text:
/************************************************************************************
 * os/board/stm32f429i-disco/include/board.h
 *
 *   Copyright (C) 2012 Gregory Nutt. All rights reserved.
 *   Author: Gregory Nutt <gnutt@nuttx.org>
 *
 * Redistribution and use in source and binary forms, with or without
 * modification, are permitted provided that the following conditions
 * are met:
 *
 * 1. Redistributions of source code must retain the above copyright
 *    notice, this list of conditions and the following disclaimer.
 * 2. Redistributions in binary form must reproduce the above copyright
 *    notice, this list of conditions and the following disclaimer in
 *    the documentation and/or other materials provided with the
 *    distribution.
 * 3. Neither the name NuttX nor the names of its contributors may be
 *    used to endorse or promote products derived from this software
 *    without specific prior written permission.
 *
 * THIS SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED BY THE COPYRIGHT HOLDERS AND CONTRIBUTORS
 * "AS IS" AND ANY EXPRESS OR IMPLIED WARRANTIES, INCLUDING, BUT NOT
 * LIMITED TO, THE IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS
 * FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE ARE DISCLAIMED. IN NO EVENT SHALL THE
 * COPYRIGHT OWNER OR CONTRIBUTORS BE LIABLE FOR ANY DIRECT, INDIRECT,
 * INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, EXEMPLARY, OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES (INCLUDING,
 * BUT NOT LIMITED TO, PROCUREMENT OF SUBSTITUTE GOODS OR SERVICES; LOSS
 * OF USE, DATA, OR PROFITS; OR BUSINESS INTERRUPTION) HOWEVER CAUSED
 * AND ON ANY THEORY OF LIABILITY, WHETHER IN CONTRACT, STRICT
 * LIABILITY, OR TORT (INCLUDING NEGLIGENCE OR OTHERWISE) ARISING IN
 * ANY WAY OUT OF THE USE OF THIS SOFTWARE, EVEN IF ADVISED OF THE
 * POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGE.
 *
 ************************************************************************************/

#ifndef __ARCH_ARM_SRC_STM32F429I_DISCO_INCLUDE_BOARD_H
#define __ARCH_ARM_SRC_STM32F429I_DISCO_INCLUDE_BOARD_H

/************************************************************************************
 * Included Files
 ************************************************************************************/

#include <tinyara/config.h>

#ifndef __ASSEMBLY__
#include <stdint.h>
#endif

#include "stm32_rcc.h"
#include "stm32_sdio.h"
#include "stm32.h"

/************************************************************************************
 * Definitions
 ************************************************************************************/

/* Clocking *************************************************************************/
/* The STM32F4 Discovery board features a single 8MHz crystal.  Space is provided
 * for a 32kHz RTC backup crystal, but it is not stuffed.
 *
 * This is the canonical configuration:
 *   System Clock source           : PLL (HSE)
 *   SYSCLK(Hz)                    : 180000000    Determined by PLL configuration
 *   HCLK(Hz)                      : 180000000    (STM32_RCC_CFGR_HPRE)
 *   AHB Prescaler                 : 1            (STM32_RCC_CFGR_HPRE)
 *   APB1 Prescaler                : 4            (STM32_RCC_CFGR_PPRE1)
 *   APB2 Prescaler                : 2            (STM32_RCC_CFGR_PPRE2)
 *   HSE Frequency(Hz)             : 8000000      (STM32_BOARD_XTAL)
 *   PLLM                          : 8            (STM32_PLLCFG_PLLM)
 *   PLLN                          : 336          (STM32_PLLCFG_PLLN)
 *   PLLP                          : 2            (STM32_PLLCFG_PLLP)
 *   PLLQ                          : 7            (STM32_PLLCFG_PLLQ)
 *   Main regulator output voltage : Scale1 mode  Needed for high speed SYSCLK
 *   Flash Latency(WS)             : 5
 *   Prefetch Buffer               : OFF
 *   Instruction cache             : ON
 *   Data cache                    : ON
 *   Require 48MHz for USB OTG FS, : Enabled
 *   SDIO and RNG clock
 */

/* HSI - 16 MHz RC factory-trimmed
 * LSI - 32 KHz RC
 * HSE - On-board crystal frequency is 8MHz
 * LSE - 32.768 kHz
 */

#define STM32_BOARD_XTAL        8000000ul

#define STM32_HSI_FREQUENCY     16000000ul
#define STM32_LSI_FREQUENCY     32000
#define STM32_HSE_FREQUENCY     STM32_BOARD_XTAL
#define STM32_LSE_FREQUENCY     32768

/* Main PLL Configuration.
 *
 * PLL source is HSE
 * PLL_VCO = (STM32_HSE_FREQUENCY / PLLM) * PLLN
 *         = (8,000,000 / 8) * 336
 *         = 336,000,000
 * SYSCLK  = PLL_VCO / PLLP
 *         = 336,000,000 / 2 = 168,000,000
 * USB OTG FS, SDIO and RNG Clock
 *         =  PLL_VCO / PLLQ
 *         = 48,000,000
 */

#define STM32_PLLCFG_PLLM       RCC_PLLCFG_PLLM(8)
#define STM32_PLLCFG_PLLN       RCC_PLLCFG_PLLN(336)
#define STM32_PLLCFG_PLLP       RCC_PLLCFG_PLLP_2
#define STM32_PLLCFG_PLLQ       RCC_PLLCFG_PLLQ(7)

#define STM32_SYSCLK_FREQUENCY  168000000ul

/* AHB clock (HCLK) is SYSCLK (168MHz) */

#define STM32_RCC_CFGR_HPRE     RCC_CFGR_HPRE_SYSCLK	/* HCLK  = SYSCLK / 1 */
#define STM32_HCLK_FREQUENCY    STM32_SYSCLK_FREQUENCY
#define STM32_BOARD_HCLK        STM32_HCLK_FREQUENCY	/* same as above, to satisfy compiler */

/* APB1 clock (PCLK1) is HCLK/4 (42MHz) */

#define STM32_RCC_CFGR_PPRE1    RCC_CFGR_PPRE1_HCLKd4	/* PCLK1 = HCLK / 4 */
#define STM32_PCLK1_FREQUENCY   (STM32_HCLK_FREQUENCY/4)

/* Timers driven from APB1 will be twice PCLK1 */

#define STM32_APB1_TIM2_CLKIN   (2*STM32_PCLK1_FREQUENCY)
#define STM32_APB1_TIM3_CLKIN   (2*STM32_PCLK1_FREQUENCY)
#define STM32_APB1_TIM4_CLKIN   (2*STM32_PCLK1_FREQUENCY)
#define STM32_APB1_TIM5_CLKIN   (2*STM32_PCLK1_FREQUENCY)
#define STM32_APB1_TIM6_CLKIN   (2*STM32_PCLK1_FREQUENCY)
#define STM32_APB1_TIM7_CLKIN   (2*STM32_PCLK1_FREQUENCY)
#define STM32_APB1_TIM12_CLKIN  (2*STM32_PCLK1_FREQUENCY)
#define STM32_APB1_TIM13_CLKIN  (2*STM32_PCLK1_FREQUENCY)
#define STM32_APB1_TIM14_CLKIN  (2*STM32_PCLK1_FREQUENCY)

/* APB2 clock (PCLK2) is HCLK/2 (84MHz) */

#define STM32_RCC_CFGR_PPRE2    RCC_CFGR_PPRE2_HCLKd2	/* PCLK2 = HCLK / 2 */
#define STM32_PCLK2_FREQUENCY   (STM32_HCLK_FREQUENCY/2)

/* Timers driven from APB2 will be twice PCLK2 */

#define STM32_APB2_TIM1_CLKIN   (2*STM32_PCLK2_FREQUENCY)
#define STM32_APB2_TIM8_CLKIN   (2*STM32_PCLK2_FREQUENCY)
#define STM32_APB2_TIM9_CLKIN   (2*STM32_PCLK2_FREQUENCY)
#define STM32_APB2_TIM10_CLKIN  (2*STM32_PCLK2_FREQUENCY)
#define STM32_APB2_TIM11_CLKIN  (2*STM32_PCLK2_FREQUENCY)

/* Timer Frequencies, if APBx is set to 1, frequency is same to APBx
 * otherwise frequency is 2xAPBx.
 * Note: TIM1,8 are on APB2, others on APB1
 */

#define STM32_TIM18_FREQUENCY   STM32_HCLK_FREQUENCY
#define STM32_TIM27_FREQUENCY   (STM32_HCLK_FREQUENCY/2)

/* LED definitions ******************************************************************/
/* If CONFIG_ARCH_LEDS is not defined, then the user can control the LEDs in any
 * way.  The following definitions are used to access individual LEDs.
 */

/* LED index values for use with stm32_setled() */

#define BOARD_LED1        0
#define BOARD_LED2        1
#define BOARD_NLEDS       2

#define BOARD_LED_GREEN   BOARD_LED1
#define BOARD_LED_ORANGE  BOARD_LED2

/* LED bits for use with stm32_setleds() */

#define BOARD_LED1_BIT    (1 << BOARD_LED1)
#define BOARD_LED2_BIT    (1 << BOARD_LED2)

/* If CONFIG_ARCH_LEDs is defined, then TinyAra will control the 4 LEDs on board the
 * stm32f429i-disco.  The following definitions describe how TinyAra controls the LEDs:
 */

#define LED_STARTED       0		/* LED1 */
#define LED_HEAPALLOCATE  1		/* LED2 */
#define LED_IRQSENABLED   2		/* LED1 + LED2 */
#define LED_STACKCREATED  3		/* LED3 */
#define LED_INIRQ         4		/* LED1 + LED3 */
#define LED_SIGNAL        5		/* LED2 + LED3 */
#define LED_ASSERTION     6		/* LED1 + LED2 + LED3 */
#define LED_PANIC         7		/* N/C  + N/C  + N/C + LED4 */

/* Button definitions ***************************************************************/
/* The STM32F4 Discovery supports one button: */

#define BUTTON_USER        0

#define NUM_BUTTONS        1

#define BUTTON_USER_BIT    (1 << BUTTON_USER)

/* Alternate function pin selections ************************************************/

/* UART2:
 *
 * The STM32F4 Discovery has no on-board serial devices, but the console is
 * brought out to PA2 (TX) and PA3 (RX) for connection to an external serial device.
 * (See the README.txt file for other options)
 */

#define GPIO_USART1_RX GPIO_USART1_RX_1
#define GPIO_USART1_TX GPIO_USART1_TX_1

/* PWM
 *
 * The STM32F4 Discovery has no real on-board PWM devices, but the board can be
 * configured to output a pulse train using TIM4 CH2 on PD13.
 */

#define GPIO_TIM4_CH2OUT GPIO_TIM4_CH2OUT_2

/* SPI - There is a MEMS device on SPI5 using these pins: */

#define GPIO_SPI5_MISO GPIO_SPI5_MISO_1
#define GPIO_SPI5_MOSI GPIO_SPI5_MOSI_1
#define GPIO_SPI5_SCK  GPIO_SPI5_SCK_1

/* SPI - External SPI flash may be connected on SPI4: */

#define GPIO_SPI4_MISO GPIO_SPI4_MISO_1
#define GPIO_SPI4_MOSI GPIO_SPI4_MOSI_1
#define GPIO_SPI4_SCK  GPIO_SPI4_SCK_1

/* Timer Inputs/Outputs (see the README.txt file for options) */

#define GPIO_TIM2_CH1IN  GPIO_TIM2_CH1IN_2
#define GPIO_TIM2_CH2IN  GPIO_TIM2_CH2IN_1

#define GPIO_TIM8_CH1IN  GPIO_TIM8_CH1IN_1
#define GPIO_TIM8_CH2IN  GPIO_TIM8_CH2IN_1

#ifdef CONFIG_STM32_LTDC
#ifdef CONFIG_STM32F429I_DISCO_ILI9341_FBIFACE

/* LCD
 *
 * The STM32F429I-DISCO board contains an onboard TFT LCD connected to the
 * LTDC interface of the uC.  The LCD is 240x320 pixels. Define the parameters
 * of the LCD and the interface here.
 */

/* Panel configuration
 *
 * LCD Panel is Saef Technology Limited (SF-TC240T-9229A2-T) with integrated
 * Ilitek ILI9341 LCD Single Chip Driver (240RGBx320)
 *
 * PLLSAI settings
 * PLLSAIN                : 192
 * PLLSAIR                : 4
 * PLLSAIQ                : 7
 * PLLSAIDIVR             : 8
 *
 * Timings
 * Horicontal Front Porch : 10  (STM32_LTDC_HFP)
 * Horicontal Back Porch  : 20  (STM32_LTDC_HBP)
 * Vertical Front Porch   :  4  (STM32_LTDC_VFP)
 * Vertical Back Porch    :  2  (STM32_LTDC_VBP)
 *
 * Horicontal Sync        : 10  (STM32_LTDC_HSYNC)
 * Vertical Sync          :  4  (STM32_LTDC_VSYNC)
 *
 * Active Width           : 240 (STM32_LTDC_ACTIVEW)
 * Active Height          : 320 (STM32_LTDC_ACTIVEH)
 */

/* LTDC PLL configuration
 *
 * PLLSAI_VCO = STM32_HSE_FREQUENCY / PLLM
 *            = 8000000ul / 8
 *            = 1,000,000
 *
 * PLL LCD clock output
 *            = PLLSAI_VCO * PLLSAIN / PLLSAIR / PLLSAIDIVR
 *            = 1,000,000 * 192 / 4 /8
 *            = 6,000,000
 */

/* Defined panel settings */

#if defined(CONFIG_STM32F429I_DISCO_ILI9341_FBIFACE_LANDSCAPE) || \
    defined(CONFIG_STM32F429I_DISCO_ILI9341_FBIFACE_RLANDSCAPE)
#define BOARD_LTDC_WIDTH               320
#define BOARD_LTDC_HEIGHT              240
#else
#define BOARD_LTDC_WIDTH               240
#define BOARD_LTDC_HEIGHT              320
#endif

#define BOARD_LTDC_HFP                  10
#define BOARD_LTDC_HBP                  20
#define BOARD_LTDC_VFP                  4
#define BOARD_LTDC_VBP                  2
#define BOARD_LTDC_HSYNC                10
#define BOARD_LTDC_VSYNC                2

#define BOARD_LTDC_PLLSAIN              192
#define BOARD_LTDC_PLLSAIR              4
#define BOARD_LTDC_PLLSAIQ              7
#define BOARD_LTDC_PLLSAIDIVR           RCC_PLLSAIDIVR_DIV8

/* Pixel Clock Polarity */
#define BOARD_LTDC_GCR_PCPOL            0	/* !LTDC_GCR_PCPOL */
/* Data Enable Polarity */
#define BOARD_LTDC_GCR_DEPOL            0	/* !LTDC_GCR_DEPOL */
/* Vertical Sync Polarity */
#define BOARD_LTDC_GCR_VSPOL            0	/* !LTDC_GCR_VSPOL */
/* Horicontal Sync Polarity */
#define BOARD_LTDC_GCR_HSPOL            0	/* !LTDC_GCR_HSPOL */

/* GPIO pinset */

#define GPIO_LTDC_PINS                  18	/* 18-bit display */

#define GPIO_LTDC_R2                    GPIO_LTDC_R2_1
#define GPIO_LTDC_R3                    GPIO_LTDC_R3_1
#define GPIO_LTDC_R4                    GPIO_LTDC_R4_1
#define GPIO_LTDC_R5                    GPIO_LTDC_R5_1
#define GPIO_LTDC_R6                    GPIO_LTDC_R6_1
#define GPIO_LTDC_R7                    GPIO_LTDC_R7_1

#define GPIO_LTDC_G2                    GPIO_LTDC_G2_1
#define GPIO_LTDC_G3                    GPIO_LTDC_G3_1
#define GPIO_LTDC_G4                    GPIO_LTDC_G4_1
#define GPIO_LTDC_G5                    GPIO_LTDC_G5_1
#define GPIO_LTDC_G6                    GPIO_LTDC_G6_1
#define GPIO_LTDC_G7                    GPIO_LTDC_G7_1

#define GPIO_LTDC_B2                    GPIO_LTDC_B2_1
#define GPIO_LTDC_B3                    GPIO_LTDC_B3_1
#define GPIO_LTDC_B4                    GPIO_LTDC_B4_1
#define GPIO_LTDC_B5                    GPIO_LTDC_B5_1
#define GPIO_LTDC_B6                    GPIO_LTDC_B6_1
#define GPIO_LTDC_B7                    GPIO_LTDC_B7_1

#define GPIO_LTDC_VSYNC                 GPIO_LTDC_VSYNC_1
#define GPIO_LTDC_HSYNC                 GPIO_LTDC_HSYNC_1
#define GPIO_LTDC_DE                    GPIO_LTDC_DE_1
#define GPIO_LTDC_CLK                   GPIO_LTDC_CLK_1

#else
/* Custom LCD display configuration */

#define BOARD_LTDC_WIDTH               ???
#define BOARD_LTDC_HEIGHT              ???

#define BOARD_LTDC_HFP                  ???
#define BOARD_LTDC_HBP                  ???
#define BOARD_LTDC_VFP                  ???
#define BOARD_LTDC_VBP                  ???
#define BOARD_LTDC_HSYNC                ???
#define BOARD_LTDC_VSYNC                ???

#define BOARD_LTDC_PLLSAIN              ???
#define BOARD_LTDC_PLLSAIR              ???
#define BOARD_LTDC_PLLSAIQ              ???
#define BOARD_LTDC_PLLSAIDIVR           ???

/* Pixel Clock Polarity */
#define BOARD_LTDC_GCR_PCPOL            ???
/* Data Enable Polarity */
#define BOARD_LTDC_GCR_DEPOL            ???
/* Vertical Sync Polarity */
#define BOARD_LTDC_GCR_VSPOL            ???
/* Horicontal Sync Polarity */
#define BOARD_LTDC_GCR_HSPOL            ???

/* GPIO pinset */

#define GPIO_LTDC_PINS                  ???

#define GPIO_LTDC_R2                    ???
#define GPIO_LTDC_R3                    ???
#define GPIO_LTDC_R4                    ???
#define GPIO_LTDC_R5                    ???
#define GPIO_LTDC_R6                    ???
#define GPIO_LTDC_R7                    ???

#define GPIO_LTDC_G2                    ???
#define GPIO_LTDC_G3                    ???
#define GPIO_LTDC_G4                    ???
#define GPIO_LTDC_G5                    ???
#define GPIO_LTDC_G6                    ???
#define GPIO_LTDC_G7                    ???

#define GPIO_LTDC_B2                    ???
#define GPIO_LTDC_B3                    ???
#define GPIO_LTDC_B4                    ???
#define GPIO_LTDC_B5                    ???
#define GPIO_LTDC_B6                    ???
#define GPIO_LTDC_B7                    ???

#define GPIO_LTDC_VSYNC                 ???
#define GPIO_LTDC_HSYNC                 ???
#define GPIO_LTDC_DE                    ???
#define GPIO_LTDC_CLK                   ???

#endif							/* Custom LCD display */

/* Configure PLLSAI */

#define STM32_RCC_PLLSAICFGR_PLLSAIN    RCC_PLLSAICFGR_PLLSAIN(BOARD_LTDC_PLLSAIN)
#define STM32_RCC_PLLSAICFGR_PLLSAIR    RCC_PLLSAICFGR_PLLSAIR(BOARD_LTDC_PLLSAIR)
#define STM32_RCC_PLLSAICFGR_PLLSAIQ    RCC_PLLSAICFGR_PLLSAIQ(BOARD_LTDC_PLLSAIQ)

/* Configure division factor for LCD clock */

#define STM32_RCC_DCKCFGR_PLLSAIDIVR \
           RCC_DCKCFGR_PLLSAIDIVR(BOARD_LTDC_PLLSAIDIVR)

#endif							/* CONFIG_STM32_LTDC */

/************************************************************************************
 * Public Data
 ************************************************************************************/
#ifndef __ASSEMBLY__

#undef EXTERN
#if defined(__cplusplus)
#define EXTERN extern "C"
extern "C" {
#else
#define EXTERN extern
#endif

/************************************************************************************
 * Public Function Prototypes
 ************************************************************************************/
/************************************************************************************
 * Name: stm32_boardinitialize
 *
 * Description:
 *   All STM32 architectures must provide the following entry point.  This entry point
 *   is called early in the intitialization -- after all memory has been configured
 *   and mapped but before any devices have been initialized.
 *
 ************************************************************************************/

void stm32_boardinitialize(void);

/************************************************************************************
 * Name:  stm32_ledinit, stm32_setled, and stm32_setleds
 *
 * Description:
 *   If CONFIG_ARCH_LEDS is defined, then TinyAra will control the on-board LEDs.  If
 *   CONFIG_ARCH_LEDS is not defined, then the following interfaces are available to
 *   control the LEDs from user applications.
 *
 ************************************************************************************/

#ifndef CONFIG_ARCH_LEDS
void stm32_ledinit(void);
void stm32_setled(int led, bool ledon);
void stm32_setleds(uint8_t ledset);
#endif

#undef EXTERN
#if defined(__cplusplus)
}
#endif

#endif							/* __ASSEMBLY__ */
#endif							/* __ARCH_ARM_SRC_STM32F429I_DISCO_INCLUDE_BOARD_H */


Wow it's been a while since I have updated the site. Unfortunately I haven't had a lot of free time to go flying lately. However, I have done a flight here and a flight there. During my sabbatical from updating this site I got a pitot-static check done on the airplane and also a a BFR, so the airplane and I are good for another 2 years.
I had a great flight today - basically landed at a bunch of local airports - Potomac Airpark, Franklin County, York and then back to KDMW. When I got back to KDMW, I noticed the fuel dispenser had a nice shiny new coat of paint on it. Damn did it look good!
However, my RV looked better! Great day to be in the air.
When I got back to the hangar I realized I had all kinds of free time for the rest of the afternoon. I was able to get the gear leg fairings finished up! Well, not finished, but they look really good.
I am thrilled at the fit.
The only thing that could be better is the bottom inside fit. I am going to have to put in a fastener of some sort here. Perhaps a #6 screw which is drilled into the hinge material of the gear leg fairing?
I also updated the software on my ADS-B receiver. After I rebooted the box, I was able to receive GPS signal on it for the first time ever. That's pretty amazing considering the unit is mounted under my panel, and the airplane was parked in the hangar (doors were open). So I think I officially have 4 GPS antennas on the RV now.
Great day with the airplane! Now I have to get my lower intersection fairings finished up.


Malifaux: You finally got it right.
I played a game last night that was brutal, fun, in flavor and a fantastic experience. Nino and an Austringer got murdered by a Steamborg Executioner, Francisco got popped by a tiny-spider swarm, and Perdita, in my moment of mental weakness, got hacked in half by Joss.
But it was fun, and that was something I'd all but given up on before the 2e was announced. Now, I'll admit that I am still very wary of Wyrds balance issues. Their history gives me pause, and until they come out with an original book, unavailable to a public playtest, that is actually balanced, I'm not going to be convinced they aren't their own worst enemy. For right now, however, I am going to enjoy the hell out of their game. It feels balanced and fun, its got a back and forth that enables some really cool plays, and I'll enjoy it while that lasts. I viciously, bitterly, intensely loathed the 1st edition of the game. It was horribly unbalanced; it was busted, it was, no lie, the worst game I've ever played. I fully understand why,supposedly, the new core rules book has sold more copied than every other rule book they ever made, because the game is a ton of fun now.
the best change they made, and the part of the game that truly enables fun, dynamic play, it is the scheme/scenario focus. Flipping for shared scheme, and then determining five scenarios (suit + number for two cards, and then Line in the Sand) of which you choose two is a really good method for enabling dynamism.. It allows you to play to your crews strengths and allows you to play of opponents possible weaknesses. the game is truly scenario focused, and it really benefits from it.
Upgrades are a concept I am still getting used to. I brought about 8 points worth of upgrades, and I think I got the most out of all of them… Except Nino. He got ate by a cyborg crab person on turn 2. He… He was not cool with that, and he didn't get to use his upgrade. It is kinda contradictory, as well. Focusing gives him a 36″ range (double his 18″ normal range) rapid fire gives him 3 shots, but they both use up his whole set of AP. I will still debate this internally for a while, but I think its one I can easily drop. and having to balance the Upgrades, Soulstone Cache, and actual model count is an intriguing, strange thing. I believe I enjoy it.
This game, Its going to be a ton of fun if Wyrd doesn't smash themselves in the face.
I brought a Crew of Spanish Demon-killer Gunsligers (The Ortega Family) – Perdiata, Nino, Papa Loco, Fancisco, Santiago, Perditats Totem an ensalved Nephalim, and a Guild Austinger.
My opponent brought a Cyborg Electromage and his entourage of Mineworkers and Steamfiters Union buddies – Ramos, Joss, Johan, Steamborg Executioner, a Pair of Electrospiders and a Brass electrospider.
We end up flipping a scheme for claiming table quarters: Pretty Standard. The key is, if you're within 6″ of the Center point, you don't count! Neat little twist on it.
The final one I don't remeber. It wsan't picked by either of us.
My buddy revealed Entourage (Ramos) and Line in the Sand. I didn't reaveal anything, because I'm trying to feel out the crew, and didn't want anything interfering with my learning process, and having the opposing crew try and directly interfere would have probably done that.
Perdita's crew involves a ton of movement. Perdita can move up to 8″, Santiago can drag a friend 5″, the Totem can move one model 8″, and then use obey for another standard move. its a crew that does a ton of moving, a ton of shooting, and ferocious re-positioning. It was cool to use and see how it works.
The opponent had a crew that was brutally effective in combat. An axe wielding construct, a Giant cyborg-spider person with claws that literally clipped poor Ninos head off, and spider creatures that can join into a giant spider swarm that ate Francisco.
I ended up calling it at 11pm, tired and broken. He'd managed to swing the game to a point where I'd no longer be able to catch up on VP's, and he held two table quarters for three turns, and had gotten Ramos into my DZ. I'd managed to attempt both of my schemes, but Perdita getting killed stalled that chance completely out. I dropped three tokens near his deployment, and I only needed to keep Perdita safe for one more turn, I stepped to close to Joss, and he tore me apart. The gamed ended at 6-3, but if the last turn had been played it would have been much less close.
Its a good day to own Malifaux. If you don't know anything about it, check out Wyrds Website.


The South Florida Water Management District's board of governors got an earful from the public last week after sneaking through a deal to lease the EAA reservoir property to a sugarcane company. So the district responded to critical emails from the people who fund its operations more or less the way it always has under Rick Scott's administration: It blocked them.
A custom mail flow rule created by an admin at sfwmdoffice.onmicrosoft.com has blocked your message.
How many requests from taxpayers to reconsider the deal and comply with water quality standards reached SFWMD before the agency started blocking messages? No one knows.
And it doesn't matter; SFWMD was going to ignore those public requests anyway, just as they ignored requests by congressman Brian Mast and Governor-elect Ron DeSantis to hold off on cutting a favorable lease deal with a sugarcane company until the incoming administration had a chance to weigh in.
What does matter is that SFWMD is a government agency, funded by the public to manage a public resource for public benefit--so it's accountable to the public for its actions. Ignoring public feedback is unacceptable, but actively blocking it approaches criminal.
Rick Scott appointed the SFWMD Board of Governors the messages were meant for. Under his appointees the district allowed a US Sugar lobbyist to rewrite water quality guidelines, limited Florida's flood control and discharge reduction options by awarding no-bid leases on public land to sugarcane growers, let the industry shrink an EAA reservoir plan to the point where scientists question its usefulness, allowed a string of toxic algae disasters to threaten human health on both coasts while the Everglades and Florida Bay collapsed, and used it all to push an untested high-priced/high-risk deep-injection scheme that jeopardizes our underground water supply. This agency's leadership is failing--and ignoring--every citizen who isn't associated with the billionaire sugarcane families funding Rick Scott's political career.
Governor-elect Ron DeSantis has an opportunity to fix this. Next month every member of the SFWMD Board of Governors should be investigated for conflict of interest and ethics violations, and potentially removed and replaced by qualified, ethical, representative nominees who will manage Florida's water in the public interest.
I write to ask for your help. Decisions made by the South Florida Water Management District--an agency you can directly influence--have jeopardized my health, destroyed public resources, and shifted a private industry's costs onto taxpayers. Please investigate SFWMD's leadership.
This year's toxic Lake Okeechobee discharges were caused by policies that speculatively reserve water for irrigation--mainly for the sugarcane industry--exposing our communities to toxins, undermining coastal economies, and killing Florida estuaries. In addition to aiding the sugarcane industry at public expense, SFWMD has blocked public input and comment on its decisions, most recently last week when it refused to deliver email to its Board of Governors criticizing the agency's unannounced lease of public land for sugarcane production and its plans to stop complying with Everglades water quality rules.
Please make SFWMD more accountable to taxpayers and more representative of the stakeholders its policies affect.
Will you review the performance of each member of the SFWMD's board of governors, and initiate the replacement of those involved in decisions and behavior that harm or ignore the public--ideally with qualified, ethical people from the communities most affected by water management policy?
I will be deeply grateful for your commitment and actions to redirect SFWMD's leadership to manage this precious resource for the benefit, health, and prosperity of all Floridians.
As always, thank you for everything you and your fellow Bullsugar supporters do to hold Florida's government accountable to the people it was created to serve.


A dream garage means having everything you've ever dreamed of. For some of us, that means owning a Bobcat. While typically an industrial tool, having a Bobcat for your property can be great for any number of landscaping projects. Or, if you simply just have some aggression you'd like to work out.
Moving dirt around and smashing rocks just for the hell of it can be very therapeutic.
Bobcat has a huge line of utility crawlers, the most popular of which are the Bobcat skid steer loaders. It has a nicely sized, comfortable cab with a lifting arm that can lift several hundred pounds of materials at once. Unless you love the open air or dirt blowing in your face, make sure to look for the models with enclosed cabs, air conditioning and heat. It takes a little more gas to power, but you'll thank yourself in the summer and winter. While it is definitely a versatile machine, it is a little boxy and it isn't particularly fast. That said, it's surprisingly agile for such a beast. There are some problems with the control though.
The first thing you have to know buying a Bobcat is that they take a while to learn, and even if you're not willing to take a class on operating them, you can expect to spend a few weeks or even months learning the nuisances. Another issue is that it's a huge gas guzzler. Expect to need to fill up even the large diesel tank after every few days of use.
The best part of owning a Bobcat, though, is the dozens of attachments you can add onto it.
Anything you can think of to do around the yard, there's an attachment for the Bobcat that will do it: Loaders, augers, wood chippers, cement mixers, brooms, snow plows, ice scrapers, sod layers, anything you can think of. It may very well be the last utility vehicle you ever own.
The Bobcat of course is made for professionals. It's a working piece of equipment designed and built for construction workers, haulers, movers and plowers. But for some people, the idea of owning such a versatile and powerful piece of machinery is just too much to resist. Why deny yourself?


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Q: problems creating SAAJ object model i tried to send a SOAP request in jquery to third party but always got this error:
<soap:Envelope xmlns:soap="http://schemas.xmlsoap.org/soap/envelope/"><soap:Body><soap:Fault><faultcode>soap:Client</faultcode><faultstring>Problems creating SAAJ object model</faultstring></soap:Fault></soap:Body></soap:Envelope>
the way i did it is to pass couple of tokens to another function ,which create SOAP request based on those token. one of the token is a Html string like this:

<\/td><\/td><\/td><\/td>

<\/td><\/tr>
<\/td>....

whenever i added this token, the SOAP request failed. I tried to escaped this html string token, SOAP request succeeded but the whole string messed up with all the escaped characters and third party need this html string to render template, so i cannot sent the escaped version anyway. is there any way i can safely pass the html string without crashing the request?

A: Error "Problems creating SAAJ object model" usually occurs when soap-request cannot be parsed on the server side.
In the log-file on the server you can see something like
Caused by: com.ctc.wstx.exc.WstxUnexpectedCharException: Unexpected character '>' (code 62) (expected a name start character)
 at [row,col {unknown-source}]: [18,6]

You pass html tags to the soap envelope, so problems can be with escaping html-tags. It's a good practice to pass BASE64 string within soap-request for such kind of data

A: Please add a header like tihs "Content-type text/xml;charset=utf-8".

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


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Home > Articles
Illuminating Scenes Using Lights in 3ds Max
By Stewart Jones
3ds Max Lighting Introduction
Standard Lights
Photometric Lights
Adding Lights to a Scene
Learn about the various lighting options available to you and how you can use them to illuminate your 3D worlds and scenes in this chapter from Sams Teach Yourself 3ds Max in 24 Hours.
3ds Max in 24 Hours, Sams Teach Yourself
What You'll Learn in This Hour:
An introduction to lighting in 3ds Max
Lighting and shadow basics
Accessing and changing ambient light
Standard versus photometric lighting
Lighting scenes in 3ds Max
You are able to see an object because light reflects from the object into your eyes, which send the data to your brain so it can process the data and form an image. You can't see without light—honest! Just as in nature, illumination in 3ds Max happens through a complex interaction of lights and objects.
Light can come from a number of sources, the most obvious being the sun, our source of natural lighting, and from bulbs, which handle our real-world artificial lighting. It makes sense, then, that 3ds Max also provides a number of lighting options that allow you to replicate both natural and artificial lighting within scenes.
This hour, you are going to take a look at the various lighting options available to you and how you can use them to illuminate your 3D worlds and scenes.
Lights in the real world allow you to see things, and the lights in 3ds Max do exactly the same thing. In addition, you can assign qualities to the lighting tools available in 3ds Max to enable them to cast shadows, project images, and even manipulate the atmospheric lighting effects.
The basic lighting tools are located in the default creation area in 3ds Max—the Create tab of the Command Panel. The Lights category is the third icon from the left, which looks like a studio spotlight; this category is home to the lighting tools.
Two main subcategories of lights are available: standard lights and photometric lights. You can create lights just as you do any other objects, and you can also transform them by using the Move, Rotate, and Scale tools.
Before you jump in and start creating lights, it's important that you know that 3ds Max automatically provides a default lighting setup when you start the program. Read on to learn more.
Default Lighting
3ds Max provides you with default lighting if you have not specified (created) any lights yourself. This allows you to view any objects you create without having to worry about lighting the scene first. The default lights disappear as soon as another light is created, and they magically reappear if all other lights in the scene are deleted.
Shadows are areas where light is obstructed by an object, causing a darker area than its surroundings. 3ds Max supports various types of shadow-casting options, and unlike in real life, you have the ability to make only some lights cast shadows and others not. Work through the following Try It Yourself to get a taste of this.
Try It Yourself: Casting Shadows Using Default Lighting
Follow these steps to see how the default lighting in 3ds Max casts shadows on objects you create:
In a new scene, create a plane (a standard primitive, not an aircraft).
Create a sphere.
Move the sphere around to see how the default lighting in 3ds Max casts shadows onto objects.
Ambient light is general lighting that affects an entire scene; it is also called global ambient. It has no source or direction but affects everything in a scene uniformly. Because ambient light has an effect on everything, you can use it to your advantage to create a specific atmosphere or simply to adjust the overall color of a scene.
Figure 10.1 shows the Environment and Effects window, where you can manually adjust the ambient light for a scene.
FIGURE 10.1 The Environment and Effects window gives you access to the ambient light properties for each scene.
Changing the Global Ambient Light Settings
You can press the 8 key to bring up the Environment and Effects window, where you can adjust the Ambient setting. Alternatively, you can open this window by selecting Rendering, Environment from the main menu.
Try It Yourself: Changing and Manipulating the Global Ambient Light Settings
It is incredibly simple to change the Global Lighting options in a 3ds Max scene, and these steps show you how to do just that:
In a new scene, create some standard primitives or simply open a scene that you have worked on previously that includes some geometry.
Open the Environment and Effects window by either pressing the 8 key on your keyboard or selecting Rendering, Environment from the main menu. As shown in Figure 10.1, the Environment and Effects window contains two tabs that separate the Environment and Effects options. You need to worry about only the first tab (Environment) for now.
Ensure that the Environment tab is open and find the Common Parameters rollout, which should be right at the top. The first section of this rollout contains options for changing and affecting the background of the main scene.
Scroll down the Common Parameters rollout until you come to the Global Lighting options.
Find the Tint option under Global Lighting and click the white square to bring up a color picker.
Manipulate and choose a color by using the color picker. Notice that your scene objects are tinted in the color you are choosing. As you can see, changing this color can have a dramatic effect on the visual look of a scene.
Change the Level option in this section to intensify or decrease the effect that the tint has on the scene. Also try out the Ambient option, which behaves just like the Tint effect. (The effect of the Ambient option is hard to see in your viewports, but you can see it in renders quite easily. You'll learn about renders and rendering in Hour 12, "Rendering for Production," so make a note of where this ambient light setting is so you can find it again in a few hours.)
Adobe Dimension Classroom in a Book (2021 release)
By Keith Gilbert
Adobe After Effects Classroom in a Book (2021 release)
By Lisa Fridsma, Brie Gyncild

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Kumbh Mela: lakhs take the holy dip on 'Mauni Amavasya'
HomeIndiaKumbh Mela: lakhs take the holy dip on 'Mauni Amavasya'
This Article is From Feb 10, 2013
IndiaPress Trust of IndiaUpdated: February 10, 2013 11:45 am IST
Allahabad: Lakhs of devotees today took a holy dip on the auspicious occasion of Mauni Amavasya in the ongoing Maha Kumbh congregation at the Sangam in Allahabad.
The day also marks the second Shahi Snaan of sadhus belonging to various 'Akharas'.
According to a rough estimate by officials, the number of people to have taken a dip by the crack of dawn appears to be "not less than 20 lakh" and the final turnout may exceed the projected estimate of three crore.
Devotees started arriving at the bathing 'ghats' along the banks of the Ganga since last night; the special celestial configuration which makes Mauni Amavasya auspicious has been in place since Saturday afternoon.
The 12-yearly Maha Kumbh congregation is known to reach its climax, in terms of turnout, on Mauni Amavasya and the administration has made adequate security arrangements.
More than 15,000 security personnel drawn from Central paramilitary forces like Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP), Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), Border Security Force (BSF) and Rapid Action Force (RAF) besides the Uttar Police and its Provincial Armed Constabulary and Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS) are keeping a close vigil.
The star attraction of the day remains Shahi Snaan of the 'Akharas' - orders of martial ascetics established by Adi Sankara - which proceeded, in turns, towards the holy river's confluence with Yamuna and mythical Saraswati in majestic processions.
The Maha Kumbh witnesses altogether three Shahi Snaans, the first of which took place on Makar Sankranti (January 14) and the third and last is scheduled on Basant Panchmi (February 15).
There are altogether 13 'Akharas' belonging to various sects and each of them have been allotted specific time, ranging from 30 minutes to an hour, depending upon the size of their procession.
While the elderly went through the rituals observing a vow of silence (the word Mauni is derived from maun which means silence), others watched the sight of swords and spears wielding 'Naga' ascetics moving about with ash smeared on their bodies.
While the 'Naga sadhus' are reaching the venue from their respective camps on foot, their leaders known by honorifics like 'Shri Mahant' and 'Mahamandaleshwar' cover the distance perched atop richly-decorated chariots with musical bands playing devotional tunes.
Make-shift roads have been laid down with the help of metallic chequered plates with barricading on both sides to ensure that the Shahi Snaan processions go on without any inconvenience.
No Need To Display Notice For Inter-Faith Marriages: Allahabad High Court
Amid Virus Worries, Millions Expected At Kumbh Mela
Kumbh Mela: Know The Shahi Snan Or Key Bathing Dates At Haridwar Kumbh
WHO Meeting Urges Increased Virus Sequencing To Combat Variants
Live Updates: India Begins Mega Rollout Of Coronavirus Vaccine Today


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Trump Beer And Wine 2016
Nothing Else Counts In This World!
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Page 1 - Brunch At Trump Before Tasting
Page 2 - Serious Tasting Begins
We Enter The Main Tasting Area (Page Two)
The VIP area is limited to those that had the brunch. The regular tasting is done below the club house on the grounds. There are ten tents with six providers per tent just for wine! The beer garden is closer to the ocean. It takes an hour or so to make the rounds the first time.
Tasting wine and beer... Always an enjoyable endeavor!
Down the stairs we go....
Where we stop nobody knows!
We are happy we have VIP tickets!
Find Out About "VIP" - Rent the movie " Lover Come Back " with Rock Hudson, Doris Day, Tony Randall. A series of misunderstandings leaves an advertising executive with a campaign for a product which has not been invented yet while he romances his rival in the guise of its inventor.
The product was named VIP. The movie was in 1961.
The line to get glasses goes on forever!
The time is 12:14 and we are right on schedule!
"Hope this old engine keeps on running"
Joe hired a "spotter" to locate supplies of fresh sushi
...an oldie but a goodie...
"I will have a taste of each.... Just pour them into the same glass
all at once.... Saves time!
"Donna.... That's a No No"
The tents provided shade and more importantly kept the wine cool
Did You Know? - William Claude Dukenfield (January 29, 1880 – December 25, 1946), better known as W. C. Fields, was an American comedian, actor, juggler and writer. Fields' comic persona was a misanthropic and hard-drinking egotist, who remained a sympathetic character despite his snarling contempt for dogs and children.
His career in show business began in vaudeville, where he attained international success as a silent juggler. He gradually incorporated comedy into his act, and was a featured comedian in the Ziegfeld Follies for several years. He became a star in the Broadway musical comedy Poppy (1923), in which he played a colorful small-time con man. His subsequent stage and film roles were often similar scoundrels, or else henpecked everyman characters.
Among his recognizable trademarks were his raspy drawl and grandiloquent vocabulary.
"I love children as long as they are well done"
For Amy, Wendy, Eddie, and Dave... (The rest of us know him well... Joe because Paul loved to watch his movies)
Music please....
Many food trucks were on the site for those that did NOT go to the brunch
Decisions decisions...
Joe needed help to get out of the car
You tell him Amy!
"Easy to get in... Need vasoline and a crane to get out!"
(It was shocking and then he found out it was a Volt)
Double check the wine!
Is it an Easter Parade?.... We see all the "bonnets"
Kathy makes her next wine selection... It's difficult but someone has to do it
Black and White is always classy!
Here it goes...
"Now that there was good!"
A toast to wine tasting! ... and clicking!
"Anyone want water??"
What a handsome group!
Yeah Wine!!
Thank you Joe
Thank you Bob
Something new... A "selfie" with a DSLR!
"Hope we have lens insurance!"
Down it goes! Slurp!
Signing up?
Definitely a "sign of the times"
Guess who works in the same school district?
Two fisted drinker
"I mix the red wine with the white wine... I love rosé wines!"
Did You Know? - A rosé (from French rosé; also known as rosado in Portugal and Spanish-speaking countries and rosato in Italy) is a type of wine that incorporates some of the color from the grape skins, but not enough to qualify it as a red wine. It may be the oldest known type of wine, as it is the most straightforward to make with the skin contact method.
The pink color can range from a pale "onion-skin" orange to a vivid near-purple, depending on the varietals used and winemaking techniques.
There are three major ways to produce rosé wine: skin contact, saignée, and blending. Rosé wines can be made still, semi-sparkling or sparkling and with a wide range of sweetness levels from bone-dry Provençal rosé to sweet White Zinfandels and blushes.
Rosé wines are made from a wide variety of grapes and can be found all around the globe.
Wendy and Amy light up the area! Did you hear what they were whispering?
(We brought in a whisper capturing device... Translation is below)
The herd is forming...
Bob shows off his new shirt.... "Da Vin Intervention"
Did You Know? - The pun, also called paronomasia, is a form of word play that suggests two or more meanings, by exploiting multiple meanings of words, or of similar-sounding words, for an intended humorous or rhetorical effect. These ambiguities can arise from the intentional use of homophonic, homographic, metonymic, or figurative language.
A pun differs from a malapropism in that a malapropism is an incorrect variation on a correct expression, while a pun involves expressions with multiple correct interpretations. Puns may be regarded as in-jokes or idiomatic constructions, as their usage and meaning are specific to a particular language and its culture.
Puns have a long history in human writing. Sumerian cuneiform and Egyptian hieroglyphs were originally based on punning systems, and the Roman playwright Plautus was famous for his puns and word games. Punning has been credited as the fundamental concept behind alphabets, writing, and even human civilization.
One and a half fisted drinker... Water counts for 1/2!
"OMG... I did not know!"
Here is to anything!
Hollywood Joe
Kathy asks Joe the all important question...
What is the difference between wine and duct tape?
Dave and Wendy enjoying the day
We have been partaking of the grapes since 10:00 am
Glasses in hand.... Ready to escape!
The pathway home
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Applications are now open for the Barbican's Open Lab 2017.
Open Lab gives artists the space to experiment in a working theatrical space without the expectation of a final product. They programme 15 Lab weeks over the year in The Pit.
We focus on artists collaborating across, and often beyond, art forms. It's not a place to rehearse, it's a laboratory to experiment in.
Alongside the Labs, they also invite artists to a range of activity including CPD training weekends , cross arts residencies and masterclasses, Connecting Conversations-themed dinners and discussion events, as well as seminars and networking evenings.
How to apply: Applications are made via an online form.
Barbican Guildhall Creative Learning welcomes applications from a range of diverse backgrounds and from disabled and non-disabled people. They invite and encourage individuals to get in touch if they have specific access requirements.
I am a playwright interested in hearing about future opportunities.
Hi Tyler, we recommend joining our mailing list (there's a red subscribe box in the left column), or if you're specifically interest in the Barbican you'll need to contact them directly to join theirs.


Popularity - 25 views, 1.0 views per day, 24 days on eBay. High amount of views. 0 sold, 1 available.
25 views, 1.0 views per day, 24 days on eBay. High amount of views. 0 sold, 1 available.
Seller - 4,813+ items sold. 0% negative feedback. Great seller with very good positive feedback and over 50 ratings.
4,813+ items sold. 0% negative feedback. Great seller with very good positive feedback and over 50 ratings.


Rival traditional French bakeries as you learn the secret techniques of making bread during this specialized course. At Le Cordon Bleu Adelaide we will teach you the uses of fresh yeast, the different types and qualities of flour, and how to master the various stages of bread baking. All necessary ingredients and equipment are provided, and you take home your day's work.
The Traditional Bread Baking Workshop covers the whole methodology; how to prepare the flour and notably how to calculate temperatures, process water and the technology behind yeasts. You will also receive training on how to make breads in the traditional way and how to master yeast and leaven and fermentation, a crucial step in making perfect home-made bread.
You will leave the Traditional Bread Baking Workshop with true expertise and all the recipes covered during the 2 days. You will also be awarded a Certificate of Participation.
The traditional French and European bread baking process and discover recipes which introduce a whole range of different bread variants.
Covers the whole methodology; how to prepare the flour and notably how to calculate temperatures, process water and the technology behind yeasts and sourdough culture.
Training on how to make breads in the authentic traditional way and how to master yeast, levain and long cool fermentation, a crucial step in making perfect home-made bread.
Rye bread – Rolls and Rye Pie.
Le Cordon Bleu Apron and Tea Towel supplied.
Approximately 6 hours of class per day.
Class limited to 12 participants.


Wrap very aggressively when frozen solid - if you've ever sampled wedding cake that has spent a year in the freezer, you'd know why!
its a chocolate cake with buttercream frosting (with butter, not shortening).
If you have a standard shortening- or butter-type cake (like the cake mix kind), and if it's frosted with American buttercream (shortening-powdered sugar-water), place the cake in the freezer. When it's hard, after about two hours, wrap it tightly in plastic. Thaw, still wrapped in plastic, in the refrigerator for an hour, or unwrapped at room temperature.
If it's any other kind of cake or any other kind of frosting, you'll have to give more details to get a good answer.
I would place it in the freezer uncovered until the frosting hardens, for about an hour. Then wrap in several layers of plastic wrap. To defrost, remove plastic and leave at room temp.
Can i still use these frozen chicken bones to make broth even though they are frost burned?
Can I freeze a buttercream and cream cheese frosting. I have way too much left over, even for a 4-layer torte!


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Five unexpected stocks driving the automotive industry
he automotive industry is rapidly changing thanks to technological improvements and environmental awareness
Traditional manufacturers and suppliers are being disrupted, meaning equity investors need a fresh perspective on what actually constitutes an 'automotive' company
Framlington Equities sees many changes across the automotive ecosystem, particularly electric vehicles, autonomous vehicles and mobility sharing
The automotive industry is rapidly evolving from a select group of manufacturers to a broad ecosystem of innovative companies and technologies as electric, autonomous and intelligent cars become a reality. As this universe expands, the Framlington Equities thematic investment team at AXA Investment Managers sees companies operating in a number of areas, beyond traditional manufacturers and parts makers.
The team gives their view on five unexpected companies that are in the driving seat of tomorrow's automotive industry.
How does the automotive industry work?
A typical car can have roughly 30,000 parts [Toyota], requiring the input of many companies which can broadly be categorised into three main areas:
Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs): Large, traditional manufacturers such as Toyota or General Motors, which design, assemble and sell new vehicles.
Tier 1 suppliers: Companies which supply systems (such as anti-lock braking systems or interior electronics) to the OEMs to use in cars. Examples include Valeo or Continental.
Tier 2 suppliers: Specialist companies that supply components such as semiconductors and sensors to Tier 1 suppliers to use in their systems.
Aptiv is a Tier 1 supplier that makes electronics and intelligence systems for vehicles, particularly advanced driver-assistance systems (ADAS) which are designed to help people drive more safely. The company was split in December 2017 from Delphi Automotive: Aptiv focusses on independent and intelligence driving technologies, while the re-named Delphi Technologies concentrates on the company's legacy business related to the traditional internal combustion and diesel technologies which are in perpetual decline.
Tom Riley, Robotech fund manager at AXA Investment Managers, says: "Aptiv and their customers are seeing increasing regulatory demand for driver assistance functions in the name of safety", while Amanda O'Toole, CleanTech research lead says: "As traditional manufacturers lose market share to hybrid and fully electric vehicles (EVs), Aptiv has a good product suite to offer manufacturers alternative systems to those historically used in petrol and diesel vehicles."
Moving down the supply chain, Infineon is a Tier 2 semiconductor company which makes 'power' semiconductors – i.e. chips which can switch or control power within complex systems. Riley says that "Infineon has a market-leading position in self-driving and factory automation systems, and has a relatively high 'purity' of exposure to the automation theme – it generates the majority of its revenues from automotive and industrial applications"*
Panasonic has gradually refocused its business in recent years, moving from purely consumer electronics to become one of the world's largest suppliers of high-end batteries for plug-in hybrid and electric vehicle manufacturers.
The company partnered with Tesla to create its $5bn Gigafactory and supplies batteries for Tesla's model S, 3 and X, and has also recently announced a collaboration between with Toyota to develop new prismatic batteries, which are smaller and lighter than traditional batteries, for electric vehicles.
"Panasonic's long history in consumer electronics, combined with its more recent collaborations with EV manufacturers, is helping the company develop advanced driver assistance systems and the in-vehicle infotainment market" comments O'Toole.
The rise of the 'sharing economy' has also challenged conventional models of car ownership, particularly among younger people and urban populations for whom the costs of owning and maintaining a personal vehicle may be prohibitively expensive. Ride-hailing or car-sharing apps have grown in popularity thanks to convenient mobile apps, but this requires a huge amount of technology investment.
"While many companies operating in the sharing economy aren't investable through public markets today, there are many ways that investors can be exposed to the changing model of how companies reach their customers", says Jeremy Gleeson, Digital Economy fund manager at AXA IM.
Twilio is just one of many companies which enable other digital firms to do business, offering cloud communications systems that help ride-hailing apps like Uber connect their fleet of drivers with customers asking to be picked up.
Gleeson also looks at established technology companies which are leading the development of autonomous vehicles, such as Waymo, the self-driving car division of Alphabet (Google's holding company). Since 2009, Waymo's fleet of autonomous cars have driven more than five million miles mostly on complex city streets in the US, on top of 2.7 billion simulated miles driven in 2017 alone. And, with each mile, the firm collects more data and experience, enabling it to continue to learn and improve the driving process.
"While we're unlikely to see driverless cars become an everyday feature of our roads in the coming years, the information which Alphabet is gathering is immensely useful to better understand not only how these technologies work in the real world, but also how consumers engage with them."
The company also collaborates with existing OEMs like Fiat Chrysler to create vehicles, and announced in March 2018 that it would partner with Jaguar Land Rover to introduce a fleet of 20,000 electric cars as part of a trial ride-hailing service in the US.
What's the outlook for the automotive industry?
While there's a great deal of excitement for the future of autonomous vehicles, it's difficult to predict how soon fully-autonomous vehicles could be adopted, according to Riley: "There are lots of barriers to mass adoption, particularly when it comes to building the credibility and trust for consumers to be comfortable letting an intelligent system take the wheel."
Rather, Riley sees tech becoming incrementally more integrated in vehicles which will make driving safer: "The potential for safer cars offers three key supports for the automotive universe: consumers tend to rank safety as a key criteria when purchasing a vehicle alongside brand and colour; regulatory and consumer bodies like NCAP are increasingly insisting on ADAS systems for cars to be eligible for the highest safety ratings; and car manufacturers themselves are inherently motivated to provide safer vehicles for their customers."
*Infineon generated 61% of its revenues in Q2 2018 from automotive or industrial power control and holds a #1 market position for power systems and a #2 market position for automotive systems. Sources: Infineon Q2 2018 Investors Relations update, IHS Markit Technology Group August 2018 and Strategy Analytics April 2018.
What else do investors need to know about the automotive industry?
The automotive industry is increasingly adopting technology – both in terms of industrial automation when it comes to making manufacturing more efficient, but also the technological complexity of systems within the car.
However in terms of outputs, the cost of technology components in a new car is a relatively small part of the product's overall cost – the main cost of a car remains the raw metals used. Compare this to smartphones, where the cost of technology inputs such as computer chips accounts for a significant portion of the product cost which the consumer pays.
Given the potentially dangerous implications of technology failing in a car, manufacturers tend to choose the best-in-breed technology from its suppliers, but this remains a relatively small proportion of overall costs.
This best-in-breed model makes it difficult for new entrants to compete with industry leaders, which have strong industry relationships given suppliers might sign multi-year contracts to ensure that systems will remain operational over the useful life of the car (such as a three-year development period and a five-year production run). This long-term approach can also give investors good long-term visibility on future revenue streams and margins.
Evolving Economy
Not for Retail distribution:


This past weekend I made a whirlwind visit to EAA AirVenture in Oshkosh. I packed as much as I could into my twenty-four hours at the show. I intend to write more about the things I saw and experienced at AirVenture in the coming days. In the meantime I wanted to share an unexpected highlight, and also share a of my photos for those not able to make it to this years event.
I have attended AirVenture several times in the past. Though, I have never departed from the main event at Wittman Regional Airport to visit the Seaplanes. This year after checking out the few seaplanes that landed at the airport I decided to take the short bus ride to lagoon in the western shore of Lake Winnebago to check out the seaplanes. The moment I arrived I was so glad I made the trip. After leaving Wittman with the huge crowds and non-stop activity it was nice to take a quiet stroll down a wood-chipped path that opened up to a beautiful lagoon that serves as a the EAA AirVenture Seaplane Base.
For three dollars you can take a 15 minute pontoon boat ride through the lagoon giving you a chance to view the planes up-close. My pontoon boat captain had flown down from Canada earlier this week in his seaplane and enjoyed talking with us about all the planes in the cove.
So if you are are at Oshkosh or planning to make the pilgrimage later this week then take an hour or two to re-charge your batteries with a visit to the EAA AirVenture Seaplane Base.
Speaking of seaplanes, later in the day while walking through the exhibit hall I met George Erickson, author of True North. In his book he writes about his experiences flying through the Alaska, the Yukon and Northwest Territories in a Piper PA-11 Seaplane. After a brief conversation with him I knew I had to read his book. I look forward to cracking it open this evening.
I have uploaded a variety of my photos from my trip to Oshkosh including a few photos of the Seaplane base.
It is that time of year again where pilots from around the world descend on an airport in central Wisconsin for a week long celebration of Aviation that is EAA AirVenture. Thousands of planes descend on Oshkosh making it the busiest airport in the world for a few days. For aviation enthusiasts this is an event you need to attend this event once in your life. I was unable to attend last year but had a great time at AirVenture in 2006.
I will be participating in the 2008 Aviation Blogger Fest at 4pm on Monday. Fellow blogger, Rob Mark of Jetwhine, has organized an event specifically for aviation bloggers. I am looking forward to meeting some of the bloggers I interact with online but have yet to meet in person.
I will post a few short updates through Twitter (MyFlightBlog) while in Oshkosh and then post a summary later in the week on MyFlightBlog.
Pilots that have an iPhone can now add a seriously powerful new application to their phone that gives them access to a wide variety of flight planning and preparation information.
ForeFlight Mobile 2.0 Preflight Intelligence is the handy pilots assistant that can take you from the start of your planning straight through to filing a flight plan.
Simply open the application and use the Airport Facilities Directory (A/FD) to find your desired destination. The team at Foreflight have made the information in those green Airport Facilities Directories available electronically, and not just for your particular region. They have data for over 220 countries including 25,000 landing facilities. You can review airport data such as frequencies, runway lengths and even view runway, taxiway diagrams and even access to sectional charts. The tool helps you plan a visit to the local fixed based operator, review local lodging options and has information for transportation providers. You can even view the airports location on a Google map to plan getting to or from an airport or to see an aerial view of nearby terrain.
If you are planning a flight you are surely going to be interested in some additional information that is but a tap away. The alerts tab shows NOTAMs for the airport you are looking at. If you are ready to review weather conditions tap the WX button to receive the current weather observation at the airport, which provides the METAR and even a translation for the METAR. From the weather page you can look at various weather data including current winds aloft information and a looped radar image. There is also an option to view forecasted weather data but if a TAF is not published for the airport you are looking at it will not return any data. I would love to see in an update a few TAF reports for airports within a 25-mile proximity of the airport being looked at.
From a higher level you can view national and regional radar images, Airmets, Sigmets and prognostic charts from the weather section of Foreflight.
If you are ready to fly and want to file a flightplan ForeFlight can even help you with that. This is the one part of the functionality that I have not yet used. According to the ForeFlight website you can file new flight plans "in under ten seconds and view your complete flight plan filing history." Flight plan submissions are through a CSC Duats account.
Although, this iphone app will not fully replace all the online resources I use for flight planning it is a valuable tool that will be extremelly handy while on-the-go or at the airport.
If you are an iPhone enabled pilot I highly recommend you check out ForeFlight Mobile 2.0 Preflight Intelligence. It is available through the iPhone App store for a one-time charge of $69.99.
The 19th Annual Season of Wings of Freedom is underway and their magnificent bombers have arrived back in the Chicago area. The Collings Foundation has spent the last twenty years recovering and restoring historic aircraft. Four amazing airplanes will be on display at Chicago airports and also flying paying customers for a once-in-a-lifetime experience.
The Fleet that arrived in Chicago this week includes a B-17 Flying Fortress, B-24 Liberator, B-25 Mitchell and a new addition this year a P-51 Mustang. Customers can book flight experiences by visiting the Collings Foundation website. Or come out to one of the local airports during the dates below to see the aircraft and hear the roar of their engines.
The Collings Foundation invited me to fly in their B-17 Flying Fortress as it was flown from Valparaiso to Chicago Executive Airport last year. All, I can say is that flight was truly a once-in-a-lifetime experience. There are fewer and fewer of these amazing aircraft still in flying condition and it was a thrill just to hear its engine and awesome to experience the plane in flight. I was lucky to be accompanied on that flight by a former WWII B-17 Pilot which made the experience all that more amazing.
If you are in the Chicago area be sure to check out these amazing aircraft while they are in the area. If you are outside of Chicago look up their schedule on the Collings Foundation website.
A couple of weeks ago I received an e-mail from a reader of this blog who is a fellow Chicagoan that was interested in my opinion of a few local flight schools. After going back and forth through e-mail we had one of those "It is a small world" moments when we realized a few years ago we had both been contributors to the same blog, Chicagoist.com. Peter mentioned that as of late he had really been suffering from the aviation bug. He finds himself looking to sky more and more often and is ready to learn to fly. With the pilot population in decline I wanted to be sure to do all I could do to help Peter achieve his goal of earning a pilots license.
This past week I signed up to be Peter's mentor in AOPA's Project Pilot Program. AOPA developed the program as part of their commitment to growing the pilot population. For me it is an opportunity to support his efforts and share in his experiences and I hope that I can provide him some valuable advice that I would have appreciated while learning to fly. Not to mention it is great having another person to talk to who loves aviation.
This weekend he joined me and two other members of the Chicago Aviation Meetup Group for a seminar on Takeoffs, Landings and Low Altitudes Maneuvering at the DuPage Airport. Although the seminar was bit disappointing it was a great excuse for some aviation enthusiasts to get together at an airport. The four of us, two pilots and two perspective pilots, stood at the flightline fence enjoying a conversation on aviation and even judging a few landings. While at the airport we stopped in to The Pilot Shop where Peter picked up a logbook which will come in handy in the coming weeks as he takes his first introductory flight.
Peter has setup a blog, Flying in Chicago, dedicated to his aviation adventures. I hope you will check it out.
One of the things I love most about being a pilot is to be able to see the world from a unique perspective. We live in a world of beautiful sites. Yet, there are limits to what can be seen without the ability to get airborne. Whenever I fly commercially I love sitting in a window seat so I can check out amazing landscapes and look for sights that might otherwise be missed by those on the ground.
Since learning to fly I have enjoyed on several occasions discovering something from above that I would surely have missed or been unable to see from the ground. Things like corn mazes, shipwrecks and Civil War Munitions Factory.
While enjoying the Fourth of July holiday in Door County, WI; My wife and I decided to spend an afternoon flying. It was during this flight that we enjoyed checking out another beautiful view that we would have missed without the aid of the airplane. We overflew Moonlight Bay, from the ground it is just another beautiful bay along the Door County Peninsula. But, from above it was an amazing mixture of colors. The bay had a rust color close to shore that then melted into the deep blue of Lake Michigan. We circled the bay and snapped a few photos to share with the family. Cynthia and I have been by Moonlight Bay before while visiting nearby Cana Island Lighthouse. But, had no idea how drastically different it looked from the sky. You can view a wonderful ground level photo of Moonlight Bay on Flickr that shows how drastically different it looks from the ground.
This was just one of many highlights during the flight. When we arrived at Ephraim we thought we were the only airplane in the area as the radios had been silent and no one responded to any of my calls to the Ephraim CTAF. As we started to enter the pattern for the asphalt runway their I spotted a tail dragger taking off from the turf runway. Shortly after taking off he abruptly cut into the pattern for the asphalt runway and proceeded to land, completely oblivious to my presence, despite my frequent radio calls. I made a few more radio calls without a response from that plane. It was apparent they were not equipped with radios or simply were not using them. I decided to circle and setup for a new entry into the pattern to ensure there was plenty of separation between me and this plane. Just about then another airplane chimed in that they were inbound for landings at Ephraim and commented they would follow us in the pattern.
As I was about to turn on to final approach to land, I noticed that the radio-less plane decided not to clear the runway and wait at the end before back taxiing and started to slowly back-taxi on the active runway. So, I decided to perform a go-around. I gave the inbound airplane and update on the situation. From that point forward the two of use would share updates with each other about what this other plane was doing. After another ride around the pattern we landed at Ephraim.
There we were met by my older brother and two of his three kids. They were in the area and knowing we were planning to land there decided to stop in to watch. I enjoyed showing the kids the plane and letting them sit in the cockpit. While we were on the ground the airport traffic picked up and four or five planes arrived while we were enjoying our time on the tarmac. The pilot that had shared the pattern with me, the one that I had been in frequent communication with on the radios, stopped over and introduced himself and thanked me for the updates. It was nice meeting the pilot and putting a face to the voice on the radio.
On the flight back to Sturgeon Bay we had an aerial view of the 2008 Door County corn maze and also checked out a 1,000 foot ship leaving dock in Sturgeon Bay and heading out into Green Bay. All in all it was a fun afternoon of flying!


text:
Silk Road's Ulbricht guilty of seven charges
The creator of Silk Road, the largest website to sell illegal merchandise, is found guilty on numerous charges brought against him
Protestors stand outside court where Ross Ulbricht, 'Dread Pirate Roberts' was found guilty of seven charges, including narcotics-traffiking conspiracy. He was also accused of ordering the assassination of a Silk Road user
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Ross Ulbricht, the man responsible for creating the largest black-market on the internet, has been found guilty of operating the Silk Road website under the alias "Dread Pirate Roberts." The illicit online marketplace was created in 2011 and facilitated the purchase of illegal narcotics through the use of Bitcoin, which made transactions untraceable.
Ulbricht escaped murder charges
On February 04, a jury in Manhattan took less than four hours to find Ulbricht culpable for seven charges brought against him; including money-laundering conspiracy, narcotics-trafficking conspiracy, computer-hacking conspiracy and running a criminal enterprise. The website creator has a legion of fans, many of which protested against his arrest throughout the trial.
The jury was told how the underground hub, which operated in multiple countries around the world, had generated $213.9m in sales and a further $13.2m in commission. Despite being accused of ordering the assassination of a Silk Road user that had blackmailed him, Ulbricht escaped murder charges as the crime had not actually been carried out.
Ulbricht's arrest in October 2013 was made while he was logged into the website as "Dread Pirate Roberts" in a San Francisco public library. Sentencing is due to take place on May 15; some say Ulbricht may face a life sentence, which entails a compulsory 20-year term. A statement by defence lawyer, Joshua Dratel, has confirmed that an appeal will be made.
Judge Katherine Forrest prohibited Dratel from calling experts witnesses, saying that the defence had failed to give prosecutors enough time to prepare. "I think it would have been a very different outcome if the jury had been permitted to hear all the evidence," the defendant's mother, Lyn Ulbricht, had told Bloomberg.
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Esquites Guacamole recipe to celebrate National Guacamole Day! Enjoy!
Esquites is a traditional roasted corn recipe from the kitchens of Mexico. This popular treat is enjoyed with barbecued meats and is a family favorite.
Melt the butter in a heavy skillet over medium-high heat, add the corn, toss and let it sit cooking until charred, about 6-10 minutes, mix it up and let it char again, about 6-10 minutes, and remove from heat. Set aside to cool.
Add mayonnaise to corn when cooled.
Meanwhile, prepare the remaining ingredients.
Mix remaining ingredients with avocado. Retain 3 tablespoons of bacon for garnish.
Put guacamole mixture in a bowl.
Create an indention to the top of the guacamole mixture.
Add corn to top of guacamole.
Sprinkle remaining Jaimito™ Cojita Cheese on top of corn.
Top with 1 tablespoon of Cilantro.
Cheesemakers, Inc. is a family-owned business and has been delighting chefs and restaurants for over 20 years with their unique offering of Mexican style cheese and goat cheese.
Today, the Cheesemakers manufacturing plant in Montgomery County has co-packing capabilities, pilot plant product development, label development, unique sizes, and packaging options, and nutritional database and testing capabilities.
All Cheesemakers products are manufactured in an FDA, and Texas Dept. of Health inspected facility that is certified by a 3rd Party Audited facility by Silliker, Inc (a Mérieux NutriSciences company) and GMP (Good Manufacturing Practices and Food Safety audit). We are happy to produce custom, private label products to your specifications! It's further testament to the innovation, creativity, and dedication of the owner and staff of Cheesemakers!