specifications Listed below:
Engine     5.0 litre V10 twin turbo
Transmission     6-speed tiptronic
Max speed     174 mph
0-60 mph     4.5 seconds
Horsepower     580 bhp @ 6,250 rpm

The Super dooper car is The Best Choice for the Fans who love driving hard and fast cars.Audi RS6 is the German car and the best car of the world is always the German cars.Audi RS6 has set the record to has the fastest car on ice and the record is still unbeaten Car has 21 inch rims and the fantastic interior which make this car the comfortable drive
Audi RS6 2012 concept is out the car is coming is 2012 everyone is waiting for its first drive and New car is equipped with all modern features like navigation system and Airbags ,stereo system controller .2012 models is claiming that the car will be the fastest accelerated sports car and give the tough time to Ferrari.

Brain training boosts working memory, but only in some people




When last we tackled the topic of brain training software, the prognosis did not look good. Although proponents of this software claim that it results in a general boost in mental performance, detailed testing failed to show this general effect, and for some topics, the software was bested by a trivia quiz. Now, a new study has revisited the topic, with its authors finding that some brain training can boost general performance—but only a specific type of exercise, and only among a subset of users.

The study builds off a well-established relationship between general reasoning and spatial memory. The ability to perform abstract reasoning and solve problems you've never seen before is termed fluid intelligence. It's not clear what provides the basic mental horsepower for this ability, but a number of studies have shown that performance in tests that stress fluid intelligence is related to a testee's working memory, which stores basic information for use without committing it to long-term memory. Working memory, for example, is where you hold intermediate sums when you're adding a large column of numbers.

Although we don't know whether it's possible to improve general reasoning, some studies have indicated that it is possible to boost working memory by taxing the system. So the authors created a set of simple games that emphasized working memory, and set a group of nine-year-old children on them.

These games forced the children to solve what the authors term "n-back" problems. In one example, the children were shown a pond in which a frog would appear at random on a number of lilly pads. As the frog vanished and reappeared, the kids would have to recall where it was had been previously. So, for example, the third time the frog showed up, the children would need to remember where it had been the first time. Continued exposure to these games should boost working memory performance. And, on average, it did, with scores improving over time.

On its own, however, this seemed to have a very limited impact on the performance of the children when they were given a test of fluid intelligence, with no statistically significant trend in performance. By this measure, brain training had failed.

But it hadn't, at least not entirely. The authors noted that the children who had undergone training saw variable boosts to their working memory, so they split the trained children into high- and low-improvement groups and reran the numbers. Now, a significant effect appeared: fluid intelligence improvements had occurred among the children who saw the biggest changes in working memory. Their lead over their control peers (who had played a vocabulary-focused game) persisted even after three months, although it shrank a bit over that time. In contrast, the ones who saw little improvement in working memory lagged both their trained peers and the control population.

"Furthermore, there was a significant positive correlation between improvement on the training task and improvement on [fluid intelligence]," the authors note, "suggesting that the greater the training gain, the greater the transfer."

What drove the difference between the two groups? The authors asked the children how they felt about the game, and found that both groups considered it enjoyable. But the ones who saw a boost considered it a fun challenge, while the ones who improved less tended to find it far too difficult, and ended up frustrated by it. Separating out cause and effect there would seem to be a nightmare—were they frustrated because they simply couldn't keep up with something beyond their abilities, or did their abilities not ramp up because of a general lack of interest?

In any case, it's important to emphasize that the authors tracked the improvements in working memory and fluid intelligence, not the absolute values. The high-improvement group ended up statistically no better off than their peers when it was all over. In fact, the kids who began with the highest fluid intelligence scores started off with higher working-memory scores, but ended up seeing less improvement with training. Thus, on some levels, it appears that training is simply leveling the playing field.

In the end, the study seems to have shown that brain training can work, but whether it will or not is highly sensitive to the type of training and the individual being trained. Those are pretty significant limitations, and we could probably benefit from having a better sense of what the limits of training are. As such, the author's conclusion—"Future research should not investigate whether brain training works" (emphasis theirs)—seems a bit premature. Yes, we should investigate the factors that influence how well it works, as the authors propose. But we could also benefit from learning more about when it's going to be effective at all.

Rabu, 15 Juni 2011

1Gbps fiber for $70—in America? Yup


Installing aerial fiber optic lines for the Sonic.net trial project


American ISPs have convinced us that Internet access is expensive—getting speeds of 100Mbps will set most people back by more than $100 a month, assuming the service is even available. Where I live in Chicago, Comcast's 105Mbps service goes for a whopping $199.95 ("premium installation" and cable modem not included). Which is why it was so refreshing to see the scrappy California ISP Sonic.net this week roll out its new 1Gbps, fiber-to-the-home service… for $69.99 a month.

Sonic.net has been around since 1994, selling DSL service in California, but it has recently expanded into fiber; the company has even secured the contract to manage Google's own 1Gbps fiber network that will connect 800+ faculty homes at Stanford University.

Sonic.net's new approach to broadband involves stringing its own fiber lines to homes and offering bargain-basement pricing; indeed, the new 1Gbps offering is the same price as the company's earlier bonded 40Mbps DSL offering (in which two phones lines each provide 20Mbps of bandwidth to a home). The price even includes home phone service.

Sonic.net

Is this really a sustainable model? After all, Comcast offers 1.5Mbps service for a list price of $40; Sonic.net's new offering is more than 600x faster at only twice the price.

Dane Jasper, Sonic.net's CEO, tells me that the new fiber-to-the-home deployment is a trial and will reach about 700 homes when complete. "Honestly, only as those wrap up will we have a complete picture of the economic model," he says. "But I believe that fast service for a low cost is possible."

If the pilot in Sebastopol, California goes well, Sonic.net hopes to expand the service across the region.

Sonic.net

Jasper doesn't think like a typical US Internet exec; in an interview last year, he made clear that his company tries to avoid artificial limits as a way to make more money. "The natural model when you have a simple duopoly capturing the majority of the market is segmentation: maximize ARPU [average revenue per user] by artificially limiting service in order to drive additional monthly spending. But fundamentally this is the wrong model for a service provider like us, and we have looked to Europe for inspiration… I believe that removing the artificial limits on speed, and including home phone with the product are both very exciting."

Though the current trial is small-scale, Sonic.net's pricing reminds us just how much room there is in the US Internet market for truly disruptive pricing of the kind that Google has been promising—but on a much larger scale—with its 1Gbps fiber builds in Kansas City, Missouri and Kansas City, Kansas.
Sonic.net

Duke Nukem Forever: barely playable, not funny, rampantly offensive (2

Fundamentally broken
Duke's original weapons remain, and they're fun to use, but the new sniper rifle and alien energy weapon are rather boring. There was no way to expand on the innovative ideas from the first game, even a little? Yes, you can find and use turrets now, but everything feels dumbed down; objects that you need to interact with simply glow.

When you hold down the left trigger, you don't bring up iron sights; the entire screen just zooms in a bit. There's no animation of lifting the gun, although at least with one weapon, you do get a scope. It all feels like something out of a game from 15 years ago.

Feces

Even worse is the fact that the game uses regenerating health called "Ego," which encourages you to take a few shots at the enemy, run for cover until your health returns, and then attack again. The full-on, guns blazing attitude of the first game (and even more recent titles such as Serious Sam) is completely absent. Duke Nukem Forever turns into a straight stop-and-pop experience, which is not what Duke should ever be. Not only that, but there is no cover system in place, so you find yourself scuttling for the nearest corner or pillar to hide behind.

Duke, the biggest, baddest-ass warrior that Earth has to offer, also turns out to have his limits: he can carry only two weapons at a time, Halo-style. No matter what you're shooting, you'll wish for something else; the game gives you little feedback about whether you've actually hit your target. The boring, glitchy shooting is utterly forgettable.
No reason to play this

Multiple developers have worked on this game for over a decade, so I don't know who to blame for the unplayable, glitchy, ugly, offensive mess it has become. No humor can make up for the game's rampant hatred of women, and the terrible writing and one-liners can't even be compensated for by good gameplay. The game's jokes about other titles are laughable when you see how putrid Duke is upon release.

Scribble in this kid's book for a health boost!

Sure, it may still sell millions of copies due to the name alone, but it will disappoint buyers and make anyone with half a brain feel uncomfortable. I have no clue how a game so all-encompassingly ugly can suffer from so many framerate issues, but Duke finds a way. From a business and gaming history perspective, the fact that the title exists at all is fascinating; for everyone else asked to spend $60 on it, it's merely sad.

I'm a fan of humor that's willing to push the boundaries, but nothing is being sent up, mocked, or lampooned here. There's just no reason for what you see and hear. This is an ugly game that exists to celebrate ugliness. The people involved should be ashamed.

The Good

  • The game doesn't last very long

The Bad

  • Everything else

The Ugly

  • I have to install and play this piece of garbage on the PC to see how that version holds up, and make sure there's nothing to be salvaged from the multiplayer

Verdict: Skip

Here is the List of Top 5 Insurance companies in Washington


car insurance

Top Car Insurance Companies in Washington, D.C

Washington DC is the capital of America and that is why the car insurance is pretty expensive in Washington DC The Average Premium is $1,753.19 which is Pretty high as compare to the other states of America the one reason is that The Washington is the capital of US so the business opportunities is very high their and a lot people start their business from this state and as if the business is more so is the car and Traffic and the accidents record of Washington is high as compare to other states so the insurance companies do not like to take risk of insuring car is cheap prices The competition of insurance companies is very very high in Washington and this give the opportunities that you can get the insurance in reasonable price because of the competition insurance companies offers some discount to potential customers.These insurance companies are consider as the best insurance companies in washington according to the reviews from the Washington citizens who are using the insurance of these insurance companies and are satisfied with the performance of these insurance companies.

Here is the List of Top 5 Insurance companies in Washington
AAA Insurance Company Washington

AIG Insurance Providers

Liberty Mutual Insurance Car Insurance

Farmers Insurance Auto Insurance

21st Century Insurance Company America

car insurance

Top Car Insurance Companies in Washington, D.C

Washington DC is the capital of America and that is why the car insurance is pretty expensive in Washington DC The Average Premium is $1,753.19 which is Pretty high as compare to the other states of America the one reason is that The Washington is the capital of US so the business opportunities is very high their and a lot people start their business from this state and as if the business is more so is the car and Traffic and the accidents record of Washington is high as compare to other states so the insurance companies do not like to take risk of insuring car is cheap prices The competition of insurance companies is very very high in Washington and this give the opportunities that you can get the insurance in reasonable price because of the competition insurance companies offers some discount to potential customers.These insurance companies are consider as the best insurance companies in washington according to the reviews from the Washington citizens who are using the insurance of these insurance companies and are satisfied with the performance of these insurance companies.

Here is the List of Top 5 Insurance companies in Washington

  • AAA Insurance Company Washington
  • AIG Insurance Providers
  • Liberty Mutual Insurance Car Insurance
  • Farmers Insurance Auto Insurance
  • 21st Century Insurance Company America

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