2008 DSLR Review - The Hits and Misses of the Year

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2008 was an interesting year for DSLR's and photographers in general, even if you ignore the ultra-high end announcements from Leica, Hassleblad and Red. The three main players in the DSLR space (Nikon and Canon each with around 40% market share, and Sony with around 10%) all launched milestone cameras. Below we'll detail their hits, and misses.

Nikon

After their groundbreaking releases in 2007 with the Nikon D3 and D300, they set the bar high for 2008, but in general didn't disappoint with four new bodies:

Nikon D60

While not revolutionary, the Nikon D60 replaced the D40x in Nikons consumer lineup, in a smaller, better package, becoming one of the smallest and lightest DSLR's ever made.

Nikon D700

Coming almost as a complete surprise, the Nikon D700 was launched mid summer, containing the 12 megapixel full frame sensor out of the flagship D3, but with a body similar to the D300. At $ 3,000, this camera showed Nikons commitment to FX, and the camera instantly became the choice for many pros that didn't need the weather sealing or the advanced features of the D3 (for example wedding photographers).

However within months of its release, the Sony A900 came out with a 24 megapixel full frame sensor for the same MSRP, and the Canon 5D Mark II came out with a 21 megapixel full frame sensor and 1080p HD Video, for $ 2,700.

While the D700 remains the most complete package (best autofocus, arguable the best metering, and for the vast majority 12 megapixels is plenty), it has come under severe pressure from its higher megapixel rivals. Just four months after its release, the street prices have dropped 25%, down to the $ 2,300 range for a USA model.

Nikon D90

Replacing the D80 in Nikons lineup, the Nikon D90 took the sensor from the respected D300, improved on it slightly, added video, and packaged it in a smaller, lighter body with scene modes and a more basic autofocus and metering.

The Nikon D90 was also the worlds first DSLR to feature HD Video capture, with its 720p / 24 fps mode. However, a few weeks later Canon announced a much more comprehensive video offering with it's Canon 5D Mark II, and video remains the weakest feature on the D90, lacking autofocus and giving very little control over key elements like exposure.

At $ 999, this helped firm up Nikons consumer lineup, by creating an outstandingly capable advanced consumer DSLR in the Nikon D90.

Nikon D3x

After years of rumor, Nikon finally announced it's high megapixel camera, the 24 megapixel Nikon D3x.

The camera immediately caused a backlash with its $ 8,000 price point, which at the time of release was about double the street price of the Nikon D3. This the uproar was only fuelled further, when it was revealed the only significant differences between the D3 and the D3x were the sensor and a slightly improved EXPEED processor, combined with the fact Sony can produce a DSLR with the same size / megapixel sensor for a mere $ 3,000.

This camera is aimed squarely at the studio / landscape photographer, and initial tests have shown that the sensor is cleaner at high ISO's than the Sony (but comparable to the 5D Mark II, which has fewer megapixels). So while it's clearly an impressive camera, it remains to be seen how many photographers can actually justify the price tag.

Canon

In addition to some entry level DSLR's, can had two big releases in 2008.

Canon EOS 50D

Replacing the 40D, the Canon 50D featured a 15 megapixel 1.6x crop sensor, making it the highest pixel density available today (equivalent to a 39 megapixel full frame sensor).

However the initial reception hasn't been especially positive. Because of the high pixel density, the camera suffers more from the effects of diffraction, doesn't have the high ISO ability many hoped it would, and shows up issues with lenses more than any previous model. Despite this, it remains a solid camera at its current street price of just over $ 1,000.

Canon EOS 5D Mark II

Probably the most significant release of the year, the Canon 5D replacement features a 21 megapixel Full Frame sensor, ISO capabilities similar to the new Nikon D3x, and it became the first DSLR to feature full 1080p HD Video capture. Despite some initial problems (like the infamous "black dot" problem), for $ 2,700 Canon provides an amazing feature set, and appears to have hit a home run with what is arguably the best prosumer package on the market today.

Sony

After solidifying its consumer lineup, Sony went after the prosumer market with the Sony A900 featuring a 24-megapixel full frame sensor for under $ 3,000.

Sony A900

The camera lacks basic features expected on today's DSLR's like Live View, but the next camera available with 24 megapixels is the $ 8,000 Nikon D3x. However it's biggest competition comes from the Canon 5D Mark II, which has a slightly lower resolution at 21 megapixels, but more than makes up for it with its lower $ 2,700 price tag, full 1080p HD Video mode and features like Live View.

While clearly an impressive camera at a solid price point, unless you really need the extra resolution, it would be very hard to pick the Sony over the Canon.

Summary

With groundbreaking cameras in the Nikon D3x, Nikon D90, Canon 50D and Canon 5D Mark II, 2008 solidified full frame sensors in the marketplace, witnessed a continued push towards higher megapixels, and saw the introduction of video on DSLR's.

Looking forward, 2009 should be an interesting year. With negative economic conditions and fierce competition for market share, we should see prices drop, and features like video mature making for some interesting, if not groundbreaking cameras in the near future.

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Source by Steve Denton

Digital Photography Introduction

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With the acceptable image quality and the other advantages of digital photography the majority of professional news photographers have begun capturing their images with digital cameras. Digital photography has also been adopted by many amateur snapshot photographers, who take advantage of the convenience of the form when sending images by email, placing them on the World Wide Web, or displaying them in digital picture frames.

Also, one big advantage of digital photography is the instant review of pictures, with no wait for the film to be developed: if there's a problem with a picture, the photographer can immediately correct the problem and take another picture (up to hundreds of photographs on the same media device).

Digital cameras have also been integrated into many cell phones. The photographer is able to color-balance and manipulate the image in ways that traditional darkroom science cannot offer, although film users can utilize the same technology with a film scanner. But digital cameras also tend to be much more sensitive to moisture and extreme cold. For this reason, photographers who work in remote areas, such as those who work for National Geographic overwhelmingly favor film SLR cameras. Many digital cameras can deliver only JPEG files.

Another format that may be encountered is RAW, which contain unprocessed image data straight from the camera's image sensor. Compact digital cameras usually include zoom lens and flashes that cannot be changed, but digital single-lens reflex camera (digital SLR or DSLR), operates on the same optical and mechanical principles as a film single-lens reflex camera, and offers the possibility to change lenses. Recent manufacturers such as Nikon and Canon have promoted the adoption of digital Single-lens reflex cameras (dSLRs) by photojournalists. Lenses in digital photography can be Telephoto lenses, Wide-angle lenss or Normal lenss, used for landscapes, portraits and close-ups (macros). Digital anti-shake tools (also called Image Stabilisation) allow taking sharp hand-held pictures where previously a tripod was required. Digital SRLs work also with RAW images containing unprocessed image data straight from the camera's image sensor.

Since the data isn't processed on the camera the photographer will do so on the computer in order to get it into more usable formats like TIFF or JPEG. This method offers flexibility of the results regarding exposure, lighting, white balance, contrast, colours and saturation as well as greater creative control of the image.

From Canon, good compact cameras the Powershot A series, such as A520, A620, A700 and others, main difference between them being their megapixel image resolution and optical zoom. Canon PowerShot S3 IS is a type of camera that moves a step forward from compact to dSLR. As for the SLR's and dSRLs, Canon comes with the Rebels: Digital Rebel XT, Canon EOS 200D, and Canon EOS 30D. Nikon is considered to be as good as Canon but sometimes cheaper: Nikon D40, Nikon D200, and Nikon D70. Other notable cameras are Olympus E-330, Fuji FinePix S9100, FujiFilm Finepix E900, Sony Cybershot DSC-W100, HP Photosmart R967 and many many others. Choosing a digital camera can be very difficult and the techniques are in constant progress so that these cameras get better and better, more and more powerful but still smaller, therefore some of them received the name "pocket camera".

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Source by Tim Mathew

Pilot Jobs - The Ever Changing Market

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If you are looking for work as an airline pilot, you can't help but notice that the news is constantly filled with information [mostly negative] about the job situation for the industry as a whole. Unfortunately, newsmakers only get part of the story right as the airline industry is always in a state of flux. Pilot jobs are available, but you must broaden your horizons beyond the conventional ways in which most pilots go about finding work. Let's take a look at some of the options available to you.

Independence Air's recent demise has thrown hundreds of Airbus pilots out of work in the US. Press reports have been painting a gloomy picture of this event, which was not unexpected by airline experts. Still, the future isn't completely gloomy for these very same pilots as Virgin America is expected to take flight in about one year. They plan on operating a fleet consisting of as many as 105 Airbus aircraft.

The legacy carriers have been presenting some of the most challenges for potential pilots as few, if any, are hiring. Most are in the process or have nearly completed the process of extracting "give backs" in the form of wages and benefits from their current pilot ranks. In addition, as pilots retire, available pilot jobs are filled from their lengthy lists of furloughed crewmembers. Certainly, the legacy carriers - American, Continental, United, Delta, Northwest, and USAirways - are currently not worth exploring as a place to look for pilot jobs.

Pilot jobs are available through many of the regional carriers. Some of these carriers include Chautauqua, Republic, Comair, Big Sky, American Eagle, Air Wisconsin, Great Lakes, and others. Pilot pay is very low, but the opportunity to fly can be very good with the regional carriers. These carriers typically fly Embraer, Canadair, or British Aerospace regional jets carrying passenger loads ranging from 50 to 100 seats.

Charter carriers have typically been a fairly good source for pilot jobs. These Part 121 operators consist of a bevy of airlines including World Airways, North American, Miami Air, Sun Country, and Ryan International. From time to time pilot job opportunities are posted directly on each airline's web site. Check in often for the latest hiring news.

Then there is the assortment of start up airlines that have recently hired or are in the process of hiring. As you know, the failure rate for start ups is very high, but for many crewmembers a seat is a seat especially one that allows you to accumulate valuable and needed flight time. Two recent start ups that have taken flight include EOS Airlines and Maxjet Airways. As mentioned previously, Virgin America Airlines is in the process of passing through all of its regulatory hurdles and Primaris Airlines will be expanding its fleet over the next few years in its quest to become a full fledged airline flying scheduled routes. Other start up carriers worth watching for future pilot jobs include: Fly First Class, Baltia, and Mexus.

Discount carriers typically offer the best chance for finding pilots jobs. Southwest Airlines and JetBlue Airways lead the pack, but Mesa, Spirit, Alaska, Horizon, Midwest, and USA3000 have all listed pilot jobs within the past year or are planning to do so in the coming months. Pay is an issue, much lower than the legacy carriers, but you can find work.

Beyond contacting the companies directly, there are helpful web sites filled with pilot job opportunities or, at the very least, interview gouges and banter. The internet has a myriad of sites available, so I will start from the top: Aviation Employment Board, Climbto350, Flight International, Fliteinfo, Jet Movements, Landings, Parc Aviation, PPrune, Student Pilot, Thirty Thousand Feet, US Aviation, and Will Fly For Food.

Finally, for the pilot who is willing to look well beyond the US, opportunities can exist with carriers based in the Emirates, India, China, Vietnam, and other destinations. If it is flight time you want, many have exactly what you need.

Pilot jobs are available and with a little digging and some sleuthing you can uncover for yourself a good list of companies that are worth a look. As mentioned, the industry is in a constant state of flux but the savvy pilot can work that to his or her advantage by staying on top of industry trends.

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Source by Matthew Keegan

A Succinct Review on the Different Effects of Technology

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Technology has been a recognizable and familiar subject to us since several years now. With the news of rapid growth and prosperity, technology has been intermittently involved in our daily lives and has made us completely dependable on it.

Few facts

When we talk of the term technology we generally mean the functioning of tools and systems in order to be used for various purposes. Technology has made huge advancements worldwide and according to the recent review is considered to be the core element for the growth of the human civilization. Though its beneficial side is pretty significant and is highly talked about yet there lie few basic disadvantages which have a toll on the society too.

From television to computer, technology comprises of almost every item around us. Technology has its pros and cons on the children and the teenagers specially.

Effect of television and computer

The television is certainly termed as an idiot box sometimes due to the lack of concentration that the students face because of seeing it. It serves as a strong means of distraction for many people and the different varieties of shows portrayed in them make people addicted towards it. Sometimes children often try to perform few stunts and fights that they see and thus lead to accident. On the other hand few interesting channels like the news and discoveries are also shown which provides knowledge and information to everyone on different topics also.

Computers are also an example of technical proliferation and are one of the most addictive elements. Students avail different information and news from all over the world through the access of internet. On one hand it helps students out in their studies and education on the other hand it also sometimes makes them lost in the world of entertainment.

E-learning and digital teaching

E-learning is one of the common methods of providing education these days. The modern schools and colleges make full use of this E-learning. The E-books are also available for every subject. Professors and teachers have taken up the policy of digital teaching along with various slide presentations and animations in order to make the topic more interesting and understandable by the students. The review of the above process has been very successful till date. Teachers are given training on how to use these modern technologies too. Various news channels have also adopted such methods of reading.

Various domestic appliances

Different array of appliances are accessible for every purposes. Work has been made easy and convenient along with providing speedy output. According to some review though this has been of much relaxation but in reality it has also made people much more lethargic than before. Their ability of working is ceased with time and the activity also diminishes. With every upcoming technology though people are advancing and enhancing their own lifestyles and thoughts yet the power of innovation is facing a huge challenge.

Conclusion

Technology is an enigmatic word which is highly dependable on the user. It can be positive or negative according to the recent review. It can thus be framed as a blessing in disguise depending on the frame of reference.

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Source by Sam Acharya

Touareg's "Little Brother" the Tiguan is Still Alive

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It was in the year 2006 when Volkswagen Touareg's little brother Tiguan appeared before a cheering crowd at the Los Angeles Auto Show. Unfortunately, after its public presentation the little Tiguan disappeared. There was no news about it --- nothing. But all is not lost since according to Volkswagen the Tiguan project is still alive, as a fact a concept version of the Tiguan is scheduled for delivery by the end of 2007.

The Concept Tiguan will maintain its baby Touareg appearance that the crowd at the 2006 Los Angeles Auto Show loved about it. The little Tiguan is 4.4 meters long, 1.85m wide and 1.69m high. It is actually closely similar to the size of the Touran compact MPV. According to Klaus Bischoff, responsible for the exterior design of the Tiguan, "It was very important for us to have the car appear powerful and muscular. For us that was a higher priority than anything else. An off-roader needs a long hood and an upright position. That lends the vehicle self-assuredness and power. "

The Tiguan is unmistakably Volkswagen starting from its 'face' up to its side profile it is unmistakably Volkswagen and yet it has successfully set itself distinct from all the other existing models in the range. The Tiguan's dark-anodized metallic tone of the front grille which is in contrast with body color while its grid pattern together with the two dominant cross fins found at the left and right of the Volkswagen roundel complete the overall look. Another distinct feature of the Tiguan is its tire design which includes 19-inch prototypes developed by the Continental. These tires have an orange radial stripe found beneath the tire profile which matches the car's paint color.

The orange radial stripe is not an ordinary paintjob since it penetrates the rubber layer as a baked in component of the tire casing. Likewise, the stunning anthracite-colored alloy rims are expected to appear in the production vehicle. The lights at the rear are also integrated into the shoulder section of the Tiguan similar to those on the Eos and Passat. The steeply sloping tailgate of the Tiguan which extends right down to the bumpers provides it with an SUV look.

The interior concept for the Tiguan comprised of black, silver, and orange color theme. The black vintage leather seats are attractively trimmed with an orange pattern which looks like a continuation of the orange radial stripe found on the tire profile. The Tiguan is also equipped with a panoramic sunroof that adds light to the spacious interior which can accommodate at least five occupants and at the same time enhances the Tiguan's versatility. The rear bench seat that can slide to and fro can be folded down to increase load space.

Under the hood, the Tiguan is equipped with a new type of diesel engine which utilizes the BLUETEC initiative. The BLUETEC initiative was produced in partnership with Audi and Mercedes-Benz and was launched for the first time during the 2006 LA Auto Show. The BLUETEC initiative employs a modular concept comprising of different systems that are geared to reduce harmful emissions. This BLUETEC initiative involves the use of NOx storage VW catalytic converters which are designed to reduce nitrogen oxide emission by up to 90 percent over other current diesel units. The NOx storage VW catalytic converter completes the entire components for the Clean TDI engine of the Tiguan which will help it to comply with the strictest emissions standards in the world.

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Source by Benjamin Hudson

Top 3 Recommended Lenses For Your New Canon Rebel T3i Digital SLR Camera

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It's an amazing feeling to be opening a brand new Canon Rebel T3i digital SLR camera. You really have to experience it in real life to understand it.

The beauty of a digital SLR is that it has separate lenses, and these must be purchased separately. Without a Canon Rebel lens, your new camera is pretty useless. And getting two or three (or more) lenses is even better. However, there is one small problem, and that is the huge number of choices. It can be daunting.

You can spend hours and days visiting web sites and paging through photography magazines looking to the perfect lens, and then you will probably be even more confused than when you started. You may have thought that picking out your first digital SLR was a challenge, but it pales in comparison to finding the right lenses.

Good News! There Really Are Three Top Canon Rebel Lens Choices

If you are just starting out in digital SLR photography, there is a high probability that you will be doing it as a hobby or simply to get better pictures than you could with the old point and shoot camera you are replacing. With that in mind, there are a few lenses that are wildly popular among those who are in your situation. And, even better, these lenses will not require a mortgage on your first-born.

Canon Rebel Lens # 1 - The Canon EF 50mm f / 1.8 II. It may come as a surprise that the first lens on the list is a single focus lens rather than a zoom lens. However, for about $ 100, you can't find another lens that will give you sharper pictures. It's hard to beat, even with lenses that cost $ 500 or more.

The 50mm f / 1.8 has some exceptional benefits. In addition to the super sharp images it produces, it also features an extremely wide aperture at f / 1.8. This means that you can use the lens in very low light areas, like kids performances where flash is not appropriate. The wide aperture also makes it one of the best choices for taking portraits. It produces the nice blurry background that is so highly desired for that type of photography.

The one drawback is that it is made of plastic. You can't expect it to survive a 4-foot fall to the concrete (personal experience, folks). But, if you take care of it, it will give you a long life of great images.

Canon Rebel Lens # 2 - The Canon EF-S 18-135mm f / 3.5-5.6 IS UD Standard Zoom Lens - That's quite a moniker! How would you like to have a name like that? EF-S lenses are made specifically for cameras like the Canon Rebel T3i. This one is really well-liked by those who have taken the time to comment on its usefulness at the online marketplace.

The benefits of the 18-135mm include being able to take wide angle shots using the short end (18mm) of the zoom range and taking telephoto shots at the long end. Zoom lenses are quite handy for a variety of photo opportunities. And did you notice the "IS" in the name? It stands for Image Stabilization, and it is very handy for getting shots that are less blurry when you don't have a tripod handy and there is not enough light to use a wide aperture. Overall, this is an excellent lens for most of your photographic needs.

Canon Rebel Lens # 3 - The Canon EF-S 18-200mm f / 3.5-5.6 IS Standard Zoom Lens - If you can only get one lens, consider this one. It is one of the hottest lenses available right now. Again, it is an EF-S model so it is built especially for your Canon Rebel T3i. The zoom range is amazing at more than 10X. Usually when you have that much of a range, the image quality suffers due to the technology necessary to get the extreme ends of zoom.

Another benefit in addition to the zoom range is the aperture. Other similar lenses have a smaller aperture at the longest end of the range. Even at 200mm it has the same aperture as the 18-135mm lens above. It has a fast auto focus system as well.

So, now you have your choices narrowed to three. You may ask, "Are there better lenses for my camera?" Of course there are, but these are the best for a beginner with a limited budget. There are plenty of specialty lenses as well. So, if you are into wide-angle landscapes or macro (close-up) photography, you will want to look into the choices for those types of photography.

Best of luck in your photography future. There is no doubt that you will have some excellent images in your portfolio very soon.

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Source by Wayne Rasku

Affiliate Money Making - How Do I Select A Web Hosting Company?

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As discussed in an earlier article there are three steps to creating a website.

1. Pick a domain Name

2. Pick a Web Hosting Service

3. Create the Site

We earlier addressed picking a domain name and now we will address how to pick a web hosting service.

Most small companies are hosted on shared server plans. You have decided to take your business online. You want your web site available to the general internet population. This means that you need web pages on a computer that is connected to the internet which can "host" your domain, hold your pages, and have the correct software programs for feeding the internet public your information 24-7.

This is the job description for web hosting companies. You need to select the right host because you can not afford to waste time and not have your business information available to your potential customers.

You will have questions like:

What do I need?

How much of it do I need?

How much will it cost?

There are two options available: free hosting and paid hosting.

1. Free Web Hosting Companies:

Often requires advertising to appear on your site.

May not allow you to use your own domain name

Often will allow only a minimum amount of space and data.

Little or no support

This is usually good for personal pages or casual sites.

2. Full Service Web Hosting Companies offer:

No advertising

You can use your own domain name

Space is usually not a problem

Support is usually available 24 hours a day

Competitive pricing has brought the cost to a reasonable level so a new business owner will probably not consider free hosting

It is very important to be comfortable with the level of support and competence you expect from your hosting company.

There are many good web hosting companies available. We suggest that you talk to people know that have web sites and ask them how they like their current web hosting service.

The good news is that you are pretty safe signing with a cheaper hosting service. At the outset you probably will not need a lot of disk space and probably won't get a lot of traffic right away so bandwidth is not an issue. Plus most hosting services will move your site to another hosting service for a small fee.

You are now hosted.

This is the second step of your money making adventure.

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Source by Ray Caran

Luke's Insights Into the Second Coming of Jesus

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Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into heaven -A new look at Acts 1:11

Many exegetes have interpreted this verse as a reproof of the people standing by looking at Jesus ascending into heaven. They believe the author describes the two divine messengers as somehow implying that the disciples are wasting their time and that they should go evangelizing right away because Jesus has already left. As we shall see this interpretation fails to notice the correct type of action from each of the verb tenses in Acts 1:9 and in 1:10. Yes, even scholars when not careful enough can make mistakes. The Bible is an extremely difficult book to read and to pretend otherwise does disservice to its immense contribution to our lives. Besides a brief mention in Mark 16:19, no other book in the New Testament except Luke writes about the ascension of Jesus into heaven. He brings attention to it very briefly at the end of his Gospel in 24:50-51.

In there it says, in the Textus Receptus:

50exegagen de autous exo eos eis bethanian kai eparas tas cheiras autou eulogesen autous 51kai egeneto en to eulogein auton autous dieste ap auton kai anephereto eis ton ouranon

In the King James Version we have:

50And he led them out as far as to Bethany, and he lifted up his hands, and blessed them. 51And it came to pass, while he blessed them, he was parted from them, and carried up into heaven.

Luke spends additional time in the beginning of his sequel to the Gospel, The Acts of the Apostles in 1: 6-11. There he goes into more detail and recounts the process of going up into heaven twice.

In the original Greek it goes like this:

6oi men oun sunelthontes eperoton auton legontes kurie ei en to chrono touto apokathistaneis tn basileian to israel 7eipen de pros autous ouch umon estin gnonai chronous e kairous ous o pater etheto en te idia exousia 8alla lepsesthe dunamin epelthontos tou agiou pneumatos eph umas kai esesthe moi martures en te ierousalem kai en pase te ioudaia kai samareia kai eos eschatou tes ges

9kai tauta eipon bleponton auton eperthe kai nephele upelaben auton apo ton ophthalmon auton 10kai os atenizontes esan eis ton ouranon poreuomenou autou kai idou andres duo pareistekeisan autois en estheti leuke 11oi kai eipon andres galilaioi ti estekate emblepontes eis ton ouranon outos o iesous o analephtheis aph umon eis ton ouranon outos eleusetai on tropon etheasasthe auton poreuomenon eis ton ouranon (emphasis mine)

Eis ton ouranon- which means into heaven- is repeated three times on verse11 and appears once in verse 10. To replace the meaning of only ouranon with sky in just the first case of verse 11 as the New International Version of 1984 and the New American Standard of 1995 do, makes for easy reading but does not provide a greater clarity of what Luke is doing in his composition. For that reason I prefer the King James translation in this case.

The 21st century King James Version gives us:

6When they therefore had come together, they asked of Him, saying, "Lord, wilt Thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel?" 7And He said unto them, "It is not for you to know the times or the seasons which the Father hath put in His own power. 8But ye shall receive power after the Holy Ghost is come upon you; and ye shall be witnesses unto Me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth." 9And when He had spoken these things, while they beheld, He was taken up, and a cloud received Him out of their sight. 10And while they looked steadfastly toward heaven as He went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel, 11who also said, "Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, who is taken up from you into Heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen Him go into Heaven."

The phrase 'eis ton ouranon' is also used in verse 10. That Luke uses this exact phrase 4 times in just two verses tell his readers to pay attention. Whatever idea he wants to give his readers, has nothing to do with a possible different meaning for the Greek term 'ouranon'. He wants to attract his readers' attention upon the act of the disciples. The statement from the two men implies that looking into heaven is not the right thing to do. But why? Several scholars have noticed how for Luke the ascension represents a transitional event in the history of God's work of salvation through history. The transition occurs from the ministry of Jesus to that of his disciples. The heavenly messengers would not remove importance to it by telling the disciples that they are wasting their time looking at it. Something of greater significance comes from the concern of the two men. To determine its correct interpretation, we can take a look at a parallel situation that Luke narrates in his Gospel on the moment the female disciples of Jesus go to his tomb. Luke uses the literary technique of parallel construction on several occasions. Here he composed the event of the Ascension of Jesus in a manner that parallels the interaction between the two men and the women after the Resurrection. Let us look first at the event of the two men and the women at the tomb in Luke 24:4-7.

In the Textus Receptus we have:

4kai egeneto en to diaporeisthai autas peri toutou kai idou duo andres epestesan autais en esthesesin astraptousais 5emphobon de genomenon auton kai klinouson to prosopon eis ten gen eipon pros autas ti zeteite ton zonta meta ton nekron 6ouk estin ode all egerthe mnesthete os elalesen umin eti on en te galilaia 7legon oti dei ton uion tou anthropou paradothenai eis cheiras anthropon amartolon kai staurothenai kai te trite emera anastenai

The King James Version gives us:

4And it came to pass, as they were much perplexed thereabout, behold, two men stood by them in shining garments: 5And as they were afraid, and bowed down their faces to the earth, they said unto them, why seek ye the living among the dead? 6He is not here, but is risen: remember how he spake unto you when he was yet in Galilee, 7Saying, The Son of man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again.

A careful reading of both events will reveal many similarities between both of them. The link tying both of these events together is the two men. They are introduced as the particular group of disciples are involved in a strong emotion or action: the women are perplexed, the apostles are looking intently. Their introduction takes place with the same Greek phrase: Kai idou andres dyo (and behold two men) Luke follows this with the same exact idea: 'stood by them', though the Greek terms used in each occasion vary: epestean in the case of the women, paresitekeisan in the second occasion. In both occasions attention is immediately placed upon their robe using very similar phrases. En estheti astraptouse (in garments dazzling) for the first event, en esthesesi leukais (in apparel white) for the second. Luke uses eipan (said) to describe the first action of the men towards each group, and then Luke uses a phrase to describe to whom they speak: in the case of the women, "to them," and in the case of the apostles, "men of Galilee." Each case has a question beginning with ti (why) and implying something had been done wrong. Each time the men continue speaking without receiving a response. In the case of the women the heavenly men give them one declaratory sentence and one imperative sentence, in the case of the men they advance a declaratory sentence. (The textual problem of the sentence "He is not here, but has risen" in the event of the Resurrection not being in some manuscripts does not create any serious difficulty for our analysis. If the text were found some day not to be part of the original writing of the Gospel it would certainly extend the similarities. Yet including it does not harm the analysis) The relationship between the sentence and the question, and that between the sentence and the listeners is the critical element in each episode. Thus, for the parallel to be consistent Luke must have formed Luke 24:6-7 and Acts 1:11b (the part in verse 11 with the sentence) with similar characteristics.

The Relationship Between the Question and the Sentences in Each Case

Question and Answer to the Women

The question shows something being done wrong: seeking for the living among the dead. The imperative sentence provides a Heavenly Correction. Timothy Johnson in his commentary to Luke observes that in each case the challenge placed by the two men brings its own correction immediately (p.31) He says that the mistake of the women is obvious: they failed to remember Jesus' teachings. By doing that now the women should understand that Jesus has resurrected. But besides the obvious mistakes the heavenly correction also has an implied mandate: believe. If the women had believed in the words of Jesus, they would not have sought for Jesus among the dead. But the gospel tells us they cold not even understand the teaching of Jesus concerning his suffering and death. (see Luke 9:45, 18:34).

Question and Answer to the Men

The challenge to the apostles shows something being done wrong: standing and looking intently into the heaven. Though most exegetes see it as such, Timothy Johnson asks: "what is wrong about the apostles gazing into heaven?" (ibid) He does not concur, as I also, with the majority of commentators that the mistake of the apostles involve some kind of wrong hope of seeing Jesus return soon, maybe even immediately. He suggests an incredibly intriguing and insightful idea that Luke wants to teach that the ascension of Jesus parallels that of Elijah and as such the disciples must return not because they are wasting time but because the Elijahnic parallel will be consummated at the city. From this suggestion much can be learn about the ascension of Jesus. Moreover, the parallel Johnson sees has an implicit connection, which he does not notes, to the return of Jesus. But that theme is too extensive to be properly covered here. The declaration the men give before the apostles regarding the Second Coming sounds like a new teaching. But for the declaration to be similar in nature to the correction given to the women, it must not be new. How could the apostles be corrected on something they did not know? The declaration then to stand in parallel as a correction, it has to be telling the apostles that what they understand about the Second Coming is wrong. Specifically, the two men address the disciples' understanding of the manner in which Jesus will come. What can this understanding be? Their understanding must be connected to the teaching of Jesus on the coming of the Son of Man. In Luke 21:25-28 Jesus tells them that "the Son of Man (is) coming in a cloud with power and great glory." And concludes: "when these things begin to take place, look up and raise your heads, because your redemption is drawing near." From the point of view of Jesus having given the apostles this teaching, what then can be wrong? Have they failed to grasp the meaning of Jesus' words in some way again? Yet in some manner their grasping of Jesus' words must have taken place at some level, for had them fail to grasp anything and thereby forgotten them, the two men could simply address them by telling them to remember the teachings of Jesus, as in the case of the women. Had this been the case, it is doubtful that Luke would have left the opportunity to form another literary parallel pass. Consequently the apostles must have Jesus' words on the Second Coming in mind but their understanding of them must not be correct. Them looking into heaven means that they have taken a literal meaning of the teaching of the coming of the Son of Man in a cloud. The strong didactic sound of the heavenly pronouncement given to the apostles implies that the two men are clarifying or expanding on the teaching concerning the Second Coming. In this manner the heavenly messengers expect the disciple to form the proper expectation of Jesus. The correction to the apostles then also has an implied mandate: 'believe this'.

In What Lies the Correction to the Messianic Expectation of the Apostles?

To determine this we need to begin our analysis from the clarifying pronouncement, the second part of verse 11.

The Literal Translation of Acts 1.11b

In the Textus Receptus we have: outos o iesous o analephtheis aph umon eis ton ouranon outos eleusetai on tropon etheasasthe auton poreuomenon eis ton ouranon. Almost no popular translation gives the literal translation for this verse. To understand the literal translation here is crucial. The verb tense of 'to go' in respect of the disciples seeing Jesus go is very important because it determines whether we understand the action of Jesus as already having finished or still in process. This in turn helps define the important expression 'in the same manner'. Young's Literal Translation gives us: this Jesus, who was received up from you into the heaven, shall so come in what manner ye saw him going on to the heaven.' The American Standard Version: this Jesus, who was received up from you into heaven shall so come in like manner as ye beheld him going into heaven. Other translations that use 'going' are the Aramaic Bible in Plain English, the Darby-Bible Translation and a couple of others. The literal Greek says 'in the same manner as you saw him going '. The Greek verb for go is in the present participle. This means that the action has not been completed, a completely different meaning than when using 'as you have seen him go' or 'saw him go' or as in other translations. By using this proper translation and grasping the significance of the type of action as not yet completed we can arrive at a better understanding of what the heavenly men said to the apostles. If the statement to the apostles uses the present participle, then by logic the event of the ascension of Jesus cannot have been completed the moment the two men came. This seems to contradict a lot of biblical interpretations. If this is correct, it practically deals a death blow to the idea that the heavenly messengers simply came to tell the apostles not to waste any more time and hurry up out of there. At what moment then did these two men entered the scene? Several careful interpreters have brought attention to how Luke recommences the process of ascension in verse 10 after having finished it in verse 9. Luke uses the same present participle form of 'to go' in verse 10, in verse 9 he uses the aorist indicative active tense, where he says that a cloud hypelaben (hid) him (The New American Standard of 1985 version as well as the King James version translate the term hypelaben as received, whereas the New International version of 1984 translates it as hid.), referring to Jesus. Though the term has been translated by several different words or phrases, the Greek aorist sense of the verb places the type of action as having been completed, or in the past. The ending of the action in verse 9 tend to confuse us. We tend to presume that the moment the angels spoke to the apostles was after Jesus had ascended already. This assumption is wrong. They approached the apostles as they were still looking at Jesus go up. We can take comfort knowing that even great interpreters, i.e. Calvin, made this simple mistake. Even those who placed the Greek Study Bible in Biblios.com fail in seeing this critical distinction. They place a subtitle in this passage with the intention of helping students getting the central idea. The subtitle simply reveals the manner in which their doctrinal presuppositions blinds them to the actual writing of Luke.From this we can see how this small mistake makes difficult the making of a valid interpretation of the words of the men.

The correct translation of poreuomenon as 'going' limits the definition of 'in the same manner' for now Jesus has not completed the ascension, and one important element of the messianic expectation of the apostles has not been involved yet; namely, the cloud. If we understand the significance of this, we can clearly see the reason the two men came to clarify the teaching of Jesus to the disciples. The disciples had taken a literal meaning of the words of Jesus and expect him to return in a cloud. This conforms perfectly to the type of correction the two men deliver. They speak on the manner in which Jesus will come again, which is precisely what has the apostles holding a wrong understanding of the Second Coming. The manner the apostles expect the Second Coming is in the cloud. By interfering with the apostles' attention to the ascension the two men can properly speak of the manner of the coming of Jesus as if it were a new form of teaching. Jesus had clearly included the cloud in the coming of the Son of Man, but now the divine messengers tell the disciples their view of the cloud is wrong. Jesus does not refer to a literal cloud, since obviously none have been involved so far in his ascension.

Once again the two men has no interest in clarifying anything to do with the time of the Second Coming. Moreover in Acts 1:6-7 the apostles concern regarding the time had been addressed already. Jesus unequivocally told them that the time of that event 'it is not for them to know about'. Either in their challenge or in their clarification of the teaching of Jesus, the celestial men show no intention of even referring to that aspect of the Second Coming.

What does 'the same manner as you saw him going' mean? This phrase expresses to the apostles that, if they want to grasp the teaching of Jesus concerning his future coming, they must examine the manner in which Jesus was leaving the earth before the two men interrupted them. The apostles must examine what they saw Jesus doing during that time span. As mentioned before, the Gospel of Luke only has a few verses on the ascension and the Gospel of Mark only one. It should not be difficult to find what things Luke and Mark report Jesus doing during that time. Two things that Jesus did for sure as he was being watched leaving were: he went up from the earth, and he was with his disciples. The Gospel of Luke 24:51 mentions also that Jesus was being raised as he was blessing his disciples.

Therefore when Jesus returns he must come back from the earth as he is being watched by disciples, and he will come back as he blesses his disciples. One thing Jesus absolutely did not do as he was being watched leaving was: go into heaven in a cloud. In both instances where Luke narrates the incident of the ascension the only mention of one cloud is on verse 9 to say that after Jesus had been lifted up 'a cloud hid him from them.' Luke contains a brief mention of the ascension in Acts 1:22 where it is repeated that Jesus was 'taken up' with no mention of any cloud or clouds being involved. The same thing happens in Mark 16:19. Now had Jesus ascended on a cloud, it is highly unlikely that that fact would not have been reported. The presence of any cloud being involved in the ascension was at the last moment as the means for concluding the event by hiding Jesus. And since the two men came to the apostles as Jesus was still going up, no clouds are involved in the definition of 'in the same manner as you saw him going '. Therefore, clouds were not a means of transportation in the ascension. And as Jesus is coming in the same manner as he was seen going, he will not come in the literal cloud of heaven.

What is the meaning of Jesus' teaching that the Son of Man will come in the cloud? Before looking for a meaning of this word in the scriptures, we need to establish something first. The teaching of Jesus of the Son of Man coming in a cloud is synonymous with the clarification of the messengers of 'in the manner as you saw him going." This signifies that one of the things included in the interpretation of the phrase of the messengers if not all of them together must necessarily mean 'cloud'. In the list only two things are actions, going up from the earth and blessing the disciples, and only one is a 'thing', the disciples. Thus in some form, manner or shape these disciples must be similar to that cloud Jesus talks about. Can we find scriptural texts connecting these two? In Hebrews 12:1 the author calls a big group of witnesses a 'cloud'. This type of cloud seems to be the one in which Jesus could come again. On the other hand, the author of Jude referring to a group of 'ungodly' people who have become part of the Christian community calls them 'waterless clouds, carried along by winds'. This last passage seems to suggest that clouds that travel quickly through the sky because of their lack of internal density can be compared to sinful people. Though this subject of the metaphorical meaning of cloud or clouds in scriptures is indeed very interesting, I want to conclude this composition repeating the observation that our examination of the above passages have demonstrated: Jesus is NOT coming in the literal clouds of heaven.

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Source by Pedro F Morales

Flight Attendant Hiring Outlook

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The hiring outlook for flight attendants has brightened considerably over the past few months. Led by United Airlines' recent announcement that they would immediately begin to hire up to 2000 new flight attendants, this news has sparked the most attention. If you are interested in becoming a flight attendant, the market is the best it has been in five years. Let's take a look at who is hiring or who can be expected to hire over the next year.

Legacy Carriers - Beaten up by high employee costs, surging fuel prices, competition from low priced carriers, and overall inefficiency, two legacy carriers [defined as those air carriers who have helped shape the US airline industry] are turning the corner and are hiring flight attendants. United Airlines and Continental Airlines are hiring for various bases within the US.

Discount Carriers - Southwest, AirTran, Mesa, and Alaska Airlines are all hiring right now. In fact, across the board hiring is taking place at virtually all discounters right now as they seek to strengthen their footing in the marketplace.

Regional Carriers - Chautauqua, Comair, Champion Air, and Air Wisconsin are all hiring. Like the discount carriers, most regional carriers are awash in cash and are expanding their routes. More routes means additional employees needed to fill the increased capacity.

Charter Carriers - Air Miami and several other airlines that fly unscheduled flights are hiring.

Start Up Carriers - The two newest air carriers, EOS Airlines and Maxjet Airways, have recently hired flight attendants and are expected to hire again.

So, if winging your way to Peoria or Paris is the kind of lifestyle you want to lead, then working as a flight attendant is certainly one of the ways to do just that. Air carriers are hiring and the pickings are good for the right candidates. Contact your desired airline directly for up to date hiring information and open houses.

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Source by Matthew Keegan

Digital Cameras And The Modern World

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Today is the age of science and technology. Billions of people all around the world need technical devices for their daily routine activities. These products include computers, laptops, fax machines, telephones, mobile phones and cameras etc. These devices are of great help to the users. Now you can send you recent photos to your friends and family members no matter wherever they are, within no time.

Camera is a vital example of technological advancements that have revolutionized the world beyond the boundaries of imaginations. Life was never such easier and joyful ever before. Camera is an electronic device that captures and records the images you want it to capture and then you can take a print of these images whenever you want.

Models and designs of cameras have been continuously varying since its discovery. The engineers used to put latest features in it by keeping under consideration the need of time and the competition in the market because to survive successfully in the market, one must keep himself updated of the competitor products being sold in the market and the feed back of the customers.

Now digital cameras have occupied the market wholly and manual cameras are considered old styled. Digital camera work on the principle of electronics and results of a digital one are receiving great feed back.

As the technology progresses further, such mobile phones are introduced in the market which have a built-in camera. Wow, it means that you have a camera of your own in hand all the time and now no memorable incident of your life could be missed. You are now able to capture all the moments of your life by pressing a single button. Remarkable, is not it? Life was never such a joy.

Latest models of digital cameras have remarkable features in them. Here is a list of some latest models of cameras with rock-solid features in them;

Canon EOS 5D Mark II;

Canon EOS 5D Mark II has a follow-up of 5D and delivers high quality results. Now, you have no need of any professional photographers.

Nikon D5000

Canon PowerShot S95

Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF1

These latest cameras, not only captures still images, but also capture movements through video making feature. You can make video of any important moment of your life for example, first word said by your baby. Such moments will never come back and technology has provided you the opportunity to make them stored in your album forever. You can alter the picture by adding different interesting effects; you can change colors of your picture and put colors of your own choice to make your photo perfect.

Digital camera show immediate result of your snap shot, you can delete the photo if you did not find the result satisfactory. The mega pixels of the camera are responsible for delivering a good picture. The more mega pixels your camera has, the clearer your photo will be.

Life was never so entertaining and happier without the use of camera. Now, no precious moment could escape from being captured and stored.

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Source by Doug Richard Mollin

Nikon Vs Canon in a Changing DSLR Marketplace

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Nikon is in a very competitive marketplace, so what other manufacturers do has a direct impact on Nikons product direction. Twenty years ago, Nikon owned the 35mm professional photography market, and then along came autofocus, followed by digital. Canon was traditionally the number 2 company. However with autofocus, Canon made inroads as both companies updated their product lines with new technology. Then came digital photography, Canon seized the opportunity, and by innovating and marketing more aggressively than Nikon, they seized the number one spot. They became the camera of choice for most pros by the early 21st century. Nikon responded hard in late 2007 by launching the D3 and D300 - anyone watching the Beijing Olympics will witness that about half the pros were shooting Nikon, the rest Canon. Four years earlier in Athens, Nikons were few and far between.

Now it's the second half of 2008, and Canon is firing shots back across Nikons bow.

The new Canon EOS 50D comes in a couple of hundred dollars cheaper than the Nikon D300, yet beats the D300 in the megapixel race (15.1mp vs. 12.3mp) while claiming a higher maximum ISO (12,800 vs. 6,400). The D300 on paper appears to have better AF and faster frame rate, but someone new coming into the market will look long and hard at the cheaper, higher resolution, higher ISO Canon.

A couple of weeks later Canon fired another shot with the full frame EOS 5D Mark II. Again priced a few hundred dollars less than the Nikon it takes aim at - the D700. It boasts 21.1 mp vs. the Nikons 12.1 mp, while matching the max ISO of 25,600. Again, the D700 has a faster frame rate etc., but from a marketing perspective Canon now has a very strong platform to go after the serious amateur/prosumer, especially if they are not sports shooters.

However, it gets better. At the end of August Nikon announced the D90 - the first DSLR with video capture, sporting a full 720p. The ability to use SLR lenses for video and capture a very shallow depth of field is significant - it's not a feature for everyone, but for some this is huge, and could possible save them tens of thousands of dollars on video equipment. Less than 3 weeks later, Canon stole Nikons thunder again with the Canon EOS 5D Mark II, sporting a full 1080p video capture mode in a prosumer camera (vs. the more entry level Nikon D90). Obviously Canon is serious about video too, and appears to have the superior system.

Then there is the 24.6 megapixel Sony that should start shipping in a few weeks time.

So far Nikon has been pushing back on the megapixel race, making noises about not wanting to slow down workflow, and higher megapixels not being needed. Higher megapixels also show up problems in lenses, cause diffraction issues and introduce a whole new set of problems. Very few people actually need more than 12 megapixels, however your average user or beginner does not know this. They are listening to the marketing people, and comparing bullet points on web sites between cameras to make their purchasing decisions. From a marketing perspective, Canon now has the upper hand in the serious amateur/semi-pro market. Nikon has to respond - either with a new set of products, or with an aggressive marketing campaign to educate consumers as to why megapixels don't matter. As has been proven time and again by numerous companies across multiple industries, launching new products to meet demand is virtually always cheaper and/or more profitable than trying to reeducate the consumer.

These are exciting times in the DSLR world; it took Canon a year to respond to the Nikon D300, and several months to respond to the Nikon D700. A response from Nikon will come, maybe not this year, but it has to come.

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Source by Steve Denton

Ethernet Or OC3 Bandwidth - What Do You Choose?

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Is Ethernet or OC3 bandwidth the right choice for a network solution for your business? How would you make that decision?

If you are talking about a network operator / service provider and assuming your links are above 1 Gbps .... most likely you will need both OCx/EoS and Ethernet. After all you need to interconnect with other networks. If you have links below 1 Gbps at the access or core sides of the network then you would have to use OCx, most likely. Although some people tend to say that for a new network you can do whatever you want, reality is another thing.

OCx/STM-N are known for their reliability and predictability and still have quite a good precense in long haul. These are migrating to EoS (VCAT, LCAS, GFP) and OTN but they won't satrt to become "pure" Ethernet until 43G and supposedly there won't be any difference at 100G so Ethernet could prevail adopting some of the reliability factors and DWDM compatibility from OTN. There is still long ways to go before the true convergence. In fact IEEE HSSG and ITU-T are working together to assure neither one reinvents each other's wheels. Perhaps, if they succed, we would see single physical interfaces that could handle both: Ethernet for end-to-end connectivity and OTN for transport applications.

If you are thinking forward, perhaps you need to add OTN and EoS to your transport/core infrastrucure so it is ready for the future and yet flexible to interconnect to other peers using OCx, or deliver services below 1 GigE using EoS. People claiming they get "pure Ethernet" from their providers may not be paying attention to the EoS add/drop box that was delivered with the service contract and it is in fact receiving packets and shooting OCx frames back to the central office, or it arrived at a near aggregation location via OCx/EoS and then radioes to the customer premisses (perhaps over an internal OCx link too).

Below 1 GigE rates (I believe) there is no good way to deliver Ethernet directly to the customer (access network). it always has to be wrapped on some sort of (unreliable) transport scheme like VDSL, SHDSL, DOCSIS,... This is (in my opinion) what's keeping SONET/SDH alive. Once we all have fiber and beyond 1GigE then there is no issue. You would be able to go Ethernet/OTN all the way.

While Ethernet is becoming quite widespread and cost effective, often times the A and Z locations may require a decision in favor of OC3. SONET being readily available, it may be more cost effective (yes - even including the WAN module for OC3) in some locations. For the same A and Z locations, if both Ethernet and OC3 are available, I would pick Ethernet due to the ease of integration as long as the cost is within ~ 65% of the OC3 circuit.

OCx has history, resilience, and capacity, and is subject to suppliers wringing every last cent out of it as an asset given the emergence of long(er) distance Ethernet.

"Choose wisely", says the Templar Knight in Indiana Jones and the Final Crusade... likewise here. Unless you are committed to a long-term contract on OCx, don't extend it unless your business and application requirements say you won't need Metro-E flexibility until the end of the extension period. Even then, negotiate for huge concessions and/or cost-free upgrade to Metro-E at the end. As cost competitiveness of a service is based on the amount of market share: Metro-e /10GB-e will dwarf OCx over time.

Lastly, choose OCx/Metro-E service based on achievable and measurable SLAs first ..... then nail the supplier to the floor on price (as you do .... or .... you should do).

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Source by Michael Lemm

California Central Coast Wine Reviews - EOS 2005 Petite Sirah

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The California Central Coast produces many fine wines, but they are not well known outside our area. We asked local wine experts for recommendations for "wine value picks" that were food friendly, Red or White (or Rosé) and under $ 18.00 a bottle. In this review we look at EOS 2005 Petite Sirah.

EOS 2005 Petite Sirah

From the EOS website: "Traditional aromas of black pepper, cherry, blackberry and spice are layered in this 2005 release of our flagship varietal. Bright, luscious flavors of black currant and boysenberry highlight this silky-smooth wine, which finishes long and gracefully with hints of mocha and spice. Food Pairing Recommendations: Serve at cellar temperature with the classic pairing of Peking duck, or try with grilled, ground lamb kabobs prepared with fresh mint, cumin and cilantro. "

Petite Sirah Background

Petite Sirah, as it is called in California is not Syrah. Recent genetic analysis at UC Davis indicates that Petite Sirah actually a clone of Durif, which is a cross between Peloursin and the true Syrah. In France where Durif was developed, Durif did not produce particularly distinguished wines, and although originally developed for its Mildew resistance, it is susceptible to bunch rot. Once widely planted, today, it is not of great commercial significance in France.

Petite Sirah fares much better in California where it first arrived in the late 1880s, actually displacing the true Syrah which had been established earlier in Napa. It the days of Prohibition it became widely established because the thick skins made it suitable for shipping to home wine makers.

Petite Sirah produces dark, tannic wines with peppery - plummy overtones. It is a good producer and commonly used as blending wine with Rhone varietals and with Zinfandel to tone down the jamminess that Zins tend towards when grown in the hot Central Coast areas.

In the hands of a good wine maker, Petite Sirah can produce very good wines, similar to Syrah, though not as complex and a bit more tannic because of the thicker skins.

Our Review

• In the glass. the appearance of the wine was dark ruby ​​red, transparent and clean. Swirling the glass, the wine nicely coated the glass side with slow running tears indicating that the wine had some substantial body to it.
• The aroma of the wine was fruity, but not overly so, with the characteristic hints of cherry and berry jam we were looking for.
• On the palette, the wine was full, dry, smooth, with a nice bit acidity and pronounced but not harsh tannins. The Alcohol at 13.5% was pleasant and not harsh.
• The finish lingered surprisingly long, smooth but substantial, leaving a nice warm echo of the wine in the mouth.

This is food friendly wine. The tannins are substantial and it will complement roasted and braised red and dark meats very well. While we are not sure how well this wine will pair with Peking Duck (!) It will pair very well with Duck Ragu, braised lamb shanks and grilled lamb chops with Mediterranean spices (Thyme, Rosemary and Chervil).

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Source by Larry McGourty

EOS Airlines' $6500 Roundtrip Airfare

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This just in: EOS Airlines, an upstart air carrier operating flights between New York's JFK Airport and London's Stanstead Airport has slashed their fares. For just $5000 round trip passengers can now fly the premium jet carrier and save a bundle. It gets even better than this: purchase one round trip ticket and a companion can fly for free; restrictions apply. Has the airline world gone crazy, or is EOS onto something? Read on for all the amazing details.

On October 25, 2005, EOS Airlines' "official" inaugural flight took off one week after a series of pre-inaugural flights. Directed toward the business traveler, EOS operates custom outfitted Boeing 757 aircraft with seating for just 48 passengers. EOS, which means "Greek goddess of the dawn", is offering a level of service unlike any other in the industry.

If you book a flight on EOS Airlines, here is what you can expect, besides paying a premium price:

48 passenger lumbar support seating; every person receives 21 square feet of personal space [individualized suites] for a combined work/rest/dining area;

Convertible seats that can be easily changed into a 78 inch long bed; cashmere blanket and Tempur-Pedic® pillow included;

Extra large carry on bins;

Lighting and laptop outlets for each station;

An onboard library to peruse the latest books and videos;

On demand food and beverage service comparable to what passengers receive on a corporate jet.

While the price certainly seems steep, keep in mind that prices rival what passengers had paid on Air France's and British Airway's super sonic transport [SST] Concorde before it was pulled from the market in June of 2003. In lieu of a jet that can match the SST's speed, EOS has created a level of service and comfort that exceeds the Concorde. In other words, EOS Airlines is attempting to fill a void created when the SST was pulled from the market.

As with any new air carrier, success is never guaranteed. However, by concentrating on business travelers who frequent the NY to London "bridge" EOS Airlines just may have found a special place for itself within the business community. With no new SST on the horizon, privately held EOS has created a viable alternative to business jet travel and at a price far lower than chartering a Gulfstream 550.

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Source by Matthew Keegan

Volkswagen to Launch Eos in the Middle East

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After the huge success of Volkswagen Eos in Europe, the German automaker believes that this is the perfect time to launch the Eos in the Middle East.

Volkswagen Eos offers best of both worlds with its unique, sporty and powerful features the Eos can be considered a breakthrough in the automobile industry. Its design is especially made for young individuals who are looking for real adventure.

The launching of Eos in the Middle East is a refreshing news especially since the middle east market has gone through a significant change in the recent years brought about by the growth in the numbers of urban professionals in the major cities.

The Eos is fully loaded, with remarkable specs that boast a unique five-piece folding-roof technology, the Middle East will finally get to experience Europe's fastest moving urban style icon.

The Eos as the world's first, four-seater is equipped with a one-of-a-kind hardtop dual technology design that boast an integrated sliding / tilting glass roof as standard which makes it as the perfect choice for the extreme climatic conditions in the Middle East.

The shift of the Eos from coupe to cabriolet has been made simple through the integrated electro-hydraulics system which gives the Eos that ability to perform even the sleekest maneuvers in a matter of 25 seconds. Its CSC roof (short for convertible, sliding and coupe roof) is made of steel and glass components which are rarely seen on other vehicles. The hard top technology employed for the Eos is a combination of reliability and complexity rolled into one.

According to Iris Kraska, Marketing and PR Director, Volkswagen Middle East, "The Eos is a unique car designed for urbanities looking for stylish and powerful vehicles that reflect their distinctive personalities. This is the first car in the world to feature a five-piece hardtop-reflecting the heritage and spirit of Volkswagen engineering and innovation. "

Meanwhile, a controversy is stirring for the past few months as Europe's largest automaker and maker of quality auto parts Volkswagen spoiler faces an allegation that the automaker is selling unsafe vehicles in Brazil.

Volkswagen's subsidiary company in Brazil has denied the report that says they are selling unsafe vehicles in the Brazilian market compared to the ones exported to Europe. To put an end on the damaging report, Volkswagen's Brazil has released a press statement in response to the heavy criticism from a consumer organization that says some of the Volkswagen vehicles are not equipped with essential safety features such as double air bags.

According to NGO Pro Teste, the crash tests on Volkswagen cars has shown the worst results in recent times with an increased risk of death during a collision in a model sold in the Brazilian market and further stated that one had double airbags while the others did not .

Volkswagen Brazil argued that the organization has compared performance of two different models which according to them would invalidate the tests. Volkswagen subsidiary company in Brazil further stated that the models they are selling in the Brazilian market are comprised of vehicles with or without the double airbags and it simply depends on the customers which one they will purchase.

Volkswagen Brazil also pointed out that about 100 percent of the European consumers buy models that are equipped with double airbags while only 2.8 percent purchase models with single airbags due mainly to financial constraints and probably consumer habits. 563

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Source by Natalie Anderson