San Antonio @ MindSay

Note: Heavily Loaded entry full of pictures. 56k users, you have been warned!

On Saturday, August 9th, 2008, Cynthia, her brother and I took a trip to San Antonio, TX to attend the San Japan 1.5 Anime Convention. We left Sugar Land, TX / Katy, TX at around 8:45am and arrived at San Antonio at 11:40am. The drive was pretty peaceful. Considering that I was driving my new 2008 Honda Civic Si, it was a piece of cake. The navigation system of my car helped us get around town. We also brought along MP3 CDs of Samurai Champloo and Cowboy Bebop for our listening pleasure, but eventually tuned in to my XM Radio's comedy channels.


It was pretty easy finding the Auditorium. Once we saw a bunch of otakus in costume, we knew that we finally made it. We went in, we registered and we roamed around for a bit.  Now when I saw the dealers area, I came, I saw, I ^_^!!!


About 90% of the people there were in costume.  It was a totally different world for me, but I knew I was going to enjoy this!  Once we got to the dealers area, I started taking pictures.  Here's a few pictures I took while I was down there (Dealers / Artist area):



Ok, so I purchased a few things: [adult swim] t-shirt, a Shinobi Bladerunner ninja sword, and a sterling silver cross (from Hell Girl).  After this, we went to the other side of the Anime Convention, which was held at the Holiday Inn Tropicano Riverwalk.  On our way there, I took some more pics:



Once we got into the Holiday Inn El Tropicano Riverwalk, here are some of the pics I took:



After that, we went back to the Auditorium to find my girlfriend's brother. We ran into a few interesting peoples:




Then we found her brother. We went back into the Auditorium to watch the Chibi Project, no comment... Then we ran into these people:



We decided to take a break from the convention and decided to walk to the Alamo and to the San Antonio River Center:



After that, we returned to the Holiday Inn to get a glimpse of what's left of the anime convention.




The longer we stayed, the more it felt like home was closer... but it wasn't. We drove for about three hours to get back to Sugar Land, but the drive wasn't all that bad.

Here's a list of the Anime Conventions that I plan to visit:

• Oni-Con: November 21-23, 2008 @ George R. Brown Convention Center, Houston, TX
• Ikkicon: February 6-8, 2009 @ Hilton Austin, Austin, TX
• Anime Matsuri: April 10-12, 2009 @ The Woodlands Waterway Marriot Hotel @ Convention Center, The Woodlands, TX
  (this is going to present a bit of a problem because...)
• KamiKazeCon: April 10-12, 2009 @ JW Marriot Hotel Houston, Houston, TX
  (...I planned to attend this one.)

And believe me, I already put a lot of thought into what I'm going to wear as far as cosplay is concerned... 

Yesterday, Cynthia and I went to San Antonio, TX for the San Japan 1.5 Anime Convention. I'd like to tell you guys more about it, but I have to leave for work in 15 minutes. So I'm just going to post a few pics real quick and I'll post some more later with more pics.



That's all I have for now. I took lots of pics. It's a four hour drive from Houston to San Antonio but we were able to manage doing all this within 24 hours. I'll be back to post more pics tomorrow.

Note: The new few entries regarding the anime convention might be friends-only entries.

By John J. Kruzel

American Forces Press Service

 

July 3, 2008 - Colombia's military yesterday rescued 15 hostages, including three U.S. government contractors, from leftist revolutionary captors who had imprisoned the group in jungle camps since 2003. The contractors returned to the United States aboard a U.S. Air Force C-17 Globemaster III transport jet, which delivered them to Lackland Air Force Base, Texas, shortly before midnight.

 

They then traveled by helicopter to Brooke Army Medical Center in San Antonio for treatment.

 

Marc Gonsalves, Thomas Howes and Keith Stansell -- all employees of the Los Angeles-based Northrop Grumman Corp. -- were captured in February 2003 after their drug-surveillance plane went down in the jungles of southern Colombia. They spent five years in captivity, the longest period of captivity for any American hostages.

 

"We are delighted with the safe recovery of these Americans after more than five years of captivity," Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said in a statement yesterday.

 

"We commend the government of Colombia for its sustained efforts to secure the safe return of all FARC hostages," Rice said, using the Spanish acronym for the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia captors. The United States has considered FARC a terrorist organization since November 2001.

 

"The United States calls on the FARC to release immediately all remaining hostages so they may be returned safely to their families," she said. "We hold the FARC responsible for the health and well-being of all hostages. Our thoughts and prayers remain with those still held by the FARC and their loved ones."

 

The rescue mission took place in Guaviare province, a jungle region in south-central Colombia, where commandos deceived a rebel unit into handing over the hostages, according to news reports.

 

By late afternoon, the prisoners, who included former Colombian presidential candidate Ingrid Betancourt, were flown to the main military air base in the Colombian capital of Bogota.

 

Pentagon spokesman Bryan Whitman said the operation was planned, led and executed by Colombia.

 

Asked today if the United States played a role in the mission, Whitman said only that the two countries' militaries have a strong relationship that includes "a certain amount of cooperation and information sharing."

DEFENSE LOGISTICS AGENCY

 

BP Energy Company, Houston, Texas is being awarded a maximum $268,462,041.00 fixed-price with economic price adjustment contract for natural gas supplies. Other locations of performance will be in New Mexico, Utah, Nevada and California. Using services are Army, Navy, Air Force and Federal Civilian Agencies. The original proposal was Web solicited with 37 responses. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The date of performance completion is September 30, 2011. The contracting activity is Defense Energy Support Center (DESC), Fort Belvoir, Va. (SP0600-08-D-7514).

 

Atmos Energy marketing, LLC, Houston, Texas is being awarded a maximum $87,508,552.67 fixed price with economic price adjustment contract for natural gas supplies. Other locations of performance will be in Kentucky, Tennessee, Kansas, Ohio, Mississippi, Georgia, Louisiana and Florida. Using services are Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps and Federal Civilian Agencies. The original proposal was Web solicited with 37 responses. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The date of performance completion is September 30, 2010. The contracting activity is Defense Energy Support Center (DESC), Fort Belvoir, Va. (SP0600-08-D-7500).

 

IGI Resources Inc. Boise, Idaho is being awarded a maximum $52,180,473.00 fixed-price with economic price adjustment contract for natural gas supplies. Other locations of performance will be in Washington and Oregon. Using service is Army. The original proposal was Web solicited with 37 responses. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The date of performance completion is September 30, 2010. The contracting activity is Defense Energy Support Center (DESC), Fort Belvoir, Va. (SP0600-08-D-7513).

 

Valero Marketing & Supply Company, San Antonio, Texas is being awarded a maximum $28,519,190.00 fixed-price with economic price adjustment, indefinite delivery and indefinite quantity contract for aviation fuel. Other location of performance is in Corpus Christi, Texas. Using service is Foreign Military Sales. The original proposal was Web solicited with 3 responses. Contract funds will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The date of performance completion is July 14, 2008. The contracting activity is Defense Energy Support Center (DESC), Fort Belvoir Va. (SP0600-07-D-0454).  

 

Oneok Energy Marketing, Topeka, Kan. is being awarded a maximum $13,141,000.00 fixed-price with economic price adjustment contract for natural gas. Other location of performance is in Oklahoma. Using service is Army. The original proposal was Web solicited with 37 responses. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The date of performance completion is September 30, 2010. The contracting activity is Defense Energy Support Center (DESC), Fort Belvoir Va.(SP0600-08-D-7505).

 

AC Fabricated Products, Jackson, Ala.* is being awarded a maximum $12,948,572.50 fixed-price with economic price adjustment, indefinite delivery contract for tents. There are no other locations of performance. Using services are Army, Navy, Air Force and Marine Corps. The original proposal was Web solicited with 3 responses. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The date of performance completion is December 17, 2009. The contracting activity is Defense Supply Center Philadelphia (DSCP) Philadelphia, Pa. (SPM1C1-08-D-1070).

 

ARMY

 

Bradbury Stamm Construction, Inc., Albuquerque, N.M., was awarded on June 16, 2008, a $38,342,400 firm-fixed price contract for construction of a new school and dormitory for the Crownpoint Community School. Work will be performed in Crownpoint, N.M., and is expected to be completed by Aug. 21, 2009. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. Web bids were solicited on March 21, 2008, and four bids were received. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Albuquerque, N.M., is the contracting activity (W912PP-08-C-0013).

 

American Registry of Pathology, Washington, D.C., was awarded on June 17, 2008, a $21,414,001 contract for support to the Armed Forces Institute of Pathology in the form of diagnostic consultation, education and research for the U.S. military and civilian community. Work will be performed in Washington, D.C., and is expected to be completed by Sept. 30, 2009. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. One bid was solicited on Aug. 1, 2000. U.S. Army Medical Research Acquisition Activity, Frederick, Md., is the contracting activity (DAMD17-00-C-0034).

 

Femme Comp., Inc., Colorado Springs, Colo.., was awarded on June 13, 2008, a $10,000,000 cost-plus-fixed fee contract for command, control, communications, computer, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance operational management, engineering and technical services. Work will be performed in Colorado Springs, Co., and is expected to be completed by Sept. 30, 2010. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. Web bids were solicited on Sept. 16, 2003, and four bids were received. U.S. Army Space and Missile Defense Command, Peterson Air Force Base, Colo., is the contracting activity (DASG62-03-D-0006).

 

ITT night Vision, Roanoke, Va., was awarded on June 17, 2008, a $6,888,976 firm-fixed price contract for PVS-7D night vision and AN/PVS7 night vision. Work will be performed in Roanoke, Va., and is expected to be completed by Dec. 31, 2009. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. One bid was solicited on Feb. 12, 2008. CECOM Acquisition Center, Fort Monmouth, N.J., is the contracting activity (W15P7T-08-C-D236).

 

NAVY

 

BAE Systems, Armament Systems Division, Minneapolis, Minn., is being awarded an $8,288,417 modification to previously awarded contract (N00024-08-C-5407) to exercise an option for engineering services to support operations and capabilities of the MK 110 57 MM Naval Gun System. The MK 110 57 MM Gun is designed to provide surface fire support for multiple ship platforms of the US Navy, US Coast Guard and various Foreign Military Sales customers. These engineering services will provide design, development, production, logistics, test, operational and life cycle support for the gun system. Work will be performed in Minneapolis, Minn. (87.1 percent) and Louisville, Ky. (12.9 percent), and is expected to be completed by June 2009. Contract funds in the amount of $50,000 will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Sea Systems Command, Washington Navy Yard, D.C., is the contracting activity.

NAVY

 

Lockheed Martin Integrated Systems, Inc., Bethesda, Md., is being awarded a $36,893,216 indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity, cost-plus-incentive-fee/cost-plus-fixed-fee, performance-based contract with provisions for firm-fixed price orders to provide Joint Medical Information Systems information assurance technical support services, including, but is not limited to, Network Operations, Network Security, Computer Network Defense, Security Life Cycle Management, Identity Management, Public Key Infrastructure Implementation and Engineering Support, Security Policy and Standards Guidance and Development, Secure Wireless Network Infrastructure Support, Secure Network Infrastructure Systems and Applications, Governance, Certification and Accreditation, Risk Management, Security Engineering, Cryptographic Repair, Crypto Modernization, and Cross Domain solutions that Space and Naval Warfare Systems Center Charleston and Naval Network Warfare Command support. This contract includes four one-year option periods, which, if exercised, will bring the cumulative value of the contract to an estimated amount of $189,865,750. Work will be performed in Charleston, S.C., and work is expected to be completed by May 2009 (May 2013 with options exercised). Contract funds will not expire at the end of the fiscal year. This contract was competitively procured using full and open competitive procedures via the Space and Naval Warfare Systems Center E-commerce website, with six offers received. The Space and Naval Warfare Systems Center, Charleston, S.C., is the contracting activity (N65236-08-D-6801).

 

Communication and Ear Protection*, Enterprise, Ala., is being awarded a not-to-exceed $25,000,000 indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for a Phase III Small Business Innovative Research Program under Topic N02-151, entitled "Passive Noise Reduction Technology to Improve Speech Intelligibility and Reduce Noise for Pilot and Deck Crew Helmet Mounted Systems." The contractor will provide services and materials for engineering tasks, including research and development, prototype and testing of the hearing protection devices. Work will be performed in Enterprise, Ala., and work is expected to be completed in May 2013. Contract funds in the amount of $451,714 will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was competitively procured using the SBIR Program Solicitation under Topic N02-151 and 16 offers were received. The Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division, Lakehurst, N.J., is the contracting activity (N68335-08-D-0013).

 

General Electric Co., Aircraft Engines Business Group, Lynn, Mass., is being awarded a $24,681,174 modification to a previously awarded firm-fixed-price contract (N00019-06-C-0088) to exercise an option for the Fiscal Year 2008 Lot 12 procurement of seven F-414-GE-400 spare engines for the F/A-18E/F and EA-18G aircraft. Work will be performed in Lynn, Mass., (50 percent); Madisonville, Ky., (22 percent); Hooksett, N.H., (13 percent); Albuquerque, N.M., (6 percent); Rutland, Vt., (5 percent); Dayton, Ohio, (2 percent); Evandale, Ohio, (1 percent); and Bromont, Canada, (1 percent), and work is expected to be completed in Jun. 2009. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Md., is the contracting activity.

 

Communication & Power Industries, Inc., Palo Alto, Calif., is being awarded a $12,757,800 firm-fixed-price, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for major repair/remanufacture of Traveling Wave Tubes (TWTs) and new TWTs for the AN/SLQ-32 Electronic Countermeasures System. The AN/SLQ-32 Electronic Countermeasures System performs deception jamming of missile seekers and noise jamming of targeting radars. It can track multiple emitters and provides ship protection from radar-directed anti-ship missiles as well as confusing targeting radars on hostile platforms. The TWTs are integral parts of the jammer. Work will be performed in Palo Alto, Calif., and work is expected to be completed by May 2013. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was competitively procured with a minimum of four proposals solicited and one offer received via Federal Business Opportunities website and the Naval Surface Warfare Center (NSWC) Crane Acquisition Department's website. The NSWC Crane, Crane, Ind., is the contracting activity (N00164-08-D-GR15).

 

Lockheed Martin-MS2, Liverpool, N.Y., is being awarded a $10,061,579 firm-fixed-price, cost-plus-fixed-fee contract for the production and support of Multi Function Towed Arrays for the AN/SQQ-89A(V)15 Antisubmarine Warfare Combat Systems. MFTA is the next generation passive and active sonar receiver. It affords several enhancements to the AN/SQR-19 Tactical Towed Array System (TACTAS) allowing greater coverage, increased capability/reliability, and reduced obsolescence. MFTA significantly contributes to the capability of surface ships to detect, localize, and prosecute undersea threats, and is a critical sensor to a combat systems suite. Work will be performed in Syracuse, N.Y., (60 percent); Baltimore, Md., (20 percent); Cleveland, Ohio, (14 percent); and Phoenix, Ariz., (6 percent), and work is expected to be complete by Dec. 2012. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was competitively procured with one proposal solicited and two offers received via the Federal Business Opportunities website. The Naval Sea Systems Command, Washington, D.C., is the contracting activity (N00024-08-C-6282).

 

Vision Systems International*, San Jose, Calif., is being awarded a $6,235,379 firm-fixed-price, definitive-contract for the stand-up of an organic repair depot for the Joint Helmet Mounted Cueing System. The repair depot shall be established to provide Naval Surface Warfare Center (NSWC) Crane with in-house repair capability for failed Display Units. Work will be performed in Crane, Ind., and work is expected to be completed by April 2013. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was not competitively procured. The solicitation was posted on Federal Business Opportunities website and the NSWC Crane website, with one proposal solicited and one offer received. NSWC Crane, Crane, Ind., is the contracting activity (N00164-08-C-JQ41).

 

ARMY

 

C. Martin Co., Inc., Las Vegas, N.V., was awarded on May 8, 2008, a $12,609,094 firm-fixed price incentive fee contract for installation support services.  Work will be performed in Dugway Proving Ground, Utah, and is expected to be completed by Jun. 1, 2015.  Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. 21 bids were solicited on Jun. 27, 2007, and three bids were received. Department of the Army, Installation Contracting Command, Dugway, Utah, is the contracting activity (W911S6-08-C-0003).

 

AAI Corp., Hunt Valley, Md., was awarded on May 8, 2008, a $45,386,253 firm-fixed price contract for two SHADOW unmanned aerial vehicle systems and associated support equipment.  Work will be performed in Hunt Valley, Md., and is expected to be completed by May 15, 2010.  Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year.  One bid was solicited on Aug. 16, 2007. U.S. Army Aviation and Missile Command, Redstone Arsenal, Ala., is the contracting activity (W58RGZ-08-C-0023).

 

Laughlin-Thyssen, Inc., Houston, Texas, was awarded on May 9, 2008, a $23,448,135 firm-fixed price contract for construction of a channel improvement project.  Work will be performed in San Antonio, Texas, and is expected to be completed by Oct. 31, 2009.  Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year.  Web bids were solicited on Feb. 4, 2008. U.S. Army Engineer District, Fort Worth, Texas, is the contracting activity (W9126G-08-C-0020).

 

Harper Construction Co., Inc., San Diego, Calif., was awarded on May 9, 2008, a $22,022,448 firm-fixed price contract for re-stationing of 31st Air Defense Artillery including construction of primary infrastructure and site development.  Work will be performed at Fort Sill, Okla., and is expected to be completed by Mar. 1, 2010.  Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year.  Web bids were solicited on Sept. 21, 2007, and two bids were received. U.S. Army Engineer District, Tulsa, Okla., is the contracting activity (@912BV-08-C-2002).

 

MWH Construction Inc., Broomfield, Colo., was awarded on May 9, 2008, a $15,000,000 firm-fixed price contract for design and construction of three company operation facilities.  Work will be performed at Fort Sill, Okla., and is expected to be completed by Nov. 5, 2009.  Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year.  Six bids were solicited on Dec. 18, 2007, and five bids were received. U.S. Army Engineer District, Savannah, Ga., is the contracting activity (W912HN-08-D-0019).

 

K&S Associates, Inc., St. Louis, Mo., was awarded on May 8, 2008, a $10,170,000 firm-fixed price contract for design and construction of squadron operations facilities.  Work will be performed at Scott Air Force Base, Ill., and is expected to be completed by Nov. 2, 2009. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year.  Web bids were solicited on Mar. 3, 2008, and six bids were received.  Corps of Engineers, Louisville, Ky., is the contracting activity (W912QR-08-C-0017).

 

Turner Denny Construction Co., Virginia Beach, Va., was awarded on May 9, 2008, a $5,811,295 firm-fixed price contract for an information systems server farm addition.  Work will be performed at Fort Lee, Va., and is expected to be completed by Dec. 31, 2009.  Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year.  Two bids were solicited on Dec. 21, 2007, and two bids were received. U.S. Army Engineer District, Norfolk, Va., is the contracting activity (W91236-05-D-0054).