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2011 Born Digital Wine Awards Announces New Categories and Judges

gfmstudio — Sun, 02 Oct 2011 12:20:12 +0000

2011 Born Digital Wine Awards Announces New Categories and Judges (PRWEB) August 29, 2011

Building on last year?s success, the Born Digital Wine Awards (BDWA) announces the new 2011 judging panel and awards category. The BDWA awards recognize writers and artists internationally for content first published online in a free and unrestricted manner.

The Born Digital Wine Awards is different from other competitions in that the BDWA accepts submissions in any language.

The judging panel for the 2011 edition consist of winners from last year?s BDWA along with highly regarded wine professionals from around the world. Submissions – published in the 2011 calender year – will open on December 1, 2011.

Based on feedback from online wine communicators, the BDWA is also excited to announce a new category for the 2011 awards: Best Wine Photo Essay. This category was added to reward amazing photography that tells a engaging and meaningful story.

To learn how to submit work, or to help support the Born Digital Wine Awards, please go to their website: http://www.borndigitalwineawards.com

The categories for the 2011 awards include:

Best Investigative Wine Writing: for a distinguished example of investigative reporting by an individual or team, presented as a single wine article or series (video, written text)

Best Editorial Wine Writing: for outstanding examples of wine writing, giving prime consideration to literary quality and originality

Best Wine Tourism Feature: Speaking about a particular region as a tourist destination with a focus on wine (written text, video)

Best Wine Themed Video: Video content that either educates, demonstrates or builds awareness for wine

Best Winery Self Produced Content: for outstanding examples of content created by wineries to promote their brand and reach out to key audiences (video, written text)

Best Wine Photo Essay **NEW CATEGORY**: A set of 2 to 10 photos, published in one online location, that focus on a wine theme or story. (photo)

Members of the new 2011 Born Digital Wine Awards judging panel will be:

Michel Bettane (France) ? Author of Grand Guide des Vins du France and writer, Bettane et Desseauve, blogger

Herv? Lalau (Belgium) – Deputy-Chief Editor at In Vino Veritas and writer, Chroniques Vineuse, blogger

Fongyee Walker (MW candidate) (China) – Co-founder, Dragon Phoenix Fine Wine Consulting and author, blogger

Patrick Schmitt (UK) ? Editor, Drinks Business

Elin McCoy (USA) ? Writer Bloomberg and author, blogger

Ulf Sjodin MW (Sweden) – Head of Category Management, Systembolaget and writer

Tim Atkin (UK) ? Wine Writer http://www.timatkin.com, blogger

Wink Lorch (France) ? Wine Writer, Wine Travel Guides, blogger

Richard Ross (UK) ? Wine App Developer and writer, www,wine-lines.com, blogger

Jay Selman (USA) ? Co-founder, Grape Radio and founder, Grape Visions, blogger

About the Born Digital Wine Awards

Founded in 2010 by Robert McIntosh from The Wine Conversation (http://wineconversation.com) and Ryan and Gabriella Opaz from Catavino (http://catavino.net), the annual awards aims to recognize international works on wine originally published online.

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The Famous Mountains Of Whistler In British Columbia

gfmstudio — Sat, 20 Nov 2010 05:08:01 +0000

Whistler in British Columbia was founded as a ski resort in the early 1960′s and in 1975 it became Canada’s first ‘Resort Municipality’. This supreme year-round destination resort is around two hours drive from Vancouver, British Columbia.

Whistler is not just for skiing, it is best for a wide variety of summer and winter activities. You can enjoy endless choice in dining, shopping and nightlife in British Columbia’s Coast Mountains.

The incredible downhill skiing at Whistler Mountains in winter season made the place world famous. Lot of people around the world visit the mountains of Whistler to enjoy their vacations with fun filled activities. Apart from downhill ski facilities, winter visitors can enjoy cross-country skiing, ice skating, heli-skiing, snowmobiling, dog-sledding, sleigh-riding and a host of other winter recreational activities.

Same as in winter, visitors can enjoy a wide variety of activities in the summer season also. You can enjoy world-class golf, mountain top sightseeing , mountain biking, in-line skating, hiking, horseback riding, canoeing, sightseeing, kayaking, fishing, and glacier skiing in the summer season.

Whistler is considered as one of the top bike towns in North America. Pedestrian village, situated at the base of Whistler and Blackcomb Mountains, is one of the major places of attraction. Whistler Village and the adjacent Upper Village which are designed in distinctive mountain resort architecture will be an excellent place to stay for visitors.

Mountains and a huge variety of first class restaurants and distinctive shops are easily accessible from Whistler Village and Upper Village. The surrounding valley is blessed with several parks with boat launches, beaches, picnic areas and hiking trails. There are five beautiful lakes, several creeks and rivers with kilometers of conventional trails for hiker, bikers and inline skaters.

The two mountains in Whistler have over 8,100 skiable terrain, one vertical mile, more than 200 trails, three glaciers, twelve alpine bowls and 38 lifts. Over two millions of tourists visit Whistler Blackcomb, the top ski and snowboard resort in North America, annually. It gets an average of ten meters of snow annually.

As it is situated only 40 kilometers inland from the Pacific Ocean, Whistler enjoys moderate temperatures. Most of the people visit Whistler in summer than in the winter season. Golfing, hiking, mountain biking, canoeing and swimming are only a few of the admired summer activities offered in the Whistler area.

Garibaldi Lift Company opened a ski area on the wester side of the Whistler Mountain in February 1966. In 1980, Blackcomb Mountain opened a brand new facility named Whistler Village to complement Whistler Mountain. It was designed by leading architects, planners and landscape professionals from North America. The design of the village highlights outstanding sun exposure and breathtaking views.

A wonderful array of accommodation is available through out Whistler. You can choose your favourite form luxurious mountain chalets to economical hotels. You can also book your accommodation online or with the help of any travel consultants.

During the summer season you can enjoy a sunrise or mid-day ATV tours on Whistler mountain. There are several service providers who are conducting ATV tours. You can contact any one of them to have an ATV tour. Snow-capped peaks, Alpine forests, and indigenous wildlife are just some of the wonders you experience during hiking and walking trails in Whistler.

Heli-hiking is best for experienced explorers. You can hike across rolling meadows against a background of magnificent mountain views. Altogether your trip to Whistler will be a memorable one in your lifetime.

Presently, there is over 9000 permanent residents in Whistler. Whistler has the best ski-in/ski-out accommodation when compared to other recreation resorts in North America. Whistler is home to over 100 hotels and condominiums and bed & breakfasts with more than 4000 well-furnished rooms.

Whistler and Blackcomb Mountains jointly boast 200 runs and 33 lifts and the greatest vertical drop in the continent. Most of the travelers visit whistler with either riding or skiing in mind. Apart from that there are a number of other activities to complement days on the mountain.

People of all ages can enjoy activities such as ice climbing, snowshoeing, snowmobiling, dog sledding and even sightseeing. Be there in the mountains of Whistler this winter/summer and enjoy your vacation. Make sure that you will be here for you next vacation.

Cool Mountain Biking Experience in Batam

gfmstudio — Sat, 20 Nov 2010 05:07:19 +0000

Batam is best known as the free trade zone of Indonesia’s Riau Islands but now is emerging as an ideal island holiday destination by global travelers. Discountedhotelsinbatam.com has great offers on rooms in hotels in Batam making it affordable for visitors to holiday in this island. Apart from clean beaches and silvery sands one of the most popular activities in Batam is mountain biking. You can hire or even buy a bicycle from one of the shops and start your adventure by taking the 30 kilometer path on the Nongsa peninsula. You can start from the beautiful Turi Beach on the Nongsa Kampung and end at Tering Bay Golf Club. Visitors staying in Batam hotels can see lush green forests which are home to some rare fauna and flora. Tourists on a biking trail can also get to see beautiful virgin beaches and get to pass through dirt roads which add to the challenge. This is one cycling trip which will make remember Batam for life.

If you are running short of time and you want to take a short day trip then a visit to Batu Mera village is recommended. This is one of the oldest villages in Batam and you can get to see the rural life and get to mix with the local people and experience their culture and simple way of life. You would also be amazed by the warmth of their hospitality and an incentive to return to Batam again.

Experience Multicultural Batam

Most of the ceremonies are a combination of dance, music, art and religious chants which would expose visitors staying in hotels in Batam to its spiritual side. Some of the popular local traditional dances are the Batam Zapin Dance, the Jogi Dance and Persembahan Dance which are not only colorful but also melodious.

Drama is also part of the Batam culture and the Mak Yong Drama is a very popular one where the story revolves around a country called Riau and its wise king. Batam is also popular for the various culinary delights that comes straight from its steaming hot kitchens. Seafood is the specialty of Batam and you cannot afford to miss out on the local delicacy called Gong-Gong which is a shellfish and is Batam’s best kept secret. The best place to please the taste buds is the Nagoya, Batu Besar, Batu Merah areas where you can find innumerable restaurants and roadside hawker stalls. Discountedhotelsinbatam.com with their discounts on wonderful hotels in Batam is an ideal way to holiday in this beautiful island.

Excite hotels Offers You Magical Hotels in Batam

5 Top Winter Tips to Help Bicycle Riders Get Through the Cold

gfmstudio — Sat, 20 Nov 2010 05:07:10 +0000

With an increased awareness in global issues and the rising costs of fuel, many are turning towards cycling as a main source of transportation. Particularly in cities where individuals are only a short distance away from their place of work and sources of entertainment, bicycles offer a relatively cheap and environmentally friendly way to travel. Winter brings challenges to cyclists, but with bit of knowledge and awareness, riders are able to ride their bikes year round.

1. Stay Warm to Stay Riding

One of the main reasons that an individual might choose a motor vehicle over a bicycle in the winter is climate control. Frigid temperatures can make cycling seem unbearable. However, with the correct gear, a person can remain quite comfortable in some of the coldest weather conditions. Ski goggles are a great way to protect the eyes from extreme conditions. Tight fitting knit and fleece caps coupled with a helmet will allow the head to maintain most of its warmth.

The proper footwear is important as well, as regular cycling shoes do not provide the needed warmth in very cold conditions. Instead, regular snow boots are a good alternative.

Another great tip is to keep body parts as close together as possible. For this reason, mittens are a good replacement for gloves as it allows the fingers to stay in close contact allowing the hands to stay warmer. Whatever apparel is chosen, a rider should be sure that he or she is comfortable and can make good contact with handles and pedals.

2. Good Tires Are a Must

Another factor to take into consideration when cycling in winter is tires. A good rule to remember is that the wider the tire, the better the traction. More tire allows more contact with the ground. A cyclist can purchase studs or chains of their tires, but this will make riding on pavement much rougher. However, chains will greatly improve traction on ice or snow. Some riders find that lowering the pressure in the tires will allow for more traction when riding in poor cycling conditions.

3. Be Seen in the Dwindling Light

With winter comes a decrease in the amount of daylight, often times resulting in an increase in the amount of time a cyclist will have to ride in the dark. For this reason, it is very important for any rider to inspect his or her bicycle and make sure that the reflectors are clean and visible. Additionally, lights should be installed on both the front and the back of the bicycle. Drivers are more likely to be distracted in the winter and visibility could be reduced, so a rider can never be too safe. Lights and reflectors are the best protection in the dark of winter.

4. Practice Proper Bike Maintenance to Stay Safe

Keeping a bicycle clean and well lubricated is important in regard to winter riding. Fenders and mud flaps can protect both rider and bicycle from dirty, slushy, and salty roads. While any grease will be suitable for a bicycle, some might find benefits in using a grease designed for low temperatures. While a bicycle does not have to be winterized for the cold weather in the same way that an automobile does, it is a great idea to re-grease the bearings in the fall in order to prepare for the extra dirt and grime of winter riding.

5. Keep It Steady

Finally, it is important that a cyclist maintain their ability to control a bicycle in winter. A cyclist should remember to pedal their bicycle smoothly and avoid in quick jerking motions. As a general rule, slow and steady will be better in the winter than speeding up and slowing down. If a cyclist does find that they are sliding, they should try to correct with small movements and avoid any major swerving. Much like in a vehicle, over-correcting could easily lead to a crash.Generally, snow will require more effort to pedal through, but will allow for better traction than ice.

Winter is a time in which temperatures drop and weather often deteriorates. However, this does not have to deter a person from choosing to cycle during the cold weather. Whether it be bitterly cold temperatures or a barrage of winter precipitation, following these cold-weather riding tips can allow a rider to enjoy the perks of cycling throughout the cold weather months.

Travel to Bali for Your Next Holiday

gfmstudio — Sat, 20 Nov 2010 05:07:03 +0000

There has to be a reason for Bali being regarded as the Best Island in the World by an international magazine, and it surely has many. Small in size, but huge on attractions Bali charms endlessly. A place with a natural charm, Bali is home to some of the most exotic pagodas, beaches, lush fields, deep wilds and a lovely tropical climate. As morning chants from pagodas fill the air, Buddhist colors flow and Japanese practices make the day. Bali, a land of many cultures, displays a unique and fascinating culture of its won. A fascinating fusion of some of the most intriguing cultures that live on the face of the earth, Bali has come out with a culture all beautiful in itself.

One simply cannot miss the enchanting sun-kissed beaches in Bali. Golden strips of sands flooded with sunlight are simply the best places on earth to catch on a good time doing nothing. Its tropical climate and ample of sunshine adds to the magic of the natural charm. As one moves the greenery of the rice expanses takes on ones mind. And the deep woods are not simply exciting but also have an aura of mystery around them. A number of pretty volcanoes that dot the island do no less in contributing to the beauty of the landscape.

As the natural beauty of Bali soothes your soul, the land has loads to get your adrenalin pumping. Amed, Nusa Dua, and Tulamben are some of the most exciting Scuba diving spots in Bali. With it ribbons of exotic beaches, Bali is a surfing hot spot too. With paragliding opportunities, gliding over the spectacular beaches can be an absolutely thrilling event. And it’s not just about surfing and beaches. Bali is fast growing as a hot destination for other sports as well. It is home to some of the finest golf courses in the world too. Another amazing and less strenuous way of getting thrill is a cycle trek along the lovely country side. Tourists are sure to find many local dealers renting out cycles. Cruising the high seas can also be exhilarating. Get in touch with one of the many local cruise organizing people. They can offer you a good range of cruises to pick from.

The dense jungles of Bali are always a retreat for the nature and wildlife lovers. Deep and dense, these forests are home to large variety of various species. An incredible variety of birds have chosen these jungles as their home, making it a paradise for every avian-watcher. Take an elephant safari to tour the deep woods and explore the natural wealth they possess. The Bird Park in Bali is one of the best spots to go for a bird-spotting adventure. The waters here let you enjoy a good session of dolphin watching. Watching these lovely creatures in their natural habit is always rewarding.

For the weary, Bali is a great place to rejuvenate. It’s not just its natural beauty and calm that helps you refresh. Bali is known for its exotic spas and invigorating massages. The traditional Balinese massages are completely natural and can work wonders on you. Extremely therapeutic these sessions can be of great health benefits.

Considered to be the most visitor-friendly island in this part of the world, the sense of hospitality in Bali is worth commending too. It is its culture that gives Bali this trait. This hospitality can very well be seen in the large numbers of hotels that have come up in Bali. Tourists would hardly find it difficult to find a hotel in Bali. The place has a hotel to cater to almost all kinds of needs, preferences and budgets. From the most fabulous resorts and big star hotel brands to economical hotels, Bali has it all. Bungalows and Villas can also be taken up for an all new staying experience.

Radio propagation

gfmstudio — Sat, 20 Nov 2010 05:06:31 +0000

Free space propagation

In free space, all electromagnetic waves (radio, light, X-rays, etc) obey the inverse-square law which states that the power density of an electromagnetic wave is proportional to the inverse of the square of the distance from the source or:

Doubling the distance from a transmitter means that the power density of the radiated wave at that new location is reduced to one-quarter of its previous value.

The power density per surface unit is proportional to the product of the electric and magnetic field strengths. Thus, doubling the propagation path distance from the transmitter reduces each of their received field strengths over a free-space path by one-half.

Modes

Radio frequencies and their primary mode of propagation

Band

Frequency

Wavelength

Propagation via

VLF

Very Low Frequency

330 kHz

10010 km

Guided between the earth and the ionosphere.

LF

Low Frequency

30300 kHz

101 km

Guided between the earth and the D layer of the ionosphere.

Surface waves.

MF

Medium Frequency

3003000 kHz

1000100 m

Surface waves.

E, F layer ionospheric refraction at night, when D layer absorption weakens.

HF

High Frequency (Short Wave)

330 MHz

10010 m

E layer ionospheric refraction.

F1, F2 layer ionospheric refraction.

VHF

Very High Frequency

30300 MHz

101 m

Infrequent E ionospheric refraction. Extremely rare F1,F2 layer ionospheric refraction during high sunspot activity up to 80 MHz. Generally direct wave. Sometimes tropospheric ducting.

UHF

Ultra High Frequency

3003000 MHz

10010 cm

Direct wave. Sometimes tropospheric ducting.

SHF

Super High Frequency

330 GHz

101 cm

Direct wave.

EHF

Extremely High Frequency

30300 GHz

101 mm

Direct wave limited by absorption.

Surface modes

Main article: Surface wave

Lower frequencies (between 30 and 3,000 kHz) have the property of following the curvature of the earth via groundwave propagation in the majority of occurrences.

In this mode the radio wave propagates by interacting with the semi-conductive surface of the earth. The wave “clings” to the surface and thus follows the curvature of the earth. Vertical polarization is used to alleviate short circuiting the electric field through the conductivity of the ground. Since the ground is not a perfect electrical conductor, ground waves are attenuated rapidly as they follow the earth surface. Attenuation is proportional to the frequency making this mode mainly useful for LF and VLF frequencies.

Today LF and VLF are mostly used for time signals, and for military communications, especially with ships and submarines. Early commercial and professional radio services relied exclusively on long wave, low frequencies and ground-wave propagation. To prevent interference with these services, amateur and experimental transmitters were restricted to the higher (HF) frequencies, felt to be useless since their ground-wave range was limited. Upon discovery of the other propagation modes possible at medium wave and short wave frequencies, the advantages of HF for commercial and military purposes became apparent. Amateur experimentation was then confined only to authorized frequency segments in the range.

Direct modes (line-of-sight)

Line-of-sight is the direct propagation of radio waves between antennas that are visible to each other. This is probably the most common of the radio propagation modes at VHF and higher frequencies. Because radio signals can travel through many non-metallic objects, radio can be picked up through walls. This is still line-of-sight propagation. Examples would include propagation between a satellite and a ground antenna or reception of television signals from a local TV transmitter.

Ground plane reflection effects are an important factor in VHF line of sight propagation. The interference between the direct beam line-of-sight and the ground reflected beam often leads to an effective inverse-fourth-power law for ground-plane limited radiation. [Need reference to inverse-fourth-power law + ground plane. Drawings may clarify]

Ionospheric modes (skywave)

Main article: Skywave

Skywave propagation, also referred to as skip, is any of the modes that rely on refraction of radio waves in the ionosphere, which is made up of one or more ionized layers in the upper atmosphere. F2-layer is the most important ionospheric layer for HF propagation, though F1, E, and D-layers also play some role. These layers are directly affected by the sun on a daily cycle, the seasons and the 11-year sunspot cycle determines the utility of these modes. During solar maxima, the whole HF range up to 30 MHz can be used and F2 propagation up to 50 MHz are observed frequently depending upon daily solar flux values. During solar minima, propagation of higher frequencies is generally worse.

Forecasting of skywave modes is of considerable interest to amateur radio operators and commercial marine and aircraft communications, and also to shortwave broadcasters.

Meteor scattering

Meteor scattering relies on reflecting radio waves off the intensely ionized columns of air generated by meteors. While this mode is very short duration, often only from a fraction of second to couple of seconds per event, digital Meteor burst communications allows remote stations to communicate to a station that may be hundreds of miles up to over 1,000 miles (1,600 km) away, without the expense required for a satellite link. This mode is most generally useful on VHF frequencies between 30 and 250 MHz.

Auroral reflection

Intense columns of Auroral ionization at 100 km altitudes within the auroral oval reflect radio waves, perhaps most notably on HF and VHF. The reflection is angle-sensitive – incident ray vs. magnetic field line of the column must be very close to right-angle. Random motions of electrons spiraling around the field lines create a Doppler-spread that broadens the spectra of the emission to more or less noise-likeepending on how high radio frequency is used. The radio-auroras are observed mostly at high latitudes and rarely extend down to middle latitudes. The occurrence of radio-auroras depends on solar activity (flares, coronal holes, CMEs) and annually the events are more numerous during solar cycle maximas. Radio aurora includes the so-called afternoon radio aurora which produces stronger but more distorted signals and after the Harang-minima, the late-night radio aurora (sub-storming phase) returns with variable signal strength and lesser doppler spread. The propagation range for this predominantly back-scatter mode extends up to about 2000 km in east-west plane, but strongest signals are observed most frequently from north at nearby sites on same latitudes.

Rarely, a strong radio-aurora is followed by Auroral-E, which resembles both propagation types in some ways.

Sporadic-E propagation

Sporadic E (Es) propagation can be observed on HF and VHF bands. It must not be confused with ordinary HF E-layer propagation. Sporadic-E at mid-latitudes occurs mostly during summer season, from May to August in the northern hemisphere and from November to February in the southern hemisphere. There is no single cause for this mysterious propagation mode. The reflection takes place in a thin sheet of ionisation around 90 km height. The ionisation patches drift westwards at speeds of few hundred km per hour. There is a weak periodicity noted during the season and typically Es is observed on 1 to 3 successive days and remains absent for a few days to reoccur again. Es do not occur during small hours; the events usually begin at dawn, and there is a peak in the afternoon and a second peak in the evening. Es propagation is usually gone by local midnight.

Maximum observed frequency (MOF) for Es is found to be lurking around 30 MHz on most days during the summer season, but sometimes MOF may shoot up to 100 MHz or even more in ten minutes to decline slowly during the next few hours. The peak-phase includes oscillation of MOF with periodicity of approximately 5…10 minutes. The propagation range for Es single-hop is typically 1000 to 2000 km, but with multi-hop, double range is observed. The signals are very strong but also with slow deep fading.

Thomas F. Giella, retired meteorologist, space plasma physicist and an Amateur Radio Operator (NZ4O), cites the following from his professional research:[citation needed][original research?]

Just as the E layer is the main refraction medium for medium frequency (3003000 kHz) signal propagation within approximately 5000 km (3000 mi), so is a Sporadic-E (Es) cloud. Sporadic-E (Es) clouds occur at approximately 100 km (60 mi) in altitude and generally move from ESE to WNW. Like Stratosphere level warming and Troposphere level temperature and moisture discontinuities, Sporadic-E (Es) clouds can depending on the circumstances absorb, block or refract medium, high and very high frequency RF signals in an unpredictable manner.

The main source for “high latitude” Sporadic E (Es) clouds is geomagnetic storming induced radio aurora activity.

The main source for “mid latitude” Sporadic-E (Es) clouds is wind shear produced by internal buoyancy/gravity waves (IBGW’s), that create traveling ionosphere disturbances (TID’s), most of which are produced by severe thunderstorm cell complexes with overshooting tops that penetrate into the Stratosphere. Another tie in between Sporadic-E (Es) and a severe thunderstorm is the Elve.

The main sources for “low latitude” Sporadic-E (Es) clouds is wind shear produced by internal buoyancy/gravity waves (IBGW’s), that create traveling ionosphere disturbances, most of which are produced by severe thunderstorm cell complexes tied to tropical cyclones. High electron content in the Equatorial Ring Current also plays a role.

The forecasting of Sporadic-E (Es) clouds has long been considered to be impossible. However it is possible to identify certain troposphere level meteorological conditions that can lead to the formation of Sporadic E (Es) clouds. One is as mentioned above the severe thunderstorm cell complex.

Sporadic-E (Es) clouds have been observed to initially occur within approximately 150 km (90 mi) to the right of a severe thunderstorm cell complex in the northern hemisphere, with the opposite being observed in the southern hemisphere. To complicate matters is the fact that Sporadic-E (Es) clouds that initially form to the right of a severe thunderstorm complex in the northern hemisphere, then move from ESE-WNW and end up to the left of the severe thunderstorm complex in the northern hemisphere. So one has to look for Sporadic-E (Es) clouds on either side of a severe thunderstorm cell complex. Things get even more complicated when two severe thunderstorm cell complexes exist approximately 10002000 miles apart.

Not all thunderstorm cell complexes reach severe levels and not all severe thunderstorm cell complexes produce Sporadic-E (Es). This is where knowledge in tropospheric physics and weather analyses/forecasting is necessary.

Some of the key elements in identifying which severe thunderstorm cell complexes have the potential to produce Sporadic-E (Es) via wind shear, from internal buoyancy/gravity waves, that produce traveling ionosphere disturbances include:

1.) Negative tilted mid and upper level long wave troughs.

2.) Approximate 150 knot (170 mph, 280 km/h) jet stream jet maxes that produce divergence and therefore create a sucking vacuum effect above thunderstorm cells, that assist thunderstorm cells in reaching and penetrating the tropopause into the stratosphere.

3.) 500 mb (50 kPa) temperatures of 20 C or colder, which produce numerous positive and negative lightning bolts and inter-related Sprites and Elves.

4.) Approximate 150175 knot (170200 mph) updrafts within thunderstorm cells complexes that create overshooting tops that penetrate the Tropopause into the Stratosphere (See definition #20 on Stratospheric Warming), launching upwardly propagating internal buoyancy/gravity waves, which create traveling ionosphere disturbances and then wind shear.

Tropospheric modes

Tropospheric scattering

At VHF and higher frequencies, small variation (turbulence) in the density of the atmosphere at a height of around 6 miles (10 km) can scatter some of the normally line-of-sight beam of radio frequency energy back toward the ground, allowing over-the-horizon communication between stations as far as 500 miles (800 km) apart. The military developed the White Alice communications system covering all of Alaska, using this tropospheric scattering principle.

Tropospheric ducting

Sudden changes in the atmosphere’s vertical moisture content and temperature profiles can on random occasions make microwave and UHF & VHF signals propagate hundreds of kilometers up to about 2,000 kilometers (1,300 mi)nd for ducting mode even farthereyond the normal radio-horizon. The inversion layer is mostly observed over high pressure regions, but there are several tropospheric weather conditions which create these randomly occurring propagation modes. Inversion layer’s altitude for non-ducting is typically found between 100 meters (300 ft) to about 1 kilometer (3,000 ft) and for ducting about 500 meters to 3 kilometers (1,600 to 10,000 ft), and the duration of the events are typically from several hours up to several days. Higher frequencies experience the most dramatic increase of signal strengths, while on low-VHF and HF the effect is negligible. Propagation path attenuation may be below free-space loss. Some of the lesser inversion types related to warm ground and cooler air moisture content occur regularly at certain times of the year and time of day. A typical example could be the late summer, early morning tropospheric enhancements that bring in signals from distances up to few hundred kilometers for a couple of hours, until undone by the Sun’s warming effect.

Tropospheric delay

This is a source of error in radio ranging techniques, such as in GPS.

Rain scattering

Rain scattering is purely a microwave propagation mode and is best observed around 10 GHz, but extends down to a few gigahertzhe limit being the size of the scattering particle size vs. wavelength. This mode scatters signals mostly forwards and backwards when using horizontal polarization and side-scattering with vertical polarization. Forward-scattering typically yields propagation ranges of 800 km. Scattering from snowflakes and ice pellets also occurs, but scattering from ice without watery surface is less effective. The most common application for this phenomenon is microwave rain radar, but rain scatter propagation can be a nuisance causing unwanted signals to intermittently propagate where they are not anticipated or desired. Similar reflections may also occur from insects though at lower altitudes and shorter range. Rain also causes attenuation of point-to-point and satellite microwave links. Attenuation values up to 30 dB have been observed on 30 GHz during heavy tropical rain.

Aeroplane scattering

Aeroplane scattering (or most often reflection) is observed on VHF through microwaves and besides back-scattering, yields momentary propagation up to 500 km even in a mountain-type terrain. The most common back-scatter application is air-traffic radar and bistatic forward-scatter guided-missile and aeroplane detecting trip-wire radar and the US space radar.

Lightning scattering

Lightning scattering has sometimes been observed on VHF and UHF over distance of about 500 km. The hot lightning channel scatters radiowaves for a fraction of a second. The RF noise burst from the lightning makes the initial part of the open channel unusable and the ionisation disappears soon because of combination at low altitude high atmospheric pressure. Although the hot lightning channel is briefly observable with microwave radar, this mode has no practical use for communications.

Other effects

Diffraction

Knife-Edge diffraction is the propagation mode where radio waves are bent around sharp edges. For example, this mode is used to send radio signals over a mountain range when a line-of-sight path is not available. However, the angle cannot be too sharp or the signal will not diffract. The diffraction mode requires increased signal strength, so higher power or better antennas will be needed than for an equivalent line-of-sight path.

Diffraction depends on the relationship between the wavelength and the size of the obstacle. In other words, the size of the obstacle in wavelengths. Lower frequencies diffract around large smooth obstacles such as hills more easily. For example, in many cases where VHF (or higher frequency) communication is not possible due to shadowing by a hill, one finds that it is still possible to communicate using the upper part of the HF band where the surface wave is of little use.

Diffraction phenomena by small obstacles are also important at high frequencies. Signals for urban cellular telephony tend to be dominated by ground-plane effects as they travel over the rooftops of the urban environment. They then diffract over roof edges into the street, where multipath propagation, absorption and diffraction phenomena dominate.

Absorption

Low-frequency radio waves travel easily through brick and stone and VLF even penetrates sea-water. As the frequency rises, absorption effects become more important. At microwave or higher frequencies, absorption by molecular resonance in the atmosphere (mostly water, H2O and oxygen, O2) is a major factor in radio propagation. For example, in the 5860 GHz band, there is a major absorption peak which makes this band useless for long-distance use. This phenomenon was first discovered during radar research during World War II. Beyond around 400 GHz, the Earth’s atmosphere blocks some segments of spectra while still passes somehis is true up to UV light, which is blocked by ozone, but visible light and some of the NIR is transmitted.

Heavy rain and snow also affect microwave reception.

See also

Radio portal

Main article: List of radio propagation terms

Diversity scheme

Earth bulge

Electromagnetic radiation

Fading

Fresnel zone

Free space

Inversion (meteorology)

Kennellyeaviside layer

Near and far field

Radio frequency

Radio horizon

Radio propagation model

Rayleigh fading

Ray tracing (physics)

Schumann resonance

Skip (radio)

Skip zone

Skywave

Tropospheric propagation

TV and FM DX

References

^ H. P. Westman et al., (ed), Reference Data for Radio Engineers, Fifth Edition, 1968, Howard W. Sams and Co., no ISBN, Library of Congress Card No. 43-14665 page 26-1

^ Demetrius T Paris and F. Kenneth Hurd, Basic Electromagnetic Theory, McGraw Hill, New York 1969 ISBN -0 048470-8, Chapter 8

^ Westman Reference data page 26-19

Larry D. Wolfgang et al., (ed), The ARRL Handbook for Radio Amateurs, Sixty-Eighth Edition , (1991), ARRL, Newington CT USA ISBN 0-87259-168-9

Further reading

Lucien Boithais: Radio Wave Propagation. McGraw-Hill Book Company, New York. 1987. ISBN 0-07-006433-4

Karl Rawer:Wave Propagatiom im the Ionosphere.Kluwer Acad.Publ.,Dordrecht 1993. ISBN 0-7923-0775-5

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Radio propagation

Online Propagation Tools, HF Solar Data, and HF Propagation Tutorials

DXing.info – Propagation links

Solar Cycle 24 and VHF Aurora Website (www.solarcycle24.com)

Ionospheric Prediction Service – Australia

Unusual HF Propagation Phenomena. 13 Apr 2009 Includes useful recordings each type. Retrieved 9 Oct 2009.

HF Radio Propagation Software for Firefox – Propfire Firefox plug for monitoring radio propagation, website utility to display HF radio propagation status and article on understanding HF radio propagation forecasting

RadioWORKS A radio wave propagation and antenna length calculator

SWDXER The SWDXER – with general SWL information and radio antenna tips.

Space Weather and Radio Propagation Resource Center Live data and images of space weather and radio propagation.

ARRL Propagation Page The American Radio Relay League page on radio propagation.

The Basics of Radio Wave Propagation A resource by Edwin C. Jones (AE4TM), MD, PhD, Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Tennessee.

“NZ4O 160 Meter Propagation Theory Notes”. A website dedicated to layman level explanations of “seemingly” mysterious 160 meter (MF/HF) propagation occurrences. http://www.wcflunatall.com/nz4o5.htm.

Dynamic Radio Propagation Data Constantly updated radio propagation data pulled from various sources.

The following external references provide practical examples of radio propagation concepts as demonstrated using software built on the VOACAP model.

High Frequency radio propagation de-mystified.

Is High Frequency radio propagation reciprocal?

How does noise affect radio signals?

The following external link is designed for use by cell phones and mobile devices that can display content using Wireless Markup Language and the Wireless Application Protocol:

WAP/WML Space Weather and Radio Propagation Resources Space weather and radio propagation resources.

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Radio spectrum

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Categories: Radio frequency propagationHidden categories: Articles needing additional references from October 2009 | All articles needing additional references | All articles with unsourced statements | Articles with unsourced statements from February 2010 | All articles that may contain original research | Articles that may contain original research from February 2010

A mountain cabin rental is needed when you travel outdoors

gfmstudio — Sat, 20 Nov 2010 04:11:01 +0000

With the exception of their names and location, mountain cabin rentals are very much like coastal cottages. Mountain rentals, often referred to as cabins, are located in many places throughout the United States. Many vacationers want to live in these cabins as they are private, safe and fun, together with they can be very romantic at times.
If you often take a short driving or walking distance to a small town or attraction, you will find they may be private and secluded. Some of these attractions may be hiking trails, streams, lakes, biking trail, or sports fields. You may find different activities or attractions at your mountain cabin rental as well.
Although most mountain cabin rentals are found in popular mountain regions, they can be almost anywhere. Some of them are in New York, Colorado, Wyoming, Pennsylvania or Idaho. You can do some research on those have mountain cabin rentals when you are traveling to any of these cities. If you find one that has cabin rentals, you will need to make reservations for a specific cabin so you’ll know where you’ll be located. By checking out the cabin online or through the mail, you also can make a lot of the arrangements.
You will find the most important thing you should prepare is that the perfect mountain cabin rental. However, you will also want to check out the surrounding area. Although you’ll appreciate the privacy, you may have need to go to a store or gas station, Laundromat or some similar store. If you don’t have these locations nearby, you may have to pack extra heavy or travel much further to get what you need.
You should shop around as much as you can when you are on a budget, you need look for discount deals if the mountain cabin rentals tend to be very expensive. One of the best choice is going to a less-popular location. You may not want to go to some very well known destinations, such as Blue Ridge Mountains in Carolina, Adirondack in New York and Jackson Hole in Wyoming. If your heart was set on one of these, try searching for discount packages. Try to avoid going to any of these places during the holiday season when prices are the highest.

Neil Peart

gfmstudio — Sat, 20 Nov 2010 04:10:59 +0000

Life and career

Early life

Peart was born on his family’s farm in Hagersville, on the outskirts of Hamilton. The first child of four, his brother Danny and sisters Judy and Nancy were born after the family moved to St. Catharines when Peart was two. At this time his father became parts manager for Dalziel Equipment, a farm machinery supplier. In 1956 the family moved to the Port Dalhousie area of the town. Peart attended Gracefield School, and describes his childhood as happy and says he experienced a warm family life. By early adolescence he became interested in music and acquired a transistor radio, which he would use to tune into pop music stations broadcasting from Toronto, Hamilton and Welland, Ontario and Buffalo, USA.

His first exposure to musical training came in the form of piano lessons, which he later said in his instructional video A Work in Progress did not have much impact on him. He had a penchant for drumming on various objects around the house with a pair of chopsticks, so for his 13th birthday, his parents bought him a pair of drum sticks, a practice pad and some lessons, with the promise that if he stuck with it for a year, they would buy him a kit.

His parents bought him a drum kit for his 14th birthday and he began taking lessons from Don George at the Peninsula Conservatory of Music. His stage debut took place that year at the school’s Christmas pageant in St. Johns Anglican Church Hall in Port Dalhousie. His next appearance was at Lakeport High School with his first group, The Eternal Triangle. This performance contained an original number entitled “LSD Forever”. At this show he performed his first solo.

Peart got a job in Lakeside Park, a fairground on the shores of Lake Ontario, which later inspired a song of the same name on the Rush album Caress of Steel. He worked on the Bubble Game and Ball Toss, but his tendency to take it easy when business was slack resulted in his termination. By his late teens, Peart had played in local bands such as Mumblin Sumpthin, the Majority, and JR Flood. These bands practiced in basement recreation rooms and garages and played church halls, high schools and roller rinks in towns across Southern Ontario such as Mitchell, Seaforth, and Elmira. They also played in the northern Ontario city of Timmins. Tuesday nights were filled with jam sessions at the Niagara Theatre Centre.

Career before joining Rush

At eighteen years of age, after struggling to achieve success as a drummer in Canada, Peart traveled to London hoping to further his career as a professional musician. Despite playing in several bands and picking up occasional session work, he was forced to support himself by selling trinkets to tourists in a souvenir shop called The Great Frog on Carnaby Street.

While in London he came across the writings of novelist and objectivist Ayn Rand. Rand’s writings became a significant philosophical influence on Peart, as he found many of her treatises to individualism and Objectivism inspiring. References to Rand’s philosophy can be found in his lyrics, most notably “Anthem” from 1975′s Fly By Night and “2112″ from 1976′s 2112.

After eighteen months of dead-end musical gigs, and disillusioned by his lack of progress in the music business, Peart placed his aspiration of becoming a professional musician on hold and returned to Canada. Upon returning to St. Catharines, he worked for his father selling tractor parts at Dalziel Equipment.

Joining Rush

After returning to Canada, Peart was recruited to play drums for the St. Catharines band Hush, who played on the South Ontario bar circuit. Soon after, a mutual acquaintance convinced Peart to audition for the Toronto-based band Rush, which needed a replacement for its original drummer John Rutsey. Geddy Lee and Alex Lifeson oversaw the audition. His future band mates describe his arrival that day as somewhat humorous, as he arrived in shorts, driving a battered old car with his drums stored in trashcans. Peart felt the entire audition was a complete disaster. While Lee and Peart hit it off on a personal level (both sharing similar tastes in books and music), Lifeson had a less than favorable impression of Peart. After some discussion, Lee convinced Lifeson that Peart’s maniacal British style of drumming, reminiscent of The Who’s Keith Moon, was what the band needed.

Peart officially joined the band on July 29, 1974, two weeks before the group’s first US tour. Peart procured a silver Slingerland kit which he played at his first gig with the band, opening for Uriah Heep and Manfred Mann in front of over 11,000 people at the Civic Arena, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania on August 14, 1974.

Early career with Rush

Peart soon settled into his new position, also becoming the band’s primary lyricist. Before joining Rush, he had written few songs, but, with the other members largely uninterested in writing lyrics, Peart’s previously underutilized writing became as noticed as his musicianship. The band was still finding its feet as a recording act, and Peart, along with the rest of the band, now had to learn to live from a suitcase.

His first recording with the band, 1975′s Fly by Night, was fairly successful, winning the Juno Award for most promising new act, but, the follow up, Caress of Steel, for which the band had high hopes, was greeted with hostility by both fans and critics. In response to this negative reception, most of which was aimed at the B side spanning epic “The Fountain of Lamneth”, Peart responded by penning “2112″ on their next album of the same name in 1976. The album, despite record company indifference, became their breakthrough and gained a following in the United States. The supporting tour culminated in a three night stand at Massey Hall in Toronto, a venue Peart had dreamed of playing in his days on the Southern Ontario bar circuit and where he was now introduced as “The Professor on the drum kit” by Lee.

Peart returned to England for Rush’s Northern European Tour and the band stayed in the United Kingdom to record the next album, 1977′s A Farewell to Kings in Rockfield Studios in Wales. They returned to Rockfield to record the follow up, Hemispheres, in 1978, which they wrote entirely in the studio. The recording of five studio albums in four years, coupled with as many as 300 gigs a year, convinced the band to take a different approach thereafter. Peart has described his time in the band up to this point as “a dark tunnel.”

From this point on, Peart’s career was near exclusively with Rush:

For more details on this topic, see Rush (band).

Play style reinvention

In 1992, Peart was invited by Buddy Rich’s daughter, Cathy Rich, to play at the Buddy Rich Memorial Scholarship Concert in New York City. Though initially intimidated by the request, Peart accepted the offer and performed for the first time with the Buddy Rich Big Band. Feeling that his performance left much to be desired, Peart decided to produce and play on two Buddy Rich tribute albums titled Burning for Buddy: A Tribute to the Music of Buddy Rich in 1994 and 1997 in order to regain his aplomb.

Peart wrote on his personal website that “And yet…I still had a nagging feeling that when I played in that style, I was just imitating it, not really feeling it properly. As the old Duke Ellington standard goes, ‘It don mean a thing, if it ain got that swing’, and I didn think I did.”

In early 2007, Peart and Cathy Rich again began discussing yet another Buddy tribute concert. In response, Peart decided to once again augment his swing style with formal drum lessons, this time under the tutelage of another pupil of Freddie Gruber, Peter Erskine, himself an instructor of drummer Steve Gadd. On October 18, 2008, Peart once again performed at the Buddy Rich Memorial Concert at New York’s Hammerstein Ballroom.

Family tragedy & continuing on

Soon after the culmination of Rush’s Test For Echo Tour on July 4, 1997, Peart’s first daughter and then-only child, 19-year-old Selena Taylor, was killed in a single-car accident on Highway 401 near the town of Brighton, Ontario on August 10. His common-law wife of 22 years, Jacqueline Taylor, succumbed to cancer only 10 months later on June 20, 1998. Peart, however, maintains that her death was the result of a “broken heart” and called it “a slow suicide by apathy. She just didn’t care.”

In his book Ghost Rider: Travels on the Healing Road, Peart writes of how he had told his bandmates at Selena’s funeral, “consider me retired.” Peart took a hiatus to mourn and reflect, during which time he traveled extensively throughout North America on his BMW motorcycle, covering 88,000 km (55,000 miles). After his journey ended, Peart decided to return to the band. Peart wrote Ghost Rider: Travels on the Healing Road as a chronicle of his geographical and emotional journey.

While Peart was visiting long-time Rush photographer Andrew MacNaughtan in Los Angeles, MacNaughtan introduced Peart to his future wife, photographer Carrie Nuttall. They married on September 9, 2000. In early 2001, Peart announced to his bandmates that he was ready to return to recording and performing. The product of the band’s return was the 2002 album Vapor Trails. At the start of the ensuing tour in support of the album, it was decided amongst the band members that Peart would not take part in the daily grind of press interviews and “Meet and Greet” sessions upon their arrival in a new city that typically monopolize a touring band’s daily schedule. While Peart has always shied away from these types of in-person encounters, it was decided that having to needlessly expose him to an endless stream of questions about the tragic events of his life was quite unnecessary.

Since the release of Vapor Trails and reuniting with his fellow band mates, Peart has returned to work as a full-time musician. Rush has since released a cover EP, Feedback in June 2004 and their 18th studio album Snakes & Arrows in May 2007, which were supported by three additional tours in 2004, 2007, and 2008.

In the June 2009 edition of Peart’s News, Weather, and Sports, entitled “Under the Marine Layer”, he announced that he and Nuttall were expecting their first child. Peart and Nuttall’s first child, Olivia Louise Peart, was born on August 12, 2009.

Musicianship

Style and influences

Peart (right, behind Geddy Lee) performing with Rush.

Peart is consistently ranked as one of the greatest rock drummers by fans, fellow musicians, and magazines. His influences are eclectic, ranging from John Bonham, Michael Giles, Phil Collins, Steve Gadd, and Keith Moon, to fusion and jazz drummers Billy Cobham, Buddy Rich, Bill Bruford and Gene Krupa. The Who was the first group that inspired him to write songs and play the drums. Peart is distinguished for playing “butt-end out”, reversing stick orientation for greater impact and increased rimshot capacity. “When I was starting out”, Peart later said, “if I broke the tips off my sticks I couldn’t afford to buy new ones, so I would just turn them around and use the other end. I got used to it, and continue to use the heavy end of lighter sticks – it gives me a solid impact, but with less ‘dead weight’ to sling around.”

Peart had long played just matched grip, however, he decided to shift to traditional as part of his style reinvention in the mid-1990s under the tutelage of jazz coach Freddie Gruber. Shortly after the filming of his first instructional DVD A Work in Progress, Peart went back to using primarily matched, though he does switch back to traditional when playing songs from Test for Echo and during moments when he feels traditional grip is more appropriate, such as the rudimentary snare drum section of his drum solo. He discusses the details of these switches in the DVD Anatomy of a Drum Solo.

Equipment

Neil Peart and his 360 degree drumkit

With Rush, Peart has played Slingerland, Tama, Ludwig, and Drum Workshop drums, in that order.

Historically he has played Zildjian A-series cymbals along with Wuhan china cymbals. In the early 2000s, Peart moved away from Zildjian and Wuhan and began exclusively using Paragon, a line created for him by Sabian. In concert, Peart uses an elaborate 360-degree drum kit, with a large acoustic set in front and electronic drums to the rear.

Neil Peart began incorporating Simmons Electronic Drums beginning with 1984′s Grace Under Pressure

During the late 1970s, Peart augmented his acoustic setup with diverse percussion instruments including orchestra bells, tubular bells, wind chimes, crotales, timbales, timpani, gong, temple blocks, bell tree, triangle, and melodic cowbells. Since the mid-1980s, Peart has replaced several of these pieces with MIDI trigger pads. This was done in order to trigger sounds sampled from various pieces of acoustic percussion that would otherwise consume far too much stage area. Some purely electronic non-instrumental sounds are also used. One classic MIDI pad used is the Malletkat Express which is a two-octave electronic MIDI device that resembles a xylophone or piano. The Malletkat Express is composed of rubber pads for the “keys” so that any stick can be used. Beginning with 1984′s Grace Under Pressure, he used Simmons electronic drums in conjunction with Akai digital samplers. Peart has performed several songs primarily using the electronic portion of his drum kit. (e.g. “Red Sector A”, “Closer to the Heart” on A Show of Hands (video) and “Mystic Rhythms” on R30.) Peart’s drum solos also feature sections performed primarily on the electronic portion of his kit.

Shortly after making the choice to include electronic drums and triggers, Peart added what has become another trademark of his kit: his rotating drum riser. During live Rush shows, the automated rotating riser allows Peart to swap dynamically the prominent portions of the kit (“front”, traditional kit; and “back” electronic kit). A staple of Peart’s live drum solos has been the in-performance rotation-and-swap of the front and back kits as part of the solo itself. This special effect simultaneously provides a symbolic transition of drum styles within the solo and provides a visual treat for the audience.

In the early 2000s, Peart began taking full advantage of the advances in electronic drum technology; primarily incorporating Roland V-Drums and continued use of samplers with his existing set of acoustic percussion. Peart’s digitally sampled library of both traditional and exotic sounds has grown over the years with his music.

In April 2006, Neil took delivery of his third DW set, configured similarly to the R30 set, in a Tobacco Sunburst finish over curly maple exterior ply, with chrome hardware. He refers to this set as the “West Coast kit”, as he uses it when in Los Angeles. Besides using it on recent recordings with Vertical Horizon, he played it while composing parts for Rush’s latest studio album, Snakes & Arrows. It features a custom 23″ bass drum; all other sizes remain the same as the R30 kit.

On March 20, 2007 Peart revealed that Drum Workshop prepared a new set of red-painted DW maple shells with black hardware and gold “Snakes & Arrows” logos for Neil to play on the Snakes & Arrows Tour.

Solos

Peart is often regarded as one of the finest practitioners of the in-concert drum solo. He is known for extensive, intricate drum solos containing odd time signatures, complex arrangements (sometimes total separation between upper and lower limb patterns: e.g. an ostinato dubbed “The Waltz”), and exotic percussion instruments. These solos have been featured on every live album released by the band. On the early live albums (All the World’s a Stage & Exit…Stage Left), the drum solo was included as part of a song. On all subsequent live albums, the drum solo has been included on a separate track. His most recent instructional DVD, Anatomy of a Drum Solo, is an in-depth examination of how he constructs a solo. He uses his solo from the 2004 R30 30th anniversary tour as the basis for examination, along with other lectures and demonstrations on how to construct a drum solo that is musical instead of indulgent.

Lyrics

Peart is also the main lyricist for Rush. Literature has always heavily influenced his writings and, as such, he has tackled a wide range of subjects. In his early days with Rush, much of his lyrical output was influenced by fantasy, science fiction, mythology and philosophy. However, nearly as much would deal with real world or personal issues such as life on the road and parts of his adolescence.

The song “2112″ focuses on the struggle of an individual against the collectivist forces of a totalitarian state. This became the band’s breakthrough release, but also brought unexpected criticism, mainly because of the credit of inspiration Peart gave to Ayn Rand in the liner notes. “There was a remarkable backlash, especially from the English press, this being the late seventies, when collectivism was still in style, especially among journalists,” Peart said. “They were calling us ‘Junior fascists’ and ‘Hitler lovers.’ It was a total shock to me”.

Weary of accusations of fascism or ideological fealty to Rand’s philosophy of Objectivism, Peart has sought to remind listeners of his eclecticism and independence in interviews. He did not, however, try to argue in defense of Rand’s views: “For a start, the extent of my influence by the writings of Ayn Rand should not be overstated. I am no one’s disciple.”

The 1980 album Permanent Waves saw Peart cease to use fantasy literature or ancient mythology in his writing. 1981′s Moving Pictures showed that Peart was still interested in heroic, mythological figures, but would now place them firmly in a modern and reality-based context. The song “Limelight” from the same album is an autobiographical account of Peart’s reservations regarding his own popularity and the pressures with fame. From Permanent Waves onward, most of Peart’s lyrics began to revolve around social, emotional, and humanitarian issues, usually from an objective standpoint and employing the use of metaphors and symbolic representation.

1984′s Grace Under Pressure strings together such despondent topics as the Holocaust (“Red Sector A”) and the death of close friends (“Afterimage”). Starting with 1987′s Hold Your Fire and including 1989′s Presto, 1991′s Roll the Bones, and 1993′s Counterparts, Peart would continue to explore diverse lyrical motifs, even addressing the topic of love and relationships (“Open Secrets”, “Ghost of a Chance”, “Speed of Love”, “Cold Fire”) a subject which he purposefully eschewed in the past because of what he perceived as an inherent hackneyed stereotype. However, 2002′s Vapor Trails was heavily devoted to speaking about Peart’s personal issues, combined with other humanitarian topics such as the 9/11 terrorist attacks (“Peaceable Kingdom”). The band’s most recent album Snakes & Arrows deals primarily and vociferously with Peart’s opinions regarding faith and religion.

Opinions of Peart’s lyrics have always been divided. While fans have lauded them as thoughtful and intelligent, some critics have called them over-wrought and bombastic. For example, in 2007, he was voted #2 on Blender magazine’s list of “worst lyricists in rock”.

Political views

Peart has never publicly identified with any political party or organization in Canada or the United States. Even so, his political and philosophical views have often been analyzed through his work with Rush and through other sources. Peart is often categorized as an Objectivist and an admirer of Ayn Rand. Most of this is based on his work with Rush in the 1970s, particularly the song “Anthem” and the album 2112, the latter specifically credited to “the genius of Ayn Rand.” However, in a 1994 interview, while contending the “individual is paramount in matters of justice and liberty,” Peart specifically distanced himself from a strictly Objectivist line, stating he was “no one’s disciple.”

Although Peart is sometimes regarded as a “conservative” and “Republican” rock star, he, in 2005, described himself as a “left-leaning libertarian,” and is often cited as a libertarian celebrity. He also speaks of Fox News Channel being biased towards conservatives and rebuts British accusations that he and Rush are a “right wing” rock band in his book Roadshow: Landscape with Drums: a Concert Tour by Motorcycle. In 2008 Peart described himself as a “quasi-libertarian” and stated that motorcycle helmet laws, which are often opposed by libertarians, “are not an issue at all to me.”

Books

Peart is the author of four non-fiction books, the latest released in September 2006. His growth as an author predates the published work by several years (not including his work as Rush’s primary lyricist), through private letters and short travelogues sent out to a small circle of friends and family. Peart’s first book, titled The Masked Rider: Cycling in West Africa, was written in 1996 about a month-long bicycling tour through Cameroon in November 1988. The book details Peart’s travels through towns and villages with four fellow riders. The original had a limited print run, but after the critical and commercial success of Peart’s second book, Masked Rider was re-issued and remains in print as of 2006.

After losing his wife and only [at the time] daughter, Peart penned Ghost Rider: Travels on the Healing Road. Peart and the rest of the band were always able to keep his private life at a distance from his public image in Rush. However, Ghost Rider is a first-person narrative of Peart on the road, on a BMW R1100GS motorcycle, in an effort to put his life back together as he embarked on an extensive journey across North America.

Deciding to take a road trip, this time by car, Peart reflects on his life, his career, his family and music. This is covered in Peart’s third book Traveling Music: The Soundtrack Of My Life And Times. It follows Peart still carrying emotional scars, but building a new life. As with his previous two books, it is a first person narrative.

Thirty years after Peart joined Rush, the band found itself on its 30th anniversary tour. Released in September 2006, Roadshow: Landscape With Drums, A Concert Tour By Motorcycle details the tour both from behind Neil’s drumkit and on his BMW R1150GS and R1200GS motorcycles.

DVDs

Apart from Rush’s video releases as a band, Peart has released two instructional DVDs

A Work in Progress. Miami, Florida: Warner Bros. Publications. 2002. ISBN 0757990290 Originally released on VHS in 1996 and re-released on DVD in 2002.

Anatomy of A Drum Solo S.l.: Hudson Music: Distributed by Hal Leonard. 2005. ISBN 1423407008

Awards and honours

Rush portal

Peart has received the following awards in the Modern Drummer magazine reader’s poll:

Hall of Fame: 1983

Best Rock Drummer*: 1980, 1981, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986, 2006, 2008

Best Multi-Percussionist*: 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986

Best Percussion Instrumentalist: 1982

Most Promising New Drummer: 1980

Best All Around: 1986

1986 Honor Roll: Rock Drummer, Multi-Percussion

(* – As a member of the Honor Roll in these categories, he is no longer eligible for votes in the above categories.)

Best Instructional Video: 2006, for Anatomy of A Drum Solo

Best Drum Recording of the 1980s, 2007, for “YYZ” from Exit…Stage Left

Best Recorded Performance:

1980: Permanent Waves

1981: Moving Pictures

1982: Exit…Stage Left

1983: Signals

1985: Grace Under Pressure

1986: Power Windows

1988: Hold Your Fire

1989: A Show of Hands

1990: Presto

1992: Roll the Bones

1993: Counterparts

1997: Test for Echo

1999: Different Stages

2002: Vapor Trails

2004: R30

2007: Snakes & Arrows

Peart has received the following awards from DRUM! magazine for 2007:

Drummer of the Year

Best Progressive Rock Drummer

Best Live Performer

Best DVD (Anatomy Of A Drum Solo)

Best Drumming Album (Snakes & Arrows)

Peart received the following awards from DRUM! magazine for 2008:

Drummer of the Year

Best Progressive Rock Drummer (Runner-Up)

Best Mainstream Pop Drummer (Runner-Up)

Best Live Drumming Performer

Peart received the following awards from DRUM! magazine for 2009:

Drummer Of The Year

Best Progressive Rock Drummer

Along with his bandmates Lee and Lifeson, Peart was made an Officer of the Order of Canada on May 9, 1996. The trio was the first rock band to be so honoured, as a group.

Canadian Songwriter Hall of Fame along with bandmates Lifeson and Lee

References

^ Anatomy of a Drum Solo DVD, Neil Peart (2005) accompanying booklet. (Republished in Modern Drummer Magazine, April 2006)

^ a b c d e f g Neil Peart Biography Accessed January 18, 2008

^ a b c Olson, Andrew C.”Neil Peart Modern Drummer Awards” – andrewolson.com – Updated 10/1/06 – Accessed July 18, 2007

^ a b c d e f Peart, Neil. with Brian Collins editor “A Port boy’s story” parts 1 & 2 – St. Catharines Standard – (c/o oocities.com) – June 24/25, 1994 – Accessed August 9, 2007

^ Lakeside Park Rush Song Facts Accessed February 15, 2008

^ Neil Peart in London Don Howe Accessed February 19, 2008

^ The National Midnight Star White-Barn.com Accessed February 19, 2008

^ Allmusic guide Review for 2112 Allmusic guide Accessed February 10

^ History of Rush History of Rush Accessed February 2006

^ “Neil Peart Speaks About New Rush Release”. Chart. 2005-11-16. http://www.chartattack.com/news/39903/neil-peart-speaks-about-new-rush-release. Retrieved 2009-08-09.

^ Neil Peart’s Lyrics Rob Pagano’s website – Neil Peart Mini-Biography Accessed February 22, 2008

^ a b Individual awards list Accessed July 16, 2007

^ Caress of Steel Review Greg Prato, Allmusic Guide Accessed September 20, 2007

^ Allmusic guide Review for 2112 Allmusic guide Accessed February 10, 2008

^ Geddy Lee Announces Neil Peart Rush Frequently Asked Questions Accessed February 19, 2008

^ Current Biography Magazine Power Windows Website Accessed February 19, 2008

^ Neil Peart’s Official Website Neil Peart News Accessed November 6, 2008

^ a b c Peart, Neil (2002). Ghost Rider: Travels on the Healing Road. ECW Press. ISBN 1550225464.

^ MacNaughtan, Andrew. Geddy Lee. and Alex Lifeson. “The Boys in Brazil”, Rush in Rio DVD Bonus Material. New York, New York: Atlantic Recording Corporation/Anthem/Msi Music Corp October 2003. ISBN 6311465272

^ Daniel Catullo Rush. Rush in Rio. Cambridge, Massachusetts: Zo Vision. 2003. OCLC 53877410

^ Jordan, Lawrence. Daniel E Catullo. Rush Rush in Rio. London: Sanctuary Visual Entertainment. 2003. OCLC 84678389

^ Peart, Neil Under the Marine Layer, News, Weather and Sports, June 2009, Accessed July 1, 2009

^ Scaruffi, Piero. “Greatest rock drummers of all times” – scaruffi.com – Accessed July 18, 2007

^ a b Neil Peart page – DrummerWorld – Accessed July 18, 2007

^ “Best drummers in rock” – tribe.net – Thursday, January 12, 2006 – Accessed July 18, 2007

^ “Best Rock Drummers” – the-top-tens.com – Accessed July 18, 2007

^ Peart, Neil. Matthew Wachsman. Paul Siegel. Rob Wallis. Anatomy of a Drum Solo. Hudson Music. Distributed by Hal Leonard. 2005. ISBN 1423407008

^ Peart, Neil. “Neil Peart Speaks With Zildjian” – Zildjian.com – (c/o 2112.net) – January 2003

^ Dome, Malcolm. “Interview with Neil Peart” – Metal Hammer – (c/o 2112.net) – April 25th 1988

^ Peart, Neil. Rush – Counterparts – Rush Backstage Club Newsletter – (c/o 2112.net) – January 1994

^ a b c d e Rush Archives Neil Peart’s Equipment Accessed January 18, 2008

^ Neil Peart Signature Series Cymbals Paragon Accessed February 10, 2008

^ Peart, Neil. “”The Count of Words”" – The N.E.P. News – neilpeart.net – March 20, 2007 – Accessed August 9, 2007

^ Modern Drummer Magazine April 2006 Article “Soloing in the Shadow of Giants”. Modern Drummer Publishing Inc. NJ, USA.

^ Peart, Neil. “Soloing in the Shadow of Giants” – Modern Drummer Magazine – (c/o NeilPeart.net) – April 2006

^ “Pieces of Eight” – Modern Drummer Magazine – (c/o 2112.net) – May 1987 – Accessed July 18, 2007

^ Neil Peart; The Waltz – drummerworld.com – (QuickTime video) – Accessed July 18, 2007

^ “Neil Peart > Credits” – All Media Guide – Accessed July 18, 2007

^ Neil Peart Interview Rush: Off The Record with Mary Turner Accessed February 21, 2008

^ a b Interview with Neil Peart Metal Hammer April 25th 1988 Accessed February 21, 2008

^ Rand, Rush, and Rock Neil Peart Quotes Accessed February 16, 2008

^ Power Windows Website Neil Peart Interview Accessed February 2, 2008

^ Power Windows “Grace Under Pressure”Power Windows Website Accessed February 16, 2008

^ Matt Scannell on Neil Peart Drumhead Accessed February 19, 2008

^ Cohen, Jonathan (2006-09-11). “Rush wrestling with faith on new album”. Billboard Magazine. http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1003120134. Retrieved 2007-03-10.

^ “Sting tops list of worst lyricists”. CBC News. October 9, 2007. http://www.cbc.ca/arts/music/story/2007/10/09/blender-list-worstlyric.html. Retrieved 2007-10-09.

^ Rand, Rush and Rock

^ Power windows…Counterparts

^ Republican Rock Stars

^ The Spirit of Rand

^ Neil Peart – Libertarian

^ 5 Biggest Libertarian Musicians

^ a b Peart, Neil (October 25, 2006). Roadshow: Landscape With Drums: A Concert Tour by Motorcycle. Rounder Records. ISBN 1579401422.

^ NEP News

^ Peart, Neil. The Masked Rider: Cycling in West Africa. ECW Press. ISBN 1550226673.

^ Peart, Neil (September 28, 2004). Traveling Music: The Soundtrack to My Life and Times. ECW Press. ISBN 1550226649.

^ Awards List Rush Awards list Accessed August 2, 2007

^ DRUM! Magazine Awards Blabbermouth.net Accessed January 1, 2008

^ DRUM! Magazine Awards Big Drum Thump Accessed July 2, 2008

^ DRUM! Magazine Awards Drummies Accessed July 13, 2009

^ “RUSH highlights”, MapleMusic – Accessed May 23, 2007

^ “Rush to be among inductees to songwriters hall of fame”. CTV. January 19, 2010. http://toronto.ctv.ca/servlet/an/local/CTVNews/20100119/rush_100119/20100119/?hub=TorontoNewHome. Retrieved January 20, 2010.

External links

Wikiquote has a collection of quotations related to: Neil Peart

The Official Neil Peart website

Official Rush Web site

Power Windows tour drumkit assembly

v d e

Rush

Geddy Lee Alex Lifeson Neil Peart

John Rutsey Jeff Jones

Studio albums

Rush Fly by Night Caress of Steel 2112 A Farewell to Kings Hemispheres Permanent Waves Moving Pictures Signals Grace Under Pressure Power Windows Hold Your Fire Presto Roll the Bones Counterparts Test for Echo Vapor Trails Feedback Snakes & Arrows

Live albums

All the World’s a Stage Exit…Stage Left Grace Under Pressure Tour A Show of Hands Different Stages Rush in Rio R30: 30th Anniversary World Tour Snakes & Arrows Live

Live videos

Exit…Stage Left Grace Under Pressure Tour A Show of Hands Rush in Rio R30: 30th Anniversary World Tour Rush Replay X 3 Snakes & Arrows Live

Album compilations

Rush Through Time Archives Chronicles Retrospective I Retrospective II The Spirit of Radio: Greatest Hits 1974-1987 Gold Retrospective 3 Working Men

Video compilations

Through the Camera Eye Chronicles

Tours

Roll the Bones Tour Counterparts Tour Test for Echo Tour Vapor Trails Tour R30: 30th Anniversary Tour Snakes & Arrows Tour

Related articles

Discography Awards History Instrumentals Equipment Victor My Favorite Headache A Work in Progress Anatomy of a Drum Solo Ghost Rider: Travels on the Healing Road “Fear” series Cygnus X-1 duology Hugh Syme The Fifth Order of Angels

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Persondata

NAME

Peart, Neil

ALTERNATIVE NAMES

Peart, Neil Ellwood

SHORT DESCRIPTION

Canadian drummer , lyricist, and author

DATE OF BIRTH

September 12, 1952

PLACE OF BIRTH

Hamilton, Ontario, Canada

DATE OF DEATH

PLACE OF DEATH

Categories: 1952 births | Canadian rock drummers | Canadian songwriters | Living people | Officers of the Order of Canada | People from Los Angeles, California | People from St. Catharines | Progressive rock musicians | Rush (band) members | Musicians from Toronto | Canadian memoirists | Canadian libertarians | Left-libertarians | Long-distance riding

Oslo is The Capital City of Norway

gfmstudio — Sat, 20 Nov 2010 04:10:57 +0000

Oslo is the capital and largest city of Norway. It is also a municipality, and a county of its own.

Oslo is not one of the most appealing cities, compared to other European capitals, but this spacious city has a quite few prime sights, particularly museums and no shortage of outdoor attractions and activities around the city.

Byporten Shopping has a unique blend of shops. Oslos newest shopping centre is situated right beside Oslo Central Station and includes more than 70 shops, 10 restaurants, a Scandic Hotel, Norways largest Mique store, Norways largest Egon Restaurant and an underground car park.

Paleet Shopping Centre is the most elegant shopping and food court at the upper part of the main street Karl Johans gate. It includes 45 shops and 13 restaurants with a range you will not find anywhere else.

Akershus Fortress, a medieval castle built around 1300 and modernized in the 17thC. It holds the Resistance Museum and Defence Museum, displaying a history of the Nazi occupation and the Norwegian resistance in WWII. Even if war is not your favourite subject the site is green and pleasant, and the view overlooking the city and harbour is worthwhile. During the summer, it hosts events such as concerts, dances and plays.

Vigeland Park, a superb sculpture park with many and curious life size statues by one of the countries best known artists, Gustav Vigeland. The star piece is a 20 metre high obelisk the worlds biggest granite sculpture, with 121 clambering bodies representing the human life cycle.

Munch Museum, a star attraction for art lovers, dedicated to Norways most famous artist, including his best known painting The Scream though often absent due to world demand. National Gallery, Norways finest collection of art, from Greek and Roman sculpture to Italian Renaissance and French Impressionists, as well as Norwegian and Nordic art. Folk Museum, a vast open air museum of reconstructed traditional architecture including the stave church. Kon Tiki Museum, featuring the historic balsawood raft which travelled across the Pacific in 1947.Viking Ships Museum, displays restored Viking boats and burials.

Restaurants around at Aker Brygge, a former shipyard, now a popular summer promenade and leisure complex with harbour views and steep prices. Lofoten serves a huge selection of seafood or you can try the more casual Albertine Cafe or alfresco Lekteren for mussels and shrimp. Nearby, Bagatelle is the only Norwegian restaurant with two Michelin stars. The 100 year old atrecafeen at the Hotel Continental is an elegant classic. The Grunerlokka area north of the Central Station has become fashionable and has some fine restaurants try stylish Sudost or bohemian.

The city culture scene is fairly active not only in summer time but throughout the year, and includes theatre, live music, dance, clubs and more.

Most mountain cabin rentals appear almost everywhere

gfmstudio — Sat, 20 Nov 2010 03:09:54 +0000

With the exception of their names and location, mountain cabin rentals are very much like coastal cottages. Mountain rentals, often referred to as cabins, are located in many places throughout the United States. Many vacationers want to live in these cabins as they are private, safe and fun, together with they can be very romantic at times.
If you often take a short driving or walking distance to a small town or attraction, you will find they may be private and secluded. There are many attractions hike in trails, streams, lakes, biking trail, or sports fields. You will also find different activities or attractions at your mountain cabin rental.
Although most mountain cabin rentals are found in popular mountain regions, they can be almost anywhere. Some are in New York, Colorado, Wyoming, Pennsylvania or Idaho. If you will be traveling to any of these cities, do some research on which of these have mountain cabin rentals. If you find one that has cabin rentals, you will need to make reservations for a specific cabin so you’ll know where you’ll be located. You can usually make a lot of the arrangements as well as “checking out” the cabin online or through the mail.
You may think that finding the perfect mountain cabin rental is all that needs to be done. Moreover, you also need to check out the surrounding area. Although you’ll appreciate the privacy, you may have need to go to a store or gas station, Laundromat or some similar store. If you can’t find these locations nearby, you should have to get what you need by pack extra heavy or travel much further.
If you are on a budget, you should shop around as much as you can looking for discount deals as mountain cabin rentals tend to be very expensive. One of the best choice is going to a less-popular location. Some very well known destinations you may want to avoid are Blue Ridge Mountains in Carolina, Adirondack in New York and Jackson Hole in Wyoming. If your heart was set on one of these, try searching for discount packages. When the prices are the highest, you’d better try to avoid going to any of these places during the holiday season.