text:
User talk:Heron/2003

Move v. Cut & Paste
Hello Heron Chemoorganoheterotrophy : next time you think a title is improper, could you please rename the page instead of creating a new one, and doing a copy and paste of the text as you did with the chemo article ? When you do a copy paste of an article, you lose its history. Renaming it instead keep the history, and create a redirect just as well. Thank you user:anthere

 * I hadn't thought about losing the article's history. I copy and paste because that's the only I method I know: I don't know how to rename an article.  As soon as I find out how to rename, I shall start doing so.  I'm sorry for any information loss I might have caused.  Heron

Since you seemed (by the dates) to be an "old-timer", I thought you knew...Go on the page you want to rename. Then, on the tool bar, click on "move this page". You will have a field-box where you can indicate the new title you want. Validate. The page is renamed (with the old history). The old page is kept with a redirect to the new one. I am sorry I misnamed the page. That's the way we do in french with these long-unreadable names. But, I saw this is not your way.

 * Thank you, anthere. :-) Heron

15:1
From your recent contribution to light bulb I would guess that you've just been watching Fifteen to One. Mintguy

No, I've not been watching TV, but I'm sure that 15-1 is a good source of factoids for the Wikipedia. -- Heron

Firefighting
We really appreciate your invaluable monitoring of the Recent Changes. May you be well and happy! Usedbook 20:50 Mar 17, 2003 (UTC)
 * Glad to have been of service. I had to take a break to preserve my sanity, but I'll be back! -- Heron 11:12 Mar 18, 2003 (UTC)

Standford Fleming
Sorry Heron, I managed to ruin some of your copyedits on the Standford Fleming article while we were both working on it. Do you mind trying again?

Geez, nevermind, I see you have already done it! Thanks.

 * No problem. I'm not quite sure what happened, but the article seems OK now, except that the bit about the 1887 honour has disappeared.  Perhaps I'll put it back in.  -- Heron

 * Sorry, it wasn't on purpouse, but I think one of you updated while I was editing. It happens.. -- Sigg3.net

Swans
I've tried to make the Bewick's/Tundra a bit clearer, but if there is anything more, please add it.jimfbleak 18:08 Mar 22, 2003 (UTC)

Image Editing
Hi, thanks for dealing with my spelling mistake on Image:Microscope_diagram.png. How did you do it? Did you draw the letter a in manually? Theresa knott 15:12 Mar 24, 2003 (UTC)
 * I used my trusty copy of Paintshop Pro. Luckily I didn't have to guess the font you had used: I just copied the letter a from elsewhere in the diagram and adjusted the spacing. -- Heron 21:36 Mar 24, 2003 (UTC)
 * I too like PSP. Yesterday, I started the page How to draw a diagram with Microsoft Word, a couple of others have run with idea and produced Graphics tutorials. It occurs to me that a tutorial on cleaning up images with Paint shop pro might be useful, but at the moment I' still working on the Word one. Perhaps you would like to start the page ? If you do I'd be happy to collaborate, though you should read the talk page for How to draw a diagram with Microsoft Word first as some people dissaprove of "how to" pages. Theresa knott 09:27 Mar 25, 2003 (UTC)

Sorry to jump in the middle like this, but, well, I'm going to anyway. ;-) About the "cleaning up images with PSP" tutorial, I'd suggest that if such a tutorial gets rolling, a more generic name should be used. Something like Basic bitmap image editing, maybe. You could use PSP as your reference editor, but the general techniques would apply to any reasonably powerful editor. Others could include information on the GIMP, Photoshop, etc. That way, we don't end up with a mass of nearly identical tutorials. That's assuming you're interested, Heron, which is a pretty big assumption at this point. :) -- Stephen Gilbert 10:30 Mar 25, 2003 (UTC)

 * Thank you for adding that final qualification, SG. My only investment in the How To project so far is the changing of one letter in a diagram.  I have no opinion on the desirability of How To pages, but I don't feel motivated to create any new ones right now.  -- Heron 13:38 Mar 25, 2003 (UTC)

 * Fair enough :-( I'll do it myself later on.Theresa knott 14:34 Mar 25, 2003 (UTC)

Banned User
It doesn't matter if I agree with it or not because it was made by a banned user. Allowing the edit to stay only encourages this person to edit more and more until the ban becomes meaningless. --mav

 * I see. I didn't know the user was banned.  In that case, I withdraw my comment, and I'm sorry about the lecturing tone I used.  -- Heron

Ich bin ein Berliner
My Dear Heron,

I think the issue concerning the Berlin Doughnut was not what Kennedy 'meant'.

There may or may not have been a profound appreciation of the gratifying magnanimity of Kennedy's sentiment.

But there was a clear example of a pun.

Figurative language of this nature constitutes a phenomenon whose potential for humorous effect is not necessarily even slightly diminished by the sincerity, worthiness or even the clear and unambiguous nature of the evident intention of the utterer.

To someone who is aware that I own a telescope, whom I have previously informed that I was hoping to extend the telescope, in order to increase its light-gathering capability, the request:

"I wonder if you would care to come up and see my instrument after I have made it longer and more powerful"

This would be a request issued with no anticipated possibility of misinterpretation or 'double entendre', unless I have considered the possibility of a pun and decided to proceed anyway, in which case I should say something to 'udermine the pun'.

Oh, and by the way, substituting 'telescope' for 'instrument' in the above is not sufficient to prevent a giggle, the sentence would need to be 'formalised' more comprehensively.

Kennedy's attempt to say something which had no unintentional humour (which is a universal intention of politicians) was not successful.

However, as you say, nobody believed he wanted to claim that he was a doughnut.

This is what made those that thought it was funny, think it was funny.

ericross

 * Thank you, ericross. I think we agree that JFK's phrase was not an error, and was understood unambiguously by his audience at the time.  He (or his speechwriter) may have used the phrase knowing its double meaning, but also knowing that the audience would disregard the inappropriate sense.  Perhaps it is only later interpreters (like me) who have implied that JFK made a fool of himself.  I notice that we now have an article, Ich bin ein Berliner, on the subject, which makes all this clear.  I have altered my comment in the doughnut article to match. -- Heron

Thai Provinces
Thanks a lot for reviewing my articles about the thai provinces. I only wonder where you can find the common names of the species - I usually did a google search with the botanical name and often didn't found any name, except the thai one of course. -- andy 14:34 22 Jun 2003 (UTC)

 * You're welcome. You are doing a great job.  My information is from Google, too, but perhaps I was just luckier with my searches.  Some of your botanical names had subtle typos in them, probably mistakes made by a Thai source, which would have made your job more difficult.  There's an excellent list of Thai names of trees at http://www.pangfan.org/forest6.html, by the way. -- Heron

Hi, thanks for correcting mistakes in article Dutch Golden Age. Erik Zachte 21:13 24 Jun 2003 (UTC)

 * You are welcome. I do that only for really good articles :-) -- Heron

Pseudoscience
ok, i see the point of your edit in pseudoscience, thought your simplified version doesn't have the same meaning- Novum

 * I didn't know whether the extra shade of meaning was intended or just accidental. If you like, I will make the wording more precise. -- Heron

 * Thanks, it looks good to me now. Novum

Adminship
I took the liberty of nominating you to be an admin, hope it's not unwanted. I think it would be great if you were able to easily roll back edits etc. - Hephaestos 21:39, 30 Aug 2003 (UTC)

 * Thanks, Heph. I don't mind becoming an admin, as long as the post doesn't come with any obligations ;-) -- Heron

Capitalization
Why is Caller Line Identification written with capital letters? Michael Hardy 21:41, 30 Aug 2003 (UTC)

 * Because BT (the UK's former public phone company, now privatized) spells it that way (see http://www.btinternet.com/new/content/payasyougo/cli.html, for example), and so do most web sites. Google has a predominance of capitalized versions (38 in the top 40), although I notice that one New Zealand site spells it in lower case.  I don't mind if you change the article, as long as you don't claim that either option is the only correct one.  -- Heron

ISO
Thanks for the comment on the ISO. My problem is that ISO doesn't fit the definition of a NGO included in the Wikipedia article for an NGO. From my perspective its more of a super-governmental organization (like the UN). So I felt like I either needed to change the NGO article or the ISO one to account for the difference. I think we disagree, and would like to see if we can reach a conclusion here or on my talk page before putting the result on talk ISO. Thanks for your attention.. Lou I 20:15, 31 Aug 2003 (UTC)

 * My problem with NGO is not non-profit, I would never expect the ISO to make a profit. My problem is that many (a lot ?) of its standards wind up with the force of law. Sure its indirect through treaties, WTO regulations, etc. etc. But I see the ISO process (174 governmnts + big corporation) as closed when compared with the IETF proceses that I see as open. I'd actually amend the ISO article, maybe calling it a consortium rather than an NGO.

I see what you mean. Perhaps we could say that "ISO defines itself as an NGO, although its ability to set standards which often become law makes it more powerful than most NGOs, and in practice it acts as a consortium with strong links to governments." -- Heron

Sysop
Poof! You've got sysop rights. Use them well. As your first act, let me suggest that you update Administrators, Recently created admins and Requests for adminship to reflect your new status. --Uncle Ed 18:50, 2 Sep 2003 (UTC)

 * Thanks, Ed. I have just edited the list of admins.  Somebody has beaten me to the other two pages. -- Heron

Flux & Potential
In the lowly task of cleaning up after my disamb of Battery, i found myself puzzling over the red links in Potential difference & Flux, re thru and across variables, but eventually got around to puzzling over this satisfying but for me obscure generalization of what, would you say field theory? Fine intellectual calisthenics for me, and glad to have found them.

But i'm concerned that elecrical PD is what almost everyone comes to Potential difference in order to understand, and it may be a terrible hurdle for the high-school seniors and non-major undergrads who come to the page to brush up on that. I was delighted to find recent edits on your Contributions, bcz i doubt i could do a very good job of what i am thinking; i hope you'll find the suggestion at least worth mulling.

It seems clear to me that Potential difference was incomplete w/o the initial paragraph and list you edited in. But most readers will not realize they can skip it for their purposes. (It strikes me as a situation similar to those solved w/ a page where a long article on Foo begins with a link to Foo (disambiguation), a short page that may lead only to stubs and red links. I don't mean that Potential difference (disambiguation) would serve for a place for the material you added, but i've no confidence in the titles i'd suggest, like Potential difference (generalization).)  What i'm picturing is
 * This article concerns electrical potential difference, the most common sense of potential difference.
 * Strictly speaking, potential difference is a much broader concept discussed at Potential difference (whatever).

Would this make any sense in your view?

 * Dear Jerzy, I agree with your view on the meaning of "potential difference". In fact, my contributions to the article related only to the electrical meaning, and it was user:Extro who put in the list of alternative meanings.  Like you, when I look up the term "potential difference", I expect to find the electrical concept, with perhaps a cross-reference to some more general concept.  However, I do not know if my view is due to my electrical background or is common among all readers.  Personally, I would support your proposed change. -- Heron

Many tnx, Heron, & my apology for whatever carelessness on my part led to my confusion & bothering you --Jerzy 00:33, 2003 Nov 23 (UTC)

title: User talk:Heron/2003


text:
Talk:A Course of Pure Mathematics

Untitled
No, introduction to mathematical analysis. Charles Matthews 21:50, 7 May 2004 (UTC)

license: Creative Commons - Attribution Share-Alike - https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/

title: Talk:A Course of Pure Mathematics


text:
Nathan L. Miller

Nathan Lewis Miller (October 10, 1868 – June 26, 1953) was an American lawyer and politician who was the 43rd governor of New York from 1921 to 1922.

Early life and education
Nathan Miller was born on October 10, 1868, the son of Samuel Miller, a tenant farmer, and Almira Russell Miller. He attended Groton Union School, and graduated from Cortland Normal School in 1887. While at Cortland Normal School, Nathan Miller was in Gamma Sigma Fraternity. He studied law in Cortland, New York, and was admitted to the bar in 1893.

Career
Miller entered politics as a Republican, and started his political career in Cortland as corporation counsel. He later moved to corporate law, and his rise in politics was strongly helped by his relationship with Andrew Carnegie and the United States Steel Corporation. Miller helped to effect the mergers that created this early mega-corporation. The merger helped Carnegie get out of the steel business and make him one of the richest men in the world at the time.

Miller was New York State Comptroller from 1901 to 1903, first appointed to fill the unexpired term of Erastus C. Knight who had been elected Mayor of Buffalo, and in November 1902 elected to a full term.

He resigned the comptrollership in 1903, and was appointed to the New York Supreme Court, where he served from 1903 to 1915. In 1904, he was designated to the Appellate Division. On January 13, 1913, he was designated an associate judge of the New York Court of Appeals under the amendment of 1899, but resigned from the bench on July 30, 1915. He served as president of the New York State Bar Association in 1920. He nominated Herbert Hoover for president at the 1920 Republican National Convention.

Governor of New York
Miller was Governor of New York from 1921 to 1922, elected in 1920. As governor he instituted numerous economy measures, and he estimated that he had saved taxpayers $20 million. Against opposition from New York City Mayor John F. Hylan, Miller fashioned the law creating the New York City Transit Commission. He found the death penalty necessary, and was against its abolition. In 1922, he was defeated in a bid for re-election by his predecessor Al Smith, whom he had unseated in 1920. Miller was a strong supporter of the Roman Catholic Church, his wife's religion, and converted to Catholicism on his deathbed. The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey was created while Miller was Governor.

Later career
From 1925 on he served as general counsel for U.S. Steel. He, like his old adversary Smith was active in the American Liberty League, a bipartisan anti-New Deal group founded by wealthy conservatives. While Miller was still the leading partner at his law firm in 1938, Carnegie's Pittsburgh Steamship Company named a ship "Governor Miller" in his honor.

Personal life
On November 23, 1896, he married Elizabeth Davern, and they had seven daughters. They resided at the Elmcroft Estate in Upper Brookville, New York. Miller's daughter Elizabeth married Alvin P. Adams Sr., their son is Alvin P. Adams Jr.

Miller died in 1953 at his New York hotel residence after fracturing his hip following a vacation in Arizona. He was buried in Cortland at the historic Cortland Rural Cemetery.

Honors
In January 1952, the New York State Bar Association awarded Miller its first gold medal for "distinguished service to the legal profession."

title: Nathan L. Miller


text:
User talk:Schadenfreude~enwiki

Wie geht's? Hier ist war meine geputten.

Thanks for experimenting with Wikipedia. Your test worked, and has been reverted or removed. Please use the sandbox for any other tests you want to do. Take a look at the welcome page if you would like to learn more about contributing to our encyclopedia. Thanks. Stop vandalising articles or you will be banned. -- Arwel 22:19, 7 May 2004 (UTC)

Any more personal abuse of other users will also result in a ban. -- The Anome 22:30, 7 May 2004 (UTC)

Your account will be renamed
Hello,

The developer team at Wikimedia is making some changes to how accounts work, as part of our on-going efforts to provide new and better tools for our users like cross-wiki notifications. These changes will mean you have the same account name everywhere. This will let us give you new features that will help you edit and discuss better, and allow more flexible user permissions for tools. One of the side-effects of this is that user accounts will now have to be unique across all 900 Wikimedia wikis. See the announcement for more information.

Unfortunately, your account clashes with another account also called Schadenfreude. To make sure that both of you can use all Wikimedia projects in future, we have reserved the name Schadenfreude~enwiki that only you will have. If you like it, you don't have to do anything. If you do not like it, you can pick out a different name. If you think you might own all of the accounts with this name and this message is in error, please visit Special:MergeAccount to check and attach all of your accounts to prevent them from being renamed.

Your account will still work as before, and you will be credited for all your edits made so far, but you will have to use the new account name when you log in.

Sorry for the inconvenience.

Yours, Keegan Peterzell Community Liaison, Wikimedia Foundation 02:37, 20 March 2015 (UTC)

Renamed
 This account has been renamed as part of single-user login finalisation. If you own this account you can |log in using your previous username and password for more information. If you do not like this account's new name, you can choose your own using this form after logging in: . -- Keegan (WMF) (talk) 18:35, 22 April 2015 (UTC)

title: User talk:Schadenfreude~enwiki


text:
AMX International AMX

The AMX International AMX is a ground-attack aircraft jointly developed by Brazil and Italy. The AMX is designated A-11 Ghibli by the Italian Air Force and A-1 by the Brazilian Air Force. The Italian name, "Ghibli", is taken from the hot dry wind of the Libyan desert.

During the early 1970s, Italian manufacturer Aermacchi conducted a design study on a prospective light ground attack aircraft, which was given the designation of MB-340. During early 1977, the Italian Air Force issued a requirement for 187 new-build strike fighters, which were to replace its existing Aeritalia G.91 in the close air support role. During 1980, the Brazilian government announced that they intended to participate in the program in order to provide a replacement for the Aermacchi MB-326. As a result of a memorandum between Italy and Brazil for the type's joint development in 1981, AMX International, an Italian-Brazilian joint venture, was formed to develop, manufacture, and market the aircraft.

Development

During early 1977, the Italian Air Force issued a requirement for 187 new-build strike fighters, which were to replace its existing Aeritalia G.91 in the close air support and reconnaissance missions, as well as the Lockheed RF-104G Starfighter also being used in the reconnaissance role. Rather than competing for the contract, Aeritalia (now Alenia Aeronautica) and Aermacchi agreed to produce a joint proposal for the requirement, as both firms had been considering the development of a similar class of aircraft for some years. During the early 1970s, Aermacchi conducted work on a design study for such a light ground attack aircraft under the designation of MB-340. In April 1978, development work on the joint venture formally commenced.

During 1980, the Brazilian government announced that they intended to participate in the program in order to provide a replacement for the Aermacchi MB-326. In July 1981, the Italian and Brazilian governments agreed on joint requirements for the aircraft, and Embraer was invited to join the industrial partnership. An agreement was also struck to divide AMX manufacturing between the partners; for each production aircraft, Aeritalia manufactured 46.5 per cent of the components (central fuselage, stabilisers and rudders), Aermacchi produced 22.8 per cent (front fuselage and tail cone), and Embraer performed 29.7 per cent of the work (wing, air intakes, pylons and drop tanks). There was no duplication of work, each component of the aircraft was built at one source only. The planned requirements were 187 aircraft for Italy and 100 for Brazil.

In the early stages of development, various different powerplants and engine configurations were studied to power the type; both twin-engine and single-engine approaches were considered. The use of US-sourced engines had been promptly discounted to avoid any potential restrictions on export sales of the overall aircraft. Amongst the engines examined were the Turbo-Union RB199 (as used by the larger Panavia Tornado), the Rolls-Royce Turbomeca Adour, Rolls-Royce Viper, and the Rolls-Royce Spey engine. In 1978, the Spey 807 model, which featured several additional improvements, was selected to power the new aircraft.

Key features that were reportedly emphasised in the design process of the new aircraft were accessibility and survivability; the AMX had to be able to sustain a single failure to any onboard system without any performance degradation. To achieve this, key systems are duplicated and vital systems are protected; the use of cockpit armor was considered but ultimately discounted due to the expense involved. The detailed definition phase of the project was completed in March 1980.

A total of seven flight-capable prototypes were produced for the test program, three by Aeritalia, two by Aermacchi, and two by Embraer, as well as two static airframes. The first prototype, assembled in Italy, made its maiden flight on 15 May 1984. This first aircraft was lost on its fifth flight in an accident, resulting in the death of its pilot. Aside from this early loss, testing progressed smoothly and without further incident. The first Brazilian-assembled prototype made its first flight on 16 October 1985. On 11 May 1988, the first production aircraft performed its first flight. Deliveries of production aircraft to Italy began in 1988, the first examples were delivered to the Brazilian Air Force during the following year. On 14 March 1990, the prototype two-seat AMX made its first flight.

Design

The AMX is a conventional shoulder-winged monoplane. It is composed primarily of aluminium and manufactured using traditional construction methods, however elements such as the tail fin and elevators use carbon fibre composite materials. For its size, a large proportion of the AMX's internal space is allocated to avionics and onboard computer systems, both the navigation and attack systems are computerized. For accessibility and ease of maintenance, all avionics are installed directly in bays beneath the cockpit in a manner in which they can be worked upon at ground level without the use of support platforms.

Drawing on experience from the Panavia Tornado, the AMX is equipped with a hybrid flight control system; a fly-by-wire control system is employed to operate flight control surfaces such as the spoilers, rudder and variable incidence tailplane, while the ailerons and elevators are actuated via a dual-redundant hydraulic system. Manual reversion is provided for the ailerons, elevator and rudder to allow the aircraft to be flown even in the event of complete hydraulic failure; either control system can act independent of one another. The wing is fitted with both leading edge slats and trailing edge flaps and overwing spoilers ahead of the flaps. The spoilers can function as airbrakes and to negate lift; improving take-off and landing performance as well as manoeuvrability during flight.

A single Rolls-Royce Spey turbofan engine serves as the AMX's powerplant. During the aircraft's development, the Spey was heavier and less modern than some of the available alternatives, but it was considered to be reliable, relatively cheap and was free of export restrictions that would be imposed by using American engines. The Spey engine also enabled for the use of a simplified round-lipped inlet design. The rear fuselage is detachable in order to gain access to the engine. Separate consortia in both Brazil and Italy manufactured the Spey for the AMX. Unusual for a strike aircraft of the era, no attempt was made to develop the aircraft to fly at supersonic speeds.

Brazilian and Italian aircraft differ considerably in their avionics, Italian aircraft being equipped with various NATO systems which were considered redundant in the South American theatre. AMXs in Brazilian service are often fitted with one of three pallet-mounted sensor packages, which contain various vertical, oblique, and forward-facing cameras, for performing the aircraft's secondary aerial reconnaissance role. A simple ranging radar is equipped for targeting purposes, however the specific radar also differs between both operators. The flight system employs a GE Avionics flight control computer. Extensive electronic countermeasure (ECM) are fitted to protect the aircraft, include passive receiver antenna on the tailfin and an active jammer pod that is typically mounted on one of the aircraft's hardpoints.

Various munitions could be mounted on the one centerline and four under-wing hardpoints, including bombs, missiles and rockets; payloads of up to 2,000 lb may be carried upon the centerline and the two innermost under-wing pylons, while the outer pylons can carry up to 1,000 lb. All four of the under-wing hardpoints are plumbed for drop tanks to extend the aircraft's range, Italian aircraft are also fitted with a fixed aerial refueling probe. Optical reconnaissance pods can be carried externally on the centerline hardpoint. Wingtip rails are provided for infrared guided air-to-air missiles such as the AIM-9 Sidewinder and MAA-1 Piranha. Italian aircraft are fitted with a M61 Vulcan 20 mm rotary cannon on the port side of the lower fuselage. The United States denied the sale of the M61 to Brazil, thus its AMXs are instead fitted with two 30 mm DEFA 554 revolver cannons.

Operational history

The first operational squadron of the Italian air force, the 103° Gruppo of 51° Stormo formed in November 1989, with the first Italian unit also forming in 1989. Both the Italian and Brazilian AMX fleets were grounded in February 1992, following the crash of an Italian AMX due to engine failure. Operations were allowed to restart in May that year, following modification of the engines.

Italy assigned six AMXs from 103° Gruppo to operations over Bosnia in 1995 as part of Operation Deny Flight, which was followed by a similar deployment in support of the IFOR peacekeepers in Bosnia. This deployment was interrupted by another grounding, again due to engine failure, between January and March 1996. Italian AMX aircraft were used in 1999 in the Kosovo war. Instead of using unguided or more traditional laser-guided bombs, the Italian Air Force used dozens of Mk 82 bombs fitted with Opher Israeli guidance kits, effectively converting the "dumb" bombs into an infrared-guided bomb.

In the late 1990s, AMX International was considering a major engine refit; a non-afterburning variant of the Eurojet EJ200 was proposed, with considerably more thrust than the existing powerplant. In 2005, the Italian Air Force launched an upgrade programme (ACOL Aggionamento Capacità Operative e Logistiche – Operational and Logistical Capability Upgrade) for 55 of its AMXs, adding a new laser INS, new cockpit displays and allowing the aircraft to drop Joint Direct Attack Munition guided bombs. In August 2007, Embraer began a major midlife upgrade programme and modernisation of 53 Brazilian Air Force AMX A-1s, focusing on avionics systems and new armament additions; the programme is estimated to have extended the lifespan of the fleet beyond 2027.

Starting in November 2009, four Italian AMXs were deployed overseas for operations in Afghanistan, replacing the same number of Italian Tornado IDS in the reconnaissance role. Of particular note is the aircraft's ability to share digital electro-optical and infrared sensor information with ground troops in real time, providing valuable reconnaissance information and helping to minimise threat exposure. By the end of 2010 over 700 combat missions had been flown in the Afghan theatre. On 28 May 2014, the AMX performed its last combat sortie in the Afghan theatre, and on 20 June 2014, all remaining AMXs were withdrawn from Afghanistan.

In 2011, Italian AMX aircraft were employed during the 2011 military intervention in Libya. Italian military aircraft deployed 710 guided bombs and missiles during sorties: Italian Air Force Tornados and AMX fighter bombers deployed 550 bombs and missiles, while Navy AV-8Bs deployed 160 guided bombs. The conflict saw the first use by AMX aircraft of Litening targeting pods paired with Paveway and JDAM guided bombs. In early 2016, due to the declining stability of Libya, Italy opted to station additional aircraft, including four AMX fighters, at Bassi Airbase, Trapani, Sicily.

In March 2012, the Philippines were reportedly holding negotiations with Italy for the possible procurement of used AMX aircraft; however, on 28 March 2014, the Philippines' Department of National Defense signed a contract for 12 FA-50 light attack aircraft worth P18.9 billion (US$421.12 million).

Variants

In 1986, development of a two-seat advanced trainer variant was undertaken. This was intended to provide trainee pilots with experience on fast jets, while still retaining the single-seater's attack capabilities. First flying in 1990, the AMX-T equipped both the Italian and Brazilian air forces.
 * AMX-T

The AMX Advanced Trainer Attack (AMX-ATA) is a new AMX two-seater multi-mission attack fighter developed for combat roles and advanced training. The AMX-ATA incorporates new sensors, a forward-looking infrared helmet-mounted display, a new multi-mode radar for air-to-air and air-to-surface capability, and new weapons systems including anti-ship missiles and medium-range missiles. The Venezuelan Air Force ordered eight AMX-ATA in 1999 for the advanced trainer and attack aircraft role, but the US Congress vetoed the sale because the aircraft systems include US technology.
 * AMX-ATA

An AMX variant designed for reconnaissance missions. Various reconnaissance pallets can be fitted; used by the Brazilian Air Force.
 * AMX-R (RA-1)

The product of a Brazilian upgrade program of their A-1s; significant features include a Mectron SCP-01 Scipio radar, Embraer BR2 data link, FLIR Systems navigation equipment, Elbit INS/GPS/databus, the adoption of a glass cockpit, a new OBOGS system and HMD DASH IV.
 * A-1M

Italian military designation for the AMX from 2012.
 * A-11A

Italian military designation for the AMX-T from 2012.
 * TA-11A

Italian military designation for the AMX ACOL from 2012.
 * A-11B

Italian military designation for the AMX-T ACOL from 2012.
 * TA-11B

Operators

 * Brazilian Air Force operates 51 AMX-As and 8 AMX-T trainers. 43 aircraft modernized to A-1M, delivered between 2013 and 2017, and to be retired in 2032, being replaced by JAS 39E/F Gripen.
 * 1 Esquadrão/16 Grupo de Aviação Esquadrão Adelphi, Santa Cruz Air Base - disbanded in December 2016 in anticipation of future reactivation with the F-39 Gripen E. Aircraft transferred to Santa Maria Air Base.
 * 1 Esquadrão/10 Grupo de Aviação Esquadrão Poker, Santa Maria Air Base
 * 3 Esquadrão/10 Grupo de aviação Esquadrão Centauro, Santa Maria Air Base
 * 3 Esquadrão/10 Grupo de aviação Esquadrão Centauro, Santa Maria Air Base

Aircraft on display

 * A retired Italian Air Force AMX is displayed on a pedestal in front of the Thales Alenia Space plant in Turin.
 * A retired Italian Air Force AMX (MM7125) is displayed in Italian Air Force Museum, Vigna di Valle
 * Development prototype #5, (Italian Air Force MMX599) is on display at the Volandia Park and Flight Museum located in Somma Lombardo and adjacent to the Milan-Malpensa Airport
 * The first prototype built in Brazil is displayed on an open museum called Memorial Aeroespacial Brasileiro in São José dos Campos.
 * A decommissioned Brazilian Air Force AMX is displayed at "Praça do Avião" square, which is located close to Galeão International Airport on Governador Island in Rio de Janeiro.

Incidents

 * Brazilian A1M lost in April 2019.

title: AMX International AMX


text:
Burlesque Hall of Fame

The Burlesque Hall of Fame (BHOF) is the world's only museum dedicated to the history, preservation, and future of the art of burlesque. Located in the Las Vegas Arts district at 1027 S Main st. #110, BHOF is a tourist destination and non-profit 501 (c)(3) educational organization offering tours of its vast Collection of costumes, memorabilia, props and ephemera from burlesque's heyday through contemporary practice; classes for individuals and groups at all levels including beginner; movie screenings; research access for students and journalists; and a gift shop.

Formerly known as Exotic World, the museum began as the personal collection of striptease artist and founding member of The Exotic Dancers' League of America Jennie Lee. After her death in 1990, her friend and fellow entertainer, Dixie Evans, created the museum in Helendale, California, and launched the "Miss Exotic World" Competition in 1990.

In 2006, The Burlesque Hall of Fame relocated from Helendale to Las Vegas, NV, to establish itself as a permanent tourist attraction and exhibition space for its collection. After nearly a decade in the Emergency Arts building in the heart of a revitalized Downtown Las Vegas, the museum moved to Las Vegas' Arts district in 2018.

This Miss Exotic World competition is in its 29th year (as of 2019), and has grown to become The Burlesque Hall of Fame Weekender, a four-day convention held annually in Las Vegas that includes class, vending, museum tours, pin-up safaris, and four nights of showcases: Movers, Shakers, and Innovators; The Titans of Tease Reunion (now in its 68th year); The Miss Exotic World Competition; and Icons and All-Stars.

History
Retired dancer Jennie Lee started collecting burlesque memorabilia when she owned the Sassy Lassy nightclub in San Pedro, California. After Lee was diagnosed with breast cancer, she and her husband moved to an abandoned goat farm in Helendale, California, located in the Mojave Desert about one third of the way between Los Angeles, California and Las Vegas, Nevada.

Lee intended to create a burlesque museum, found a burlesque school and run a bed and breakfast, and the goat farm site had enough room to contain her growing collection. Only the museum got started within her lifetime.

After Lee died in 1990, Dixie Evans took over the farm and turned it into The Exotic World Burlesque Museum, aided by Lee's widower, Charlie Arroyo. Lee's memorabilia formed the core of the collection, but people from around the world soon started to donate items to Exotic World. The collection grew large enough to fill the entire farm.

In late 2005, the museum was temporarily closed for inventory and renovations in the wake of Arroyo's unexpected death and significant weather damage to the museum facilities. Although the museum was not open at the time of the annual Miss Exotic World Pageant in 2006, the pageant was nevertheless held at an alternate venue, the Celebrity Theater in Las Vegas. In 2006, the Burlesque Hall of Fame relocated from Helendale to a temporary space in The Las Vegas Emergency Arts building.

The Hall of Fame relocated to a permanent premises in S Main Street, Las Vegas in April 2018.

Legends of Burlesque
The Burlesque Hall of Fame does not have a formal induction process. The museum is dedicated to celebrating and honoring the entire history of burlesque. A "Living Legend of the Year" award is presented annually during the BHOF Weekender to a performer who has made a significant contribution to burlesque history. BHOF also presents a "Sassy Lassy" award to a person who has contributed significantly to the promotion and preservation of the art of burlesque.

Living Legend of the Year recipients include:

 * 2019 Camille 2000
 * 2018 Kitten Natividad
 * 2017 Lottie the Body
 * 2016 Dee Milo
 * 2015 April March
 * 2014 Toni Elling
 * 2013 Tai Ping
 * 2012 La Savona
 * 2011 Barbara Yung
 * 2010 Betty Rowland
 * 2009 Satan's Angel
 * 2007 Tura Satana
 * 2004 Tempest Storm
 * 2003 Mitzi Sinclaire

Sassy Lassy recipients include:

 * 2019 Simone de la Getto
 * 2018 Indigo Blue
 * 2017 Ophelia Flame
 * 2016 Ursulina
 * 2016 Fisherman
 * 2015 Otter (Blue Angel)
 * 2015 Bonnie Dunn (Blue Angel)
 * 2015 Bambi the Mermaid (Burlesque on the Beach)
 * 2015 Dick Zigun (Burlesque on the Beach)
 * 2015 Madison Stone (Burlesque pioneer and scream queen)
 * 2014 Torchy Taboo
 * 2014 Grant Philipo
 * 2014 Vivienne VaVoom
 * 2013 Katy K
 * 2013 Catherine D'Lish
 * 2013 Scott Ewalt
 * 2012 Dita Von Teese
 * 2012 Don Spiro
 * 2012 Jo "Boobs" Weldon
 * 2011 Billie Madley
 * 2011 Baby Doe Von Stoheim (Tease-O-Rama)
 * 2011 Alison Fensterstock (Tease-O-Rama)
 * 2011 Debbie Mink (Tease-O-Rama)
 * 2011 Alan Perowski (Tease-O-Rama)
 * 2011 Michelle Carr

Museum collection
The Exotic World museum collection includes costumes, props, posters, photographs, publicity stills, newspaper clippings, and playbills related to famous burlesque performers including Dita Von Teese, Blaze Starr, Lili St. Cyr, Chesty Morgan, Candy Barr and Tempest Storm.

The museum includes costume elements and props such as feather boas, fans, gloves, garter belts, gowns, shoes, pasties, g-strings, and jewelry. Many of these items are specially made for use in striptease routines.

Unique individual items include ivory fans used by Sally Rand, gloves and a black velvet shoulder cape worn by Gypsy Rose Lee, a heart-shaped couch owned by Jayne Mansfield and the cremation ashes of Miss Sheri Champagne.

Film
The history of the Burlesque Hall of Fame is the featured subject of the 2010 documentary Exotic World & the Burlesque Revival. Dixie Evans appears in Leslie Zemeckis' documentary Behind the Burly Q.

Miss Exotic World Pageant

Exotic World hosts the annual Miss Exotic World pageant on the first Saturday of every June. Each year a Neo-burlesque performer is crowned Miss Exotic World in a contest often referred to as the Miss America of burlesque. Winners receive both the title and a trophy.

Evolving from annual celebrations for the Exotic Dancers League union, Dixie Evans initiated the Miss Exotic World pageant in 1990 as a way to draw people to the museum. She garnered attention by sending out a press release claiming that "Lili St. Cyr, Tempest Storm, Blaze Starr and 30 other alumni of burlesque will all be invited to attend this reunion." While technically true, none of those invitees attended that year. However, the release garnered press attention for the pageant, which was successful enough to become an annual event.

Each contest features burlesque performances by both stars from burlesque's golden age and younger women involved in the New Burlesque scene.

Miss Exotic World, Reigning Queen of Burlesque 2019

" Frankie Fictitious "
First runner Up                                       Second Runner up

RedBone                                                Lou Lou la Duchesse De Riere Best Boylesque: Joshua Dean

Best Debut: Dahlia Fatale

Most Classic:Holly's Good

Most Comical: Faye Havoc & Donna Boss Rogers

Most Innovative: Lou Lou la Duchesse De Riere

Most Dazzling Dancer: Frankie Fictitious

Best Small Group: Kitten ‘N’ Lou

Best Large Group: Mod Carousel

title: Burlesque Hall of Fame


text:
Virtual 8086 mode

In the 80386 microprocessor and later, virtual 8086 mode (also called virtual real mode, V86-mode, or VM86) allows the execution of real mode applications that are incapable of running directly in protected mode while the processor is running a protected mode operating system. It is a hardware virtualization technique that allowed multiple 8086 processors to be emulated by the 386 chip. It emerged from the painful experiences with the 80286 protected mode, which by itself was not suitable to run concurrent real-mode applications well. John Crawford developed the Virtual Mode bit at the register set, paving the way to this environment.

VM86 mode uses a segmentation scheme identical to that of real mode (for compatibility reasons), which creates 20-bit linear addresses in the same manner as 20-bit physical addresses are created in real mode, but are subject to protected mode's memory paging mechanism.

Overview
The virtual 8086 mode is a mode for a protected-mode task. Consequently, the processor can switch between VM86 and non-VM86 tasks, enabling multitasking legacy (DOS) applications.

To use virtual 8086 mode, an operating system sets up a virtual 8086 mode monitor, which is a program that manages the real-mode program and emulates or filters access to system hardware and software resources. The monitor must run at privilege level 0 and in protected mode. Only the 8086 program runs in VM86 mode and at privilege level 3. When the real-mode program attempts to do things like access certain I/O ports to use hardware devices or access certain regions in its memory space, the CPU traps these events and calls the V86 monitor, which examines what the real mode program is trying to do and either acts as a proxy to interface with the hardware, emulates the intended function the real-mode program was trying to access, or terminates the real-mode program if it is trying to do something that cannot either be allowed or be adequately supported (such as reboot the machine, set a video display into a mode that is not supported by the hardware and is not emulated, or write over operating system code).

The V86 monitor can also deny permission gently by emulating the failure of a requested operation—for example, it can make a disk drive always appear not ready when in fact it has not even checked the drive but simply will not permit the real-mode program to access it. Also, the V86 monitor can do things like map memory pages, intercept calls and interrupts, and preempt the real-mode program, allowing real-mode programs to be multitasked like protected-mode programs. By intercepting the hardware and software I/O of the real-mode program and tracking the state that the V86 program expects, it can allow multiple programs to share the same hardware without interfering with each other. So V86 mode provides a way for real-mode programs designed for a single-tasking environment (like DOS) to run concurrently in a multitasking environment.

Usage
It is used to execute certain DOS programs in FlexOS 386 (since 1987), Concurrent DOS 386 (since 1987), Windows/386 2.10 (since 1987), DESQview 386 (since 1988), Windows 3.x (since 1990), Multiuser DOS (since 1991), Windows for Workgroups 3.1x (since 1992), OS/2 2.x (since 1992), 4690 OS (since 1993), REAL/32 (since 1995) running in 386 Enhanced Mode as well as in Windows 95, 98, 98 SE and ME through virtual DOS machines, in SCO UNIX through Merge, and in Linux through DOSEMU. (Other DOS programs which use protected mode execute using user mode under the emulator.) NTVDM in x86 Windows NT-based operating systems also use VM86 mode, but with very limited direct hardware access. Some boot loaders (e.g. GRUB) use the protected mode, and execute the BIOS interrupt calls in Virtual 8086 mode.

Memory addressing and interrupts
The most common problem by running 8086 code from protected mode is memory addressing which is totally different between protected mode and real mode. As mentioned, by working under VM86 mode the segmentation mechanism is reconfigured to work just like under real mode, but the paging mechanism is still active, and it is transparent to the real mode code; thus, memory protection is still applicable, and so is the isolation of the address space.

When interrupts (hardware, software and int instruction) occur, the processor switches off the VM86 mode and returns to work in full protected mode to handle the interrupt. Also, before servicing the interrupt, the DS, ES, FS, and GS registers are pushed on the new stack and zeroed.

Virtual-8086 mode extensions (VME)
The Pentium architecture added a number of enhancements to the virtual 8086 mode. These were however documented by Intel only starting with the subsequent P6 (microarchitecture); their more recent formal name is Virtual-8086 Mode Extensions, abbreviated VME (older documentation may use "Virtual 8086 mode enhancements" as the VME acronym expansion). Some later Intel 486 chips also support it. The enhancements address mainly the 8086 virtualization overhead, with a particular focus on (virtual) interrupts. Before the extensions were publicly documented in the P6 documentation, the official documentation referred to the famed Appendix H, which was omitted from the public documentation and shared only with selected partners under NDA.

Activating VME is done by setting bit number 0 (0x1 in value) of CR4. Because the VME interrupt speed-up enhancements were found useful for non-VM86 protected tasks, they can also be enabled separately by setting only bit number 1 (0x2 in value), which is called PVI (Protected Mode Virtual Interrupts). Detecting whether a processor supports VME (including PVI) is done using the CPUID instruction, with an initial EAX value of 0x1, by testing the value of second bit (bit number 1, 0x2 in value) in EDX register, which is set if VME is supported by the processor. In Linux, this latter bit is reported as the vme flag in the /proc/cpuinfo file, under the "flags" section.

In virtual 8086 mode, the basic idea is that when IOPL is less than 3, PUSHF/POPF/STI/CLI/INT/IRET instructions will treat the value of VIF in the real 32-bit EFLAGS register as the value of IF in the simulated 16-bit FLAGS register (32-bit PUSHFD/POPFD continues to GP fault). VIP will cause a GP fault on the setting of simulated IF, directing the OS to process any pending interrupts. PVI is the same idea but only affects CLI/STI instructions.

First generation AMD Ryzen CPUs have been found to feature a broken VME implementation. The second generation Ryzen (2000 series) has fixed this issue.

64-bit and VMX support
Virtual 8086 mode is not available in x86-64 long mode, although it is still present on x86-64 capable processors running in legacy mode.

Intel VT-x brings back the ability to run virtual 8086 mode from x86-64 long mode, but it has to be done by transitioning the (physical) processor to VMX root mode and launching a logical (virtual) processor itself running in virtual 8086 mode.

Westmere and later Intel processors usually can start the virtual processor directly in real mode using the "unrestricted guest" feature (which itself requires Extended Page Tables); this method removes the need to resort to the nested virtual 8086 mode simply to run the legacy BIOS for booting.

AMD-V can do virtual 8086 mode in guests, too, but it can also just run the guest in "paged real mode" using the following steps: you create a SVM (Secure Virtual Machine) mode guest with CR0.PE=0, but CR0.PG=1 (that is, with protected mode disabled but paging enabled), which is ordinarily impossible, but is allowed for SVM guests if the host intercepts page faults.

title: Virtual 8086 mode


text:
User:Spottedowl

Profile
Spottedowl is a contributor to Wikipedia. Born in 1982 in a small hole in a tree, he was fed rodents until the age of about three months, at which point he was pushed out of the nest. He settled in London, England, and has lived there since, although he did spend three years in the area of Egham to do a Computer science and Physics degree.

He is a furry and a feathery, and most furs know him as Hawthorn.

Much to his own chagrin, his strongest field of knowledge is computer games.

He was recruited by his good friend Timwi.

Interests

 * Animals
 * Birds
 * Owls
 * Rabbits
 * Ungulates

 * Apidya

 * Furry
 * Feathery
 * Transformation

 * Programming
 * Java

 * Retrogames
 * R-Type

 * Science
 * Creation-evolution controversy
 * Physics

 * Science fiction
 * Babylon 5
 * Isaac Asimov
 * Starships

External link

 * Hawthorn's Hole - Spottedowl's web site.

title: User:Spottedowl


text:
UR

UR, Ur or ur may refer to:

Gaming

 * A location in Final Fantasy III
 * A race of aliens in Fading Suns, a role-playing game
 * Royal Game of Ur, an ancient board game

Music

 * "UR", pronounced "you are", a song from the album Supposed Former Infatuation Junkie by Alanis Morissette
 * "U R", a song by Monsta X from the EP Follow: Find You
 * "Ur", a song by SZA from the EP Z
 * "UR/A Tear in the Open", a song from the album Just Be by DJ Tiësto
 * UR (band), a satellite band of Secret Chiefs 3 from the U.S. city of San Francisco, California
 * Underground Resistance (band), a U.S. techno music label
 * Universal Records (Philippines), a Philippine record label

Other media

 * Ur, a novella by Stephen King
 * UR (Unrated), used for a film not submitted for rating, or an uncut version of a film
 * Sveriges Utbildningsradio, the Swedish Educational Broadcasting Corporation

Language

 * Úr (ᚒ), a letter of the Ogham alphabet
 * Ur (cuneiform), a cuneiform sign
 * ur (digraph), a digraph in Central Alaskan Yup'ik for, and in Pinyin for the trilled vowel
 * Ur (root), a common root word in the Basque language
 * Ur (rune) (ᚢ), a letter of the runic alphabets
 * Ur-, a German prefix meaning "primeval" (seldom also "primitive") or even simply "original"
 * Underlying representation, in phonology
 * Urdu language (ISO 639 alpha-2 code "ur")
 * "you're" (you are) or "your" in text messaging

Places

 * Ancient populated places:
 * Ur, an ancient city-state in southern Mesopotamia
 * Ur of the Chaldees, or Ur Kaśdim, scriptural birthplace of Abraham
 * Modern populated places:
 * Ur, Iran, a village in Ardabil Province, Iran
 * Ur, Pyrénées-Orientales, a commune of the Pyrénées-Orientales Département, France
 * Canton of Uri, Switzerland
 * Hayy Ur, a neighborhood of Baghdad, Iraq

Religion and esotericism

 * Ur, the king of the underworld in Mandaeism
 * UR Group, Italian esotericist association

Science, technology, and mathematics

 * Ur, a continent that formed 3,100 million years ago
 * Ur, a programming language
 * UR Mark, a certification mark of Underwriters Laboratories
 * Ur, a Polish anti-tank rifle
 * Unitary representation, in group theory
 * Ur, an obsolete symbol for the element Uranium

Vehicles

 * Universal Rocket, a family of Russian rockets developed by Khrunichev
 * UrQuattro, prefix of the original Audi Quattro automobile, 1980–1991
 * Ursaab, prefix of the original Saab automobile, 1949

United States

 * University of Richmond, in Virginia
 * University of Rochester, in New York
 * University of Redlands, in California

Other countries

 * Universität Regensburg, Germany
 * University of Regina, Canada
 * Universidad Regiomontana, Monterrey, Mexico
 * University of La Réunion, France
 * University of La Rioja, Spain
 * University of Rwanda

Other meanings

 * UR, the IATA code of Uganda Airlines
 * Universal Robina, food and beverage company in the Philippines

title: UR


text:
Maidstone United F.C.

Maidstone United Football Club is a non-professional football club based in Maidstone, Kent, England. The team competes in the National League South, the sixth level of the English football league system. The club's nickname is "The Stones" and they play in black and amber.

Maidstone United was a member of The Football League between 1989 and 1992. That club was forced out of the league following bankruptcy, but the nucleus of a new club was built around the youth squad, Maidstone Invicta, which made the step up to adult football in 1992 after being elected to the Kent County League Fourth Division in 1993 and subsequently progressed through the non-League pyramid. They changed their name to Maidstone United in 1995. They played in the Isthmian League Premier Division from 2013, having been promoted from the Isthmian League Division One South, and won the league in the 2014–15 season to gain promotion to the National League South (formerly the Conference South) for the 2015–16 season.

Maidstone gained a second successive promotion to the National League in 2016, bringing fifth-tier football back to the town for the first time since the old club was promoted to the Football League in 1989. Maidstone were relegated in 2019, before winning the National League South title in 2022 and promotion back to the National League. However, they could not consolidate this position and were relegated the following season. In 2023–24, Maidstone reached the fifth round of the FA Cup for the first time, becoming the first team outside of the top five divisions to reach this stage since 1977–78. Maidstone were without a stadium of their own from their creation until 2012 when the Gallagher Stadium near Maidstone town centre opened at the start of the 2012–13 season.

1992–2001: The new club and Kent County League years
Maidstone Invicta were originally a youth club and were "taken over" within days of the Football League side folding. However, the lack of a suitable ground meant the club was effectively relegated seven divisions to the basement of the footballing pyramid and joined the Fourth Division of the Kent County League for the 1993–94 season. The club's home games took place on the reserve and training pitch of the original Maidstone, next to the original London Road Stadium. Initially, Jim Thompson ran the club, but was banned from football for his part in the demise of Maidstone and Dartford, and Paul Bowden-Brown took over as Chairman – a position he retained until 2010.

The newly created Kent County League side was formed with the nucleus of the original club's youth team, They had been formed too late to join a league for the 1992–93 season, but, in the 1993–94 season, comfortably won the Fourth Division of the County League under the stewardship of Jack Whitely and Bill Tucker. They also managed to win the West Kent Challenge Shield and the Tunbridge Wells Charity Cup. During the close season of 1994 the club managed to gain promotion to Division 2 of the league after restructuring. The club went on to win Division 2, picking up the Kent Junior Cup on the way. However, the Stones, who had adopted their original name of Maidstone United in 1997, took four years and six managers before finally winning promotion to the Kent County League Premier Division with former Stones player turned manager Jason Lillis leading the club to the Division One title. The 1999–2000 season saw Maidstone's début season in the Premier Division, with the team finishing in a respectable third place. The next season saw the club, which was now managed by another former Maidstonian in Matt Toms, successfully apply to become a senior club and finish second in the league. These factors now left the door open to seek elevation to the Kent League (with the County League being a step-7 league and the Kent League being a step-5 league, direct promotion was not possible).

2001–2006: The Kent League years
The club's application was accepted and the Stones started the 2001–2002 season in the Kent League. However, the club's ground in Maidstone was nowhere near Kent League standards so the Stones agreed to share Sittingbourne's Central Park stadium while trying to overcome various legal obstacles in the way of a move to a new ground in the town at James Whatman Way. In its first Kent League season since reformation, Maidstone won the Kent League and Cup double under the management of Jim Ward. However, the club could not gain promotion to the Southern League Eastern Division because of problems with the lease on Central Park. The lease problems were not solved and during the 2002 close season both Sittingbourne and Maidstone moved out of Central Park to a new ground, named Bourne Park, which was built on the same complex using the old training pitch.

The 2002–03 season saw Maidstone enter the FA Cup for the first time since reformation, and the club was featured on BBC Sport's 'Road to Cardiff'. The club reached the 2nd qualifying round of the cup, with the highlight of the run coming in the form of a 3–2 win against old foes Tonbridge Angels, with Steve Butler bagging a hat-trick against the Southern League East outfit. In the league, the Stones looked destined to win a second successive title but after a poor run-in, coupled with the withdrawal from the league of Faversham Town, the club bizarrely lost the championship by 0.14 of a point (the League Management Committee decreed that the title would be awarded to the club with the highest earned points per match average, so with Maidstone and Thamesmead Town achieving 63 points from 30 games, the unusual situation arose that the championship was won by Cray Wanderers with 62 points from 29 games). The Stones did pick up some silverware that season, winning both the Kent Senior Trophy and the Kent Charity Cup, but this was overshadowed by continuing lease problems, which meant another attempt to gain promotion to the Southern League was knocked back.

The years 2003 till 2005 contained two indifferent seasons for the Stones, on the pitch at least. Both campaigns saw the club finish 4th in the league, although this disappointment was offset somewhat by reaching the third qualifying round of the FA Cup in successive years. Off the pitch, the club took a huge step forward when in November 2004 it successfully applied for planning permission to build a new stadium at James Whatman Way. However, construction of the stadium could not begin until a lease for the site was agreed with its owners, the Ministry of Defence. The 2005–06 season saw Maidstone, now managed by Lloyd Hume after a spell in charge from Mal Watkins, win the Kent League title. They spent the season toe-to-toe with Beckenham Town before securing the championship on the final day of the season. The title win meant the club finally gained promotion to Step 4 of the non league pyramid, joining the Isthmian League Division One South. However perhaps more importantly, the club's bid to return to Maidstone was another step closer when a 99-year lease was signed for the land at James Whatman Way, meaning the club was now free to start building on it.

2006–2015: The Isthmian League years
Maidstone, who were now managed by Lloyd Hume and Alan Walker in a joint capacity, surprisingly managed to win the league at the first time of asking, gaining promotion to the Isthmian League Premier Division. However the overwhelming success on the pitch was overshadowed by little visible progress being made in the building of the stadium at James Whatman Way. Before the 2007–08 season had even begun Alan Walker was involved in a freak accident at a coaching course in Belfast which left him temporarily paralysed. Walker made a valiant recovery however, and was back walking and in management by the start of the league season. Maidstone struggled in the new surroundings of the Isthmian League Premier Division and spent the majority of the season near the foot of the table, despite having the services of Chris Smalling at their disposal, however they avoided relegation after beating Folkestone Invicta 1–0 on the last day of the season, a result that relegated Invicta in Maidstone's place. In other news 25% of the club was sold to businessman Oliver Ash in February 2008.

The 2008–09 was another tough season for Maidstone. The squad who came so close to relegation the year before was largely dismantled with a whole raft of new players replacing them. During the close season it had become increasingly apparent the club could not afford to field a competitive Isthmian Premier team and fund the building of a new stadium, so with what limited funds the club had seemingly tied up in paying new players it was decided to try and fund the construction at James Whatman Way by bidding for a £1.2million grant from the Football Foundation. The bid was turned down in October 2008 and the club was subsequently put up for sale by chairman Paul Bowden-Brown. However no takeover was forthcoming and as a result of this the club had no choice but to halve their wage bill from £6000 to £3000 per week. The majority of the players took pay cuts and led Maidstone to their best league finish since reforming, finishing a comfortable 15th in the Isthmian Premier table and reaching the 4th qualifying round of the FA Cup.

During the 2009 close season Maidstone moved from their temporary Bourne Park home in Sittingbourne to Ashford Town's stadium, The Homelands, citing lower rent and a deal to receive a percentage of refreshment takings as the reason for the move. However the move only increased Maidstone's financial woes due to a sharp drop in attendances, and in December 2009 it was revealed two months of staff pay was to be deferred to the end of the season, a move that led to Alan Walker and Lloyd Hume resigning as managers of the club. Reserve team boss Pete Nott stepped up to the first team managers role and led Maidstone to an 18th-place finish, avoiding relegation with a game to spare.

In October 2010 the club was taken over by shareholder Oliver Ash and Terry Casey with Paul Bowden-Brown stepping down as chairman. In November 2010 the club's new directors sacked first team boss Peter Nott and his backroom staff with the team bottom of the table and out of the FA Cup. Former Gravesend & Northfleet manager Andy Ford was swiftly appointed manager, but he could not improve the club's fortunes and resigned in March 2011 with the club bottom of the league and 8 points adrift from safety. Club captain Jay Saunders was appointed caretaker manager until the end of the season, and although he oversaw the team to 5 wins from nine games he could not save Maidstone from relegation. Saunders was subsequently given the permanent managers job.

In the 2011 close season the club returned to groundshare at Sittingbourne's Bourne Park after their two-year spell at Ashford's Homelands Stadium, and soon after construction finally began on the club's new ground The Gallagher Stadium. The club finished the season in sixth place, just outside the play-offs. The 2012 close season saw Maidstone finally come home, moving into the Gallagher Stadium in July 2012. The club opened the £2.6 million stadium with a showpiece friendly against Brighton & Hove Albion in front of a sell-out crowd. After a two-horse race for the Isthmian League Division One South title with Dulwich Hamlet, and regularly playing in front of crowds of 1,500+, Maidstone eventually won promotion to the Isthmian League Premier Division after beating Faversham Town 3–0 in the Isthmian League Division One South play-off final.

During the 2014–15 season, Maidstone United qualified for the first round proper of the FA Cup for the first time in their history. Maidstone played a goalless draw away to Stevenage of League Two and in the replay at home in front of a capacity crowd went through to the second round proper, winning 2–1. In the second round Maidstone lost 3–1 at Wrexham of the Conference Premier. Maidstone United went on to win the Isthmian Premier title following a season-long battle with Margate, then Dulwich Hamlet and finally Hendon. The title was effectively won at Champion Hill, home of Dulwich Hamlet, on 18 April 2015 with Maidstone United drawing 0–0 and Hendon drawing 0–0 away at Grays Athletic. The near-1,000 travelling Stones fans celebrated on the pitch with the Dulwich Hamlet fans, their best position since reforming. The title was officially won on home soil on 25 April 2015 with a 3–2 win over East Thurrock United.

2015–present: The National League and FA Cup run
After winning the Isthmian League Premier Division, Maidstone United were promoted to the National League South (formerly the Conference South). In the 2015–16 season the team again qualified for the first round proper of the FA Cup where they narrowly lost 1–0 at home to League Two side Yeovil Town in front of a record-breaking crowd of 2,811. On 14 May 2016, Maidstone United were promoted to the National League after defeating Ebbsfleet United in the National League South promotion final at Stonebridge Road. The match finished 2–2 after extra time, and Maidstone won 4–3 in the resulting penalty shoot-out.

Maidstone were relegated back to the National League South after three seasons in the National League by finishing in 24th place in 2018–19. In the 2021–22 season, Maidstone won the National League South title. They were unable to consolidate this position and were relegated back to the sixth tier, with five matches remaining. In the 2023–24 season, Maidstone reached the FA Cup fifth round for the first time, and in doing so became the first team outside of the top five divisions to reach the fifth round since Blyth Spartans in 1977–78. Having defeated Football League sides including Barrow and Stevenage, the Stones subsequently won 2–1 away to Ipswich Town in the fourth round. In the fifth round, Maidstone lost 5–0 away to Coventry City backed by 4,800 away supporters.

Shirts, colours and badge
Since reformation Maidstone's home shirts have been amber with black trim. All white was the template used for away shirts, but from 2009 to 2013 the club wore sky blue. They returned to a white away kit in the summer of 2013. In 2017, the away kit was changed to purple shirt, shorts and socks, with a white trim around the sleeves.

Stadiums
Maidstone United play their home games at The Gallagher Stadium, James Whatman Way, Maidstone, Kent, ME14 1LQ. After the original club folded, the new Maidstone United played their games on a pitch behind a Mormon meeting house, which had originally been the MUFC reserves and training pitch – just metres from where the old ground had been. Promotion to the Kent League in 2001 meant the club had to move away yet again as the current ground was nowhere near up to standard.

The club had earmarked James Whatman Way as the site of a new ground in Maidstone, but until this was built they would have to groundshare outside the town. Maidstone played for a year at Sittingbourne's old Central Park stadium before relocating, along with the "Brickies", to Bourne Park, a converted training pitch behind the main Central Park complex. Unable to generate the funds to build at Whatman Way, The Stones stayed at Bourne Park until 2009, before moving to groundshare with Ashford Town, citing favourable rent and a cut of food and bar takings as the reason for the move. The move to Ashford caused a sharp dip in attendances and the club returned to ground share at Bourne Park for the 2011–12 season; however the club finally moved into James Whatman Way, known as the Gallagher Stadium, at the start of the 2012–13 season.

Support
Maidstone returned to their home town and home crowds surged by 350% to average 1,698 in the league during the 2012–13 season at the club's new Gallagher Stadium. The table below gives a summary of the attendance figures in all of Maidstone United's league games since the club's final season in the Kent County League in the 2000–01 season.

No attendances were recorded for Season 2020–21, due to COVID-19 restrictions.

Rivalries
Maidstone fans have traditionally had a strong rivalry with Gillingham. The old Maidstone are the only traditional Kent club to ever join Gillingham in the Football League, and contested a total of 11 games with Gillingham in the old Division 4 and FA Cup in the 1980s and early 1990s. There have been only three matches since the Stones reformed, the first being a mid-season friendly in 2002 at Central Park, the second being a Kent Senior Cup quarter final tie in 2018, where Maidstone won 2–1, and the third once again in the Kent Senior Cup second round in 2023, where Maidstone won 2–0.

A rivalry also remains with Tonbridge Angels. Back in the 1970s, the old Maidstone United and the 'Angels' regularly met in the Southern League before Maidstone moved on to become founder members of the National League (then known as the Alliance Premier League). The two clubs were reconciled after Maidstone's reformation, meeting in the 2002–03 FA Cup – with the Stones winning 3–2. The clubs then met regularly in the Isthmian League Premier Division between 2007 and 2011 and again in the 2014–15 season. In January 2015, there was a "confrontation" between Tonbridge Angels coach Barry Moore and a Maidstone supporter after a game between the sides. Moore was banned by the FA for four months following the incident. Old Southern League foes Ebbsfleet United (then Gravesend & Northfleet) have perhaps become the club's biggest current-day rivals, with the clubs' recent time together in the National League and National League South punctuated by ill-will both at boardroom level and on the terraces.

Fan culture
Stones Live! is a radio station run since 2008, offering commentary from most matches plus other club-related content. It was voted Sports Station of the Year at the 2010–11 Internet Radio Awards. A fanzine site “Plastic Passion” was launched in February 2014, in part to celebrate one of the most successful eras in the club's history. Plastic Passion spawned a spin off book, believed to be the first ever Maidstone United e-book, “When I was Just A Little Boy” in 2016. A second book, this time available in physical form, "Exodus" was published in December 2016, detailing the period between 1988 and 2012 and the struggle to find a permanent home.

The Football League era saw the birth of four fanzines, "Show Me The Way To Go Home", "Spirit of London Road (aka S.O.L.D)", "Yellow Fever", later renamed "Golden Days", and "The Foundation Stone" which ran for just a couple of issues. In 2000, with the club languishing in the Kent County League, a fanzine known as “SHAFTED!” ran for five issues. By the time the club returned to the Kent League in 2001 the team behind Show Me The Way To Go Home decided to revive it after almost ten years. It ran for several seasons and was highly acclaimed. In 2005 it was named as one of the best 11 fanzines in the country by the Independent, although it had ceased publication before the club returned to Maidstone in 2012. The void was eventually filled by "It's All Gone Amber", which was first published in 2015. It was named after the line uttered by commentator Derek Rae when Frannie Collin scored the winner for Maidstone against Stevenage in an FA Cup first round replay in 2014.

Reserves, youth and community

Maidstone's youth and community sides are currently members of the Isthmian Youth League and Kent Youth League as well as being members of various local, women's/girls', deaf and disability leagues.

The club also runs an academy, giving over fifty 16 to 18-year-old players the chance to study, train and play at the Gallagher Stadium. Players study for a BTEC Level 3 in Sport and a range of vocational football-related qualifications, and also play in the Conference Youth Alliance.

Maidstone's youth teams have provided many players to the first team in recent years. The most successful and high-profile product of the club's youth system is England international Chris Smalling, who spent three years at the club before moving to Fulham and subsequently to Manchester United and AS Roma. Smalling made a total of 16 appearances for Maidstone, and whilst playing for the club he also played for England Schoolboys' Under 18 side.

The club has a strong emphasis on football for the community and most of its teams train at the Gallagher Stadium. As well as boys and girls teams at most ages, there are PAN disability and deaf teams. United are a Charter Standard Community Club and were one of the first clubs in the country to sign up to the Deaf Friendly Football Clubs pledge.

Notable players

 * This list comprises former or current players who have made over 100 appearances in a fully professional league or have senior international experience.

 * 🏴 Dean Beckwith
 * 🏴 Steve Butler
 * 🏴 Jermaine Darlington
 * 🏴 Roland Edge
 * 🏴 Paul Haylock
 * 🏴 Jon Harley
 * 🏴 Peter Hawkins
 * 🏴 Zavon Hines
 * 🏴 Garry Kimble
 * 🏴 Stuart Lewis
 * 🏴 Karl Murray
 * 🏴 Magnus Okuonghae
 * 🏴 Joe Pigott
 * 🏴 Alan Pouton
 * 🏴 Jake Robinson
 * 🏴 Bradley Sandeman
 * 🏴 Mark Saunders
 * 🏴 Ian Selley
 * 🏴 Chris Smalling
 * 🏴 Neil Smith
 * 🏴 Alan Walker
 * 🏴 Simon Walton
 * 🏴 Lawrie Wilson
 * 🇯🇲 Jamar Loza
 * 🇱🇧 Hady Ghandour
 * 🇳🇿 Adrian Webster
 * Yemi Odubade
 * Andre Boucaud
 * Ian Cox
 * Kelvin Jack
 * 🏴 Jake Cassidy

Managerial history
Source:

League history
Source:

Honours
Source:

League
 * National League South (level 6)
 * Champions: 2021–22
 * Play-off winners: 2016
 * Isthmian League (level 7)
 * Champions: 2014–15
 * Isthmian League Division One (level 8)
 * Champions: 2006–07
 * Play-off winners: 2013
 * Kent League Premier (level 9)
 * Champions: 2001–02, 2005–06
 * Kent County League Premier
 * Champions: 2000–01
 * Kent County League Division One
 * Champions: 1998–99
 * Kent County League Division Two
 * Champions: 1994–95
 * Kent County League Division Four
 * Champions: 1993–94

Cup
 * Isthmian League Cup
 * Winners: 2013–14
 * Isthmian Charity Shield
 * Winners: 2015–16
 * Premier Division Cup
 * Winners: 2001–02, 2005–06
 * Challenge/Charity Shield
 * Winners: 2002–03, 2003–04
 * Kent Senior Cup
 * Winners: 2017–18, 2018–19, 2023–24
 * Kent Senior Trophy
 * Winners: 2002–03
 * Weald of Kent Charity Cup
 * Winners: 1999–2000, 2000–01
 * Tunbridge Wells Charity Cup
 * Winners: 1993–94

Records and statistics
Maidstone's best ever league finish came in the 2016–17 season when they came 14th in the National League. Maidstone's highest ever victory came in their first season since reforming, beating Aylesford 12–1 in the Kent County League Division Four. The club's record attendance came at the Gallagher Stadium, when a capacity 4,175 spectators saw Maidstone play Hampton and Richmond on 4 May 2022 in the final game of the 2021–22 season to see the Stones lift the National League South trophy, the previous highest attendance was 4,105 on 15 July 2017 in a pre-season match to celebrate the fifth anniversary of the Gallagher Stadium. The club's appearance record is held by Tom Mills.

title: Maidstone United F.C.


text:
Sodium-vapor lamp

A sodium-vapor lamp is a gas-discharge lamp that uses sodium in an excited state to produce light at a characteristic wavelength near 589 nm.

Two varieties of such lamps exist: low pressure and high pressure. Low-pressure sodium lamps are highly efficient electrical light sources, but their yellow light restricts applications to outdoor lighting, such as street lamps, where they are widely used. High-pressure sodium lamps emit a broader spectrum of light than the low-pressure lamps, but they still have poorer color rendering than other types of lamps. Low-pressure sodium lamps only give monochromatic yellow light and so inhibit color vision at night.

Single ended self-starting lamps are insulated with a mica disc and contained in a borosilicate glass gas discharge tube (arc tube) and a metal cap. They include the sodium-vapor lamp that is the gas-discharge lamp in street lighting.

Development
The low-pressure sodium arc discharge lamp was first made practical around 1920 owing to the development of a type of glass that could resist the corrosive effects of sodium vapor. These operated at pressures of less than 1 Pa and produced a near monochromatic light spectrum around the sodium emission lines at 589.0 and 589.56 nanometres wavelength. The yellow light produced by these limited the range of applications to those where color vision was not required.

Research into high-pressure sodium lamps occurred in both the United Kingdom and the United States. Increasing the pressure of the sodium vapor broadened the sodium emission spectrum so that the light produced had more energy emitted at wavelengths above and below the 589 nm region. The quartz material used in mercury discharge lamps was corroded by high pressure sodium vapor. A laboratory demonstration of a high pressure lamp was carried out in 1959. The development by General Electric of a sintered aluminum oxide material (with magnesium oxide added to improve light transmission) was an important step in construction of a commercial lamp. The material was available in the form of tubing by 1962, but additional techniques were required to seal the tubes and add the necessary electrodes—the material could not be fused like quartz. The end caps of the arc tube would get as hot as 800 C in operation, then cool to room temperature when the lamp was turned off, so the electrode terminations and arc tube seal had to tolerate repeated temperature cycles. This problem was solved by Michael Arendash at the GE Nela Park plant. The first commercial high-pressure sodium lamps were available in 1965 from companies in the United States, the United Kingdom, and the Netherlands; at introduction a 400 watt lamp would produce around 100 lumens per watt.

Single-crystal artificial sapphire tubes were also manufactured and used for HPS lamps in the early 1970s, with a slight improvement in efficacy, but production costs were higher than for polycrystalline alumina tubes.

Low-pressure sodium

Low-pressure sodium (LPS) lamps have a borosilicate glass gas discharge tube (arc tube) containing solid sodium and a small amount of neon and argon gas in a Penning mixture to start the gas discharge. The discharge tube may be linear (SLI lamp) or U-shaped. When the lamp is first started, it emits a dim red/pink light to warm the sodium metal; within a few minutes as the sodium metal vaporizes, the emission becomes the common bright yellow. These lamps produce a virtually monochromatic light averaging a 589.3 nm wavelength (actually two dominant spectral lines very close together at 589.0 and 589.6 nm). The colors of objects illuminated by only this narrow bandwidth are difficult to distinguish.

LPS lamps have an outer glass vacuum envelope around the inner discharge tube for thermal insulation, which improves their efficiency. Earlier LPS lamps had a detachable dewar jacket (SO lamps). Lamps with a permanent vacuum envelope (SOI lamps) were developed to improve thermal insulation. Further improvement was attained by coating the glass envelope with an infrared reflecting layer of indium tin oxide, resulting in SOX lamps.

LPS lamps are among the most efficient electrical light sources when measured in photopic lighting conditions, producing above 100 and up to 206 lm/W. This high efficiency is partly due to the light emitted being at a wavelength near the peak sensitivity of the human eye. They are used mainly for outdoor lighting (such as street lights and security lighting) where faithful color rendition is not important.

LPS lamps are similar to fluorescent lamps in that they are a low-intensity light source with a linear lamp shape. They do not exhibit a bright arc as do High-intensity discharge (HID) lamps; they emit a softer luminous glow, resulting in less glare. Unlike HID lamps, during a voltage dip low-pressure sodium lamps return to full brightness rapidly. LPS lamps are available with power ratings from 10 to 180 W; longer lamp lengths can, however, suffer design and engineering problems.

Modern LPS lamps have a service life of about 18,000 hours and do not decline in lumen output with age, though they do increase in energy consumption by about 10% towards end of life. This property contrasts with mercury vapor HID lamps, which become dimmer towards the end of life to the point of being ineffective, while consuming undiminished electrical power.

In 2017 Philips Lighting, the last manufacturer of LPS lamps, announced they were discontinuing production of the lamps due to falling demand. Initially, production was due to be phased out in the course of 2020, but this date was brought forward and the last lamps were produced at the Hamilton, Scotland factory on December31, 2019.

Light pollution considerations
For locations where light pollution is a consideration, such as near astronomical observatories or sea turtle nesting beaches, low-pressure sodium is preferred (as formerly in San Jose, California and Flagstaff, Arizona). Such lamps emit light on just two dominant spectral lines (with other much weaker lines), and therefore have the least spectral interference with astronomical observation. (Now that production of LPS lamps has ceased, consideration is being given into the use of narrow-band amber LEDs, which are on a similar color spectrum to LPS.) The yellow color of low-pressure sodium lamps also leads to the least visual sky glow, due primarily to the Purkinje shift of dark-adapted human vision, causing the eye to be relatively insensitive to the yellow light scattered at low luminance levels in the clear atmosphere. One consequence of widespread public lighting is that on cloudy nights, cities with enough lighting are illuminated by light reflected off the clouds. Where sodium vapor lights are the source of urban illumination, the night sky is tinged with orange.

Film special effects
Sodium vapor process (occasionally referred to as yellowscreen) is a film technique that relies on narrowband characteristics of LPS lamp. Color negative film is typically not sensitive to the yellow light from an LPS lamp, but special black-and-white film is able to record it. Using a special camera, scenes are recorded on two spools simultaneously, one with actors (or other foreground objects) and another that becomes a mask for later combination with different background. This technique originally yielded results superior to blue-screen technology, and was used in years 1956 to 1990, mostly by Disney Studios. Notable examples of films using this technique include Alfred Hitchcock's The Birds and the Disney films Mary Poppins and Bedknobs and Broomsticks. Later advancements in blue- and green-screen techniques and computer imagery closed that gap, leaving SVP economically impractical.

High-pressure sodium

High-pressure sodium (HPS) lamps have been widely used in industrial lighting, especially in large manufacturing facilities, and are commonly used as plant grow lights. They contain mercury. They have also been widely used for outdoor area lighting, such as on roadways, parking lots, and security areas. Understanding the change in human color vision sensitivity from photopic to mesopic and scotopic is essential for proper planning when designing lighting for roadways.

High-pressure sodium lamps are quite efficient—about 100 lumens per watt, when measured for photopic lighting conditions. Some higher-power lamps (e.g. 600 watt) have efficacies of about 150 lumens per watt.

Since the high-pressure sodium arc is extremely chemically reactive, the arc tube is typically made of translucent aluminum oxide. This construction led the General Electric Company to use the tradename "Lucalox" for its line of high-pressure sodium lamps.

Xenon at a low pressure is used as a "starter gas" in the HPS lamp. It has the lowest thermal conductivity and lowest ionization potential of all the stable noble gases. As a noble gas, it does not interfere with the chemical reactions occurring in the operating lamp. The low thermal conductivity minimizes thermal losses in the lamp while in the operating state, and the low ionization potential causes the breakdown voltage of the gas to be relatively low in the cold state, which allows the lamp to be easily started.

"White" high pressure sodium lamp
A variation of the high-pressure sodium introduced in 1986, the White HPS has a higher pressure than the typical HPS lamp, producing a color temperature of around 2700 kelvins with a color rendering index (CRI) of about 85, greatly resembling the color of an incandescent light. These lamps are often used indoors in cafes and restaurants for aesthetic effect. However, white HPS lamps have higher cost, shorter service lives, and lower light efficiency, and so they cannot compete with HPS at this time.

Theory of operation

An amalgam of metallic sodium and mercury lies at the coolest part of the lamp and provides the sodium and mercury vapor that is needed to draw an arc. The temperature of the amalgam is determined to a great extent by lamp power. The higher the lamp power, the higher will be the amalgam temperature. The higher the temperature of the amalgam, the higher will be the mercury and sodium vapor pressures in the lamp and the higher will be the terminal voltage. As the temperature rises, the constant current and increasing voltage consumes increasing energy until the operating level of power is reached. For a given voltage, there are generally three modes of operation:

 * 1) The lamp is extinguished and no current flows.
 * 2) The lamp is operating with liquid amalgam in the tube.
 * 3) The lamp is operating with all amalgam evaporated.

The first and last states are stable, because the lamp resistance is weakly related to the voltage, but the second state is unstable. Any anomalous increase in current will cause an increase in power, causing an increase in amalgam temperature, which will cause a decrease in resistance, which will cause a further increase in current. This will create a runaway effect, and the lamp will jump to the high-current state (#3). Because actual lamps are not designed to handle this much power, this would result in catastrophic failure. Similarly, an anomalous drop in current will drive the lamp to extinction. It is the second state that is the desired operating state of the lamp, because a slow loss of the amalgam over time from a reservoir will have less effect on the characteristics of the lamp than a fully evaporated amalgam. The result is an average lamp life in excess of 20,000 hours.

In practical use, the lamp is powered by an AC voltage source in series with an inductive "ballast" in order to supply a nearly constant current to the lamp, rather than a constant voltage, thus assuring stable operation. The ballast is usually inductive rather than simply being resistive to minimize energy waste from resistance losses. Because the lamp effectively extinguishes at each zero-current point in the AC cycle, the inductive ballast assists in the reignition by providing a voltage spike at the zero-current point.

The light from the lamp consists of atomic emission lines of mercury and sodium, but is dominated by the sodium D-line emission. This line is extremely pressure (resonance) broadened and is also self-reversed because of absorption in the cooler outer layers of the arc, giving the lamp its improved color rendering characteristics. In addition, the red wing of the D-line emission is further pressure broadened by the Van der Waals forces from the mercury atoms in the arc.

End of life

At end of life, high-pressure sodium (HPS) lamps exhibit a phenomenon known as cycling, caused by a loss of sodium in the arc. Sodium is a highly reactive element and is lost in a reaction with the aluminum oxide of the arc tube. The products are sodium oxide and aluminum:

 * 6 Na + Al2O3 → 3 Na2O + 2 Al

As a result, these lamps can be started at a relatively low voltage, but, as they heat up during operation, the internal gas pressure within the arc tube rises, and more and more voltage is required to maintain the arc discharge. As a lamp gets older, the maintaining voltage for the arc eventually rises to exceed the maximum voltage output by the electrical ballast. As the lamp heats to this point, the arc fails, and the lamp goes out. Eventually, with the arc extinguished, the lamp cools down again, the gas pressure in the arc tube is reduced, and the ballast can once again cause the arc to strike. The effect of this is that the lamp glows for a while and then goes out, typically starting at a pure or bluish white then moving to a red-orange before going out.

More sophisticated ignitor designs detect cycling and give up attempting to start the lamp after a few cycles, as the repeated high-voltage ignitions needed to restart the arc reduce the lifetime of the ballast or the ignitor, depending on the ignitor configuration. If power is removed and reapplied, the ballast will make a new series of startup attempts.

LPS lamp failure does not result in cycling; rather, the lamp will simply not strike or will maintain the dull red glow of the start-up phase. In another failure mode, a tiny puncture of the arc tube leaks some of the sodium vapor into the outer vacuum bulb. The sodium condenses and creates a mirror on the outer glass, partially obscuring the arc tube. The lamp often continues operating normally, but much of the light generated is obscured by the sodium coating, providing no illumination.

title: Sodium-vapor lamp


text:
Ashton Canal

The Ashton Canal is a canal in Greater Manchester, England, linking Manchester with Ashton-under-Lyne.

Route
The Ashton leaves the Rochdale Canal at Ducie St. Junction in central Manchester, and climbs for 6 mi through 18 locks, passing through Ancoats, Holt Town, Bradford, Clayton, Openshaw, Droylsden, Fairfield and Audenshaw to make a head-on junction with the Huddersfield Narrow Canal (formerly the Huddersfield Canal) at Whitelands Basin in the centre of Ashton-under-Lyne. At Bradford, the canal passes very close to the City of Manchester Stadium (currently known as the Etihad Stadium for sponsorship reasons), which was originally built to host the 2002 Commonwealth Games.

Apart from the Rochdale and Huddersfield Narrow canals, the Ashton Canal only currently connects with one other canal. Just short of Whitelands, at Dukinfield Junction/Portland Basin a short arm crosses the river Tame on the Tame Aqueduct, and makes a head-on junction with the Peak Forest Canal.

There used to be four other important connections to branch canals: the Islington Branch Canal in Ancoats; the Stockport Branch Canal from Clayton to Stockport (Heaton Norris); the Hollinwood Branch Canal from Fairfield to Hollinwood; and the Fairbottom Branch Canal (itself a branch of the Hollinwood Branch Canal) from Waterhouses to Fairbottom. There was to have been a fifth branch, namely the Beat Bank Branch Canal (itself a branch of Stockport Branch Canal) from Reddish to Beat Bank in Denton, but this was abandoned before completion.

Many of the canal locks are now listed buildings.

History
The canal received its Act of Parliament (32 Geo. 3. c. 84) in 1792. It was built to supply coal from Oldham and Ashton under Lyne to Manchester. The first section between Ancoats Lane to Ashton-under-Lyne and Hollinwood was completed in 1796, followed by the lines to Heaton Norris and Fairbottom in 1797. Although there were plans to link it to the Rochdale Canal, it opened as an isolated waterway.

Benjamin Outram was retained to complete the final section between Ancoats Lane and the Rochdale Canal including the Piccadilly Basin. It included the unique Store Street Aqueduct, built on a 45 degree skew and believed to be the first major such structure in Britain and the oldest still in use today.

The section was completed by 1798, but the necessary extension by the Rochdale proprietors to the Bridgewater Canal was not built until 1800. Although the Huddersfield Narrow Canal was open as far as Woolroad by 1798, neither it, nor the Peak Forest Canal were complete. In fact it was another ten years before the former connected to Yorkshire and the east coast.

With little but local trade in its early years, the canal struggled financially and a dividend was not paid until 1806.

It then prospered until competition from railways, and later road transport, greatly diminished traffic, and through traffic had ended by 1945. Traffic on the branches ended in the 1930s. Following nationalisation in 1947–48, traffic did not revive, and all traffic had ceased by 1958, after which maintenance was run down. By 1961, combined with vandalism, the canal had become unnavigable, and its retention for pleasure use seemed unlikely.

The Ashton Canal was one of seven stretches of canal, formerly designated as remainder waterways, that were re-classified by the British Waterways Act 1983 of 8 February 1983. Under the act, a total of 82 mi of canal were upgraded to Cruising Waterway Standard.

In October 2021, lock numbers 13 and 15 were one of 142 sites across England to receive part of a £35-million injection into the government's Culture Recovery Fund.

Leisure use
Pressure from the Inland Waterways Association, combined with the formation of the Peak Forest Canal Society, led to a campaign to reopen the Ashton, with the major organised volunteer clearance of the section though Droylsden in September 1968, known as Operation Ashton. Further campaigning, and the growth of local authority support, led to its restoration, along with the adjacent lower Peak Forest Canal, and reopening on 1 April 1974.

The restoration of these two canals opened up the Cheshire Ring, an immediately (and still) popular one-week leisure cruise circling much of east Cheshire. With the opening of the Southern Pennine canals, the Ashton is now also part of the South Pennine Ring (Rochdale and Huddersfield Narrow) and the longest Pennine Ring of all (Outer Pennine Ring - Leeds & Liverpool and Huddersfield Narrow).

It used to be common to hear reports of unfortunate incidents along the Ashton, such as thefts from boats and intimidating, or at least unnerving, behaviour on the part of some local youths and children. This, for a time, caused boats to go through in convoys. Today the Ashton Canal is increasingly valued by the communities through which it passes, and although many boaters still advise others to cover the Ashton during early hours, and not in school holidays, reports of problems often turn out to be the repeated telling of old stories. However, incidents do still occur, as in August 2014 when a number of boats were attacked by hooded youths.

The locks are renowned for debris (shopping trolleys, wheely bins, rocks etc.) which can result in blocked lock gates, but Canal & River Trust workers are soon on site to clear any reported incidents. Portland Basin is a good overnight mooring after ascending the Ashton locks, for those who do not wish to proceed beyond Romiley.

There are current campaigns to restore the Hollinwood Branch and Stockport Branches.

Listed structures
The following structures along the canal are Grade II listed:
 * Locks numbers 1-3, 6-15 & 18
 * Bridges numbers 4, 5, 9 & 16
 * Lock Keepers Cottages at locks numbers 2 & 7
 * Towpath Bridge over junction with Islington Branch Canal
 * Towpath Bridge over junction with Stockport Branch Canal
 * Former Packet Boathouse adjacent to bridge number 16
 * Former Tollhouse adjacent to lock number 18 (Fairfield Top Lock)
 * Mill Building on south bank east of Hope Works

title: Ashton Canal


text:
Wikipedia:Articles for deletion/Teh (old)

Dicdef, pretty much zero chance of ever growing beyond its current size, and already covered in leet. Fredrik 22:08, 7 May 2004 (UTC)
 * Vote we set up separate entries for each possible erroneous combination of the three named letters. No?  OK.  delete. --bodnotbod 00:30, May 8, 2004 (UTC)
 * that's not the point of the article. The word teh is a specific Leet term. I have in the past deliberately searched for this word looking for its usage history. Given the lack of substance though I vote Redirect to Leet. --A1r 16:11, 12 May 2004 (UTC)
 * Redirect to The. -- Cyrius|&#9998 04:26, May 8, 2004 (UTC)
 * Keep. Think about it from the point of view of someone who types in "teh" deliberately or accidentally. 1) The fact that it's a "dicdef" isn't relevant because it isn't in ordinary dictionaries. There is at least a chance that someone might encounter it, want to know what it means, and go to Wikipedia to find out. 2) If it's going to redirect, I think it should redirect to Leet. I was going to suggest that initially, but the explanation of "teh" is so far down in the article that people would probably be puzzled by the redirection. 3) As to whether every other leet word should have a redirect, well, we're hopelessly inconsistent about this anyway. 4) In general, having redirects does no harm and increases the chance that the user will find what he or she is seeking. 5) In this particular case, if a user intends to type the but accidentally types teh, the contents of the page make it clear what has happened and provide a link to the, so no harm is done. Dpbsmith 03:04, 9 May 2004 (UTC)
 * Keep for cogent reasons just given. The Land 11:44, 9 May 2004 (UTC)
 * Dictionary definition. Delete along with the. anthony (see warning) 16:03, 9 May 2004 (UTC)
 * Keep -- 'teh' is commonly used in leet speak on purpose.
 * Unsigned votes don't count. Do we need an article on every individual word in leet, though? Fredrik 07:19, 11 May 2004 (UTC)
 * Keep. Dpbsmith pretty much covered all my reasons. --SamClayton 09:23, 11 May 2004 (UTC)
 * Keep as it does give useful info. As for the, keep that to, as it has more info that just a dict def Burgundavia
 * Keep as a disambiguation page covering The, the typo, the related "spell-checker feature", Leet, Te, & the Chinese? name. --Zigger 18:13, 2004 May 13 (UTC)
 * Keep. IMO teh is more characteristic of Jeff K. than "l33t" proper; it's involved in special constructions like "TEH FUNNAY" that aren't really l33t because they don't use punctuation/numbers. DopefishJustin 21:17, May 13, 2004 (UTC)
 * Frederik wrote "Dicdef, pretty much zero chance of ever growing beyond its current size" when all we had was "Teh is a common typo for the. In the online slang known as Leet, it is deliberately used in place of the word the.". That alone should be enough of an argument for keeping this article. Wiwaxia 04:49, 14 May 2004 (UTC)
 * What's basically happened is that it now duplicates content equally relevant in Leet and JeffK. I don't see a point in having a separate article for every misspelling Jeff K has ever used (or for every other word in Leet). Oh well, I'm not going to kick and scream over this. Fredrik 12:17, 14 May 2004 (UTC)