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Someone wrote…

I went out yesterday, full dude garb, and got checked out by, like, three chics. First time I felt really and honestly. . .comfortable, you know? I wasn’t worried about acting like a girl and making sure I was feminine. I wore what I wanted, picked the shoes I wanted, and didn’t care who looked at me funny. Felt. Awesome.

What’s your experience?

And what are you thinking about gender right now?

Posted by on January 20th, 2013 at 08:00 am

Category: your voice 2 comments »

2 Responses to “Awesome”

  1. Wiley

    That’s awesome! I’m sure the confidence helped too :)

  2. Cat

    Truly awesome. Thanks for sharing.

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text:
Gene Kelly vs. Fred Astaire: A Fan Weighs In

This entry is part 7 of 14 in the series Essays / Analyses.

Over the years, Fred Astaire and Gene Kelly have been compared and contrasted endlessly.  They were often featured together in retrospectives in film, television, and even in a commercial.  I shouldn’t be surprised if they got a bit tired of seeing each other at some level!  And yet such a practice on the part of the public is understandable: when it came to male cinematic dancing in the 1940s and ’50s, the two of them were virtually all we had.  I have had plenty to say on the matter myself in the years I have been a fan of both.

The average viewer doesn’t necessarily know how to quantify any differences between them, but surely almost anyone can see that they are indeed very different.  I do not possess a great deal of technical knowledge about dancing, but I have spent untold hours watching them and I think I can speak articulately on not only their dancing, but also their singing and acting.  By necessity, I will be speaking in broad terms and making some generalizations.  Of course there will always be exceptions to generalities.

Starting Out

Before I dive in to the particulars, it’s important to discuss a bit of what was happening behind the scenes when they were first getting their relative starts.  Fred Astaire was 13 years older than Gene Kelly and was on Broadway by the time he was 18 (Gene didn’t go to Broadway until he was almost 30).  Because he arrived so much earlier and there was little to no competition from the cinema until much later, Fred spent much more time on Broadway than Gene.  In fact, he met George Gershwin before the name Gershwin meant much of anything, and the maelstrom of creative activity that ensued was a boon to the careers of both men.

In Fred’s day, the musical stage comedy was far less integrated than it was in Gene’s day.  Things were beginning to move toward a more integrated form, but for the most part, the average musical consisted of a loosely connected string of comic sequences tied together with catchy songs and pretty girls in scanty dress.  It was, in short, a venue for new hit songs to make a first appearance, and the action seemed to have been written around the songs.  For this reason, Fred is responsible for introducing dozens of songs that would go on to become popular standards (i.e., songs that belong to what is often referred to as “The Great American Songbook”).

When Gene was on Broadway, George Gershwin was gone.  Some of the greats such as Irving Berlin, Jerome Kern, and Cole Porter were still working, but many of their legendary tunes had already been written and were performed by others (including Fred Astaire).  Gene’s first Broadway show, Pal Joey (1940), featured songs by Rodgers & Hart – songs that flowed immediately from the surrounding action because they had been written specifically for such a purpose.  While Pal Joey was a much darker musical in many respects than Gene would ever be a part of again, the idea of a more integrated production was one that would stick with him throughout his career.  In brief, the dancers’ Broadway beginnings would shape their later Hollywood careers: Fred would concern himself largely with dancing and routines, while Gene’s primary concern was a larger one, advancing the art of cinematic choreography and the film musical genre.

All of this background information is important because it affected how the two approached acting.  For example, when Fred Astaire is onscreen, there is a humble “shrugging” quality about his acting that seems to be apologizing for itself.  He’s eminently likeable, but he seems to be saying, “I know I’m not very good at this, but I’m sure you’ll be kind enough to put up with me until we get to the next song.  Oughta be one in (glances at watch) just a few minutes.”  In fact, fellow dancer and some-time costar Ann Miller once recalled sitting next to Fred at an event in which scenes from his films were shown.  Reportedly, Fred made dismissive and embarrassed comments about his acting to himself as he watched. Similarly, director Vincente Minnelli stated that Fred “lacks confidence to the most enormous degree of all the people in the world.  He will not even go to see his rushes…He always thinks he is no good.”

I don’t mean to suggest that I agree; it’s just that within the realm of musical comedy, he tended to play the same sort of charming and affable character over and over again.  And in all but a very small minority of his musical films, this charming and affable character was a role familiar to Fred: that of a professional dancer.  The typical Fred character didn’t get angry or upset very often, and tended to take life as it came.  He never seemed to be trying all that hard because he didn’t have to.  The role didn’t demand it.

Gene couldn’t have been more different.  The character he tended to play was more brash and outspoken, and due to the more integrated form of musicals he was a part of and the resulting increase in their relative complexity, the roles he played were a bit more demanding.  Gene only played a professional dancer once, in his first role, Harry Palmer in For Me and My Gal (1942). But even this role was rather demanding when compared with most of Fred’s as it called for a dark edge: Harry was an opportunist and a draft dodger.

If Fred is “guilty” of not trying hard enough – something that managed to work in his favor; less is usually more when it comes to acting – Gene is equally as guilty of trying too hard.  The New Yorker’s Russell Maloney put it this way in a review of Thousands Cheer (1943): “Gene Kelly … is a beautiful dancer, but he’s not a musical-comedy actor…The horse of sincerity in the bathroom of musical comedy, that’s Gene Kelly.”  Gene reportedly once admitted that he couldn’t do a close take very well.  Because he didn’t always trust himself as a natural actor, there is a tendency to screw his face up a little bit harder, or put another inch or two of inflection in his voice.  This is why he was at his absolute lovable best when he played hammy actors, such as Don Lockwood (Singin’ in the Rain, 1952) or Serafin (The Pirate, 1948), or cocky sailors like Joe Brady (Anchors Aweigh, 1945) and Gabey (On the Town, 1949).  Over-acting becomes almost necessary.

A lack of confidence was common to both men when it came to their singing ability.  Fred appeared as the mystery celebrity guest on What’s My Line? in 1955.  When the blindfolded panel tried to ascertain his identity by asking if he was a singer, his answer was no.  When his identity was finally revealed, Dorothy Kilgallen protested and told him she thought him one of the finest singers who ever lived.  Fred demurred charmingly and almost bashfully.  While Ms. Kilgallen may have been a bit effusive in her praise, it is true that Fred was and is highly regarded not so much as a singer but as an interpreter of popular song, by fans and songwriters alike.  Greats such as Jerome Kern, Cole Porter, Johnny Mercer, and Burton Lane heaped praise upon his singing.  Irving Berlin reportedly got a bit nervous when Gene Kelly was initially tapped for the male lead in 1948’s Easter Parade because the songwriter had such confidence in Fred’s “conception of projecting a song” and less in Gene’s. (Fred eventually got the role anyway, after Gene broke his ankle.)

Fred’s lack of confidence stemmed, no doubt, from the quality of his instrument.  Thin and reedy like his frame, it does not project power or depth.  Nonetheless, it is warm and human and immensely charming.  Songwriters loved him because of his obvious respect for the lyric and where it should be placed in relation to the musical accompaniment.  No doubt Fred’s innate sense of rhythm, honed by years of dancing, contribute to his perfect timing and phrasing.  Additionally, he had the benefit of working with better musicians and arrangers – most notably with the jazz giant Oscar Peterson on 1953’s release Steppin’ Out: Astaire Sings.  There is no better showcase for Fred’s vocal talent.

Gene never gave us such a collection of gems.  Unfortunately, his albums suffer from poor production values and a general lack of quality material.  Perhaps he was never given the opportunity to produce something of better quality, but when it comes to singing alone, he does suffer somewhat from a comparison to Fred.  As much as I love Gene – and it almost pains me to admit it – I frequently enjoy listening to Fred in my car or on my iPod.  Outside of a few standout songs, I seldom listen to Gene just for the sake of hearing him.

Like Fred, Gene’s voice was thin, light, and oddly high pitched – and stands in stark contrast to the power and masculinity of his dancing.  He does have some shining moments, “Love is Here to Stay” from An American in Paris (1951) chief among them (below). But one senses he was often forced to stretch his voice beyond its powers.  The songs from 1954’s Brigadoon (particularly the outtakes) reveal his voice at its weakest (for more on Brigadoon, please see Marc’s post).  Unlike Fred, he seemed to lack the ability to translate to singing the musicality he so aptly expressed with his body.  The ability to project a song well is something we tend to feel more than we can quantify, but sometimes it does seem that Gene is guilty of trying too hard even when he is singing.  A case in point is a silly affectation that often adorns his voice – a tendency to purposely break it or put an overly cute and precious twist on it.  (One place this can be heard in “I’ve Got a Crush on You,” an outtake from An American in Paris).  But we can’t much fault him for this “flaw” as his own humility with regard to singing compels us to forgive him.  He never much liked his own voice and it was only with some reluctance that he agreed to sing at his own house parties.  Furthermore, his tremendous charm when putting over a song within the context of the film musical in many cases surpasses even Fred’s.  As much as I love Fred, I usually prefer watching Gene’s musicals.

If it weren’t for their dancing abilities, neither Fred nor Gene would be famous today.  As implied above, their acting and singing skills alone would not have carried them to the legendary status their names now enjoy.  They were triple threats, but dancing was their true talent – and for this reason alone they are inextricably linked in the public consciousness.

As we’ve established, Fred came along first.  His dancing is characterized first and foremost by class and elegance.  Naturally, this is obvious when one considers that he often danced in top hat and tails, but his sense of class supersedes his wardrobe and any related label or socioeconomic standing.  It wouldn’t have mattered if he was in tatty burlap or rags (as he was in the fabulous “We’re a Couple of Swells” from Easter Parade), because he radiates inner elegance and graciousness.  He is like William Powell as Carole Lombard’s “forgotten man” in My Man Godfrey (1936) that way.  Everyone can see his inherent goodness, decency, and humility.

There is a supernal effortlessness about his dancing.  He worked like a pack mule to make it appear that way, but to the mere spellbound spectator, it’s as though God appointed His favorite angel as Fred’s celestial puppeteer.  He seemed to have invisible wings on loan from Heaven that allowed him to take flight in his shoes.  To borrow a bit from e.e. cummings, I would argue that nobody, not even the rain, has such soft feet.  His motions can be big and expansive, but no one is fooled.  It’s always tempered with sweetness and airiness.

Fred’s body was longer and leaner than Gene’s, and this higher center of gravity contributes to an overall lightness of form and movement.  No matter how fast he moves, he never seems to be working very hard.  In spite of his affability and his warm smile, this effortlessness gives him a remote, untouchable quality.  He almost becomes as one of the gods, and as John Updike once wrote, “Gods do not answer letters.”  We love him; we are charmed by him; we want to be like him, but he never quite lets us all the way in.  It has been said that Fred never let anyone watch him rehearse, and would keep guards on hand while he was working out a routine.  This carries over into his filmed performances: even when we are watching him, we aren’t seeing him.  The mechanism is never on display.

Gene’s dancing is in a different dimension, poles apart from Fred’s.  Where Fred is light and airy, Gene is powerful and earthy.  Gene was a bit shorter (5’7″ to Fred’s 5’9″) and more muscular and therefore always seems bound to the ground.  He had a greater desire than Fred to incorporate different styles of dancing into the mainstream musical, particularly ballet.  But when Gene leaps and soars he never quite takes off, because his thick and powerful legs anchor him to the terrestrial plain.  This muscularity and earthiness gives his dancing a greater vitality and dynamism – a volatile physicality and a pop that one can almost imagine hearing in addition to seeing.   Because he is so strong, he has tremendous control over his movements, so that even while he seems to be exploding in all directions at once, perfection and precision win out.  When he does a number with someone else, that other person is almost unwatchable in comparison because he or she can’t match Gene’s form and the immaculate lines of his body.  This becomes evident even with a strong dancer like Donald O’Connor in the number “Moses Supposes” from Singin’ in the Rain.  If the breakneck speed of the action is paused at virtually any moment, Gene could almost pass for a statue, whereas Donald’s limbs are blurred; he seems to be flailing in comparison – out of control.

If Fred’s dancing is characterized by an innate sense of class, Gene’s is characterized by joy.  He has the gift of being able to impart joy to everyone lucky enough to set eyes on him.  His boundless boyish energy and enthusiasm is one reason why.  His dancing seems to say, “Hey!  Life is wonderful and you’ve been given another day to live it.  Get out there and make the most of it.”  Another way he imparts joy is in how he inspires a person to think that if s/he just tries hard enough, s/he might be able to do what Gene does.  Fred’s dancing says, “Pfft.  Forget it.  You’ll never be this good.”  Gene’s dancing, while equally as spectacular in its own way, is honest and human.  He allows us to see that he’s working hard – constantly pushing and pulling against the limits of gravity and the human body.  We can see it all: blood, sweat, tears, and, quite literally, scars.  Writer James Lileks once said that Gene so embodies the American spirit that his face should be on money.  What could be more inspirational and American than the notion that if one works hard enough, one can accomplish anything?  Gene’s dancing gives us that illusion and keeps that dream alive.

While Fred and Gene shared the screen in the 1974 musical compilation/documentary That’s Entertainment (right), they only danced together once in their prime: in “The Babbitt and the Bromide” number from Ziegfeld Follies (1945). Video below.

It is perhaps impossible that two tremendous talents could ever fully satisfy us with only one number, and many fans find this particular number lacking.  The choreography is not particularly challenging or innovative, and has a distinctly old-fashioned feel.  And no wonder: it was recycled from an old Gershwin show Fred had been in with his sister Adele, Funny Face (1927).  Reportedly, Gene had wanted to do something new but acquiesced to Fred, the older and more established man.  The story is that both men went out of their way to be accommodating as the number was being developed and rehearsed, which resulted in a finished product that is pleasant to look at but doesn’t really capture the style of either man.  It is obvious that the two men admired and respected each other and enjoyed working together, but there is a certain lack of gusto in the performance.

Still, despite these flaws, to fans of both men it must stand on its own merit as an unadulterated treasure.  I would much rather have “The Babbitt and the Bromide” than nothing at all.  It gives us our only opportunity to compare them side by side in their prime and to witness firsthand how great they were.  We can see that neither was better than the other, just vastly different.  It is the only time Fred Astaire or Gene Kelly is dancing with a partner and I can’t decide which one is most worthy of my attentive eyes.  They both deserve our acclaim and our affection.

Jennifer can point to the exact day and time that she fell in love with Gene Kelly: February 24, 2002, probably about 8pm CST. She was watching An American in Paris, and Jerry Mulligan (Gene) was flirting with Lise (Leslie Caron). Jennifer is infatuated with almost everything from Hollywood's golden age of cinema. Her other loyalties (after God, nation, and family) are old music, literature, history, vintage pop culture, vintage baseball, and hanging out in the kitchen with a glass of wine. Her Tumblr covers much of the above.

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Link to USGS home page.
Montana State Information Page
  About USGS /  Science Topics /  Maps, Products & Publications /  Education / FAQ

Welcome to the Central Region Montana State Information Page. This site is designed to help you learn about earth science studies underway in Montana.

The USGS undertakes studies in water, energy, mineral, land, and biological resources and furnished results in printed- and digital-format maps, books, and other products. The scientific information we provide assists in the location, management, development, and protection of natural resources of our Nation and of other countries in which the USGS is a cooperator. Equally important, we supply information that helps minimize or mitigate the damage caused by natural hazards and the damage to the environment caused by human activities or natural processes. All Americans can benefit from the work of the USGS.

 USGS State Representative

    3162 Bozeman Avenue
    Helena, MT 59601
    (406) 457-5900
    Fax - (406) 457-5990

    Office hours: 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Director and State Geologist
Montana Bureau of Mines and Geology

1300 West Park Street
Butte, MT 59701-8932
(406) 496-4180
Fax: (406) 496-4451

Water Resources of Montana

Bulletin 2155: Chronology of Late Cretaceous Igneous and Hydrothermal Events at the Golden Sunlight Gold-Silver Breccia Pipe, Southwestern Montana

C1153: A Strategy For Assessing Potential Future Changes in Climate, Hydrology, and Vegetation in the Western United States. USGS Circular 1153, by Robert S. Thompson, Steven W. Hostetler, Patrick J. Bartlein, and Katherine H. Anderson.

Open-File-Report 98-517: Mineral resource assessment: Custer and Gallatin National Forests, Montana

Professional Paper 1579: Early Paleozoic Biochronology of the Great Basin, Western United States. USGS Professional Paper 1579, by Michael E. Taylor (ed).

Professional Paper 1580: Paleomagnetic and 40Ar/39Ar Geochronologic Data from Late Proterozoic Mafic Dikes and Sills, Montana and Wyoming

Central Region:      Biology   CR-Intranet   Geography   Geology   Water
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For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
October 26, 2006

Press Gaggle by Dana Perino
Aboard Air Force One
Route Des Moines, Iowa

11:55 A.M. EDT

MS. PERINO: Good morning. We're on our way to Iowa. The President, this morning, had his normal briefings. Then he signed the Secure Fence Act of 2006. At 12:45 p.m. CDT, the President will make remarks at the Lamberti for Congress and Iowa Victory 2006 reception. That's at the Iowa State Fairgrounds. You never know what kind of treats you're going to find there. I hear there is lots of fun, fried food. Yes, fried Twinkies and fried Snickers, I think.

At 5:40 p.m., he'll make remarks at Bouchard for U.S. Senate -- that's in Warren, Michigan. He'll arrive at the White House at 8:30 p.m.

One thing you'll get soon -- it's being worked on at the White House -- is a Setting the Record Straight on media reports that inaccurately distorted Prime Minister Maliki's press conference yesterday. Basically the reports said that Maliki slammed the United States military diplomatic leaders for saying that -- by saying that he would reject any sort of timetables. The way that those media reports came out was that he rejected any sort of benchmarks or goals in terms of policies.

The question he was asked was whether he agreed that there should be a timetable for withdrawal of troops in 18 months. That is something that Maliki has rejected as foolhardy, and that the President fully agrees with Maliki. And you've heard the President say that several times. So you'll see that this afternoon. I think Tony Snow is doing some TV interviews on it now, although those are taped and will be shown later.

With that, I will take your questions.

Q Dana, these two Republicans that Bush is appearing with today, both of them are 20 points behind in their races. They're challengers. These are not seats that really -- that the Republicans necessarily need. And so why is Bush focusing on these two candidates, when there's much more high-profile contested races?

MS. PERINO: I don't know what polls you're looking at. I would want to go back and check with our folks. We believe these candidates are going to win these seats. And when the President is invited to come and campaign -- you heard him yesterday say that he likes to get out there and talk about the differences between the Republicans and Democrats when it comes to the big national issues in this campaign: national security, who is going to best protect this country; and the economy, who's going to keep your taxes low.

These states also will have referendums on local issues. But they were invited to come and campaign with the President. And you heard him yesterday -- he thinks that the Republicans are going to win and we think these candidates are going to win.

Q -- hear anything new from the President today, any new themes or any hammering home anything that he hasn't talked about before?

MS. PERINO: Well, the President has defined this election as the two main issues being national security and the economy. You'll hear both of those today.

Q Will we be hearing anything more about Iraq? Is that going to be a theme of this speech?

MS. PERINO: I don't know if you heard me -- if you have been following the speeches that the President has given on the war on terror and national security, he always does mention Iraq because it is the central front on the war on terror, as defined by Osama bin Laden. So you will hear about Iraq, as well.

Q Will he be emphasizing it like he did yesterday in the press conference -- it was probably 90 percent Iraq.

MS. PERINO: His speech is both war on terror and the economy, so I don't know how you want to break it down percentage-wise.

Q Any reaction to the tone of the campaign in the closing weeks, particularly in regard to the Rush comments on the Michael J. Fox ad, and also the Harold Ford ads that are running in Tennessee?

MS. PERINO: I haven't seen the second one. I do know that Rush Limbaugh apologized for the -- well, and it was appropriate to. The President was the first President to fund embryonic stem cell research. What he did with embryonic stem cell research, though, is draw a moral line that said that taxpayer dollars should not go to research that destroys embryos. We have been aggressive in funding for adult stem cell research and cord blood cell research that -- both of which show great promise.

But that was that one moral -- that was the moral line that the President said that he would not cross. It's important that people understand that -- what the policy is. It's amazing to me and such a disappointment that repeatedly it's said that the President is against any sort of stem cell research. That's just not the case. So if I can help set the record straight here, I will.

Q How much do you expect to raise today?

MS. PERINO: I refer you to the campaign.

Q -- elaborate again on the "Setting the Record Straight" with Maliki. So Maliki has agreed that there should be benchmarks, but what he was taking issue with was the idea that in 18 months U.S. troops will leave if he doesn't meet those benchmarks?

MS. PERINO: That's exactly right.

Q On Iran --

MS. PERINO: Do you have a question?

Q Yes. They are -- Iran is claiming that they're expanding their uranium enrichment again. And also I'm curious as to why the U.S. thinks that the resolution that's being proposed by Germany and Britain is too weak.

MS. PERINO: I didn't see that we had said that it was too weak. I saw Sean McCormack, the spokesman at the State Department, saying that we support the draft. We are working with the EU3 partners, as well as the Chinese and the Russians, in order to reach final language on a resolution. What we do all agree on is that Iran must halt its enrichment and reprocessing activities. And we'll continue to work on a multilateral approach to diplomacy and we'll work on final language. The goal is there, and then we'll get to the draft. I have not seen us say that we didn't support -- or that that other draft was weak. And I can check with the State Department when we get on the ground.

Q Is the President going to be doing fundraisers all the way up to Election Day?

MS. PERINO: There's a few more fundraisers. We're going to switch fairly soon to rallies. But we have flexibility in his schedule in case people need additional some dollars to get across the finish line.

Q Isn't it late to be raising money, in the sense that what can people --

MS. PERINO: One thing that's different in 2006 from the last midterm elections is the campaign finance law that was passed in between those two times. And hard dollars are harder to raise then soft dollars. In some cases, we -- what Karl Rove has said is that we worked really hard early on to raise money early to help people for this push. We'll be raising money up until the end if we need to. I'll see if I can get you more of a firm schedule. It's mostly rallies, I think, from -- after Saturday I think you're going to see a lot more rallies than traditional fundraising.

Q When is the President going to meet with the automakers in November?

MS. PERINO: That meeting was set for after the election to avoid any appearance of making it a political meeting. It will be in mid-November. I'm not able to give you a specific date.

Q What meeting is that?

MS. PERINO: The big three automakers.

All right. Thank you.

END 12:04 P.M. EDT

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NHTSA Report Examines Driver Distraction Research

A new NHTSA report consolidates current knowledge on driver distraction to help state and local governments develop the most effective policies and regulations. The document, Driver Distraction: A Review of the Current State-of- Knowledge, seeks to define driver distraction and summarizes different types of distraction and the current knowledge of their influence on vehicle crashes. It covers both cell phones and in-vehicle technologies, such as navigational systems.

The report also discusses the effectiveness of existing countermeasures. Standard behavioral countermeasures, including laws, enforcement and sanctions are considered unlikely to be effective because distraction is a broad societal problem associated with lifestyle patterns and choices. For example, a study of the effectiveness of New York State's cell phone law saw initial compliance followed by a phone use similar to what was observed before the law took effect.

The paper suggests future research is needed to better understand and address the problem. Specific recommendations include: larger, more representative naturalistic studies; a defined taxonomy of driver distractions and their sources; objective, standardized measures of distraction; and further evaluation of the effectiveness of State distraction-related laws.

The report is available online at:


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Gate 4: Product Explanation

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Product Archaeology: Product Explanation

\'\'\'Product Reassembly\'\'\'

\'\'Difficulty Scale:\'\'

Level Description
1 Easy assembly with minimal tools and no difficulties
2 Moderately easy; Required some basic tools; manual referencing used
3 Parts had to be adjusted accordingly; Some special tools that were not in the shop had to be used; Time consuming
4 Parts with many sub-systems were time consuming to reassemble; Certain parts that were reassembled already had to be removed to accommodate for other parts that were not fitting back correctly
5 More than one group member was required to help reassemble one of the components; Certain parts would not be attached as easily as was disassembled prolonging the reassembly

\'\'\'How was the product originally assembled?\'\'\'

Overall, as a group, we were able to accomplish the task of first disassembling the engine and now reassembling. Although we found a bag of extra screws in the intake compartment, left by the last group, we were able to use some of the parts as replacements to certain bolts we could not find. After seeing the final project, we as a group can say that this engine could possibly be in full running condition IF AND ONLY IF ALL BOLTS AND WASHERS WERE IN PLACE and the timing chain was correct.

\'\'\'Is the assembly the same as the disassembly?\'\'\'

We would have to say yes, the assembly process should be the same as the disassembly process, but as we were doing the reassembly process, we did not use any of the pictures we took as reference. We just assembled what we thought should go first evidently leading us into some problems and obstacles. So in the long run, it was better off referring to our disassembly process.

\'\'Reassembly Steps\'\'

\'\'\'1) Transmission\'\'\'

-The Transmission Gears were attached on both the main and counter shafts

-It was then places into the Transmission Casing

-\'\'Difficulty\'\': Level 1:The gears were very simple to reassemble. Tools were not necessary during this process; however, manipulating the gears and spacing was required to get them back in the proper position.

-\'\'Tools\'\': 8, 10, and 12 mm socket wrenches

Transmission Assembly.jpg

\'\'\'Figure 1:\'\'\' Pictured is the Transmission reassembled

\'\'\'2) Clutch\'\'\'

-The clutch and friction plates were placed in the Clutch Basket

-The four Clutch Springs and Pressure Plate were mounted on the basket and the entire basket was attached to the side of the transmission

-The cover was slid fastened around the clutch

-\'\'Difficulty:\'\' Level 1: A couple of bolts and springs attached the clutch basket in place, so reattaching this subsystem back in place was not an issue. Although, one out of four of the screws that held the part in was missing. Missing a bolt can evidently affect the overall stability of the engine. Overall, the reassembly of this part was fairly simple.

-\'\'Tools:\'\' 10 mm socket wrench

Clutch Assembly.jpg

\'\'\'Figure 2:\'\'\' Pictured is the Clutch assembled before the cover was attached over it

\'\'\'3) Crankshaft\'\'\'

-All that was needed to reassemble the crankshaft was to place it in the casing next to the transmission

-\'\'Difficulty:\'\' Level 1

-\'\'Tools:\'\' None

Crankshaft Assembly.jpg

\'\'\'Figure 3:\'\'\' Pictured is the Crankshaft assembled in the casing next to the Transmission

\'\'\'4) Piston Assembly\'\'\'

-The Pistons were placed in their respective cylinders

-The connecting rods were then attached to each of the pistons and the respective place on the crankshaft from behind

-\'\'Difficulty:\'\' Level 3: When reassembling the pistons, we had realized that the piston had to placed on a certain way, or else we were not going to be able to attach the screws that held the piston to the crankshaft. We ran into a problem where we noticed that one of the pistons o-ring that secured the piston tightly to the crankshaft was missing. We decided to remove the pistons that were already attached to see if they were on them. As we eventually found out, there were two extra o-rings on the other pistons. Overall, if we didn’t run into this problem attaching the pistons to the engine would not have been as bad. The overall process of attaching all four pistons, took about half an hour.

-\'\'Tools:\'\' 8 and 10 mm Socket Wrench

Piston Assembly.jpg

\'\'\'Figure 4:\'\'\' Pictured are the Pistons being placed into their respective cylinders

\'\'\'5) Crankcase\'\'\'

-The upper half of the Crankcase was placed on the lower half and the respective screws were fastened in their respective places.

-\'\'Difficulty:\'\' Level 1: Overall, this system was fairly easy to attach. There were only a few bolts attaching this part to the overall engine. We did have trouble finding all the bolts that did attach this part to the engine. The mission bolts must have been from the previous groups from last year. We made sure that all the corresponding bolts were in separate Ziploc bags.

-\'\'Tools:\'\' Rubber Mallet - 10 mm Socket

Crankcase Assembly2.jpg

\'\'\'Figure 5:\'\'\' Pictured is the Crankcase being attached to the engine

\'\'\'6) Starter\'\'\'

-The Starter Component was placed in its covering and the two end caps were fastened together

-Placed in its respective spot on the engine and fastened to the Block

-\'\'Difficulty:\'\' Level 3: The starter gave us some minor problems when reattaching it back to the overall engine. One of the bolts sticking out from the side of the starter was off centered, interfering with the placement of the system. Evidently, we had to open the started to fix the problem, which took a bit more time, but was solve quickly. Another issue with the starter was that we as a group could not decide how the starter was attached to the engine. There were two ways to attach it, but after discussion and debate, we had come to a conclusion. The right way we mention was missing a spacer, which filled the gap between the engine and starter.

-\'\'Tools:\'\' 8 mm socket Wrench

Starter Assembly.jpg

\'\'\'Figure 6:\'\'\' Pictured is the Starter reassembled, placed on the engine

\'\'\'7) Alternator\'\'\'

-The Alternator and its cover were fastened onto the engine

-\'\'Difficulty:\'\' Level 1: The alternator was very simple to reattach. Only a few bolts held it in place so reassembling it back onto the engine was not an issue.

-\'\'Tools:\'\' 8 mm Socket Wrench

Alternator Assembly.jpg

\'\'\'Figure 7:\'\'\' Pictured is the Alternator assembled onto the engine block

\'\'\'8) Camshaft Assembly\'\'\'

-The two camshafts were placed in the head on their respective sides

-The covers were then fastened on top, over each camshaft

-\'\'Difficulty:\'\' Level 5: This was this one of the hardest subsystems to reassemble. Since the chin was in high tension it was hard to attach to the two camshafts. Also the camshafts had to sit in a specific position, so that also factored into a problem we ran into. It took two people get the cam chain back in to the camshaft. This engine was worked on by two groups this semester so during the reassembly, a few people were working on the head while a couple of people were working on the block itself. Putting the two parts together, we found out that we had to bolt down the head to the block so certain parts had to be undone. This part was an insufficient use of time.

-\'\'Tools:\'\' 10 mm Socket Wrench

Camshaft Assembly.jpg

\'\'\'Figure 8:\'\'\' Pictured are the Camshafts being assembled into the Engine Head

\'\'\'9) Timing Chain\'\'\'

-The Timing Chain\'s tensioner and guides were fastened to the engine

-The Chain was then fitted around the gears of the camshafts and the crankshaft so the teeth of each of the gears fit into the chain

-Finally the tensioner was tightened so the chain fit securely

-\'\'Difficulty:\'\' Level 4 The Timing Chain, Camshafts, and Crankshaft had to be situated many times so that they would fit perfectly into each other.

-\'\'Tools:\'\' 10 and 14 mm Socket Wrench

IMG 0028.jpg

\'\'\'Figure 9:\'\'\' Pictured is the timing chain being reassembled with the guides, sprocket, and tensioner already assembled

\'\'\'10) Valve Cover\'\'\'

-The valve cover was placed on the Engine Head over the camshafts and their covers

-Then is was secured into place by its respective bolts

-\'\'Difficulty:\'\' Level 1

-\'\'Tools:\'\' 10 mm Socket Wrench

ValveCover Assembly.jpg

\'\'\'Figure 10:\'\'\' Pictured is the Valve Cover being placed onto the engine head

\'\'\'11) Carburetor\'\'\'

-The Components of the Carburetor were assembled together into each of the 4 carburetors.

-They were then connected together by a rod

-\'\'Difficulty:\'\' Level 4: The carburetor is the most complex part of the engine due to the small components that consist of this subsystem. Group 13 did more detail research and break of the carburetor. Reassembling this component took a while, but using the half of the carburetor that was in tacked as a reference, minimized the time and simplified the process.

-\'\'Tools:\'\' 10 mm Socket Wrench - Philips Head Screwdriver - Rubber Mallet

Carburetor Assembly.jpg

\'\'\'Figure 11:\'\'\' Pictured are the Carburetors being assembled to each other

\'\'\'12) Air box\'\'\'

-The filter was placed inside the air box and then the top and bottom halves were secured together

-The carburetors were attached to the bottom of the air box

-Finally the Air Box was fastened to the the top of the completed engine

-\'\'Difficulty:\'\' Level 1

-\'\'Tools:\'\' Philips Head Screwdriver

AirBox Assembly.jpg

\'\'\'Figure 12:\'\'\' Pictured is the Air box and carburetors assembled to each other

\'\'\'Design Revisions\'\'\'

\'\'Revision #1\'\'

The first revision would be to the air intake system. I would change the intake from the basic intake into a cold air intake system. This is a very inexpensive change that would increase the performance of the engine tremendously. A cold air intake is a system used to bring down the temperature of the air going into a car for the purpose of increasing the power of the internal-combustion engine. It also increases the appeal of a motorcycle by changing the appearance of the motorcycle’s engine bay and creating an attractive intake noise.

\'\'Revision #2\'\'

The second revision that we would suggest would be the addition of a CVT (Continuously Variable Transmission) system instead of the original transmission system. This type of transmission is new technology for many people and has been seen on snowmobiles and now a few makes of Nissan. The CVT transmission has the ability to provide an unlimited range of gear ratios in the transmission. A CVT uses a pulley and belt system to provide an unlimited range of gear ratios. It is different from the Honda transmission which has a set number of gear ratios. A CVT uses parts such as a high density rubber/metal belt, a driving pulley actuated by a hydraulic cylinder, a mechanical torque-sensing driving pulley, sensors and microprocessors to perform its function. In order to add this transmission the old subsystem transmission would have to be completely removed and replaced with the CVT. The CVT transmission comes in a set package but does include the parts listed above. For the following reasons the CVT motor is highly recommended:

• Improved fuel economy

• Less emissions

• Quicker acceleration

\'\'Revision #3\'\'

The last revision for the systematical part of the engine that I would suggest is Tool-less Air Cleaner Cover. The normal air filter is located on top of the engine block and requires tools to remove and change. Thus, making it very hard to change the air filter without several tools. However, if we could add a tool-less air cleaner cover it would provide easy access to air filter changes. Although this seems very basic many people end up spending money for a mechanic to change their air filter because they do not know where it is located or how to remove it. Overall this would make it better for the user at a cost of close to nothing for the manufacturer.


text:
Alligator Lopper: Gate4

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Gate Four

Management Proposal

Managing is the process of getting work accomplished with and through the efforts of other people. As a group we have understood the importance of management in the overall completion of the project. It is important to have a clear vision of what is needed to be accomplished and to separate the responsibilities according to each persons unique skill set. As a group we organized the team by assigning responsibilities and reducing potential problems caused through effective communication.

Alicia- Communication is key when managing a project effectively and Alicia has taken responsibility of this task by emailing everyone according to the time available to complete the project. She was also assigned to complete one of the mechanism's which she has done successfully.

Keerthi -

Alex- One of the members who was involved in the reassembly of the chainsaw, Alex specified each instruction and made note of all the steps as well as the equipment used during reassembly. He was given the task of organizing the steps into a table. Each picture that was taken was annotated and each step was explained in detail.

Spencer and Zach - Reassembly of the product as well as the revisions were done by them. They effectively stated the pros and cons as well as all the GSEE Factors involved when formulating the new design.

Product Reassembly

The product was assembled in three main stages: the Motor and Motor Mount Assembly stage, the Chain Guard and Chain Guard Cover Assembly stage, and the Outer Cover/Handles Assembly stage. Each Stage is followed by a short discussion regarding difficulties encountered, tools required, and assembly process.

Difficulty Rating System

1 - Parts or components can be attached to their housings or corresponding components without further use of tools not included with the Alligator Lopper. The user only needs the provided tool to preform the step or requires no tool to preform the step.

2 - Some components must be assembled in order to access the desired component. Common tools such as a Flat or Philips head screwdrivers or an Allen wrench are required to complete the step.

3 - The desired assembly is based on multiple parts or subsystems. It cannot be put together without first building the parts or subsystems it is based on. Less common tools, such as a Torque screwdriver, are required to complete the step. The step may also involve manipulating an ungainly part into position and require some time devoted to assembling the product correctly.

Assembly: Motor and Motor Mount

Step Number Step Difficulty Rating Image
1 Place the two parts of the motor together so that the coiled part fits within the magnet. 1
Asmbl 1 1.jpg
2 Place the two sides of the motor cover together around the motor and secure in place with the corresponding 4 Philips head screws. The motor cover should cover part of the motor mount. 3
Asmbl 1 2.jpg
3 Take the large gear and place it in the motor mount housing so that its teeth interlock with the teeth of the drive shaft coming out of the motor. 1
Asmbl 1 3.jpg
4 Place the two large hex bolts into the outlines of the bottom side of the motor mount cover. Fasten the motor mount cover to the motor mount, covering the large gear so that all that shows of it is its drive shaft. Both bolt threads are exposed along with the driveshaft. 1
Asmbl 1 4.jpg
5 Fasten the motor mount cover to the motor mount using one Philips head screw and two Torque head screws. A size T15 Torque head driver is used to screw in the Torque head screws. 3
Asmbl 1 5.jpg

Average Difficulty: 1.8

The toughest part about assembling the Motor and Motor Mount was in fact attaching the motor cover. The orientation of the two sides of the motor cover in relation to the motor mount is confusing and required about 10 minutes of attempts in order to finally get the cover together. In terms of ease of assembly for the rest of the Motor Mount, the required effort was minimal.

Two tools were used to complete this assembly: a Philips Head screw driver and a T15 Torque head driver. While the philips screw driver is easy to come by in most homes, most of those homeowners do not have a collection of Torque head drivers. This would make it difficult for a homeowner to either disassemble or assemble the motor mount. We also used the same steps in reverse that we used during the disassembly process. The steps did not change radically since these components were easy to assemble.

The motor cover was most likely assembled with the use of a robot since it would be difficult for a human to immediately attach the cover successfully without some trial and error. The gear and the motor mount cover was most likely assembled by a human since it requires lubrication which looked like it was applied sloppily.

Assembly: Chain Guard and Chain Guard Cover

Step Number Step Difficulty Rating Image
1 Holding the outside cover, attach the black clip to the two pieces of plastic so that the round ends of the springs are around the plastic anchors. While installing place the bar on the outside of the cover and allow the black clip to lock over the jaw and keep it compressed against the cover. 3
Asmbl 2 1.jpg
2 Being careful not to dislodge the bar and the bar clip, place the motor mount with its bolts and driveshaft oriented downwards onto the inside of the cover. The bottom of the motor mount should rest above the black clip and hold its springs in place. 3
Asmbl 2 2.jpg
3 Using two Philips head screws intended for this step, secure the motor mount to the bottom cover. 2
Asmbl 2 3.jpg
4 Place the black quarter gear over the hole next the motor mount. The hex shaped hole should be face up which will contain a nut. 1
Asmbl 2 4.jpg
5 On the opposite side of the cover, the bottom half of the jaw is fitted into the hole on the cover. Tightening the bolt inside the hole in the jaw will lock onto the nut in the gear. Make sure the gear lines up with the square extension from the jaw, tightening it with a 7/32 inch Allen Wrench. 2
Asmbl 2 5.jpg
6 Place the sprocket onto the drive shaft so that it sits on the outer cover. Hold the chain bar underneath the black clip so that the two bolts extending through the cover pass through the slit in the bar. Place the chain around the sprocket and bar. 2
Asmbl 2 6.jpg
7 Take the lower side of the moving jaw and secure the upper side of the jaw to it using three nuts and bolts. A 5/32 inch Allen wrench is required. 2
Asmbl 2 7.jpg
8 Place the black cover over the chain bar and sprocket. Secure the nuts to the two bolts extending through the cover using the tool provided with the Lopper 1
Asmbl 2 8.jpg
9 The chainsaw portion of the Lopper is fully assembled. The handles and switches must now be assembled. -
Asmbl 2 9.jpg

Average Difficulty: 2.0

The most difficult part to assembling the Chain Guard and Chain Guard cover was successfully installing the small black bar clip. It was difficult to hold the springs in place around their anchors while also trying to install the motor mount above it. We had no way of actually holding the clip in place while its springs were anchored and the clip would simply fall out of place. Our solution was to actually install the bar prematurely and hold it in place so that the clip would have a stable surface to latch onto. When that had been done, the springs stayed around their anchors and the motor mount was easily dropped into place over the clip and secured in place using two Philips head screws.

The other relatively difficult component to install was the rotating jaw and the gear it is fixed to. The gear lined up perfectly with the jaw, however one of the nuts which was required to install the other half of the jaw was inaccessible after bolting the jaw to the gear. Our solution was to lay the nut in the hole in the jaw before connect the jaw to the gear so that when the second half of the jaw was to be installed, the nut was already there and could be threaded onto the bolt.

In terms of tools, a 5/32 Allen key, a 7/32 Allen key, the hex wrench provided with the Lopper, and a Philips head screw driver were required to assemble this section of the Lopper. Other than the initial problem of installing the black clip and the second problem regarding the jaw, the rest of the assembly was easy to follow and intuitive. We did alter the steps used in the disassembly process when we attached the bar when installing the clip. When taking it apart, we took the bar off before we even had access to the clip. In the assembly, we had to attach the bar at the same time as the clip.

For the assembly process, it would make sense for a robot to fasten the motor mount to the cover since it is a straightforward task. The installation of the bar and chain however was probably done by hand since it is task intended to be completed by the user. Finally the outer cover was probably attached by hand since the nuts were not overly tightened and were meant to be removed by the user.

Assembly: Outer Cover/Handles

Step Number Step Difficulty Rating Image
1 Attach the wires from the external black cord to the white wire connector. Secure the wires using the small Flathead screws located in the connector. 2
Asmbl 3 1.jpg
2 Secure the black cord to the inside of the handle by fastening the cord clip with two Philips head screws. 2
Asmbl 3 2.jpg
3 Attach the wires to the switch and push the switch down on the two plastic pins. 1
Asmbl 3 3.jpg
4 Place the springs for the trigger on the two plastic pegs on the back of the trigger. Being careful to control the springs, force the trigger into its plastic housing compressing the springs against two plastic backstops. The trigger should be held in place by the force of the springs. 1
Asmbl 3 4.jpg
5 Being careful not to knock the springs and the trigger loose, lower the second half of the handle cover over the motor. Secure with 10 Philips head screws. 2
Asmbl 3 5.jpg
6 Lower the bottom half of the handle into place so that its teeth fit into the trench around the motor in the lower handle. 1
Asmbl 3 6.jpg
7 Using a screwdriver to compress the large spring in the trench, fit the spring into the trench so that it pushes against the teeth in the top handle. 2
Asmbl 3 7.jpg
8 Attach the wires to the switch and push the switch down on the two plastic pins. Place the springs for the trigger on the two plastic pegs on the back of the trigger. Being careful to control the springs, force the trigger into its plastic housing compressing the springs against two plastic backstops. The trigger should be held in place by the force of the springs. 1
Asmbl 3 8.jpg
9 Lower the top half of the handle onto the lower half being careful not to knock out the springs or trigger. Secure in place with 8 Philips head screws. 2
Asmbl 3 9.jpg
10 Slide the semicircular orange plastic clamp around the other side of the motor and secure it to the top handle using two Allen headed bolts. A 5/32 Allen key was required. 2
Asmbl 3 10.jpg
11 Finally place the outer motor cover over the top of the motor and secure it to the inner motor cover using four Philips head screws. 2
Asmbl 3 11.jpg
12 The Alligator Lopper is now fully assembled. -
Asmbl 3 12.jpg

Average Difficulty: 1.6

The only major difficulty we encountered was trying to get the compression spring into the trench with the teeth of the top handle. We attempted for perhaps 10 minutes to force it in by hand but each time the spring came loose. It was finally installed when we used a flat head screwdriver to compress the spring within the trench and then installed the second handle.

The product was most likely assembled by hand for these steps since they require wiring switches to the outer cord and the motor. Most wiring jobs are done by hand since a worker can decide how much wire to use, where to store the extra wiring within the cover and can also wire it quickly. It would also be cost ineffective to build machinery to automatically attach the last few covers to the product when it can easily be done by hand.

The tools required to finish the assembly were a 5/32 inch Allen key, a Philips head screw driver and a small flat head screwdriver used in the installation of the spring. This was by far the easiest part of the assembly. The covers were only held together by Philips head screws therefore putting them together was a breeze. We did run into some trouble when installing the spring but it was quickly overcome with the application of a small flat head screwdriver. With the exception of the spring and installing the triggers, we roughly followed the same steps in reverse which we used for the disassembly process.

Drive Chain Mechanism

Technical Name: Gear train

Components:Sprocket, Large Gear and Chain

Purpose: The purpose of this mechanism is rotating the chain of the chainsaw.

How it works: The sprocket located on the shaft of the large gear spins simultaneously with rotation of the large gear. The teeth of the sprocket interlace with the chain to prevent slipping. When the gear increases the torque produced by the motor and transfers it to the sprocket, the chain begins rotate. As the sprocket is turned, it moves the chain by pulling a link towards it. Tension in the chain, which is circular, is being pulled towards the sprocket while the opposite side is being pulled away from the sprocket.

Switch Linkage

Technical Name: Linkage

Components: Spring, Trigger, Switch

Purpose: The switch linkage mechanism allows the user to press the trigger, which ultimately starts the chainsaw.

How it works: When the user presses the trigger the spring compresses which turns on the chainsaw. If this system was not there the triggers within the chainsaw would not return to its original state because the springs would not be present. When the user compresses the springs the trigger contacts the respective switches allowing the motor to run. The trigger is located in between the two sides of each handle. The springs are located beneath the trigger and are held in place by plastic anchors proved the necessary force to keep the trigger pressed against its housing and away from the switch below it. When the user depresses the trigger, they must counteract the force of the springs. The trigger makes contact with the switch. When both triggers are compressed so that they make contact with their respective switches, the motor is allowed to run and the chain to move. There are two triggers used within the product, each trigger being held by two springs. Unless the two triggers are pressed simultaneously the chainsaw will not work which is key to gaurantee safety and make sure accidents do not occur.

Formulas: Fs=kx

Jaw Mechanism

Technical Name: Reverse Motion Linkage

Components: Gear, Jaw, Handles

Purpose: The purpose of this mechanism enabling the user with the ability to open and close the mouth of the Alligator Lopper via the handles of the product.

How it works: The gear is held in place to the free moving aluminum jaw of the Lopper by a bolt and a lock nut. The teeth located on the handle, which provide rotation for that component, interlocks with the teeth of this gear. As user pulls the handles apart, the teeth of the handle rotates, which causes the turning of the gear. The gear that is attached to the jaw rotates and this causes jaw to rotationally open.

Refer to the diagram in the Gear Mechanism.

Design Revision

Portable Gasoline Power Plant

The suggested design revision is to substitute the current electrical rotary motor with a compact gasoline powered internal combustion engine. The current motor has its benefits and drawbacks as with any other piece of equipment, but the improvements of the gasoline engine would outweigh the added negative effects. The gas engine would enable users to achieve a wider radius of movement that is not restricted by the length of the extension cord plugged into the house. This addition also provides a much larger torque force that the axle of the drive shaft creates. This empowers the tool with the ability to cut through denser wood and larger diameter pieces.

In order to obtain this feature, there would have to be a few adjustments to surrounding components to accommodate the engine. First and foremost, a small gas tank would need to rest in a spot that is easily accessible for the user when they need to refill it. The dimensions of the product, as a whole, would be subject to change to allow for a pull cord starter that would kick the engine on with sufficient user input. To properly withstand the added weight of the components, it would be strongly considered to construct the housing out of durable metal casting or stamping. This allows the product to take on larger forces acting against it and gives it a higher tolerance for stress. The four main factors of engineering play a significant portion in the analysis of the decision to potentially change from electrical motor to gasoline engine.

Factors Governing the Design Revision

One of the global factors that go into the product revision is that it enables users that are unable to receive electrical supply the ability to perform jobs. The user has a longer range to go away from his home now that he/she is not restricted to the length of the extension cord. Another global factor being the product may be used in a location that would otherwise possess an electrical supply, but for some reason is unable to deliver the electricity. Take the affected areas of the recent Hurricane Sandy devastation for example where this tool had the possibility to vastly facilitate the cleanup process.

The social factors that contribute to the analysis are those that affect the living areas of communities. The electrical motor would certainly run quieter than the gasoline engine, which could cause concerns for those who do not want to listen to a noisy engine in their previously quaint neighborhood. Almost identical are the issues relating to the public’s concern with the gas emissions that are expelled into the atmosphere for the residents to inhale and have to deal with; a negative attribute that is associated with the gasoline engine.

There are tradeoffs when it comes to the economic factors involved with revising towards a gasoline engine. On one hand, the user saves money by not drawing electrical power from his utility supply. However, the money spent on gasoline can prove to be costly in the long run. The improvement economically is that the long distance wear and tear is reduced by the heavier duty materials as opposed to the weaker electrical materials

The environmental factor that benefits the revision for gas engines is the widespread debate over where our nonrenewable resources are being allocated. By transitioning from electricity to gasoline, coal and other power generation sources are preserved for better use while refined gasoline takes over. However the negative effect is that the gas powered engine is another source for harmful environmental emissions.

Increase Bar Size

The proposed design revision is lengthening the bar and chain assembly. Such a revision would not greatly reconfigure the makeup of the saw, but would merely require some increased dimension changes of the existing components. One of the limiting factors of the Lopper’s function is the size of the bar/chain assembly and the limited cutting edge of the saw. These factors greatly limit the size of the wood/debris that the operator can tackle with this tool, and increasing the length of such would greatly increase the range of the Lopper. Making such a revision to the Lopper would be fairly simple and straight forward. The most noticeable and most obvious change to the current design would be an increase in the length of the bar. The bar does not need to be over anything over a foot long like most other traditional chain saws, but a six or eight inch bar would work well for this application.

As a direct result of the increased bar length, the chain would also need to be increased in length. The chain needs to fit snug along the guide track of the bar to cut efficiency, and a longer chain would need to be designed/included with this Lopper to ensure this would not change with a longer bar. The chain guards would also need to be redesigned so as the new bar with the increased length could still fit inside them. One of the main selling points behind this saw is its safety features and keeping the entire bar encased within the guards is a large part of that. The Lopper would also need a longer set of handles, as the longer and heavier bar/chain assembly would require a greater amount of leverage to open and close the jaws with the same amount of force. A design revision of such simple nature could easily be coupled with other proposed design revisions to create an even more versatile and improved final model.

Factors Governing the Design Revision

Such a design revision to the Alligator Lopper would dramatically help increase the range of debris the tool can cut through. By increasing the bar of the chainsaw assembly from four inches in length to eight inches in length, the Lopper is now able the cut through debris twice the size of what it could before the design revision. This would open the Lopper up to large markets of consumers that would have previously believed the Lopper to be too small to handle the tasks they demand of their cutting tools. Combining the versatility of a chainsaw with an eight inch bar with the safety features originally included on the Lopper could give the tool a marketing niche that has not been previously utilized. Suddenly the Lopper is no long confined to just the suburban American doing light residential yard work, but it suddenly is capable of handling large enough debris to be considered for light commercial duty’s, and starts appearing in the country side accomplishing slightly more heavy duty work. Such a revision opens this product up to a barge of different markets in which the Lopper was not previously suitable.

By keeping the bar and chain completely enclosed within the jaws/chain guards of the product through the design revision, the Lopper still keeps its distinguishable safety features, but now has an increased range of function. Previously the operator of the Lopper was forced to sacrifice performance and versatility in the name of safety but with the enhanced bar/chain assembly that compromise has been limited. The ceiling of what debris size the average homeowner can tackle before having to either call a professional or renting/buying a larger saw would be significantly raised.

The increased bar length could also have a sentimental value to some operators that feel emasculated when using the comparatively little saw. The longer bar would give the Lopper a more powerful, tough and commanding figure. The larger bar would give the operator that tough, authoritative feeling that operator of most other traditional chainsaws experience. This would be a hit among men would otherwise see the Lopper as a woman’s tools when featuring the smaller bar current four inch bar.

Since this revision is solely based upon increasing the size of the Lopper, it will undoubtedly require more material to material during manufacturing. The bar is fabricated out of aluminum, the chain out of steel, and the chain guards and handles are both composed of a commercial grade plastic. Since all of these components are being expanded in one way or another, more of these materials would be needed to be purchased during manufacturing, undoubtedly raising the manufacturing price of the Lopper. These increased costs would most likely be passed on to the consumer in the form of an increase in retail price of the product. This increased cost could be offset by the increased sales in otherwise untapped markets.

As stated before, the components that would be expanded in the wake of the lengthened bar design revision are mainly composed of aluminum, steel, and commercial grade plastic. All three of these materials, more of which will be required after the design revision, are derived from non-renewable resources. Using more of these materials would help increase the ravishing of our planet’s ecosystems for more petroleum and metal ores to produce these extra materials. But the environmental impacts from producing the excess materials should be the extent of the environmental impact of the lengthened bar. The Lopper should not require any extra torque from the motor, which has negligible emissions anyway.

Motor Assisted Opening Jaw

This proposed design revision would completely alter both the trigger system and the jaw system. Instead of using two handles to manipulate the jaw into place around a branch, a small DC motor can be employed to do the same action as the user’s arms. Using such a motor would eliminate the need for two pivoting handles. As a result there would be one main handle extending out of the machine towards the user. A second horseshoe handle would be placed on the chain motor’s housing. A small secondary motor would be placed directly opposite the larger chain motor. This small motor would most likely contain a gear exchange to increase its torque. It would then drive a gear directly attached to the moving jaw, much like the current gear attached to the jaw on the product now. The motor would then be used to manipulate the jaw at the control of the user.

A new trigger system would thus need to be employed to insure a factor of safety is present in the product. The proposed trigger system would rely on two main triggers and two jaw control buttons. The trigger would be placed on the underside of the handle extending out of the product. It would most likely be surround by a trigger guard which would protect it from accidentally being depressed. On the opposite side of the handle from the trigger there would be two buttons: an open jaw button and a close jaw button. Pressing and holding either of these buttons would employ the motor into opening or closing the jaw. The orientation of the trigger and the jaw buttons allows the user to use his right hand to manipulate all three. When gripping the handle, the fingers would close around the trigger and squeezing the handle would depress it. The thumb of the right hand would then be able to use the two buttons controlling the jaw, much like how a user may interact with buttons on a TV remote. The second trigger would be placed on the horseshoe handle now attached to the chain motor housing.

Factors Governing the Design Revision

This design revision allows for less strenuous human interaction required to operate the product. By changing the jaw opening mechanism to a motor, more people which previously may have been limited in using the product by muscle limitations may now use the product. This semi-automation of the product makes it friendlier to woman and older homeowners, something which this product has strived to accomplish since its creation. Since this product is still intended for home owner usage and not commercial usage, its market does not change drastically when compared to the current product. This design revision only affects the different type of homeowners that can comfortably operate it.

By changing the location of the handles along with the motor assisted jaw, the ergonomics of the product are improved in three major ways.

  1. The support handle is placed directly on the chain motor’s housing. This allows the user to more comfortably lift and support the product. The heaviest part of the Lopper is easily its motor which is used to spin the sprocket and chain. By placing a handle directly on this heavy component instead of having the user support it by handles located farther away from the motor, the user can more comfortably hold it. It essentially places a handle much closer to the product’s center of gravity making it easier to manipulate.
  2. By changing the jaw opening mechanism to motor control, the Lopper relies much less upon the user’s muscular force capacity. The current design requires the user to compress the handles with enough strength so that it forces the chain to cut the branch. This means the user must be able to exert this force for the length of time required by each cut. In addition to holding the product itself, this action can tire the user. The motor allows the user to use all of his strength to support and the position the product instead of dividing it between that and clamping the jaw. The lack of parts required to move by the user’s strength also allows the user to get a better grip on the Lopper. Since they are not closing or opening handles, their grip remains stationary on the product. This firm stationary grip gives the user more control when manipulating the product.
  3. The one trigger may be operated passively with the left hand and the other trigger and jaw control buttons may be operated by the right hand. The current product requires a squeezing action with both hands to operate the triggers. This design revision allows the user to engage the trigger on the handle located on the chain motor’s housing passively. Simply holding the product by this handle forces the trigger to be depressed against the user’s hand by gravity. This means only the right hand must squeeze the handle to engage the trigger. In addition the right thumb is used to operate the jaw instead of both arms and chest muscles. The actions required to open and close the jaw are minimal in comparison to the actions required by the current product.

In addition to improving ergonomics, the factor of safety already present in the current Lopper is increased with this design revision. Both triggers are left in place since this system for engaging the motor is effective. In addition to the triggers, the addition of jaw manipulation buttons forces the user to only manipulate the jaw when the product is plugged in. This decreases the chance that an awkwardly placed Lopper could spring open unintentionally exposing the chain. It also decreases the chance that the jaw could slip open in the middle of a cut since the motor controls the jaw, not the muscles of the user. Anything which takes the dependence of the product out of the muscular ability of the user and places instead in control of a motor increases the safety of the product.

The price of the product would undoubtedly increase. An additional motor for the jaw system would cost somewhere between $5 to 15$, while the gears and housings would be about an additional $10 and the additional switches and wiring about another $5 to $10. Conservatively speaking, this design change would cost $35 dollars. At optimal costs, it could only cost an additional $20. Manufacturing costs would not change too much. The addition of the second motor and two new switches would be offset by eliminating a second major handle extending out of the product. Material requirements would not change radically since the new system can be built using the same materials as the rest of the Lopper.

Since the power system does not change on the Lopper, its emissions and impact on the environment does not change drastically. However since the system is less cumbersome to operate and easier to support, the amount of branches the user can cut from a stationary position increases. It is now easier to lift higher and cut branches at or above the user’s chest level. The operation of the product now depends on how far the user can comfortably support the product. The previous design relies on how comfortably the user can both hold the product and still be able to effectively provide force to operate the jaws. The design revision thus allows the user to operate the product farther from their body and also at a large height relative to the user’s chest. This means a large portion of the environment can be cut using the new Lopper. It is also more likely to be used in more awkward situations, like atop a ladder. This allows the user to trim higher branches and thick shrubs since the product is easier to manipulate.

Navigate to Homepage

Alligator Lopper Homepage


text:
Yaputhma Sound System

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Yaputhma Sound System, officially abbreviated as YaSoSy (pronounced yah-soh-soo), was founded in November 1995 in Rīga, Latvia and dissolved in the summer of 1997. A motley company of very differe (More...)

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text:
Sunday, October 19, 2008

Is This Voter Fraud?

Suspected voter fraud in Ohio.

Money Q:

Likely among them are the 12 people who have registered to vote since August using the address of the 1,175-square-foot Brownlee Avenue house.

Some of them already have voted. Others requested absentee ballots but have yet to return them to the Franklin County Board of Elections.
None of them, however, seems to have ties to Ohio -- no close relatives, no public-records trail, no obvious intention to stay in the state past the election.

Most of them grew up on the East Coast, attended colleges there and registered to vote in their home counties. It is not illegal to be registered to vote in more than one state. But it is illegal to vote in more than one or to vote in a state that is not your permanent residence.

The owner of the house also is coming under scrutiny. He has voted in Ohio even though he has lived and worked in New York since 2004.

Anonymous Anonymous said...

"About 200,000 newly registered Ohio voters have been flagged by the secretary of state because their names, addresses, driver's-license numbers, and/or Social Security numbers don't match other state or federal records."

The 200,000 happens to include "Joe the Plumber", whose real name is actually Samuel. Joseph is his middle name and his last name is spelled differently on his registration.

Is it fraud for people named "Stephen" to be registered as "Steven"?

The GOP attitude seems to be that they are the masters of stealing elections, so if they lose, then the Dems much be cheating even more.

October 19, 2008 at 12:30 PM

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6Q: Jenn Sterger

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Six Questions with:

Jenn Sterger – TV Personality/Model

We recently had the chance to speak with Jenn Sterger, the host of FUEL TV’s Hometown Throwdown, model featured in both Maxim and Playboy, and admitted Twitter junkie. Jenn has been an Internet sensation for about about six years and running now, so it is about time she answered our 6 questions…

You can check out the full interview in this feature article, and of course a full gallery of photos, but now on to the questions…

Six Questions:

Who is your favorite Athlete?
David Price 75x75 David Price

Who is your favorite Hottie?
chrissy teigen photo twitpic 75x75 Christine Teigen

Who is your favorite Comedian?
chelsea handler tickets 75x75 Chelsea Handler

What is your favorite Movie?
back future 4 75x75 Back to the Future

What is your favorite Gadget?
52 75x75 iPod

What is your favorite Beer?
JS2 75x75 Anything less than 100 calories
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text:
Charity Review

  • Issued: August 2014
  • Expires: August 2016

National Wildlife Federation

Accredited Charity

Meets Standards

11100 Wildlife Center Drive
Reston, VA 20190-5362
Accredited Charity

11100 Wildlife Center Drive
Reston, VA 20190-5362
Accredited Charity

Accredited Charity

Meets Standards

Standards For Charity Accountability

  1. Board Oversight

    Oversight of Operations and Staff: Standard 1

    Organizations shall have a board of directors that provides adequate oversight of the charity's operations and its staff. Indication of adequate oversight includes, but is not limited to, regularly scheduled appraisals of the CEO's performance, evidence of disbursement controls such as board approval of the budget, fund raising practices, establishment of a conflict of interest policy, and establishment of accounting procedures sufficient to safeguard charity finances.

    The organization meets this standard.

  2. Board Size

    Number of Board Members: Standard 2

    Soliciting organizations shall have a board of directors with a minimum of five voting members.

    The organization meets this standard.

  3. Board Meetings

    Frequency and Attendance of Board Meetings: Standard 3

    An organization shall have a minimum of three evenly spaced meetings per year of the full governing body with a majority in attendance, with face-to-face participation. A conference call of the full board can substitute for one of the three meetings of the governing body. For all meetings, alternative modes of participation are acceptable for those with physical disabilities.

    The organization meets this standard.

  4. Board Compensation

    Compensated Board Members: Standard 4

    Not more than one or 10% (whichever is greater) directly or indirectly compensated person(s) serving as voting member(s) of the board. Compensated members shall not serve as the board's chair or treasurer.

    The organization meets this standard.

  5. Conflict of Interest

    Conflict of Interest: Standard 5

    No transaction(s) in which any board or staff members have material conflicting interests with the charity resulting from any relationship or business affiliation. Factors that will be considered when concluding whether or not a related party transaction constitutes a conflict of interest and if such a conflict is material, include, but are not limited to: any arm's length procedures established by the charity; the size of the transaction relative to like expenses of the charity; whether the interested party participated in the board vote on the transaction; if competitive bids were sought and whether the transaction is one-time, recurring or ongoing.

    The organization meets this standard.

Measuring Effectiveness

  1. Effectiveness Policy

    Board Policy on Effectiveness: Standard 6

    Have a board policy of assessing, no less than every two years, the organization's performance and effectiveness and of determining future actions required to achieve its mission.

    The organization meets this standard.

  2. Effectiveness Report

    Board Approval of Written Report on Effectiveness: Standard 7

    Submit to the organization's governing body, for its approval, a written report that outlines the results of the aforementioned performance and effectiveness assessment and recommendations for future actions.

    The organization meets this standard.

  1. Program Expenses

    Program Service Expense Ratio: Standard 8

    Spend at least 65% of its total expenses on program activities.

    The organization meets this standard.

  2. Fund Raising Expenses

    Fund Raising Expense Ratio: Standard 9

    Spending should be no more than 35% of related contributions on fund raising. Related contributions include donations, legacies, and other gifts received as a result of fund raising efforts.

    The organization meets this standard.

  3. Accumulating Funds

    Ending Net Assets: Standard 10

    Avoid accumulating funds that could be used for current program activities. To meet this standard, the charity's unrestricted net assets available for use should not be more than three times the size of the past year's expenses or three times the size of the current year's budget, whichever is higher.

    The organization meets this standard.

  4. Audit Report

    Financial Statements: Standard 11

    Make available to all, on request, complete annual financial statements prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. When total annual gross income exceeds $500,000, these statements should be audited in accordance with generally accepted auditing standards. For charities whose annual gross income is less than $500,000, a review by a certified public accountant is sufficient to meet this standard. For charities whose annual gross income is less than $250,000, an internally produced, complete financial statement is sufficient to meet this standard.

    The organization meets this standard.

  5. Detailed Expense Breakdown

    Detailed Functional Breakdown of Expenses: Standard 12

    Include in the financial statements a breakdown of expenses (e.g., salaries, travel, postage, etc.) that shows what portion of these expenses was allocated to program, fund raising, and administrative activities. If the charity has more than one major program category, the schedule should provide a breakdown for each category.

    The organization meets this standard.

  6. Accurate Expense Reporting

    Accuracy of Expenses in Financial Statements: Standard 13

    Accurately report the charity's expenses, including any joint cost allocations, in its financial statements. For example, audited or unaudited statements which inaccurately claim zero fund raising expenses or otherwise understate the amount a charity spends on fund raising, and/or overstate the amount it spends on programs will not meet this standard.

    The organization meets this standard.

  7. Budget Plan

    Budget: Standard 14

    Have a board-approved annual budget for its current fiscal year, outlining projected expenses for major program activities, fund raising, and administration.

    The organization meets this standard.

Fund Raising & Info

  1. Truthful Materials

    Misleading Appeals: Standard 15

    Have solicitations and informational materials, distributed by any means, that are accurate, truthful and not misleading, both in whole and in part. Appeals that omit a clear description of program(s) for which contributions are sought will not meet this standard. A charity should also be able to substantiate that the timing and nature of its expenditures are in accordance with what is stated, expressed, or implied in the charity's solicitations.

    The organization meets this standard.

  2. Annual Report

    Annual Report: Standard 16

    Have an annual report available to all, on request, that includes: (a) the organization's mission statement, (b) a summary of the past year's program service accomplishments, (c) a roster of the officers and members of the board of directors, (d) financial information that includes (i) total income in the past fiscal year, (ii) expenses in the same program, fund raising and administrative categories as in the financial statements, and (iii) ending net assets.

    The organization meets this standard.

  3. Website Disclosures

    Web Site Disclosures: Standard 17

    Include on any charity websites that solicit contributions, the same information that is recommended for annual reports, as well as the mailing address of the charity and electronic access to its most recent IRS Form 990.

    The organization meets this standard.

  4. Donor Privacy

    Privacy for Written Appeals & Internet Privacy: Standard 18

    Address privacy concerns of donors by (a) providing in written appeals, at least annually, a means (e.g., such as a check off box) for both new and continuing donors to inform the charity if they do not want their name and address shared outside the organization, (b) providing a clear, prominent and easily accessible privacy policy on any of its websites that tells visitors (i) what information, if any, is being collected about them by the charity and how this information will be used, (ii) how to contact the charity to review personal information collected and request corrections, (iii) how to inform the charity (e.g., a check off box) that the visitor does not wish his/her personal information to be shared outside the organization, and (iv) what security measures the charity has in place to protect personal information.

    The organization meets this standard.

  5. Cause Marketing Disclosures

    Cause Related Marketing: Standard 19

    Clearly disclose how the charity benefits from the sale of products or services (i.e., cause-related marketing) that state or imply that a charity will benefit from a consumer sale or transaction. Such promotions should disclose, at the point of solicitation: (a) the actual or anticipated portion of the purchase price that will benefit the charity (e.g., 5 cents will be contributed to abc charity for every xyz company product sold), (b) the duration of the campaign (e.g., the month of October), (c) any maximum or guaranteed minimum contribution amount (e.g., up to a maximum of $200,000).

    The organization meets this standard.

  6. Complaints

    Complaints: Standard 20

    Respond promptly to and act on complaints brought to its attention by the BBB Wise Giving Alliance and/or local Better Business Bureaus about fund raising practices, privacy policy violations and/or other issues.

    The organization meets this standard.

National Wildlife Federation meets the 20 Standards for Charity Accountability.

Number of complaints processed by the BBB in the last 36 months: 6

The organization addressed the complaint issues brought to its attention: 6

The organization did not address the complaint issues brought to its attention: 0

(4 complaints involved individuals seeking to be removed from solicitation lists. 2 complaints reported delays in product arrival.)

  • Year, State Incorporated

    1939, District of Columbia

  • Affiliates

    See attachment

  • Stated Purpose

    "to inspire Americans to protect wildlife for our children’s future."

NWF is dedicated to three program areas: a) getting children and families more connected with nature by getting them outdoors, b) safeguarding wildlife and habitat and c) finding solutions to global climate change. The organization’s education outreach and publications program aims to reconnect children and adults with nature through such programs as Be Out There, Certified Wildlife Habitats, and Eco Schools USA, and through National Wildlife, Ranger Rick, Your Big Backyard, Wild Animal Baby, and Just for Fun publications. Each year, NWF reports reaching one million school children and two million young readers through its educational programs. The organization’s membership education programs provide supporters with the information to make a difference in their own backyards, their communities, and across the country. NWF’s climate change work includes promoting a to clean sources of energy. NWF’s conservation advocacy programs expands the organization’s work on safeguarding wildlife and habitat, finding solutions to climate change, and engaging the public on issues relating to wildlife conservation policy and legislation. Through working closely with affiliates and partners, NWF reports that it has secured and closed more than 500,000 acres of public land to grazing in the greater Yellowstone ecosystem. Through national policy action, NWF also reports that the organization helped secure an EPA formal veto on the Clean Water Act permit for the Yazoo Pumps project in Mississippi. Some ($8,208,000 or 12%) of NWF's program activities are carried out in conjunction with fund raising appeals.

Conservation advocacy programs 26,640,000
Education outreach and publications 18,493,000
Other nature education programs 11,335,000
Member education programs 9,857,000
Total Program Expenses: $66,325,000

Governance & Staff

  • Chief Executive

    Collin O’Mara, President and Chief Executive Officer

  • Compensation*

  • Chair of the Board

    Deborah Spalding

  • Chair's Profession / Business Affiliation

    Deputy Chief Investment Officer, State of Connecticut

  • Board Size

  • Paid Staff Size

*Compensation includes annual salary and, if applicable, benefit plans, expense accounts, and other allowances. While compensation for Mr. O'Mara is not yet available, former CEO, Larry J. Schweiger, received $365,908 in compensation during 2012.

Fund Raising

Method(s) Used:

NWF incurred joint costs of $16,176,000 for informational materials and activities that included fund raising materials. Of those costs $8,208,000 was allocated to program expenses, $5,824,000 was allocated to fund raising expenses, and $2,144,000 was allocated to administrative expenses.
Fund raising costs were 18% of related contributions. (Related contributions, which totaled $53,147,000, are donations received as a result of fund raising activities.)

Tax Status

This organization is tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. It is eligible to receive contributions deductible as charitable donations for federal income tax purposes.

The following information is based on NWF's audited financial statements - consolidated - for the fiscal year ended August 31, 2013.

Source of Funds
Contributions from individuals 35,343,000
Contibutions from government, foundations and corporations 17,804,000
Publications 13,851,000
Nature education materials 9,463,000
Investment returns 6,972,000
Royalties 1,032,000
Other 966,000
Total Income $85,431,000
  • Programs: 78%
  • Fundraising: 12%
  • Administrative: 10%
Total Income $85,431,000
Program expenses 66,325,000
Fundraising expenses $9,804,000
Administrative expenses $8,675,000
Other expenses $0
Total expenses: $84,804,000
Income in Excess of Expenses 627,000
Beginning Net Assets 42,574,000
Other Changes In Net Assets 2,736,000
Ending Net Assets 45,937,000
Total Liabilities 67,081,000
Total Assets 113,018,000

Note 1: According to NWF’s audited financial statement for the fiscal year ended August 31, 2013, the organization received in-kind donations of $514,000 in playground installations ($413,000) and professional services ($101,000). Note 2: In the above financial statements “other changes in net assets” refers to pension and post-retirement benefits.

An organization may change its practices at any time without notice. A copy of this report has been shared with the organization prior to publication. It is not intended to recommend or deprecate, and is furnished solely to assist you in exercising your own judgment. If the report is about a charity and states the charity meets or does not meet the Standards for Charity Accountability, it reflects the results of an evaluation of information and materials provided voluntarily by the charity. The name Better Business Bureau is a registered service mark of the Council of Better Business Bureaus, Inc.

This report is not to be used for fund raising or promotional purposes.


text:
An Algorithm Can Predict Cardiac Arrest 24 Hours Before it Happens

Predictive Medical Technologies has developed a system that can mine the medical data of a patient—lab reports, monitors, nurse notes, etc.—and predict whether that patient will suffer from cardiac arrest or respiratory failure within 24 hours.

It's a system that can be integrated into hospitals that are "at a certain technological level" without any new hardware, sampling or extra time. That technological level is rare though, with only 100 US hospitals properly equipped. Bryan Hughes, CEO of Predictive Medical Technologies, explains how it works:

Without giving away too much of our secret sauce, we use non-hypothesis machine learning techniques, which have proven very promising so far. This approach allows us to eliminate any human "expert" bias from the models.

The current model has been tested and proven retrospectively (looking at old data and determining outcome) and can be used to predict cardiac arrest and respiratory failure. The next version should be able to detect sepsis, renal failure and re-intubation risk, as well. PMT is going to start a validation trial to see how well it works in real times but a formal FDA trial is still a year away.

This sounds deliciously futuristic (even though it's just plain math) and puts us one step closer to the precogs of Minority Report. Well, sorta. [Predictive Medical Technologies via Forbes]


text:
The World Gets One Step Closer To a Working Tricorder

Even with smartphones chock full of hundreds of useful apps, the geeks of the world will never be satisfied until the handheld tricorders from Star Trek are made a reality. And thanks to Dr. Peter Jansen, they could be just around the corner.

With a physical design that's remarkably close to the clamshell tricorders seen in Star Trek: The Next Generation, Dr. Jansen's Tricorder Mark 2 has actually been in development for over five years now. On the inside you'll find a set of OLED touchscreen displays, and even though that keyboard is very reminiscent of iOS, the tricorder instead runs Debian Linux. You also won't find any dilithium crystals inside, since the Mark 2 is powered six AAA batteries.

The World Gets One Step Closer To a Working Tricorder

But it's the array of atmospheric and electromagnetic sensors squeezed inside the Mark 2 that truly make it worthy of being called a tricorder. It's able to measure atmospheric pressure, humidity, temperature, magnetic fields, and light levels.

It can also discern colors, measure distances, and of course has GPS hardware onboard for determining your location. As long as you're still on Earth that is, since those satellites are useless to you if you're off exploring the final frontier. [The Tricorder Project via Ars Technica]


text:
Calendar Review
Transitioning Veterans
Panel Presentation
Date: 5/2/2013 12:20 PM - 1:20 PM
Location: CS177

US Veterans Tell All:

Please join us for a presentation on how to
recognize and assist our US Veterans returning
to college and transitioning into civilian life.
Learn how you can help.

Thursday, May 2nd, 12:20-1:20p, CS 177

Shanty Acevedo, OIF-OEF-OND Outreach Coordinator/Sepulveda Veteran's Center
Thomas Wales, President GCC Veteran's Association

Flex Credit available


text:
About Us

Oxford University Press is a department of the University of Oxford.
It furthers the University's objective of excellence in research,
scholarship, and education by publishing worldwide.