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Nigeria: Naming, Shaming, Convicting
September 23, 2021: Boko Haram, a local Islamic terror group that appeared two decades ago claiming it was the African incarnation of the Afghan Taliban, continues its rapid collapse. This began in July and accelerated after the Taliban regained power in Afghanistan during mid-August.
Boko Haram originated in Borno State, in northeast Nigeria adjacent to other Moslem African countries like Niger, Mali, Chad and Burkina Faso that have more experience dealing with Islamic terrorists and some of that experience is spreading to the Nigerian military. The decline in popular support for Boko Haram came from the failure of the group to offer anything better than the existing corrupt political system. Doing that was the principal reason for founding Boko Haram two decades ago. Boko Haram reached its peak in 2014, the same year ISIL (Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant) did in Iraq and Syria. Like ISIL, Boko Haram lost all its territory by 2017. By then a growing number of Boko Haram had declared they were now an affiliate of ISIL. That made matters worse because there were now two major Boko Haram factions. Neither faction had any success in gaining control over territory and came to be regarded by people in Borno as bandits. For some Borno politicians and businessmen both Boko Haram factions had become a lucrative business opportunity. This is an old Nigerian custom, where politicians make mutually beneficial agreements with organized crime groups. In 2004 the newly organized Boko Haram condemned that cooperation as a major problem. By 2014 it survived only by using those same practices. The newly formed Boko Haram ISIL faction used the same corrupt financial practices. This caused problems in Nigeria because the national government refused to "name and shame" local officials and businessmen known as financial supporters of Boko Haram and would be prosecuted once enough evidence was gathered that would make prosecution.
The collapse of Boko Haram has been percolating for several years and peaked in mid-June when Boko Haram leader Abubakar Shekau was killed by a large ISWAP (Islamic State West Africa Province) raiding party and the factional dispute declared over because of the ISIL faction raid. It wasn't. The death of veteran Boko Haram leader Shekau did not lead to a reunification of Boko Haram under pro-ISIL (Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant) leadership.
Shekau was killed by dissident Boko Haram members that had joined ISIL and considered any Boko Haram who did not do the same as traitors to Islam. Shekau had been active in Boko Haram from the beginning, in the 1990s, and had been leader since 2009. Shekau was correct about ISWAP, the local ISIL affiliate, seeking to absorb Boko Haram and seemed to realize more than ISIL leaders that many Boko Haram members preferred to fight ISWAP, or simply leave the movement. ISWAP leaders backed this forced reunification idea without realizing the impact the death of Shekau would have on most Islamic terrorists in the northeast. This became obvious when the number of Boko Haram and ISWAP members abandoning Islamic terrorism increased after the "merger" and death of Shekau was first announced. Many of those defectors are switching to organized crime and ditching their religious pretensions. This has already been happening in the last few years but the "merger" caused the trend to spike. By the end of August over 8,000 Boko Haram/ISWAP members, including many family members who lived in Islamic terrorist camps, had officially surrendered, something which merely resulted in an update of government records and agreeing to answer questions about their experience with Boko Haram. Nearly all the Boko Haram/ISWAP already named as criminals and wanted for specific crimes, are leaders and could negotiate a surrender deal that could spare them any punishment at all. That has upset a lot of northern political and business leaders, but these men know that if you have enough cash and connections, you can avoid conviction. This has been the case during the last decade as more and more notorious (they often flaunted it) politicians and business magnates were prosecuted, often with the help of foreign countries, like the UAE and many other Western nations, who provided evidence of financial activities locally.
Boko Haram quickly appointed a new leader; Bakura Modu (or Sahaba) who had much less experience than Shekau and he moved Boko Haram headquarters from the Sambia forces to Rijana forest in neighboring Kaduna State. These changes did not stem the defections. Boko Haram and ISWAP are both beset by money problems. Over a decade of Islamic terrorist violence in the north have ruined the local economy, there are more unemployed young men who can be enticed to join the Islamic terrorist for a "joining bonus" of less than $20 with the promise of more if they can learn to handle an assault rifle and succeed at looting and plundering what is left to steal in the northeast. A merger of economic, not religious, convenience was one thing most Islamic terrorists could agree on.
Boko Haram and ISWAP leaders tried to turn this collapse around by declaring the recent success of the Taliban in Afghanistan was still possible in Nigeria. The Islamic terrorist violence has been going on for over fifteen years in Borno state and portions of central and northern Borno where Boko Haram and ISWAP remained active are now depopulated economic wastelands. The Islamic terrorists are not strong enough to expand and, unlike the Afghan Taliban, Boko Haram does not have a powerful Moslem neighbor like Pakistan supporting them and providing sanctuary. There is also no massive drug production operation, like the heroin cartels of southern Afghanistan. While Boko Haram and ISWAP leaders insist prospects are great, that really only applies to the leadership. Most Islamic terrorists in Nigeria have destroyed their own communities for a decade and have nothing to show for it. Their leaders are seen as another bunch of corrupt officials who prosper while the majority sinks deeper into poverty.
The Taliban Effect
The recent ouster of an elected government by the Taliban in Afghanistan had African governments and media fretting about Islamic terrorism in Africa, especially the ISIL ultraviolence. It took a few weeks for everyone to note that Africa is not Afghanistan. ISIL is at the top of the food chain when it comes to Islamic terror groups. That means ISIL is always at war with all other Islamic terror groups. In other words, the Taliban has long had problems with the local ISIL affiliates and even cooperated with the elected Afghan government and American forces to greatly reduce, but not eliminate, the ISIL presence in Afghanistan. In Africa most of the local Islamic terrorists are affiliated with al Qaeda. Africa also has a multitude of small ISIL affiliates. Since 2018 there have been two ISIL "provinces" in central Africa. The smaller one is ISGS (Islamic State in Greater Sahara), which showed up in 2018. ISGS is currently active in Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger. The other, slightly older and larger, ISIL province was ISWAP, which is actually a faction of Boko Haram. ISWAP personnel were concentrated in northeastern Nigeria as well as smaller numbers in Chad, Niger and northern Cameroon. There is also ISCAP (Islamic State Central Africa Province) which is actually most present in southern Africa and only really active in the southeast African state of Mozambique. The problem with ISIL in southern Africa is that Moslems are a small minority there and the Christian and pre-Christian religions are the majority and fight back, often while ISIL is trying to get established locally.
Another tiny ISIL affiliate is ISS (Islamic State in Somalia) which was never popular with the local Islamic terrorists (al Shabaab). ISS spends most of its time and effort trying to survive in the northern mountains.
In Africa, corrupt local governments are a far greater threat but those same governments appreciate Islamic terrorists, especially ISIL, because it gives the local leaders something to blame all the economic and political problems on.
What Makes A Difference In Africa
In Africa most of the local Islamic terrorists are affiliated with al Qaeda in addition to a multitude of small ISIL affiliates. Since 2018 there have been two ISIL "provinces" in central Africa. The smaller one is ISGS (Islamic State in Greater Sahara), which showed up in 2018. ISGS is currently active in Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger. The other, slightly older and larger, ISIL province was ISWAP, which is actually a faction of the Nigerian Boko Haram Islamic terror group, which saw itself as the "African Taliban" and has been around since 2004. For a few years Boko Haram was, in terms of people killed, more of a problem than any other ISIL group, including the combined ISIL operations in Syria and Iraq.
ISWAP personnel are mostly in northeastern Nigeria as well as smaller numbers in Chad, Niger and northern Cameroon. Earlier in 2021 ISWAP killed the Boko Haram leaders and is trying to absorb Boko Haram. That is encountering a lot of resistance. There is also ISCAP (Islamic State Central Africa Province) which is actually mostly present in southern Africa and only really active in the southeast African state of Mozambique. The problem with ISIL in southern Africa is that Moslems are a small minority there, while the majority Christian and pre-Christian religions fight back, often while ISIL is trying to get established. Another tiny ISIL affiliate is ISS (Islamic State in Somalia) which was never popular with the local Islamic terrorists (al Shabaab). ISS spends most of its time and effort trying to survive in the northern mountains.
Most independent media in Africa, including Nigeria, openly accept that their own politicians and businesses keep Islamic terrorists going as long as it is profitable. This raises the question, who is terrorizing who. Islamic terror groups declare war on the corrupt politicians and soon become their paid employees or partners. This is an ancient phenomenon that takes time, effort and resolve to overcome. In the last few centuries more and more nations have done it and managed to hang onto clean government. Despite that, the majority of people still live in areas where the elected or unelected gangsters are still in charge.
September 22, 2021: In the south (Ondo and Delta States) the state governors warned northern governors that the new anti-grazing laws would be enforced. The northern governors defend the violent actions of expansionist Moslem Fulani tribesmen herders who attack southern farmers who try to protect their crops from the herds of hungry animals. Since 2016 these clashes have killed more people than Boko Haram violence. Unlike Boko Haram violence, which was mostly in Borno state and two others in the northeast, the Fulani violence has spread throughout states from the north to the far south, mainly interior areas of Ondo and Delta states, which are on the Gulf of Guinea. The heaviest losses still occur in the north and central Nigeria (Adamawa, Nasarawa and Benue states). Adamawa is one of the three northeastern states where Boko Haram has been a major problem since 2014. The other two states are in central Nigeria. The federal government has failed to deal with the problem and the southern states passed local laws banning the illegal grazing and supporting armed resistance by their citizens. In Nigeria the federal government controls the security forces, especially the police via a national police force. The police and military have long been criticized for being corrupt and ineffective.
The other major crisis, which has not been as fatal, yet, as Boko Haram and the Fulani herders, is in the southeast, where Christian Igbo seek to revive the movement to partition Nigeria and let the Igbo for a separate state of Biafra. Unlike 1967, when a bloody civil war over the demand ended, there is not a lot of Igbo support for openly partitioning Nigeria. In the southeast Imo, Enugu and Anambra states are meant to be the core of the independent Igbo Biafra. Pro-Biafra groups began to appear again in the late 1990s, trying to revive the separatist movement. Since the late 1990s over a thousand separatists have been killed, and many more imprisoned, while the government continues to insist that Biafra is gone forever. But as details of the extent of government corruption during the last few decades came out, Biafra again seemed like something worth fighting for. Senior government officials, including president Buhari, paid attention and sought to work out a compromise with the Igbos. That has slowed the escalation towards another war, but if the federal government proves unable to work out an acceptable compromise, the Igbo anger will continue escalating.
September 20, 2021: In the northwest (Zamfara State), a cross the border in Niger, local security forces caught a large group of tribal gangsters fleeing from a recent defeat in Nigeria. Niger is a favorite place to find sanctuary but that has become more dangerous and this time the Niger forces ambushed the Nigerian gunmen, killing 43 of them while losing seven soldiers. The smaller number of armed Nigerians who got away are also being pursued.
The violence in the northwest and central Nigeria is more about tribal animosity or feuds over territory. Since 2016 this has been killing more people than Islamic terrorism.
September 17, 2021: In the northeast (Borno State) Boko Haram gunmen once more used explosives to bring down electricity transmission towers (four of them) and cut power to much of the state capital (Maiduguri). This is the fifth time this year that Boko Haram has done this, which is a form of terrorism and takes days to repair and get the power flowing again. It is unclear if Boko Haram is offering to halt such attacks if the government will pay them a monthly fee to keep the electric power flowing . Technically such payments are illegal but that law is more frequently obeyed as Boko Haram power wanes.
September 16, 2021: In the northeast (Borno State) Boko Haram gunmen ambushed a military convoy carrying supplies from the state capital Maiduguri to Monguno, 135 kilometers to the northeast. Twelve soldiers were killed and the gunmen were able to drive away with considerable loot.
September 13, 2021: In the UAE (United Arab Emirates) the government released a list of 53 individuals and entities that the UAE knew were supports of Islamic terrorism. Six of them were Nigerians, who were prosecuted in the UAE and serving prison terms for sending $782,000 to Boko Haram in 2015 and 2016. There may have been more money involved but the UAE prosecuted based on what they could prove. The six Nigerians were detected and arrested in 2017 and prosecuted for raising and sending money to Nigeria. Expatriate Nigerians have long been a source of cash for Boko Haram. For a while, until about 2015, Boko Haram was seen as a realistic solution to the corruption and bad government the group was founded to deal with. Founded in 2004, Boko Haram tried peaceful means at first. Violence police responses to that turned the group to violence in 2009 and by 2015 most Nigerians saw Boko Haram as a cure worse than the disease.
September 1, 2021: The coalition of international shipowners' associations officially reduced the HRA (High Risk Area) off Somalia while expanding the HRA off the Nigerian coast and the surrounding Gulf Of Guinea. Pressure from the ship owners led to the creation of an International Piracy Patrol off Somalia and within a few years the pirates were reduced from major threat to chronic nuisance. That piracy problem had its greatest impact on East African ports and potentially to the economically crucial Red Sea and Persian Gulf shipping. That promoted the creation of the continuing International Piracy Patrol.
Meanwhile the piracy problem had been going from nuisance to a major threat for ship owners who deliver goods and take away mineral and oil exports along the West African coast. The piracy threat off the West African coast, mainly in the Gulf of Guinea and off the Nigerian coast was noted and that led to the new HRA off West Africa that will encompass over 3.2 million square kilometers (910,000 square miles). Within the area the risk is rising and some shipping companies refuse to send their ships into waters near the Niger River Delta, an area controlled by Nigeria that has experienced the most attacks. Some crews are demanding double pay to enter this area. While the Nigerian Navy has established guarded anchorages and purchased coastal patrol UAVs the risk remains. Nigeria will not allow any armed security teams on merchant ships, as has become common in the Somali HRA. This makes the crews feel even more vulnerable.
In the Gulf of Guinea piracy is becoming a major problem and shipping companies warn that this will increase maritime ship insurance and other piracy related costs that will be passed on to consumers in Nigeria and neighboring countries. Off the Nigerian coast the pirate activity is increasing despite growing Nigerian efforts to curb the threat.
Nigeria will not get as bad as Somalia, which was the only place in the world where pirates could, for nearly a decade, take a large ship and anchor it off a small coastal town controlled by pirates. With no threats from local authorities, the pirates threatened to murder hostages, especially the ones taken ashore, if the anti-piracy patrol attempts to take back the ship. This lack of any Somali coast guard or government control of the entire coast was why Somalia was the only region seriously enough threatened by pirates that armed guards were allowed on large commercial ships passing through the most dangerous areas. In the other pirate hotspots, like Nigeria/Gulf of Guinea, the Strait of Malacca between Malaysia and Indonesia, and parts of the Caribbean, local police, navies and coast guard keep the pirates under control and usually forbid armed guards on ships. The main risk outside Somali waters is nighttime raids by local pirates who rob the crew of valuables and the ships of anything portable.
These "robbery" tactics escalated in Nigeria since 2016 because the pirates realized that kidnapping key crew members and holding them for ransom was safer and more lucrative than hauling away portable valuables. Kidnapping was slow to catch on because initially local security forces could locate the kidnappers' hideouts and free their hostages. That changed in Nigeria because pirates made deals with local political and military officials to share the large ransoms paid for kidnapped foreign sailors. Once these ransom sharing deals were in place it became more difficult to find the pirate hideouts where hostages were held. This corrupt profit-sharing arrangement is nothing new in Nigeria and has been a component of the crippling corruption Nigeria has suffered since independence in the 1960s. Currently about five million dollars in ransoms are being paid each year and that is increasing. This is what is threatening to raise ship insurance rates and the cost of shipping anything in or out of the Gulf of Guinea. Ultimately the customer pays, otherwise shippers could not continue doing business in high-risk areas.
These robberies and kidnappings are common in areas where a lot of large ships have to anchor off a busy major port and await their turn to dock for loading or unloading cargo. What enabled the Nigerian pirates to become more of a menace was the entrenched gangster culture in the Niger River Delta. This is where most of Nigeria's oil is produced. More of the oil is coming from offshore rigs and these became attractive targets for pirates. The seemingly entrenched gangster culture is made possible by the culture of corruption among local politicians and local security forces. Many politicians adopt a local gang to provide muscle for ensuring voters select the most corrupt candidates. Nigeria has been undergoing increasingly vigorous and effective reform efforts since 2000 but the gangster culture is so pervasive and entrenched that progress is slow in the more profitable areas. Nigerian leaders don't like being compared to Somalia, but there are similarities. One difference is that there is more to steal in Nigeria and that many Nigerians, unlike Somalis, consider the outlaw culture a flaw not a feature.
August 31, 2021: In the northeast (Borno State) several hundred ISWAP gunmen raided Rann, a town on the Cameroon border, killing 17 people and driving off towards Cameroon with lots of loot. The raid included an attack on a small army base, where the troops withdrew and called for reinforcements. The raiders knew this and limited their loot to what they could quickly find and put in a truck.
August 24, 2021: In the northeast (Borno State), across the border in Niger over a hundred Boko Haram gunmen attacked the Niger border town of Diffa, killing sixteen soldiers and wounding nine. They came by boat and landed on the Lake Chad coast. The army had detected this and hastily organized an ambush that left at least fifth of the attackers dead and many wounded who were able to get away with the unwounded. Diffa has been the scene of clashes between the Niger troops and Boko Haram forces for years.
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Gear Bangin' – What is a Transmission?
Justin Banner of Carbage Online
While we talk about the latest in transmissions, there is a fundamental issue at hand: what does it do and what defines it as a manual and automatic?
Hindsight and Definitions
After publishing the article on the Dual Clutch Transmission, or DCT, I didn't fully anticipate that there are people who don't fully understand the transmission. Those who "do" probably don't fully appreciate what it does, where we've come from in terms of technological breakthroughs, or even fully understand what makes a manual a manual and an automatic an automatic. That's why, even if you're familiar with what a transmission is and how it's supposed to work, you should read this article, too.
The main goal of this article is to inform people who don't know or haven't given it a second thought. The other is to act as a refresher to those of us who do. So, please be patient as I cover the basics and, if you are very green when it comes to the transmission, don't worry. You'll have a better idea and potentially appreciation of what it is and how it works. Let's start at the ground level.
What Work are Transmissions Performing?
At the face of it, it is easy: it takes kinetic energy from the power source and turns it into a rotational motion to propel the vehicle. It could be an electric motor sending power to a tire or a two-stroke diesel engine driving tank tracks, doesn't matter. If the power source rotates and that rotation needs to be transmitted to a drive wheel, that is the job of the transmission.
Yes, there is also the final gear and its differential, but even then, that final drive is transmitting power to the wheel. It's not a "transmission" as we're defining here but it also does the same job. Just with less gears and a way to split torque between wheels while turning.
Why So Many Gears?
It is possible to drive a vehicle with only a propeller shaft going from the engine to that final drive. This is known as direct drive and Sprint Cars and nitromethane powered dragsters work this way. However, you need a power plant that's capable of producing a lot of torque at zero RPM or never needs to come to a stop.
I'm not talking about the risk of stalling because, even in Sprint Cars, the final drive can be disengaged, and the engine allowed to rotate. You could install a clutch that you slip until the vehicle moves. That slipper clutch is used on the nitromethane dragster and it works. It's just not practical for both real world driving and vehicle maintenance. In the real world and outside of the dirt track, we need a way to for internal combustion engines (ICE) to drive the vehicle to speed from a dead stop.
It is probable to also gear that final drive to a high enough ratio from the pinion to the ring gear to allow quick acceleration from a stop. Great, but now you're only able to do 15 or 20-MPH at best. Ok for most city driving, but what about faster speeds? This means we need to be able to engage another ratio that allows one that is allows us to reach higher speeds. We need two speeds, one with a high ratio for rolling from a stop and one with a 1:1 ratio once we accelerate from a stop. We need the transmission.
Then What is the EV's Transmission Doing?
As you might be aware, electric vehicles (EVs) don't stall like an ICE can because it can create a lot of torque from near zero RPM. That's true. They can, but the practicality of direct driving an EV motor without some sort of gearbox is fruitless. While they can produce torque at that near zero RPM, many are also capable of spinning up to 20,000 RPMs or more.
Direct driving a motor capable of 20,000 RPM with a 24-inch tall tire (like a 245/35R17) would net a top speed of 1416.67-MPH. You'd only really be able to do that in a vacuum. More critically, it also means the motor's potential is wasted in the real world. The battery would not only drain quickly but also shorten its lifespan from overheating as it tries to supply more power to the motor to keep it spinning that fast. Keep in mind that motor is also getting hotter as it's supplied power. Without some sort of reduction, some large capacity batteries, or ridiculous cooling solutions, it is just not workable.
EV and Formula E Examples
So, the transmission in an EV is used to maximize its torque and RPM capability with a given tire size, given speed, and battery power output expectancy and lifespan. For example, Formula E 2018/19 regulated that their cars can only do around 174-MPH. So, different manufacturers with their regulated 200-kilowatt motors (minus the 50-kW boost during "attack mode") with some that are still capable of up to that 20,000-RPM mentioned above, a 305/30R18 sized rear tire, and either a single speed or five-speed transmission are designed to make the most of their 54-kilowatt/hour battery power and the maximum possible speed of a course.
Most EVs for consumers are limited to much lower speeds, but their single gearing is made to work with a given battery capacity (its kilowatt/hour) rating and known tire size or sizes if there are options.
Clutch vs Torque Converter
Most people will tell you that the part that makes an automatic or a manual has to do with the device between the engine and transmission. While it can be an indicator, a clutch or torque converter aren't what define what type of transmission you have as far as automatic versus manual. The clutch and torque converter are both ways to decouple the engine from the transmission when the vehicle is not moving.
The clutch is a direct coupling and connected to the engine by a flywheel. It's typically operated by the driver with a foot control, the clutch pedal, that is usually the farthest to the left and not the foot operated parking brake. Not always, even in the entire existence of the automobile, but typically that is the position of the clutch pedal. The components of a clutch are the flywheel, friction disc (clutch disc), and the pressure plate that clamps the friction disc to the flywheel. The clutch disc is coupled to the transmission's input shaft as both are usually splined to mate with each other.
Torque Converter Parts
The torque converter is hydraulically coupled to the engine with a flexplate. As its outer cover is spun by the flexplate, hydraulic transmission fluid is forced into the turbine. The turbine then sends the transmission fluid to the stator, which then turns the input shaft of the transmission. The interaction of the fluid between the turbine and stator also determine the stall speed of the torque converter, or what engine RPM causes the stator to rotate the input shaft of the transmission. Changes to the blades of either will change the stall speed. Eventually, the turbine and stator roughly spin at a one-to-one ratio. Prior to this point, engine torque is multiplied by the interaction of the fluid between the turbine and stator.
The input shaft and stator are splined to each other. The one-way clutch (sprag clutch) ensures that the stator does not turn backwards during operation. Modern torque converters also feature a clutch between the turbine and front cover, all which are also splined to each other. When these parts lock together, the turbine is directly coupled to the outer cover and drives it. This turns it into a direct drive rather than a torque multiplier and increases the fuel efficiency of the engine as it no longer must try to sling fluid inside the cover to force it into the turbine.
Flywheel versus Flexplate
Yes, there is a difference between a flywheel and a flexplate. The flywheel helps the engine by having rotational mass to help spin the input shaft. While this does rob the engine of potential power from that rotational mass, it also helps the driver prevent stalling.
Though, you can still stall an engine with a heavy flywheel. The flexplate is simply a device used to connect the engine to the torque converter.
Torque Converters for Manuals?
As mentioned, modern converters have a clutch disc and pressure plate to lock the turbine to the cover. However, these don't work well with manual transmissions as the fluid is pumped by the transmission. So, there are also torque converter systems made to work with manual transmissions in drag racing known as converter drives. You'll only see these in drag racing classes like Super Comp or Pro Modified with Lenco planetary or Liberty transmissions. These converter drives eliminate the maintenance of clutch adjustment and replacement with the ease of a torque converter but include a sump and pump system to flow fluid into the converter.
The ClutchFlite, Manual Clutch for an Automatic Transmission
In the 1960s, there also existed a clutch system for automatic transmissions made by B&M called the "ClutchFlite." It earned the name because it was originally made to work with the MOPAR 727 Torqueflite automatic transmission. The kit required that you cut off the original bellhousing and install the ClutchFlite system in place of the torque converter. It featured a spider assembly to drive the transmission pump so that the trans fluid would still engage the clutches and bands. It also had a heavy flywheel in place of the flexplate.
It was all for drag racing due to torque converter technology still lagging and this allowed automatics to launch as hard as a clutched manual trans car but have the instant, quick shifts of the automatic. You also didn't lose out of the top end of the track due to torque converter losses as these converters did not have a direct drive clutch for the turbine. Problem was that it was not very reliable and really not safe, but it was used on the Motown Missile in NHRA Pro Stock.
What is an Automatic?
Well, since we established that a clutch nor torque converter really are the true defining features of either manuals or automatics, what makes an auto trans an automatic? It's very simple: the driver must not operate the transmission to initiate a gear change. The driver only puts the gear selector into drive, and it goes through the gears itself. How it does that gear change does not matter. It's only an automatic if the driver does not have to initiate the next gear change as the vehicle gets to speed.
What is a Manual?
This means that a manual transmission is only a manual transmission if the driver must do something to initiate the next gear to continue speeding. Again, it does not matter how the transmission does the change internally. The only thing that matters is that the driver must initiate the next gear change and the transmission does not do it on its own.
Transmission Internals
So, what are the ways those gear changes are done internally to the transmission? At present, there are only three types: planetary gearing, synchro gear meshing, and continuously variable transmissions (CVT).
Synchro Gear Meshing Gearbox
The synchro gear meshing gearbox is the simplest form of modern transmission design. You have an input gear driven by the input shaft and an output gear that drives an output shaft. Attached between each input gear as well as the input shaft are a synchro gears of which the shift fork slides on to. The shift fork also has a synchro ring gear that moves with the fork. When not engaged, the shift fork only engages the synchro gear of the input shaft. When the shifter fork slides towards the synchro gear of the input gear, the input shaft and gear begin turning as one.
Dual Countershaft Gearboxes
A version many of you are probably not familiar with is the dual countershaft gearbox. In this design, there is the input shaft, two countershafts on each side of the input shaft, and finally an output shaft. It works the same as the synchro gear mesh transmission, but instead of the input gears meshing with the output gears, the input gears mesh with gears on the countershafts which then mesh with the output shaft. Because of the counter-rotating design, these gears must all be timed with each other or the transmission will lock up. The benefit, however, is its increased torque load capacity over the standard gearbox.
This type of transmission is common in semi-trucks due to their nature of high-torque diesels pulling extremely heavy loads. They also include an overdrive/underdrive unit and why they can have up to 16 gear shifts in one gearbox. This type of transmission is also common in high-powered drag cars like you see in Pro Stock, Pro Modified, Mountain Motor Pro Stock, and others. They can be coupled with either a slipper clutch, a converter drive, or even a standard clutch controlled by the driver's foot. There are also hybrid clutches that can be a slipper that's overridden by a foot control, again common in drag racing.
Planetary Gear Set
The next form of transmission internals is the planetary gear set. Planetary gears have three main parts. The first is the outer gear known as the ring gear. This is followed by a set of smaller gears inside it and rotate around known as planet gears. Finally, the planet gears orbit around a single gear in the center known as the sun gear. Planetary gear sets have three forward speeds, an overdrive speed and two reverse speeds. Even so, usually only two forward speeds and one reverse speed are usable in the automotive transmission.
How a Planetary Set Makes Ratios
The highest ratio is achieved when the sun gear is the input, the ring gear is stationary, and the planet carrier is the output. The next gear is achieved when the ring gear is the input, the sun gear is stationary, and the planet carrier remains the output. The next ratio is achieved by using both the ring gear and sun gear as the inputs and the entire assembly moves as a single unit, a 1:1 ratio or direct drive. Overdrive is achieved when the ring gear is stationary, the planet carrier is the input, and the sun gear is the output. Finally, reverse is achieved by using the sun gear as the input, the planet carrier is stationary, and the ring gear is the output.
Because of packaging, planetary gear sets are compounded to each other to save space and achieve different gear ratios. This also means that you can determine how many planetary sets there are by the speeds a transmission can shift up to. The GM Powerglide transmission only has one planetary set because it has two speeds, an underdrive and direct drive. A Ford E4OD is a four speed and has two planetary sets. The ZF 8HP has eight speeds with four planetary sets and so on.
Clutches and Bands
In older transmissions, friction bands, also called brakes because they stop the ring gear and hold the ring gear. Clutches would operate either the sun gear or the planet carrier. Modern transmissions now utilize multi-plate clutches on all gears and brakes for improved torque holding. Planetary gear sets are also very strong as they use multiple gears to split the torque load from the engine. Aftermarket companies manufacture planet carriers that have more than four gears to improve strength there as well as using better metals. There are diminishing returns as you're limited to the room allowed between the sun and ring gears.
Fully Manual Valvebodies
While a planetary transmission required fluid to shift through each gear, that fluid was controlled by a valvebody. This would direct transmission fluid to pull on the bands or clamp on the clutches, initiating each gear change. This was done hydraulically or could be controlled by the transmission controller by use of solenoids to hold pressure back until it decided to shift. This is also why an electronically controlled transmission can still operate with a bad solenoid.
The aftermarket, however, also created the manual valve body. A planetary transmission with this type of valvebody required the driver to initiate each shift rather than allow the hydraulic controls do all the shifting. At the same time, you could also reverse the pattern so that the final gear was a pull straight back rather than pushing forward, potentially mis-shifting into neutral or, worse, reverse. Finally, if you've been around drag racing, you've no doubt heard of the "trans brake." This forces the valvebody to initiate both reverse and first gear at the same time, allowing the driver to rev the engine to its stall speed while not needing to stay on the foot brake. Your brain also sends a signal to move to your hands faster than to your foot simply because it is closer, thus reducing reaction time at the drag tree.
Lenco Transmissions
This leads to an interesting Segway with Lenco transmissions. It was mentioned earlier, but this is a planetary transmission typically used in drag or street/drag cars. It doesn't use fluid to control shifting but uses levers in an air shifter or using multiple manual levers. When you stared, all the levers are forward and the planetary sets are in their first gear ratios. Each pull would shift the planetary set into its direct drive, changing the ratio through each lever pull.
Lenco transmissions can be coupled to the engine with a manual clutch, slipper automatic clutch, or a drive coupler. However, the Lenco was only a fully automatic transmission when used with an air shifter that engaged each set on its own though a transmission controller. Otherwise, it was a manual planetary transmission.
CVT Transmissions
The continuously variable transmission, or CVT, is a type of transmission that does not have any gears or gear sets to change drive ratios. The simplest version uses a steel belt, a variator pulley, and an output pulley, both of which slide on their shafts. In the case of Toyota CVTs, the torque converter drives a planetary gear set attached to the variator pulley. At the start, the output pulley closed in on itself to create a larger ratio than the opened variator pulley. The variator pulley is then forced closed to increase its ratio while the output pulley is forced open by the belt as it retains its tension but changes its shape. This motion creates an automatic ratio change that is smooth and seamless to the driver and requires no input by that person.
There are variations to the CVT, including a version that allowed for a manual mode from Mitsubishi as well as a version that doesn't use a belt. Nissan's Extroid CVT is a roller based CVT that uses four discs as inputs and outputs that had a curved shape that decreased in radius towards the center of the disc.
Between each input and output disc were four rollers that would swing from the outside of one disc towards the center of the other. The movement of these rollers changed the gear ratios and when the rollers were angled in towards the center of a disc, that disc would move faster while the other disc would move slower because the rollers were on the outside of it and at the largest part. The discs and rollers would also rotate opposite directions of each other.
Can You Really Have Both?
Yes, it is possible to have a transmission that is both manual and automatic. Technically, it will fall into one of two categories: Manumatic and Semi-Automatic. It mostly depends on how the engine decoupling is done.
Manumatics
Pretty much any transmission that allows for manual shifting and has a torque converter is going to be a manumatic. These are typically designed as full-automatics first but allow for manual shifting by putting it into a manual or sport mode. They will also work to self-preserve the engine and itself by forcing an upshifting when the engine hits redline and downshifting when it's about to stall. An example of this is the Dodge Challenger's AutoStick transmission.
Semi-Automatics
A transmission classified as a Semi-Automatic will have a clutch system that's automatic but is designed mostly to be a manual shifting transmission with an automatic mode. An example of this is the Ferrari F355's 355 F1 electrohydraulic transmission, in which the clutch is controlled by a computer with a hydraulic circuit along with the throttle for rev matching on downshifts. Many of these types of transmissions, especially early ones, suffer from drivability issues like shuddering and juddering from a stop, late clutch engagements when power braking, and reliability issues. (https://www.caranddriver.com/reviews/comparison-test/a15142151/1999-porsche-911-carrera-tiptronic-s-vs-1999-ferrari-f355-f1-archived-comparison-test/)
The DCT is Semi-Automatic, Then?
Yes and no. It depends on what its primary role is. For example, the DSG in the 2008 Volkswagen Rabbit is semi-automatic because it's primarily a manual shifting transmission but has an automatic mode. The Ford Fiesta's PowerShift DCT, on the other hand, is not since it does not have a manual mode and can only be shifted by the transmission controller. Its only input by the driver is to take it out of "park" and put it into "drive."
Support Carbage On Sponsus and Patreon
I would like to ask for your support on Sponsus and Patreon. I love doing these videos and it seems you guys always want more. However, doing videos and these articles means I must take time away from doing other income generating work. That's the reason why you don't get to see me do videos and articles on CarbageOnline.com as often as I need to.
I want to make Carbage my main source of income because, not only do I enjoy it, but I feel I can bring a unique view in the automotive world. You can do just a dollar per month or opt in to one of the rewards I have setup on both platforms. You'll also get exclusive content on both sites like galleries, podcasts, and more as I come up with them or from what you guys suggest. Head over, donate, and I'll can create more content for you here and on CarbageOnline.com.
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If You Enjoyed This Article, Read More Like It:
Speed Shiftin' – What is the Dual Clutch Transmission?
The 2021 Ford Bronco Revealed
Evolutionary – The 2020 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray C8
Copyright Justin Banner and Carbage Online 2020

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


An analysis of how well the film "Gettin' Square" (2003) represented Australian national identity.
An essay comparing "Wolverine: Origin" comics to the "X-men Origins: Wolverine" movie.
A movie review of "The Wolf of Wall Street".
A comparison of the play and film versions of John Patrick Shanley's "Doubt".
Stereotypical Portrayal of Women and Men in "American Reunion"
A review of the movie "American Reunion," directed by Jon Hurwitz and Hayden Schlossberg.
Morality and Theology in "Crimes and Misdemeanors"
An analysis of the characters' morality and theological questions raised in the film "Crimes and Misdemeanors", directed by Woody Allen.
A discussion on the achievements of Michael Peters in influencing the way dancing is choreographed in pop music contexts.
A comparison of the book and movie versions of J.R. Tolkien's, "The Hobbit".
An analysis of how camera techniques contributed to the success of the film, "Citizen Kane", directed by Orson Wells.


The NZ China Council was delighted to host a breakfast with Financial Times Editor Jamil Anderlini. Jamil spoke about China's 'Belt and Road' Initiative and its relevance for NZ China relations.
Executive Director Stephen Jacobi said the Council was working to develop a strategic pathway for New Zealand's involvement in 'Belt and Road'.
"Jamil Anderlini's insights were very helpful for this process and for raising awareness of this ambitious initiative for New Zealand business" said Mr Jacobi.
The Council expresses appreciation to the Contemporary China Research Centre at Victoria University and ANZ for making this event possible.
Can New Zealand link China and South America on the Belt and Road?
Next Generation Leadership Event – The future is today!
Celebrate your success. Get recognised. Grow your business.


text:
const path = require('path')
const request = require('supertest')
const {app, assertImageMeta} = require('./helpers')

jest.setTimeout(15000)

test('[image] 404s on root source path', (done) => {
  app((err, mead) => {
    expect(err).toBeFalsy()
    request(mead).get('/foo').expect(404, done)
  })
})

test('[image] 404s on root source path (alt)', (done) => {
  app((err, mead) => {
    expect(err).toBeFalsy()
    request(mead).get('/foo/').expect(404, done)
  })
})

test('[image] image route serves plain image without transformations', (done) => {
  app((err, mead) => {
    expect(err).toBeFalsy()
    request(mead)
      .get('/foo/images/mead.png')
      .expect(200)
      .end((reqErr, res) => {
        expect(reqErr).toBeFalsy()
        assertImageMeta(res, {width: 512, height: 512}, done)
      })
  })
})

test('[image] image route serves original image if smaller than original and no metadata/params', (done) => {
  app((err, mead) => {
    expect(err).toBeFalsy()
    request(mead)
      .get('/foo/images/mead-compressed.png')
      .expect(200)
      .end((reqErr, res) => {
        expect(reqErr).toBeFalsy()
        assertImageMeta(res, {width: 512, height: 512, size: 15208}, done)
      })
  })
})

test('[image] image route serves transformed image if query params are specified', (done) => {
  app((err, mead) => {
    expect(err).toBeFalsy()
    request(mead)
      .get('/foo/images/mead-compressed.png?q=100')
      .expect(200)
      .end((reqErr, res) => {
        expect(reqErr).toBeFalsy()
        expect(parseInt(res.headers['content-length'], 10)).toBeGreaterThan(15208)
        assertImageMeta(res, {width: 512, height: 512}, done)
      })
  })
})

test('[image] image route serves transformed image if image has potentially sensitive metadata', (done) => {
  app((err, mead) => {
    expect(err).toBeFalsy()
    request(mead)
      .get('/foo/images/exif.jpg')
      .expect(200)
      .end((reqErr, res) => {
        expect(reqErr).toBeFalsy()
        expect(parseInt(res.headers['content-length'], 10)).toBeGreaterThan(15208)
        assertImageMeta(res, {width: 2448, height: 3264}, done)
      })
  })
})

test('[image] image route serves transformed image if transformed is smaller than original', (done) => {
  app((err, mead) => {
    expect(err).toBeFalsy()
    request(mead)
      .get('/foo/images/mead-100.jpg')
      .expect(200)
      .end((reqErr, res) => {
        expect(reqErr).toBeFalsy()
        expect(parseInt(res.headers['content-length'], 10)).toBeLessThan(151619)
        assertImageMeta(res, {width: 512, height: 512}, done)
      })
  })
})

test('[image] image route serves image with orientation transformation', (done) => {
  app((err, mead) => {
    expect(err).toBeFalsy()
    request(mead)
      .get('/foo/images/320x180.png?or=90')
      .expect(200)
      .end((reqErr, res) => {
        expect(reqErr).toBeFalsy()
        assertImageMeta(res, {width: 180, height: 320}, done)
      })
  })
})

test('[image] image route serves image with flip transformation (hv)', (done) => {
  app((err, mead) => {
    expect(err).toBeFalsy()
    request(mead)
      .get('/foo/images/320x180.png?flip=hv')
      .expect(200)
      .end((reqErr, res) => {
        expect(reqErr).toBeFalsy()
        assertImageMeta(res, {width: 320, height: 180}, done)
      })
  })
})

test('[image] image route serves image with format change', (done) => {
  app((err, mead) => {
    expect(err).toBeFalsy()
    request(mead)
      .get('/foo/images/320x180.png?fm=jpg')
      .expect(200)
      .end((reqErr, res) => {
        expect(reqErr).toBeFalsy()
        assertImageMeta(res, {width: 320, height: 180, format: 'jpeg'}, done)
      })
  })
})

test('[image] image route serves image as progressive jpeg', (done) => {
  app((err, mead) => {
    expect(err).toBeFalsy()
    request(mead)
      .get('/foo/images/320x180.png?fm=pjpg')
      .expect(200)
      .end((reqErr, res) => {
        expect(reqErr).toBeFalsy()
        assertImageMeta(res, {width: 320, height: 180, format: 'jpeg'}, done)
      })
  })
})

test('[image] image route can be told to serve unsupported output formats as different format', (done) => {
  const inputFormatMap = {tiff: 'jpeg'}
  app({inputFormatMap}, (err, mead) => {
    expect(err).toBeFalsy()
    request(mead)
      .get('/foo/images/tiff.tiff')
      .expect(200)
      .end((reqErr, res) => {
        expect(reqErr).toBeFalsy()
        assertImageMeta(res, {width: 100, height: 66, format: 'jpeg'}, done)
      })
  })
})

test('[image] image route serves image with flip transformation (h)', (done) => {
  app((err, mead) => {
    expect(err).toBeFalsy()
    request(mead).get('/foo/images/320x180.png?flip=h').expect(200, done)
  })
})

test('[image] image route serves image with flip transformation (v)', (done) => {
  app((err, mead) => {
    expect(err).toBeFalsy()
    request(mead).get('/foo/images/320x180.png?flip=v').expect(200, done)
  })
})

test('[image] 400s on invalid transformation params', (done) => {
  app((err, mead) => {
    expect(err).toBeFalsy()
    request(mead).get('/foo/images/mead.png?w=foo').expect('Content-Type', /json/).expect(400, done)
  })
})

test('[image] 400s on invalid source rectangle coordinates', (done) => {
  app((err, mead) => {
    expect(err).toBeFalsy()
    request(mead)
      .get('/foo/images/mead.png?rect=256,256,512,512')
      .expect('Content-Type', /json/)
      .expect(400, done)
  })
})

test('[image] sends content-disposition if download flag is set', (done) => {
  app((err, mead) => {
    expect(err).toBeFalsy()
    request(mead)
      .get('/foo/images/mead.png?dl=gjøk.png')
      .expect('Content-Disposition', 'attachment;filename="gj%C3%B8k.png"')
      .expect(200, done)
  })
})

test('[image] sends correct cache-control when ttl is set on source', (done) => {
  const sources = [
    {
      name: 'foo',
      cache: {ttl: 3600},
      adapter: {
        type: 'fs',
        config: {basePath: path.join(__dirname, 'fixtures')},
      },
    },
  ]

  app({sources}, (err, mead) => {
    expect(err).toBeFalsy()
    request(mead)
      .get('/foo/images/mead.png')
      .expect('Cache-Control', /max-age=3600/)
      .expect(200, done)
  })
})

test('[image] sends correct cache-control when max age and shared max age is set on source', (done) => {
  const sources = [
    {
      name: 'foo',
      cache: {maxAge: 3600, sharedMaxAge: 86400},
      adapter: {
        type: 'fs',
        config: {basePath: path.join(__dirname, 'fixtures')},
      },
    },
  ]

  app({sources}, (err, mead) => {
    expect(err).toBeFalsy()
    request(mead)
      .get('/foo/images/mead.png')
      .expect('Cache-Control', /max-age=3600, s-maxage=86400/)
      .expect(200, done)
  })
})

test('[image] sends 415 on broken images', (done) => {
  app((err, mead) => {
    expect(err).toBeFalsy()
    request(mead).get('/foo/images/broken-image.jpg').expect(415, done)
  })
})

test('[image] sends 415 on broken images (alt)', (done) => {
  app((err, mead) => {
    expect(err).toBeFalsy()
    request(mead).get('/foo/images/slightly-broken-image.png').expect(415, done)
  })
})

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


Check in with AIA National for their online celebration!
Please join our online celebration of architecture and the ways architects positively impact our lives! During this week, we are sharing articles, photos, videos, and resources that align with our daily themes. Visit our Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram, or Twitter channels to see what we are posting. You can join the celebration by sharing articles, photos, videos, and resources that align with the daily themes on your social media accounts. Use #ArchWeek19 and #blueprintforbetter.


text:
from basedir import *
from run_shell_cmd import *
from scipy.stats import scoreatpercentile
import numpy as N
import os

outdir=os.path.join(BASEDIR,'classifier')

cmd='cat %s/randlabel/*SVM*.txt > %s/all_svm_randlabel.txt'%(outdir,outdir)
run_shell_cmd(cmd)

data=N.loadtxt(os.path.join(outdir,'all_svm_randlabel.txt'))
print 'mean: ',N.mean(data)
print '95 pct: ',scoreatpercentile(data,95)


Will water donations be enough for Flint?
Donations for Flint are pouring in from across the country. But with thousands of people without clean water and an entire city of pipes to replace. It has many people in Flint worried if it will be enough.
Volunteers from across the state are working to bring clean water to Flint.
"I wanted to give back. You know, cause there's a lot of people out here in the world nowadays that's doing well and doing well for their selves and they don't give back" said Dana Dozier.
Dozier drove for more than an hour from Romulus to help the city in anyway he could. And he isn't alone. Hundreds of people like him have been collecting water.
For Flint homeowner Shantel Stone, she's grateful for the Red Cross and those donating to her hometown.
"it's doing the job but the question is how long are they gonna have to do that" Stone said.
Like many in Flint, Stone worries if the donations will be enough. But the American Red Cross says those donations from across the state and country are making a difference.
"We've turned it over three times and so we've filled up and empty that warehouse three times" said Todd James, American Red Cross. "So we're talking millions of bottles of water that's probably passed through that warehouse already."
For Stone making sure her family has enough water takes a lot of work and it's something she never stops thinking about.
"If you have a household of 2 or 3 or 4 people in it especially kids, the water is moving pretty quickly" Stone explained. "So you have to go everyday."
The city has five fire station open daily throughout the city where residents can pick up cases of water and filters.
For Flint to get enough water to her house means stopping by several fire stations each day.
"I'm just navigating my way of travel by if I'm going that day. If I'm going down Pearson road I'm hitting that fire station" said Stone.
The city of Flint has over a hundred thousand people and each household is allowed one case of water per station. And for people like Shantel Stone they have to think about every drop of water.
"Are you cooking with the water? You have to remember there's a lot of different uses for the water. And if you're cooking with it, it's going faster than you can replenish it" Stone said.
But Stone says if it wasn't for those that donate she thinks the city would be in far worse shape.


A former stockbroker who admitted conning the Broadway producers of "Rebecca" has been sentenced to nearly three years in prison.
Mark Hotton was sentenced Friday in Manhattan by federal Judge John Koeltl (KOHT'-uhl).
Hotton was ordered to serve two years and 10 months in prison. He must also forfeit $500,000 and pay $68,000 in restitution.
Hotton had pleaded guilty to charges that he made false promises that he could raise $4 million from phantom investors to save the adaptation of the psychological thriller. He asked for tens of thousands of dollars in fees and commissions in return.
Producer Ben Sprecher attended the sentencing, saying he wanted to look Hotton in the eye after he did a "terrible thing."


text:
E3: Activision
June 9, 2014 | Filed under: Gaming,Gaming PR | Posted by: Kristofer Brozio
Some intro E3 Activision coverage for you..
Activision Publishing, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Activision Blizzard, Inc. (NASDAQ: ATVI), is set to kick-off this year's Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3 Expo) with a blockbuster lineup featuring the #1 and #3 videogame franchises of 2013 in the U.S., including toys and accessories, according to the NPD Group1, and what could be the biggest new videogame IP of the year. Starting Tuesday, June 10, at the LA Convention Center, the company will debut a new era for the Call of Duty® franchise with Call of Duty®: Advanced Warfare, while showcasing the newest innovative title from the popular Skylanders® brand with Skylanders Trap Team™, and the highly anticipated Destiny®. Both Skylanders and Destiny will be playable on the show floor. Activision will be located in the South Hall, booth #1647.
"This year's E3 has been years in the making for us," said Eric Hirshberg, CEO of Activision Publishing, Inc. "Each game we are showcasing is the result of our commitment to quality and innovation: our first 3-year development and our first new lead developer on the Call of Duty franchise in a decade with Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare. Our biggest innovation since we invented the Toys-to-Life category with Skylanders Trap Team. And the result of over four years of passion, partnership and investment to bring Bungie's vision for Destiny to life. I think this is the best slate in Activision's history and I can't wait for gamers to get a closer look."
Activision's E3 Slate Includes:
Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare – Developed by Sledgehammer Games, Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare delivers gamers an immersive and compelling narrative, jaw-dropping visuals and, for the first time in Call of Duty, exoskeleton gameplay that will redefine how people play the game. Players become the advanced soldier enabled with the power of the exoskeleton, an advanced arsenal of never-before-seen weaponry, new abilities and new gameplay mechanics. The first Call of Duty to benefit from a three-year development cycle, Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare is built specifically for the next generation consoles. The game takes place in a future setting that immerses players into an emotional journey with a new cast of characters poised to set a new bar for the franchise. The title is scheduled for release on November 4 for Xbox One, the all-in-one games and entertainment system from Microsoft, the Xbox 360 games and entertainment system from Microsoft, PlayStation®4 computer entertainment system, PlayStation®3 computer entertainment system and Windows PC; not yet rated by the ESRB. For more information, visit:www.callofduty.com, www.facebook.com/callofduty, www.youtube.com/callofduty or follow @CallofDuty on Twitter and Instagram.
Destiny – From Bungie, the creators of Halo®, and Activision, the company that brought you Call of Duty, comes Destiny, an epic, action-packed adventure set in a familiar but mysterious universe. Destiny delivers a new way to play first-person action games in a story-driven universe filled with single player, cooperative, competitive, public, and social activities, all seamlessly connected and a vast, persistent universe, creating the world's first "Shared World Shooter." In Destiny, gamers become Guardians of the last city on Earth, able to wield incredible powers and explore the far reaches of our solar system. The game will be available on September 9 for the PlayStation®4 system, PlayStation®3 system, Xbox One, the all-in-one games and entertainment system from Microsoft and Xbox 360. For more information, visit www.DestinyTheGame.com. For exclusive updates, follow the official Destiny social channels at www.facebook.com/DestinyTheGame and @DestinyTheGame on Twitter, and interact directly with the developers at www.Bungie.net.
Skylanders Trap Team – Developer Toys for Bob, creators of the Toys-to-Life™ phenomenon, return with another exciting innovation withSkylanders Trap Team. The newest installment to the Skylanders franchise will reverse the magic of bringing toys-to-life, letting kids take characters out of the digital world and bring them into the physical world. In Skylanders Trap Team, Portal Masters seek out and defeat the most wanted villains in all of Skylands, pulling them out of the game and into living rooms by capturing them in Traps. Players can then send villains back into the game where they play as them to fight for good. Skylanders Trap Team will include the Traptanium Portal™, a new ring of magical energy that enables kids to not only bring their Skylanders to life, but also capture villains using the new Traps. Skylanders Trap Team introduces new heroes known as Trap Masters and will be available on October 5 in North America for Xbox One and Xbox 360 games and entertainment systems from Microsoft, PlayStation®4 system, PlayStation®3 system, Nintendo's Wii™ system and Nintendo's Wii U™ system. A completely unique adventure will be available on the Nintendo 3DS™ hand-held system.


text:
Bookstore Cinema eBar
Page Turners & Pot Boilers
On the Cinema Screen
The Evening and the Morning
By (author): Follett, Ken
Series: Kingsbridge
Subject: FICTION / General
Publisher: Viking
Format: Book-hardcover
Size: 9.25in x 6.12in
From The Publisher* From the #1 New York Times bestselling author, a thrilling and addictive new novel--a prequel to The Pillars of the Earth--set in England at the dawn of a new era: the Middle Ages
It is 997 CE, the end of the Dark Ages. England is facing attacks from the Welsh in the west and the Vikings in the east. Those in power bend justice according to their will, regardless of ordinary people and often in conflict with the king. Without a clear rule of law, chaos reigns.
In these turbulent times, three characters find their lives intertwined. A young boatbuilder's life is turned upside down when the only home he's ever known is raided by Vikings, forcing him and his family to move and start their lives anew in a small hamlet where he does not fit in. . . . A Norman noblewoman marries for love, following her husband across the sea to a new land, but the customs of her husband's homeland are shockingly different, and as she begins to realize that everyone around her is engaged in a constant, brutal battle for power, it becomes clear that a single misstep could be catastrophic. . . . A monk dreams of transforming his humble abbey into a center of learning that will be admired throughout Europe. And each in turn comes into dangerous conflict with a clever and ruthless bishop who will do anything to increase his wealth and power.
Thirty years ago, Ken Follett published his most popular novel, The Pillars of the Earth. Now, Follett's masterful new prequel The Evening and the Morning takes us on an epic journey into a historical past rich with ambition and rivalry, death and birth, love and hate, that will end where The Pillars of the Earth begins.
Review Quote* "[A] richly told, complex story . . . Follett is a powerful storyteller . . . [whose] fans will enjoy this jaunt through the days before England was merry."
-Kirkus (starred)
Praise for Ken Follett and the Kingsbridge series
"Follett is a master."
-The Washington Post
"Follett takes you to a time long past with brio and razor-sharp storytelling. An epic tale in which you will lose yourself."
-The Denver Post
"[Follett is a] master of the sweeping, readable epic."
-The Philadelphia Inquirer
Biographical Note Ken Follett is one of the world's best-loved authors, selling more than 170 million copies of his thirty-one books. Follett's first bestseller was Eye of the Needle, a spy story set in the Second World War. In 1989, The Pillars of the Earth was published and has since become Follett's most popular novel. It reached number one on bestseller lists around the world and was an Oprah's Book Club pick. Its sequels, World Without End and A Column of Fire, proved equally popular, and the Kingsbridge series has sold more than forty million copies worldwide. Follett lives in Hertfordshire, England, with his wife, Barbara. Between them they have five children, six grandchildren, and two Labradors.
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A bookstore that shows movies • a cinema that serves dinner • a resto-bar that launches books


The new Aspire Pegasus Charging Dock! Specially designed to fit with the 70W Pegasus Box Mod. Now you can charge your Pegasus mod upright with this stylish micro usb docking station. The perfect companion to your Aspire Odyssey Kit as well.


text:
package breeze.collection.mutable

import java.util.Comparator

import breeze.collection.mutable.Beam.{ BeamResult, NotAdded }
import breeze.linalg.clip

import scala.collection.{ mutable, _ }
import scala.collection.generic._
import scala.collection.JavaConverters._
import scala.collection.mutable.ArrayBuffer

trait IBeam[T] extends Iterable[T] with IterableLike[T, IBeam[T]] with mutable.Builder[T, IndexedSeq[T]] with Shrinkable[T] with mutable.Cloneable[IBeam[T]] {
  override protected[this] def newBuilder: mutable.Builder[T, IBeam[T]] = throw new NotImplementedError("This should have been overridden")
  def freshEmpty: IBeam[T] = newBuilder.result()

  /**
    * Returns information on whether or not it made it onto the beam, and also what got
    * evicted
    * @param x
    * @return
    */
  def checkedAdd(x: T): Beam.BeamResult[T]

  def +=(x:T): this.type = {
    checkedAdd(x)
    this
  }
}

/**
  * Represents a beam, which is essentially a priority queue
  * with a maximum size.
  *
  * @author dlwh
  */
@SerialVersionUID(1L)
class Beam[T](val maxSize:Int)(implicit ord: Ordering[T]) extends Iterable[T]
  with IBeam[T]
  with IterableLike[T, Beam[T]]
  with Serializable {
  assert(maxSize >= 0)
  protected val queue = new java.util.PriorityQueue[T](clip(maxSize, 1, 16), ord: Comparator[T])

  override def size = queue.size

  def min = {
    if (queue.isEmpty) {
      throw new NoSuchElementException
    } else {
      queue.peek()
    }
  }

  override def +=(x:T): this.type = {
    if(queue.size < maxSize) {
      queue.add(x)
    } else if (maxSize > 0 && ord.compare(min,x) < 0) {
      queue.poll()
      queue.add(x)
    }
    this
  }

  /** O(n) */
  override def -=(elem: T): this.type = {
    queue.remove(elem)
    this
  }

  override def checkedAdd(x: T): BeamResult[T] = {
    if(queue.size < maxSize) {
      queue.add(x)
      Beam.NothingEvicted
    } else if (maxSize > 0 && ord.compare(min,x) < 0) {
      val r = queue.poll()
      queue.add(x)
      Beam.Added(Iterable(r))
    } else {
      NotAdded
    }
  }

  def iterator: Iterator[T] = queue.iterator.asScala
  override def toString(): String = iterator.mkString("Beam(",",",")")
  override def clear(): Unit = queue.clear()

  override protected def newBuilder: mutable.Builder[T, Beam[T]] = new mutable.GrowingBuilder(new Beam[T](maxSize))

  /**
    * Drains the beam and returns the items in biggest-first order
 *
    * @return
    */
  override def result(): IndexedSeq[T] = {
    val r = new ArrayBuffer[T]()
    while (!queue.isEmpty) {
      r += queue.poll()
    }
    r.reverse
  }

  override def equals(obj: Any): Boolean = obj match {
    case x: Beam[T @unchecked] => maxSize == x.maxSize && iterator.sameElements(x.iterator)
    case _ => false
  }

  override def clone(): Beam[T] = new Beam[T](maxSize) ++= this.iterator
}

object Beam {

  sealed trait BeamResult[+T] {
    def deleted: Iterable[T]
  }
  case object NotAdded extends BeamResult[Nothing] {
    def deleted = Iterable.empty
  }
  case class Added[+T](deleted: Iterable[T]) extends BeamResult[T]

  val NothingEvicted: BeamResult[Nothing] = Added(Iterable.empty)

  implicit def canBuildFrom[T: Ordering]:CanBuildFrom[Beam[T], T, Beam[T]] = new CanBuildFrom[Beam[T],T,Beam[T]] {
    def apply() = sys.error("Sorry, need a max size")

    def apply(from: Beam[T]) = from.newBuilder
  }
  def apply[T:Ordering](maxSize:Int)(xs:T*): Beam[T] = new Beam[T](maxSize) ++= xs
}


text:
Egypt suspends eight female broadcasters, tells them they are too fat to be on TV
(Photo by STRINGER/AFP/Getty Images)
The state broadcaster in Egypt has suspended eight female broadcasters, telling them they need to go on a diet.
Channel 2 suspended the eight women, saying they have a month to lose weight as long as they have an "appropriate appearance" to go back on air.
The Egyptian Radio and Television Union (ERTU) was involved in the instruction to slim down, Al-Yawm al-Sabi reports.
What's more, ERTU has a female director, Safaa Hegazy, who appeared on state TV as an anchor herself.
One of the hosts, Khadija Khattab told Al-Yawm al-Sabi that she wants viewers to decide for themselves whether she is too "fat" to appear on television.
A second presented suspended said her family had been affected and that the situation could have been dealt with internally.
According to the Women's Centre for Guidance and Legal Awareness, the decision "violates the constitution" and that it is a form of abuse against women.
Amid calls to reverse the decision, ERTU has said it will not back down, but that the woman will still receive pay and benefits during their month's leave.
A debate has broken out in Egypt over the decision, with many commentators backing up the decision, but others saying that state TV should improve the quality of its content, rather than focus on the appearance of its female hosts.
Many took to social media to defend the women, with some describing the hosts as "strong women", but others used the term 'bakabouzas' to describe the women, an Egyptian slang term meaning overweight woman.
Egypt's parliament defended the women, with MP Sayyid Hegazy asking: "Who is an ideal weight in Egypt?"
He added that a presenter "might be a little overweight, but she is eloquent".
More: channel 2, Egypt, host, Khadija Khattab, Television, telvision, Women
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Following the success of the Young Mayor's programme, Downderry were invited to visit with the Mayor of Lewisham, Sir Steve Bullock. Some of our year 5 and 6 pupils, along with other local schools, met with the Mayor in his chambers and asked some challenging questions!
School Council invited local MP Heidi Alexander in for assembly and to announce new Head Pupils.
Downderry Primary School were incredibly lucky to begin the new year with a visit from our local MP Heidi Alexander. Heidi delivered a motivational assembly to the children, talking about the responsibility of head pupils and members of school council representatives. Heidi also discussed her role as a Labour MP and answered the children's challenging questions. To finish the inspiring assembly, Heidi announced the names our of new Head Boy and Head Girl Alex and Maurisha.
School council organised a competition to design some magnificent mosaics. The mosaics, pictured below, adorns the walls of the Dining Hall and school office.
The impact of the school council can also be seen by the installation of additional playground apparatus to the key stage 2 playground.
Read about what happened when our children met the mayor of Lewisham.


There are many companies with fantastic possible that fail as a result of the lack of understanding the creators have about advertising or actually making a sale. It does not matter how excellent your item or the service is if you do unknown how you can turn your leads into conversions. It resembles an automobile sale without a sales representative.
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Often as not the Antwerp local police will be around, on foot or bicycle. If it's an emergency, call 101, otherwise call the Blue line (0800 123 12) – or you can report minor crime, like theft, online.
Call 100 or 112 in the event of a fire or a potential fire. You can also call this number for medical emergencies, as the service has ambulances. The fire service also has a maritime response unit.


Inter put nine men behind the ball at all times and escaped with a 1-1 draw, but Barca still put on an impressive display.
The match was always going to be a draw — that would put Barcelona on the cusp of passage to the Round of 16, and that would be enough for Internazionale to put Tottenham firmly in the rearview mirror.
And so it was a draw.
Inter constantly put nine defenders behind the ball, leaving Mauro Icardi to halfheartedly pressure Gerard Pique while Radja Nainggolan played the role of attacking midfielder in name only, but things didn't go exactly to plan for Luciano Spalletti's men.
When an Italian side looks intent on nothing more than defense, commentators quickly start referencing catenaccio as though that's all there is to it. This was not catenaccio — this was not a firm switch of the door bolt. Barcelona attempted 26 shots and put eight on frame.
If anything, the strategy Inter employed throughout the opening 83 minutes could be classified as the Samir Handanovic one (with a little bit of help from Luis Suarez).
Even without Lionel Messi, who watched on from the stands while he continues his recovery from a fractured arm, Barcelona looked entirely comfortable within the confines of the San Siro.
The first real opportunity of note was crafted by Ousmane Dembele after his cut put two Inter defenders on skates, but Suarez was there to make a very strange looking block.
Suarez would have a multitude of chances, leading all players with nine shots. However, he sent seven off frame and was denied by Handanovic on another occasion.
Suarez almost set up Ivan Rakitic for Barca's opener in the 60th minute, but again, Handanovic is not a man you should mess with.
Dembele's future has been the subject of intense speculation of late, and this match will only add fuel to the fire, but the day certainly didn't play to his strengths — there was very little opportunity to exercise any pace and get behind Inter's rearguard.
Having said that, jettisoning a player with that ability seems like madness when considering what the 31-year-old pair of Suarez and Messi offer in that department, to go along with the more cerebral play of Philippe Coutinho.
But Dembele was hooked in the 81st minute for Malcom, and the 21-year-old Brazilian scored his first Champions League goal shortly after.
Coutinho gets credit for the assist after a great run from inside his own half, and the Brazilian's performance was extremely positive. The winger attempted eight shots, putting three on target, completed eight dribbles and was successful on 56 of 58 passes.
As Inter hadn't yet attempted a shot on target, the three points seemed settled. But it wasn't to be.
Things got exceptionally sloppy in the box, and Icardi was on hand to steer in his shot from close range in the 87th minute. We can put something cliche about switching off in the UCL for one moment and getting punished here if we want.
The Nov. 28 clash between Tottenham (four points) and Inter (seven points) at Wembley is now all-important. Barcelona, meanwhile, travels to Eindhoven to play a PSV side that really has no hope of advancing to the Round of 16.