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JamesSavik

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  1. JamesSavik

    Game Manual

    By JamesSavik,

    I'm writing a game manual for an online game called Outer Core
     
    It is similar to Astro Empires but it expanded and the programmer is constantly working to improve and expand it.
     
    Check it out but be warned- it is addictive. Message me if you join
     
    __________________________________

     
    Distribution: This handbook is for distribution to Weyland-Yutani Managers, Associates and Allies only. Unauthorized duplication or distribution is prohibited and may result in the total forfeiture of shares.
     
    Disclaimer: This Guide has been prepared by our analysts and contains some matters of opinion that not all operators share. In all cases, your own best judgment is the best guide.
     
     
     
    I. Selection of Colony Sites
     
    Some of the most critical decisions that you will make are the selection of colony sites. Choosing the right sites are critical for your development. As you have more bases, they are more expensive to build so you must get the most return out of each and every one.
     
    II. Selection Criteria
     
    A. Planets vs Moons
     
    Planets are larger than moons and have more readily available space for structures. Planets offer the advantage of having more usable space without having to terraform or build multi-level platforms. You can generally develop a planet to a higher degree than a moon because of the available space.
     
    The down side of planets is that advanced defenses like planetary shields and rings cost full price.
     
    Moons (and asteroids) have less available space and you will have to start terraforming them much sooner than planets. As the level of terraforming increases, so does the price so the space available on a moon costs more.
     
    The advantage of a moon is that advanced defenses cost less and are built faster on these smaller bodies.
     
    B. Fertility
     
    An attribute absolutely critical to the development of a potential base is its fertility. This is a gage of how much population a base site can support.
     
    In its application to the game, fertility simply means how many structures can be built per level of a hab complex. The lower the fertility of a potential base site, the more that space within a base will cost.
     
    For instance: a base site with a fertility of 4 will have fourty spaces for structures when you build 10 hab complexes.
     
    A base site with a fertility of 5 will have fifty spaces of structures when you build 10 hab complexes.
     
    A base site with a fertility of 6 will have sixty spaces of structures when you build 10 hab complexes.
     
    Generally speaking, avoid base sites with a fertility of less than 5. This will retard the development of the base and is very expensive to correct even with advanced technology.
     
     
    C. Mineral Resources
     
    Mineral Resources come in two forms:
     
    1. Metals
    Metal content, usually between 1 and 5, has a direct bearing on how productive a planet can be. Available metals, in quantity, feed your industry. This must be a key consideration in the selection of any planet. As a general rule, try to find base sites with a metal rating greater than 3.
     
    2. Crystals
    Crystals are somewhat rare and are only found on certain types of bodies. They are economically important but are only one of several considerations you should take into account in site selection.
     
     
    D. Energy Resources
    One of the key factors that you must take into consideration in selecting a base site is the availability of energy resources. Cheap, abundant energy drives industry and development.
     
    1. Solar
    Solar energy is rated between 0 and 4. It is available on all sorts of planets, moons and asteroids.
     
    2. Gas
    Gas energy is derived by gas pockets and accumulations available at a base site. Some types of planets and moons have better gas ratings than others. It is rated 0 to 4.
     
    3. Hydro
    Power derived by the movement of water by hydroelectric dams or tidal harnesses is available only on oceanic and earth-like planets and moons. Hydro power is rated 0 to 4.
     
     
    III. Astro Types and Company Classifications
     
    Class 1
    Class 1 planets and moons are the most useful from an economic and industrial standpoint. They are high in metal and or crystal content.
     
    Metal*
    Rocky
    Craters*
    Asteroid Belt**
     
     
    Class 2
    Class 2 planets and moons are useful under some circumstances but are not considered the best all around choices by our analysts.
     
    Crystal*
    Gaia
    Earth-like
    Arid
    Asteroid*
     
     
    Class 3
    Class 3 planets and moons are not recommended but may be chosen for base sites for strategic reasons.
     
    Glacial
    Tundra
    Toxic
    Radioactive
    Magma
    Oceanic
     
    __________________________
     
    *- indicates crystals
    **- requires starbase
     
     
    IV. the Roles of Bases
     
    Bases can and should be optimized to fulfill various roles within your economy. It simply isn't practical to build all of your bases to perform multiple roles.
     
    A. The Alpha Site
     
    1. Alpha Site Selection Considerations
    You will want to chose a base site that has the highest metal rating, available energy resources and the best fertility rating that you can find.
     
    2. The role of the Alpha Site
    Your first base, out of necessity must fulfill multiple roles. You have to create basic technologies at your Alpha site and have enough industrial capacity to build defenses, and a fledgling fleet.
     
     
    B. Research Sites
    A couple of your planets will need to be dedicated to research because you will have to build 24 or so Labs. This doesn't leave a lot of space for large numbers of other types of structures.
     
    Gaia planets and moons have research bonuses and high fertility so they make very attractive dedicated research planets. The ability to build a large number of structures because of the high fertility cancels out their disadvantage of having a relatively low metal content.
     
     
    C. Economic Sites
    You may chose to build one or two of your bases to make money. Metallic, crater and crystal planets and moons excel in this role. Metallic and crater planets have high metal and crystal content and can be developed into very lucrative bases. Crystal planets have high levels of crystals but they have low metal content and fertility. They can be developed but understand their limitations going in.
     
     
    D. Industrial Sites
    Metallic, crater and rocky planets excel in this role. You'll want to build up high levels of metal refineries, robotic factories, nanobot factories, android factories and shipyards. At advanced levels add several levels of cybernetic technology and before you know it, you'll be driving that doomstar of your dreams.
     
     
    V. Mistakes with Bases
     
    Sometimes you make a mistake with a base. You pick one that has a low fertility or one that is in a hostile neighborhood and you just keep getting beaten down.
     
    If you have a base site that is wretched, sometimes the only thing to do is to disband it and rebuild it somewhere else. You will receive a credit for the base and its structures and a colony ship so that you can quickly rebuild the scrapped base.
     
    It is a drastic action but sometimes it is the only thing that you can do. Remember that the longer you wait to scrap a base, the longer it will take to replace it.
     
     
    VI. Positioning Bases
     
    There are two schools of thought about positioning bases: Clustering Bases within a sector or two and Spreading them Out.
     
    A). Clustering Bases
    The advantage of having bases that are in the same system or that are relatively close together is that they can mutually support each other. This concentrates your holdings and makes it much easier to defend. Bases in the same system can keep hostile fleets under constant fire with lasers, missiles, pulse turrets and drones at higher levels. It is much easier and quicker to gather a force to mount a counterattack. An enemy must face all of your firepower and you may be in a better position to retrieve debris after a battle.
     
    The down side is that if a very large hostile force jumps into your sector, it is able to assault several of your bases in quick succession.
     
     
    . Spreading Bases Out
    Bases that are spread across a number of systems or sectors are very hard to scout. You may be able to hit a few of them but without a major effort, it is difficult to find them all.
     
    The disadvantage to spreading your bases out is obvious. They are much harder to defend. You need to build extensive base defenses and large, powerful base fleets to defend them.
     
     
    C. Strongholds
    Strongholds are a blend of the cluster and spread strategies.
     
    Strongholds are systems in which you have two or more bases and the strongholds are spread out over a couple of sectors. This strategy provides the best and worse of both strategies.
     
    Strongholds can support themselves defensive batteries and fleets.
     
    A strong enemy fleet that finds a stronghold can assault any or all of the bases that it finds there.
     
     
    D). Strategic Considerations
    When you chose a base placement doctrine, you have to make some key strategic choices almost immediately.
     
    If bases are spread out, you are committed to building significant base defenses at every base.
     
    If your bases are consolidated, you may end up having to fight large, epic battles with an enemy that may knows where your bases are.
     
    Consider the pros and cons of all three doctrines and proceed accordingly.
  2. JamesSavik
    Hi! I'm JamesSavik. I am an administrator for the Company but I'm really a nice guy.
     

     
    You don't have to be an amoral, manipulative and evil to work here but it sure helps.
     
    Some of our perks:
     

    Exotic Pets!
     


    Interesting Duty Stations
     

    Retirement packages!
     
    If you think you've got what it takes to be an associate of the Company, message me and we'll see.
     
    Our stock is on the rise and there are plenty of new worlds to exploit.
  3. JamesSavik

    Heavy Metals

    By JamesSavik,

    Heavy Metals
     
    Parliament
    Fleet Annex
    Epsilon Auriga
    April 10, 2681
     
     
    Ellis Dutton, Chief of the Parliament Office of Galaxy Minerals, looked at the official Request for Proposal that his office had received earlier that day. If he could secure a fraction of the order, his five percent commission would make him rich beyond the dreams of avarice.
     
    He looked at the list and he looked at Captain Osborne of the Fleet Procurement Office and said,
  4. JamesSavik

    Galaxy Today

    By JamesSavik,

    The Galaxy Today- Your Source for Alliance News You Can Use
    Perry Grant, Political Desk
    April 8, 2681
     
     
    Alliance Senate Takes Up a Massive Series of Bills
     
    Conservatives optimistic, Labor Jubulent, Greens Furious and commentators bewildered
     
    After a series of mysterious closed committe meetings earlier this week, the Alliance Senate has taken up an unprecidented series of bills.
     
    Lead by an unlikely coalition of Senate Conservatives and Labor, a bi-partisan working group has began drafting one of the most far reaching and progressive programs in Alliance history. Tenatively named the Alliance Modernization and Expansion Act, the bill addresses a number of issues that have long been discussed but have never made it out of committe.
     
    The Alliance Modernization and Expansion Act (AME) consists of ten distinct parts
    Alliance backed low-interest loan program for industrial expansion
    Transit Improvements Including a network of new jumpgates from the core systems to the frontiers
    New R&D partnerships between the Alliance and Corporations
    A modernization and expansion of the Fleet & Marine Corps
    An Expansion of the Merchant Fleet via Low Interest Loans and tax incentives for new construction
    Reform of Commerce Laws Inhibiting Development On the Frontier
    Expansion of the Ministry of Science & Technology
    Designation of duty-free zones to encourage rapid development in economically distressed sectors
    Alliance matching funds for local defense construction
    The sale of rights to key planets for colonization or commercial use to pay for the costs of these new measures

     
    At a cost of some 450 Trillion standard credits, AME is the most expensive single bill ever considered by the Alliance senate. It is also widely considered one of the most timely and progressive bills ever considered by that body.
     
    It seems to offer something for everyone with enthuastic support from politicians both the core systems and the frontier and all of the various parties and factions within the senate. Even the fiscal conservatives are pleased with the bill as it includes a self funding mechanism up front and will pay for itself in economic growth within a decade.
     
    The speed, size and far-reaching scope of AME has many insiders at Parliament stunned. Even powerful lobbists like Jason Devries were caught completely off guard. Devries said, "I had been working, no pleading, for the new jump gate construction and repeal of those awful ICC (Interstellar Commerce and Customs) regulations for twenty years and suddenly overnight it looks like it is happening. I've never seen the Senate display this kind of vision and dare I say even courage in passing a series of bills that will solve todays problems and profoundly affect the future of the Alliance."
     
    Senator Chou yung-Li (New Canton, Conservative) said, "We are espically proud of this bill. It funds itself and does no leave a huge debt burden on future generations while it gives the Alliance the tools with which it can grow and expand."
     
    Not everyone is pleased with AME. Senator Todd Faulks (Sirius, Green) senior member of the Greens party said, "We're making a big mistake selling off those reserved planets. Those are pristine and fragile ecosystems that still have a lot to learn about. By opening them to commerce and colonization, they will be changed forever."
     
    AME is expected to pass the senate either late this week or early next week and will then be taken up by the Executive Committee. Any serious objections to the bill by the Executive Committee will be taken up in Conference. Pending its ratification by the Executive Committee, it could be law by the end of the month.
     
    Economic Analyst like what they've heard so far. Galactic Markets are up 255 points and the D&K index is up a record breaking 22%. Markets appear to be in a broad based rally with blue chip industrials, technology, transport and agro stocks leading the charge.
  5. JamesSavik

    Politics

    By JamesSavik,

    Politics
     
    Closed Session of the Alliance Senate Armed Services Committee
    Galactic Alliance Parliament
    0830 April 5, 2681
     
    The thirty-two Senators of the Alliance Senate Armed Services Committee gathered in the chamber. Some looked bored, a few looked anxious but most were blank and unreadable.
     
    As soon as all the Senators were seated the chairman, Senator Franco Ortega of the New Columbia colony, pounded his gavel and called the meeting to order. "On this date, April 5, 2681 at 0830 Galactic Standard Time I call this Emergency Meeting of the Allianace Armed Forces Committee to order. Gentlemen, this is a closed meeting. We will be discussing matters of the highest level of classification. I remind you that the Official Secrets Act applies and parlimentry privilage does not. Any leaks will be rigorously investigated by Internal Affairs. Everything discussed here is to be consider code-word classified and may not be discussed with anyone without the proper credentials."
     
    "I ask the members to recognize the attendence of Director Markus Jarroe of Alliance Intelligence, the Honerable Olga Sjursen of the Executive Committee and Commander Kyle Dylan of Naval Intelligence. Admiral Chris Jamison will appear via sub space link from Ironman Station. I thank them and you for appearing for this meeting on such short notice." A video screen was lowered against the wall behind the speakers podium with the image of Admiral Jamison.
     
    "This meeting was called at the request of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Alliance Intelligence Agency and the Executive Directorate. At this point I will turn things over to Director Markus Jarroe."
     
    Jarroe raised his right hand and was sworn in by the Sargent at Arms, "Do you swear to tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth to this committee?"
     
    Jarroe answered, "I do."
     
    The Sargent at Arms said, "Please state your name and position for the record and proceed."
     
    "I am Director Markus Jarroe of Alliance Intelligence Agency. I am here to give you background and reveal several of the Alliances closest held secrets."
     
    "I have no doubt that you've all heard of ancient artifact discovered on the Cygnus Arm called Ironman. I'm about to tell you what we know that we have not released to the public.
     
    "In 2602 on a scouting mission in the galactic halo we encountered an intelligent alien race that we have designated the Andromedans."
     
    Almost instantly there was an outburst from the members and the Chairman pounded his gavel and called the meeting to order.
     
    "We were able to communicate with the Andromedans and found them to be friendly and very much like ourselves. They told us that they were the remnants of a civilization that once ruled the Andromeda galaxy pretty much like we control the Milky Way. While exploring their galaxy, they found an artifact described almost exactly the same as Ironman. They studied it and watched it just like we have with Ironman but for hundreds of years it was inert. One day it gathered fuel from a gas giant which it was orbiting and began transmitting a subspace beacon signal."
     
    "It continued to do so for almost a year and a half. Then it powered up again when the moons were in a rare alignment the artifact opened a gigantic wormhole. Several hours later an invasion fleet invaders poured through wormhole and destroyed everything in their path. The remnants of the Andromeda civilization moved to a small satellite galaxy of the Milky Way where they have been in hiding ever since."
     
    "The Andromedans asked us to keep their existence a secret which is why we have not made the first contact public."
     
    "So, we are confronted with two inescapable facts. First: we know that there are other intelligent, space going races in the universe and one of them is extremely hostile. Second, we may be faced with the immenent prospect of invasion and the clock is ticking."
     
    This time there was no outburst. Politicians, people whose profession was to talk, didn't know what to say.
     
    Chairman Ortega said, "Thank you for your testimony Director Jarroe. The Chair recognizes Admiral Christopher Jamison of the Combined Fleet of the Galactic Alliance. Can you hear me OK Admiral Jamison?"
     
    Admiral Jamison answered, "Yes sir Senator Ortega."
     
    "Consider yourself sworn. You may proceed."
     
    "I am Admiral Jamison and I've been assigned to the Ironman project for the last four years. When I first heard the truth of it, it scared the hell out of me but the Fleet has been preparing for this quietly for decades. We have significant forces in system and heavy reinforcements within a few days jump. I would like to tell you that we could stop the enemy cold but we just don't know."
     
    "Realistically what we expect to happen is that our forces at the jump gate will be overwhelmed. That is where war plan Siberia comes into play."
     
    "We may be faced with a situation where we will have to trade space for time. We have created a series of strong points at strategic positions around the Ironman system. To slow the enemy down while the Alliance can mobilize for war."
     
    "Do we have any questions?"
     
    Hands went up around the table.
     
    Ortega said, "The chair recognizes Senator Halbert of Pacifica."
     
    "The Senator said, "I address my question to Admiral Jamison. My homeworld Pacifica is less than fifty light years away from the Ironhand system and we have over a billion people. Should we be thinking about evacuation?"
     
    Jamison replied, "That's a political question that I just can't answer. That's why we're talking to you today."
     
    Hands raised again. Ortaga said, "The chair recognizes Senator Keller of New Caldonia."
     
    Senator Keller said, "I want to address my question to Director Jarroe. How real is this threat. We're talking about a race that is eons old. Maybe they died out. Maybe they've settled in Andromeda."
     
    Director Jarroe replied, "We have high confidence that the threat is very real. We have found other artifacts within the galaxy that we know were left by the race we call the Galaxians. According to the Andromedans, they move around the local group of galaxies and destroy civilizations that could challenge them and take what they want. They had scouts in our own galaxy as late as a few hundred years ago. In fact we are sure that they abducted humans from Earth."
     
    Ortega said, "The chair recognizes Senator Renault of Rigel."
     
    Renault said, "I want to address my question to Admiral Jamison. What can we do to help."
     
    Admiral Jamison said, "Thanks for the question. It's the most impotrtant one that we can ask at this point."
     
    "We need to go to full mobilization. We need ships, fighters and ordinance. We need speed the development of new weapons and a new generation of ships. We need trained crews, officers and pilots. We need funding and a lot of it. We need to prepare. Not just the fleet but our people too. We may be in for a long, ugly war with an enemy that is thousands of years ahead of us in technology. We need everything and we've only got a year and a half to get ready."
  6. JamesSavik
    Screen Passes The idea behind the screen pass is to make the play look like the pass is going long but to make a short pass to a runner with blocker in front of him.
     
    Screen passes put the defense out of position to make the play. Linebackers blitz or fall back to cover a zone and safeties and corners cover deep.
     
    In our example, the QB drops back and rolls a bit to the right. The linemen on the left side make an initial block and then slide off while the FB protects the QB. The halfback fakes a block and then catches the pass and runs behind his blockers.
     
    Screen passes can go to any of the receivers or running backs.
     
    They are useful in 3rd and long yardage situations or when the offense needs to slow down the pass rush.
     
     
     
     
    Play Action Passes The play action passes looks like a short running play but are actually a mid-range to deep pass.
     
    Our example starts off as a full back lead off right tackle. The QB fakes a hand off to the halfback and conceals the ball. The QB then looks upfield and throws to the open receiver (WR, flanker or TE).
     
    Play action passes are set up by a successful running game. Once again the defense is shown what they expect to see, they react to a running play and are caught out of position for the pass.
     
     
     
     
    Half-back Pass This nasty little trick is a passing play that looks like a run. Our example shows a pitch sweep to the half back headed to right outside. Instead of running around the corner, the halfback pulls up and passes the ball down field to an open receiver- in this the TE running a sideline pattern..
  7. JamesSavik
    Running backs have become important receivers in todays high powered offenses. Once they have made the catch, running backs can often turn on their speed and make a long gain out of a short pass.
     
    Running backs often serve as check off receivers when other receivers are covered.
     
    RBs typically make a block, release from the block and run a short pattern into the flats, the sidelines or circle across the middle.
  8. JamesSavik
    Flankers
     
    Flankers are an interesting receiver in that lining up off the line, they can go in motion. This allows the offense to change its look on the fly and hopefully confuse assignments in the defensive secondary.
     
    Of course- lining up behind the line makes it difficult to go deep but their speed can put them in interesting and useful places. Their routes are usually in the short to middle ranges.
     
    Flankers are often called possession receivers because they are key go to guys on 3rd down.
     
     
     
    Tight Ends
     
    Tight Ends are unique receiver/lineman hybrid. While some are better blockers than receivers, a good receiving tight end can be a dominate presence. While most receivers are small, fast guys, the TE is a big guy capable of surviving and blocking in the offensive line. He's also quick enough to get out and run patterns. Defensive backs often find big tight ends running at full speed almost impossible to handle.
     
    Defenses usually try to cover tight ends with a linebacker but this is usually a mismatch. Duels between Tight Ends trying to run slants and drags across the middle and linebackers trying to cover the middle zones can be epic.
     
    Many coaches under utilize the tight end position but with a little imagination and some talent, the TE can be as valuable as any receiver on the field.
  9. JamesSavik
    Before we get into the various pass patterns, lets have a look at the way defenses see the field.
     
    There are two basic pass defenses- man to man and the zone.
     
    Man to Man is difficult to pull off. If you have a personnel mismatch, which the offense will exploit, you'll get burned all day long.
     
    In order to cover as much of the field as possible and give support to defensive backs who are covering speed burners, the Zone defense was developed.
     
    There are many versions of the zone and just as many defensive systems that have been built over years of competition. I will attempt to explain the basic thinking and strategy of the zone.
     
    The football field is chopped up into pieces: short (0-7 yards), middle (8-20 yards and deep (20+ yards). The field is then split into thirds: left, middle and right.
     
    Last but not least are the flats on either side of the offensive formation where backs out of the backfield can catch a ball and gather a head of steam.
     
    Every different version of the zone is unique but it all boils down to assigning defensive backs and linebackers to cover certain zones, not individual players.
     
    For instance, Consider the left corner back facing a wide receiver: the LCB's job is to cover anyone in the short and middle left where the weak safety is supposed to pick up anyone going deep. Sounds complicated? It is. Many defensive play books are as big as their offensive counterparts. It also should serve to illustrate how a mistake in the secondary can mean an easy score.
     
     
    Pass Patterns- Wide receiver
     
    Wide receivers can line up anywhere on either side of offensive formation. They can run a near infinite number of pass routes or patterns but here are a few of the most common:
     

    Sideline The short sideline is a possession play. It puts the ball where only the wide receiver can catch it.
    Slant In The Slnt-In is a risky play that sends the receiver through the middle in hopes of splitting the zone. Of course a bad throw can mean an interception
    In & Out This speed route gives the receiver a chance to lose the pass defender with a smooth move and some speed.
    Hook The hook is an underused route which looks like a receiver is going deep then he slams on brakes and comes back toward the QB. If the d-back covering the play over runs it, he's open.
    Mid-range sideline again, the sideline route is thrown so that the only person with a real shot at the ball is the receiver. Stepping out of bounds after catching the ball can be very useful in stopping the clock.
    Middle Drag Sends the receiver across the middle challenging the range of the linebackers and the safeties.
    Deep Fly The fly pattern is a pure speed pattern. The QB basically throws it as far as he can and the receiver tries to run under it.
    Deep Post The deep post pattern is run toward the goalpost which gives the QB a point of reference in throwing the long ball.
    Deep Middle Sends the receiver to challenge the safeties which are responsible for this zone.
    Deep Out A difficult route that requires a very strong arm to throw but puts the receiver in a position to score.

  10. JamesSavik
    In general there are three different types of defensive players: linemen, linebackers and backs.
     
    Defensive Linemen are big, strong and quick capable of stopping the run and pressuring the quarterback. Typical D-linemen are called Tackles, Nose Guard or Ends.
     
    Linebacker is the single most athletically versatile position in football. Linebackers must read the offense and respond instantly to what it is doing. On any given play and defensive scheme, a linebackers may be asked to stop the run or on passing plays cover a receiver [typically a tight end] or blitz the quarterback. There are different types of linebackers but the distinction is a funtion of the defensive scheme that the team has adopted.
     
    Defensive Backs are primarily responsible for pass defense and run support. They must be fast, tough and smart to execute the complex defenses that are run by college and pro level teams. The two types of D-backs are corner backs and safeties.
     
    The Blitz- If the offense is protecting their quarterback too well, a defensive coach might need to throw a surprise. Typically this surprise might be to blitz one or more linebackers or defensive backs. This often causes a sack, hurried throw or best yet, a badly thrown ball and a turnover.
     
    The blitz is a high risk defensive tactic. By blitzing linebackers and d-backs, one or more of the receivers are not covered. If the play is a run, its a toss up as to whether the running back will run right by the blitzing linebacker or meet him in the hole. If the QB can pass the ball to his receiver before the blitz gets to him, the QB is said to have burned the blitz.
     
     

     
    The 3-4 Defense This is a defense common in the NFL. It always has three down linemen and four linebackers. The 3-4 defense is a challenging defense to run. If your linemen aren't up to it, the overall defense will give up too many rushing yards. It also requires having a number of linebackers that can perform at a high level.
     
    D-linemen in the 3-4 are called either Tackles or Ends and the man in the middle is called the Nose Guard or Nose Tackle (NG or NT). An NFL nose guard is a real monster who expects to be double and triple blocked and still gets sacks.
     
    In the 3-4 defense, the two inside line backers are called Interior Linebackers or ILB. The linebackers on the outside are called Outside Linebackers (OLB) and are expected to handle run plays that go outside. Sometimes 3-4 linebackers may be asked to drop into pass coverage.
     
    D-backs in the 3-4 are fairly standard pair of corner backs and safeties. The Strong Safety (SS) will always line up on the tight ends side of the formation. The Weak Safety will line up on the side without a tight end.
     
    The strengths of this defense are that it is typically fast, athletic (with so many linebackers) and handles the pass very well.
     
    The downside is that it can usually be had by the run- particularly disguised runs like a draw or a delay. Injuries to linebackers and depth become a key issue over the course of the season.
     
     
     
    The 4-3 Defense
     
    By far the most common defense at the college level is the venerable 4-3 which consists of 4 D-linemen, 3 linebackers.
     
    Defensive Linemen in the 4-3 scheme are called Tackles (RT or LT) or Defensive Ends (DE).
     
    Linebackers in the 3-4 scheme are called the Strong Side Linebacker or SAM (TE side of the formation), Middle Linebacker (MIKE) and Weak-Side Linebacker (WILLY). The actions of the three linebackers in this set are designed to compliment and support each other.
     
    The four defensive backs in the 3-4 set are two corner backs and a Strong and Weak safety.
     
    The strength of the 4-3 defense is its balance. The 4-3 works well against the run and the extra lineman provides more consistent pressure on the QB on pass plays.
     
    The weakness of the 4-3 defense is speed in the middle. Without a fourth linebacker, short, quick passes will riddle the short zones and loosen up the linebackers. The 4-3 can be fooled by play-action passes where the QB fakes a handoff or a pitch mimicking the look of a running play and then throws the ball down field. If the linebackers and/or the defensive backs are fooled, they can be burned badly by the play action pass.
     
     
     
    The 5-2 Defense
     
    A common defense used in obvious short yardage situations in college and pro ball is the 5-2. It has five down linemen and two linebackers.
     
    Defensive linemen in the 5-2 set are called Nose Guard or Tackle (NT), Right and Left Tackles (RT, LT) and defensive ends on either side.
     
    The two linebackers in the 5-2 are the Strong and Weak side linebackers which position themselves relative to the side the offensive Tight End lines up on.
     
    The defensive backs are a pair of corner backs and a pair of safeties.
     
    The strength of this defense is that it is very difficult to run against five down linemen.
     
    The weakness of this defense is the pass in general.
  11. JamesSavik
    Power-I
     
    All modern pro, college and even high school teams have special sets for special situations. One of the most common of those special situations is short yardage. Sometimes the short yards are hardest to get in goal line and 3rd and short situations. The defense, specifically in goal line situations have less depth to defend. They can ignore medium and long passes and usually add defensive linemen and/or linebackers to beef up their run defense.
     
    This specific short yardage package is called the "power-I". It uses two tight ends and sometimes the WR is actually another tight end lined up as a flanker to lead a sweep.
     
    Short yardage sets are designed to overload a specific part of the offensive line with more blockers than potential tacklers. Sometimes misdirection and deception are employed to send defenders the wrong way. It is possible to pass out of this formation. The Tight Ends are still eligible receivers and often score in goal line situations on short slant or down and out routes.
     
     
    Wish bone
     
    The wishbone offense was developed by Emory Bellard at Texas A&M and Bear Bryant of Alabama in the sixties and seventies. It is primarily a running offense that is designed to get about 4 yards a play and maintain ball control. The Wishbone is not widely used today because it is particularly hard on quarterbacks.
     
    The biggest play out of the wishbone is the triple-option. The triple option is run either to the right or left and gives the QB three things to do with the ball. If the onside tackle has made a big hole, you hand off to the fullback to run off tackle. If the QB isn't well covered, he may opt to run the ball himself. If the QB is covered, he pitches out to the trailing halfback who has a lead block from the other half back. It puts a lot of pressure of defenses to cover all the options and typically what happens is that a wishbone team moves down field in chunks of 3-7 yards. It's not as exciting to watch as todays high powered passing offenses but it is highly efficient in getting first downs and maintaining time of possession.
     
    I mention the triple-option because play options are a key to modern offenses regardless of whether they be run-run, run-pass or pass-checkoff.
     
    The option isn't the only play that you can run out of the wishbone. It also has a rich variety of sweeps, traps and even passes. Indeed the pounding of the wishbone runs often works particularly well to sets up a pass.
     
    You may occasionally see the wishbone used today in short yardage situations in pro games or as a way to burn up the clock late in college games.
     
    I mention it here as it shows how offensive sets have developed over the years and introduce the concept of designed play options and the difficulties they pose to defenders.
  12. JamesSavik
    The I Formation (pronounced "eye" formation) have the backs stacked in the backfield. Typically it is used as a running formation but you can pass out of it too. Many teams that use the I Formation often call the "deep back" a tailback rather than a halfback. This offense needs a strong runner in that position as it is featured in this formation. You will see it used extensively at the college level. The pros use it- sometimes on short yardage situations like 3 and 3 to give the defense a pass or run look so they can't concentrate on one or the other.
     
     
    The Shotgun Formation was made famous by Tom Landry during the glory years of the Dallas Cowboys under Roger Staubach and Danny White. The shotgun is a passing oriented offense which puts as many receivers out in patterns as possible and keeps a running back in to block or as outlet receiver. Depending on who is running it, the QB will be lined up 5 to 7 yards behind the line of scrimmage. The center makes a long snap to the QB. This snap is very important as it can spell disaster if it goes over the QB's head or he had trouble handling it. Note that in this formation, there are five eligible receivers which puts quite a bit of pressure on the defense to cover them all.
     
     
    The One-Back or Spread formation is merely a variation on the Shotgun. It's advantage is that it has a direct snap to the QB so there is less chance for error. The disadvantage is that the QB starts behind center rather than 5 yards back, is vulnerable to the rush or blitz and his view of the field may be obstructed by linemen slugging it out directly in front of him.
  13. JamesSavik
    The Pro Set is one of the most basic formations you will see. Almost all the pro teas run it at one time or another. It is a balanced offense from which a team can either pass of run.
     
    Positions-
     
    Offensive Line: the offensive lines job is to open holes for runners of protect the quarterback on passing plays. Although O-lines don't get much press, they have got to perform their job or the offense is going nowhere.
     
    C or Center snaps the ball to the QB and then blocks or protects the passer.
     
    RG and LG The Right and Left Guards are posted about a yard away from the center on his right and left sides respectively. The three positions are collectively called interior linemen. Their job is also to open holes for runners and pass protect when its appropriate. On sweep plays Guards often pull or slide down the line and a running back can follow him around either end.
     
    RT and LT The right and the left tackles are key to both the running and passing game. If they can physically dominate the defensive linemen, their team will be able to pass or run with relative ease. There are a whole series of running plays that go off tackle where a tackle is expected to open a running lane for a back. They must also pass protect because they are typically lined up against defensive ends which are usually a defensive teams best pass rushers.
     
    TE or Tight End The Tight End is a special player. Depending on the play, he can either block, run pass patterns or run the ball on an end around. He is the only offensive lineman who is eligible to catch a pass. Whichever side a Tight End lines up on is called the Strong Side because there is an extra blocker on that side. A team can use two tight ends but this is usually reserved for short yardage situations.
     
     
     
    Outside Receivers- these receivers are lined up clear of the formation so they can get up to speed and run their pass routes.
     
    WR A team may have one to four receivers lined up on the outside. A team must at the time that the ball is snapped have at least six people on the line of scrimmage, a line from sideline to sideline equal to the position of the ball. WRs can run all sorts of routes from very short yardage to as far as his QB can throw it.
     
    F The Flanker (sometimes called a slot-back, H-back or Split end) may line up on either side of the ball but just off the line of scrimmage. Flankers can go into motion prior to the snap of the ball but their motion must be parallel to the line of scrimmage. Only one offensive player may be in motion at any one time. By moving the receivers around, the offense hopes to trick or confuse the defense and end up with a receiver uncovered.
     
     
     
    Offensive Backfield Often called the skill positions, these positions get much of the glory.
     
    QB or quarter back runs the offense. He runs the huddles, calls the plays (usually in communication with the bench), and executes the teams offense. A QB is usually a good athlete because he needs a rich mixture of skills to play the position effectively. He has to be quick, durable, have a strong and accurate throwing arm. He has to be smart because he will need to read the defense instantly and chose his best option given the situation.
     
    HB A halfback is generally considered a speed back. They don't necessarily have to be very big but they need to be quick and agile enough to to get in the running lanes provided by their blockers and get the most yardage out of a play. Ideally a halfback has a mixture of speed, agility, balance and power. They also need to be able to catch the football as many offenses use their backs as additional receivers.
     
    [FB] The Fullback is a big, strong running back who job is to run for short yardage, block for the Half back and protect the QB from blitzing linebackers. It's not a very glorious job but if it is done poorly, the running and passing games will suffer. Full backs are sometimes used as outlet receivers when everyone else is covered so good hands is a vital skill for the position.
     
     
     
    What can we tell just looking at this formation?
     
    1. It is a strong right formation meaning that the tight end is lined up on the right side of the formation.
     
    2. The flanker is in close to the tight end on the right side creating something of an overload. There will be extra blockers or receivers on that side.
     
    3. the HB is on the left side of the formation and the fullback is on the right.
     
    This is the kind of formation that gives defensive coordinators fits. The offense can either pass or run out of this formation. They can run a tradition pitch sweep type play around the right side with the FB, TE and Flanker blocking for the halfback.
     
    They can also run a quick pass on the right outside short zone and try to split the defense.
     
    The formation is versatile enough to keep the defense guessing.
     
    ___________________________________________________________
     
    Next: the I-Formation, the Shotgun, single-back sets and short yardage.
  14. JamesSavik

    NFL Preview

    By JamesSavik,

    AFC 2008 Preview/Predictions
     
     
    AFC North
     
    Steelers- After going 10-6 last year and enjoying a very productive draft, Pittsburg is set to capture the division again. The only question that remains is how far can they go in the playoffs and are they ready to challenge the Patriots? Projected: 12-4, Division winner
     
    Bengals- The Bengals were a disappointing 7-9 last season after a rash of injuries and an early season skid from which they never recovered. This years cats may be a whole different breed. After what looks like a great draft and smart free agency moves, the Bengals appear to have patched some of their most glaring holes on defense except for their corners. Projected: 9-7 with an outside shot at a wildcard spot.
     
    Browns- Cleveland turned in a respectable 10-6 record last year and a Kellum Winslow finally came into his own. The Browns will find it very difficult to do as well this year. Their draft was awful with their first pick in the fourth round. Their defense is injury prone and gives up too many big plays. Projection: 6-10
     
    Ravens- Baltimore fell to 5-11 last year. Their once vaunted defense has aged and become vulnerable to big plays and their offense is simply terrible- 22 in the league total offense, 24th in pass offense and 27th in the red zone. Despite a respectable draft, this is a rebuilding year for the Ravens. Projected: 4-12
     
     
     
     
    AFC East
     
    New England- The Patriots were a perfect 16-0 in the regular season last year. Their loss in the Super Bowl was one of the biggest upsets in the since a brash Joe Namath guaranteed a victory against the Colts in SB III. The Pats had in all last season: #1 total offense, #1 passing offense, #1 scoring offense, #4 Total defense, #4 points allowed and a +16 turnover differential. They show no glaring weaknesses on either side of the ball or special teams. They have been very active in free agency losing LB Junior Seau, two corners and a safety but picking up three corners and a linebacker and adding considerable talent via the draft. I don't expect the Patriots to be perfect in 2008 but the smart money says that barring a meltdown of epic proportions, they'll win their division and will go the distance in the playoffs. Projection: 14-2, division winner, home field in the playoffs.
     
     
    Bills- The Bills appear to be making slow progress after a 7-9 performance last year. Total Offense was 30th and total defense was 31st so the only way to go is up. With a solid nuclues built on the draft, some good free agent pickup and a solid draft, this may be the year Buffalo returns to respectability. Projection: 8-8
     
     
    Jets- The Jets were 4-12 and simply wretched in 2007. Their offense ranked 26 in the league and 31st in red zone percentage. They were 18th in total defense and 25th against the pass. They will be hard pressed to be worse than they were last year but don't expect them to be much better. Projection: 6-10
     
     
    Dolphins- After a 1-15 record last year, one has to wonder what Parcells was smoking when he agreed to take over the train wreak. This team is horrible: owning the bottom of every major statistical category. Even a good draft and smart free agency moves won't move the fish out of the cellar anytime soon. Projection: 3-13
     
     
    AFC West
     
    Chargers- The Chargers are a very talented football team that finished last year 11-5, won two playoff games and lost to the Patriots in the title game. Philip Rivers will be in his third year as a starter and should be peaking after a finishing the last half of the regular season 7-1. LaDainian Tomlinson is in his prime and barring injuries should contend for another rushing title. The defense needs to improve its middle of the pack performance (14th total defense, 16th rush defense, 14th pass defense) for the Chargers to take it to the next level. All indications are that the Chargers are ready for a breakout performance. Projection: 13-3, division winner
     
     
    Broncos- It looks like the Broncos have finally settled on a quarterback just in time for the rest of the teams low ebb. Once enjoying an embarrassment of wealth at running back and wide receiver, Shanahah finds the cupboard is bare except for some free agents and promising rookies. The once proud Orange Crush is a mere shadow of its former self. The Bronco's defense was 19th overall in the league but a dismal 30th against the run. All the signs point to a difficult year in the mile-high city unless Shanahan can reach into this years rookies and pull out a few all Pro Bowlers. Projection: 7-9
     
     
    Chiefs- Last years 4-12 Chiefs will have to try very hard to get any worse than they were last season. They were 31st in total offense and 28th in rushing defense. The one positive was that they were 5th against the pass but who needed to throw against them? The bright side is that there were four solid free agent pickups and a very solid draft in which they had 6 picks in the first three rounds and 12 picks over all.
     
     
    Raiders- Another 4-12 team, the Raiders have been celler-dwellers years and will probably remain there as long as Davis is in charge. It looks like the game has passed Mr. "just win baby" by. 25th in total offense, 31st in rush defense: this team is in need of a serious overhaul and with no clue in how to stop the bleeding. There's just too much gone wrong here for Al Davis to write a few checks and make it all better. Projection: 2-14
     
     
    AFC South
     
    Colts- 13-3 last year and barely missing a shot at a second super bowl, no one in the AFC South can touch the Colts. A few years ago playing the Colts was like a track meet: if you could out score them, you could win. Last years Colts had the leagues #3 total defense team and #1 in scoring defense. The Colts are formidable presence and one that will have to be dealt with on the road to the superbowl. Projection: 14-2, division winner
     
     
    Jaguars- Last year the Jags had to be the most under-rated team in the league. The played consistently tough football and racked up an 11-5 record. The Jags may be the most balanced team in the league. In 2007 they ranked 7th in the league in total offense: #2 rushing and #17 passing. They ranked 12th in the league on defense: 11th against the rush and 15th against the pass. Sure- its easy to overlook a good team in the shadow of Peyton Manning's Colts but the Jags need to improve their middle of the pack defense to push the Colts come playoff time. Projection: 12-4, wildcard
     
     
    Texans- The perennially horrible Texans improved to 8-8 last season. The Texans are still not a good, balanced football team- their defense was a woeful 24th in the league but their offense was 14th and their special teams performed very well. They are much better than they were a few years ago when David Carr was running for his life. They've still got a long way to go before they can push their division rivals. Projection: 9-7
     
     
    Titans- In 2007 the Titans improved to 10-6 and earned a wildcard slot thanks to the play of rookie QB Vince Young. Probably their most improved aspect of their team was the defense which was 5th in total defense (5th against the run and 10th against the pass). This year will tell whether this improvement was simply a weak schedule or are the Titans are for real. This year they'll play a playoff teams schedule and we'll see. Projection: 8-8
     
     
     
     
     
    NFC Preview
     
     
    NFC North
     
    Vikings- If Adrian Peterson stays healthy and the Vikes get some consistency at QB, this is their year. Injuries could do them in but the rest of the division is in transition and it is theirs if they want it bad enough. Projection: 11-5, division winner
     
     
    Bears- This is the year when Rex Grossman finally collapses and all the angry Bears on defense can't put things back together again. Projection: 7-9
     
     
    Packers- Farve is finally gone and so is the magic. Look for Aaron Rodgers to struggle as he finds out how impossible it is to follow a legend. A good but not great defense can not carry the team. Projection: 6-10
     
     
    Lions- Coming off their best season since 2000 with a record of 7-9 you might expect improvement but their defense was 32nd in the league last year. The Lions went looking for defensive help in the draft and free agency but don't look for much improvement for another year of so. Projection: 6-10
     
     
     
    NFC East
     
     
    Cowboys- The Cowboys are loaded this year and it will be hard to keep them from winning the division. Last year their offense ranked #3 in the league and their defense was #9. They have no glaring weaknesses and have added a solid rookie running back- Felix Jones, an all-pro linebacker via free agency- Zach Thomas and depth in the secondary. This just might be their year. Projection: 13-3, division winner, home field advantage in the playoffs
     
     
    Giants- Mannings heroics in the playoffs aside, the Giants were a very average team last year. Their offense was 16rd in the league and their defense was 7th and gave up too many big plays. Yeah sure- they'll win 10 games on the strength of Mannings arm but their defense is not getting any younger and their schedule will be brutal. Projection: 10-6 wildcard
     
     
    Redskins- Would someone please take the Redskins away from meddling owner Daniel Snyder? Hiring Jim Zorn as head coach was risky but the former run and gun QB of the Seahawks might know a thing or two about moving the ball- something that hasn't happened consistently in Washington in some time. Call it another rebuilding year and if Snyder is patient, it looks like the Redskins are on the right track. Projection: 7-9
     
     
    Eagles- How does a team with the NFL's 6 ranked offense and 10th ranked defense go 8-8? Turnovers, inconsistent play and a rooster that is too old and too young in too many key areas. As McNabb goes, so go the Eagles and he is yet to look like he did before the devastating 2006 knee injury. The Eagles allowed 37 sacks last year which is far too many for a QB with a gimpy knee. Projection: 6-10
     
     
     
    NFC West
     
    Seahawks- Mike Holmgren's 'Hawks have been the most consistent team in the NFC West for several years including a superbowl appearence a couple of years ago. At 10-6 last year the Hawks simply looked a little above average. Their offense ranked 9th in the league (20th rushing, 8th passing) and a defense ranked 15th (12 vs. rush, 19 vs pass). They need to play better defense if they want to return to those later playoff games and they addressed those needs in the draft. They also picked up some running backs via free agency to give Shawn Alexander some help. Projection: 11-5, division winner
     
     
    Cardinals- All of the elements are in place for the Cardinals to have a breakout year- a soft schedule, years of experienced, high round draft picks, a young, talented QB and a draft/free agency moves that address key areas. Arizona fans have good reason to be excited because a wild card slot is definitely in range for the Red Birds. Projection: 9-7
     
     
    49ers- The 49ers are a work in progress and much of that progress rests on the shoulders of Alex Smith. The 1st pick of the 2005 has a lot of pressure on him this year to lead the once proud 49ers back to respectability. That may be too much to ask for a team that had the NFL's 32nd ranked offense and the 25th ranked offense. Expect the 'Niners to improve incrementally from last year but a return of glory days to 'Frisco are still years away. Projection: 7-9
     
     
    Rams- The greatest show on turf days are long gone from St Louis and they won't be returning anytime soon. Last years the Rams were awful in every stat that mattered: 21th total defense, 24 total offense and losing 27 interceptions. They looked and played like a 3-13 team and won't be much better in 2008. They had a good draft and picked up a few interesting free agents and look to improve slowly over the next two seasons. Projection: 5-11
     
     
     
    NFC South
     
    Saints- The Saints spent their off season on defense, defense and more defense. Ranking #26 in defense last year, they needed to desperately. The Saints picked two solid linebackers (Vilma and Morgan) and helped their secondary via free agency, picked up Jeremy Shockley from the Giants and spent their first six draft picks on defense including the monstrous DT Sedrick Ellis of USC. The Saints WILL be better of defense and their 4th ranked offense returns healthy and ready to score. Projection: 12-4, division winner
     
     
    Buccaneers- After going 9-7 last year it looks like the Bucs are ready to play at the next level but wait: the QB is 38 year old Jeff Garcia? 36 year old Joey Galloway is his favorite target? Nothing is wrong with the league's #2 defense but can the when you look at their rooster, the Bucs are getting pretty old in key areas. Don't expect either Garcia or Galloway to go 16 games. Projection 10-6, wildcard
     
     
    Panthers- Last year the Panthers fell to 7-9 and don't look to get any better before some people in skill positions get some experience. The offense fell to #29th in the league while their once fierce defense was a mediocre #16. Can Delhomme return from major shoulder surgery? That's a key otherwise the Panthers drop like a rock. Projection: 5-11
     
     
    Falcons- The Vick-less Falcons were simply wretched last year with the 23rd ranked offense and the 29th ranked defense. While drafting Matt Ryan was the right move for the future, the Falcons will suffer through another season or two of rebuilding. Projection: 4-12
     
     
     
    Superbowl XLIII The Patriots defeat the Cowboys 28-24 on a last minute Brady drive.
  15. JamesSavik
    A few notes about the profiles:
     
    I will take each band and present its original albums in chronological order. I will list the year of the album release and show its most common album cover.
     
    Each album will link to Google Music to show a list of tracks on the album and independent reviews.
     
    Where possible, I will use U-tube or other video provider to show classic tracks from the albums.
     
    Hot links to U-tube or Google Music appear in red. I suggest opening them in a new tab in Firefox or IE6+.
     
     
    Typical format:
     
    Descriptive blurb about the album with link to google music album year and critical reception.
     

     
     
    track 1 link
     
    track 2 link
     
     
    __________________________________________________________________________
     
    I hope you enjoy these as much as I did putting them together. It has turned out to be a labor of love.
  16. JamesSavik
    Modern Classics Profile Series
     
    The Doors
     
    The Beatles 63-66
     
    The Beatles 67-70
     
    Upcoming Profiles
     
    Led Zeppelin
     
    The Cars
     
    The Police
     
    The Eagles
     
    Pink Floyd
     
    Yes
     
    Rush
     
     
    You know that you like a classic band- you've heard them on an FM station but buying their albums (CDs) can be tricky. Which ones have which tracks? Which ones are pure gold and which ones are pure mold? With CD prices at $15+, its a mistake you would like to avoid. Here I offer profiles of classic rock bands and their original albums, track listings and samples of their music.
     
    It is my hope that you can enjoy it and get the perfect albums for your tastes.
     
    Let me know who you would like to see profiled.
     
    If you see something cool, please comment!
     
     
    __________________________________________________________
     
    Sources:
     
    Google Music- Albums, track listings
     
    Wikipedia- Band and Album Histories
     
    Utube- Music Videos
     
    Official and Fan websites
  17. JamesSavik
    The Free Stuff:
     
    Anti-virus Software
    AVG Anti-virus: the most popular free-ware anti-virus
    Avast anti-virus: another freeware A-V choice
     
    Anti-Spyware Software
    Ad Aware
    Spy Bot
     
    Cleanup/tune-up utilities
    ccleaner cleans up temp and junk files, scans registry for known bugs
     
     
    <More later>
  18. JamesSavik
    Climate change is very real and it has been going on in cycles since the planet formed.
     
    Three Orbital cycles that affect climate:

    Orbital Eccentricity: 100,000 year Cycle
    Orbital Tilt: 42,000 year cycle
    Orbital Wobble: 25,800 year cycle

     
    Orbital Eccentricity: the earth's orbit around the sun forms an ellipse. Every 100,000 years or so the ellipse "flops" into a pattern that changes solar exposure. This trend is working is way to a peak this century.
     
    Orbital Tilt: The tilt of the equator varies between 21.6 to 24.5 degrees. This cycle is right in the middle.
     
    Orbital Wobble: The earths axis of rotation "wobbles" in a circular pattern over the period of the cycle which is approaching maximum.
     
     
    Catastrophic climate change
     
    Over the course of the planets geological record, it is apparent that there have been a number of catastrophic events that have caused either short or long term variations in the climate. These events are:

    Comet Impacts
    Asteroid Impacts
    Super-Volcanic Eruption/Out-gassing

     
    Comet Impacts: have taken place with regularity over geological time. One theory of the origin of our atmosphere is that water and gases locked up in comets seeded our atmosphere. Other theories are that comets delived the seeds of life to our planet in the very distant past. While they have had beneficial side effects in the past, comets are unbelievably destructive. Comets are gas and ice and have a nasty tendency to explode when heated by the atmosphere creating a huge fireball airburst of thousands of megatons of energy: enough energy to completely destroy a continent and wreak the climate for decades in a condition not unlike nuclear winter. Are you ready for the good part? This has happened several times in our planets history: most recently the Tunguska comet impact of 1908.
     
    Asteroid Impacts: the bad news of comet impacts is even worse for asteroids: they are solid and survive the atmosphere. They strike the surface and vaporize rock/soil and hurl molten material for hundreds of miles in all directions. The fireball itself is very much like a huge nuclear explosion which puts tremendous amounts of super-heated ash and dust into the upper atmosphere. This causes a decades long "nuclear winter" which changes the entire ecosystems. It is believed that this is what caused the mass extinctions that ended the Permian and Cretacous eras (AKA KT extinction).
     
    Super-Volcanic Eruption/Out-gassing: from time to time there have been extremely massive volcanic eruptions and periods of volcanic hyper-activity that have been so violent and have released so much CO2 and SO4 that they have simply poisioned massive land areas. I'm not describing the eruption of a Mount St. Helens or even a Krakatau, which both influenced the global climate, but entire regions erupting at once. One of the great extinction events of the past was thought to have been caused when hundreds of volcanoes, rifts and magma flows formed Siberia.
  19. JamesSavik
    The Milky Way is twice the size we thought it was
    University of Sydney
    20 February 2008
    Source Link
     
     
    We were tossing around ideas about the size of the Galaxy, and thought we had better check the standard numbers that everyone uses," Professor Gaensler said. Image credit: NASA, ESA, and The Hubble Heritage Team (STScI/AURA)
    It took just a couple of hours using data available on the internet for University of Sydney scientists to discover that the Milky Way is twice as wide as previously thought.
     
     
    Astrophysicist Professor Bryan Gaensler led a team that has found that our galaxy - a flattened spiral about 100,000 light years across - is 12,000 light years thick, not the 6,000 light years that had been previously thought.
     
     
    Proving not all science requires big, expensive apparatus, Professor Gaensler and colleagues, Dr Greg Madsen, Dr Shami Chatterjee and PhD student Ann Mao, downloaded data from the internet and analysed it in a spreadsheet.
     
     
    "We were tossing around ideas about the size of the Galaxy, and thought we had better check the standard numbers that everyone uses. It took us just a few hours to calculate this for ourselves. We thought we had to be wrong, so we checked and rechecked and couldn't find any mistakes."
     
     
    The University of Sydney team's analysis differs from previous calculations because they were more discerning with their data selection. "We used data from pulsars: stars that flash with a regular pulse," Professor Gaensler explains. "As light from these pulsars travels to us, it interacts with electrons scattered between the stars (the Warm Ionised Medium, or WIM), which slows the light down.
     
     
    "In particular, the longer (redder) wavelengths of the pulse slow down more than the shorter (bluer) wavelengths, so by seeing how far the red lags behind the blue we can calculate how much WIM the pulse has travelled through.
     
     
    "If you know the distance to the pulsar accurately, then you can work out how dense the WIM is and where it stops - in other words where the Galaxy's edge is.
     
     
    "Of the thousands of pulsars known in and around our Galaxy, only about 60 have really well known distances. But to measure the thickness of the Milky Way we need to focus only on those that are sitting above or below the main part of the Galaxy; it turns out that pulsars embedded in the main disk of the Milky Way don't give us useful information."
     
     
    Choosing only the pulsars well above or below us cuts the number of measurements by a factor of three, but it is precisely this rejection of data points that makes The University of Sydney's analysis different from previous work.
     
     
    "Some colleagues have come up to me and have said 'That wrecks everything!'" says Professor Gaensler. "And others have said 'Ah! Now everything fits together!'"
     
     
    The team's results were presented in January this year at the 211th meeting of the American Astronomical Society in Austin, Texas.
     
     
    About Professor Bryan Gaensler:
     
     
    Professor Gaensler is a graduate of the University of Sydney and a former Young Australian of the Year. After working at the Department of Astronomy at Harvard University he was lured back to Australia on prestigious Federation Fellowship. One of the world's leading astronomers, his research interests include studying the essential role that magnetic fields play in the generation of turbulence and large-scale structures, the production of high-energy cosmic ray particles, and the formation of the first stars and galaxies.
  20. JamesSavik
    Here is Messenger's first look at Mercury: the first pictures since Mariner 10 made three fly bys in 1974 and 1975.
     
    It is believed that Mercury's surface has been largely undisturbed since the Solar Systems late bombardment phase ~4-5 billion years ago.
     
    Over the next few months Messenger will settle in to an orbit of Mercury and will stay there for extended studies of the planet.
  21. JamesSavik

    Mercury Messenger

    By JamesSavik,

    NASA's Messenger (MErcury Surface, Space ENvironment, GEochemistry and Ranging) probe made its first fly-by of Mercury today and over the next few months will settle into orbit for an extended study of the planet.
     
    Messenger is the first probe to visit Mercury since Mariner 10 back in 1975.
     
    Because of its position in the solar system, Mercury is very unique planet. Constantly seared by heat and radiation from the sun, the chemistry of Mercury has been skewed. All of the volitile elements like oxygen, hydrogen have been cooked away. The ordinary compounds like silicates and oxides can't form causing a very different high energy chemistry.
     
    All that is left of Mercury over the eons is a cinder of heavy elements and minerals formed at very high temperatures.
     
    Of all the planets, Mercury is 2nd in density only to the earth. It has no atmosphere but alpha particles (helium nuclei) are easily detected. This is a marker of radioactive decay from heavy elements like uranium or thorium or radioactive isotopes of less exotic elements.
     
    If we could ever figure out how to mine Mercury, it would probably be a mineralogical treasure house.
     
    Mercury is heavily cratered and sports a giant crater that covers almost 1/3 of the planet and nearly blew the planet apart.
     
    In the days to come we should see some cool photos of the roasted planet.
  22. JamesSavik

    Movie Madness

    By JamesSavik,

    Once upon a time movies were original. Many were adaptations of novels, short stories or plays. Sadly- times have changed.
     
    Many of todays movies are regurgitations of successful movies of yesterday.
     
    This Christmas season, there were four BIG movies that were re-writes in part or in total. The one that did the best, Will Smith's I Am Legend was a post-apocalyptic horror story, re-did Charlton Heston's Omega Man of the seventies which was in turn based on a novel. Wil Smith's version of the movie is a rare exception where the rewrite surpasses the original.
     
    Another type of movie is the franchise. These are series of movies like Star Wars, Star Trek, Bond movies, the Aliens movies, etc. Franchise movies have a built in fan base and will make lots of money whether or not it sucks.
     
    This Christmas season's franchise movie was Aliens Vs Predatator Requiem and it stank up the big screen. Predatators are BAD. Aliens are BAD. Put them together and you should have a winner right? Wrong. Requiem was the right name for this movie: it may be the funeral of the franchise. When one does Sci-fi, for it to work there are two elements that come into play: suspension of disbelief and a logical plot. One depends on the viewer and the other is a function of the writer. Requiem was a tense, bloody gore-fest that ended with the nuking of thousands of people, aliens and one predator. It left me wishing that I had just bought the comic book.
     
    More types of movies:
     
    Movie of the Weak: low-budget, made for TV movie which is a waste of consciousness the first time.
     
    Independent Film: low-budget, weird piece of shite that sucks and there is no one to blame since it is independent.
     
    B Movie; short for BARF movie. 50s and 60s were the height of this low.
     
    Cult Classic Movies which have 50 fans nation-wide and no one else gives a shite about.
     
    B & W movie: Barf and Wretch movies: gross, bloody and horrifying eg. Nightmare on Elm Street
  23. JamesSavik
    Into the City
     
    Burbs rats, spoiled brats, so cool in backwards hats,
    Basket brawls, drunken crawls, endless country-music drawl,
    Nerdy dips on acid trips trying hard to be tragically hip,
    Nursery rhymes, capital crimes, side by side in the urban grime,
    Telephone crews, the cheapest booze, novel writers selling shoes,
    Macho men, studying zen so they can slaughter their kin,
    White trash, hopes smashed, Jesus freaks seeking cold hard cash,
    Skater kids, Freudian id, broken drunks on the skids,
    Working nights, gaudy lights, pimps and hoes in noisy fights,
    Sleazy places, sacred spaces, maudlin coyote faces,
    Crowds in view, shades of blue, who the f**K knew,
    Cats in heat, vodka neat, predators looking to cheat,
    Women vain, raising cain, looking for someone else to blame,
    Trading gladness and subtle sadness for a taste of chemical madness,
    Rocks in shoes, crappy news, talking heads selling points of view,
    Too many hands, like so much sand, lost in this human wasteland.
     
     

    Fireflies
     
    Fireflies in the magnolia trees,
    Burning brightly in the night,
    In the coolness of the evening,
    Firefly passion burning bright.
     
    They only last a season,
    Barely three phases of the moon,
    They have no earthly reason,
    To waste a precious night in June.
     
    Learn well the lesson of the firefly,
    Waste not the gentle season,
    Far too soon our winter comes,
    Why waste time for no good reason?
     
    Grab on to life with all its strife,
    With it
  24. JamesSavik
    Smart Bombs
     

    Really, really dumb bomb
     

    "Death to America, death to Israel, you guys go first..."
     

    Suicide Bomber Barbie is fierce as long as she doesn't break a nail.
     

    The suicide bomber homing pidgeon was a horrible idea...
     

    Suicide bomber cat hates you...
     

    Yassar's Big Adventure
  25. JamesSavik
    Remember, remember the fifth of November,
    The gunpowder, treason and plot,
    I know of no reason
    Why gunpowder treason
    Should ever be forgot.
     

     
    People shouldn't fear their Goverenments. Goverenments should fear their people.
     
    We are oft to blame in this, 'Tis too much proved - that with devotion's visage And pious action we do sugar o'er The devil himself.
     
    I dare do all that may become a man; Who dares do more is none.
     
    Beneath this mask there is more than flesh. Beneath this mask there is an idea, Mr. Creedy, and ideas are bulletproof.
     
    A desperate disease requires a dangerous remedy.
    __________________________________________________________________
     
    Least you think we are immune, secure from tyranny's doom,
    Read this law that was just made, tell me that you are not afraid....
    __________________________________________________________________
    The U.S. House of Representatives recently passed HR 1955, titled the Violent Radicalization and Homegrown Terrorism Prevention Act of 2007.
     
    It was passed with 404 votes in favor.
     
    A close reading within an historical context
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