"Joel Sparks", author and blogger, was born in Port Elizabeth, South Africa in August 1981, but was raised in the UK where he currently lives and writes, with a small but dedicated following.
He has written three books in his career to date, with a second novel currently in the works.
Early life and career
Joel moved to the UK in 1983 and has lived in France and Switzerland in the intervening years for brief periods. He also spent two years living in London. He now resides in the Chester area.
He took up writing by blogging on MySpace. After a positive response to his comedy rants, he went on to publish a collection of his early blog entries in “The Sparks Opinion”. Then he wrote about the more extraordinary people in his life in “The Sparks Circus” which featured the angels and demons of our eclectic society. "Hunted" is his first novel.
Future Works
Joel is currently working on his next novel entitled "Vergil Carver". It is set to be released in 2013.
Bibliography
*2008 The Sparks Opinion
*2011 The Sparks Circus
*2012 Hunted
Blog
Joel is of the opinion that "the world clings on to emotive headlines rather than reasoned stories. We take the first gut emotion and run with it and don't ever allow ourselves to consider the alternative" His blog "The Sparks Maxim" is an outlet where posts, written with a different perspective, step back, considering the grander picture. Examples of topics tackled in Joel's posts include highlighting the hypocrisy in our rage against riots, how our treatment of the rich is motivated by jealousy and not justice, and how talking about your problems can make them worse.
References and sources
He has written three books in his career to date, with a second novel currently in the works.
Early life and career
Joel moved to the UK in 1983 and has lived in France and Switzerland in the intervening years for brief periods. He also spent two years living in London. He now resides in the Chester area.
He took up writing by blogging on MySpace. After a positive response to his comedy rants, he went on to publish a collection of his early blog entries in “The Sparks Opinion”. Then he wrote about the more extraordinary people in his life in “The Sparks Circus” which featured the angels and demons of our eclectic society. "Hunted" is his first novel.
Future Works
Joel is currently working on his next novel entitled "Vergil Carver". It is set to be released in 2013.
Bibliography
*2008 The Sparks Opinion
*2011 The Sparks Circus
*2012 Hunted
Blog
Joel is of the opinion that "the world clings on to emotive headlines rather than reasoned stories. We take the first gut emotion and run with it and don't ever allow ourselves to consider the alternative" His blog "The Sparks Maxim" is an outlet where posts, written with a different perspective, step back, considering the grander picture. Examples of topics tackled in Joel's posts include highlighting the hypocrisy in our rage against riots, how our treatment of the rich is motivated by jealousy and not justice, and how talking about your problems can make them worse.
References and sources
EXFO is a provider of test and service assurance solutions for wireless and wireline network operators and equipment manufacturers in the global telecommunications industry. The Telecom Division, which accounts for about 90% of the company’s revenues, offers a range of products to assess fixed and mobile networks, from the core to access, as well as next-generation IP infrastructures and related triple play services. The Life Sciences and Industrial Division offers solutions in medical device and opto-electronics assembly, fluorescence microscopy and other life science sectors. EXFO is headquartered in Quebec City, Canada. As of July 2010, the company has over 1600 employees worldwide.
Technology expertise and market coverage
EXFO’s products include wireless network simulators and protocol analyzers, transport and datacom, optical, xDSL, copper, IMS and VoIP test instruments, as well as and service assurance systems. network service providers and network equipment manaufacturers use these products to design, deploy and monitor their network architectures and the services that they support. The company serves over 2000 customers in 100 countries.
Network design
Throughout the research and development and production cycles, network equipment manufacturers must measure the performance of their systems and components against network operator requirements. EXFO’s test instruments cover:
* 2G, 3G and 4G network simulation, load testing and protocol analysis
* IP Multimedia Subsystem and Voice over IP testing
* 40 Gbit/s SONET/SDH testing
* 100 Gigabit Ethernet testing
* Optical Transport Network and Fibre Channel testing
* Advanced optical testing
Network deployment
Throughout network construction, activation and maintenance, operators and service providers must run tests to validate the performance of their architectures. EXFO’s test instruments cover:
* 40 Gbit/s SONET/SDH and OTN testing
* 100 Gbit/s Ethernet and Fibre Channel testing
* Fiber characterization
* Advanced optical testing
* Copper-based xDSL and triple-play testing
Service assurance
Once networks are operational, service providers must monitor them to verify that subscribers get the level of performance that is expected. EXFO’s service assurance systems enable:
* Service assurance correlation and analysis
* VoIP call performance analysis
* IPTV service assurance
* End-to-end service assurance
* Advanced analytics and reporting
Foundation
EXFO was founded in 1985 in Quebec City (Canada) by Germain Lamonde and Robert Tremblay. Its original products were field-portable testing products for the installation, maintenance, monitoring and troubleshooting of optical networks. In 1996, EXFO supplemented its product portfolio with an extensive line of high-end products that are mainly for research and development as well as manufacturing activities of optical component manufacturers and system vendors.
Over the past several years, EXFO has enhanced its competitive position through acquisitions of wireless, protocol, copper/xDSL and service assurance test businesses.
Acquisitions
On March 12, 2010, EXFO acquired 91% of all issued and outstanding shares of NetHawk Oyj. In addition, on March 15, 2010, EXFO made a voluntary offer to purchase the remaining issued and outstanding shares. Headquartered in Oulu, Finland, NetHawk Oyj was a privately held company providing 2G, 3G and 4G/LTE protocol analyzers and simulators aimed mostly at network equipment manufacturers and network operators.
In February 2009, EXFO closed the acquisition of Sweden-based PicoSolve Inc., a supplier of ultra-high-speed optical sampling oscilloscopes for 40G and 100G R&D, manufacturing and deployment applications.
In April 2008, EXFO acquired all issued and outstanding shares of Brix Networks Inc. (renamed EXFO Service Assurance Inc.). Brix Networks, a privately held company located in the Boston, MA area, offers VoIP and IPTV service assurance solutions across the three areas most affecting the success of a real-time service: signaling quality (signaling path performance), delivery quality (media transport performance) and content quality (overall quality of experience). Brix Networks’ service assurance solutions are mainly designed for network service providers (NSPs) and large enterprises.
In March 2008, EXFO acquired all issued and outstanding shares of Navtel Communications Inc. This privately held company based in Toronto, Canada, is a leading provider of Internet protocol multimedia subsystem (IMS) and VoIP test solutions for network equipment manufacturers (NEMs) and NSP labs. Navtel Communications specializes in testing next-generation IP networks that are increasingly combining wireline and wireless technologies. Subsequent to the acquisition, Navtel Communications was merged into the parent company.
In January 2006, EXFO acquired substantially all the assets of Consultronics Limited (now merged with the parent company), a leading supplier of test equipment for copper-based broadband access networks. Above and beyond copper/xDSL test solutions, Consultronics had a rich product portfolio for testing next-generation technologies, such as IPTV and VoIP, which are critical for NSPs in their deployment of triple-play services (voice, data, video) over optical and copper links in access networks.
In November 2001, EXFO acquired Avantas Networks Corporation (renamed EXFO Protocol Inc. and now merged with the parent company), a supplier of protocol-testing and optical-network performance management equipment for NSPs. This transaction enabled EXFO to combine optical and protocol test modules inside a single field-portable test platform in order to help customers increase revenues and reduce operating costs.
In October 2002, EXFO’s wholly owned subsidiary, EXFO Gnubi, purchased substantially all the assets of gnubi communications, L.P., a supplier of multichannel telecom and datacom testing solutions for the system manufacturer market. EXFO Protocol and EXFO Gnubi were consolidated in Montreal, Canada, in fiscal 2004.
Previously, EXFO had completed two acquisitions to bolster growth in the optical component manufacturing market. The company acquired Burleigh Instruments, Inc. (renamed EXFO Burleigh Products Group Inc.) in December 2000 for its wavelength measurement instruments and nanopositioning alignment systems. It also added EFOS Inc. (renamed EXFO Photonic Solutions Inc.) in March 2001 for its precision light-based, adhesive spot-curing technology. EXFO has since exited the optical component manufacturing automation business, and the remaining operations of EXFO Burleigh have mostly been consolidated with those of EXFO’s Life Sciences and Industrial Division in Toronto, Canada.
Competitors
# JDSU
# Fluke Corporation
# Anritsu
# Kingfisher International Pty Ltd
# Southern Photonics
Technology expertise and market coverage
EXFO’s products include wireless network simulators and protocol analyzers, transport and datacom, optical, xDSL, copper, IMS and VoIP test instruments, as well as and service assurance systems. network service providers and network equipment manaufacturers use these products to design, deploy and monitor their network architectures and the services that they support. The company serves over 2000 customers in 100 countries.
Network design
Throughout the research and development and production cycles, network equipment manufacturers must measure the performance of their systems and components against network operator requirements. EXFO’s test instruments cover:
* 2G, 3G and 4G network simulation, load testing and protocol analysis
* IP Multimedia Subsystem and Voice over IP testing
* 40 Gbit/s SONET/SDH testing
* 100 Gigabit Ethernet testing
* Optical Transport Network and Fibre Channel testing
* Advanced optical testing
Network deployment
Throughout network construction, activation and maintenance, operators and service providers must run tests to validate the performance of their architectures. EXFO’s test instruments cover:
* 40 Gbit/s SONET/SDH and OTN testing
* 100 Gbit/s Ethernet and Fibre Channel testing
* Fiber characterization
* Advanced optical testing
* Copper-based xDSL and triple-play testing
Service assurance
Once networks are operational, service providers must monitor them to verify that subscribers get the level of performance that is expected. EXFO’s service assurance systems enable:
* Service assurance correlation and analysis
* VoIP call performance analysis
* IPTV service assurance
* End-to-end service assurance
* Advanced analytics and reporting
Foundation
EXFO was founded in 1985 in Quebec City (Canada) by Germain Lamonde and Robert Tremblay. Its original products were field-portable testing products for the installation, maintenance, monitoring and troubleshooting of optical networks. In 1996, EXFO supplemented its product portfolio with an extensive line of high-end products that are mainly for research and development as well as manufacturing activities of optical component manufacturers and system vendors.
Over the past several years, EXFO has enhanced its competitive position through acquisitions of wireless, protocol, copper/xDSL and service assurance test businesses.
Acquisitions
On March 12, 2010, EXFO acquired 91% of all issued and outstanding shares of NetHawk Oyj. In addition, on March 15, 2010, EXFO made a voluntary offer to purchase the remaining issued and outstanding shares. Headquartered in Oulu, Finland, NetHawk Oyj was a privately held company providing 2G, 3G and 4G/LTE protocol analyzers and simulators aimed mostly at network equipment manufacturers and network operators.
In February 2009, EXFO closed the acquisition of Sweden-based PicoSolve Inc., a supplier of ultra-high-speed optical sampling oscilloscopes for 40G and 100G R&D, manufacturing and deployment applications.
In April 2008, EXFO acquired all issued and outstanding shares of Brix Networks Inc. (renamed EXFO Service Assurance Inc.). Brix Networks, a privately held company located in the Boston, MA area, offers VoIP and IPTV service assurance solutions across the three areas most affecting the success of a real-time service: signaling quality (signaling path performance), delivery quality (media transport performance) and content quality (overall quality of experience). Brix Networks’ service assurance solutions are mainly designed for network service providers (NSPs) and large enterprises.
In March 2008, EXFO acquired all issued and outstanding shares of Navtel Communications Inc. This privately held company based in Toronto, Canada, is a leading provider of Internet protocol multimedia subsystem (IMS) and VoIP test solutions for network equipment manufacturers (NEMs) and NSP labs. Navtel Communications specializes in testing next-generation IP networks that are increasingly combining wireline and wireless technologies. Subsequent to the acquisition, Navtel Communications was merged into the parent company.
In January 2006, EXFO acquired substantially all the assets of Consultronics Limited (now merged with the parent company), a leading supplier of test equipment for copper-based broadband access networks. Above and beyond copper/xDSL test solutions, Consultronics had a rich product portfolio for testing next-generation technologies, such as IPTV and VoIP, which are critical for NSPs in their deployment of triple-play services (voice, data, video) over optical and copper links in access networks.
In November 2001, EXFO acquired Avantas Networks Corporation (renamed EXFO Protocol Inc. and now merged with the parent company), a supplier of protocol-testing and optical-network performance management equipment for NSPs. This transaction enabled EXFO to combine optical and protocol test modules inside a single field-portable test platform in order to help customers increase revenues and reduce operating costs.
In October 2002, EXFO’s wholly owned subsidiary, EXFO Gnubi, purchased substantially all the assets of gnubi communications, L.P., a supplier of multichannel telecom and datacom testing solutions for the system manufacturer market. EXFO Protocol and EXFO Gnubi were consolidated in Montreal, Canada, in fiscal 2004.
Previously, EXFO had completed two acquisitions to bolster growth in the optical component manufacturing market. The company acquired Burleigh Instruments, Inc. (renamed EXFO Burleigh Products Group Inc.) in December 2000 for its wavelength measurement instruments and nanopositioning alignment systems. It also added EFOS Inc. (renamed EXFO Photonic Solutions Inc.) in March 2001 for its precision light-based, adhesive spot-curing technology. EXFO has since exited the optical component manufacturing automation business, and the remaining operations of EXFO Burleigh have mostly been consolidated with those of EXFO’s Life Sciences and Industrial Division in Toronto, Canada.
Competitors
# JDSU
# Fluke Corporation
# Anritsu
# Kingfisher International Pty Ltd
# Southern Photonics
Johnball is a sport played between any number of players with plastic or similar strength bats and using one or multiple strong inflatable balls. The game can be played on any terrain. The object of the game is to use exclusively the bat (and hand holding the bat) to hit other players with the ball and be the last person standing. It can be a team or a free-for-all sport. Johnball started in April, 2005 in Lakeville, MN and is gaining popularity throughout the United States.
Core Values
Johnball does not have rules, merely values which should always be upheld. When they are upheld, the true spirit of Johnball is known to all playing it and there is no longer hate, only Johnball.
Honesty
The first value is honesty. Honesty is the cheese of the cheese sandwich we call Johnball.
Friendship
The second value is friendship. To meet new friends and bond with old friends.
Documentation
The third value is documentation. Documentation provides us with lovely facebook pictures.
Sportsmanship
The fourth value is sportsmanship. No matter who wins or loses, we all remain friends and have a great time.
Heart
The fifth value is heart. We all have have hearts and they keep us alive. Just like Johnball keeps us alive.
Gameplay
General
In Johnball, each player generally holds a bat. There can be one or many balls active in a game. The number of balls is determined by the group and is intended to make the game a reasonable length. i.e. not 1 ball for 50 people. The players are only able to touch a ball with the bat and the hand that holds it. The hand holding the bat is more commonly referred to as the "bat-hand." Each game is started with the players in a circle and generally each player is holding their bat towards the center of the circle to create a cone shape with a similar orientation as an ice cream cone. The balls are placed in the cone created by the bats. Then, a player's mother's name is donated. This is for the throwing of the balls that are in the center. The mother's name is yelled until the second to last syllable when holding the balls, then are throw up in time with the penult. As the balls fall back down and are struck, the final syllable is shouted as well. At this point the game has begun and you can be hit by the final syllable strikes.
The objective in Johnball is to be the last team or player left on the field. There are no formal rules to Johnball, the only thing that can come close to being one is the places of the body that a person can be hit that do not count. Even that may change if everyone playing has agreed upon it, but it is generally assumed that the only location of a person's body that can be hit and it does not matter is his or her own bat-hand. There is one other case in which a player cannot be counted as hit from a ball, and this is when a ball bounces off a "wall." A wall can be an actual wall, but it can also be off someone that just got out and is walking out of the field. Generally this comes up in the one on one game type where the passive players are a wall.
The underlying feature of nearly all Johnball game types is if a person is hit by a ball in any manner, whether it's because they simply walked into it or someone smashed it into their face, the person loses a life.
Teams or Bank
Teams is a basic team Johnball game, where each player has their own lives, they just work with another person to get everyone else out. The teams are generally groups of 2 - 4 players. One of the people on the team can win it for them or they can all still be in. Bank is the more common version of this game type, where each group has a "bank" of lives. This means that they share lives together and once their bank is exhausted the entire team is out.
One on Ones
One on ones is a 2-team game where the object of the game is to beat the entire other team. The game is started in a circle with one team being one semi-circle and the other team being the opposite semi-circle. The reason for the circle is to maintain a small playing environment to make the game take a reasonable amount of time. The players that are the circle are commonly referred to as the "wall." It is started off with one player from each team in the center with their legs crossed and their bat in their off-hand with their bats resting on the ball in similar fashion to a hockey face-off. The reason for this is to make it so no one is at a advantage at the beginning because the position is so awkward. Someone from the wall will start them off with a shout, generally it is the same as the one for Detonation. After the shout the players can switch back to how they normally play. After one of the players is hit, the next person on their team actively jumps into the ring and the person who just got out takes their place on the wall. The game is over once each player from a single team has been bested. The wall is only to keep the johnball in the circle, not to assist a teammate. Also, it is customary to have bats to the right of yourself so you can protect that open space.
Past National Competitions
2012
In July of 2012, the Johnball Nationals was held at Nelson Dewey State Park in Cassville, WI.
Active Johnball Chapters
There are a number of active Johnball chapters around the United States, and this list is by no means exhaustive.
* University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire Chapter of Johnball
* University of Wisconsin - Stout Chapter of Johnball
* University of North Dakota Chapter of Johnball
* University of Minnesota Chapter of Johnball
* <ref name="Scoring a New Sport" />
* Southern Illinois University Chapter of Johnball
Core Values
Johnball does not have rules, merely values which should always be upheld. When they are upheld, the true spirit of Johnball is known to all playing it and there is no longer hate, only Johnball.
Honesty
The first value is honesty. Honesty is the cheese of the cheese sandwich we call Johnball.
Friendship
The second value is friendship. To meet new friends and bond with old friends.
Documentation
The third value is documentation. Documentation provides us with lovely facebook pictures.
Sportsmanship
The fourth value is sportsmanship. No matter who wins or loses, we all remain friends and have a great time.
Heart
The fifth value is heart. We all have have hearts and they keep us alive. Just like Johnball keeps us alive.
Gameplay
General
In Johnball, each player generally holds a bat. There can be one or many balls active in a game. The number of balls is determined by the group and is intended to make the game a reasonable length. i.e. not 1 ball for 50 people. The players are only able to touch a ball with the bat and the hand that holds it. The hand holding the bat is more commonly referred to as the "bat-hand." Each game is started with the players in a circle and generally each player is holding their bat towards the center of the circle to create a cone shape with a similar orientation as an ice cream cone. The balls are placed in the cone created by the bats. Then, a player's mother's name is donated. This is for the throwing of the balls that are in the center. The mother's name is yelled until the second to last syllable when holding the balls, then are throw up in time with the penult. As the balls fall back down and are struck, the final syllable is shouted as well. At this point the game has begun and you can be hit by the final syllable strikes.
The objective in Johnball is to be the last team or player left on the field. There are no formal rules to Johnball, the only thing that can come close to being one is the places of the body that a person can be hit that do not count. Even that may change if everyone playing has agreed upon it, but it is generally assumed that the only location of a person's body that can be hit and it does not matter is his or her own bat-hand. There is one other case in which a player cannot be counted as hit from a ball, and this is when a ball bounces off a "wall." A wall can be an actual wall, but it can also be off someone that just got out and is walking out of the field. Generally this comes up in the one on one game type where the passive players are a wall.
The underlying feature of nearly all Johnball game types is if a person is hit by a ball in any manner, whether it's because they simply walked into it or someone smashed it into their face, the person loses a life.
Teams or Bank
Teams is a basic team Johnball game, where each player has their own lives, they just work with another person to get everyone else out. The teams are generally groups of 2 - 4 players. One of the people on the team can win it for them or they can all still be in. Bank is the more common version of this game type, where each group has a "bank" of lives. This means that they share lives together and once their bank is exhausted the entire team is out.
One on Ones
One on ones is a 2-team game where the object of the game is to beat the entire other team. The game is started in a circle with one team being one semi-circle and the other team being the opposite semi-circle. The reason for the circle is to maintain a small playing environment to make the game take a reasonable amount of time. The players that are the circle are commonly referred to as the "wall." It is started off with one player from each team in the center with their legs crossed and their bat in their off-hand with their bats resting on the ball in similar fashion to a hockey face-off. The reason for this is to make it so no one is at a advantage at the beginning because the position is so awkward. Someone from the wall will start them off with a shout, generally it is the same as the one for Detonation. After the shout the players can switch back to how they normally play. After one of the players is hit, the next person on their team actively jumps into the ring and the person who just got out takes their place on the wall. The game is over once each player from a single team has been bested. The wall is only to keep the johnball in the circle, not to assist a teammate. Also, it is customary to have bats to the right of yourself so you can protect that open space.
Past National Competitions
2012
In July of 2012, the Johnball Nationals was held at Nelson Dewey State Park in Cassville, WI.
Active Johnball Chapters
There are a number of active Johnball chapters around the United States, and this list is by no means exhaustive.
* University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire Chapter of Johnball
* University of Wisconsin - Stout Chapter of Johnball
* University of North Dakota Chapter of Johnball
* University of Minnesota Chapter of Johnball
* <ref name="Scoring a New Sport" />
* Southern Illinois University Chapter of Johnball
A pilebunker is a fictional tool or weapon composed of a pneumatic or hydraulic piston connected to a spiked shaft and recoil springs; Uses rapid compression to drive the piston forward which in turn drives a spike into an object, in a manner similar to that of a pneumatic hammer (jackhammer), only the spike goes far into the object and then retracts quickly, readying itself for another strike.
"Pilebunker" is a category of weapons in the Front Mission video game series.
The Alt Eisen from the Super Robot Wars video game series is well known for its pilebunker-like weapon. Known as the Revolver Stake, it is activated with a six-chambered revolver like device, which increases the power of the of the attack with each 'shot' fired.
"Pilebunker" is a category of weapons in the Front Mission video game series.
The Alt Eisen from the Super Robot Wars video game series is well known for its pilebunker-like weapon. Known as the Revolver Stake, it is activated with a six-chambered revolver like device, which increases the power of the of the attack with each 'shot' fired.