Huge swaths of the north-eastern United States have been hit by a rare October snow storm that struck across the region from Virginia all the way to Maine.
Dubbed "Snowtober" by news organisations covering the unusually early winter storm, the massive weather formation dumped up to 30cm (one foot) of snow in parts of the country that rarely see it this early in the year. Some estimates put the number of people affected by the unseasonal weather at around 60 million.
In a few parts of the country the storm was an almost once-in-a-lifetime event. New York City has seen measurable October snow just three times since 1869, when America was still recovering from the civil war. But 2011 has been an unusual year for New York weather, as the city was also directly hit by Hurricane Irene just a few months ago. Over New York and other areas the storm was also accompanied by thunder and lightning, another fairly rare event known as "thundersnow".
The freezing weather also represented a challenge to the anti-Wall Street protesters camped in Zuccotti Park in downtown Manhattan: last week New York police and fire department officials arrived at the camp to remove all their electrical power generators and fuel supplies, citing them as a fire hazard. The protesters are already legally banned from erected tents.
However, organisers have long been prepared for the onset of cold weather, though few expected it to arrive this early.
"Occupy snow!" read a jokey message from the Occupy Wall Streetofficial Twitter account as the weather hit. A planned rally on Saturday with local union groups and civil rights organisations outside New York's City Hall, as well as a protest over foreclosed homes in the outer borough of Queens, were still set to go ahead.
The storm was of a particular type that regularly hits the region called anor'easter due to the fact that it forms to the south-west and then barrels north-eastwards along the coast and up into Canada. However, they are usually associated with the depths of winter or the very end of autumn, not the Halloween period.
Across the entire north-east, local authorities had readied snow ploughs and spread salt and grit on the roads. As the storm hit, speed restrictions were imposed on the main freeways. It also caused widespread power outages as downed trees and falling branches brought down electricity lines. The problem was especially acute as many trees still had leaves on them, making their boughs both heavier and able to catch more snow.
In the state of Pennsylvania alone at least 18,000 people were cut off by early afternoon. On the Twitter account of the Weather Channel, viewers sent in unusual pictures of the October storm.
One showed boats covered in snow in Stamford harbour, another showed snow falling over Times Square and the Statue of Liberty, and many showed snow falling on trees that still had all their red and yellow autumn foliage. In its latest weather forecast, meteorologist Bernie Rayno on the AccuWeather website flashed up a picture of a carved and grimacing pumpkin covered with snow: "That sums it up. An unhappy looking pumpkin on this Saturday with the snow falling."
But, even as millions of Americans prepared to cancel Halloween celebrations and parties, or at least wear much warmer costumes, it was not all bad news. In the major Vermont ski resort of Killington, authorities took the unusual step of opening up one of their expert ski trails. A handful of other trails also opened, including one in Connecticut. However, the storm was set to be a one-off rather than any indicator that a long winter had begun months early. After the weather has passed the region's weather was set to return to a more normal pattern. In New York this week the forecast is for sunny weather with temperatures back up to up 13C (55F) by Tuesday.
from : http://www.guardian.co.uk/
here comes that one day sure to screw up your life for at least 24 hours, if not the entire week: Daylight Savings Time 2011.
That’s the day, Sunday, November 6, 2011, when you have to set your clocks forward – not backward – one hour. (Remember, that’s one week from now.)
That little fact is lost on many, and results in people like this blogger, forgetting to adjust their clocks.
Fortunately, we have smartphones to do that for us. And if you’re anything like this blogger, you use your smartphone, in this case an Apple iPhone as your watch. (It’s a more complicated physical process, reaching for the iPhone versus twisting and looking at the wrist, but it does the job.)
But even with that, what confuses many is what time it is with respect to what they have to do, and when they wake up. That hour time difference just plain feels different and takes about a week to get used to.
So with all of that hassle, the question is, do we have to do this? Many say it helps to save energy, and that it was started in World WarI to save fuel by reducing the need to use artificial light.
But others say it’s unnecessary to have to do Daylight Savings at all.
My take is, given the way we work in an Internet age, I’m not sure Daylight Savings is the big energy saver it was in a time before the information age.
Moreover, this paragraph offers another reason not to do it, at least in the way we’re used to:
The Uniform Time Act of 1966 provided the basic framework for alternating between daylight saving time and standard time, which we now observe in the United States. But Congress can’t seem to resist tinkering with it. For example, in 1973 daylight saving time was observed all year, instead of just the spring and summer. The current system of beginning DST at 2 AM on the first Sunday in April and ending it at 2 AM on the last Sunday in October was not standardized until 1986.
So, all of this is government-directed. That means we can elect to stop doing it all together. But until we do, remember that on November 6, clocks go forward one hour.
from : http://blog.sfgate.com
That’s the day, Sunday, November 6, 2011, when you have to set your clocks forward – not backward – one hour. (Remember, that’s one week from now.)
That little fact is lost on many, and results in people like this blogger, forgetting to adjust their clocks.
Fortunately, we have smartphones to do that for us. And if you’re anything like this blogger, you use your smartphone, in this case an Apple iPhone as your watch. (It’s a more complicated physical process, reaching for the iPhone versus twisting and looking at the wrist, but it does the job.)
But even with that, what confuses many is what time it is with respect to what they have to do, and when they wake up. That hour time difference just plain feels different and takes about a week to get used to.
So with all of that hassle, the question is, do we have to do this? Many say it helps to save energy, and that it was started in World WarI to save fuel by reducing the need to use artificial light.
But others say it’s unnecessary to have to do Daylight Savings at all.
My take is, given the way we work in an Internet age, I’m not sure Daylight Savings is the big energy saver it was in a time before the information age.
Moreover, this paragraph offers another reason not to do it, at least in the way we’re used to:
The Uniform Time Act of 1966 provided the basic framework for alternating between daylight saving time and standard time, which we now observe in the United States. But Congress can’t seem to resist tinkering with it. For example, in 1973 daylight saving time was observed all year, instead of just the spring and summer. The current system of beginning DST at 2 AM on the first Sunday in April and ending it at 2 AM on the last Sunday in October was not standardized until 1986.
So, all of this is government-directed. That means we can elect to stop doing it all together. But until we do, remember that on November 6, clocks go forward one hour.
from : http://blog.sfgate.com
October, said the calendar. Before Halloween. And the 2.5 million trees occupying New York City’s open spaces confirmed it was fall — not winter — with glorious canopies of leaves stretching along their boughs.
Yet snow was falling. Not a light, mischievous form of frozen precipitation, either, but heavy, wet flakes driven on the gusts of an angry weather system barreling across the Northeast from the Atlantic Ocean on Saturday, cracking sturdy limbs and toppling power lines as it went. It also shattered records, threatening some more than a century old, and elicited the kinds of warnings from public officials that are not usually heard until deep in winter.
On Sunday,about 2.3 million customers from Pennsylvania reaching up into New England found themselves without electricity, according to reports, as the region was lashed by surprisingly high winds, snowdrifts and surging seas. On a weekend that might normally have been spent raking leaves, people were forced to react quickly — retrieving shovels, charging batteries, finding fuel for generators, searching for boots and mittens and checking refrigerators and cupboards.
In Connecticut, Gov. Dannel P. Malloy said at a briefing Sunday morning that more that the 750,000 homes were without power, breaking a record for the state that was set in August when the remnants of Hurricane Irene hit the state. People could be expect to be without electricity for as long as a week, the governor said.
The Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency reported Sunday that more than 650,000 customers were without power across the state. Crews were out assessing the damage but could not provide an estimate of when people would get power back. In New Jersey, PSE&G reported Sunday morning that about 271,000 customers remained without power, down from about 350,000. Most of the customers were in Bergen, Essex, Passaic, Union and Middlesex counties, the utility said. Power companies serving New Hampshire reported 280,000 customers without power.
The conditions in Washington were so bad Saturday night that the White House interrupted its Halloween party, and President Obama comforted some children whose costumes were obscured by winter coats as they lined up at the North Portico for a treat of cookies, M&Ms and dried fruit.
“I know it’s cold here; you guys doing all right?” he asked. “It’s not ideal out here.”
He could have been speaking to a great swath of the nation.
By evening’s end, the storm, a menacing northeaster, had winds of up to 60 miles per hour and blanketed parts of New Jersey and southern New England with more than a foot of snow before it showed any signs of petering out by early Sunday. In coastal areas, shorelines battered in late August by Tropical Storm Irene’s tidal surges were readying for more flooding.
The storm has been cited in three deaths. In southeastern Pennsylvania, an 84-year-old man was killed when a snow-laden tree fell on his home, The Associated Press reported. Gov. Dannel P. Malloy of Connecticut said that one person had died in his state, in a Colchester traffic accident. And in Springfield, Mass., a 20-year-old man was electrocuted by a downed power line, the A.P. said.
“We seem to have hit the jackpot,” said Charlie Foley, a meteorologist for the National Weather Service. “It is unusual to have something like this before Halloween.”
By midday, the snowfall tallies were already threatening to break records. Roughly six inches of snow had already piled up in Lee, Mass., in the heart of the Berkshires, where gusts of winds were swirling. In Worcester, Mass., the record of 7.5 inches was set in 1979. By 7 p.m., the National Weather Service reported that 6.9 inches had fallen there, but by 11 p.m. the snow still falling hard and unabated. The forecast there was for 11 inches.
In West Milford, N.J., there were 18 inches of snow reported at 10:30 p.m. Earlier in the evening, at about 8:15 p.m., 19 inches had accumulated in Plainfield, Mass., with four or five more hours of accumulation predicted. The highest snowfall in New York State was in Orange County, where about a foot piled up, according to the National Weather Service.
source : http://www.nytimes.com/
The fifth installment in Rockstar's Grand Theft Auto series is officially a real thing. And with the first trailer dropping next week, we speculate as to where we think GTA 5 could potentially take place...as well as where it probably won't.
The biggest news this morning is undoubtedly that Rockstar Games' anticipated sequel, Grand Theft Auto V, is officially in the works. And with zero information about the game available, we put our heads together to come up with 3 places GTA V could realistically take place in -- and 3 places it almost certainly won't.
based on review from http://www.gamepro.com
Grand Theft Auto V: Vice City
After the return to Liberty City in GTAIV, it only makes sense for the next game to expand on the series' most popular setting: Vice City. The money font in the logo is our society's biggest vice, the Roman Numeral "V" is a natural fit for the title, and we all need an excuse to drive around in a convertible while blasting "I Wear My Sunglass at Night."Grand Theft Auto V: Washington D.C.
Prepare to have your mind blown. Grand Theft Auto V actually gives away its setting in the logo, with the "V" symbol. It's modeled to look like a logo on a United States dollar bill. Moreover, look at the meaning of the "V" -- it's a direct reference to the Five-Dollar Bill, whichused to use a Roman numeral before switching to the standard "5" in the 1920s. So, who's the U.S. President on that bill? Abraham Lincoln, whose most famous memorial stands at Washington D.C. -- the same city where U.S. currency is printed, at the Bureau of Engraving and Printing. It all makes sense. Everything points to Washington D.C.Grand Theft Auto V: Vegas
The "V" shown in the official logo -- which is written in the same font as the United States five-dollar bill -- could denote that the new game takes place in Sin City for obvious reasons (money, it begins with a "V"). But aside from that, we'd jump at the chance to revisit a high-definition version of Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas' fictional version of Las Vegas, "Las Venturas."Grand Theft Auto V: Fargo
We've seen the East Coast and the West Coast; could it be time for the storied franchise to focus on the heartland? Possible missions could include an encounter with a deranged killer and his wood chipper, or the discovery of a downed plane full of drug money. Cameos by Garrison Keillor and Prince!Grand Theft Auto V: Orange County
This unlikely setting for the Gran Theft Auto series dials up the difficulty by a huge amount. Orange County’s incredibly over-resourced and bored stiff police department is just dying for something to happen, and they’ll throw everything they can at you given any excuse. And navigation is even more difficult. Flat as a pancake, and with no discerning features because the mountains in the distance are always obscured by smog, Orange County’s cookie-cutter suburbs consist of blocks featuring the same low-rise beige apartment blocks, family homes and a strip mall with Palmera Bread, Jumby Juice, Starblicks, GFC Chicken and a 24-7 Corner store.The objective: find a way to get the hell out of there.Grand Theft Auto V: Venus
The new GTA V logo is hinting at something. Perhaps it symbolizes a $5 bill in the G-string of the Statue of Liberty. It might also be the first letter of the next fictional location. But don't get ahead of yourself thinking GTA V is going to take place on Venus. That would be a little too out there.
in my opinion I prefer like V for vegas cheer :)
source : http://www.gamepro.com/article/news/224282/grand-theft-auto-v-3-locations-it-might-take-place-in-and-3-it-wont/
this is realy amazing when your blog have much visitor every day. you will fell glad because your article readed by another person.. how could it be?
you can use Social bookmark site
1. http://digg.com/
2. http://del.icio.us/
3. http://technorati.com/
4. http://reddit.com/
5. http://twitter.com (this is will work when you have many follower)
6. http://google.com/bookmarks
dont forget to register on it . and share everithing you want to share.
and wait for visitor to visit on your site.
and one more, register your site on search engine addurl
Demi Lovato had a lot to celebrate on Monday night. Not only did the Texas native nail the "Star Spangled Banner" to open Game 5 of the World Series, she did it in Arlington, Texas, on a night when the Texas Rangers beat the St. Louis Cardinals to take a 3-2 lead in the fall classic.
Wearing a red Rangers jersey with a short black leather skirt and a black blazer, Lovato shook off the butterflies she was feeling earlier in the day, when she tweeted she was "so nervous/excited about tomorrow!" and did her best.
As it turns out, the19-year-old "Skyscraper" star had nothing to fear, as she confidently performed the notoriously tricky song with a touch of soul and some impressive high runs. As a bonus, unlike some notorious anthem flubs in the past, Lovato not only hit her notes, but got all the words right as well.
"The rush of going out there ... nothing compares to it. I feel like I'm about to jump out of a plane," Lovato said before her big moment, while chilling off-field with her family at the stadium. MTV News hung out with Lovato before she walked out and she told us that the sound check had gone well but she was still feeling uneasy about her opening gig. "I can't imagine how nervous I'm going to be in 15 minutes," she said, thrilled that she hadn't forgotten any of the lyrics in her first run-through.
"Getting to do this in my hometown of Dallas, Texas, is such a dream come true, because I've been to these Rangers games many times. I've sat in the nosebleed sections where you can barely see anything and now I'm going to be singing on the field," she continued. "That to me is such a dream come true and it represents my journey and how far I've come. I just feel so blessed and so thankful and so honored." She was feeling so grateful in fact, that she offered a prayer beforehand in which she thanked her fans and asked for strong vocals while praising the opportunity to sing the National Anthem.
"It's a different environment from my shows; there are people that come there to see me," she said. "Here, they are coming here to see baseball and I am actually just singing the National Anthem. So it's kind of more pressure for me to do good because I want to impress people that didn't come here to see me and I also want to impress people with a song they've heard a million, kajillion times. ... If anything, to be able to step up in front of 51,000 people is going to be incredible."
Lovato followed in the footsteps of "American Idol" winner Scotty McCreery and "New Girl" star Zooey Deschanel, who have both lent their vocals to earlier World Series games.
Matt Barnes and Gloria Govan of the NBA's LA Lakers and VH1's Basketball Wives fame, respectively, have announced their split. They had a nice run together, mostly.
After calling off their engagement last year, but convincing the public they're still a couple, the two confirmed the breakup we ALL knew was coming this week.
Matt emailed out a statement today about the split from Gloria Govan (sister of Gilbert Arenas baby mana/Shaq mistress Laura Govan), saying the following:
“I’d like to address rumors surrounding mine and Gloria’s relationship. We've reached the difficult decision of ending our relationship and will be going our separate ways. We will work together to raise our sons and wish each other only the best.”
Gloria just tweeted her statement saying:
"I'm sure you guys are hearing a ton of buzz about Matt and Me breaking up, sorry to say... its true!!!!!! But the most important thing is focusing on my kids and continuing to have a good relationship with their father, thanks for your support!!!"
A heated Twitter exchange this month between Matt and a fan - who suggested Barnes should Govan or else someone else will - was a bad sign.
Responded Barnes: "He can have her!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"
Classy. Meanwhile, she Tweeted Saturday: "If someone is dumb enough to walk away, be smart enough to let them go. Your destiny is never tied to anyone who leaves you."
Well spoken, Gloria Govan. Well spoken.
[Photo: WENN.com]
source : http://www.thehollywoodgossip.com/2011/10/matt-barnes-and-gloria-govan-its-over/
After calling off their engagement last year, but convincing the public they're still a couple, the two confirmed the breakup we ALL knew was coming this week.
Matt emailed out a statement today about the split from Gloria Govan (sister of Gilbert Arenas baby mana/Shaq mistress Laura Govan), saying the following:
Gloria just tweeted her statement saying:
"I'm sure you guys are hearing a ton of buzz about Matt and Me breaking up, sorry to say... its true!!!!!! But the most important thing is focusing on my kids and continuing to have a good relationship with their father, thanks for your support!!!"
A heated Twitter exchange this month between Matt and a fan - who suggested Barnes should Govan or else someone else will - was a bad sign.
Responded Barnes: "He can have her!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"
Classy. Meanwhile, she Tweeted Saturday: "If someone is dumb enough to walk away, be smart enough to let them go. Your destiny is never tied to anyone who leaves you."
Well spoken, Gloria Govan. Well spoken.
[Photo: WENN.com]
(Space.com)
A dazzling aurora light show amazed skywatchers across North America, from Canada to Arkansas, and other northern regions Monday night (Oct. 24), painting the sky with striking green and even rare red hues.
The aurora display, also known as the northern lights, was touched off by a wave charged particles unleashed by a massive sun storm on Saturday, which took two days to reach Earth, according to the Space Weather Prediction Center operated by the National Weather Service and NOAA.
"These were the most vibrant I've ever seen," Canadian skywatcher Colin Chatfield of Saskatoon, Saskatchewan told SPACE.com in an email. "I was also able to see red with the naked eye, which I've never seen before either. Simply put, they were amazing."
Canadian skywatcher Colin Chatfield caught this view of a stunning aurora display over his home in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan on Oct. 24, 2011
(Credit: Colin Chatfield) Photographer Shawn Malone in Marquette, Mich., expected a good aurora light show, but was still surprised by the sheer brilliance of Monday night's northern light show.
"[I] had taken a few pics, went back to the car to change lenses, and when I looked up the sky was on fire," Malone said. "To the north there was this huge curtain that sent beams overhead to a corona in which I had to turn to the south to photograph. That's when I noticed the reds and pinks starting to happen. From there the lights were every which direction. It was hands down the best northern lights I've seen since the great storm of November 2004."
This spectacular photo of red, pink and green auroras on Oct. 24, 2011 was taken by photographer Shawn Malone of Marquette, Michigan, from the shore of Lake Superior
(Credit: Shawn Malone) "Couple that with the fact that large parts of the U.S. had very clear skies, and you've got some beautiful sightings of the aurora across the northern tier of the U.S.," Space Weather Prediction Center officials wrote in an update. Unfortunately for sky watchers, the geomagnetic storm appears to be in decline and no further significant space weather is expected at this time."
Skywatcher Samuel Hartman of State College, Pa., snapped this photo of the amazing Oct. 24, 2011 northern lights display. The aurora display was created from charged solar particles from an Oct. 22 sun storm that took two days to reach Earth.
(Credit: Samuel Hartman) Traditionally, only skywatchers in high-latitude locations can see aurora displays, but during strong solar weather events, they can be visible to observers at lower latitudes. A dark, clear sky away from city lights is vital to spot the displays.
Green auroras, caused by the ionization of atomic oxygen in the atmosphere, are the most common northern lights seen. Red aurora displays are rarer, and are caused by the ionization of molecular oxygen and nitrogen.
"I was surprised to find the auroras out so brightly," said Samuel Hartman, a skywatcher in State College, Pa., who sent photos to SPACE.com. "It was originally supposed to be cloudy all night, but the clouds cleared and the aurora was glowing bright. It made for an excellent show."
Astrophotographer Jeff Berkes took this photo of a dazzling aurora display from West Chester, Pa., on Oct. 24, 2011.
(Credit: Jeff Berkes) "I ran outside and jumped in my car leaving the tripod inside. I used the top of my Xterra and a sweatshirt to create a make-shift tripod," Berkes told SPACE.com in an email. "The auroras only last a few minutes. But hey it was awesome! Haven't seen them here since September 2001."
Monday night's auroras were seen as far south as Arkansas, where skywatcher and photographer Brian Emfinger caught the view from the city of Ozark.
"The auroras filled the sky in every direction - even to the south," Emfinger told the skywatching website Spaceweather.com, adding that it was the website's email alert that warned him of the stunning aurora show. "When I saw the alert, I ran outside and immediately saw red auroras. Within a few minutes the auroras went crazy! Unbelievable!"
Skywatcher Tom Pruzenski snapped this view of the Oct. 24, 2011 northern lights display while watching the rare red northern lights with his brother Chris on Oct. 24, 2011 from Hemlock, NY.
(Credit: Tom Pruzenski) In Hemlock, N.Y., first-time aurora photographer Tom Pruzenski expressed a similar sentiment.
"This outburst of red auroras happened around 9:30 p.m.," Pruzenski said. "My brother (and amateur astronomer) Chris Pruzenski noticed faint auroras two hours earlier, around 7:30 p.m. We waited and watched, and our patience paid off with this 5-10 minute display of red and green auroras."
Tom Dolaskie IV watched the northern lights dance over Lake Superior at Munising Bay in Michigan. The view, he said, was astounding and not one he will soon forget.
"Hands down the most amazing northern lights display that I have ever witnessed," Dolaskie said. "Frankly, a setting that a photograph simply cannot capture. My friends and I were lucky to have witnessed it."
from : http://www.cbsnews.com/
Perry argues these tax cuts will spur economic growth by creating a more favorable environment for wealthy individuals and corporations to start or expand their businesses. But without significant spending reductions, the tax cuts could drastically increase the federal budget deficit.
“Taxes will be cut across all income groups in America, and the net benefit will be more money in Americans’ pockets with greater investment in the private economy,” Perry said to an audience of more than 200 inside the factory at ISO Poly Films, Inc. in this South Carolina town.
The “Cut, Balance and Grow” plan, which Perry first unveiled Tuesday in an op-ed in the Wall Street Journal, puts Perry firmly to the political right of former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney in terms of economic policy.
Nia-Malika Henderson previewed the speech by posing five questions for Perry to answer about his flat-tax proposal on the new Elections 2012 blog:
1. Will the poor pay more? Perry’s plan, which keeps the national flat tax at 20 percent, comes with an opt-out provision, which means if you like your current tax rate, you can keep it. And deductions for mortgages and charitable contributions, etc, remain, possibly blunting the usual criticism that flat tax plans get.
2. Can he keep it simple? Cain’s plan caught on because it had the catchy 9-9-9 slogan. Then Cain went all apples and oranges and muddied up the simplicity of his plan. Perry doesn’t have a slogan so far and having to figure out whether to opt in or opt out offers its own complications.
3. Will it be revenue neutral? Lower taxes for the rich spur growth, creativity and job creation, or so the argument goes. But under Cain’s plan, for instance, government coffers would be in the red by $300 billion less according to the Tax Policy Center analysis.
4. Will the tea party like it? Dick Armey, the tea party king, is a big fan of the flat tax and says the flat tax system would be so simple that people could do their taxes on an index card. Yet, to quote Michele Bachmann, the devil has been in the details, and flat tax rates, once examined, have often ended up looking like a tax hike.
5. What will Mitt say? Romney has largely been opposed to the flat tax, saying at one point that it was a “tax cut for fat cats.” But now that the plans are all the rage, the former Massachusetts governor has a tightrope to walk on the issue. This could be his chance to frame the flat tax as a middle class issue.
C.J. Wilson faces Chris Carpenter in a battle for perception
0 comments Posted by Aritha H at 12:57 PMARLINGTON, Texas — Mocking the suggestion that a postseason performance might have a big impact on impeding free-agent earnings has become such a blogosphere mainstay that it has almost become cliche.
No matter how C.J. Wilson(notes) does in Monday night's Game 5 of the World Series, it is not going to produce a $20 million swing in his payday.
No matter the result, Wilson will still be a 30-year-old lefty and arguably the market's top available pitcher depending on what happens with CC Sabathia(notes). His work ethic and ability to pitch over 200 innings a season will still be the same and the biggest check mark working against him will still exist (he has only spent two full seasons as a starter). Teams will still have money to spend this offseason and Wilson is still equipped with the biggest basket when it comes time to catch it.
Of course, if we want to talk about the narrative and how Wilson will be perceived during that moneygrab, then I think that's fair game. As a guy who still hasn't had everyone buy into his "ace" label, Wilson's performance against Chris Carpenter — a guy who also had to earn his own ace reputation over time — will go a long way to determining that storyline.
Even Wilson agreed with that assessment during a Sunday press conference.
"True story," he said when it was suggested Game 5 is the biggest start of his life.
"That's what the commercial says, that legends are born in the postseason or whatever," he added.
[Y! Sports shop: Show your team pride with playoff gear]
It is a really interesting matchup, this meeting of C.J. vs. Carp. They are both considered the aces of their staffs, but they are also very different. Lefty vs righty. West Coast vs. East Coast. A man in search of a World Series and a Cy Young Award vs. one with both. A man who presumably has a lot of time left in the bigs vs. one who presumably does not.
source : http://sports.yahoo.com
7) Will Oracle follow SAP’s in-memory approach? Appleby, noting that “SAP HANA is a simple and elegant solution” even though the entire product set is “not quite there today,” contrasts HANA’s high-value potential with what he says is a very different value proposition presented by Oracle’s newest machine: “Exalytics on the other hand is a bolt-on mixed-technology appliance. For Oracle to really compete with SAP, they need to throw out Exadata and Exalytics and build an in-memory RDBMS appliance that can do what both of those appliances do in one. They have the brains to do so – but will they? We will see.”
8) Will Oracle deliver app-integration tools to its customers, or is that a responsibility that customers should manage themselves? Says Greenbaum: “This disconnect, this dystopic vision, becomes even more ironic when you add Fusion Apps to the mix. Here’s a new suite that has to be sold in parts to customers using other, older parts of the Oracle product mix because selling it as a suite would expose its severe limitations in terms of industry-specific functionality. With integration as the starting point, you’d think Oracle would engineer the integration between Fusion Apps and the key products in the suite to be a no-brainer for the customers. Wrong. Coders, start your engines: Oracle Fusion Apps require the customer to do the majority of the integration work in order to make the products work with the rest of the Oracle stack. Sure, they are building the integration points – there are 10 or 15 available today as Fusion goes GA – but how that piecemeal approach to the core requirement of integration helps control customer costs and deliver customer value is beyond me.”
9) For the investor community, how important are Oracle’s hardware sales and hardware margins? Says Greenbaum: “Because in the end Oracle’s roll-up [of] the best of breed strategy has never been about better TCO for the customers. It’s been about optimizing the sales opportunity for Oracle’s incredibly effective sales machine, while bringing smaller, inefficient software companies under the razor-sharp cost-cutting eye of Safra Catz. There is certainly a fair amount of consideration about customer choice in the strategy as well – they have many truly best of breed apps in the portfolio – but that has increasingly fallen prey to the requirement for delivering more red meat – in the form of profit margins – to an extremely avaricious investor community hell-bent on looking out for number one. That hunt for profit margins is now all the more acute because of the strain that the Sun acquisition has put on those margins. Safra Catz is now on the record for two quarters promising that the company will soon get back to its former, pre-Sun, margin glory, with little specific guidance on when that will actually happen. Hence the real focus of Open World, which was one big, fat commercial for Exa-everything. Sure, there were plenty of keynotes about things like clouds and apps, but there was no mistaking what Larry was really selling: engineered hardware systems. And there is no mistaking the almost frantic urgency in the subtext to that message: we won’t make good on our promise to Wall Street if the customers don’t start buying more hardware.”
10) “Where does this all lead?,” asks Greenbaum. “There are definitely apps customers who could benefit from engineered systems, but I think a more agnostic, customer-choice hardware model fits the needs of modern businesses best. Meanwhile, Oracle’s acquisition of best of breed vendors will run into a more rapidly shifting mobility-based user experience revolution that is already under way, and already making new user experiences like those in Fusion Apps look old and tired by comparison.”
Finally, because this is such an important subject, here’s a bonus question:
11) Does Oracle foster open information exchanges with influencers and customers? Says Greenbaum: “The four or so events Oracle’s competitors hold each year include multiple opportunities to put influencers in front of the execs and get the dialogue going. In doing so, most of Oracle’s competitors believe – or at least pay lip service to – the notion that they learn from the dialogue as much as the influencers. Oracle, with so much to learn, thinks otherwise…. Could this be the real purpose of Open World: listen to the story we want to tell and don’t expect us to leave time or energy for dialogue? Take the information we want to give you and to hell with the information you think you need to know?”
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source : http://www.forbes.com/
This is an extraordinary time in the business-technology world as customers are being given a wide range of new and distinctive strategic approaches to evaluate, and as technology vendors are rushing to deliver not only new generations of products but even radically different long-term philosophies.
We’ll hear much more in the months to come about open environments versus closed, and what the definition of “open” is; about in-memory computing and its potential; about the significant shift of precious IT budgets away from more-of-the-same infrastructure and toward value-rich software solutions; about real-time visibility and execution; about the stunningly rapid shift among many companies to a mobile-first and mobile-everywhere strategy; and about the ongoing upheaval these changes are creating for business models and business strategies.
In the wake of Oracle’s introduction of a sweeping range of new products, a couple of astute industry experts have analyzed Oracle’s evolving strategies, technologies, and perspectives. From their work, I’ve extracted 10 questions for Oracle and Larry Ellison that touch on many of those disruptive trends mentioned above.
The industry experts who did all the real work from which I’ve drawn the 10 questions Josh Greenbaum of Enterprise Applications Consulting and John Appleby of Bluefin Solutions. With thanks and credit to Josh and John, here’s that list of 10 intriguing questions about Oracle.
1) “Why is Oracle afraid of SAP?,” Appleby asks in a recent blog post. “Oracle have no need to build this appliance [Exalytics]. It’s architecturally complex and they would make more money out of selling the premium Exadata appliance. So why did they? For my money, because Larry wanted to show SAP that he could also build an in-memory analytics appliance in a short period of time. And this shows for the first time – in the wider market context – that Oracle might be afraid that SAP’s strategy of in-memory computing with its HANA appliance, is the right strategy.”
2) What caused Larry’s Ellison’s about-face regarding the feasibility of in-memory computing? Appleby says: “First, Oracle’s Ellison publicly dismissed in-memory computing just 6 months ago. He claimed SAP were on drugs, building out an in-memory database, as referenced in this PC World article: “Get me the name of their pharmacist,” Ellison said at the time. “I mean, I know a lot about in-memory databases. In fact, we have the leading in-memory database, TimesTen. This is nonsense. There is no in-memory technology anywhere near ready to take the place of a relational database. It’s a complete fantasy on their part.” ”
3) Does Larry Ellison understand the level of complexity Oracle’s customers face in trying to integrate the vast range of diverse Oracle applications? Says Greenbaum: “Compounding the irony is that, despite Larry’s insistence – could he be that out of touch with his customers that he believes this? – that integrating his software stack is easy, the reality is that integration is hard, expensive, and, most ironic of all, the responsibility of the customer, not Oracle. There is no magic bullet, no easy-to-configure wizard, for the majority of the integration that Oracle customers require to run their businesses on Oracle software. Nope, it’s all about custom development, using expensive development resources. Sure, there are more and more “integrations” being built by Oracle, and more all the time. And as long as time is not of the essence, one day Oracle will have filled out the massive matrix of integrations required to link hundreds of key business processes across dozens of often overlapping applications. One day.”
4) Will the simultaneous rollout of Fusion Apps and another new Exa machines persuade customers to spend more with Oracle? Says Greenbaum: “Interestingly, I spent much of Open World button-holing applications customers and asking them if they were planning on upgrading to the Exadata/logic/lytics strategy. The answer was universal – not now. When I asked them why, it was because they couldn’t see the value in such a migration, not when they were up to their eyeballs upgrading and integrating their apps. And when I asked them when they might consider such a move, the answer boiled down to the following: when Oracle gives me a clear ROI strategy for migrating that I can take to the board. And when I asked Oracle for evidence of this strategy, the answer was simple, there is none. One Oracle exec whom I asked did discuss an ROI strategy, but his answer was basically about the ROI for Oracle. (Sound bite: running on Exadata lowers Oracle’s support costs. Translation: investors get even better margins.) And while I was promised that this ROI strategy would be revealed to me when it was available, I’m not holding my breath.”
5) Since the current version of Exadata was designed to handle both OLTP and analytics, what’s the rationale for the new purpose-built analytics machine? Appleby says: “Second, Oracle has its Exadata database appliance – which is designed to serve the needs of both online transactional processing, and analytics. With Exadata, you are supposed to have all the appliance you need. Here’s what Ellison said when he unveiled Exadata: ‘It is the first database machine that does online transaction processing. All the other machines: Teradata, Netezza etc. are designed just for data warehousing. Oracle Exadata version 1 was designed just for data warehousing. This is the first time a database machine has been able to do both data warehousing and online transaction processing.’ ”
6) How does Oracle balance its regard for its customers with its regard for its investors? Says Greenbaum: “The problem with the Oracle of today is that the focus of a group of some of the best technology minds in the industry has been hijacked to fulfill a vision that is skewed more towards fulfilling the promise of a decade-old merger and acquisition strategy than it is towards making customers both successful and happy. And the vision comes with a built-in irony that has me convinced that the customer comes second at Oracle, second to the shareholders whose addiction to Oracle’s margins has driven the executive team at Oracle to consider investors, not actual companies that consume its software, as the real customers.”
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source : http://www.forbes.com/
(Seriously? Pandaria?) Ok: A new race, the Pandaren, a new class, the monk. All that within a new Chinese-styled continent, Pandaria. There will also be a new level cap of 90, new PVE scenarios, a new pet system, and a new talent system. That’s a lot of new! They’re also going to renew the Horde Vs Alliance war somehow, and that will take place on this new continent.
That’s it for now.
source http://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2011/10/21/wow-expansion-mists-of-panderia/
UPDATE: Looking for specifics? Hit the break to see a break down of all the major features in World of Warcraft: Mists of Pandaria!
It’s official: the next World of Warcraft expansion is Mists of Pandaria. While not much is currently known, it was mentioned that “war” is going to be a major focus. So, what is currently known about the new expansion?
- Pandaren are the new race (for both factions).
- Monk is the new class – hybrid class, can do damage, heal, or tank. Use a new resources system, have no auto-attack. “Street Fighter” class.
- Level cap raised to 90.
- Expansion will focus on Alliance vs. Horde
- Pet battling
- PvE scenarios – a new “flexible” type of PvE: “Join up with some friends to achieve a common goal, such as mounting a defense against invading monsters, in a flexible new type of PvE challenge.”
- Challenge dungeons – a five-man time trial dungeon mode.
- 9 New dungeons, 6 on Pandaria, 3 Heroic old ones (Scarlet Monastery, Scholomance…)
- Raids: 3 New Raids, feature two new races, the Mogu and the Mantid.
- World raid bosses return.
- New talent system – talent system revamped, more customization, less “cookie cutter” specs. (expect a post on this later as well)
This post will be updated as we find out more information. Also check out new stuff after the break (including a trailer).
Panda-men?
The new race is, of course, Pandaren. The Pandaren are a neutral race who have lived on their own peaceful island for 10,000 years. Pandaren who are played by the player are explorers who wish to see the rest of the world – and get this – they travel around on the back of a giant turtle, which is where the entire 1 – 10 leveling experience happens. Once you hit level 10, you’re kicked off and you must pick between the Alliance or Horde.
Monks?!
The monk is the new class. Focused around martial arts, they are experts in close-quarters combat, and they can fill any role currently in the game. Unlike the last new class addition, the Death Knight, they start at level one and must level their way up to cap.
Unlike every other class, Monks do not have an auto-attack. Every strike matters, and you are in direct control of everything they do. As you kick and punch your way to victory, you build up “chi” which essentially lets you do a series of special abilities. They are designed to be an extremely active fighter, unlike the more passive melee characters.
Currently, every race with the exception of goblins and worgen can be monks.
Level cap to 90
The level cap has been raised to 90, and as such, you’ll be required to level up through five new zones, all of which are located on the new continent – Pandaria. As far as the zones, from the official PR briefing:
- The Jade Forest: High-level adventurers will make landfall in the lush Jade Forest, where they’ll meet some of Pandaria’s indigenous races, such as the fish-like jinyu and monkey-like hozu.- Valley of the Four Winds: Playing home to both farms and rainforests, the Valley of the Four Winds is also where travelers will find the legendary Stormstout Brewery.- Kun-Lai Summit: Amid this treacherous mountain terrain, players will encounter the Shadowpan, a clandestine sect charged with keeping one of Pandaria’s darkest secrets.- Townlong Steppes: Here, a tremendous wall separates Pandaria’s verdant forests and plains from the desolate wasteland left in the wake of the ravenous, all-consuming mantid.- Vale of Eternal Blossoms: Adventurers from either faction are welcome to share a drink in the central city of the pandaren. This zone also hosts many daily quests for max-level characters.- The Wandering Isle: Pandaren adventurers looking to explore the world outside Pandaria begin their journey here, on a mysterious island that never seems to settle in the same place for too long.
Alliance versus Horde
While we haven’t seen anything regarding this personally, it seems that there is a heavy focus on factional combat. Both factions discovered Pandaria during a naval battle, and you start the new content by basically racing to gather as many resources for your side as possible.
Likewise, it was also mentioned that flying mounts cannot be used until level 90, so there will certainly be a large focus on world PvP.
Pet Battling
Check out everything we know so far about the system here.
PvE Scenarios
While Blizzard only touched on these briefly, they essentially seem like dungeons that are designed to be quick. They can involve anywhere from 3 to 25 players, depending on the specific scenario.
While similar to dungeons in theory, in design they are nothing like them. They do not want them to follow in the “kill trash, kill boss” style of typical instances. Likewise, they can be completed with any group mix you throw at them – meaning that it won’t be necessary to fall back on the “trifecta” of tank, healer, and damage dealer.
Challenge Dungeons
Perhaps the feature I’m most excited about, challenge dungeons allow players to tackle five-player instances in a competitive way. When this specific mode is selected, players race the clock for the chance at loot and a medal. The loot has no stats, but it can be used to transmorgify the players equipment.
In addition, when you enter the challenge all of your gear is normalized, so you won’t be able to easily complete the challenges by simply taking them on with advanced equipment and gear.
New Dungeons & Raids
While I could go over this in detail… I’ll just link you here.
Talent 2.0 System
Blizzard completely revamped the talent point system for Mists of Pandaria. To see a full rundown, head on over here.
source http://geek.pikimal.com
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