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A Willing Ambassador 2627 Voters 1 year, 8 months ago A secretary for a foreign embassy was entertaining a wealthy foreign ambassador during lunch at a very expensive restaurant in uptown New York. The ambassador was so enthralled by the beauty and presence of this secretary that he asked her to marry him. The secretary was startled, but remembered that her boss told her never to insult foreign dignitaries, so she decided to let him down easy. "I'll only marry you under three conditions." "Anything, anything," said the ambassador. "First, you must buy me a 14-karat gold wedding band with a 72 carat diamond, along with a 28 inch studded matching necklace for our engagement." Without hesitation, the ambassador picked up his cellular phone, called his personal accountant, told him the instructions, and said, "Yes, yes, I buy, I buy!" The secretary thought that her first request was too easy, so she thought of a more difficult situation. "Second, I want you to build me a 58-acre mansion in the richest part of the Poconos along with a 40 acre summer home in the sweetest vineyards of France." The ambassador picked up his phone, called his personal broker in New York, then called another broker in France, and after his quick conversation, he said, "Yes, yes, I build, I build!" The secretary was very startled, and knew she must think of a final request that would be impossible to live up to. "Finally," she said. "I'll only marry you if you have a 10 inch penis." A sad face befell the ambassador, and he cupped his face in his hands. After weeping in his native language for a few minutes, the ambassador slowly lifted his head and said, "Ok, ok, I cut, I cut!"

Pages Monday, October 9, 2017 HALLOWEEN IS MURDER McKinley Mysteries, book 11 by Carolyn Arnold HALLOWEEN IS MURDER McKinley Mysteries, book 11by Carolyn Arnold Genre: Romantic Mystery Comedy Beware of all that goes bump in the night… Sean and Sara McKinley are excited about the haunted house they’ve set up as a Halloween charity fund-raiser, but things take a ghoulish turn when the reporter covering their story is found dead. With the media keeping mum about how she died, Sara’s curiosity is piqued, and she convinces Sean to take on the investigation through their PI firm. But this case is not without its challenges. The police are actively investigating it, as well, and it’s not even clear that the woman was murdered. It will take a little cloak-and-dagger, dress-up, and finesse for the McKinleys to get to the bottom of it, but they aren’t the kind to give up. As they troll for leads and work through the skeletons in the reporter’s closet, they unearth a few suspects, but they’ll need to carve out the whole truth if they’re going to find her killer. If they do so fast enough, there might even be time for a little trick-or-treating. Chapter 3 SHADOWS OF NIGHT SARA WAS CALLING YOUR SOURCE from her home office one last time. That’s what she told herself anyhow. She’d lost count of how many times she’d called them, but she had always met with a busy signal. And there it was again… She lowered the receiver to its cradle. One could be certain that the station had plenty of rollover lines, so it had to be other people calling in about Chloe’s death, too. Other crazy people like her wanting answers. At least, she was sure that Sean thought she was crazy, but she had a niggling sensation in her gut that they needed to look into Chloe’s death. Maybe it was because she and Sean were surrounded by murder wherever they looked and wherever they went. Even when they were supposed to be relaxing on their honeymoon, a case had found them. And the inclination to view any death as suspicious was embedded in her psyche from years working as a homicide detective with the Albany PD. Sure, Chloe could have died from natural causes, an accident, or even suicide, but it was also just as likely that someone had caused her death intentionally. To quiet her mind, Sara had to find out which scenario applied to Chloe. And if her calls weren’t making it through, there was another route she could take. She flicked on the monitor, pleased that she had the habit of leaving her computer on most of the time. She brought up an Internet search engine and typed in Chloe’s full name and Your Source. This brought up pages of results. The first entry was a post from the television station entitled, DEATH OF LOCAL REPORTER CASTS DARK CLOUD OVER ALBANY. Sara clicked to open the link. Scanning down the page, she found she was no closer to knowing what had happened to Chloe. There was no cause of death listed, but rather, the piece read like an obituary with a recap of Chloe’s career accomplishments and brief mentions of her personal life—she had a sister and had died single. That was it. Somehow it seemed like a sad summation of a twenty-five-year-old woman’s life that had been cut so short. There was so much that Chloe had yet to experience, and Sara hoped that Chloe had at least known romantic love at some point in her life. Sara returned to her search results and clicked on many of the other links, but they were more or less copycats of the statement Your Source had published. “A nice and fun, old-fashioned mystery. Halloween is Murder was a very well-written and fast read with great characters and a fun mystery with a resolution that I did not see coming.” –The Reading Café Ask anyone who loves Halloween and they’ll probably tell you their favorite part about it is dressing up. When you put on a costume, you can be whomever—or whatever—you want. It’s liberating! On top of that, it’s likely that there are all kinds of goodies lying around the house. When I was a girl, I loved playing Barbie. I loved dressing her up and assigning her whatever life story I wanted. And, man, did I enjoy it! Maybe for a little too long, in fact. I kept playing into my early teens! At the time, I felt like some sort of freak. I certainly wouldn’t have wanted this news to get out to the kids at school. They probably would have called me a baby or something like that. So I kept this part of my life a secret, and I justified my addiction by pinning the blame on my sister, who is six years younger than me—she needed someone to play with! Now that I’m older—much, much older—I look back and find this aspect of my past amusing. I realize that it’s absolutely nothing to be embarrassed about, but it shows me that I’ve always loved telling stories and acting them out. No wonder I became an author! In the grand scheme of things, Halloween is very similar. The holiday allows people of all ages to participate in this fantasy, if only for one night. But as an author, I get to experience Halloween every day of the year. I become someone else every time I sit at my desk and immerse myself into the worlds of my characters. I get to delve into their minds, to know their thoughts, their feelings, their personalities, their lives. And I get to share my imagination with my readers. Now that’s a real treat! Speaking of, I’m going to grab a small bowl of candy corn and gummy peaches and get to writing. Happy Halloween! Carolyn Arnold What to expect from the McKinley Mysteries: Romance. Humor. Murder. Are you looking for a murder mystery without all the graphic violence and foul language? Something that you can enjoy in an afternoon and walk away feeling good about afterward? How about a dash of humor and romance? If so, meet former detectives Sean and Sara McKinley. When a billionaire leaves them all his money, they no longer have to work, but they find themselves sticking to what they’re good at—solving murders. Undercover, off the books, and around the world, they’ll get to the bottom of things…and romance it up along the way. CAROLYN ARNOLD is an international bestselling and award-winning author, as well as a speaker, teacher, and inspirational mentor. She has four continuing fiction series—Detective Madison Knight, Brandon Fisher FBI, McKinley Mysteries, and Matthew Connor Adventures—and has written nearly thirty books. Her genre diversity offers her readers everything from cozy to hard-boiled mysteries, and thrillers to action adventures. Both her female detective and FBI profiler series have been praised by those in law enforcement as being accurate and entertaining, leading her to adopt the trademark: POLICE PROCEDURALS RESPECTED BY LAW ENFORCEMENT™. Carolyn was born in a small town and enjoys spending time outdoors, but she also loves the lights of a big city. Grounded by her roots and lifted by her dreams, her overactive imagination insists that she tell her stories. Her intention is to touch the hearts of millions with her books, to entertain, inspire, and empower. She currently lives just west of Toronto with her husband and beagle and is a member of Crime Writers of Canada and Sisters in Crime. Halloween is probably the most popular holiday next to Christmas! Who wouldn’t want to read a Halloween-themed murder mystery? And it’s kept light and fun. I understand this is part of the McKinley Mystery series, but can this book stand on its own? And can you share with us what the book is about? Halloween is Murder can easily be read as a standalone. In Halloween is Murder, Sean and Sara McKinley are set to celebrate Halloween in style, and they’re eager to invite the entire city to visit their haunted house fund-raiser. But their recorded segment for a local television station goes unaired and the reporter is later found dead. Sara’s determined to get answers, and she brings Sean and their entire PI firm along with her. There are more tricks than treats, however, as they try to carve out the truth. Please tell us a little more about the McKinleys and their series. Romance. Humor. Murder. Those three words best sum up what readers can expect from the McKinley Mysteries series. These stories are cozy in nature and appeal to readers who love a murder mystery without the gore or foul language. Each installment is novella length, with the exception of The Day Job is Murder, which is a short story. This makes the books “perfect for curling up for an afternoon” (Brooke Blogs) and “perfect to bring along on vacation” (Bound 4 Escape). The Layaway Dragon describes the series as, “perfect if you like clean-cut characters, a sweetheart romance, having the money to follow your dreams, and crime-solving abilities.” To tell you a bit more, Sean and Sara McKinley are former homicide detectives with a talent for attracting death investigations wherever they go. When a billionaire leaves them all his money, they no longer have to work for a living, but they find themselves sticking to what they’re good at—solving murders. From sleuths to eventual private investigators, they’ll do whatever it takes to solve a case. Whether that means going undercover, off the books, or around the world, you can be certain they’ll be romancing it up along the way. This is the perfect book series for fans of Hart to Hart, Castle, Colombo, Monk, Rockford Files, Psych, and Magnum, P.I. What can readers expect when they crack the cover? They can expect to feel the chill in the air, to see the colored leaves on the ground, and to slip into the world of make-believe in true Halloween spirit while Sean and Sara search for a killer. There is also, of course, some humor and romance along the way. Name one specific just-for-fun liberty you took with the book? In Christmas is Murder, I named the chapters after holiday-related songs, and I carried a bit of this fun over to Halloween is Murder. Each chapter is titled with a play on Halloween-related words or phrases. Here are some examples (in no particular order): “Dreading the ‘Boo,’” “Stuck Between a Grave and a Tombstone,” “An Attempt to Sweeten the Cauldron,” and “Grim Reaper Claims a Victim.” What’s your favorite part about Halloween? Seeing how happy people are when they dress up and pretend to be someone else for the night. And let’s not forget the candy! What makes Halloween is Murder the perfect Halloween read? It’s fun and light, just like the holiday. Throw in a murder to solve, dressing up, some cloak-and-dagger, and a haunted house, and who can say no to that?

Nurse Jackie ended in 2015 after 7 seasons. This half-hour show on Showtime was widely considered on of the best shows on television, and for good reason. At a half hour, it may have been considered a comedy. In my mind, it was a serious drama with a bit of comedy included.

BWC wilderness bill set to go to Congress'Fierce opposition' anticipated By Greg Stahl Before the month of April is through, discussion on whether or not to protect a slice of Central Idaho as wilderness will make its way into the historic chambers of the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C. What happens to Idaho Rep. Mike Simpson's Central Idaho Economic Development and Recreation Act after that will be up to lobbyists and the country's massive lawmaking machine. Through his bill, Simpson hopes to resolve long-running disputes about how to manage the Boulder and White Cloud mountains. Located in Custer and Blaine counties, the mountain ranges include the largest unprotected road-free contiguous chunk of land in the Lower 48 States. But several economically depressed communities, primarily in Custer County, also surround the two mountain ranges, and Simpson is proposing to give the communities an economic shot in the arm, as well as designate a wilderness area in Idaho for the first time in 30 years. "If (the bill) doesn't go now, it won't go in the next four years," said Simpson's chief of staff, Lindsay Slater. Also, local support could help the legislation overcome any significant political obstacles that come from inside the Beltway. "We're turning to the locals to get their winds in this bill," Slater said. "What we're doing, we're ensuring this works for the community. Not everybody's going to get what they want in this bill, but we have to be sure everybody's going to get what they need." Slater said the bill is not going to be "substantially different" from what it looked like in October when Simpson introduced the bill during the 108th session of Congress, Slater said. Because bills are not carried over from one session of Congress to the next, Simpson must re-submit the proposed legislation. "Once it's introduced, that's when we'll say, 'This is it,'" Slater said. "That's when we expect people to draw lines in the sand. We're getting some support, but wait for two months and see how the fireworks go. I think it's going to be crazy." One of the reasons Simpson waited to definitively submit the bill was to get as much feedback as possible from as many different stakeholders as possible. In that sense, the proposed legislation is a true compromise. Nonetheless, Slater said he anticipates strong opposition. And based on congressional tack records, one of the key obstacles could come from inside Congress almost immediately after the bill is submitted. The bill will begin its journey through the lawmaking process in the House Resources Committee, now chaired by Rep. Richard Pombo, R-Calif., who on Sept. 22 killed legislation that would have created the new 106,000-acre Wild Sky Wilderness Area near Seattle. Proponents have said backing from a prominent Idaho Republican like Sen. Larry Craig would help make the bill saleable to the Republican-controlled Congress. So far, however, Craig has stayed out of the discussion. On more than one occasion, he said he admires Simpson's efforts and doesn't want to interfere with the process. In all, the bill could funnel as much as $18.25 million into rural Idaho in the form of grants, a grazing permit buyout program and funds to purchase conservation easements. Another estimated $9 million to $11 million in public lands, more than 2,000 acres, could be traded into private hands. The bill would protect 294,100 acres of the Boulder and White Cloud mountains as wilderness, the most restrictive land management designation in Congress' bag of tricks. There's probably something in the bill for most people to like. There's also probably something in the bill for most people to dislike. "It's been an interesting challenge finding a compromise that will promote economic development in Custer County, assist ranchers who have been severely impacted by the environmental lawsuits, protect and enhance historic motorized recreation opportunities and create a wilderness," Simpson said in a prepared statement that was released in October. Simpson first announced he would pursue wilderness and economic development legislation for Central Idaho in May 1999 at a meeting of conservation groups at Redfish Lake Lodge in the shadow of the Sawtooth Wilderness Area. He will speak at the annual meeting, called Wild Idaho!, again this spring to give an update about the bill. Since the 1999 announcement, and particularly in the last two years, he worked to build consensus among the various stakeholders in the region. "After listening to the needs of our traditional user groups that will be impacted-the county, the ranchers and outfitters, the motorized recreation community and the conservationists-I am pleased that we have taken a few discussion concepts, created a framework, held public meetings which resulted in a draft bill, and finally the legislation I have introduced today," Simpson said. "Throughout the process, my focus has been on protecting historic uses."

Mind Games Why Rent from Knetbooks? Because Knetbooks knows college students. Our rental program is designed to save you time and money. Whether you need a textbook for a semester, quarter or even a summer session, we have an option for you. Simply select a rental period, enter your information and your book will be on its way! Sherlock Holmes and Miss James “Mori” Moriarty may have closed their first case, but the mystery is far from over in the thrilling sequel to Lock & Mori, perfect for fans of Maureen Johnson and Sherlock. You know their names. Now discover their beginnings. Mori’s abusive father is behind bars…and she has never felt less safe. Threatening letters have started appearing on her doorstep, and the police are receiving anonymous tips suggesting that Mori—not her father—is the Regent’s Park killer. To make matters worse, the police are beginning to believe them. Through it all, Lock—frustrating, brilliant, gorgeous Lock—is by her side. The two of them set out to discover who is framing Mori, but in a city full of suspects, the task is easier said than done. With the clock ticking, Mori will discover just how far she is willing to go to make sure that justice is served, and no one—not even Lock—will be able to stop her.

Guardianship With our aging population, Ikard Ratliff P.C. more and more frequently advises clients on the need for, and intricacies of, guardianships. Pre filing analysis including alternatives Ikard Ratliff P.C. assists clients with careful evaluation of the need for a guardianship and any available alternatives. Determining Incapacity, Best Interest and Least Restrict Alternatives If a guardianship is needed, Ikard Ratliff P.C. represents clients in establishing incapacity of the proposed ward, that a guardianship is in the proposed ward’s best interest and that it is the least restrictive alternative. Appointment of a Guardian Ikard Ratliff P.C. advises clients in regards to serving as guardian or asking the court to appoint another person as guardian. Administration The courts are very protective of the rights of the ward. As a result the rules for administering the ward’s estate are very detailed. Ikard Ratliff P.C. advises our guardian clients on complying with these rules and protecting the ward and his property. This includes but is not limited to annual accountings, sales, purchases, allowances and safe keeping agreements.

NOTE: Facade is currently under construction. Room is not impacted, but there is scaffolding in place. If available, discounts can be provided for any inconvenience. Guests staying with us will have a private, ground floor room with their own entrance. Nothing shared, the space is entirely for guest use alone. The space is bright, sunny and large. We are close to transportation, a number of Brooklyn attractions and there are a some great food and entertainment choices less than one block away. The space Prime Park Slope Suite in Architect's home. Fully private and secure with its own entrance. Newly renovated for our guests. All yours with nothing to share. Guests have a private, ground floor entrance to our 1887 Brownstone. The room is bright, sunny and large. The full bathroom boasts a Japanese style soaking tub (and shower). Built in 1887 the house is 125 years old. An architect's home, we have fully renovated the house maintaining and restoring much of the original period detail. The best of modern amenities and classic Brownstone Brooklyn living. Experience NYC living at it's very best. Leafy tree-lined block in the center of Park Slope, Brooklyn. Close to N,R, 4,5,6, 2,3 trains. Downtown Manhattan in 20 minutes; mid-town and Times Square in 30. Many fine restaurants and 15 minute walk to Barclays Center, Brooklyn Academy of Music, Brooklyn Museum of Art and Prospect Park. Ideal room for parents and family members visiting Brooklyn. Full 24/7 wireless internet and connectivity for streaming content off your own devices. Coffee maker, coffee and tea service is available in the room. The room is listed for double occupancy, but we can accommodate up to four quests. In addition to the full sized bed, the room has a sofa sleeper. Kids are free, but each additional adult guest will be charged an additional $10 per night. The full bathroom is adjacent to small dressing room with storage and closet space The bathroom is small, but new and comfortable. House is our home. We have two children, a dog and cat. For our peace of mind and your comfort, the guest room has been recently renovated with a private, secure entrance. Our pets are never permitted in the guest room. You will have complete privacy and total security. Hosts speak German, Japanese and Spanish Location is perfect for events and shows. We are within easy walking distance are the Brooklyn Academy of Music (BAM), Barclays Arena, the Brooklyn Museum of Art and Prospect Park . Guest access Guests have access to the private suite with a private ground floor entrance. Interaction with guests We are available to make your stay as comfortable as possible. The room is completely private and guests do not typically see us unless they need us for something. We are more than happy to help with directions, setting up transportation and making recommendations for sites to visit, restaurants and events. Other things to note NOTE: Construction on facade of house underway through September. Room is not directly impacted. Scaffolding on front of house does block some light. Room is air-conditioned and well ventilated. Other than work outside the house, room is as advertised. This a true private room, not just a bedroom in somebody's apartment. Dedicated private entrance, en-suite bath and shower and complete privacy. We are set up very much like a private hotel room with all amenities. NOTE: The Japanese soaking tub is tall and requires a step up. If you would like a safety bar, we can install a tub-assist. Please let us know when confirming your booking. * No smoking* Registered guests only* No candles or open flame* Guests MUST have fun during their stay and alert us immediately to any special concerns or considerations. We cannot help make your stay comfortable as absolutely possible after you leave Cancellations Flexible Cancel up to 24 hours before your trip and get a full refund. Cancel within 24 hours of your trip and the first night is non-refundable. Nothing but positive things to say, even through the construction work that's happening on the facade of the building. Because of it the price was more than fair, and with the A/C running, I barely heard the workers anyway. Inside the apartment is extremely clean and cared for, Kedin was very nice and thorough in communication, and the apartment is located right in the heart of prime leafy, charming Park Slope, with an abundance of restaurants, cafes, bakeries and such a stone's throw away. This gives you the authentic Brooklyn experience of getting to live on a leafy brownstone block within a superb neighborhood. Looking forward to staying again in the future. My son and I had a wonderful stay at Kedin's place. It was just as described. Great location close to everything shopping, restaurants and subway. The room was very clean and had everything we needed. I can't wait to come back. We are family of four living in the heart of Park Slope. We both work locally and out children are in middle and and high school. We have been Airbnb hosts 2012 and have found it to be great! We have met some super people and we enjoy being able to share our home with friends and family.

Last.fm To Go YouTube Powered In Last Ditch Survival Effort Before Pandora, Rhapsody, and Spotify, Last.fm brought the world personalized online radio. But since 2007 when CBS bought the music service for $280 million, new competitors have left it in the dust. Now Last.fm appears to be planning a last-ditch comeback and cutting operating costs dramatically by switching to music powered by YouTube videos. Last year, Last.fm dropped out of most markets staying open as paid only in the US, UK and Germany. First reported yesterday by The Next Web, a new beta version of Last.fm in open testing asks users: “Ever wondered what radio would be like with video?" The move would shift all licensing costs to YouTube while while keeping the service open for a cadre of loyal users who are fans of its unique scrobbling feature. Comments Last.fm To Go YouTube Powered In Last Ditch Survival Effort Before Pandora, Rhapsody, and Spotify, Last.fm brought the world personalized online radio. But since 2007 when CBS bought the music service for $280 million, new competitors have left it in the dust. Now Last.fm appears to be planning a last-ditch comeback and cutting operating costs dramatically by switching to music powered by YouTube videos.

Newsletter Bethune-Cookman tries to keep businesslike approach for FSU Wilfredo Lee Associated Press Bethune-Cookman coach Brian Jenkins yells out to players during Saturday's game against FIU in Miami. The emotions of Bethune-Cookman football coach Brian Jenkins were all over the map during a teleconference Tuesday, two days after the Wildcats beat a Football Bowl Subdivision team for the first time in history and five days before they will meet No. 8 Florida State (2-0) at Doak Campbell Stadium in Tallahassee. Bethune (3-0) dispatched Florida International 34-13 in Miami last Saturday for the 10th victory this season by a team in the Football Championship Subdivision over an FBS team. On that note alone, Jenkins tried to be businesslike about beating the Sun Belt member. “It was a good victory, as all victories are,” he said. “It was a game that we went in with the same attitude we approach every game. Our first FBS victory? It was the same as winning all other games.” But later in the call, he couldn’t contain himself. “This team is excited,” he said. “Excitement is in the air for our program and the university.” It was the same when discussing the Seminoles, who haven’t lost to a team currently in the FCS since falling 9-0 to William & Mary in 1959. FSU is 28-0-1 since against that division. “This will be a heavyweight fight, two championship-caliber teams who want the same thing,” Jenkins said in seemingly putting his team on the same level as Florida State. “We’re willing to go toe-to-toe with them.” A few minutes after that, Jenkins was almost deferential about the game. “We’re grateful and thankful that they saw fit to let us line up against them and play this football game,” Jenkins said. Whether Jenkins is trying to motivate his team or try to cushion a possible rout is something only he knows. But there’s no denying that these are heady days for the Wildcats, who are 19th in the latest FCS poll and first in the Sheridan Poll for Historically Black Colleges and Universities. Bethune is 30-8 over the last four seasons under Jenkins, and won or shared two MEAC titles. With a deep, talented stable of running backs carrying the load while Jenkins figures out who his quarterback will be (he’s tried three so far) and a defense ranked first in the nation in the FCS, the Wildcats are early favorites to qualify for the FCS playoffs for the third time in four seasons. Anthony Jordan gained 150 yards rushing against FIU, and Cary White had 69 yards and two TDs. Isidore Jackson, the leading rusher through the first two games, didn’t play because of disciplinary reasons and the ’Cats still rushed for 311 yards. Bethune is 10th among FCS schools in rushing, and helping grade the road have been two area players on the starting offensive line, senior left tackle Alex Monroe of First Coast High and junior center Brian Dorsey of Ribault. Monroe and Dorsey are among eight First Coast players on the Wildcats roster. Five of the remaining six are not among the players on the two-deep depth chart. Freshman Darian Baker of Raines is the primary kickoff returner, with a 31.0 average on three returns. Redshirt junior quarterback Quentin Williams of Tampa made the strongest case for earning the starting job for good when he ran for 69 yards and a score, and completed 6-of-11 passes last week. However, Jenkins said he still hasn’t made up his mind about who will start against FSU. Florida State coach Jimbo Fisher said all the right things but didn’t sound scripted when he talked about the Wildcats. “They’re running the ball very well on offense, are very diverse on defense and sound in the kicking game. Dadgumit, they’re a good football team, and we knew it, and it does not surprise me,” he said during his usual Monday news conference. “The coach has done a tremendous job. They’ve got the athletes.”

Veterans schooled on securing benefits, starting a business Retired Command Sgt. Maj. Bart Womack speaks during a veterans symposium at the Community College of Allegheny County's North Side campus Saturday. By Marylynne Pitz / Pittsburgh Post-Gazette When local veterans return home from Iraq or Afghanistan, surviving the peace can be more difficult than enduring the war. Painful experiences and losses remain etched in people's memories, making adjustment to civilian life hard. While navigating that tough transition, many veterans are also seeking work, a place to live, medical care and more education. Some dream of starting their own business. A free symposium, held Saturday at Community College of Allegheny County on the city's North Side, offered sessions on finding employment, becoming an entrepreneur, obtaining benefits, managing stress and financing an education. During a lunchtime panel discussion, participants heard a thoughtful pep talk from Michael Cherock, a successful entrepreneur and president of AE Works, an East Liberty-based architecture and engineering firm that also has offices in State College and in Silver Spring, Md. Mr. Cherock told his audience that he started his own business seven years ago partly because he missed being part of something larger than himself. When he returned to Pittsburgh from his engineering duties aboard a nuclear Navy submarine in 1996, he worked at companies that he thought lacked a clear purpose and among people who seemed to care only about their self-interest. He missed the challenges, sense of purpose and teamwork he had relished in the military. So, seven years ago, in the basement of his home, he founded AE Works, which now employs 31 full-time workers. "Do you want to serve again?" Mr. Cherock asked his audience. "You have to choose to serve again if you want to find success after service," he said, adding that veterans should consider serving their families, communities, fellow veterans or in a particular industry. Improving the experience that veterans have in his courtroom was the goal of Allegheny County Common Pleas Judge John Zottola, who sees veterans charged with crimes twice a month. The judge, who has presided over veterans court since 2009, held an informal brainstorming session with federal and state court officials. One issue was how to make productive use of the time veterans spend waiting to have their cases heard. One suggestion was bringing in motivational speakers or ceramics instructors who can show people how to work with clay and/or teach yoga. Those ideas came from Theo Collins, a U.S. Marine Corps sergeant who served in Afghanistan and is associate producer of a film called "Project 22." The documentary's team, which visited Pittsburgh last October, aims to raise people's awareness about the high suicide rate among veterans. A report by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, based on records from 21 states, found that 22 veterans committed suicide each day in 2010. Team-building experiences such as sailing, horseback riding or hiking can help veterans feel more connected and less isolated, Mr. Collins said. "You get off the plane from Iraq or Afghanistan and the V.A. gives you a bottle of Ambien and says, 'We'll see you in two weeks,' " Mr. Collins said. Finding jobs for unemployed veterans is essential, Mr. Collins said, because those who are idle have lots of free time. "They're just replaying in their head what they lived through," he added. Most Read Most Emailed Most Commented Join the conversation: To report inappropriate comments, abuse and/or repeat offenders, please send an email to socialmedia@post-gazette.com and include a link to the article and a copy of the comment. Your report will be reviewed in a timely manner. Thank you.

Asia-Pacific leaders warn of water conflict threat May 20, 2013 by Aidan Jones A female Indian labourer pours water on a sapling as she tends to trees in Nagapattinam, on January 23, 2005. Fierce competition for water could trigger conflict unless nations cooperate to share the diminishing resource, leaders from Asia-Pacific nations have warned. Fierce competition for water could trigger conflict unless nations cooperate to share the diminishing resource, leaders from Asia-Pacific nations warned on Monday. From Central to Southeast Asia, regional efforts to secure water have sparked tensions between neighbours reliant on rivers to sustain booming populations. Breakneck urbanisation, climate change and surging demand from agriculture have heaped pressure on scarce water supplies, while the majority of people in Asia-Pacific still lack access to safe water despite strong economic growth. "There could be a fight over resources," Thailand's Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra cautioned in an address to a regional water security forum in the northern Thai city of Chiang Mai. "No country in this region can handle these challenges alone," she said, hailing forums such as the Asia-Pacific Water Summit as the route to satisfying countries' thirst peacefully. A Thai firm is behind a controversial dam over the Mekong river in Laos, a project decried by downstream countries Vietnam and Cambodia which fear it could ruin their farming and fishing industries. Delegates on Monday adopted a sweeping "Chiang Mai declaration" pledging to build regional resilience to natural disasters, share technical skill on management of the resource and push water security to the top of the agenda. Asian nations need to plough an estimated $380 billion into water and sanitation systems in the decade to 2020 if they are to achieve water security, Brunei Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah warned the forum. The "vital undertaking" comes against a backdrop of competition that "could lead to international disputes", he cautioned. One such row is between Uzbekistan and its neighbours Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan which want to build two of the world's biggest hydro-electric power stations. A small boat lies on the bed of the Red River as it has been hit by drought near Hanoi, on April 19, 2007. Fierce competition for water could trigger conflict unless nations cooperate to share the diminishing resource, leaders from Asia-Pacific nations have warned. Speaking at the conference on Sunday, Tajik President Emomali Rakhmon defended his country's right to exploit its natural resources but pledged to pursue a "peaceful solution" to the dispute which has seen angry rhetoric soar over recent months. Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina cited a water-sharing treaty between her nation and India over the Ganges river as an example of successful water diplomacy. "Only judicious management of access to water resources" will prevent conflict, she said, adding that low-lying Bangladesh has around 30 million people exposed to rising sea levels. The Asian Development Bank last month warned that nearly two-thirds of people in Asia-Pacific have no clean, piped water at home despite the region's strong growth, blaming poor management and a lack of investment in infrastructure. Climate change and environmental damage are also posing unpredictable threats to the region's water supply, with glaciers that feed rivers in retreat and once-pristine waterways polluted with waste. The region must co-operate to tackle the "new reality", Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili said. "Things are happening that have never happened before" because of climate change, he warned. "There's no place for conflict there." Demand for farmland may strip the Greater Mekong region of a third of its remaining forest cover over the next two decades without swift government action, a leading conservation group warned Thursday. Glaciers in the eastern and central regions of the Himalayas appear to be retreating at accelerating rates, similar to those in other areas of the world, while glaciers in the western Himalayas are more stable and could be ... Yosemite National Park is bracing for its driest year on record, with visitor bureaus downplaying the allure of the park's most famous waterfall and instead touting the park as a destination for hiking, bicycling and photography. A new stream-based monitoring system recently discovered high levels of methane in a Pennsylvania stream near the site of a reported Marcellus shale gas well leak, according to researchers at Penn State and the U.S. Geological ... A team led by Washington State University researchers has found that methane emissions from local natural gas distribution systems in cities and towns throughout the U.S. have decreased in the past 20 years ... In the first-of-its-kind study of the environmental effects of hydropeaking, that is releasing water at hydropower dams to meet peak daily electricity demand, two University of Massachusetts Amherst researchers ...

Projects & Programs STAR Heavy Flavor Tracker LUX-ZEPLIN (LZ) LCLS-II BeLLA ALS-U ALS qRIXS Endstation The Berkeley Lab’s Engineering Division is an integral component of an expansive variety of projects varying in size, scope, and complexity. We partner with researchers from various laboratories, Berkeley Lab scientific and operations Divisions, academic institutions, and business organizations for effective and efficient project execution and program solutions.

Internal server errors, aka Error 500, can happen under WordPress just as often as they happen under practically anything else running on a server. You may think that the error itself will tell a tech all they need to know, but it really doesn’t say anything. In fact, internal server errors are the server equivalent of a patient explaining to a doctor, “I did something and now I don’t feel well.” Before you ask for support, internal server errors are often caused by plugin or theme function conflicts, so you should start by manually resetting all of your plugins and your theme, which we already covered in WordPress and the White Screen of Death. If that doesn’t resolve the issue, it’s possible that a .htaccess rule could be the source of the problem. To check for this, access your server via FTP or SFTP and rename the .htaccess file. If […] About the Author James James began using WordPress in 2004. Being new to WordPress (and blogging in general), he quickly found the WordPress Support Forums and basically never left. James currently resides in sunny Southern California, where he enjoys bringing happiness to millions of WordPress.com users.

A vulnerability in a user script supplied with Cisco Firepower 9000 devices could allow an authenticated, remote attacker to view any file on the device, even ones that should be restricted to authenticated users. The vulnerability is due to lack of input validation of the parameters passed to certain user scripts. An attacker could exploit this vulnerability by authenticating to the device and crafting user input to certain script files to view files that should be restricted.

Japan to include nuclear power in mid-term energy policy: source Thomson ReutersTEPCO employee stands next to an impervious wall installed along the coast in Fukushima TOKYO (Reuters) - Japan will incorporate nuclear power in its mid-term energy policy, citing it as an "important base load" energy source, and aims to approve the plan at a cabinet meeting in March, a source close to the matter told Reuters. The Japanese public remains divided over nuclear power nearly three years after a devastating earthquake and tsunami in March 2011 set off triple nuclear meltdowns at the Fukushima Daiichi plant, some 220 km (130 miles) north of Tokyo. The plant's operator, Tokyo Electric Power Co, has been plagued by a series of mishaps including radioactive water leaks and power outages. Tepco said on Thursday that it found 100 metric tons of contaminated water had leaked out of a storage tank at the Fukushima site. It still remains unclear when any of Japan's 48 nuclear reactors can be restarted as it faces stringent checks by an independent regulator. The government's decision is in line with recommendations put forward by a government panel last year, which wrote that securing safety was paramount in utilizing atomic power.

The Scout.org website uses "cookies", both internal and from third parties. Cookies are small text files placed on your end user device and help us to distinguish you from other users, to enhance your experience on scout.org. If you continue, we'll assume that you are happy to receive cookies on our website. You can change your browser's cookie settings at any time. To find out more about how we use cookies and how to manage your browser settings read our Cookies Policy. 1st World Scout Education Congress 12. أكتوبر 2013 The 1st World Scout Education Congress will bring people together to share, discuss and debate the experiences and expertise in Youth Programme and Adult Resources, from over 200 countries and territories where the Movement exists. The event will also invite inputs, from experts in the theory of education and from representatives of other youth organisations offering educational programmes, to give their perspectives. Participation from distance through online channels For those who can’t be present in Hong Kong at that time, you can follow the developments and participate from wherever you are in the world through various online platforms that will be development for this purpose. This is extremely important. In my beloved country, Indonesia, there are scouting communities that perform as time-killing meaningless one hour un-productive and un-educative activity. Even teens who consider scouting as old-schooled unnecessary program. . a big homework for us. We are pleased to inform you that Bangladesh Scouts is going to host the 9th Bangladesh National & 1st SAANSO Scout Jamboree scheduled to be held between December 20-26, 2013 in Tangail, Bangladesh. The Jamboree is organized with a view to promote and strengthen peace, solidarity and cooperation among young people by providing them the opportunities to get closer and engage in various activities fostering friendship and mutual understanding. The Jamboree Fee for Scouts & Leaders of SAANSO is US$ 50 per person.

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About ALLETE (NYSE:ALE) ALLETE, Inc. operates as an energy company. The company operates through three segments: Regulated Operations, ALLETE Clean Energy, and U.S. Water Services. It generates electricity from coal-fired, natural gas-fired, biomass co-fired, hydroelectric, wind, solar, and other sources. The company provides regulated electric, natural gas, and water services in northwestern Wisconsin to approximately 15,000 electric customers, 13,000 natural gas customers, and 10,000 water customers, as well as regulated utility electric services in northeastern Minnesota to approximately 145,000 retail customers and 16 non-affiliated municipal customers. It also owns and maintains electric transmission assets in Wisconsin, Michigan, Minnesota, and Illinois. In addition, the company focuses on developing, acquiring, and operating clean and renewable energy projects; and owns and operates approximately 535 megawatt of wind energy generation. Further, it offers integrated water management for industry by combining chemical, equipment, engineering, and service for customized solutions to reduce water and energy usage. Additionally, the company is involved in the coal mining operations in North Dakota; and real estate investment activities in Florida. The company owns and operates 167 substations with a total capacity of 8,540 megavolt amperes. It serves taconite mining, iron concentrate, paper, pulp and wood products, pipeline, and other industries. The company was founded in 1906 and is headquartered in Duluth, Minnesota. Receive ALE News and Ratings via Email Sign-up to receive the latest news and ratings for ALE and its competitors with MarketBeat's FREE daily newsletter. Profitability Miscellaneous ALLETE (NYSE:ALE) Frequently Asked Questions What is ALLETE's stock symbol? ALLETE trades on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) under the ticker symbol "ALE." How often does ALLETE pay dividends? What is the dividend yield for ALLETE? ALLETE announced a quarterly dividend on Wednesday, April 25th. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, May 15th will be paid a dividend of $0.56 per share on Friday, June 1st. This represents a $2.24 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.96%. The ex-dividend date is Monday, May 14th. View ALLETE's Dividend History. How were ALLETE's earnings last quarter? ALLETE Inc (NYSE:ALE) posted its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, May, 2nd. The utilities provider reported $0.99 EPS for the quarter, beating the Thomson Reuters' consensus estimate of $0.98 by $0.01. The utilities provider earned $358.20 million during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $355 million. ALLETE had a return on equity of 8.40% and a net margin of 12.34%. ALLETE's revenue was down 2.0% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the previous year, the firm posted $0.97 earnings per share. View ALLETE's Earnings History. When is ALLETE's next earnings date? What price target have analysts set for ALE? 6 equities research analysts have issued twelve-month price objectives for ALLETE's stock. Their forecasts range from $63.00 to $78.00. On average, they expect ALLETE's stock price to reach $70.9167 in the next twelve months. View Analyst Ratings for ALLETE. Has ALLETE been receiving favorable news coverage? Media headlines about ALE stock have been trending somewhat positive this week, according to Accern. The research firm identifies positive and negative press coverage by monitoring more than 20 million blog and news sources in real time. Accern ranks coverage of companies on a scale of negative one to one, with scores nearest to one being the most favorable. ALLETE earned a media sentiment score of 0.04 on Accern's scale. They also assigned media headlines about the utilities provider an impact score of 45.89 out of 100, indicating that recent press coverage is somewhat unlikely to have an impact on the company's share price in the near future. Which institutional investors are selling ALLETE stock? ALE stock was sold by a variety of institutional investors in the last quarter, including BlackRock Inc., Sei Investments Co., Millennium Management LLC, Victory Capital Management Inc., Franklin Resources Inc., Principal Financial Group Inc., Principal Financial Group Inc. and JPMorgan Chase & Co.. Company insiders that have sold ALLETE company stock in the last year include James J Hoolihan and Madeleine W Ludlow. View Insider Buying and Selling for ALLETE. Which institutional investors are buying ALLETE stock? ALE stock was purchased by a variety of institutional investors in the last quarter, including Westwood Holdings Group Inc., Polaris Capital Management LLC, Northern Trust Corp, American International Group Inc., The Manufacturers Life Insurance Company , Shelter Harbor Advisors LP, Russell Investments Group Ltd. and Dean Investment Associates LLC. View Insider Buying and Selling for ALLETE. How do I buy shares of ALLETE? Shares of ALE can be purchased through any online brokerage account. Popular online brokerages with access to the U.S. stock market include Vanguard Brokerage Services, TD Ameritrade, E*TRADE, Scottrade, Fidelity and Charles Schwab. What is ALLETE's stock price today? One share of ALE stock can currently be purchased for approximately $75.66. How big of a company is ALLETE? ALLETE has a market capitalization of $3.84 billion and generates $1.42 billion in revenue each year. The utilities provider earns $172.20 million in net income (profit) each year or $3.19 on an earnings per share basis. ALLETE employs 2,017 workers across the globe. MarketBeat Community Rating for ALLETE (ALE) MarketBeat's community ratings are surveys of what our community members think about ALLETE and other stocks. Vote "Outperform" if you believe ALE will outperform the S&P 500 over the long term. Vote "Underperform" if you believe ALE will underperform the S&P 500 over the long term. You may vote once every thirty days. Analyst Ratings ALLETE (NYSE:ALE) Price Target and Consensus Rating MarketBeat calculates consensus analyst ratings for stocks using the most recent rating from each Wall Street analyst that has rated a stock within the last twelve months. Each analyst's rating is normalized to a standardized rating score of 1 (sell), 2 (hold), 3 (buy) or 4 (strong buy). Analyst consensus ratings scores are calculated using the mean average of the number of normalized sell, hold, buy and strong buy ratings from Wall Street analysts. Each stock's consensus analyst rating is derived from its calculated consensus ratings score (0-1.5 = Sell, 1.5-2.5 = Hold, 2.5-3.5 = Buy, >3.5 = Strong Buy). MarketBeat's consensus price targets are a mean average of the most recent available price targets set by each analyst that has set a price target for the stock in the last twelve months. MarketBeat's consensus ratings and consensus price targets may differ from those calculated by other firms due to differences in methodology and available data. 6 Wall Street analysts have issued ratings and price targets for ALLETE in the last 12 months. Their average twelve-month price target is $70.9167, suggesting that the stock has a possible downside of 6.32%. The high price target for ALE is $78.00 and the low price target for ALE is $63.00. There are currently 1 sell rating, 4 hold ratings and 1 buy rating for the stock, resulting in a consensus rating of "Hold." Dividends ALLETE (NYSE:ALE) Dividend Information ALLETE pays an annual dividend of $2.24 per share, with a dividend yield of 2.96%. ALE's next quarterly dividend payment will be made on Friday, June 1. The company has grown its dividend for the last 7 consecutive years and is increasing its dividend by an average of 3.00% each year. ALLETE pays out 70.22% of its earnings out as a dividend.

How East-West Competition Turned Balkan Energy into a Geopolitical Chess Ariel Cohen-Europe’s dependency on Russian gas, especially in Central and Eastern Europe, has become a major strategic liability for the West. This is especially true as the war in Eastern Ukraine has brought relations between Moscow and Brussels as well as many of the European capitals to new lows. Russia enjoys a de facto monopoly on gas supplies to the Baltic States, Bulgaria, Moldova, Serbia, and Slovakia, as well as dominating the energy scene in Hungary and other European countries. This raises serious questions with regards to the Kremlin’s political influence in capitals from the heart of Europe to the Mediterranean. Allegations of corruption permeate political debates about the Russian gas supply and are putting increasing pressure on the EU and the nation-states to find economic alternatives. This is not the first time the Central and East European countries find themselves in a vulnerable position vis-à-vis Moscow. In early 2009, Ukraine rejected Russia’s proposal to raise gas prices from $179.50 to $250 per 1,000 cubic meters. Vladimir Putin, then Prime Minister, accused Ukraine of siphoning off gas and ordered Gazprom to shut down all gas transit via Ukraine. As temperatures dropped below zero degrees Fahrenheit, it wasn’t just Ukraine feeling the effects of the disruption, but also 18 other European countries: Austria, Bosnia, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Macedonia, Moldova, Poland, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, and Turkey. The cut off, which led to a state of emergency in Slovakia and the closing of several factories in Bulgaria, served as a wakeup call for the EU. The situation today is not as dire, and based on Energy Security Stress Test released by the European Commission last month, if all member states cooperate, protected consumers would not be affected during a prolonged disruption. The Commission’s report also states that Bosnia, Bulgaria, Estonia, Finland, Herzegovina, Macedonia and Serbia are most vulnerable. There is somewhat different picture when it comes to the nuclear sector. To reach its energy security and 2020 carbon emission goals and to reduce its overall exposure to energy security risks, Europe will have to diversify its sources of electricity beyond still very expensive renewables and recognize the continuing importance of nuclear energy, a sector in which the security of supply is driven by market competition. The Russian government has made a conscious effort to support, promote and build this flagship industry. Rosatom’s turnkey solution allows for competitive pricing, which has led to a doubling of the company’s international construction portfolio from the $50 billion in 2012 to an expected $100 billion by the end of this year. Meantime, US-based Westinghouse has tried to secure long-term contracts in Europe, and it is now taking advantage of the political and security tension between the EU and Russia over Ukraine. Thus, the stage is set for a competitive match. Energy supplies to Central and Eastern Europe, and especially the Balkans, have become a “football” in the worsening relations between Russia and the West – and the countries of the region. What is needed is dispassionate policy analysis taking into account both geopolitical and economic factors, which this article attempts to provide. Europe’s Natural Gas Dependency According to the European Commission, the European Union consumed around 530 billion cubic meters (bcm) of gas in 2010. The European gas demand has been stagnating since 2010, when it peaked as a result of a colder winter than usual. Nevertheless, analysts do not foresee any significant growth in future gas consumption. At least until 2020, the European gas demand is unlikely to increase due to a weak economic recovery in the gas-intensive European industry sectors, if any. Improved insulation of apartment buildings and more efficient use of renewable energy sources all across the continent will also contribute to the stagnation of gas demand. Conclusion The security of Europe’s energy supply, especially in the Balkans, rests not just in price, but also in availability and reliability of resources, and separation of the business models from geopolitical agendas. This is the biggest challenge in the region. The already struggling economies of South European democracies can are caught in a geopolitical game between the West and Russia. Transparency in decision-making is essential to curb corruption plaguing the Balkans and to protect the taxpayer value, all the while ensuring that geopolitical considerations are taken into account when making strategic energy decisions.(Journal of Energy Security) Ariel Cohen, Director, Center for Energy, Natural Resources and Geopolitics (CENRG) and Senior Fellow at the Institute for the Analysis of Global Security (IAGS) Read the full study here:http://ensec.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=563:how-east-west-competition-turned-balkan-energy-into-a-geopolitical-football&catid=126:kr&Itemid=395

If this is your first visit, be sure to check out the FAQ by clicking the link above. You may have to register before you can post: click the register link above to proceed. To start viewing messages, select the forum that you want to visit from the selection below. He-Man & The Masters of the Universe #6 - DC Comics - SPOILERS This is the SPOILER thread for He-Man and the Masters of the Universe #6! If you don't want to be spoiled, leave the thread now! SPOILER SPACE YOU'VE BEEN WARNED! • So EVERYONE knows that Adam is He-Man and that Keldor is his uncle. • We saw friggin' CHARGER in a MOTU canon in the first time since the 80's. • Chief Carnivus and Sinkor's race. • Great fight between He-Man and Skeletor. • The Sorceress is not only dead, but beheaded...gruesome. • ORKO betrayed them all?!! • It's great to see the Masters, but I wish it were a clearer picture of them. • Is this the first canon where Ram Man doesn't seem to be of lower intelligence? thats just simply moronic. there is no back story to it, it adds nothing to the character and just screams ohh look at us we're edgy and dark ooooooooooooooooooooooooh i loved this series and enjoyed almost everything aside form the extremely **** poor designs and art styles (blonde teela adds nothing to the characters and makes her the exact same as many other characters) but this ending bloody hell and also everyone knows adam is he-man and skeletor is his uncle. ummm what And so I walk, into the searing light which banishes all darkness, surrendering my face and form to atoms of dust, seeking the true darkness of peace,the cool shadows of eternity and the unknown fate of nothingness Click to see my portfolio here my art blog with my latest pieces here my deviant art galleryhere all comments, criticisms and questions are welcome in my guestbook There has to be a reckoning with Orko down the line. I can't imagine they would leave that alone. I hope it's really not "Orko" who betrayed them but an alternate one or maybe possessed by a demon or Horde Prime. It's still shocking. CHARGER! That says it all. I can't explain how happy I was to see him. Nice shot of all the Masters at the meeting. Looked like a Kulatak in the back as well? Good stuff. But the meeting was at a..."Pub n' Grub"? I was glad to see the partnership with Teela continue, as well as the banter. I've enjoyed their relationship. All in all I enjoyed the issue. He-Man back to his roots, in a way. Yeah, there are things that aren't my cup of tea (Orko being some Demon, Grayskull not being a place of power), but I can accept it for the sake of this story. thats just simply moronic. there is no back story to it, it adds nothing to the character and just screams ohh look at us we're edgy and dark ooooooooooooooooooooooooh i loved this series and enjoyed almost everything aside form the extremely **** poor designs and art styles (blonde teela adds nothing to the characters and makes her the exact same as many other characters) but this ending bloody hell and also There are no spoiler tags here, ultimate. We don't need them, since this is the place to discuss the comic freely. I don't mind that Adam is always He-Man now (if this is what is the case). I've always hated that secret identity nonsense. Come to think of it, remember that scene in Battle Cat where we see He-Man and Teela in the throne room, but no Adam? This is probably why. As far as the Eeeeevil One in the end being Orko, maybe something bad has happened to him? If that's Orko at all... My verdict is still out on the orko thing. I really dislike ALL of Teela's dialogue, she is a warrior, not Paris Hilton. Yeah, the dialogue in general is pretty awful. Although I finally like where the story is heading, even if it feels like it took forever to get there. It also really feels like there was an issue missing between 5 and 6. Way too much stuff had to happen 'off camera'. I guess that's the price of decompressing about 2-3 issues worth of story over 5 books. - - - Updated - - - Originally Posted by MegaGearMax There are no spoiler tags here, ultimate. We don't need them, since this is the place to discuss the comic freely. I don't mind that Adam is always He-Man now (if this is what is the case). I've always hated that secret identity nonsense. Come to think of it, remember that scene in Battle Cat where we see He-Man and Teela in the throne room, but no Adam? This is probably why. As far as the Eeeeevil One in the end being Orko, maybe something bad has happened to him? If that's Orko at all... If Adam is gone and Orko is a major threat, then I finally LOVE the direction the comic is going. With the useless death of the Sorceress, I dont think I will be investing in the ongoing unless it will end up being a ruse by her and she will return eventually. I just skimmed through the comic, saw Skeletor holding her head. This series, the digitals, and the one-shots are poorly done. Maybe itll get better, but bringing the Sorceress back would be much better. I think it was a mistake to make Orko evil. He's one of the most recognizable characters from MOTU, and he could have been taken into many different directions that would have created equally compelling plotlines while staying true to the history of the character. CHARGER! That says it all. I can't explain how happy I was to see him. Nice shot of all the Masters at the meeting. Looked like a Kulatak in the back as well? Charger was a nice touch indeed. I still hope we see him in MOTUC one day. Weren't those 3 creatures from the same race as Odiphus? Anyway, I read the issue again and although I enjoyed it even more the second time, I'm going to be lazy and just paste my post from the other thread here: Originally Posted by Crusader I was pleasantly surprised by both issues. The origin story was a bit thin, but the art was very well rendered and atmospheric. I loved how the sword was hidden behind a tapistry in a secret compartment inside the wall, like the one on the 200X Castle Grayskull. A good read, but nothing spectacular either. The DC series on the other hand has come a long way but issue 6 finally delivered what I was hoping to get out of a new He-Man comic. As far as the art's concerned, I have some minor nitpicks about some panels, but Pop Mhan is definitely a huge improvement over Philip Tan and except for a couple of lackluster panels I was very happy with how #6 turned out. I hope he keeps up this standard for the next series. The dialogue on the other hand is still crummy. Although Skeletor has some nice moments, yet it's quite tiresome how Keith Giffen desperately tries to come up with 'cool' sounding discourse. Some lines are truly beyond embarassing, like Teela's "what if he puts another whammy on you?" and the awful wisecracks during the fights. I also found the talk about Skeletor's ego to be a bit aggravating. Giffen just went on and on about it, to the point that He-Man was psychoanalyzing Skeletor in the midst of battle. Even the crystal skull rebuked the fallen overlord in the end. The following I'm going to put between spoiler tags, lest I ruin it for the rest: I was completely blown away by how they worked Orko in. I didn't like his spying aspect from the bios, however I do appreciate that they went all out on him and completely reimagined the character in a way which I guess nobody ever anticipated. While I enjoyed this rather surprising twist, I'm still a bit sad that we won't see the little fellow in this incarnation of MOTU. So glad that DC left the Filmation's campy kid's stuff behind in favour of a more dark and serious tale of betrayal and vengeance. The level of violence was remarkable to MOTU standards: He-Man ruthlessly stabbing and slashing his foes, Skeletor beheading the Sorceress, Battlecat chewing on one of Evil-Lyn's warriors ... awesome!!! To me the biggest accomplishments of the DC comics are the introduction of graphic violence, the acknowledgment of blonde Teela and the abolishment of the dual identity (which was long overdue). "A knight is sworn to valor. His heart knows only virtue. His blade defends the helpless. His word speaks only truth. His wrath undoes the wicked." What if the new twist is a budding romance between Teela & Despara/Adora/She-Ra?..LOL Expect sales to go up. As for further thoughts, I don't really mind the loss of the secret identity thing. Love it actually. Now granted I have not seen the comic myself yet, but even with that disclaimer I just can't see any way, shape, or form that Orko being the big bad guy behind everything working for me. I get that some people may not like Orko and wish that his was a bit more serious. There are ways to do that, usually involving good, more mature writing. I don't mind the "spy" part that Scott added in the bio. orko could be a great character if written right. Remember when Yoda shows up in Empire Strikes back and acts like a goofy idiot...only to find out that he is the wise Jedi master we all know and love? Same type of thing could happen here. Instead this just feels like the people writing this comic hate Orko and made him the big bad guy as a giant middle finger to the character. Does he get killed too? VBulletin Total Ignore provides improved ignore functionality and removes quoted messages and any post made by an ignored user in a thread. I don΄t like the art, some panels are good the rest is weird, at least for my taste. For example, Teelas hair, it changes the whole time and just looks like withered common reed in a bundle or something.... LIKE: * Golden unicorn !!!!! * Orko as the traitor and mean and evil mastermind. Only because someone is little and cute...don΄t judge a book by it΄s cover! Finally some character development. * Everyone knows he is He-Man and he is the power not the sword! No secrecy any more. "Clark Kent" good bye! DISLIKE: * Sorceress dead. * Beast-Man and Evil-Lyn΄s characterization. Evil-Lyn has powers of her own and this outfit....so UGLY(you can΄t say that often enough)! beast-Man needs to be more orange colored he looked like Grizzlor. Is the Sorceress really dead though? In issue five the panels felt a bit odd and some seemed to think she was still tricking him. Perhaps that head was also part of the trick and it wasn't real? I guess we'll find out in the ongoing comic. I hope she's still alive since I want to see how Teela would deal with learning the Sorceress is her mother and all that entails. Right now I'm wondering what are Adam and Teela's place in this new MotU? How will Adam handle being He-man now that everyone knows who he is? Will Teela start learning magic and in an effort to take up her mother's role as Sorceress or will she want to follow in her father's footsteps? As for further thoughts, I don't really mind the loss of the secret identity thing. Love it actually. Now granted I have not seen the comic myself yet, but even with that disclaimer I just can't see any way, shape, or form that Orko being the big bad guy behind everything working for me. I get that some people may not like Orko and wish that his was a bit more serious. There are ways to do that, usually involving good, more mature writing. I don't mind the "spy" part that Scott added in the bio. orko could be a great character if written right. Remember when Yoda shows up in Empire Strikes back and acts like a goofy idiot...only to find out that he is the wise Jedi master we all know and love? Same type of thing could happen here. Instead this just feels like the people writing this comic hate Orko and made him the big bad guy as a giant middle finger to the character. Does he get killed too? The writing team in the earliest interviews balked at the silliness of Filmation, often making an example of Skeletor being goofy. The absence of the secret identity, Orko, Battle Cat not talking, Adora committing atrocities and the mature themes could be DC's way of compensating for people's idea of what MOTU was. Originally Posted by hlinhk128 Charger!!!! I wonder if TG insisted on that after out movement. It shows that the comic guys are doing their homework on MOTU -- Teela as a blonde AND riding Charger are pretty far back references. I feel much better about the writing team than I did.

Hotels by Star Rating Hotels by Area Hotels by Chain This luxury hotel occupies a converted architectural monument and comprises 21 rooms, including 3 suites, on 3 floors. In the hotel's air-conditioned lobby there is a 24-hour reception desk and a currency exchange desk. Dining options include a caf�, a bar, and an air-conditioned restaurant with a non-smoking area and highchairs for children. Room and laundry services round up the offerings. Those arriving by car may use the hotel car park. The hotel is a gated vacation complex that disposes with 35 studios, one- and two-bedroom apartments. The complex features an outdoor swimming pool, Bistro (small restaurant), beautifully landscaped garden, riverside beach with fine sands and a private pontoon with its own moorings and boats. The outdoor swimming pool consists of separate areas for children and adults.

You are here The Plunge West Project Pick a donation amount for Plunge West: Buy an etched paver for the walkway: Dinner and a movie - July 15, 2017 Dinner by Salute, Hotel Mac Restaurant, Up and Under, and Assemble with kid pizza by Raymond's. Adult dinner $15. Kid dinner $5. Dinner includes a movie with popcorn. Beer and wine are available but not included.Please print/save your receipt and bring it with you for entrance to the dinner and movie.

Atari behind Baldur’s Gate Enhanced Edition Beamdog legal action 26 Jun 2013 by Paul Younger At the end of last week Beamdog pulled the Baldur’s Gate Enhanced Edition from their site citing “a number of contractual issues”. Beamdog’s Trent Ostner went on to say that the team were demoralised by the action and their work on revamping the Baldur’s Gate series had come to an abrupt halt. When the story broke Beamdog were reluctant to reveal who was behind the legal action, but talking to Game Informer today, Ostner has confirmed that it’s Atari who are the unhappy party. “At the request of Atari legal we removed the game from sale on Beamdog and the App stores,” Oster stated. “Atari is still selling the game through their channels. We’re trying to remedy the situation and I’m hopeful we can come to an arrangement.” How this will play out is anyone’s guess, but considering this action has been taken after the release of the first game, it’s a little odd. Whether work will continue on the Baldur’s Gate II and III revamp will depend on how this all plays out.

The 3 most popular articles I ever wrote I’ve been writing for a long time, and on business specific topics for at least the past ten years. For a variety of reasons, I’ve only recently built this central repository – but that doesn’t mean my history is completely hidden on the web. Indeed, there are 3 articles of mine that have been read, shared, and re-read over the years they have been live. Since they continue to live on their original sites, please allow me to share them with you. In 2012/13, my good friend Kerno and I had a crack at an email startup called EveryDayDream Holiday. We wanted to be transparent around the whole process, so at the end of our first month I wrote this breakdown (in 2 parts) of our success…or effective lack thereof. It ended up on the front page of Hacker News, was covered in the Wall Street Journal, and was loved and trashed across the Twittersphere. Traffic for this article dwarfed all of the traffic for the actual travel entertainment, which is both nice and not. Paul Graham (pg) is a well known hacker, less well known painter, and the primary face of Y Combinator and Hacker News. I delivered a presentation at a Hacker News – inspired Meetup in London, combining some of pg’s writing (his so called ‘Startup Curve’) with Shirlaws’ Stages Framework. Both the article and the associated video of the presentation received a traffic bump several months later, with Fred Wilson (aka A VC) linked to it while writing on the subject himself. I think my fascination with London’s ‘Monopoly Pub Crawl’ (where you visit every named square on the Monopoly Board, in order) started with Red Dwarf. I later researched it at length when writing a radio play called Doctor Who and the Monopoly Pub Crawl of Doom, or ‘Pardon Me, have you seen my Tardis’ – figuring that knowing the Pub Crawl would make up for not knowing anything about Doctor Who. Naturally, when I lived in London, completing the Pub Crawl for myself was a top priority. Thanks to the support of my beautiful wife [Spoiler Alert!] I managed to complete it…just! And then two years later I got to relive the experience via EveryDayDream Holiday – and to my delight, it’s been really well-received, shared, and somebody even added it to the Wikipedia page on Pub Crawls!

Brazil ready to finally get World Cup underway SAO PAULO (AP) — It's almost time. The day Brazilians have been anxiously waiting for is finally arriving. Brazil plays Croatia on Thursday to get the home World Cup underway, beginning its quest for a sixth world title almost seven years after the nation was picked as host. After so much talk about delays, protests and problems, fans at last are getting a chance to cheer for the national team on home soil in football's showcase tournament. If Brazil wins the opening game, the fact that the stadium in Sao Paulo isn't even fully finished yet will quickly be forgotten. A loss, quite simply, is unthinkable for a nation whose identity is so closely linked to its football team. Brazil hasn't hosted the World Cup since 1950, when it endured a heartbreaking loss to Uruguay in the last title-deciding game. This time, everybody knows that only the title will be enough to please the home crowd. "We are all eager to get started, we are just counting the days," Brazil midfielder Ramires said Tuesday. "We know that the fans have confidence in our team and they are behind us. We have to do everything possible to try to win this World Cup. We know everybody is expecting us to do it." Boosted by the home crowd, Brazil is one of the main favorites to recapture the trophy won by Spain four years ago in South Africa. But the other usual World Cup contenders will be trying to spoil the party in the land of football, including Germany, Italy, Argentina and the Netherlands, runner-up in 2010. Brazil is trying to become the first nation to win the World Cup at home since France did it in 1998. The Brazilians were eliminated in the quarterfinals of the last two tournaments, to France in 2006 and the Netherlands in 2010. A festive World Cup atmosphere has taken over Brazil in the run-up to the tournament despite the country's preparation problems and the threats of protests. Brazilians had been slow to get into the World Cup mood, but now streets are being painted with the green and yellow colors and local flags are being displayed on windows of homes across the country. The crowd support is one of the biggest reasons coach Luiz Felipe Scolari has been saying loud and clear that Brazil is obligated to win the World Cup at home. Players also don't hide that they believe Brazil is the main title favorite. "We know that we will have the fans behind us, and together I think we have a great chance of reaching our final goal, which is to win the World Cup," Brazil starting midfielder Luiz Gustavo said. Brazilian fans had been questioning the national team before last year's Confederations Cup, but the title in the warm-up tournament was enough to bring the fans back on board. That tournament also helped show that Brazil has a team capable of competing against the top football nations today. The victory came in a final against world champion Spain. "The Confederations Cup allowed us to regain our confidence," said Scolari, the coach when Brazil won its last world title in 2002. "Now we have to repeat that during the World Cup." Brazil begins the tournament having won 15 of its last 16 matches, the only loss a 1-0 result at Switzerland in the first match after the Confederations Cup. Brazil will start the World Cup with the same lineup that won the Confederations Cup, with 22-year-old Barcelona striker Neymar leading the team. Croatia, led by Real Madrid playmaker Luka Modric, will hope to pull off a monumental upset, but the team won't be at full strength against the hosts. Coach Niko Kovac won't have forward Mario Mandzukic, who was red-carded in the team's final qualifier, and experienced midfielder Niko Kranjcar, who had to be dropped from the squad because of a late hamstring injury. Novac was already without defender Josip Simunic, who was banned for 10 games by FIFA for leading fans in a pro-Nazi chant after a qualifying match. The high-profile opening match will be played at the troubled Itaquerao, the construction of which was delayed so badly that the roof won't even be fully finished until after the tournament. A crowd of more than 61,000 people is expected at the Itaquerao, including many heads of states. The other Group A match will be played between Mexico and Cameroon on Friday in the northeastern city of Natal.

Aerogarden Plugs Our plugs work great in our new Aerogarden. If you want to grow strawberries or herbs in your Aerogarden with the Grow Bowl check out our plugs. You’ll be harvesting months earlier when you grow from plugs rather than from seeds. We offer a number of gourmet strawberries. Here’s how we set ours up. Follow us on a new adventure. We bought a Bounty model Aerogarden and are excited to plant our first crop of alpine…

At the beginning of May, Lioness Women’s Club hosted the VIP Posh Purple Party. The night featured live music, food and a packed program of speakers who included the likes of Ann Kaplan, CEO and president of iFinance Canada Inc. All proceeds from the event were donated to Canadian Women’s Foundation, an organization dedicated to empowering women suffering from violence and poverty to move to a life filled with confidence and leadership.

'Revenge porn' could become illegal http://archive.hometownlife.com/VideoNetwork/2784825803001/-Revenge-porn-could-become-illegalhttp://bc_gvpc_od-f.akamaihd.net/media/963482463001/201310/1479/963482463001_2784789276001_55a65544-830c-4e47-9189-1754f776ce33.mp4?pubId=44692039001&videoId=2784825803001http://archive.hometownlife.com/VideoNetwork/2784825803001/-Revenge-porn-could-become-illegalhttp://bc_gvpc.edgesuite.net/img/963482463001/201310/3631/963482463001_2784788103001_thumbnail-for-video-2784779378001.jpg'Revenge porn' could become illegal"Revenge porn" is vindictive, cruel, and if one Maryland lawmaker has his way, it will soon be illegal.13internet bullyingnewsbesttechnologyrevenge pornsocial mediavpcbreakupspoliticsvpcbestGovernmentMarylandNational NewsWUSA01:34

Pages Monday, January 9, 2012 How to have fun at the tennis without actually watching any tennis Every year Perth hosts a mixed teams tennis event, the Hopman Cup. I used to go every session because I worked there... as a ball kid. Yes, I held the unpaid position that could have been done by a labrador with the promise of a liver treat. I hadn't been in years so last week, after seeing my Twitter stream full of tennis talk, I decided to schlep my non-sporty ass back to The Dome and this was the result: OHMYGOD I have been 'flushed' out of the Burswood Dome before and it is AWESOME. It's like you are flying. Two security guards take an arm each and literally throw you out the door where two more guards wait to catch you. So awesome. I flew about 10m. Not kidding you. It was after the Justin Timberlake concert a few years ago. If I was lying, I would not admit that last fact. You two are massive dorks.

''It's a tough decision, (but) I was in a good position,'' Stastny, a St. Louis native, told the Blues' website. ''You almost have to take a step back and take all the emotions out of it and try to realize what's best for me hockey-wise. Not just next year, but two or three or four years down the road.'' The Avs found someone to score in Stastny's place, picking up an aging player who has proven he's still got it. Iginla was given a three-year, $16 million deal on Tuesday, his 37th birthday. The wing had 30 goals to tie for the most in Boston last season. The Avs also acquired a veteran defenseman, Brad Stuart from San Jose. Colorado had quite a turnaround last season thanks in part due to 18-year-old Nathan MacKinnon, the Calder Trophy winner as top rookie. ''I like to think that this team can get its mojo back, have a good attitude and push forward,'' said Miller, 33. ''From the top down I think they have the right attitude in place. I think it's going to be exciting to play hockey here.'' The Washington Capitals also made a big splash - or at least spent the most money on a pair of players. The Caps bolstered the blue line behind superstar Alex Ovechkin and gave defense-minded coach Barry Trotz the pieces he sought to build a winner. Washington signed defenseman Matt Niskanen to a seven-year, $40.25 million contract soon after sealing a $27.5 million, five-year deal with defenseman Brooks Orpik. The Capitals also took a couple key players off the roster in Pittsburgh, a Metropolitan Division rival. The Minnesota Wild signed forward Thomas Vanek to a $19.5 million, three-year deal, two summers after investing a lot in free agents Zach Parise and Ryan Suter. Dallas got a jump on the competition before free agency began, acquiring high-scoring forward Jason Spezza in a trade with Ottawa, taking advantage of having space under the salary cap. ''A lot of the teams that are up against the cap, they can't do anything,'' Stars general manager Jim Nill said. ''We had lots of room. This worked out well for us. I look forward to Jason Spezza being a Dallas Star for many years.'' The 31-year-old Spezza, set to be an unrestricted free agent next summer, had asked for a trade and previously turned down a deal that would have sent him to Nashville. Before the sun set on Day 1 of free agency, more than 10 teams had handed out contracts worth more than $4 million a season. Some franchises, though, stayed out of the fray and allowed other teams to perhaps overpay for the best players available. The Buffalo Sabres, who had the fewest points in the NHL last season, and Florida Panthers, who were next worst, were very aggressive. Buffalo infused its roster with veteran talent, giving forward Matt Moulson $25 million over five years and forward Brian Gionta a $12.75 million, three-year contract. Sabres general manager Tim Murray said he was ''excited,'' about the number of quality players interested in signing with the franchise. ''I've thought that all along, but you're never sure until the clock hits 12,'' Murray said. ''One of the more desperate days of the hockey season,'' Hurricanes owner Peter Karmanos lamented. ''A lot of our brethren are out running around trying to see how much money they can spend, and when the dust settles they'll figure out whether or not they have a hockey team.'' Columbus, Toronto and Detroit invested a lot one year ago in some of the top free agents - Nathan Horton, David Clarkson and Stephen Weiss, respectively - and each team probably wishes it had spent that money on other players. ''There's a lot of things that happen on free agency day that some teams look back and wonder why they did it,'' Sharks general manager Doug Wilson said. ''There will be a time and place for us to be active in the free agent market, but it's certainly not now while we've committed to our younger players, and that's what we're going to do.'' The Tampa Bay Lightning also were active, landing veteran defensemen Anton Stralman and forward Brian Boyle to give the team more grit after it was swept in the first round of the playoffs. Both helped the Rangers make the Stanley Cup finals, as did center Brad Richards, who signed with Chicago. Tampa Bay also added goaltender Evgeni Nabokov after not having a backup capable of playing well when Ben Bishop was hurt in April. The Rangers made up some of their losses after reaching the Stanley Cup finals for the first time in two decades by signing veteran defenseman Dan Boyle, a highly coveted player with a right-handed shot from the point. New York also added defensemen Matt Hunwick and Mike Kostka. Mike Cammalleri signed a five-year, $25 million contract with the New Jersey Devils, giving them a desperately needed offensive boost.

LionDesigns About Me I am a mother of 2 grown sons,3 step children, grandmother to 3 adorable little grandsons and 2 grand daughters. I am a grand-daughter, sister, niece, aunt, friend...professional. I wear many hats as do we all. I also have the pleasure of being a Digital Scrap Book designer at Flights of Fancy Digi-Scrap.com. I love Digital Scrapbooking and could spend all my time with it. Subscribe To Friday, August 17, 2012 At the tender age of 2 my grandson Liam was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes also known as Juvenille diabetes. After having been sick for months they had finally figured it out. He now has to live a completely different lifestyle and take multiple insulin shots everyday just to survive. As a grandmother, it required a lot of education on my part to understand what this disease really is and how can I help him and his parents. So, I've spent a lot of time on the JDRF website and getting a lot of education. I decided that I wanted to help and have registered a Walk to Cure Diabetes team. In an effort to assist raising money I created a new digital scrap kit called Liam's Journey, as it is just that for him....a new journey. Here are some pages that I created with the kit: I really had a lot of fun designing this kit and making these pages with it. In basic colors used by the JDRF Walk to Cure Diabetes walk, it turned out bright and cheerful. You can see the previews for the kit below. If you are interested in purchasing this kit, please make a minimum of $5.00 donation to Liam' Team here: Liam's Team After you've made the donation, email a copy of your receipt to liondesigns@live.com and I will send you links for the kit. There are over 100 elements and over 30 papers in this kit, it is well worth the money and a great way to support this very worthy cause, that will not only benefit my grandson but thousands of others as well. Thank you for your support! This Day in History National Geographic POD What's Your Personality You Are An INFJ The Protector You live your life with integrity, originality, vision, and creativity. Independent and stubborn, you rarely stray from your vision - no matter what it is. You are an excellent listener, with almost infinite patience. You have complex, deep feelings, and you take great care to express them. In love, you truly see relationships as an opportunity to connect and grow. You enjoy relationships as long as they are improving and changing. You can't stand stagnation. At work, you stay motivated and happy... as long as you are working toward a dream you support. You would make a great photographer, alternative medicine guru, or teacher. How you see yourself: Hardworking, ethical, and helpful When other people don't get you, they see you as: Manipulative, weak, and unstable My SuperPower My Superpower Manipulating Electricity You're highly reactive, energetic, and super charged. If the occasion calls for it, you can go from 0 to 60 in a split second. But you don't harness your energy unless you truly need to. And because of this, people are often surprised by what you are capable of. Why you would be a good superhero: You have the stamina to fight enemies for days Your biggest problem as a superhero: As with your normal life, people would continue to underestimate you

Stop Trying to Shame Stoneman Douglas Kids for Posting About the Shooting on Social Media Before police even had a chance to clear out the bodies from yesterday's horrific mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High, right-wing hack and conspiracy theorist Mark Dice took to Twitter to post a predictably bad take. "Someone want to tell the Generation Z kids that in the event of a school shooting, they should call 911 instead of posting a video of it on Snapchat," he wrote, between posts yelling at CNN and blaming mental health problems for the bloodshed. Related Stories It didn't take long for Dice to see a backlash — including from Stoneman Douglas students themselves, who were actually inside the school when 19-year-old Nikolas Cruz unleashed a torrent of gunfire from an AR-15, killing 17 people. 17 people are dead. 17 of my classmates. This is how you fucking respond? How much of a heartless dick do you have to be to tweet something like this. And btw as we were running for our lives we were calling 911 to the point that they told us not to anymore. https://t.co/MQWae1mGwv Dice deleted his tweet, without any acknowledgment whatsoever of the criticism, and then went back to his regularly scheduled programming — blasting YouTube for using Valentine's Day to "promote identity politics" and the "white privilege hoax." Tweets live forever, though, and screenshots of Dice heartlessly snarking on teenage mass-shooting victims are (rightfully) preserved for posterity. via Twitter But he wasn't the only one to jump on social media to shame Stoneman Douglas victims for posting about the shooting. Scattered across Twitter are posts proclaiming that the end times are here because terrified kids used their cell phones to tell the world what was happening at their school. When a generation interacts with one another almost exclusively through a 5-inch screen, it's not surprising that humanity gets lost. It's not the guns. It's the iPhones. It's Snapchat and Facebook.My highschool friends all had gun racks in their trucks. #Florida#Parkland These are dumb things to say. Of course, authorities need to be the first to know of a shooting. But according to at least one student, they had already called 911 repeatedly. Law enforcement was already very much aware of the situation at Stoneman Douglas and working to reach the barricaded students. If you like this story, consider signing up for our email newsletters. But most important, after years of inaction from Congress as shooting after shooting violently snuffs out the lives of second-graders, concertgoers, and now teenagers, the latest victims are the last people in the country who should be shouldering any of the blame. Brittany Shammas is a staff writer at Miami New Times. She covered education in Naples before taking a job at the South Florida Sun Sentinel. She joined New Times in 2016.

Your information may be shared with other NBCUniversal businesses and used to better tailor our services and advertising to you. For more details about how we use your information, see our Privacy Policy. If you are located outside of the U.S., your information may be transferred to, processed and used in the U.S. We won't sing the whole song for you (although we're proud to say we can) we just wanted to get you pumped up in anticipation for tonight's 100th episode of The Big Bang Theory! We interviewed our favorite geek-chic cast at their 100th episode bash and we've got all the scoop on tonight's "quirky" and deceitfully fun plot twists... Creator Chuck Lorre revealed that the audience can expect to see an homage to the pilot in tonight's episode. "Well, we're kind of circling back to where we started with Leonard and Penny. That romance is where we started and it felt right to kind of come back to that in the 100th episode." There are plenty of small touches throughout the episode that are going to make even the most devoted BBT fans feel appreciated. Fun fact: When Leonard comes in to ask Penny on another "first date" she is wearing the same shirt as the pilot when he first laid eyes on her across the hall. Awww! "The writers wanted to do something special for the 100th and I think they accomplished that," the always-adorable Kaley Cuoco told us. "It's like one we've never done before. It's kind of a mind game. You won't figure it out until the end." Golden Globe nominee Johnny Galecki echoed her thoughts saying there are a lot of "layers" to this episode. "There's a big twist, a bigger twist than I think we've ever done on this show." Galecki continues. "It's a departure for us, there's a lot of nearby parallel universes and fantasies." Melissa Rauch gave us more of an explanation: "It's kind of a journey with Leonard and Penny and revealing what may happen with them and the rest of the cast is looking on." Keyword here being "may." Let's put our speculation caps on, shall we? We're guessing that this episode is going to feature some alternate parallel universe in which Leonard and Penny explore their feeling for each other but in the end it's not the reality that we've been watching for the past 100 episodes. Deep, huh? But if Leonard and Penny are going to be out on another "first date," what is Sheldon going to be up to? Fixating on a life-size cardboard cutout of Spock of course! "I think Sheldon is up to being typical Sheldon; he's not making any great strides in that episode," Jim Parsons tells us with a smile. "I spend a decent amount of time playing a certain board game with Wolowitz and Koothrappali and it was a nice just "staying the course" episode for me." And after the excitement and perfection of last week's first Shamy kiss, fans will probably be all right with Sheldon's normal neurotics. Whatever happens in tonight's episode is sure to be a memorable experience and something that everyone will be talking about tomorrow. Galecki sums it up: "I can tell you it's one of my favorite episodes. It might be our proudest moment." Take a gander below at this sneak peak clip of Leonard and Penny on their second first date from tonight's episode! Make sure to check out the 100th episode of The Big Bang Theory tonight at 8 p.m. on CBS! Share Tweet Share Email <> Embed CTRL-C or CMD-C, then press Enter.Click/tap elsewhere to exit, or press ESC. What are your speculations for tonight's episode? What is your favorite BBT moment of all time? Do you want Penny and Leonard back togehter so much it hurts?! Send us your hypotheis and theories in the comments! Your information may be shared with other NBCUniversal businesses and used to better tailor our services and advertising to you. For more details about how we use your information, see our Privacy Policy. If you are located outside of the U.S., your information may be transferred to, processed and used in the U.S.

News Updates News & Events Military enrollment reaches record high The Class of 2010 included 995 military students, with 985 taking courses through Liberty University Online. Liberty University has announced its highest number of military students enrolled at one time; 15,289 are studying with Liberty University Online and 201 are enrolled in residential courses. More than one-third of LU Online’s 50,000 students represent the U.S. Armed Forces. The record numbers come at an appropriate time, as Congress has designated May as National Military Appreciation Month, ending with Memorial Day to commemorate U.S. men and women who died while serving our country. Many Liberty military students also joined the ranks of Liberty alumni this year. The Class of 2010 included 995 military students (10 residential and 985 online). A large group of LU Online graduates, 249, were present at Commencement. Earlier this year, Liberty was ranked as a military-friendly school by “GI Jobs” magazine and was ranked No. 18 out of the 50 most popular military schools in the United States in a survey conducted by “Military Times EDGE” magazine. Chancellor Jerry Falwell, Jr. said Liberty has always made its military population a top priority. “Our servicemen and -women deserve the opportunity and aid for a smooth transition back into civilian life. After pausing their education to defend our country, they ought to have a strong educational base to build on. That’s why Liberty University makes such a strong effort to assist military personnel in accessing higher education.” At Liberty, military students can choose from 40 degree programs that are specially designed for their schedules. Liberty’s Military Affairs Office helps secure benefits for active-duty personnel, reservists, guardsmen, veterans and their spouses, such as Tuition Assistance, Veterans Affairs benefits (including the new Post 9/11 GI BILL), fee waivers and book vouchers. Liberty also offers the Heroes Fund Scholarship for wounded veterans and the spouses of those who paid the ultimate sacrifice. The university also provides a variety of support services for its online military students, including a vast online library, bookstore and writing center. Online ministry services and several online support groups allow military students to connect and encourage one another as they serve our country.

Special systems for public-sector employees, railroad employees, bank employees, elected parliamentary representatives, and military and police personnel. Source of Funds Insured person: 9% of gross earnings. The minimum monthly earnings for contribution purposes are equal to the monthly minimum wage (1,089,000 guaranies). There are no maximum earnings for contribution purposes. The insured's contributions also finance sickness and maternity benefits and work injury benefits. Self-employed person: Not applicable. Employer: 14% of payroll. The minimum monthly earnings for contribution purposes are equal to the monthly minimum wage (1,089,000 guaranies). There are no maximum earnings for contribution purposes. The employer's contributions also finance sickness and maternity benefits and work injury benefits. Government: 1.5% of gross earnings; contributes as an employer. The minimum monthly earnings for contribution purposes are equal to the monthly minimum wage (1,089,000 guaranies). There are no maximum earnings for contribution purposes. Government contributions also finance sickness and maternity benefits and work injury benefits. Qualifying Conditions Old-age pension: Age 60 (men and women) with 25 years of contributions. A pension may be claimed by an insured person older than age 60. (If the insured was older than age 60 before January 1999, the number of years of required contributions for a new claim is 15.) Early pension: Age 55 (men and women) with 30 years of contributions. Disability pension: The loss of 2/3 of earning capacity with 150 weeks of contributions and younger than age 55; between 150 weeks and 250 weeks of contributions if younger than age 60; between 250 weeks and 400 weeks of contributions if younger than age 65. A medical commission and three doctors assess the degree of disability. The degree of disability is reviewed at least once every 5 years. Survivor pension: The insured was a pensioner at the time of death or had 750 weeks of contributions. Eligible survivors include a widow(er) or a partner who lived with the deceased for at least 5 years (2 years if they had children); a child younger than age 18 (no limit if disabled); and dependent parents if there are no other eligible survivors. Survivor grant: The deceased had less than 750 weeks of contributions. Funeral grant: Paid to the person who pays for the funeral. Old-Age Benefits Old-age pension: The monthly pension is equal to 100% of the insured's average earnings. Early pension: The monthly pension is equal to 80% of the insured's average earnings, plus 4% of average earnings for every year the insured is older than age 55, up to age 59. Average earnings are based on earnings in the last 36 months before retirement. The minimum monthly old-age pension is 300,000 guaranies. The maximum monthly old-age pension is equal to 300 times the minimum daily wage. (The minimum monthly wage is 1,089,000 guaranies.) All gainful activity must cease. Old-age benefits are payable abroad under bilateral or multilateral agreement. Benefit adjustment: Benefits are adjusted annually according to changes in the cost-of-living index. Permanent Disability Benefits Disability pension: The monthly pension is equal to 50% of the insured's average earnings in the last 36 months before the onset of disability, plus 1.5% of average earnings for every 50-week period of contributions beyond 150 weeks, up to a maximum of 100%. The minimum monthly disability pension is 300,000 guaranies. The maximum disability pension is 300 times the minimum daily wage. (The minimum monthly wage is 1,089,000 guaranies.) Disability benefits are payable abroad under bilateral or multilateral agreement. Benefit adjustment: Benefits are adjusted annually according to changes in the cost-of-living index. Survivor Benefits Survivor pension: The monthly pension is equal to 60% of the pension paid or payable to the deceased. The pension is split equally between a widow(er) or partner older than age 40 and children younger than age 18; in the absence of a widow(er) or partner or children, the deceased's parents may receive the benefit. If the widow(er) or partner remarries or cohabits, the pension ceases and a lump sum is paid equal to twice the annual pension paid or payable to the deceased. A widow(er) or partner younger than age 40 receives a lump sum equal to three times the annual pension paid or payable to the deceased. Survivor grant: A lump sum equal to 1 month's minimum wage for each year of contributions. Survivor benefits are payable abroad under bilateral or multilateral agreement. Benefit adjustment: Benefits are adjusted annually according to changes in the cost-of-living index. Funeral grant: A lump sum equal to 75 times the minimum daily wage. (The minimum monthly wage is 1,089,000 guaranies.) Administrative Organization Social Insurance Institute (http://www.ips.gov.py) administers the program and is managed by a tripartite council and a director general. Coverage Employed persons, including domestic workers and employees of decentralized state entities and enterprises partially owned by the state, teachers in public and private schools, university professors, and apprentices. Pensioners are covered for medical benefits. Exclusions: Public-sector employees and self-employed persons. Special systems for public-sector employees, railroad employees, bank employees, and military and police personnel. Source of Funds Insured person: See source of funds under Old Age, Disability, and Survivors, above. (Pensioners contribute 6% of pensions; teachers in public and private schools and university professors contribute 5.5% of gross earnings; domestic workers contribute 2.5% of gross earnings.) The minimum earnings for contribution purposes for domestic workers are equal to the minimum wage for domestic workers (400,000 guaranies). Self-employed person: Not applicable. Employer: See source of funds under Old Age, Disability, and Survivors, above. (Employers of teachers in public and private schools and university professors contribute 2.5% of payroll; employers of domestic workers contribute 5.5% of payroll.) The minimum earnings for contribution purposes for employers of domestic workers are equal to the minimum wage for domestic workers (400,000 guaranies). Government: See source of funds under Old Age, Disability, and Survivors, above. Qualifying Conditions Cash sickness and maternity benefits: Must have 6 weeks of contributions in the last 4 months (insured women cannot receive cash maternity benefits and cash sickness benefits at the same time). Medical benefits: Currently insured. Sickness and Maternity Benefits Sickness benefit: The monthly benefit is equal to 50% of the insured's average earnings in the last 4 months before the onset of incapacity. The benefit is payable from the day after the onset of the incapacity, for up to 26 weeks; may be extended to 50 weeks in special cases. The benefit is reduced by half during periods of hospitalization if there are no dependents. Maternity benefit: The monthly benefit is equal to 50% of the insured's average earnings in the last 4 months immediately before the maternity leave and is payable for 3 weeks before and 6 weeks after the expected date of childbirth. Benefits in-kind: Milk vouchers are provided for up to 8 months if the mother is unable to nurse the child. Workers' Medical Benefits Medical services are provided directly to patients through the facilities of the Social Insurance Institute. Benefits include general and specialist care, hospitalization, laboratory services, medicines, prosthetics, dental care (with 8 weeks of recent contributions), and maternity care. The duration of benefits is 26 weeks for any one illness; may be extended to 52 weeks in special cases. Dependents' Medical Benefits Medical services are provided directly to patients through the facilities of the Social Insurance Institute. Benefits include general and specialist care, hospitalization, laboratory services, medicines, prosthetics, dental care (with 8 weeks of recent contributions), and maternity care. The duration of benefits is 26 weeks for any one illness; may be extended to 52 weeks in special cases. Eligible dependents include the spouse of the insured or pensioner (or a partner who has lived with the insured or pensioner for at least 2 years); an unemployed spouse of an insured woman; the spouse of a female pensioner if he is needy, unemployed, and older than age 60; unmarried children younger than age 18 (no limit if disabled); and the insured's dependent parents older than age 60. Administrative Organization Social Insurance Institute (http://www.ips.gov.py) administers the program and is managed by a tripartite council and a director general. Work Injury Regulatory Framework Coverage Employed persons, including domestic workers and employees of decentralized state entities and enterprises partially owned by the state, teachers in public and private schools, and apprentices. Exclusions: Public-sector employees and self-employed persons. Special systems for public-sector employees, railroad employees, bank employees, and military and police personnel. Source of Funds Insured person: See source of funds under Old Age, Disability, and Survivors, above. (Teachers in public and private schools contribute 5.5% of gross earnings; domestic workers contribute 2.5% of gross earnings.) The minimum earnings for contribution purposes for domestic workers are equal to the minimum wage for domestic workers (400,000 guaranies). Self-employed person: Not applicable. Employer: See source of funds under Old Age, Disability, and Survivors, above. (Employers of teachers in public and private schools contribute 2.5% of payroll; employers of domestic workers contribute 5.5% of payroll.) The minimum earnings for contribution purposes for domestic workers are equal to the minimum wage for domestic workers (400,000 guaranies). Government: See source of funds under Old Age, Disability, and Survivors, above. Qualifying Conditions Work injury benefits: There is no minimum qualifying period. Temporary Disability Benefits The benefit is equal to 75% of the insured's average earnings in the last 4 months or the total contribution period if shorter. The benefit is payable from the day after the onset of disability, for up to 52 weeks. A medical commission and three doctors assess the degree of disability. The degree of disability is reviewed at least once every 5 years. Permanent Disability Benefits Permanent disability pension: The pension varies between 22% and 100% of the insured's average earnings in the last 36 months before the onset of disability, according to the length of the insured's contribution period and the assessed degree of disability. Total disability supplement: The supplement is equal to 20% of the insured's average earnings in the last 3 years, plus 0.5% for each year of coverage beyond 3 years. Partial disability: If the assessed degree of disability is more than 30%, the pension is equal to 60% of lost earnings, according to the schedule in law. If the value of the partial disability pension is less than 30% of the total disability pension, a lump sum is paid equal to 5 years' pension. Partial disability supplement: The total disability supplement is reduced in proportion to the assessed degree of disability. A medical commission and three doctors assess the degree of disability. The degree of disability is reviewed at least once every 5 years. Workers' Medical Benefits Benefits include general and specialist care, hospitalization, medicines, and prosthetics. Survivor Benefits Survivor pension: A widow(er) or partner aged 40 or older receives a monthly pension equal to 40% of the pension paid or payable to the deceased. If the widow(er) or partner remarries or cohabits, the pension ceases and a lump sum is paid equal to twice the annual pension paid or payable to the deceased. A widow(er) or partner younger than age 40 receives a lump sum equal to three times the annual pension paid or payable to the deceased. Orphan's pension: Each child younger than age 16 (no limit if disabled) receives 20% of the pension paid or payable to the deceased. Other eligible survivors (in absence of the above): The pension is payable to the deceased's parents. The maximum survivor pension is 100% of the pension paid or payable to the deceased. Survivor supplement: 75% of the deceased's total disability supplement is paid to eligible survivors. Survivor grant: If the insured had less than 750 weeks of contributions at the time of death, a lump sum equal to 1 month's minimum wage for each year of contributions is paid. Survivor benefits are payable abroad under bilateral or multilateral agreement. Benefit adjustment: Benefits are adjusted annually according to changes in the cost-of-living index. Funeral grant: A lump sum equal to 75 times the minimum daily wage. (The minimum monthly wage is 1,089,000 guaranies.) Administrative Organization Social Insurance Institute (http://www.ips.gov.py) administers the program and is managed by a tripartite council and a director general. Family Allowances Regulatory Framework No statutory benefits are provided. (The 1993 labor code requires employers to provide specified maternity benefits and family allowance benefits.)

After two decades recording and performing, Meshell Ndegeocello no longer has any illusions about the way music publicity works. "You need those generalizations to create a marketing scheme," the celebrated bassist and songwriter says, "and it's hard to make a generalization about me." Ndegeocello spoke those words before a live audience on May 30 in Los Angeles, where she her band gave a "secret show" at the legendary Village Studios for about 150 fans. NPR's Arun Rath was there, and after a set that included songs from the new album Comet, Come to Me and some classics she hasn't played in years, he joined her on stage to talk about how old-school hip-hop, political slogans and record label drama have influenced her music. Hear their conversation at the audio link, and listen to selections from the concert below. Copyright 2014 NPR. To see more, visit http://www.npr.org/. Transcript ARUN RATH, HOST: It's All Things Considered from NPR West. I'm Arun Rath, in case you're just joining us. And if you are just joining us, you got here just in time. That is the bass of Meshell Ndegeocello. If you don't know her music, you should. She first hit the scene back in 1993 with this explosive and fresh combination of hip-hop, soul, funk and jazz, "Plantation Lullabies." (SOUNDBITE OF SONG, "PLANTATION LULLABIES") MESHELL NDEGEOCELLO: (Singing) You say that's your boyfriend, you say I'm out of line. Funny, he said I could call him up anytime. You could call me wrong, say that I ain't right, but if that's your boyfriend, he wasn't last night. RATH: Since then, she's put out 10 more albums, each with a totally distinct sound. On Friday night, Meshell put on a secret show for about 150 lucky fans at LA's legendary Village Studios. Along with some classics she hadn't played in years, we heard some new pieces from her upcoming album "Comet Come To Me." (SOUNDBITE OF SONG, "COMET COME TO ME") NDEGEOCELLO: (Singing) Wish I knew my momma, wish I could forgive my dad. Should have known better, wish I had. See more good than bad. RATH: Meshell Ndegeocello hates interviews. In spite of all she has to say in her music, she says she's not much of a talker. But after that amazing show, she and I sat down in front of that friendly crowd to talk about her music. RATH: It seems like, watching you perform, I know - you're almost, like, in a trance at times. NDEGEOCELLO: Yeah, that's called worry. (LAUGHTER) RATH: My worry doesn't look like that. It's a lot uglier-looking. I checked on the Internet to verify my memory. NDEGEOCELLO: OK. RATH: It was just over 20 years ago that I saw you on Arsenio Hall. (LAUGHTER) RATH: And saw you perform "If That's Your Boyfriend," and it turned my world upside down. (LAUGHTER) NDEGEOCELLO: Woo hoo. (LAUGHTER) RATH: Does that feel like 20 years ago? NDEGEOCELLO: I really try to be in the now and the moment is what interests me. RATH: That moment was an amazing moment. NDEGEOCELLO: OK, good. (LAUGHTER) RATH: Was there any pressure to say, hey, can you - can you, do another just, like, "If That's Your Boyfriend" or kind of make more like that? NDEGEOCELLO: Of course. Yeah, I mean it happened before "Bitter." I had started working with David Gamson on the third record because I really felt like we had a synergy. And so we did the second album. And then I guess label wasn't - they made it clear they weren't happy. And the memory - they weren't happy with me working with him the third time. And the, uh, the memory I have is sitting in a meeting and they go, them going - we're going find you a producer. And him picking up a billboard and, you know, looking for who had the top record. But those days are over. And I think that, uh, that moment - taught me a lot and it led me to "Bitter." (APPLAUSE) RATH: Let's talk a little bit about the new record. NDEGEOCELLO: OK. RATH: "Comet Come To Me." And so it was funny because I - I felt bad - I didn't recognize Houdini at first when I first put on the record. And then - oh, my goodness. (SOUNDBITE OF SONG, "FRIENDS") NDEGEOCELLO: (Singing) How many of us have them. Friends. Ones you can depend on - friends. Friends. Before we go any further let's be friends. RATH: People hate on the '80s a little bit, but that was a great time. I mean we were there witnessing hip-hop being born. NDEGEOCELLO: Yes, there's a lot of good music in the '80s. It's one of my favorite times. RATH: What, what triggered you to go back to Houdini? NDEGEOCELLO: Really I've been around a lot of improvisational, you know, highbrow jazz musicians. And sometimes I think, uh, it's my own inner perceptions - probably not them. You know, they think pop music or hip-hop music is simplistic. And I just wanted to re-envision something in a different way - like switching the meter constantly, making the parts played by other instruments that they might not have thought of. And just wanted to do something different. And then the double entendre of friends - what is that now? What does mean? And it's a fun song I just love it. RATH: You mess around with double entendres a bit on this album. You played "Conviction" tonight to. And "Conviction" can mean a couple of things. NDEGEOCELLO: A couple things yeah. Yeah, words fascinate me. (SOUNDBITE OF SONG, "CONVICTION") NDEGEOCELLO: (Singing) I think I'm always right you love to tell me that. You choose to lose just so you can take them back. Truth is a you were right, I was wrong. Your life and me is just one sad song. RATH: That song "Conviction," too, can also - I could have read that four or five different ways depending on what was going on in my life at the time. NDEGEOCELLO: Yeah. Yeah. Exactly. And that's the beauty of music. Everyone has their own interpret - music and religion is so open to interpretation. RATH: Speaking of - "The Sloganeer," which you played tonight. That's a song that just - I don't know, something about that in this past 10 years. Maybe you can talk about what lead to you writing that because it's - it's such a powerful song in our current world environment. NDEGEOCELLO: I think I was on the brink of fanaticism. I used to be a religious fanatic. NDEGEOCELLO: (Singing) I'm starting to believe that God is just my, my imagination. You prefer I believe in democracy, leaders, and fame. They just some monkey sensations. To know me is to know I love with my imagination. Can you imagine that there's just nothingness? Get a bang out of life. NDEGEOCELLO: The one of my favorite slogans is from the British Empire the sun will never set in the British Empire because they had so many colonies all over the world. So the sun was always up somewhere. And just slogans in general. America, we're number one. No. You know, black power. You know, there's all these slogans, and that's what inspired that, once I realized that I'm wary - I'm wary of everyone who thinks they're right. RATH: And on an album that's preceded by, that's spoken word, but "Haditha" means Scripture right? NDEGEOCELLO: Yeah, that and Islam, which was a religion I really felt connected to until I realized they'd probably stone me to death. (LAUGHTER) RATH: Everybody laughs at that. NDEGEOCELLO: Yeah, you have to laugh to keep from crying. RATH: Do you - do you feel like, you know, we were talking about, obviously, the record industry back when I saw you on Arsenio was - it was a different world. NDEGEOCELLO: Yes. RATH: Do you feel like - is it easier now to be able to connect with, with your audience? NDEGEOCELLO: I mean, it's a lot different. I have to socially interact on social media in a way that is sometimes awkward. But I think, in terms of creativity, it really separates those who want great fame from those who just like to make music. RATH: Well, you can also hear more directly from the people who love your work now which is... NDEGEOCELLO: Yeah. Yeah and it - yeah it's hard sometimes, sometimes I'm just like, you know, it's hard for me to explain. Like, I don't want to know what you think. (LAUGHTER) RATH: Going on a laugh. Drive safely everybody. NDEGEOCELLO: Yeah. RATH: Meshell, thank you. (APPLAUSE) NDEGEOCELLO: Thank you so much. RATH: That is the multi-instrumentalist, singer, and composer Meshell Ndegeocello from an interview we recorded just after a show on Friday night. My thanks to the Village Studios for all their help. Meshell Ndegeocello's new album comes out on Tuesday. It's called "Comet Come To Me." (SOUNDBITE OF SONG, "I'M DIGGIN' YOU") NDEGEOCELLO: (Singing) Yes, I'm diggin' you. I dig you like an old soul record. Just sit back and relax, listen to the 8-track. I'll dig you like an old soul record. Remember back in the day when everyone was black and conscious, and down for struggle, when love brought you all together. Just sit back and talking, cultivating positive vibes. RATH: And for Sunday, that's ALL THINGS CONSIDERED from NPR West. I'm Arun Rath. Check out our weekly podcast, look for WEEKENDS ON ALL THINGS CONSIDERED on iTunes or on the NPR app. You can follow us on Twitter @NPRWATC. We're back next weekend. Until then, thanks for listening and keep it funky. Transcript provided by NPR, Copyright NPR.

Chowder is evil. More Like Lobster Misinformation Recent information from Norwegian research has shown that Lobsters do not feel pain. Bob Bayer, who heads the Lobster Institute and is a University of Maine professor, has said that "They have no brain, he said. Therefore, they do not feel pain. It’s a judgment based on the anatomy of the nervous system. No brain (means) a lack of processing system". As this Norwegian report has been around since a least Feburary of 2005, Whole Foods has most likely been aware of it. So what other motivation could they possibly have in discontinuing lobster sales? More foodie justification. In the first place, this is one study out of Norway. Not a lot of corroboration. Second, with regard to Mr. Bayer. He is indeed a professor at the University of Maine. However, rather than being the professor of marine biology you might expect to have authority in this area, he is a professor of nutrition and food science. Secondly, that Lobster Institute he's the director of? Here's its mission, from the Lobster Institute website: Located at The University of Maine, the Lobster Institute is the only organization of it kind. It was founded jointly by Maine’s lobster industry associations and the University – and quickly spread to be an international presence. We now work for and with lobstermen and all sectors of the lobster industry from Long Island Sound to Newfoundland. Gee, you think Mr Bayer might have a professional interest in promoting the idea that lobsters feel no pain? I'm a broken record on this, but once more: There is no humane way to kill an animal. It is a contradiction in terms: slaughtering it cannot be described as "compassionate" in any way. You can rationalize your desire for meat all you want, but given a choice, the animal would rather live, don't you think? So if you're going to eat dead flesh, despite the excellent environmental, health and economic reasons for not doing so, at least have the honesty to admit it without continually invoking this "humane slaughter" canard.

Sheryl Swoopes Despite fears that her revelation will hurt her public standing, Sheryl Swoopes was tired of hiding the fact that she is gay. NEW YORK (AP) -- Houston Comets forward Sheryl Swoopes is opening up about being a lesbian, telling a magazine that she's "tired of having to hide my feelings about the person I care about." Swoopes, honored last month as the WNBA's Most Valuable Player, told ESPN The Magazine for a story on newsstands Wednesday that she didn't always know she was gay and fears that coming out could jeopardize her status as a role model. "Do I think I was born this way? No," Swoopes said. "And that's probably confusing to some, because I know a lot of people believe that you are." Swoopes, who was married and has an 8-year-old son, said her 1999 divorce "wasn't because I'm gay." She said her reason for coming out now is merely because she wants to be honest. "It's not something that I want to throw in people's faces. I'm just at a point in my life where I'm tired of having to pretend to be somebody I'm not," the 34-year-old Swoopes said. "I'm tired of having to hide my feelings about the person I care about. About the person I love." A release from ESPN The Magazine about the story did not disclose the identity of Swoopes' partner. A five-time All-Star and three-time Olympic gold medalist, Swoopes is the WNBA's only three-time MVP. She played for the Comets during their run of four championships from 1997-2000, but missed the 2001 season with a knee injury. She said her biggest worry about her revelation is that people will be afraid to look up to her. "I don't want that to happen," she said. "Being gay has nothing to do with the three gold medals or the three MVPs or the four championships I've won. I'm still the same person. I'm Sheryl." Swoopes led the WNBA in scoring last year, averaging 18.6 points. She also averaged 4.3 assists and 2.65 steals while making 85 percent of her free throws and playing a league-high 37.1 minutes a game. She said it "irritates" her that no one talks about gays playing in men's sports, but that it's become an issue in the WNBA. "Sexuality and gender don't change anyone's performance on the court," she said. "Women play just as hard as guys do. We're just as competitive.

Optical instruments are how we see the world, from corrective eyewear to medical endoscopes to cell phone cameras to orbiting telescopes. This course will teach you how to design such optical systems with simple mathematical and graphical techniques. The first order optical system design covered in the previous course is useful for the initial design of an optical imaging system but does not predict the energy and resolution of the system. This course discusses the propagation of intensity for Gaussian beams and incoherent sources. It also introduces the mathematical background required to design an optical system with the required field of view and resolution. You will also learn how to analyze these characteristics of your optical system using an industry-standard design tool, OpticStudio by Zemax. Avis YS The content is good, and the instructor is very responsive through email. Though I think the capstone is not as challenging as the first course. OD Nov 15, 2018 Filled StarFilled StarFilled StarFilled StarFilled Star The lab demonstrations were very helpful and the explanations of complex phenomena were very easy to understand. À partir de la leçon Radiometry One of the main questions you ask when designing an optical system is "How much light can I get through the system?" In this last section of new content for this course, we move from talking about resolution to talking about the amount of light we expect at each point in the optical system, a field of study called radiometry. Enseigné par Amy Sullivan Research Associate Robert McLeod Professor Transcription Now, let's start doing some of the math. I'm going to do several different examples here, none of them are more fundamental than the other, but I want you to simply see how we do the simple trigonometry keeping track of these units carefully to understand common questions about light sources and how they'd interact with our optical systems. Let's start up with a simple one which is the point source. And let's ask a question that, if I have a point source, what irradiance, power per unit area, would I expect on a plane? So, if this was a piece of film, or a camera chip, what would the film receive? Or the camera chip on the council they see and access and how would that fall off as I went away from the axis. And what you're going to see here just have to be very careful with cosines, because it's all cosines and sometimes they're in the numerator and sometimes the denominators. So I want to give you these examples. So, let's take our definition of irradiance. What we were not carefully calling intensity before, but now we're not going to use that phrase. It says in watts per unit area and it describes the power per unit area on a plane. And we'd like to relate that to the intensity watts per steradian of the point source at a particular distance away. So, we're going to have some power, we're going figure out this is falling on the plane, and it's going to fall in some little patch of area A here. So I've shown normal here in red to keep it distinct from the tilted case. And so, we're a distance along the normal or away. Well, the first thing we can notice is as we tilt, the area that the point source illuminates goes up. If we think about the same little patch of area A in the untilted case, we see that it's projection onto the plane gets bigger like one over cosine theta. So the infinitesimal patch of area we're illuminating is like A, some finite patch normal incidents, over cosine theta. All right. The next thing we can do is, what's the total power? Well, that's easy. If we're radiating into a patch A, then we can just use the definition of intensity and say that the power is the intensity over the solid angle, which we'll figure out next, corresponding to that area A. And so, by definition, power is intensity times solid angle. Now, let's figure what this solid angle is. Well, we figured out the relationship just a bit ago or actually hit it just by definition, the solid angle, omega, is simply the area over the radius of the sphere that defines that cone. So on axis, that would be A over R squared. However, as we tilt up, we see that we still have the same A, because that's the normal to my radius vector here, but the distance, the radius of the corresponding sphere goes up. In other words, as we tilt up, the solid angle that we're accepting off the point source goes down because the radius is going up. So, over all we find that the irradiance power per unit area on a plane seems to fall like cosine cubed. One cosine comes from the projection of the unit area and two cosines come from the radius squared going up. So, falls off pretty quickly is the point. And if you were writing animation program to make accurate looking scenes of the real world, you probably wouldn't have guessed that you need to make light sources, candles, outside next to a wall that the illumination of that wall falls off really quite quickly. Now let's do an extended source. That was the point source, now let's look at an extended source. And we're going to find that this is one of the places I find that students often get confused that the cosine theta here shows up upside down from the example we just did. So I've tried to color code things and make it real clear, but make sure you understand why the two seem different. So, we think about extended sources as a bunch of point sources. Because they're point sources, they have some intensity, they radiate out into a solid cone, but because there's a bunch of them, they also have an area. So now we need to think about both the angle that our extended source radiates into and it's area. A really good example of this is probably the computer or tablet or phone screen that you are looking at right now. Every point on that screen is a little point radiator. It's radiating out with some cone of angles that determines how easily you can tilt the screen and still see your image or my image and, of course, it also has an area. So, clearly, these are the two important concepts and once again this should sound really familiar. We're asking questions about area and angle simultaneously. So this is why we describe light sources through their radiance, their power per area per solid angle. So, first, let's assume that all the little point sources on your computer screen, lets say, are isotropic. They radiate like a filament, like a black body, into all angles with equal amounts of power is independent of what angle they are radiating into. So if that was the case, then we could calculate what the radiance L is as a function of what angle we're looking at off of your screen. So this would be like you're tilting your screen or your piece of paper. And that's relatively easy. We again just start with the definition of power per solid angle per unit area. And now here's where that cosine theta turns upside down because now the projection is backwards. Now as we look at the area on your computer screen, maybe this is one pixel of an area A, and we tilt the computer screen and look at it sideways, the apparent area that we see gets smaller by cosine theta. And go back and look at the point source case and see how this is different because this is the kind of place we make mistakes. So, what that would mean is that the apparent radiance of the source would go up like a cosine theta in comparison to the axis. And so, this is the example I had to do with the piece of paper is you should have if the paper was radiating isotropically when you line the paper up so it was pointing right at your eye, all of the isotropic radiators on there should have added up and all simultaneously sent a lot of power towards your eyeball and much less when you were looking at them face on as opposed to edge on. And you didn't see that. And the reason was codified by a guy named Lambert. And this is essentially a phenomenological law where he observed your piece of paper and he said it doesn't seem to go up and, as a matter of fact, if you do some more careful measurements you find in general the radiance doesn't depend for most objects on the angle that you look at. If this was a passenger or a power meter over here. So he said, "Well, it must be the case then that we don't have isotropic point sources in most extended sources. Instead, the intensity of the point sources must fall off like the cosine of the angle that's the normal to the surface." Why? He didn't know. Turns out if you go look at black bodies you can actually figure this out. We have the physics now. But he simply compensated for this cosine theta here. So this is Lambert's law. And we've already used this language. Most extended sources are referred to as Lambertian sources. And that gets this law down here. This is the really important one to remember. If we now instead of putting in an isotropic point source here, that the power doesn't depend on angle, instead we put this point source where the power depends on the cosine of the angle, the cosine in the intensity of the point sources compensates for the cosine that we get from the area being projected. And we find that the radiance of most extended sources doesn't depend on angle, it's a constant. And that's what you see when you tilt your piece of paper. So this is something to know about imaging off of most surfaces in the world, for example, is that their radiance is independent of angle. And that's got some pretty big implications for then how you'll find power getting off of those and into your optical system.

Ahoy, Black Gold! Problemdefinition Do you remember that one friend in school that always asked you to help him out with homework? Well, things never change and as this friend learnt that you are a consultant now, you receive a call. The friend’s grandfather, who was a captain, passed away and left an oil tanker behind. As your friend wants to be sure for tax reasons, exactly how much worth the tanker is, your help is needed – again! Detaillierte Lösung Paragraphs highlighted in green indicate diagrams or tables that can be shared in the “Case exhibits” section. Paragraphs highlighted in blue can be verbally communicated to the interviewee. Paragraphs highlighted in orange indicate hints for you how to guide the interviewee through the case. I. Understanding the Case & Structure Share diagram 1 with the interviewee. There are mainly three classes of tankers in the world, within their class they're identical: Large, medium and small. Share table 1 with the interviewee. Now that the interviewee knows the supply side, the interviewee should ask about the demand. Upon request: You can tell the interviewee that oil demand is fixed at 50m m³ per year and fully inelastic in this analysis. It shall be regarded as stable for an infinite amount of time. Your friend's tanker is of medium size. As for costs, the interviewee can assume that any other transportation costs are fully incorporated in the oil price and can be neglected. Due to overcapacity in the last years, the market is highly fragmented and therefore competitive, but supply is regarded stable infinitely as well. The discount rate is 10%. II. Equilibrium Price and Profit Calculation We would now need to draw conclusions from the given data and develop a valuation model. We know that the market is competitive, hence the market clearing price will be the equilibrium price. The equilibrium price will be set by the participation price of the marginal capacity: below that price the marginal capacity will not offer their service/product (=tanker) and demand cannot be fulfilled. Thus the price rises until it meets the costs of the marginal capacity. So, what is the marginal capacity? Large tankers have the lowest cost per m³, hence all capacity can be used (as they can offer the lowest price – theoretically. In practice they cannot set the price.) Large tankers will be able to transport 400,000 m³* 100 = 40m m³ of oil. Medium tankers will need to cover the remaining 10,000,000 m³ which is possible by contracting half of the available tankers (100/2 = 50; 50* 200,000 m³ = 10m m³). As those tankers will not operate for anything less than the operating cost, the market clearing price will be $75,000 per 100,000 m³ oil (one medium tanker can carry 200,000 m³ of oil and costs $150,000 to operate = $ 75,000 per 100,000 m³) While large tankers will make a profit of $ 100,000 per year, medium tankers earn 0 and no small tanker would operate as they are incurring losses of $75,000 every year. III. Calculation of value To calculate the value, we can use the Discounted Cash Flow method. You can share diagram 2 with the interviewee if necessary. At latest when the interviewee starts using the first formula, indicate that since cashflows are the same in every period and T=infinite, we can use the second formula. IV. Conclusion As we have calculated, the equilibrium price will be the one that clears the market. As not all of the capacity can be covered by large tankers, the price that compensates for the operating cost of the marginal capacity, i.e. medium tankers (like your friend's), will be paid for all actors on the market. While large tankers due to their lower operating cost are still making a profit, medium sized tankers don't. Their only value is the scrap value, just as the small tankers' value. If the interviewee was very fast, you can repeat the exercise, but with a fixed demand of 65m m³ ceteris paribus.

That's so Cool I Want One! World's First Motorcycle Jet! We've seen a lot of crazy and weird vehicles throughout the years but this one is a definite first. However, the question stands...does it actually fly? Well the answer to that is a definite no, at least for now, but... is it fly? We definitely think so! Commissioned Freedom 1, the jet motorcycle is built from a 1500cc 6 cylinder Honda Gold Wing motorcycle that's been modified by inventor Ron Gallops, to look like an F-106 Delta Dart, complete with a glowing afterburner -that probably looks even cooler at night. The result? A street legal jet fighter with a top speed of 80 mph. Ok, I know what you're thinking....it's a bit on the slow side, I know, it can't even go back to the future like the Delorean can, but what it does lack in speed, it certainly makes up for in the "coolness" category. In an interview to the St. Petersburg Times, Gallops said that the biggest challenge isn't driving a winged motorcycle, complete with a cockpit and landing gear. It's watching out for everyone who's watching him. "You have to be paying attention because the people are looking at it, and they're running all over the lane." I tend to agree with him on that. Check out the video below to get a closer look at Freedom 1: All in all this is one bad@ss motorcycle. Ron Gallops we salute you! Job well done!

Books, geekery and craft Speak – Louisa Hall Emotional intimacy, and the relationships that define us, are the themes of Louisa Hall‘s profound and insightful new novel Speak (Orbit, review copy through NetGalley). Speak is a braided narrative, following several stories set in different time periods: the diaries of Mary Bradford, emigrating to the New World in the 17th century. the correspondence of Alan Turing as he seeks to create an artificial intelligence. the letters of the Dettmans, an early AI pioneer and his wife. the memoirs of Stephen Chinn, imprisoned for creating ‘babybots’ – dolls with a highly advanced AI that have triggered a strange syndrome in children that leaves them locked in their bodies, unable to move or communicate. transcripts of conversations between a child, Gaby White, and Mary3, a highly developed AI. one of the banned babybots. Through each strand of the narrative we are forced to ask ourselves about the important relationships in our lives, and the closeness we have with those around us. Mary Bradford treasures the deep bond and unconditional love she shared with her pet dog, feeling at best ambivalent about her new husband. Turing forms a strange, confessional relationship through correspondence with the mother of a schoolfriend who died as a child. Through the Dettmans we see the misconceptions we form about one another, even those we are closest to. The bonds of their marriage start to fray once emotional intimacy is shared elsewhere. Stephen Chinn discovers the secret of creating instant connections with others, but finds those relationships ultimately soulless and unrewarding. The AIs he creates become a substitute for ‘real’ friends, isolating a generation of children from one another and their families. There are parallels with contemporary internet culture. The bonds we forge online can be profound ones. Protected by a veneer of relative anonymity and physical distance from one another, we often feel comfortable sharing more of ourselves, and more deeply, than we might otherwise choose to do in face to face relationships. We choose what faces we present to the world, and rarely more so than in the virtual world. As technology develops Speak shows us that it becomes increasingly difficult to determine which relationships are more ‘real’ than any other. Connections between people fragment, leaving them ever more isolated from one another, but paradoxically more dependent on a level of emotional intimacy previously difficult to achieve. Speak is a profound meditation on how we relate to one another, and the authenticity of our relationships.

v1.5.0 02 November 2014 (Written for Live Servers v6.0.3.19103) Routes allow you to draw lines on the worldmap linking nodes together into an efficient farming route from existing databases. The route will be shown (by default) on the minimap and zone map as well. Use /routes to begin. Changes from v1.4.1 to v1.4.2 (17 December 2011) Updated TOC Updated LibMapData (so the new zones work properly) Fixed division by zero errors from occurring in the future (the PTR servers disabled it the Lua... Chatter is a comprehensive, lightweight, mega-configurable chat enhancement addon. It supports a whole bunch of stuff, including: - Hiding buttons - Custom aliases for channel names - Coloring of player names by class or deterministic HSV formula, and player levels next to names - Custom font and font size for your chat frames - Custom background, border, and positioning for the edit box - Option to let the edit box border color match the color of the channel you are typing in - Channel...

Over the past few years we have seen video games slowly work their way into the educational system. Mostly on the collegiate level. For some of my older readers you may recall that a little while back I talked about a college which was offering a degree in Game Design. That decision had become pretty popular and put them on the map for hopeful gamers wishing to make it in the gaming industry. Since then there have been certain instances where classes have been offered on specific video games with Starcraft being a main focal point. Well it seems that there is a course being offered, at the University of Florida, on Starcraft once again. The course, 21st Century Skills in Starcraft, is being taught by Nate Poling who is an Educational Technology Doctoral Student. In other words this guy is working on getting his PHD. The course description is as follows (taken directly from the website): 21st Century Skills in Starcraft is an 8 week entirely online course that uses the popular real time strategy (RTS) game Starcraft to teach valuable 21st Century Skills through a hands-on approach. With society becoming increasingly technology-based and fast-paced, it is important for professionals to be highly proficient in skills such as critical thinking, problem solving, resource management, and adaptive decision making. These skills are fundamental in Starcraft and therefore make the game a highly effective environment for students to analyze and take action in complex situations. Computer and video games of all types have become a major part of today's entertainment and technology worlds. Also, online education is an area of intense growth with many employers and professions using online courses and workshops for career development. This course synthesizes the three threads of 21st Century skill development, gaming, and online education into an innovative and experiential approach that encourages students to identify, learn, and practice crucial skills and apply and relate them to real-world situations. It does not teach about Starcraft, but rather aims to utilize the game and the complex situations that arise within it to present and develop the important skills professionals will undoubtedly need in the 21st Century workplace. This course includes required weekly game play, viewing and analysis of recorded matches, written assignments which emphasize analysis and synthesis of real/game-world concepts, and collaboration with other students. Due to the unique and innovative nature of this course, there are several requirements that students must meet. Students taking this course must have access to computer (PC or Mac) and Internet resources outside of UF labs since it requires the installation and playing of a computer game. Students must also have at least basic knowledge of and experience playing Starcraft. Students must also be independent, self-motivated, and able and willing to learn in an entirely online environment. Enrollment is limited to 20. Now who wouldn’t want to take a course like this? I agree that the resource management, in Starcraft, can be applicable to modern-day business. It can certainly teach a person about resource management and it can also teach that same person to make snap decisions on the spot making this an interesting way to teach such skills Yet should this class prove to be successful then this could, potentially, open up even more opportunities for certain games to teach similar or other skills. Now a little while ago I remember reading an article with how some recruiters look for people who play World of Warcraft because it teaches them how to socialize with other people. And this is true, especially if you are in a guild. Gamers learn to be part of a large social group with clear cut goals. Playing such a game teaches you to become a vocal, and integral, part of a team. The Guild II, a medieval sim, could teach people about running a business which is completely applicable to modern day mercantilism. You start off with a small amount of money and with it, if you are successful, can become a business mogul who is wealthy and powerful. In the game you will find yourself in charge of employees, buying and selling goods, and even running for office making this a perfect game for teaching up and coming business people some much needed skills which seem to be lacking in most businesses today. For those of you, who are older like myself, you may recall that airline pilots were being taught how to fly those jumbo jets through the old Flight Simulator games. Why? Because the Flight Simulator games were very difficult and very realistic (I really sucked at the simulator game). But what do you think of all this? Are you of the same opinion that Starcraft can teach such skills for modern business? Or do you think that this will teach nothing and it is a waste of time? And could this, possibly, lead to other game being used to teach skills in the business world? Off-topic: Don't forget that the R.U.S.E. demo is out on Steam, for the pc, and PSN, plus members only. Next week anyone with a ps3 will be able to download the demo and try the game out. If you don't know what R.U.S.E. is then check out yesterday's blog to learn more about it. The sun was still rising as the 3rd Marine Battalion arrived on the outskirts of a town when a Zerg force was spotted off in the distance heading towards them. Surveying the enemy through his binoculars General Jackson said, “Colonel Bishop. How quickly do you estimate those insectoids will make it to the town?” “About an hour sir,” replied Bishop, who had been standing beside the General. “Not enough time to properly set up a defense here in Elysium.” “I’m aware of that Colonel,” Jackson replied tartly without looking at Bishop. “I’m going to take 400 men and buy you enough time to set up a perimeter around this place. We will hold our position about half-a-click north where we saw those abandoned houses.” “Yes sir,” was Bishop’s reply. Yet as General Jackson removed his binoculars, and started to move away, Bishop added, “Forgive me General. But might I suggest that you stage your defense at that cluster of boulders we passed by about a kilometer out? They would provide better cover and make it easier to defend your position.” General Jackson finally turned to look at Bishop with a cold stare. “If I wanted your advice I would have asked for it Colonel.” And with that the General walked off shouting orders. “I see he still hasn’t taken a liking to ya Colonel darling,” a mild voice said with a slight brogue. Turning his gaze from the departing troops Bishop stared at Captain Macintyre, who stood there grinning. “I guess not Mac,” Bishop replied in an exasperated voice. “Does he still think that ya weren’t deserving of your rank,” Macintyre asked. “Just because ya saved that one General’s daughter, and he promoted ya as a reward, doesn’t mean ya aren’t deserving of it. Ya just got it a little sooner than normal.” Bishop sighed as he replied, “What can I do? The man has made up his mind about me.” Suddenly he shouted, “Lieutenant Brand!” Quickly an armored marine, wearing a blue armor suit like Bishop and Macintyre, ran up and saluted, “Yes sir!” “Have 200 of our men start building a four foot wall here on the northern side of town. 100 men each for the eastern, western, and southern sides as well. The last hundred I want on the rooftops of the tallest buildings.” Bishop quickly looked back at the town where only a few buildings were three stories tall, making them the best places for the marines. “Their job will be to keep an eye out for enemy flyers and ground forces approaching the city.” “Yes sir!” Lieutenant Brand replied and took off while shouting out the orders. “Mac,” Bishop said as he turned his attention to the Captain. “Head into town, find the mayor, and inform him that we are going to need everyone’s help in defending this place.” “Right away,” Mac answered. Quickly he ran down one of the streets that led to the middle of the town. Seeing Lieutenant Brand off a ways, handing out work assignments to the different units, Bishop turned on the communicator in his helmet. “Lieutenant Brand. I’m heading into the city to coordinate things with the Mayor. Inform me when the General engages the Zerg.” “Aye sir,” was Brand’s reply. Slinging his rifle over one shoulder Bishop headed down the same road that Mac had taken and pondered the situation. They had been left stranded once word of the Zerg invasion had been sent out. There would be no reinforcements because the rest of the military would be focusing on protecting the large cities such as Typhon. Sooner than expected, Bishop arrived at the center of town. The area was large and wide and, in one corner of the square, there was the Administration Building where the Mayor’s Office would be. It was the largest building in Elysium and Bishop noticed that some of his marines were already on the rooftop keeping watch. As he continued to assess the area he could see groups of people heading off in different directions, with great urgency, and a larger group heading north. Those that stayed in the Town Square were mostly women and children with senior citizens scattered around. The children were crying and the mothers tried to calm them down as they tried to hide their own fear. Immediately Bishop spotted Mac, who stood out in his blue armor, and waved him over. Swiftly Mac moved through the crowd and once he got close Bishop said, “Report.” “Bit of a hiccup. The Mayor died a couple days ago,” replied Macintyre. “Luckily, the Deputy Mayor is more than capable and has been organizing the town for the past couple of hours. Sam Stafford, now Mayor, made sure to have everyone come to town once they heard of the Zerg invasion.” “That’s good to hear,” Bishop said as he breathed a sigh of relief. With all the citizens already in town he could put them to work right away. “Take me to the Mayor, Mac. Let’s get these citizens prepared and have them help out with the barricade.” With a small smile Captain Macintyre answered, “Certainly sir.” Bishop and Macintyre made their way through the crowd of people to a spot where two civilians were chatting. One was a middle-aged bald man who was talking to an attractive young woman who appeared to be in her early twenties. Making his way to them Bishop extended his hand to the older gentleman and introduced himself, “Good morning Mayor. I’m Colonel Bishop. It’s a pleasure to meet you and I was…” Suddenly Bishop stopped talking because the man was staring at him with a strange expression. Looking off to the side he noticed that Macintyre was trying not to laugh. Confused, Bishop asked uncertainly, “Perhaps I’ve made a mistake?” At this the young woman smiled and took Bishop’s hand, which had still been held out, in her own and said, “Pleasure to meet you Colonel. I’m Mayor Sam Stafford and welcome to Elysium. Population 250.” Bishop could feel his face heat up a little as he replied, “I’m sorry about that Mayor Stafford. I didn’t expect you to be a woman. I mean. Not with the first name of Sam.” Sweetly and condescendingly Sam replied, “Sam can be a girl’s name just as well as a boy’s.” “That’s not what I meant...” Bishop stammered, embarrassed at his mistake. “It’s quite alright Colonel,” Sam interrupted. “However we need to get down to business. Captain Macintyre has told me what you are doing and I’ve already sent many of our citizens to help your men build the barricade. We have plenty of sandbags and cinderblocks handy. They should make the construction go a lot faster.” As Sam talked, Bishop was able to recover from his initial embarrassment, “Very good. Now I saw a gun shop as I was coming in and would like…” “For all our citizens to arm themselves and help defend the town,” Sam said as she finished his sentence. “Trust me Colonel. We’ve heard stories of the Zerg and are prepared to do everything we can to survive. Most of our citizens own weapons for protection against bandits, so don’t worry about us.” “Well you’re certainly making things easier for us Mayor Stafford,” Bishop said as the crowd started to disperse and go about their assigned tasks. “Once that outer wall is up though I’ll need the citizens’ help in getting a few other things done once I get approval from the General.” “Very well Colonel,” Sam said as she motioned to the older man to go on. “We’ll be sure to comply with all your orders.” “Thank you Mayor.” Suddenly Bishop’s earpiece crackled with static and he heard the voice of Lieutenant Brand, “Colonel. Lookouts report that the Zerg have engaged General Jackson.” Bishop responded, “Thank you Lieutenant, I’ll be there shortly.” Returning his attention back to the Deputy Mayor he said, “You’ll have to forgive me, I need to return back to the northern perimeter. The Zerg have attacked our forces about half a kilometer away from here.” “That would be where the Martin and Sheffield homesteads are,” Sam stated. “Go on Colonel, I’ll make sure to keep the civilian populace calm and organized.” With a nod of his head Bishop turned around and headed back north with Captain Macintyre by his side. Looking over at Mac, who still had a grin on his face, Bishop asked, “You just can’t resist having fun huh? You couldn’t tell me before hand that the Deputy Mayor was a woman?” Shrugging his shoulders Macintyre replied, “What’s the point of living life, Colonel darling, if ya cannot enjoy it? Now let me tell ya about the town.” As they walked back to the northern perimeter Macintyre reported his findings to Bishop. The town had a simple layout. There were only four streets which went in each direction. The Administrative Building was the largest structure in Town with the Town Square being the only open area in Elysium. An assortment of shops lined the streets such as the gun shop, tailor, bakeries, food stores, and various shops that sold different commodities. The type of stores a small town would have. Since everything was so close together the only way in and out of the town were through the streets and a few back alleys. By the time Macintyre had finished his report, they had reached the barricade. The civilians had brought in some heavy equipment and pushed back some dirt to make a crude four foot tall barrier while the marines started stacking the cinderblocks and sandbags up alongside it. They were making good progress, with the wall half done, but Bishop noticed that a good portion of the marines and civilians had stopped working. Those that stopped were trying to see the fight that was going on further out as the faint sound of gunfire was heard off in the distance. “Get back to work,” Bishop shouted incredulously. “Those men and women are dying out there in order to buy us some time to build this wall! Don’t let their sacrifice go to waste! Do you want the Zerg to catch us unprepared!?” “NO SIR!” was the combined shout of all the marines as they went back to their task with renewed vigor. Shaking his head Bishop took out his binoculars to get a look at the fight while yelling, “Comm!” Quickly a marine ran up to him with a large communications box attached to his back and saluted. Without looking Bishop asked, “Any word from the General?” “No sir.” “Try and establish contact and let me know when you get him.” “Yes sir,” the Comm Officer replied. Through the binoculars Bishop could just make out the two homesteads in the distance with marines up on the roof and inside the houses. All around them were the Zerg who were trying to overwhelm them. Removing his binoculars he called over Lieutenant Brand and asked, “How soon will the entire wall be finished?” Brand scratched his head as he took stock of their progress. “At the rate we are going the northern wall will be finished in twenty minutes. We already have a dirt wall running around the entire town thanks to those bulldozers the civvies had. But to reinforce them with the sandbags and cinderblocks will take a little time. If I can pull most of the men from this wall, to help with the others, we can have everything finished in less than two hours.” “Very well,” Bishop replied. “Take all the men but fifty. We’re going to need some marines here in case a few of the Zerg decide to ignore our men out there and come straight for the town.” “Sir,” the Comm Officer said, “I have the General on the line.” He held out the phone for Bishop to take. Grabbing the phone Bishop dismissed Brand and inquired, “General, how are things going out there?” For a few seconds there was no answer and he wondered whether the General had heard him over the sounds of gunfire, screaming, and a cacophony of other sounds. “We are holding them for now Colonel,” General Jackson finally said. “There appears to be about a thousand Zerg but we’ve spotted another group heading towards us. How is the wall progressing?” “The entire town will be encased in less than two hours sir. I’ll let you know when it is done.” “Better finish it faster than that Colonel,” Jackson admonished. “That secondary force will be hitting us in about an hour. Jackson out!” With a click the phone went silent and Bishop said over his helmet’s comm., “Lieutenant Brand, we are going to need to get this wall up faster. A second Zerg force has been spotted. I want you to leave just ten men here and leave 25 men on the roofs. Use everyone else for this task.” “Yes sir!” “Hopefully we won’t be attacked,” Bishop commented to Macintyre who had been standing beside him the entire time. “You’ll be staying here with me Mac and being my go-to guy if need be.” “Ya just can’t live without me Colonel darling,” Macintyre stated with a grin. For the next hour nothing else was said as time slowly dragged on. The northern wall had been finished quickly and work on the other three sides were going at a rapid pace. But a dark mood hung over the marines. Their comrades were out there buying the time they needed with their lives. As the hour wound down Bishop had removed his armor, keeping the communicator, and was wearing just his combat fatigues. Looking back towards the town he saw Mayor Stafford approaching the wall and couldn’t help but admire the way she held herself as she walked straight towards Macintyre and himself. “She’s quite the sight eh Colonel darling,” Macintyre said as he also watched Sam approach them. The two men took in her petite yet curvaceous form as her long hair was tossed about by the slight breeze. “Mayor Stafford,” Bishop said in greeting. As she got close to them Sam said, “Well Colonel, I must say that you look a lot smaller without that armor.” Immediately Macintyre started to laugh as he said, “That’s what all the women say!” “Captain Macintyre,” Bishop shouted, “That is highly inappropriate!” Bishop felt his face flush. He couldn’t believe that Macintyre was doing this to him. Sam turned her attention to the Captain and, with a smile, asked, “And you would know this how?” Without missing a beat Macintyre responded, “I would know this because I’ve known the Colonel since the Academy.” In a more confidential tone he added, “We showered together.” “Damn it Mac,” Bishop bellowed. “If you’re going to embarrass me then do it out of earshot so I don’t have to hear it!” While he would have dearly loved giving the order to stop Mac from saying all this, he noticed the effect it was having on the ten men who had been left to protect the northern wall. They were smiling and their morale had improved at his expense. When the rest of the men returned these marines would relay everything that happened and hopefully everyone’s spirits would improve. It was a small price to pay but a highly embarrassing one. “Whatever ya desire Colonel darling,” replied Macintyre. The two of them moved only ten feet away. Bishop was pretty sure Mac had done it on purpose so that he would be able to hear everything that was said. In a loud whisper the Captain kept talking, “I first met the Colonel when we were both raw recruits at the Academy. We had just gotten through our first day and were standing at attention. Well our Drill Sergeant said, “All right you morons. Fall out!” and like good little grunts we did what we were told. All of us except for one man.” Macintyre pointed at Bishop while the Colonel pretended to be occupied by bringing his binoculars up and staring out across the desert. He tried to present a calm exterior, while his face was still slightly flushed, as Mac continued on with the story. “So the Drill Sergeant notices the one cadet still standing at attention and goes right over to him and screams “Well?” The Colonel just looks at him calmly and says “There sure were a lot of them, huh sir?”” “I thought he was going to,” Mac said as he laughed. “Instead the old Drill Sergeant just laughed, clapped him on the shoulder, and told him he was dismissed. However some of the boys didn’t like it and I knew right then and there that the Colonel would need someone to watch his back. Since that day we have been together ever since.” “For a guy who looks so small without his armor, he sure has some brass balls,” Sam remarked in a playful tone. Bishop had finally recovered from the embarrassment but as he was about to reply to that remark his comm unit activated and Lieutenant Brand spoke, “Colonel! We’ve just about finished the wall!” “Great job Lieutenant,” Bishop answered. “Comm officer over here,” He shouted and spoke again to Brand as the Comm Officer ran over to him. “Have everyone report back to their positions. 200 men north, 100 for each side, and 100 on the roof.” “Yes sir!” Looking over at the Comm Officer Bishop asked, “Do you have the General?” the Comm Officer nodded and handed him the phone. “General. The wall is complete.” As Bishop waited for a reply he motioned for the Comm Officer to give Sam a communicator. Over the sounds of the gunfire and screams General Jackson replied, “You couldn’t have cut it any closer Colonel! That second wave of Zergs is almost here. Now under no circumstances are you to leave the wall. No matter how this turns out you stay there and protect the town. We will begin, and maintain, an orderly retreat for as long as possible until we get to the wall. Do you understand?” “Yes sir,” Bishop answered and the phone went dead. Turning to look over at Macintyre and Mayor Stafford he said, “Get our boys ready when they get back here. The General is pulling back to the wall.” “How close is that second Zerg army,” Macintyre asked. “Wait a minute,” Sam interjected. “There is a second Zerg army closing in? How large?” “We don’t know,” Bishop said. “Mayor, I’m going to need your citizens to start building a second wall in the Town Square and connect it to the Administrative building. Make it so that the wall is twenty feet away from the buildings and street. That will be our killing ground.” Sam’s eyes widened, “Are you saying you won’t be able to hold here?” “We’ll be able to hold for a little while. But make no mistake. The Zerg will send more reinforcements if we’re successful in wiping out this group. Right now the Zerg are focusing on the large population centers and we are an afterthought.” “Quite a lot of Zerg to be sending to one little town isn’t it,” Macintyre observed. “That first wave was the original force,” Colonel Bishop surmised. “They weren’t expecting heavy resistance. When they encountered the General they probably called for reinforcements.” Looking out across the desert plain, to where the General would be coming from, he continued. “If we can wipe out this force we’ll buy ourselves a short respite.” “Will the Dominion come in time,” Sam asked with a worried expression on her face. “Hopefully,” Bishop answered honestly. “But Corinth is just a planet on the edge of Dominion space. All we can do is hold out for as long as we can and hope the Dominion fleet gets here in time.” Then completely changing the subject he asked Sam, “Is your town capable of carrying out Protocol 13?” Bishop figured that, as the former Deputy Mayor, Sam had been made aware of the Protocol, just as he had been told about it when he had become a Colonel. It was a highly classified protocol that had been created in the event of another Zerg invasion. Quietly Sam replied, “It is.” “Good,” Bishop said as he noticed marines returning to the wall and getting ready to repel the Zerg. “I’m going to send a small demolitions team to rig all the buildings, on the outskirts of town, to blow up. It will help buy us some time should we need to retreat from the first wall.” “But those buildings are my people’s livelihood,” Sam protested. “Better to lose your possessions than to lose your lives,” Bishop countered. “Now please Sam,” Bishop pleaded, using her first name by itself for the first time. “I need you to start constructing that wall, clear out that ammo store, and stockpile it in the Administration building.” Nodding her head Sam started to take off down the road. But before she left she said to Macintyre, “He’s pretty cute when he blushes right captain?” Macintyre replied, “That he is darling. And please, call me Mac.” As Sam ran off to the middle of town Bishop felt a slight flush at her comment, turned to Macintyre, and ordered, “Get a demolitions team together and rig those buildings.” “Yes sir,” the Captain replied with a grin. Before he left he added, in a more somber tone, “The General won’t like it that ya made plans without talking to him about it first.” “He can demote me for all I care. Right now I’m thinking about how best to hold out for as long as we can.” Bishop stated. Without another word Macintyre moved off to assemble a team to rig the outermost buildings. Suddenly a Marine yelled out, “I see them!” There was no need to ask who he had seen. Immediately all eyes turned northward where they saw the remnants, of the 400 men, moving towards them while trying to hold back the Zerg forces. A huge cloud of dust was being kicked up by the large enemy group and the sounds of gunfire and screaming could be heard clearly now. Looking through his binoculars the sight Bishop saw was not promising. There were less than two hundred marines trying to make it back to the town. The enemy reinforcements had caught up to them and were attempting to surround the survivors. Mutalisks, Zerg flyers, were high in the air waving their tails at the marines, which released a deadly projectile, or dive bombing them in the hopes of raking their unsuspecting victims. While the marines continued to get closer Bishop spotted the General, in his black armor, among the men. He was shouting out orders while firing his rifle at the enemy. For now he was holding them together and they were keeping the Zerg at bay. Then suddenly Bishop saw a large spiked object burst through the General’s chest and immediately Jackson dropped. “Damn,” Bishop exclaimed. Once the General went down the ordered retreat turned into a partial rout. Marines started running for the barrier. A small group continued to maintain order and, through their efforts, kept the enemy at bay. Yet a quarter of the marines had routed, weakening both flanks. The Zerg started to pass the small group and come around to surround them. By complete luck the marines were close enough that Bishop and his men could offer supporting fire. “Captain Macintyre,” Bishop shouted. “I want you to keep their flanks protected! Shoot any Zerg that try to get around our boys out there!” “Yes sir,” Macintyre shouted in reply. “Sections 1 and 3,” Mac said, referring to the men on the far left and right of the barricade, “commence firing! Section 2,” this time talking to the men in the middle, “move back five feet from the wall. Our boys are going to be coming through there and I don’t want everyone to get tangled up!” All along the wall the sound of machine gun fire added to the sporadic firing of their beleaguered comrades. With the flanks secure the small group continued to make their way to the wall while those, who had routed, ran up and jumped over the barrier and sat down. Quickly making his way over to the routers, Bishop shouted, “Get back on your feet and up to the barricade! You ran out on your comrades and almost got them slaughtered! We are going to be hit by almost 3,000 Zerg and I’m going to need every one of you to help defend the wall!” “Lieutenants Brand, Thompson, and Riley, “Bishop said over the communicator. The three Lieutenants were in charge of a different wall around the town. “Send me 25 men from each of your areas to help reinforce the northern wall. In about 5 minutes we are going to be hit hard by the full Zerg force and will be hard-pressed to hold them back.” Bishop than addressed Lieutenant Wilson ,who was in command of the men on top of the roofs, “Have your men fire on their air units the second they are in range. Thankfully there are only about a 100 of them but they need to be taken out quickly.” As everyone acknowledged his orders Bishop pulled out a large knife and attached it to the front of his rifle and shouted, “Everyone fix your knives!” The order was spread up and down the wall and marines quickly attached the knives to their rifles. If the Zerg were to get too close then the marines would need every advantage they could get if they had to go hand-to-hand. “Colonel,” Macintyre said as he rushed up. “Ya need to be putting your armor back on.” Bishop looked over to where the cumbersome armor lay. “Forget it Mac. It slows me down and I’m going to be needing speed more than protection.” “I’m not going anywhere until ya at least put on the chest piece first,” Macintyre stated. There was not a trace of mirth on his face as he waited for Bishop to put it on. Grudgingly Bishop complied with the Captain’s request and asked, “Satisfied?” “No,” Macintyre replied. “But it will have to do.” And suddenly Mac grinned, “Just don’t come crying to me when a random projectile nails ya in those “brass balls” of yours.” Rolling his eyes Bishop looked again and saw that both the surviving marines and Zerg forces were about to hit the wall. Motioning to Macintyre they ran up to the middle section of the wall and prepared to open fire once the survivors had made it. While the sound of gunfire was rampant along the first and third sections it was deadly silent in the second. The tension was thick as the marines there knew they were going to be hit the hardest in the initial attack. Seconds seemed like an eternity as the survivors made their way to the middle section of the wall. Then it finally happened. The survivors were there and jumping over the wall to escape the Zerg which had been nipping at their heels. As the last of the survivors cleared the fence Bishop, Mac, and the marines stepped back up to the wall and opened fire. The battle for Elysium had begun in earnest. Immediately a hail of bullets greeted the Zerg army and shredded their chitinous exoskeletons. For a few seconds it looked as if the enemy would be held back until a large wave pushed forward and was getting closer to the wall. Every now and then one of the airborne Mutilisks would fall out from the sky as the ground forces were dying by the dozens. But against 3,000 Zerg, the mere 300 or so marines would not be able to hold them back. At least not without reinforcements. Suddenly an old-style Winchester rifle appeared on Bishop’s right and opened fired on the Zerg forces. All along the wall additional weapons sprouted up, which were not military issue, but proved just as deadly to the oncoming swarm. Under this additional barrage the Zerg forces slowed down and Bishop shouted, “Grenades!” As the order was repeated each marine threw one of their two grenades into the swarm and suddenly the sound of gunfire was drowned out by the deafening explosion of the grenades. The detonation of 200 grenades was enough to scatter and disorient the swarm while inflicting heavy damage because they had been clustered together. Looking over to his right Bishop saw that it was Sam wielding the rifle in a proficient manner. But instead of being relieved by the timely help he was a little angry as he said, “You are supposed to be building that second wall!” “I heard your orders for reinforcements over that comm unit you gave me, “Sam replied nonchalantly as she fed bullets into the rifle’s loading port. “So a “thank you” would be nice since we just helped you out.” With that said she pulled back the cocking lever, which loaded a bullet into the chamber, and aimed her rifle at the Zerg which had fallen back. Bishop, while impressed with her skills, was still irritated, “Thank you for your help. But I need that barrier up. My reinforcements should be here any minute.” Just as he finished talking the reinforcements finally arrived and took up position along the wall. “Quit worrying about the barrier,” Sam replied. “It is already done.” “How did you get it up so fast?” Bishop demanded. “You make it so easy,” Sam said as she grinned. Off to Bishop’s left Macintyre barked out a short laugh. “But I’m not going to tell you. You’ll find out how we did it should you have to fall back.” “Speaking of falling back,” Bishop added. “That’s what you and your people need to do. And that’s an order!” “Don’t order me around Colonel,” Sam fired back. “I’m not one of your soldiers. I’m going to stay and help defend this wall along with my people.” “No you won’t! I need you at the second barrier. If we have to fall back then we’re going to need people there to hold the Zerg back while we rest up and get situated.” “Fine, then how about I...” “I hate to be interrupting this lover’s quarrel,” Macintyre interjected. “But the Zerg are splitting up and preparing to attack. So end this now ya two lovebirds.” Speechless Bishop and Sam looked at each other and then at Macintyre who pretended to ignore them while grinning. In a softer tone Bishop said, “Sam, you need to trust me on this. I need you and your people back at the second barricade.” He placed his hand on her shoulder. “Please.” Giving him a long look Sam shouted out to her people and they all returned to the Town Square. Quickly Bishop asked for reports from all sectors. Along the three other walls smaller Zerg forces had gathered while the bulk stayed to the north. Even though the other three walls were down to 75 men each, Bishop was told that they could hold. On the roof they reported taking down three dozen flyers while losing five men while at the northern perimeter Bishop had lost 20 men and 15 were wounded. Of the 400 men who had gone out with the General. Only 103 remained. The rest dead, including the General. Taking advantage of this lull Bishop ordered the 103 survivors to stand down and rest. Then he addressed the troops over the Comm channel, “Men, as you all know our General, Rook Jackson, died while buying us time to prepare the defense of this town. But because of our situation I will be brief. General Jackson was a good man and a great General. His leadership will be missed.” Immediately Macintyre’s voice came over the comm., “Attention!” And everywhere in town the soldiers immediately stood straight up. “Salute!” For thirty seconds the soldiers’ held that pose to honor their fallen leader. “As you were,” Bishop finally said as he checked the position of the sun. It was partially past its apex. Yet it felt as if days had passed. “Here they come again,” a marine shouted and, sure enough, the Zerg forces were heading straight for them. All too soon the fight was renewed with the sound of gunfire being answered by the thwipping of spiked projectiles from the swarm. Men screamed and died. Zerg shrieked with pain and rage. And yet both sides continued to deal death. For every marine lost, two Zerg would fall, but it wouldn’t be enough Bishop realized. They were outnumbered at least 3-to-one now despite inflicting heavy casualties on their enemy. Suddenly, amidst the foe, Bishop saw a creature that was 3 meters long, had four legs, and a large yellow sack on its back that contained an acid which could eat through anything. “Mac,” Bishop shouted. “We got Banelings incoming! Have one in three marines focus on those little suckers!” As Mac repeated the orders, Banelings started to explode within the Zerg swarm as those assigned to take them out complied. The results were that the Banelings exploded and covered their insectoid comrades in acid, which caused great harm and death. For a little while the Banelings were helping. But then one Baneling got too close before it was finally killed. It exploded and acid rained down on a section of the wall and its defenders. Amid screams of horrific pain five meters of the wall was eaten away. All at once the Zerg charged the breach. Instantly Bishop ordered men into the hole to hold off the enemy. For another twenty minutes the fight continued until the enemy finally pulled back. Yet the cost had been heavy. 100 men were dead with an additional 72 wounded. Almost half his forces, on the northern wall, were now dead or incapacitated. With reports coming in Bishop discovered that he had lost another 100 marines from the other walls and roof combined. The western wall had been overrun and had to be reinforced by twenty men from the roof. It was time to consider falling back to the second barricade. As orders were issued to move all the supplies and wounded to the second barricade the Comms Ofiicer rushed up to Bishop. “Sir! A strange message is being broadcasted over the emergency channel!” “What is it,” Bishop asked immediately. “It is just four words that keep repeating. Protocol 13 in effect.” Bishops heart skipped a beat, “When did this start up?” “About a minute ago sir.” Immediately Bishop started to scan the horizon for evidence and heard a marine shout, “Look over there!” As one everybody turned to see a mushroom cloud off in the distance where Typhon city, one of the largest on the planet, was located. All at once marines started to ask questions until Macintyre yelled, “Shutup! You have your orders to carry out. Get those wounded and supplies back to the second barricade while the rest of you stand at your post and keep silent!” While telling the Comms Officer to keep quiet about what he heard, Bishop motioned for Macintyre to join him. When the Captain got close Bishop whispered, “Mac, I need you to run down to the second barricade and ask Sam to show you Protocol 13.” Looking back at the mushroom cloud Macintyre replied, “If you say so Colonel.” He took off at a run. Over the comm channel Bishop said, “Sam. I’m sending Mac to you. Please do as he asks.” Sam’s frantic voice answered back, “Is that what I think it is over in the direction of Typhon city?” “Yes.” “Oh god.” “Don’t give up hope,” Bishop replied in a determined voice. “We’re going to last long enough for the Dominion to rescue us.” “I hope so,” Sam replied. “We are going to be falling back shortly Sam,” Bishop added. “So tell your people to be ready. And have the women and children sent down into the lowest level of the building. Have Mac assign four marines to protect them.” “I will.” Everything was falling apart as Colonel Bishop started to lay out the plan of retreat to all the positions. Those on the roof would immediately pull back to the Administration building. The men at the walls would be divided into two groups. The first would hold their position and fight the Zerg. The second group would fall back ten feet and hold that position until the first group was past them. Once the first group had gone ten feet they would stop and hold position. The plan was to have the two groups leapfrog over each other. This would make retreating safer. Once they were twenty feet inside the town the demo team would detonate the buildings which would buy the marines some time to cover ground more quickly. But as the last of the wounded and supplies were being carried away the Zerg attacked. Bishop couldn’t begin the retreat until the wounded had made it to the second barrier. For 15 minutes, all along the entire perimeter, the marines slugged it out, just barely holding on. Yet as they fought the marines couldn’t help but notice more mushroom clouds appear all over the horizon. In every direction a new mushroom cloud would show up and morale would continue to sink lower. Finally Bishop received word that all the wounded and supplies had made it to the second barrier. Right away he issued the retreat. Immediately the second group retreated ten feet and waited. Bishop had decided to stay with the first group and, when the second was in position, ordered them to pull back. But as Bishop pulled back he looked out past the Zerg army into the distance. What he saw made his blood go cold. Despite there not being a cloud in the sky, off in the distance, was what appeared to be a dark cloud. Underneath that dark cloud was a huge cloud of dust that could mean only one thing. That black cloud was a swarm of Zerg flyers while the cloud of dust was being created by a large ground force. And it was heading straight to Elysium. Once the wall had been abandoned the Zerg started to swarm over it and come straight at the marines. It took three rounds of leapfrogging before the marines were in the streets and past the outer buildings. Quickly Bishop got confirmation, from the other groups, that they were past the designated buildings and said to the demo team, “Light them up!” Instantly the outer buildings, all over town, exploded and were engulfed in flames. The Zerg unlucky enough to be near explosions were instantly incinerated while those that had gone past the building were cut off and alone. In a matter of seconds Bishop and his marines had quickly finished off the survivors and continued to fall back. They fell into a rhythm of going ten feet and stopping. But all too quickly the Zerg were past the burning buildings and heading straight for them. Finally Bishop and his marines had reached the Town Square with the enemy hot on their heels. Just before they stepped into the large area Bishop had everyone throw their grenades. They would be effective in the narrow streets and buy them enough time to run the distance to the barricade. As the grenades exploded behind him, Bishop noticed that the barricade had been created by using the cars and trucks of the civilian population. He couldn’t help but admire Sam’s solution for erecting a barricade so quickly. Within seconds Bishop, along with the surviving marines, had hopped over the cars and taken up position behind the wall. But the news was not good. Aside from his men only a few from the Eastern and Southern walls had made it to the second barricade. “Mac,” Bishop shouted. Instantly Macintyre was at his side along with Sam. “Mac, I will need you to implement Protocol 13 on my order. So head down there and stand ready.” “Colonel,” Macintyre protested. Bishop quickly cut him off. “I don’t have time for arguing Mac! Just do it!” With a sour smile Macintyre said, “Yes Colonel darling,” and ran off into the building. As Bishop looked around to see how everyone was situated he felt a soft hand gently hold his. He looked over at Sam and they gazed at each other for a minute. With a gentle squeeze he let go and, with her following him, took up position with the other defenders and opened fire. For a full hour they were able to hold back the Zerg swarm, at the streets, while the sun was starting to touch the western horizon. Yet Elysium was engulfed in flames. The outer buildings had ignited other buildings, in close proximity, so that a chain reaction had occurred. Suddenly the sky became dark, despite the sun still being out, and the flapping of wings became deafening over the roar of the fire. The large army, that Bishop had spotted earlier, had arrived. In unison the Mutilisks swung their tails forward and let loose a volley of spiked projectiles as the enemy ground forces started to flood the Town Square. Without hesitation Bishop grabbed Sam, threw her to the ground, and covered her with his body. All around him dozens of marines and civilians were impaled by the Mutalisks’ spikes. Bishop, out of the corner of his eye, saw Lieutenant Brand fall with a spike in his heart. Shortly after his Comm Officer was beheaded by the scythe-like arms of a Hydralisk. Quickly he got up, pulling Sam with him, and started to run towards the building while shouting, “Retreat!” It was chaos as everyone tried to make it to the building only to be cut down by a Hydralisk, get hit in the back with a spiked projectile, or covered in acid by a Baneling. By the time Bishop and Sam had made it inside the building there were only two dozen people left. They barred the thick, metal door and stood in a large hall. Bishop had his arm around Sam, who had tears running down her face. In a despondent voice he said to the survivors, “Head down to the lower level with the women and children. It is the safest place now.” As the survivors made their way down to the third level, Bishop and Sam made their way to Mac who was on the second lower level. There was nothing left to say so Bishop and Sam left the room and headed down the hallway to an empty office. They closed the heavy metal door and stood facing each other. “I’m glad that I got to meet you Sam Stafford,” Bishop said tenderly as he took off the cumbersome chest armor. “Samantha,” Sam divulged. “You can call me Samantha.” “My name is Darren.” With tears running down her face Samantha repeated, “Darren.” “I wish we had met long before all of this…” Bishop said, but stopped when Samantha shook her head. Quietly she said, “Let’s be glad that we got to meet at all.” Clicking on his comm unit, one last time, Bishop said, “Mac. Start her up.” “It was a pleasure serving with ya Colonel darling,” Mac stated. “Likewise Mac,” Bishop answered. Then he looked at Samantha and gently took her into his arms. As Elysium burned outside they kissed. They kissed deeply and passionately, trying to wring every last moment out of it. They were so caught up within that kiss that they didn’t hear the hiss of the metal door as it melted. Nor feel the pain as a Hydralisk’s scythe-like arm impaled them both. Nor did they see the flash of light as the nuke went off. Off-topic: So here is the rough draft with some editing done. Based on the suggestion of Jick_Hambleton I removed the first few paragraphs so the opening is different. I had to cut quite a bit from the story because it ended up being 7,900 words. Unfortunately it has to be 7,500 or less for the contest. Feedback and constructive criticism would be greatly appreciated. I am going to let this story sit for a little while before turning it in. It will, hopefully, allow me to read it again with fresh eyes. The final word Count is 7,495 with the story being about 17 pages long in Word using a size 12 Times New Roman font. The story has to be submitted by 11:59pm pst on August 23(Monday). I would love to have someone take a look at it for me and fix any grammatical mistakes I might have made. Unfortunately I have a long shift at work so I'd be home around 6:00pm est. Since I live on the East Coast this would mean that I still have some time to work on it. I'm thinking of changing the ending of the story. A lot of stuff had to be cut in which I wanted to explore Bishop and Sam's growing relatinoship. Does it seem out of place at this point? Or too dramatic?

Banana Pancakes with Berries Recipe Banana Pancakes with Berries Recipe Field editor Katie Sloan from Charlotte, North Carolina writes, "With strawberries, banana and a good buttermilk batter, this is my all-time favorite pancake recipe. I even serve these for dinner occasionally with some crispy bacon or a slice of country ham."

The European Commission’s Justice and Consumers Directorate commissioned MPG to lead the production of videos, training courses and a toolkit to combat online hate speech. MPG is a key stakeholder in providing analysis, visual communications and solutions for the rise of hate speech online across Europe. Project Deliverables Crawler to monitor occurrences of hate speech on the internet. Mobile APP for reporting occurrences of hate crime online. Available on Google Play. Report analysing the data collected from the e-MORE Mobile APP in 9 EU countries. Available here. Promotional video encouraging reporting of online hate speech and the use of the mobile phone. E-learning training course on hate speech and hate crime led by MPG and CEJI. Toolkit on advocacy in relation to tackling hate speech led by MPG and CEJI.

City Cruises Sightseeing Cruise And EDF Energy London Eye For Two This great offer allows you & a friend to take a sightseeing trip down the Thames, providing an insight into the many layers of history that have built up along the river. Enjoy magnificent views of the Houses of Parliament, St Paul’s Cathedral & the Tate Modern plus many more fantastic London monuments. The experience also Includes:: a flight on the London Eye- see the slow-moving panorama of London’s sights from the comfort of your glass capsule. Location: London (South East)

Shepperd Strudwick(1907–1983) Actor Sheppard Strudwick had dark, dignified, matinée-styled good looks but with a slightly shady countenance that may have prevented him from attaining top "leading man" stardom in films. Nevertheless he earned distinguished marks in a number of films and returned most frequently to his first love, the theater, throughout his career. The North ... See full bio »

General Description Size Chart Elegant floral printed on jacquard, with navy flower colored accents around the neckline and sleeves. Waistline made of the same navy color velvet belt with detachable flower. Perfect for any wedding or special occasion!

Tuesday, March 31st, 2009 Map of AFRICOM presence in Africa, current and projected locations, from the GAO report (PDF), click map to see the graphic readable full size (you may have to click more than once to make it big enough to read the small print). AFRICOM still intends to locate its headquarters on the continent, but has not yet selected or persuaded a host. 1.AFRICOM has not confirmed whether these 11 embassies are the same embassies in which it currently intends to establish offices, but is still negotiating with State. … initial statements about the new command’s intended mission and scope of its activities met with concerns from U.S. government, nongovernmental, and African partner stakeholders. Concerns are particularly keen in areas like humanitarian assistance and other non-combat activities that involve non-DOD agencies and organizations. Their concerns center on the view that AFRICOM could blur traditional boundaries between diplomacy, development, and defense. … Until AFRICOM has a communications strategy that ensures a consistent message and facilitates two-way communication with stakeholders, it may be limited in its ability to reduce persistent concerns from U.S. government, nongovernmental, and African stakeholders and garner support for the command. The Africa Command’s communication problem remains the same as it has been, and has been mentioned many times across the archives of this blog. The description of the mission does not describe the actual mission. The mission statement has been changed and modified several times. The current mission statement from africom.mil: AFRICOM MissionUnited States Africa Command, in concert with other U.S. government agencies and international partners, conducts sustained security engagement through military-to-military programs, military-sponsored activities, and other military operations as directed to promote a stable and secure African environment in support of U.S. foreign policy. This statement does not accurately describe the true mission, which is more accurately described as: secure and guarantee U.S. access to vital energy sources and distribution channels while containing China’s growing superpower status. That is what “a stable and secure African environment in support of U.S. foreign policy” means. Stable and secure does not mean stable and secure for the people of Africa. It means stable and secure for US energy needs and policy objectives. An example of the difference is the elections a year ago in Kenya, where the US decided it preferred to continue dealing with President Kibaki, a known quantity with whom they were comfortable, and did not want to allow the possibility that the opposition might be democratically elected. So the US supported a Coup in Kenya. Security and stability operations are the language of the new colonialism, the recolonizers. This has been researched and described eloquently by Mahmood Mamdani. From an interview: Q. Are you saying that humanitarianism is a form of colonialism? A. I’m saying that historically it has been. The movement after which Save Darfur patterned itself is the antislavery movement of the 19th century. Remember that the elimination of slavery was the ostensible reason given by British officials for colonization of the African continent. The cataloging of brutalities – real ones, not exaggerated – was essential preparation for seizing chunks of real estate, again ostensibly to protect victims. Today, the humanitarian claim uses ethics to displace politics. Conflicts are typically presented as tribal or race wars between perpetrators and victims whose roles are unchanging. Q. Does the problem lie in who uses the humanitarian label? A. The language of human rights was once used primarily by the victims of repression. Now it has become the language of power and of interventionists who turn victims not into agents but into proxies. It has been subverted from a language that empowers victims to a language that serves the designs of an interventionist power on an international scale. All the narratives about war and disasters in Africa enable more “humanitarian” intervention. The intervention is “justified” by a disasterous situation. But the intervention is not designed to alleviate the situation, but rather, take advantage of it, allowing the “humanitarians” to acquire land and resources. Only the surface of the intervention is designed to appear humanitarian to the people outside the affected countries, who are generally not knowledgeable, and not particularly interested. For examples see the land acquisitions of Jarch in Sudan, or the US sponsored invasion of Somalia Dec 2006 and Jan 2007, or the military assistance provided to the Nigeriangovernment to help put down the violence in the Niger Delta. In November 2005, DOD directed that stability operations be given priority on par with combat operations. …AFRICOM is primarily focused on this shift toward emphasizing the importance of stability operations. …According to the President’s National Security Policy, defense, diplomacy and development comprise three key elements of the U.S. foreign policy apparatus. The words defense, diplomacy and development are called the 3Ds. US officials have claimed they are what AFRICOM will bring to Africa. This is eerily and offensively reminiscent of 19th century colonialism, in which Europe claimed it was bringing the 3Cs to Africa, commerce, Christianity and civilization. In the 12 US embassies in African countries, listed in the map above, AFRICOM is active, and as a consequence, has been militarizing diplomacy. But the military actions coming out of these embassies are more than just military to military liaison. As an article in HStoday writes: … one of the Command’s fundamental roles is indeed counterterror intelligence and disruption operations. and: For the time being, AFRICOM will be based in Stuttgart, with covert intelligence operatives working out of US installations and front companies throughout Africa. So look at the list of countries where the US Africa Command already has an active presence: Algeria, Botswanana, Djibouti, Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Liberia, Morocco, Nigeria, Senegal, South Africa, Tunisia. What kind of covert ops and disruption operations are being run in your country? or in a country near you? Who are the targets? Which companies are front companies? Does this make you feel more stable and secure?

We will be closed New Years Day. We will be open New Years Eve for regular hours. I have a feeling there will be some hanging out and drinking going on, so if you like that sort of thing, come on by. Yesterday Danny built up a set of wheels that got him pretty excited: Stan's Alpha road rims (made to run tubeless), laced up to White Industries high flange track hubs, and super fat bladed, headless Hoshi spokes. Our buddy asked for some flashy wheels to compliment his new Lynskey track bike, we think these will do the trick. Check it out, we have a new page to list our sale items that we are motivated to move (new and used). The link is on the left column of the main page. We will be regularly adding items that we are tired of looking at, and removing items as they sell, so check it out often. Deals will be had. After the sale of Litespeed, the company the Lynskey family nurtured to such great heights, they decided to get back into the bike business. Their newest addition to an already well-represented stable is the titanium Sportive. With tube surfaces treated with what Lynskey call an industrial mill finish – a rough, wire-brushed effect that gives a subdued sheen – the Sportive strikes a handsome note and provides a solid and reliable platform for anything from a quick 45-minute training loop to an audax brevet. Ride & handling: Immediately likeable; quick responses combined with comfortWe eagerly swung a leg over this great machine and found it to be immediately likeable, with a sweetness of ride quality and handling. Miles of groomed dirt towpath are a piece of cake – the bike soaks up pebble-induced vibrations with gusto. Equally at home in a highly strung peloton as on a dusty towpath, it responds quickly to pedal and steering input. While trialling a local audax event, staying in a tightly knit bunch felt easy. When the pace started feeling a bit slow, the Sportive had the lightness and willingness to leapfrog to the next gruppetto in search of a more vigorous speed. While the front end of the bike feels strong and torsionally rigid carving through high-speed corners, this has no noticeable effect on front end comfort. In contrast, a simple deflection test of the rear dropouts revealed a considerable springiness in the stays. Yet with the wheel clamped in and closing off the structure, the back end always keeps up with the front, while providing noticeable shock absorption. With a longish head tube and shortish top tube forming part of a mildly sloping geometry, the Sportive will go a long way towards keeping you in a pleasant comfort zone, minimising the usual shoulder and neck aches and pains on those longer rides. Whether you use it for an easy stroll, screaming quarter-mile or the full 600 miles of an audax brevet, the Lynskey is always ready. Even when the going gets rough, the Sportive will do it in comfort and style. Frame & equipment: Well thought out chassis plus robust yet light finishing kitMade of cold-worked 3AL 2.5V titanium, the frame features a fine balance of sophisticated tube manipulation and more straightforward sections, with welded cable guides in all the right places and riveted bottle cage bosses. The rear triangle is comprised of gently curved, constant diameter round seatstays, below which lies a graceful set of oval-round chainstays. Anchoring the rear wheel are some very thick and burly dropouts, decorated with a three-leaf clover cutaway design for a little aesthetic enhancement. A standard head tube with reinforced zones for traditional headset cups finishes off the front of the bike. Single eyelets on the rear allow you to join in with traditional audax crowds if required, with plenty of clearance for a decent-sized tyre and mudguard. Complementing the well-proven Shimano Ultegra drivetrain on our test bike was a nicely homogenous finishing kit and wheels by Pro-Lite, which were robust yet light. They are completely correct, it is a sweet bike (like everything Lynskey makes). Well, we planned a shop ride, and it went off without anybody from the shop. Fortunately Danny showed up, just a little late, and managed to save face for us and reeled in the riders. Normal north foothills loop, there was a handful of guys riding and fun was had by all. Then leftovers, along with beer, tequila, and rum, was consumed in quantity: We were smart enough to hang a hammock precariously high off the ground that day: Nobody was having any fun: We received a fantastic gift this week, a masturbating monkey necklace that Richaround acquired somewhere and new it belonged here: The holidays are here. The shop is slow, the weather is cold, it's our season to goof off a bit. Getting very excited about a day of snow cat snowboarding in Monarch that we are beginning to plan. Ohhh thats going to be good. And lastly, something bike related. Just finished installing a bunch of XTR parts that were purchased on Pricepoint, and brought to me for installation, which as many people know, is quite a pet peeve for those of us at the local bike shop (as Rule #58 states: Never buy bikes, parts or accessories online. Going into your local shop, asking myriad inane questions, tying up the staff’s time, then going online to buy is akin to sleeping with your best friend’s wife, then having a beer with him after. You may as well go into your local shop and spit in the owners face. Online is evil and will be the death of the bike shop. If you enter a shop with parts you have bought online and expect them to fit them, be prepared to be told to see your online seller for fitting and warranty help.) I was looking at Pricepoint with a customer, who was using the website to shop for stuff and then come in here to buy from me, which is awesome. I noticed the headset he was referring to was listed with a$90 suggested retail: Iodine C headset at Pricepoint, and is on sale for $70 at 22% off (such a deal). Then I got onto QBP's website, the biggest bike parts distributor in the US, and found that same headset with a suggested retail of $70. ZING! Pricepoint is here to make money too, and they aren't your friend! $70 is what every LBS should sell this for, at most. I find this kind of satisfying, as the Magicshine has irritated me since the day I heard about them. Blatant rip-off of the Lupine Tesla light, the Magicshine promised unbelievable lumen output for hundreds less than their competitors. At 24 Hours of Old Pueblo last year, I started hearing rumors of the chargers and batteries not being UL rated, and of things catching on fire while charging. This all came from a sales rep for another light company, so I didn't think too much of it, but found the info entertaining. Well, 8 months later, I guess some other people have had similar problems: What should I do with my battery now? We recommend that you store them outside in a safe, protected place. Your recall notice will give more information. Outside in a safe, protected place? Are things exploding? Spontaneous combustion? The thing that bothered me most about the Magicshine was their astronomically false claims about lumen output. Our un-scientific tests comparing the Magicshine to similarly rated lights from Lupine and Light and Motion, in the shop bathroom, led us to believe that outputs were exaggerated by at least double, if not triple the actual amount. So, while your Magicshine battery sits in your back yard, in a cement bunker, come on by and check out some of the lights we have from Light n Motion. Made in the good ol' USA, passing all sorts of pesky safety regulations, subject to irritating EPA regulations, these things are extremely reliable, have extremely bright output, and are a good value to boot. How about 25% off any Light and Motion light if you trade in your Magicshine. We'll take all the batteries, pile them in one place, and see if anything burns down or explodes. That's all, I'm done gloating about the Magicshine. Lastly, we're working on a regular night ride again, now that it's getting properly cold. Tuesday night seems to be the best night for many. We leave from the shop as early as possible, usually that means at the trailhead by 6:45 or so. Hopefully we will be out this coming Tuesday, probably north foothills from Ebudito trailhead, so keep it in mind, and I'll let you all know if we're gonna make it or not soon. Awesome, thanks for reading, and thanks for coming into our shop and buying stuff and letting us fix your bikes and allowing us to live the dream and play with bikes for a living. We've never been open on Black Friday before (the Friday after Thanksgiving), but we've got plans for this year! So, meet up in the foothills, top of Montgomery Embudito, for a morning group mtb ride, 9am. We'll do a mellow turkey burner ride. Then, back to the shop to open at noon. Everybody come on by, bring leftovers, a chair, and of course the beverage of your choice (as long as it's not Fat Tire, Blue Moon or Corona, yeah we're picky bastards). We are going to have a leftover potluck, watch bike movies of all sorts, drink plenty of beer, and generally try to work as little as possible. That's our idea. So while everybody else is battling to the death for $12 laptops and $18 washing machines, come hide out with us, eat, drink, watch movies, and talk some trash. I just built up a Giant Cypher, woman specific 5" travel bike, and it looks good: This particular one is an Extra Small, Giant suggests that is fits gals from 5'2" to 5'4". This is the same basic frame as the Trance X, and on both models Giant has made some very nice upgrades for 2011, such as: Post mount rear brake And press fit BB96 Bottom bracket And tapered 1.5 to 1.125 headset and steerer tube: Giant didn't seem to hype up the changes they made to the Trance/Cypher much for 2011, but they are nice changes and the bikes look great. We also have this model in size small showing up in the next couple of days. Yesterday Danny and I (Lucero) participated in the Day of The Tread century, on our new tandem. I was on the back. The bike is a bit small for a 6 foot tall stoker, so I had a face full of Danny's bony back for the entire 100 miles... at least we have a good looking jersey. We approached the ride with some trepidation, having both raced ourselves into the ground on Saturday's cross races, and also due to the fact that we had logged about 30 minutes on the bike so far. But everything went better than we could have hoped for, the weather was great, we had a big tailwind on the long climb up to Placitas, and the bike worked flawlessly. The bike we rode is a San Rensho tandem, a beautiful and rare bicycle that received many complements along the ride. It was the first time I had spend more than a couple of minutes on the back of a tandem, and although the experience was intense at times, I'm happy to have done it, and I'm sure we'll be out terrorizing another century sooner than later. The ride took us four and a half hours. We rode the whole time with our friends John and Brad, who were also on a tandem, and looking suave with matching Bikeworks jerseys (thanks guys). Beyond that, we've just been knee deep in Cross season. Getting out to as many of the New Mexico Cross series races as we can. The races have been an absolute blast, well organized, fun courses, great atmosphere, what more can you ask for (except maybe free beer at the finish, but that probably won't happen until Bikeworks organizes a cross race). I encourage everybody to come and check it out. I leave you with this, which was obviously written about our dear Swinton: It is their new Sportive model, built up with Sram Apex. This is the bike we are getting. Normally they send us frames and build kits, but they asked me if they could build this one and take pics of it for their website before we got it. So the one on their website will be the one in our shop. We had a crew of 7 head up for a South Boundary adventure on Sunday. Parked at the bottom, and shuttled ourself up to the Palo Flascado pass, to do Elliot Barker portion of the ride. It helps to have a big truck every so often. Unfortunately, we weren't 10 miles in to the ride when Scott "got all Scott" on his wheel, and broke it in a very unfixable way: Thats Marc and I making a valiant attempt to re-hab a blown up freehub body, but it was to no avail. Pedaling the bike was useless, as it would just freewheel forward. So, rather than doing the logical thing and turning back, hiking for maybe an hour and spending the next 4 hours waiting in the truck for us to return, Scott decided to "harden the f*ck up" and just finish the ride anyway: We took turns helping him push the bike up hills, we towed and pushed each other along the flat sections, and then on the descents, Scott would hop back on his ride and proceed to school us as usual. The leaves were changing, and the views were fantastic. Danny was looking lovely in the most worn out, stretched out, gnarly pair of shorts I've seen in a while: And Charlie was looking lovely because he is Charlie, and is always looking lovely: It was so much fun. I have a GPX file for the ride, if you are interested in going and checking it out. I don't think the route we took is the most common one, but according to my sources, it is the best way to go. In case you aren't familiar, the ProCross is wicked awesome. I highly recommend that you come and buy it. It will make you fast, good looking, witty, it's amazing what this bike will do for you. Also, we have a pretty large collection of forks on the wall, We have Fox 40's, new and lightly used, a 2010 Rock Shox Revelation U-Turn Air 20mm Maxle, a 2011 Boxxer Race with custom Giant colors, a Fox 831, a Marzocchi Bomber 44 ATA Micro 15mm thru axle, and a couple of used Marzocchi 888's. For you? Very good price! Come in and talk if you need something to connect your front wheel to your frame that goes boingy boingy, deals will be made. And, lastly for today, we just got a mountain of 2011 Giro helmets in today, so all our 2010 models are 30% off: We have about 10 helmets left, random selection, come in and check them out. If these pictures seem unusually crappy, it's because Swinton bought us a $40 camera, and surprise surprise, it's lousy. You see, it's the camera's fault that he looks like an angry orangutan. We got some new Bikeworks ABQ socks in the shop last week. Here are some pics of me modeling them, for your viewing pleasure: I know what you are thinking, and you are right, I am too sexy for my socks. We also are selling bottles to help the Lobo Cycling team: They are Specialized bottles (which are the best), and they are good looking, and they support your local collegiate cycling team, and they are $8.99. And lastly, I've put some sale stickers on our 2010 bikes that we have still. 20% Off, we have a couple of Giant Trance X1's (med and large) a Giant Trance X2 (large) and a couple of Giant Seek 2's. Yesterday Giant shipped us 13 bikes off our 2011 order, including a couple of Cross Bikes, the TCX 1, just in time for cross season, as well as some Glory 0's and Glory 1's, which are always fun to have. We also have a 2011 Trance X2 in the shop, which I built up yesterday. With Shimano 10 speed drivetrain, a new tapered steerer fork, and extremely color coordinated, it is a very nice looking bike. Dan has been tired lately so I thought I'd write a blog for him. I hope everyone remembers to get there bikes in tip top shape for the Fall. I believe it is going to be the best one for riding in years, with great colors and a full Indian Summer. I would like to remind reader of the last Time Trial event out in Bernalillo this Saturday. I was coaxed by the Dans to go out last Sat. and it was a lot of fun- the hard work is over quickly. Plenty of people are riding it with their plain old road bikes too. In other news, the new Giant 29er Full Suspension is starting to ship to dealers and we are putting together our order. If you want one, give us a shout (and a deposit). This bike will go quickly and its doubtful they will have extras at the warehouse for awhile. I would like to give a shout out to Dr. Bernstein, who just completed the Leadville 100 bike race. He buckled-down, trained hard, and with Bikeworks help, had no mechanical breakdowns the whole time. I told him I would do it with him next year, but I was into my second Double IPA from Marble Brewing at that point so that was probably a lie. The photo is a picture of some of us on the trails on the back of our beloved Sandia Mountains. I think he just dabbed. Researchers at Granada University in Spain have come across a discovery that will undoubtedly please athletes and sports enthusiasts - a pint of beer post-workout or match is better at rehydrating the human body than water. Professor Manuel Garzon, a member of Granada's medical faculty, made the finding after tests on 25 students over several months. Researchers believe that it is the sugars, salts, and bubbles in a beer that may help people absorb fluids more quickly. The subjects in the study were asked to run on a treadmill at temperatures of 104F (40C) until they were close to exhaustion. Once they had reached the point of giving up, researchers measured their hydration levels, motor skills, and concentration ability. Half of the subjects were given two half pints of Spanish lager to drink, and the other half were given just water. Garzon said that the rehydration effection in those who were given beer was "slightly better" than those who were given only water. He also believes that the carbon dioxide in beer helps quench thirst more quickly, and that beer's carbohydrates replace calories lost during physical exertion. The average person loses around 1 liter (33oz) of water for every hour of exercise in sweat. Rehydrating after a workout is crucial, as a lack of hydration is more likely to make one feel tired, fuzzyheaded, and suffer from headaches. Based on the results of the study, researchers recommend moderate consumption of beer as a part of athletes' diets. "Moderate consumption" for men is 500ml per day, and for women is 250ml per day. So that explains why Babe Ruth was so good. His method of training was nearly 100 years ahead of its time. That explains why everybody who comes and hangs out at Bikeworks after their ride is so fast! At the National Champs races this past weekend in Sol Vista, CO. Bikeworks had a large contingent of team members racing. Pictured above are Jake, Tone, and Sean (left to right). Jake finished 2nd in Cat 2 4X, Tone finished 5th in Cat 2 DH (25-29), and Sean finished 1st in Cat 2 4X and 5th in Cat 2 DH (19-25). Looking good fellas. Furthermore, Bikeworks racer Matson Hunter is the Cat 1 4X National Champ, taking 1st in the 19-25 age group. The boy will be pro soon. Locally, Bikeworks racer Alex Leonard took 2nd Place in Cat1 19-29 at the Sandia Crest race. 3rd place overall in Cat 1. In other racing news, Bikeworks is the new sponsor for the UNM Lobos cycling team. We are excited about it, and they are excited about it. So everybody is excited, and that is good. Speaking of UNM, there is a new race this year that the UNM Cycling team is putting together. It is the "Back to School Special", taking place on August 28th and 29th. There will be a XC race on the 28th around Oak Flats, and a DH race on the 29th going off from Cedro Peak. For more info, call or come by the shop. We have flyers with all the info, but I'm not sure those details are up on the Interweb anywhere yet. And if anybody from the Bikeworks crew was out racing, and I've left you out, send me a note and let me know. I got to watch the World Cup final, watch the days Tour stage, and go for a ride yesterday. It was a pretty good day. Of course most people know that the World Cup game was a bit of a stinker, but at least Spain won in the end. However, yesterday's stage of the Tour de France was phenomenal. Had there not been a sleeping baby on the couch, I would have been yelling at the TV. Is everybody thoroughly sick of Versus coverage yet? It seems like the first showing of the day is decent, and then every replay from there on out gets progressively worse, until prime time when you get Bobke blabbing about stuff unrelated to the race, 50% commercials, and all sorts of "special interest" crap that are really elaborate advertisements. So my suggestion: go to http://cyclingtorrents.nl/ and sign up as a member, and download your tour coverage. Yesterday there was the coverage from ITV4, a Britsh channel I believe, with the commercials removed. It was fantastic. Also, if you are wanting to watch the live coverage in the morning, plenty of streaming options are available. I would suggest http://www.cyclingfans.com/ to find a nice video stream. In shop news, I'm working on getting some new socks made, ones that will match our jerseys nicely. What does everybody think about sock height? I personally have been liking my socks pretty tall lately, but I would hate to buy a bunch of tall socks and then hear everybody ask for shorter ones. First thing I thought of when I saw the new design was my old German freeride bike, Der Fusion Whiplash, that I aquired whilst at Manitou (they aren't imported into the U.S.) Shock placement, rocker placment, and shock mounted to the chainstays are all similar: All winter long we do night rides in the freezing cold, working hard the whole time to stay convinced that we are having a good time. Then we talk about how nice it will be in the summer to do some night rides, getting out late when it's finally cooled off from the day, and riding late into the night. Then summer comes, and we don't do it. Well at least I don't do it. My lights get put away after racing in February at Old Pueblo, and they don't come out again until I start thinking about racing Old Pueblo the following winter. So last night I got out for what may have been my first late night summer ride, and it was freaking awesome! I met Charlie and Richaround at about 9:30, which was the earliest I could make it up to the foothills after getting my boy to bed. It had rained earlier in the day, the trails were as grippy as the north foothills can be, but not a spot of mud anywhere. And as an added bonus, there was a full moon (or very close to a full moon). The air was cool with more humidity than usual, of course we didn't see anybody else on the trail, and we had a great time. As we finished the ride and rolled up to our cars, it started to rain again. We had timed our ride perfectly. A post ride beer sitting in the battlewagon, watching the rain fall on the windshield, BS'ing and reminiscing about causing trouble as kids and the assorted things that were chosen to be thrown at vehicles in the search for entertainment (eggs, water balloons, dirt clods, and of course pastry dough). It was one of the most fun rides I've had in the North Foothills, and completely worth sacrificing a couple of hours of sleep for. So from now on, the after-the-kids-are-asleep ride will no longer be a thing of myth. I'll give a heads up next time we're planning on getting out late, and maybe some of you will join us. In shop news, almost all or our sponsored racers are up in Crested Butte this weekend, racing their little hearts out just because they love Bikeworks so much and want to make us look good. Our boy Alex will be there racing XC and trying to follow up with his Super D win at Angel Fire a few weeks ago He did the race on our Transition Covert demo bike, and has borrowed it again for this weekend. I hear in Angel fire he beat 2nd place by something like 20 seconds. Beefcake! Clearly, it was because of the bike. In other racing news, Swinton took a win in the A race at the Tuesday Night Crits this week. He was there supposedly to help out our buddy Bradner, who is currently leading the points race for the TNC's and should be in good shape to take the win for the series. However, Swinton being the glory stealing attention whore, took off solo with three laps to go and solo'd for the win, leaving Bradner to fend for himself. We're very proud of Danny though, congrats. This coming Tuesday is the finale of the Tuesday Night Crit Series. I believe we will be there in Bikeworks style (i.e. BBQ and beer) to cheer on our racers and heckle anybody who looks like they are taking things too seriously (it is a training race, remember). So come on by and join us. Hopefully we'll have a jersey or two winning a race or two, and if not, we'll at least have grilled meat and beer. That's about all I've got. Going out to Tunnel, meeting our favorite Doctor at 8am if anybody is interested in watching me flog myself around Otero on my singlespeed. Now I've got to go check out Bike Snob, haven't checked his site all week, I've got catching up to do. Here at Bikeworks we love our customers. In order to show our customers how much we appreciate them, we are implementing a new policy as of tomorrow. Bikeworks ABQ Customer Appreciation Policy: When you leave our store, at least one owner of Bikeworks ABQ will say / yell "Thanks for coming by, Love you!" on your way out. It will be our way of letting you know that we indeed love you, our customer. If you manage to leave Bikeworks without receiving a hearty "love you!" from Dan and/or Dan and/or Tony (and/or sometimes Charlie, maybe), upon your next visit you will be entitled to a "wicked high-five" and a Free Beer! (Must be of legal drinking age. Under-age customers who do not receive a hearty "love you" upon departure will be entitled to two "wicked high fives," or one "up high - down low while walking past each other high five" a-la Top Gun.) We began experimenting with the new policy in the store today, and for the most part had very positive results. We received at least one "love you" in return, a "good to know", a few silent responses, but no angry responses or threats to cause bodily harm to us. We are currently considering expanding this policy to include phone calls as well. For example, when leaving a message about a bike repair, you would get something such as: Hey this is Dan from Bikeworks. Just calling to let you know we got your bike all tuned up and everything looked good. You can come pick it up whenever is convenient, we are open ten to six Tuesday thru Saturday and our number is eight eight four oh three four one if you have any questions Love you bye. Obviously this is something we are doing for you, the customer, and therefore we are very interested in hearing what you think about our new policy. Please feel free to comment directly on this site, or email us if you feel you have more to say than what will fit in a comment, or call us if you feel that typing out everything that you have to say will take forever and it would be best if you just told us on the phone. We Lied! We will be open tomorrow, Saturday the 12th, for normal hours. Danny became unexpectedly ill on Tuesday night, was out of work for Wednesday and Thursday, but is back and better than ever today. However, he has no intention of racing Saturday, so we are going to work instead (yaaayyy). So, come on by. We'll be trying to play catchup on repairs from the week, watching some Soccer, and sipping on the keg of Marble IPA that I tapped 5 minutes ago. Also, Tony will be up at Pajarito for the Punishment, so if you want to watch some Downhill racing, or volunteer to help with the race, or help him drink the keg of IPA that Marble donated, go check it out. It will also likely be much cooler up there than here in the 'Burque. Thanks for everybody's patience this week, it's been a crazy week for us, we've been a little behind on repairs and what not, but it's all coming together. With Cross Country, Downhill, Four Cross, and Super D events, the Chile Challenge is always a great race and a blast for spectators. The Dan's will not be racing this year, but Tony will be there along with a whole bunch of other Bikeworks racers to represent for the shop. Trail Report: Windsor trail in Santa Fe is riding great! The stream is still a little high but nothing you can't at least wade across. We only made it to Pacheco canyon road before we had to turn back but I am confident that the trail is clear all the way to the bottom of the ski area. Chamiza and Sidewinder are clear and as good as I've seen them in awhile. This means most of our trails are clear of snow now. Only the highest stuff, above 10,000 ft, is holding on for a few more weeks. I'm guessing South Boundary will be open by mid-June. Get out and enjoy it all. First, a Transition Covert built up for our Demo fleet (size large). This is a very cool bike, been getting some good press lately. Now that we have one in the shop, we are wondering why we didn't get one long ago (beside from the fact that they are frequently sold out, Transitions #1 selling bike it turns out). So far so good. Sent the bike out for its first demo ride, and the customer came back and ordered one for himself. Then our very picky buddy Chris B. took it out, and had plenty of positive to say about it. Last year after riding every 5" travel bike under the sun, Chris settled on a Giant Trance X0. However, he said had he ridden this bike, it would have definitely been in contention. He also said "this bike likes White Mesa", which I thought sounded good. Next, I got a new 29er frame to hang all my fancy pants parts on. It's a Tomac Flint 29 frame. A very nicely shaped aluminum frame with eccentric BB and all the cable stops, this bike is ready for gears or single speed. My large frame came in right at 4 lbs, and my bike weighed 20.5 lbs before I put pedals on it (I typically weigh bikes with all the necessary parts to make them rideable, however, Danny was anxious and put this one on the scale before I had finished building it). What you can't see in the photos is a very nice sparkly white paint job, great looking welds, huge amounts of tire clearance in back. Overall, it's just a very well put together frame. I went out yesterday for its maiden voyage (and my first ride in 2 weeks). I definitely could tell the frame was laterally stiffer than my previous one (a steel Spot), and the bike cornered very predictably, allowing me to really feel what the tires were doing. I didn't give much though to the geometry while riding, which I see as a good thing. The bike generally felt correct, and didn't require my attention to make it do what I wanted it to. Definitely doesn't feel like a cumbersome 29er, as some niners will. This bike actually has such short chainstays that my chain is 1 link shorter than it was on the Spot, and that was with the eccentric BB adjusted pretty far forward. It's sweet. Also, the frame sells for somewhere around $500, which is a screaming deal. Unfortunately I believe they are completely sold out, but if you are interested let me know and I'll see what I can do. Lastly, Tony built up a damn good looking Commencal Supreme DH Saturday morning: We've built and sold a whole lot of these bikes over the past couple years, but they still manage to get the boys excited. Especially when all the parts are just right, and of course, matching in color. Industry Nine wheels, a very red Race Face crankset, and Tony's personal touch, a gold chain: To top things off, the 2011 Fox 40's should be arriving today or tomorrow, and this bike will be receiving one promptly. I can't remember which one of the teenage Los Alamos DH crew that we sponsor got this bike, but whoever he is, he is stoked I assure you (perhaps if those kids didn't travel in such large packs I would have a chance at learning all their names, but honestly, I don't see that happening). Well, that's what I have for today. We will be deciding in the next couple of days about any special closures over the next few weeks (with the Pajarito Punishment and the Chile Challenge coming up, we have a tendency to sneak out of the shop a bit). Lucero had his baby! A strapping young man by the name of Oliver decided to join the world on Wed. of last week. Congrats Dan and Kristi. That said, we apologize for having to close Saturday the 15th (today) and hope you will bear with us until Mr. Lucero returns- red eyed from lack of sleep of course and slower than ever mentally speaking (two kids will do that to you). Trail Report: Cedro and Otero are riding beautifully of course. I haven't checked out faulty or Oso yet but I'm guessing they are now clear of snow and ready to ride. I hiked La Luz a few days ago and there were still large snow drifts in a number of places. Looking down the ski area from the top also showed a number of drifts and snowfields- but less than I expected to see. I think 10 k will be mostly rideable in a week or two if it isnt already. I will go check next week and report back. If you feel inclined; for a few weeks this spring help us all out and carry a hatchet or bow saw on your rides to help clear the trails. I made it out to the Zuni mountains (by Gallup) a couple weeks ago and they were 95% rideable then- they should be perfect right now. I will head to Santa Fe the week after next and check out the situation there.

PPI Claims Firm Faces £350k Fine for Making Illegal Cold Calls A Carmarthenshire based PPI claims company are facing a fine of £350K after making a record number of illegal cold calls. The company in question, Your Money Rights LTD, now holds an unwanted record of making 146 million unsolicited calls, leaving many people feeling harassed. Your Money Rights were guilty of calling some people as often as twice a day and the Information Commissioners Office revealed that one person had reported they felt threatened by the incessant phone calls. The calls which were made over a 4-month period were found to be illegal because they did not have the express consent of those that they were contacting. They were also found to be guilty of a second infringement, not leaving company details when they left a message. The ICO head of enforcement Steve Eckersley said: “We’re cracking down on illegal automated calls on behalf of the British public. They are a blight on society that disregards people’s right to have their wish for peace and quiet in their own home respected. “We know people find calls playing recorded messages particularly intrusive because they are unable to speak to a call agent. Your Money Rights should have known that the law around automated calls is stricter than for other marketing calls.” Following the ruling from the ICO, Your Money Rights directors are seeking to dissolve the company. However, the ICO office has vowed they are committed to recovering the money and will be working alongside insolvency practitioners to make sure the sum is recovered The ICO will be given more powers when the law changes. The UK government are bringing in new legislation that means that directors of the companies can be fined personally if their firm is found guilty of making unwarranted cold calls. This means that directors will no longer be able to avoid any costs incurred from malpractise by putting a company into liquidation, when new laws come in they will have to pay out of their own pocket. “If a firm goes out of business to try and duck an ICO fine then they’re no longer making troublesome nuisance calls,” he added. “But the new law will increase the tools we have to go after them and hold them fully accountable for the harassment, annoyance and disruption they’ve caused,” Eckersley said. Payment protection insurance is sold by banks to cover any loan repayments should the person who took out the loan be unable to pay it off due to unforeseen circumstances, namely losing a job or falling ill. Over 45 million of these polices have been sold since 1990, a great deal without consent leading to many companies offering to recover payment for unwanted polices for a small fee. John Mitchinson, who works for the Direct Marketing Association said. “We hope that in the future rogue marketers will face the real threat of prison when abusing consumers in this way, which will be an effective deterrent.”

The issue of whether Christian young’uns should be sharing music via P2P has made a lot of news lately, even a Salon (premium) article. The Gospel Music Association (granted, not an unbiased party) recently released a study that concluded: …born again Christian teens are not much different than are non-born again teens in terms of holding an anti-piracy moral position. Just 10% of Christian teens believe that copying CDs for friends and unauthorized music downloading are morally wrong, compared to 6% of non-born agains. I find the attitudes that sharing music isn’t wrong interesting, and this is an interesting angle. I certainly think that the recording industry is pursuing the wrong strategy by fighting music sharing tooth and nail. And it’s ultimately a doomed strategy. I think they’d be much smarter to embrace technology and find ways to make money from it, instead of desperately hanging on to the existing system. But, regardless of whether the current laws are fair, the law is the law. It’s currently illegal to share music, and I struggle with that. I’m not saying I’ve never downloaded music. (I have, in fact, but I found it too much trouble). Also, I don’t think music sharing is any different from software piracy, and as a software developer, I can see who’s harmed by software piracy. So, I struggle with the issue of following the law, regardless of my perception of its fairness. No answers, but I understand the public dialog. There is too much needless complexity in the world, he argues. Technology, which was supposed to make our lives easier, has taken a wrong turn. In 20 years we’ve gone from the simplicity of MacPaint to Photoshop. While the first fostered a creative explosion, the second gave birth to an industry of how-to books and classes. And such complexity is commonplace, Dr. Maeda says. Despite the lip service paid to “ease of use,” “plug and play,” and “one-click shopping,” simplicity is an endangered quality in the digital world, he adds, and it is time to break free from technology’s intimidating complexity. And of course they mention Microsoft Windows. I see their point, but they offer a tired argument. Can you do all the things with MacPaint that you can do with Photoshop? Of course not. PhotoShop (or Word, Windows, etc.) may have a zillion features, but these are programs with lots of users with very different needs. Sure, any individual user may only use a small subset of a program’s features, but there’s a group that needs every feature that’s been included. Contrary to what these folks imply, we aren’t just making things more complex for its own sake. This morning I took my camera in the car on my way to work, hoping to snap photos of waving man. Considering I see him at most maybe once a month, the chances were slim. But lo and behold, I did pass him this morning. But I had to turn around and come past him again in order to get photos. He didn’t seem to realize it was the same car that had passed the other way a minute before, and if he noticed me snapping photos as I passed somewhat slowly, it didn’t stop him from waving. Amazingly, I managed to get a couple of decent photos and not crash my car. Since I titled a recent post “Office Snacks of Mass Destruction,” I thought I’d investigate the use of the term “X of mass destruction.” A Google search for the phrase “of mass destruction” excluding the words “weapons” and “weapon” returns 41K+ results. Guess it’s an official cliché now. Glad to see I’m such a cutting edge trendsetter. Some highlights of the search results: For the second time this week, someone has burned popcorn in the microwave at work. To my knowledge no corporate drone in America has ever succeeded in popping microwave popcorn at work without, at best, sickening their coworkers with the smell, and at worst causing the building to be evacuated. At least the fire alarm makes a nice break. One of the shortcuts on my drive to work is on a street that runs next to a residential area. This street doesn’t get a lot of traffic and I often see the residents of the neighborhood out walking and jogging along the street. But there’s one man who always brings a smile to my face when I occasionally see him. I call him, without much creativity, ‘waving man.’ As he takes his morning walk through the neighborhood, he waves heartily at every passing car, and if you wave back he waves more vigorously and bows. Based on the bowing I saw the other day when I followed a couple of other cars down the street, it looks like other drivers are as familiar with him as I am. He’s always a refreshing site on my otherwise boring commute.

We use cookies to customise content for your subscription and for analytics.If you continue to browse Lexology, we will assume that you are happy to receive all our cookies. For further information please read our Cookie Policy. Case to watch: Amarin Pharma v. FDA A potentially significant case being watched by the pharmaceutical industry is Amarin Pharma, et al., v. U.S. Food and Drug Administration, et al., Civ. A. 15-cv-3588 (S.D.N.Y.). The complaint, filed in May 2015, is a “First Amendment challenge to FDA regulations that prohibit Amarin, a pharmaceutical company, from making completely truthful and non-misleading statements about its product to sophisticated healthcare professionals” (HCPs), including the HCP plaintiffs. Although Amarin’s drug Vascepa® is FDA-approved to treat adult patients with severe hypertriglyceridemia, the FDA recently denied Amarin’s supplemental new drug application (sNDA) to expand the Vascepa indication to include patients with high triglycerides, consistent with the patient population in its ANCHOR clinical trial. Citing United States v. Caronia, 703 F.3d 149 (2d Cir. 2012), Amarin is asking the Court to “hold that FDA’s prohibitions on ‘off-label’ promotion, as applied to the truthful and non-misleading speech Amarin wishes to make, are unconstitutional under the First Amendment, and to declare that Amarin may engage in its proposed speech about Vascepa.” In an interesting move, on June 8, 2015, the FDA filed with the Court a letter that it issued to Amarin on June 5, 2015, which states that the “FDA does not have concerns with much of the information that you proposed to communicate.” The letter further notes that Amarin did not discuss the matter with the FDA prior to filings it complaint, “as other pharmaceutical companies do”, nor during its discussions with the FDA over many years related to the labeling of Vascepa. The FDA also states that it currently is engaged in a “comprehensive review of its regulations and guidance documents” related to the dissemination of production information and that “new guidance will be forthcoming.” It appears that the FDA’s letter was a pre-emptive move to undermine Amarin’s lawsuit. We will continue to watch this important case. Compare jurisdictions: Arbitration "I would like to thank the SCCA for this excellent service! The articles included in the newsfeeds are very useful and informative, and the user-friendly format of the newsfeeds means I can quickly glance over the précis in the emails to choose what to zoom in on."

3.3rd Person Limited POV: The narrator focuses on the thoughts & feelings of 1 character; you see the story from this character's eyes only. 4.Context Clues: A vocabulary strategy in which the reader looks at the words around an unfamiliar word to find clues to its meaning. 5.Euphemism: A polite or vague word or phrase used to replace another word or phrase that is thought of as too direct or rude. Ex: The room where the toilet is. My dog passed away. 6.Foreshadowing: A narrative device that hints at coming events: often builds suspense or anxiety in the reader. 7.Hyperbole: The use of exaggeration for emphasis not meant to be taken literally. Ex: Someday I"ll have tons of money. She cried a floood of tears. 8.Idiom: Commonly used expressions that are not literallt true; figure of speech. Ex. " break a leg", "piece of cake", " fell in love" 9.Imagery/Sensory Language ( same thing): Language that appeals to the five senses: sight, sound, taste, smell, and touch. 10.Irony: The contrast between what is expected & what really happens. Ex: A shoemaker wears shoes with holes in them. 11.Literary Features: Explain the effects of common literary devices (ex. symbolism, imaginery, metaphor) in a variety of fictional and nonfictional texts. 12.Metaphor: A figure of speech that compares 2 unlike things by saying that one thing is the other. Ex: The world is a stage. 13.Mood: The overall emotion created by the work of literature. Ex: eerie, dreamy, mysterious, depressing. 14.Onomatopoeia: The use of a word whose sound imitates or suggest its meaning. Ex: crash, bang, hiss, crunch, buzz 15.Personification (special kind of Metaphor): When you give something that is nonhuman or nonliving (animals, plants, forces of nature, or abstract thoughts of love) human attributes & qualities. Ex: Love of kind. The leaves danced along the sidewalk.

The BMA opens today at 10:00 am. Prints, Drawings & Photographs Albrecht Dürer. Ecce Homo. c. 1498. From the series “The Large Passion”. The Baltimore Museum of Art: Gift of Alfred R. and Henry G. Riggs, in Memory of General Lawrason Riggs. BMA 1943.32.271 Considered one of the most significant holdings of works on paper in the country, the BMA’s renowned collection of 65,000 works on paper includes 4,000 drawings and 4,000 photographs from the late 15th century to the present, making it a comprehensive resource for the study of European and American printmaking. Major strengths include 16th- and 17th-century prints and woodcuts by Albrecht Dürer and Rembrandt van Rijn, 19th-century French drawings by Honoré Daumier and Édouard Manet, and 20th-century street photography. Works on Paper Two major collections form the core of the BMA’s holdings of works on paper. The collection of Baltimore industrialist and banker T. Harrison Garrett features works by Albrecht Dürer, Francisco Goya, and Rembrandt van Rijn among more than 20,000 engravings, etchings, and woodcuts ranging from the late 15th century through the late 19th century. The George A. Lucas Collection is one of the most significant resources in the United States for the study of 19th-century French art. An expatriate from Baltimore who spent five decades in Paris, Lucas amassed nearly 20,000 works on paper by artists including: Mary Cassatt Honoré Daumier Eugène Delacroix Édouard Manet James Abbot McNeill Whistler Photography The Gallagher/Dalsheimer collection features 20th-century American street photography and an exceptional group of experimental European photographs made between the wars. Photographers represented in depth include: William Eggleston Man Ray Alfred Stieglitz Edward Weston Gordon Parks James Welling Rineke Dijkstra Jeff Wall Carrie Mae Weems Print, Drawing & Photograph Society (PDPS) Join PDPS to enrich your Membership experience and deepen your understanding of the BMA's acclaimed collection of works on paper. Extended Collection Resources The BMA and the Walters Art Museum have catalogued their collections of 19th-century French drawings in a searchable online database, making approximately 900 rarely displayed works accessible to scholars and the public. Contact Because prints, drawings, and photographs are sensitive to light, they may only be shown for short periods of time. When not on view in special exhibitions or rotations that complement work in other media in the collection galleries, the BMA's holdings of works on paper may be seen by appointment in the Samuel H. Kress Foundation Study Room of Prints, Drawings & Photographs. To make an appointment please call 443-573-1789 or email PDP@artbma.org.

News On Saturday night at Basketball City aka Pier 36 in NYC, Heineken Red Star Access tour invited lucky individuals out for a night of free beer, free food, dessert and performances from Wiz Khalifa and French Montana. DJ Clark Kent kept the vibe jolly playing everyone's favorite new music, while Heneiken made sure every ones spirits were up for the night. Comedian and super impersonator of the stars Affion Crockett was the night's host as he got chuckles out the crowd impersonating Rick Ross and Drake. Wiz Khalifa stepped onstage and jumped right into “Homicide.” He performed most of his mid-tempo weed ballads, then casually transitioned into “Taylor Gang,” which triggered a reckless and rowdy response from the audience. He then proceeded to cap off the set with a much tamer “Young, Wild and Free.” Hit the jump to check out some pics from the event, courtesy of Hip Hop WIred! On Saturday night at Basketball City aka Pier 36 in NYC, Heineken Red Star Access tour invited lucky individuals out for a night of free beer, free food, dessert and performances from Wiz Khalifa and French Montana. DJ Clark Kent kept the vibe jolly playing everyone's favorite new music, while Heneiken made sure every ones spirits were up for the night. Comedian and super impersonator of the stars Affion Crockett was the night's host as he got chuckles out the crowd impersonating Rick Ross and Drake. Wiz Khalifa stepped onstage and jumped right into “Homicide.” He performed most of his mid-tempo weed ballads, then casually transitioned into “Taylor Gang,” which triggered a reckless and rowdy response from the audience. He then proceeded to cap off the set with a much tamer “Young, Wild and Free.” Hit the jump to check out some pics from the event, courtesy of Hip Hop WIred! EXPERIENCE MORE ON O.N.I.F.C. News Wiz’s hit O.N.I.F.C. single “Work Hard, Play Hard” is featured in the Columbia Pictures film, 22 Jump Street! The film starring Jonah Hill, Ice Cube and Channing Tatum is in theaters now. You can also find “Work Hard, Play Hard By submitting my information above, I acknowledge that I have reviewed and agreed to the Privacy Policy and Terms of Use, and I agree to receive updates and marketing messages from time to time from Wiz Khalifa and his record label. Thank you for signing up. Would you like to receive more information on? Manage your subscription below. I also wish to sign up for the Atlantic Records's mailing list. By submitting my information above, I acknowledge that I have reviewed and agreed to the Privacy Policy and Terms of Use, and I agree to receive updates and marketing messages from time to time from Wiz Khalifa and his record label.

Columbia Law School Professor George P. Fletcher and Columbia Associate-in-Law Jens David Ohlin’s new book, Defending Humanity: When Force is Justified and Why, will be the focus of a symposium March 31. James G. Neal, Vice President for Information Services and University Librarian at Columbia University, will give the 21st annual Horace S. Manges Lecture on April 1 at Columbia Law School. Neal, who has represented the American library community on copyright issues before Congress and is a member of the U.S. Copyright Office Section 108 Study Group, will discuss the group’s recent work. Cynthia McFadden ’84, co-anchor of ABC News’ “Nightline” and “Primetime Live” programs, has been selected by students to give the keynote address at Columbia Law School’s graduation ceremony on May 22. An old oak desk is one of the few large artifacts that remain of Columbia Law School’s early history, and if not for a few alert professors over the years, even this object could have ended up in a landfill. Hon. Justice Umar Abdullahi, CON, the President of the Court of Appeal of Nigeria, will discuss the importance of judicial independence in strengthening democracy, the rule of law and the fair dispensation of justice in Nigeria during a visit to Columbia Law School on April 4. Experts debate how different forms of Christianity and Islam may have helped or sometimes hindered the development of free and open societies. Columbia Law School Professor Philip Hamburger addressed this issue at a symposium hosted by the Council on Foreign Relations (CFR) on March 25. The long-term success of the United Nation’s global counter-terrorism strategy depends upon the protection of human rights, said experts at a panel discussion held at the Law School’s Jerome Greene Hall on February 28, 2008. Columbia Law School and the Center for Reproductive Rights (the Center) have announced a new fellowship for law school graduates pursuing legal academic careers in reproductive health and human rights. Some of the priciest art works on today’s auction block come not from private collectors but museums and educational institutions. Deaccessioning has sparked questions among art experts, lawyers, the courts and the public about the cultural value of possessing an object versus the commercial value of selling it. Is art worth more as cash than the implied cultural riches of possessing it? Experts from the art and museum world will discuss museum deaccessioning — as part of Columbia Law School’s Intellectual Property Speaker Series on March 11. Columbia Law School prevailed at the European Law Moot Court regional tournament in Maribor, Slovenia, and will be one of four teams to compete at the final round before the European Court of Justice in Luxembourg. Representing Columbia were students Aravind Ganesh '08, Alexander Lawrence '10, Tomas Samulevicius '08 LL.M. and Sandy Wirtz '09. Judge Daniel Friedman ’37, whose long and distinguished career flourishes still as a senior judge on the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit in Washington, D.C., has been a major influence on several current Columbia Law School faculty, including Peter Strauss, Kent Greenawalt, and Richard B. Stone. “He’s the best of a disappearing species,” said Stone, who worked with the judge at the Solicitor General’s Office early in his career. Jessica Lenahan, whose three daughters were killed when local Colorado police did not enforce a restraining order against her former husband, visited Columbia Law School yesterday and talked to students about her experience in the aftermath and the resulting case she brought before the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights with the Law School’s help. Jessica Lenahan, formerly Gonzales, whose three daughters were killed when local police refused to enforce a restraining order against her former husband, today filed the merits brief in her case before the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights. The merits brief introduces evidence on the failure of the Colorado authorities to investigate the girls' deaths. Columbia Law School's Human Rights Clinic and the American Civil Liberties Union represent Lenahan. When Columbia founded its human rights clinic ten years ago, it was one of a few such clinics in the country. Propelled by growing student interest, the number of clinics has grown since then. On March 1, Columbia Law School hosted the Annual Human Rights Clinicians Conference. Columbia Law School announced the selection of two human rights fellows for 2008. Suzannah Phillips ’08 is this year’s Henkin-Stoffel Fellow, while Jonathan Gant ’08 is this year’s David W. Leebron Human Rights Fellow. On Sept. 11, 2001, Matthew Waxman stood in a basement bunker beside Vice President Cheney as he debated with President Bush whether to shoot down commercial jets still in the sky. At JFK that morning, as word of the attacks spread, Philip Bobbitt instinctively wanted someone to check the flight manifest so his plane wouldn’t be next. Sarah Cleveland, meanwhile, worried for a friend who had worked in the Trade Center. The repercussions of that day are a focal point of study for Waxman (left), Bobbitt and Cleveland, leaders in the debate over the reach of presidential powers in the war on terror. Columbia Law School professor Nathaniel Persily has co-edited a new book, Public Opinion and Constitutional Controversy, which takes an innovative approach to measuring how greatly U.S. Supreme Court decisions mold American public opinion. Theodore M. Shaw, director-counsel and president of the NAACP Legal Defense Fund (LDF), has joined the faculty of Columbia Law School. He will be a professor of professional practice, teaching classes in civil procedure and constitutional law. For 16 Columbia Law School students, return from Spring Break meant a shift into oral advocacy mode for the second elimination round on March 25 and 27 in the Harlan Fiske Stone Honors Moot Court Competition, the law school’s most prestigious moot court contest. The works of Columbia Law School Professors John Coffee and Jeffrey Gordon were included on the 2007 list of 10 Best Corporate and Securities Articles, a list compiled each year by the legal journal Corporate Practice Commentator. As disturbing cases of violence on American college campuses continue to make headlines, Columbia Law School will host a day-long conference on the trend, “Violence on Campus: Prediction, Prevention and Response.” The April 4th event will feature academic experts from law and the social sciences, policy makers and practitioners. Columbia Law School earned several awards at the 2008 Willem C. Vis International Commercial Arbitration Moot competitions this month. Columbia sent teams for the first time to both the Vienna and Hong Kong competitions.

00 Add to Basket Quick View Compare Product Next Day GoFit Extreme Power Tube 60lbs (Red) List Price ??10. Q:x per car or x required A: The manufacturer is advising how many of the part are present on the vehicle the part is sold individually. By asking the consumer to show his or her email and mobile phone number is a great method to connect with them in the future.

STAYING SAFE IN THE SUN! Date 22.06.2017 A Builder from Bristol who battled skin cancer is urging all outdoor workers to protect themselves. After battling through skin cancer, he is speaking out to ensure outdoor workers lather on the sun cream! UV Radiation is at its highest levels through April – October, which means it can cause skin cancer at its highest. Spending long periods of time outside in hot weather can cause unseen damage to your skin, which can lead to the development of skin cancer. Michael said: “There wasn’t any awareness of the dangers of being out in the sun when I started in the building trade. Builder Michael Mansfield described his experience: “there wasn’t any awareness of the dangers of being out in the sun when I started in the building trade.” “It was sun’s out, shirts off, and that’s what everybody did.” “We didn’t realise the harm we were doing.” So what do you think of this? Do you protect yourself against the sun?

When you have a time sensitive shipment, waiting is not an option! By preparing the key shipping data for your freight forwarder in advance, you can get an accurate quote and your shipment moving in no time. You can pull off a time sensitive miracle: on time pickup, quick transit, and perfect delivery window; but if your freight arrives damaged that means an unhappy consignee and delayed deadlines for the replacement. That’s why proper packaging is a key to success that most people overlook. When you have a high-value shipment, you want to eliminate the chance of theft and damage during transit. By utilizing time sensitive services, you can have more control over your shipment to ensure that it will be delivered on time and safe.

Fans Of FNPrg Before the end of 2017 the board will be down for a brief period of time for an upgrade. Past experience says less than 30 minutes but I can't predict the future.Also, there is a high probability that the forum will move to a different host, but that will not happen in 2017.Thanks,Doug Hello Alex, thank you for your input. I had entered all the code, but I had to change the line: <xsl:text>@Album.AlbumCredit>@xmltemplatename=AlbumList.xsl?Album.AlbumCredit@</xsl:text>with this:<xsl:text>@Album.AlbumCredit>@xslparam:templatefile=AlbumList_Cover.xsl?Album.AlbumCredit@</xsl:text>. Because it was not possible to display the albums of the creditpeople.Have a nice day!

What is autrace? autrace is a command line utility that runs a program until it exits, just like strace; it adds the audit rules to trace a process and saves the audit information in /var/www/audit/audit.log file. For it to work (i.e before running the selected program), you must first delete all existing audit rules. The syntax for using autrace is shown below, and it only accepts one option, -r which limits syscalls collected to ones required for assessing resource usage of the process: # autrace -r program program-args Attention: In the autrace man page, the syntax as follows, which is actually a documentation mistake. Because using this form, the program you run will assume you’re using one of its internal option thus resulting into an error or performing the default action enabled by the option. # autrace program -r program-args If you have any audit rules present, autrace shows the following error. # autrace /usr/bin/df autrace Error First delete all the auditd rules with the following command. # auditctl -D Then proceed to run autrace with your target program. In this example, we are tracing the execution of df command, which shows filesystem usage. # autrace /usr/bin/df -h Trace df Command From the screenshot above, you can find all the log entries to do with the trace, from the audit log file using ausearch utility as follows. # ausearch -i -p 2678 Where the option: -i – enables interpreting of numeric values into text. -p – passes the process ID to be searched. Audit Report of df Command To generate a report about the trace details, you can build a command line of ausearch and aureport like this. # ausearch -p 2678 --raw | aureport -i -f Where: --raw – tells ausearch to deliver raw input to aureport. -f – enables reporting about files and af_unix sockets. -i – allows interpreting of numeric values into text. Generate Trace Report of df Command And using the command below, we are limiting the syscalls gathered to ones needed for analyzing resource usage of the df process. # autrace -r /usr/bin/df -h Assuming you have autraced a program for the last one week; meaning there is a lot of information dumped in the audit logs. To produce a report for only today’s records, use the -ts ausearch flag to specify the start date/time for searching: # ausearch -ts today -p 2678 --raw | aureport -i -f Generate Trace Report based on Time That’s it! this way you can trace and audit specific Linux process using autrace tool, for more information check man pages. That’s all for now! You can ask any questions or share thoughts about this article via the comment from below. In the next article, we will describe how to configure PAM (Pluggable Authentication Module) for auditing of TTY input for specified users CentOS/RHEL. Aaron Kili is a Linux and F.O.S.S enthusiast, an upcoming Linux SysAdmin, web developer, and currently a content creator for TecMint who loves working with computers and strongly believes in sharing knowledge. Your name can also be listed here. Got a tip? Submit it here to become an TecMint author.

Tinder and Bumble remove George Zimmerman from their platforms A Florida man was found guilty Friday of attempted second-degree murder, stemming from a 2015 road rage incident involving George Zimmerman, a court spokeswoman said. Posted: Apr 20, 2019 3:11 PM Updated: Apr 20, 2019 3:11 PM Posted By: By Harmeet Kaur, CNN George Zimmerman appears to be looking for a good time. Dating apps don't want any part of it. Tinder recently removed Zimmerman, who killed 17-year-old Trayvon Martin in 2012, from its platform. According to screen grabs of the profile obtained by Creative Loafing Tampa Bay, Zimmerman went by the alias "Carter" and claimed to be looking for "carefree, fun!" According to the bio, "Carter" was a self-employed consultant who attended Liberty University who also happened to love the outdoors, fishing, camping and hiking. One of the screen grabs shows him shirtless and wearing sunglasses. Another shows him with a dog, and yet another shows him in a cap and gown. "We take the safety of our users very seriously and acted appropriately once the profile was discovered," a spokesperson for Tinder said in a statement. Tinder wouldn't elaborate on why it removed Zimmerman's profile but said it reserved the right to remove any profile from its platform under the company's terms of use. Tinder lists impersonation as a violation of its policies. This isn't the first time Zimmerman has ventured into online dating -- Bumble banned him from the platform in December. "George Zimmerman was blocked and banned in December 2018 when we first discovered his profile and we have blocked and banned him again after we were informed by our users that he had created a new unverified profile," a statement from the company read. "We have thousands of moderators working tirelessly with our users to make Bumble the safest and most empowering social networking platform and this is another example of those efforts." In July 2013, a jury found Zimmerman not guilty of second-degree murder in the shooting death of Martin. Martin's death and the subsequent verdict caused national outcry. Since then, Zimmerman hasn't kept a low profile. He was arrested on suspicion of aggravated assault and domestic violence in 2015, though prosecutors decided not to file charges after the alleged victim backed off her claims. A year later, Zimmerman again sparked outrage when he attempted to auction off the gun that he purportedly used to kill Martin. In 2018, he was accused of stalking a private investigator who had been hired by a production company that was working on a documentary about Martin's life.

Clarence Ray Nagin, Jr. (born June 11, 1956), is the former mayor of New Orleans, Louisiana, who served from 2002 to 2010. A Democrat, he gained national prominence in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina in 2005, when his failed evacuation of the city led to the death of some one thousand citizens. Though Nagin blamed the deaths on the George W. BushRepublican administration, the mayor's critics said that the deaths were caused by the inaction of Nagin, who forbade the use of hundreds of New Orleans city buses for evacuation purposes. Nagin also sparked controversy on Martin Luther King Day 2006, when he said of the rebuilding of New Orleans: "We ask black people: it's time. It's time for us to come together. It's time for us to rebuild a New Orleans, the one that should be a chocolate New Orleans. And I don't care what people are saying Uptown or wherever they are. This city will be chocolate at the end of the day. This city will be a majority African-American city. It's the way God wants it to be. You can't have New Orleans no other way."[1] After the statement, he insisted he wasn't being divisive: "How do you make chocolate? You take dark chocolate, you mix it with white milk, and it becomes a delicious drink. That is the chocolate I am talking about." He subsequently apologized for the statement.[2] In 2006, Nagin became involved in further controversy when he referred to Ground Zero in New York City as a "hole in the ground". He was critical of the rebuilding effort there. He was ineligible to seek a third term as mayor in 2010, and the position went to fellow Democrat Mitch Landrieu, then the Louisiana lieutenant governor. In 2014, former Mayor Nagin was convicted on twenty of twenty-one charges of wire fraud, bribery, and money laundering related to bribes from city contractors before and after Hurricane Katrina. He was sentenced to ten years in federal prison.[3]

Strengthening the Fight Against Trafficking in Persons and Migrant Smuggling in the Western Balkans Strengthening the Fight Against Trafficking in Persons and Migrant Smuggling in the Western Balkans Strengthening the Fight Against Trafficking in Persons and Migrant Smuggling in the Western Balkans The overall objective of the project was to strengthen the fight against trafficking in persons and smuggling of migrants, irregular migration and other cross-border transgressions in the Western Balkans through a more effective and operative cross-border cooperation. Activities Organization of a range of technical workshops, tagreting law enforcement agencies (police and border police) and judiciary (prosecutors and judges), following a victim-centered approach. These activities aim to facilitate officials undertaking increased cross-border activties/operations to identify and investigate cases of human trafficking and migrants smuggling. Participants to the workshops devise recommendations on how to strengthen the cross-border cooperation. Drafting of the final publication which comprises the findings of the workshops and recommendations on how to strengthen the cross-border cooperation. Organization of an event in all countries targeted by the project (overall 6 events) to launch the final report and present findings of the project and recommendations

Facebook is steering donations for Hurricane Harvey relief to a tiny, little-known charity called the Center for Disaster Philanthropy — and bypassing the Red Cross, its longtime partner in the midst of disasters. During Typhoon Haiyan in 2013 and the Ebola outbreak of 2015, a button on Facebook News Feeds prompted users to send money to the Red Cross. And as floodwaters have inundated Houston, Donald Trump and Barack Obama have both publicly donated to the Red Cross, as have dozens of major corporations. Now, Facebook is routing its millions of users, and $1 million of its own money, to the Center for Disaster Philanthropy, which in 2015 had just $3 million in revenue. A message on Facebook feeds with a donate button said, "Show your support. Facebook has matched $1 million in donations to the Center for Disaster Philanthropy." Bob Ottenhoff, the CDP’s president and former CEO of GuideStar, a clearinghouse for information on nonprofits, said the group works to change how donors think about giving during disasters, focusing on long-term recovery. “People are motivated right now, because they’re watching television and reading newspapers,” said Ottenhoff. “But we find there’s a dramatic reduction in contributions almost immediately once the media attention is over. In a case like this, with what we see happening in Houston, it’s going to be a very long recovery.” Facebook’s shift is a potential sign of the growing discontent with the Red Cross and other rapid-response groups’ activities in the wake of natural disasters — as well as attempts by Silicon Valley to rethink how people give money to charity, steering donations to causes tech magnates think will be the most effective. The Red Cross has faced intense scrutiny and criticism for its work in previous disasters. During Hurricane Harvey, people have encouraged others on social media to donate to groups other than the Red Cross. Facebook’s unusual Harvey partnership sent so many users to the CDP that the organization’s website quickly crashed. The CDP’s Facebook page was inundated with comments from people who had never heard of it, demanding to know where their money was going and even worrying that the call for donations was a “scam.” “I donated $50 and instantly freaked out,” commented one user, Jenna Workman Travers. “I called my bank and they think it’s okay, because it hasn’t come up yet as a scam. But, I cancelled the donation because it suddenly seemed shady.” The CDP had reached Facebook’s $1 million matching goal in less than four hours, said Ottenhoff — by far its biggest fundraising push. “We believe the Center for Disaster Philanthropy is well positioned to help meet the recovery needs of communities in Texas,” a Facebook spokeswoman said. “CDP knows from past disasters, especially through their experiences with hurricanes and floods, that full recovery will take many years.” Facebook still partners with the Red Cross, the spokeswoman said, by allowing the group to raise money through its own page. Scott Olson / Getty Images Silicon Valley has been at the forefront of rethinking how philanthropy works — with an eye, tech barons say, toward maximizing well-being with each dollar spent. Tech figures have been major funders of GiveDirectly, a nonprofit that makes direct, unconditional cash grants to individuals living in poverty. Facebook cofounder Dustin Moskovitz’s wife, Cari Tuna, is the president of the Open Philanthropy Project, which does extensive research to identify “high-impact” charity projects. GiveWell, a charity evaluation service connected with the Open Philanthropy Project, cautions potential donors to “support an organization that will help or get out of the way.” Last year was the Red Cross’s worst fundraising year since 2000, ProPublica reported. In a statement, the Red Cross said it still had an “established and ongoing” relationship with Facebook, which allowed it to raise money through a disaster fundraisers platform. Unlike the Red Cross, which provides on-site aid, the Center for Disaster Philanthropy does not itself provide any services. Instead, it collects money and uses an advisory committee to disburse funds to smaller groups, many of them local — filling in gaps left by government organizations and large national charities. “To have Facebook say ‘this is where we think our money should go and we welcome others to join us’ is a major tipping point in learning about recovery,” Debra Jacobs, the chief executive officer of the Patterson Foundation, told BuzzFeed News. The Sarasota-based charity announced Tuesday that it was donating $250,000 to the CDP’s Hurricane Harvey fund; it had also given money to the group in the wake of other disasters.

The UK's first-ever BMW 'Z-Fest' will be held at the Silverstone Classic, 20-22 July 2012. Organised by the BMW Car Club GB, as one of the highlights of their 60th birthday celebrations, hundreds of BMW's popular Z1, Z3, Z4 and Z8 sports cars will be on display as well as participating in a special parade lap. BMW UK will also be the 'Official VIP Courtesy Car' for the first time at the Silverstone Classic, whilst visitors to this summer's event will also be treated to a display of the Bavarian manufacturer's hottest current cars and famous cars from its glorious heritage. Silverstone will provide the perfect stage to host the UK's inaugural Z-Fest and celebrate BMW Car Club's 60th birthday. Steve Miller, general manager of the BMW Car Club GB said: "We wanted to do something spectacular to mark our anniversary and staging the UK's first Z-Fest certainly fits that bill. This really is going to be something special and undoubtedly is this summer's big event for Zed enthusiasts both in the UK and on the continent." As an official sponsor at Silverstone Classic, BMW UK will also provide a VIP courtesy car service for guests and competitors attending the 'World's Biggest Classic Motor Racing Festival'. Now in its 22nd year, the event will see over 800 fabulous and exotic race cars competing, attracting over 1,000 competitors and over 7,000 classic cars. Chris Brownridge, Marketing Director of BMW Group UK, said: "We are really looking forward to the 2012 Silverstone Classic and providing a premium courtesy car service for guests. We'll also be able to showcase some of our most exciting new and historic cars and join in the Z-Fest and celebrations to mark 60 years of the BMW Car Club GB." On display from the BMW range, will be an array of new and potent models including the new BMW M6 Coupe, powered by the latest V8 M TwinPower Turbo engine producing 560hp, and the eagerly anticipated BMW 1 Series 3-door M135i - a true M Performance vehicle. BMW's super sports car, the legendary M1, will be in the VIP Hospitality area whilst the BMW stand will host a number of other classic BMWs. These include a beautiful BMW 507, clothed in an elegant body designed by Count Albrecht Goetz, and a BMW 2002 Turbo - unveiled in 1973 and the first European production model with turbocharged technology.

Snake Hides in Toilet, Bites Man's Penis Now, The Times of Israel confirms that a 35-year resident of that country was visiting his parents in the town of Nofit when a snake that had been hiding in the toilet crept up and bit him on the penis. Fortunately, the animal was not venomous and the man was released after some time under doctor supervision. "There will undoubtedly be bite marks on the area in question," a representative from Haifa’s Rambam Medical Center said, per Australia's Daily Telegraph, while a paramedic who treated the victim told The Daily Mail: "This is the first time I've seen a snake bite like this. Luckily, all tests seem fine and the man is feeling well." According to the original report, the man "ran from the room in horror." And according to our best guess, every man who read this story just crossed his legs and winced in sympathetic pain.

Season 4 begins right where season 3 left off. Claire, unable to keep up with Frank’s insatiable thirst for power, has gone, leaving him alone for the first time since they got together. Frank and Claire are the soul of the show. It soars when their ruthlessness teams up, and on paper, it has no right to be as good as it is when they’re pulled apart.(Netflix) “One of they key problems today is that politics is such a disgrace. Good people don’t go into government.” - Donald Trump “I cannot force you to see reason but I will not allow you to become dangerous,” seethes Frank Underwood to his estranged wife Claire. It’s just what we wanted after season 3 ended, and House of Cards, in its unabashedly uneven fourth season, grants us just that - and then some. Deep down, the show has always been a romantic drama. Yes, they’re all trying really hard to convince us that it’s a prestige programme with serious actors doing serious acting about serious things like politics and stuff - but come on. Frank and Claire are the soul of the show. It soars when their ruthlessness teams up, and on paper, it has no right to be as good as it is when they’re pulled apart. Season 4 begins right where season 3 left off. Claire, unable to keep up with Frank’s insatiable thirst for power, has gone, leaving him alone for the first time since they got together. It seemed unthinkable before this – they were like Bonnie and Clyde, like Clarence and Alabama from True Romance, they were like Joker and Harley Quinn! Separating them was - and I hope you appreciate just how bold a step it was - a complete shock. Now House of Cards had been toying with our expectations right from the first time Frank rapped his ring on wooden furniture. It would’ve been only logical for Frank to become President at the very end of the series, maybe in the finale, but no, they sat him in the Oval Office in season 2. And now, Claire’s gone. And there’s a Presidential campaign to run. And Frank, for the first time, is crumbling. A smart thing season 4 does is to frame the entire story within the months it takes to run a Presidential campaign. Frank Underwood is President, yes, but there will always be that grating voice in his head reminding him how he came to power. Despite his lawless ways, it seems to annoy him enormously that he couldn’t take charge legitimately. It is out of this insecurity and doubt that he does the despicable things that he does. Another natural side effect of a Presidential campaign being the spine of the season is that obvious real world parallels can be made. And since we find ourselves in the middle of a particularly exciting one out here, it works in the show’s favour. Most of the debauchery of this season, like previous seasons, takes place behind close doors. In public, Frank Underwood is an opinionated, moderately liberal Democrat. Privately, he’s the ungodly lovechild of Donald Trump and Scarface. How many lives has he destroyed in his rise to the top? How many enemies has his ambition cursed him with? And what will he do when they all come for him, especially since it could only be a matter of time before they do. Being alone changes Frank. He just isn’t capable of scheming all by himself. And it makes the usually pragmatic Claire a spoilt woman born into money. They’d promised to be there for each other till the end. They were going to grow old together, they said. But they were young and foolish in love. Granted, it was twisted too, with all the spontaneous threesomes and the casual adultery, and the even more casual murder. But despite everything, House of Cards was, in its icy heart of hearts, a love story. And then Claire went and turned into Skyler White from Breaking Bad. Which brings me to my biggest gripe of the season: It’s uneven. In fact, it’s two separate seasons glued together. For six episodes it’s fantastic. There is a new dynamic between the characters – one that we haven’t seen before. Frank is becoming volatile and Claire, under the pretence of visiting her ailing mother (played fantastically by the way, by Ellen Burstyn), is carrying out her own, consistently misguided plans for absolute power. She has even gone and hired herself her own personal Doug (played by Scream queen Neve Campbell). The interplay between the two in the opening half of this season is brilliant. Maybe because Batman v Superman is still fresh in my mind that I compare House of Cards’ rumble in Washington with that disappointing film, but that’s exactly how the conflict is resolved here. An arbitrary event happens that inspires sudden emotion in both Frank and Claire, and somehow convinces them to completely discard the resentment in a bathtub with a slit down its wrist, resentment they so passionately shared for each other not two minutes ago. And so begins part 2: The decidedly weaker half of the season. Without revealing any spoilers, Claire informs Frank of a plan so poorly conceived, both on the part of Claire and the show, that it takes a while for either to recover. What makes matters worse is the unfortunate casting of Joel Kinnaman as Frank’s Republican counterpart Will Conway, a man who single handedly gives narcissistic yuppies a bad name. Maybe it’s just because he’s thinly written, but there is a lack of charisma and charm to his character, and it’s made quite clear that he’s supposed to be both those things. Perhaps if they’d stuck to one of these stories, the season would’ve made for a better binge, because God knows, that’s how I watched it – in three days. And on top of everything, they decided to bring back their version of Putin for more passive aggressive conversations, two plot elements from the good old days of season 1, another couple from season 3, vague ramblings on gun control and greatness, and – get this - they even found time to kill a major character. And then, as if only to make sure that we couldn’t possibly be able to keep with the sheer number of separate plots – enough to make Game of Thrones paranoid - they threw in their version of ISIS as well. But then, Frank Underwood looked in to the camera and delivered a line so chilling that suddenly, all was forgiven. Suddenly, I appreciated the fact that I was witnessing two actors give the most iconic performances of their careers. Suddenly, it was clear that while House of Cards doesn’t think much of politicians, it does, shamelessly, love politics. Suddenly, I wanted to watch a whole new show, one about Frank and Claire’s youth, one that takes us back when the monsters were created. Back when they were like Carl and Ellie from Up, like Jesse and Céline from the Before series, sitting on a balcony somewhere, sharing a cigarette, having made a mutual pact to not tell on each other, looking at the stars, wondering who to destroy next, perhaps with a sheepish smile on their face, watching us watch them.

You're just demanding legitimate contenders wait on the back burner while the UFC manufactures WWE-style drama. Sorry the WWE is lame these days, bro. Maybe check out Real Housewives. Click to expand... I haven't seen a single episode of WWE in my whole life. People remember the super fights of their lifetime. Do I care that Edgar has to wait a little longer? No. Do I want to see Lawler beat Hendricks or Ares again? No. This sport is all about the fans. Plus think of publicity such fights would generate. People would day: "hell, I remember 2016. Best year for fights ever. They don't do this s*** anymore" etc. This is just a stupid idea, who would want to watch any of those fights, and what weight would they be at? Do you know nothing about MMA? Click to expand... Who would want to watch any of those fights? Your mum for a starter. I don't know. What weight Anderson v GSP was supposed to be at? The GSP that lost to Hendricks who lost to Lawler. Scratch that. Lawler v Vitor - who wants to see that? Who da F wants to see Diaz v Anderson. What idiot came up with that idea? Who would wanna watch Pettis v Aldo? The most stupidest idea of them all. Lawler has never fought at MW so I didn't think it through. I clearly know nothing about mma.

No-Shank Super Flex Pencil - Case of 100 Super flexible, but rigid enough to write with. You can wrap it around your finger. Nominal length 4?. Writes in 87 languages, spells the most difficult words correctly and solves math problems. The writing center is a marking polymer, writing like a #2 lead. Writes 1/3 more than a conventional pencil. Sharpens like conventional pencils. Body in 4 assorted colors. Will not support electricity nor will it support flame. Assembled in USA

Is a state-federal health assistance program which provides certain needy and low-income persons help in paying medical bills. Variations of MA include: • BadgerCare Plus – A state/federal program that provides health coverage for Wisconsin families and individuals living in poverty. BadgerCare Plus replaced the former AFDC-Medicaid, Healthy Start, and BadgerCare programs. Potential BadgerCare Plus members will include: Children under 19 years of age, Pregnant women, Parents and caretakers of children under 18 and dependent 18 year olds, Parents and caretaker relatives whose children have been removed form the home and placed in out of home care, Form foster care youth under age 26 who were in out-of-home care when they turned 18, and Effective April 1, 2014, adults ages 19-64 who are not receiving Medicare and do not have dependent children. A person is eligible for BadgerCare Plus if he or she meets all BadgerCare Plus non-financial and financial requirements. • CIP & COP Waiver MA – Coverage for children and adults that meet age requirements or have been determined disabled by the Social Security Board. Must meet income and asset limits. • Continuous Newborn – Certification up to age 1. • Family Planning Waiver – The intent of the waiver is to control Medicaid costs by increasing the use of family planning services and reducing the incidence of unintended births among women. Must be age 15 through 44 and a Wisconsin resident. • Institutionalized MA – To cover inpatient care and expenses. Must meet assets and income limits. Coverage is for children under 21 and adults 65 and older. Also may meet spousal impoverishment limits, if a couple. • MAPP– A special Medicaid program to SSI recipients. • Nursing Home – Covers expenses for Nursing Home patients. You must meet asset and income limits. Nursing Home Medical Assistance covers nursing home care and medical expenses, same as regular Medical Assistance. • Qualified Medicare Beneficiary (QMB) – You must be eligible for Medicare Part A – MA will only pay Medicare Part A & B premiums, all Medicare Part A and B deductibles and co-insurance. • Specified Low Income Medicare Beneficiary (SLMB) – You must be eligible for Medicare Part A – MA will only pay the Medicare Part B premium. • SSI-Related MA – Must be 65 years old or older, blind, or disabled. *Eligibility for Medical Assistance is based on State income and asset guidelines. Change and Information CenterMost changes affecting benefits that you receive through Oconto County Economic Support should be reported to the Bay Lake Consortium Change and Information Center. Changes are taken by phone, Monday through Friday, 8:30am – 4:00pm excluding holidays. By calling 1-888-794-5747, your change can be handled immediately and you will know the status of your benefits. Depending on the change you are reporting and the program(s) you are receiving assistance for, verification of the information may be required. Some changes that should be reported to the Change and Information Center are: · Birth of a child · Address changes · Changes in income or assets · Changes in expenses You may also fax verifications and documents to 1-855-293-1822 or mail to:

This Dorothy teen girls costume follows the classic Judy Garland look from the Wizard of Oz movie. Whether you're dressing up for a theme party, Halloween, or school play, this dress costume works for them all. The blue gingham pinafore is knee length and attached to the white short sleeve blouse. The blouse has blue trim around the hem lines to add detail to this cute Dorothy dress costume. Add our matching hair bows or the essential ruby red slippers to complete your look!

Darksiders 2: Argul’s Tomb and Death Rides DLC available worldwide The first batch of Darksiders 2 DLC is now available on PC, Xbox Live and PSN. Argul’s Tomb opens up two new ares for players to explore. Original enemies, dungeons and loot will be found in this quest. Those who pre-ordered the Limited Edition of the game should have a valid code to download this one. If not, this will set you back 560 Microsoft Points. The Death Rides pack was previously only available as a pre-order incentive. This adds around two hours of additional side-quests and can also be snapped up for 560 MSP.

I came home from work to find that I am now living with everyone that I have ever lived with: my mother, my college roommates and my ex-wife. My ex-wife meets me at the door to say that everyone’s mad at me for taking the stove and the fridge to work with me. Everyone’s starving! I find the college roommates and apologize. I offer to order pizza. They take me into their part of the house and show me the secret boys’ kitchen. Never worry, they say. I am not to tell the women. . Do you like this dream? Add a dream yourself if you want to join dreamstory without signing up. On the left side in the menu by ADD A NEW DREAM you can fill in a short title for your dream (searchmachines look for the keywords in titles) then click NEW PAGE and post your dreams.

Navigation On the same day The Ruxted Group commented on the combination of ignorance and dishonesty which characterizes so much of the anti-military, anti-leadership role for Canada attitude the Toronto Star published a prime example in the form of a column by Thomas Walcom . First, Walkom says: “The United States, Canada and other allies invaded Afghanistan in retaliation for the terror attacks of 9/11.” That is not true. Canada, like other ISAF members, was invited to Afghanistan by that country's lawfully elected government to join in a UN mandated mission. If Walkom doesn't know it is not true then The Star ought to fire him for being ill-informed. If, as Ruxted suspects, he knows it is untrue but says it anyway, then we should call him what he is: a dishonest propagandist and an unethical journalist who is siding with the terrorists who are killing Canadian soldiers. Next, Walkom says: “Perversely, the war on terror abroad made us less safe at home.” That, too, is untrue. The attacks in Bali and Madrid showed that al Qaeda and its fellow travellers still thought they had a firm base (which is what 'al qaeda' means) from which to mount attacks. They now understand that they cannot have firm bases in failed or failing states – not unless they want to face the West's skilled, brave, professional soldiers. Walkom spreads an al Qaeda lie – we are still in their sights; they still want to attack us; they have to be more carteful because they know they may have to face us in battle and they know they will lose. So they use our resident 'useful idiots' and 'fifth columnists' (intentional and unwitting) to spread disinformation. Finally, Walkom says: “They [the Afghan people] may not like the Taliban, but they don't like us either.” That is also untrue. Most polling shows that most Afghans welcome us, the Western troops – especially the Canadians. Walkom is, yet again, propagandizing in a way which gives aid and comfort to the enemy. Thomas Walkom is wrong. Thomas Walkom is spreading enemy propaganda; knowingly or not and like too many Canadian journalists, he is a de facto al Qaeda agent. Trackbacks Comments Peter Dawson on Monday, September 3. 2007: Thomas Walkom may well be wrong. However, so are you. The initial Canadian engagement in Afghanistan was as a part of Op ENDURING FREEDOM, the US-led NATO response (under Article 5 of the North Atlantic Treaty) to the 9/11 attacks. It did not have a UN mandate as such - as the UN Charter specifically acknowledges the right of self-defence, which the US was exercising. The Charter also acknowledges the rights of collective defence, i.e. of alliance members to come to the aid of their allies. This engagement pre-dated the UN-sanctioned ISAF mission, but (significantly) was not opposed by the Security Council, who recognized the US right to self-defence in the aftermath of 9/11. The invite from the Afghan government came later – after the ouster of the Taliban government (who were about as legitimate as any previous Afghan government for quite some time, notwithstanding dismal human rights records et al). And for you to adopt the George Bush line of "if you aren't for us, you're against us", by suggesting that he is an Al Qaida agent, whether "de facto" (check your Latin) or otherwise, is cheap polemic of the sort that got the US involved in Iraq, to the ultimate detriment of the Global War On Terror. And although I am supportive of our continued engagement in Afghanistan, I think it would be foolish to suggest that we do not increase our vulnerability to (or perhaps, more accurately, probability of) attack, by being part of it, as Mr Walkom suggests. It would be naive indeed to presume that one could attack anyone without inviting counterattack. This is a factor which any commander, at any level, must consider, and counter. Where Mr Walkom may err is in arguing that that alone is reason for backing off. What we absolutely need is a far better-informed level of debate regarding our options in Afhanistan and our strategies against international terrorism. Based on a quick read, I am not sure that the Ruxted Group is meeting that need at this stage. Shawn Carroll on Tuesday, September 4. 2007: Thomas Walkom may well be wrong. The Ruxted Group may well be wrong. I may be wrong. However, so is Peter Dawson. The initial NATO mission may not have had the UN mandate to enter Afghanistan, but it did have UN support and backing for it. (From DND) The sequence of events that led to the full manifestation of Operation APOLLO started on September 12, 2001, when the United Nations Security Council issued Resolution 1368. The resolution had condemned the attacks of 9/11 and reaffirmed via the UN Charter's Article 51 that allied nations had the obligation to eradicate global terrorism. Background: September 12, 2001: The UN Security Council issued Resolution 1368, condemning the attacks of September 11, and stated that the UN was prepared to combat all forms of terrorism. September 20, 2001: Minister of National Defence Art Eggleton authorized more than 100 CF members serving on military exchange programs in the U.S. and other allied nations to participate in operations conducted by their host units in response to the September 11 terrorist attacks. September 28, 2001: The UN Security Council issued Resolution 1373, setting out the methods by which member states were to root out terrorists and terrorist organizations, and deprive terrorists of the funds and materials necessary to conduct their operations. October 4, 2001: NATO Secretary General Lord Robertson announced that, in response to the terrorist attacks in the U.S., the North Atlantic Council (NATO's senior advisory body) was invoking Article 5 of the Treaty of Washington, which states that any attack on a NATO nation launched from outside that nation shall be interpreted as an attack on all the NATO nations. October 7, 2001: Op APOLLO was established in support of the U.S. initiative code-named Operation ENDURING FREEDOM. October 8, 2001: Minister Eggleton announced the first CF commitments under Op APOLLO, which involved about 2,000 CF members. Navy ships were the first CF units to participate in the campaign against terrorism, and they began deploying immediately. Oct. 17, 2001: The HMCS Charlottetown, HMCS Iroquois and supply ship Preserver leave Halifax for the Arabian Sea where they are to join U.S. and British forces already there. The deployment is Canada's contribution to Operation Apollo. Deployment of the 3 PPCLI Battle Group: In mid-November 2001, the U.S. asked its coalition partners (including Canada) to provide ground troops for a stabilization force to be deployed in areas secured by the Northern Alliance to facilitate distribution of humanitarian relief and supplies to the people of Afghanistan. Canada immediately placed 1,000 members of the Immediate Reaction Force (Land) (IRF(L)) on 48 hours' notice to deploy. The deployment of the 3 PPCLI Battle Group significantly increased the number of CF personnel directly involved in Op APOLLO. ---- And it seems Mr. Dawson gives credibility where none is due. The Taliban regime was not a government, as it gained diplomatic recognition from only three states: Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates. They are hardly an endorsement of a legitimate "government". The Ruxted groups is correct to suggest Mr Walkom is an Al Qaida agent, whether "de facto" or otherwise. And yes, I did check the dictionary. The problem with Mr. Dawson's argument is that he's confusing Iraq with Afghanistan. Other than that, Mr. Dawson gives a well-reasoned reply to the Ruxted Group. Add Comment E-Mail addresses will not be displayed and will only be used for E-Mail notifications. To prevent automated Bots from commentspamming, please enter the string you see in the image below in the appropriate input box. Your comment will only be submitted if the strings match. Please ensure that your browser supports and accepts cookies, or your comment cannot be verified correctly.Enter the string from the spam-prevention image above:

Crabwalk Riverfest visitors recall victim as a paragon of grace She never visited the Toledo area, but Princess Diana was a beloved figure around the world. Ohio and Michigan were no exceptions. “She was beautiful. She did so much for charity. She was a good mother. She was just a great lady,” Madeline Kuhnke, of LaSalle, Mich, said. “I admired her so much.” At the otherwise joyous RiverFest downtown yesterday, area residents remembered the late princess as a paragon of grace, kindness, and strength. “She always put people who weren’t able to speak up for themselves first and gave them a voice,” said Medical College of Ohio student Robert Debski, pointing out Diana’s crusades for children and against the use of crippling land mines. Many were struck hard by the initial press reports, and some refused to believe the beautiful, young princess could really be dead. “I felt terrible when I heard the news,” said Cindy DeYoung, who was visiting RiverFest from Lambertville with her daughters. “I had actual chills from head to toe.” The most pressing concern for most was the future of Diana’s two sons, one of whom is in direct line to inherit control of the centuries-old British monarchy. “I feel awful. She’ll never be able to see her children inherit the throne,” Theresa Jelks of Toledo said. “That’s the saddest part of all this,” her husband Charles agreed. “The children need their mother. The mother is the foundation of the family.” Most people interviewed reacted angrily at reports that photographers chasing Diana’s car might have been partially responsible for the accident. “I was appalled that a picture means so much to these people,” RiverFest volunteer Linda Tracy said. “What’s wrong with this world? Yes, she’s a celebrity and, yes, she’s famous, but she is entitled to have a life of her own.” “The paparazzi ought to be arrested and locked away for a long time,” said Mary Freimark of Toledo. “There’s a difference between getting a story and stalking. That’s not right.” But Mr. Jelks said responsibility for the accident must rest with the chauffeur who, according to reports, was driving at more than 60 mph. “I can’t rightly blame it on the photographers. There’s blame to go around for all parties,” he said. “That speed is a lot of running to get away from a camera.” But it is clear many Toledo residents saw the princess’s life as an ideal others should try to achieve. “For women in the world, she set a wonderful example,” Mrs. Jelks said.

The Environmental Protection Agency is receiving through Aug. 10 public comments on a proposed Significant New Use Rule (SNUR) that would allow use of asbestos in certain building materials and other products.

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Breadcrumb With a theme of “Advancing Affordable Care and Promoting Value,” the 26th Annual American Hospital Association Leadership Summit, July 26-28 in San Diego, offers insights and ideas for senior executives, physician leaders, and trustees from the nation's leading hospitals and health systems. Combining thought leadership and applied learning, the Summit features renowned speakers from both inside and outside of health care bringing unique perspectives, and hospital and health system leaders sharing their experiences in pursuit of innovation and value. The program features: Dedicated educational tracks on enhancing the value and affordability of health care, advancing quality and population health, innovations to transform the delivery system, integrating workforce and strategy, effective leveraging of health IT and data, governance performance, and novel approaches for engaging consumers; Thought-provoking keynote presentations; Special sessions for trustees and physician leaders; and Opportunities to network with fellow health care leaders and field partners. Noncommercial use of original content on www.aha.org is granted to AHA Institutional Members, their employees and State, Regional and Metro Hospital Associations unless otherwise indicated. AHA does not claim ownership of any content, including content incorporated by permission into AHA produced materials, created by any third party and cannot grant permission to use, distribute or otherwise reproduce such third party content. To request permission to reproduce AHA content, please click here.

United Kingdom Seeking sponsors to help break three wind powered world speed records A unique opportunity for winning the hearts and minds of the British public is being offered to the wind industry by a campaign to break three wind powered world speed records. The Windjet project is looking for a chief sponsor for its bids to record unprecedented speeds on land, ice and water -- powered by the wind. Formula 1 and aerospace technology are combined in the design of its three vehicles which have been constructed and are undergoing trials. They were built after five years of research and development and will attempt the records this coming winter. So far they have raised the official British land record from 56 miles per hour (90.12 kilometres per hour) to 113.4 mph (182.49 kph) and exceeded the American-held land record of 116 mph (186.68 kph) in trials. As well as hoping to break the land record set in 1999, the Windjet team has its sights set firmly on the ice record of 143 mph (230.13 kph) set by the United States in 1938, and the hotly contested water record, which stands at 46.52 knots (53.53 mph) set by Australia in 1993. The Windjet team's Max Kalis says the project is hoping to find a title sponsor. "Our team is extremely supportive of renewable technology and really hope the title sponsor will be from a suitable industry," he says. "There is clearly synergy between wind power and wind power records." Have you registered with us yet? Already registered? If you see a comment you find offensive, you can flag it as inappropriate. In the top right-hand corner of an individual comment, you will see 'flag as inappropriate'. Clicking this prompts us to review the comment. For further information see our rules for commenting on articles.

First Ascent of Much-Tried Patagonian Peak Approaching one of the largest crevasses on Volcan Aguilera. Photo by Evan Miles. 9/30/14 - An international expedition has done the first ascent of one of Patagonia's most isolated summits, in the middle of winter. Volcan Aguilera was the last major volcano in the Andes to be climbed—it had been attempted six times since the mid-1980s. In their third "Uncharted" expedition, exploring the wildest regions of the tip of South America, Camilo Rada (Chile) and Natalia Martinez (Argentina) teamed up with Ines Dusaillant (Chile), Viviana Callahan (Chile), and Evan Miles (USA) for a 25-day expedition to climb Volcan Aguilera and other peaks. Volcan Aguilera (2,480m/8,136') rises nearly 5,000 feet over the icefield. Although it's only 10 kilometers from tidewater, the dense vegetation along the approach and the region’s fickle weather had repulsed six different month-long expeditions since 1986, allowing only one team to even establish a camp at the mountain’s base. Taking note, the Uncharted team instead employed a counter-intuitive approach and started from much farther away, leaving Lago Agrentino and traversing 47 kilometers (29 miles) of icefield, over previously unclimbed passes, to reach the mountain’s north side. In a 25-hour round-trip summit push, all five members of the team were able to negotiate the mountain’s seracs, gaping bergschrunds, and ice mushrooms to attain the summit at dusk on August 29. Their route, Concierto de Rimayas, ascends the volcano’s north ridge before crossing onto the heavily glaciated northwest face. It was named for the complex navigation required to find a path around, over, and through at least five bergschrunds (or rimayas). With fantastic weather and time for more exploration during their return journey, the team subsequently climbed two unnamed peaks (Peak 2,420m and Peak 2,440m), Cerro Spegazzini’s East Peak (2,290m), and Cerro Esperanza (2,520m), all believed to be previously unclimbed. The Uncharted project is working to preserve the stories of exploration and clarify errors in the history and maps of Patagonia’s mountains. In 2013, team members did a new route on Monte Sarmiento, making only the second ascent of the main peak in 57 years. The year before they completed extensive exploration and new routes in the Cordillera de Sarmiento. As with the previous expeditions, the team expects to produce a new, highly accurate map of the Aguilera region.

recentnews One should avoid posting ``recent'' events---sports scores, a planecrash, or whatever people will see on the evening news or read in themorning paper. By the time the article has propagated across all ofUsenet, the ``news'' value of the article will have become stale.(This is one case for the argument that Usenet news is a misnomer.{Note that the Clarinet News service (Clarinet) offers news items ina Usenet format as a precise alternative to the morning paper, et.al.) Quality of Postings How you write and present yourself in your articles is important. Ifyou have terrible spelling, keep a dictionary near by. If you havetrouble with grammar and punctuation, try to get a book on Englishgrammar and composition (found in many bookstores and at garagesales). By all means pay attention to what you say---it makes you whoyou are on The Net. Likewise, try to be clear in what you ask. Ambiguous or vaguequestions often lead to no response at all, leaving the posterdiscouraged. Give as much essential information as you feel isnecessary to let people help you, but keep it within limits. Forinstance, you should probably include the operating system of yourcomputer in the post if it's needed, but don't tell everybody whatperipherals you have hanging off of it.

The "impossible triangle" of Oscar Reutersvärd is constructed as a three‐dimensional object. Move the light source and modify the opacity to understand the construction. If you do not understand, move the object!

The President of the United States Election Day is the first Tuesday after the first Monday of November. You must be 18 years old to vote. The next presidential election will be in 2016. The presidency of the United States is a 4 year term obligation with a two term limit. The president is in charge of the executive branch. He is Commander-in-Chief of the armed forces; ensuring that our country is kept safe. The Constitutional requirements to be president are: 1. be at least 35 years old 2. be a natural-born US citizen 3. live in the US for 14 years. The constitution does not elaborate whether the 14 years can be cumulative or consecutive. John F. Kennedy was the youngest person to be elected president; he was 43 years old when he was inaugurated in 1961. The President lives and works in the White House. In the White House, the president has an office. It is called the Oval Office. In over two hundred years, 44 presidents have worked in the White House. The address of the White House is 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue in Washington, D.C. The president flies on his own plane called Air Force One. The president approves and vetoes laws. A presidential veto means that the president declines to sign the bill so it does not become law. When Congress sends him a new law, he may or may not agree to sign it. He lets Congress know about new laws he thinks should be passed and can use his influence to get them passed. He makes agreements, called treaties, with other countries. A treaty is a formal, written agreement between sovereign states or between states and international organizations.

P2P group has released the updated version of “Malwarebytes Anti-Malware Premium”. The graphic interface is highly intuitive and you simply need to specify the type of scan you want to perform – the most accurate also requires the most time to complete, so if have time to spare, it is advisable to choose this type. Today’s cyber criminals build software designed to slip past antivirus programs undetected. Malwarebytes Anti-Malware Premium crushes these threats with innovative technologies designed to defend you while keeping your online experience fast and hassle free.

Single from my forthcoming album MAD LIBERATION set to drop September 4th!! Love sharing songs that I get to play sax on and there is a heavy bit of that in this one! 103 bpm mid-tempo electro soul future funk banger to get up on!!! Available for download Sept 4th everywhere!!! <3 GRiZ Hello, how are you, listen to some of the songs that you have published and I would like to ask if it is possible that you allow me to use some of them as a musical background in some of my videos, I am creating a new YouTube channel and I am looking for some background music for my videos, in which I would use your music if you allow me and place a direct reference to your channel in soundcloud, what do you think?

Thursday, April 14, 2011 Everything was going according to plan. Bases loaded, bottom of the 9th, down by one, David Wright at the plate. Sure, this could have been easier, but Terry Collins saw the long season, and he knew an ordinary victory wouldn't do. "If the lead doesn't change after the 6th inning it's like watching television on a Wednesday," he told pigeons as he fed them. "You go to bed like a human, but you don't get to say 'Yeah!'" To Collins, the season came down to how often and how loud you could go "Dananananananana!!" He went "Dananana," for Reyes' homer and "Danananananana!" for Hairston's but he still wasn't satisfied, he needed the full blast. When something truly awesome happened he did a wiggling dance and emphasized the "na" that happened when he completed his rotation. Several Mets had whispered to each other about this habit the first few times they saw it ("He reminds me of yesterday," said Bay; "He reminds me of tomorrow," said Ike; "He reminds me of a ladybug, crawling up a window, standing on transparent eternity, crawling into nothingness, vanishing into ever-smaller specks, feeling 7s and 9s at the ends of its feet, pondering Spain in the fall," said Ryota Igarashi) but after a few weeks most of them barely noticed it. Collins had designed this moment to elicit his dance. If he could do the full "Danananananananananana!!!" with the complete wiggle, surely the Mets would be inspired to many wins. He did the dance at his interview to get the job. He did the dance to remind himself who he truly was. Wright would strike the seamed sphere with the mallet of truth and glory would be the emotion of choice in Queens. Sadly, Jim Tracy, chief communicator between rocks and Rockies, had a counterplan. As the 9th inning trickled forward and more and more Mets occupied the bases, he was Wright on the horizon and knew he was doomed... unless. He called the bullpen. "Who of you throws a wrongball?" he asked. One by one the rocky pitchers shook their heads in negation. The line of head shakes reached Matt Lindstrom who shrugged. "I tried it once in college," he said. "Then damnit, get in the game," said Tracy. Lindstrom, as you may have seen could do little against most Mets. He even struggled for five pitches against Wright, and then we were where we started, where we wanted to be all along. Bases loaded, bottom of the nth degree, two outs, the fate of humanity pretending to enter into the equation. "Who is Wright?" asked Ike from the on deck circle. "I'M WR-" bellowed Wright, but then Lindstrom released the wrongball, and like the scout killing the captain in Stratego, the wrongball could only do one thing, but it did it well. The wrongball beat Wright. The "Danananana!!" that had begun to uncoil with Captain Collins was stifled and he coughed up a hairball. "All is lost," he sighed. "But TC-thousand," said Umptar the Umpire, "there's still a whole 'nother game!" "I said, all is lost!" cried Collins, and Umptar didn't push the matter, because he could see that Collins was feeling surly. A stifled "Danananananana!!!" will do that every time. For the second game of the doubleheader, Collins stayed in the clubhouse. He drank whiskey, smoked cigars and played backgammon. Capuano simply pitched until he didn't feel like it anymore, and then he placed the ball on the mound and announced that whoever grabbed the ball first had dibs. It was only a baseball game because it counted in the standings. It only happened because so many people saw it. Wright sipped the precious juice of a young coconut. "Dang, what was that pitch?"

You are yourself People will try to tell you who you are or who you should be your whole life. But the truth is, only YOU know who you are. There have been many occasions during my high school years where I felt that I was never good enough or that because no one seemed to care about me I wasn't worth anyone's time or consideration. However, I was lucky enough to have a family that always stood behind me and would listen to me. Unfortunately, not everyone is as lucky. To those who feel alone and victimized hear me when I say you are not alone! Whether it is a family member or an outside advocate someone does care. Never let anyone tell you who they think you should be, and do not ever be afraid to tell an authority figure who can stand behind you the truth. I have personally been cut, threatened, verbally and physically abused and people have even attempted to push me down flights of stairs. Luckily all of that is in my past and I am a strong and driven woman because of the hardships that others put me through. Do not ever give up hope of a magnificent future because it can be achieved! With your perseverance and courage to end this epidemic you will help so many others become who they are meant to be and let them know that they have a place in this universe other than someone else's scapegoat. Use your voice and we can help anyone who cannot find theirs! Peace, love and happiness to all! By writing some words below, you are showing your support and letting everyone know they're not alone.

28 April 2011 The Diving Pool by Ogawa, 1990 In a recent thread on the Impostume, Carl said that he liked Yoko Ogawa’s The Diving Pool. On this recommendation I picked the book up from the library, and now I like it too. It consists of three novellas, each told by a different young woman narrator, each possessed of a creepy passivity and a delicate lascivious cruelty. These days I read fiction not just for its own sake but also for its potential exemplary value in crafting my own writing. A couple of things here with Ogawa’s book. First, the length of these stories: they’re about 13K words each, maybe 40 pages in typical book print. That’s long enough to explore some territory and dig under the surface a little without obligating oneself to the sweep and intricacy of a full-length novel. I recently read the excellent Jesus’ Son by Denis Johnson, which is a set of interrelated short stories narrated by and centered around the same main character. Now, after reading Ogawa, I’m thinking about maybe stretching this structure into a set of interrelated novellas. The other exemplary thing for me about Ogawa’s book is signaled in the first sentence of the first novella: It’s warm here: I feel as though I’ve been swallowed by a huge animal. The places in which theses stories unfold — an enclosed swimming pool, a maternity hospital, a university dormitory — assume a subjective presence, as if these places were themselves characters. In our discussion of Kubrick’s The Shining we observed that the Overlook Hotel is a presence affecting the guests and caretakers who stay there, almost as if the humans and the events that befall them are repressed memories of the hotel itself, locked up in the rooms waiting for someone to unlock them. Is the hotel’s madness a projective expression of the occupants’ disturbed psyches, or vice versa? This sort of expressionistic personification of place surely predates cinematic exemplars like The Shining — Poe’s stories come most readily to mind. Ogawa does it too. Here’s another example, this one from the third novella. The manager of the dormitory is dying: he’s lost both arms and a leg, and now his ribs are curving inward toward his heart. The narrator has begun tending to the manager… “Could you get my medicine?” “Of course,” I said. I took a packet of powder from the drawer of his nightstand and filled a glass from the pitcher of water that had been left by his bed. Everything he might need — the telephone, a box of tissues, the teapot and cups — had been brought from elsewhere in the apartment and arranged close to the bed. The change was minor, but to the Manager it must have seemed as though his world was shrinking along with the space in his chest. I watched a drop of water fall from the lip of the pitcher, and a chill went down my spine. “I hope this helps,” I said, trying to appear calm as I tore open the packet of powder. “It’s just to make me more comfortable,” he said, his face expressionless. “To relax the muscles and soothe the nerves.” “But isn’t there anything they can do?” I asked again. The Manager thought for a moment. “As I’ve told you, the dormitory is in a period of irreversible degeneration. The process has already begun. It will take some time yet to reach the end — it’s not a matter of simply throwing a switch and turning out the lights. But the whole place is collapsing…” Ogawa’s Dormitory, like The Overlook Hotel, is a variant on the traditional haunted house. I’m not trying to write horror stories or weird fiction. I’ve written a book about a set of characters whose various motivations eventually converge; now I want those merged subjective trajectories to take shape as a set of interrelated places in the world. I don’t think Ogawa’s sensibility is right for my project; still, her expressionism gives me something to work with, to immerse myself in, to be possessed by… head of a cloning facility in D.C. who has “a micropenis and two microtesticles,” Jesus fucking Christ Eloise that sounds REALLY CREEPY The rest sounds like a rip-off of Michael Chricton’s COMA, which was a very efficiently made taut little thriller starring my favorite Canadian actress Genevieve Bujold in an early tour de force. Later she made the mistake of playing a perverse wermin for Cronenberg, which effectively sunk her career. You were right about the Narcissistic Cat – she had a large bipolar crisis due to the Temptress’s adoption of Tamarayana, the abused kitten, whom the Diva adores with all thirteen of ‘er tentacles. But the sturdy Texan cat didn’t give and she’s back in full adumbration mode, willing and ready to please the Temptress with EVEN MORE dry theorizing!!! Exciting and lovely!!! I don’t believe I’ll be reading the micropenis book. I suspect it’s a real condition, and there’s the possible body-horror fascination of having someone thus afflicted being a reproduction expert. Per one of the themes of this post, the fertility clinic could be positioned as this character’s macropenis, an externalized expressionistic projection of his repressed potency. I bet the writer doesn’t go there though. I’m glad Levi is feeling better, per his recent post. I had to resist posting something about his latest subject of dry theorizing. The relationships among environment, sensation, perception, cognition, and behavior have long been a fertile field of empirical psychological and biological research. For example, did you know that Isaac Newton formulated the first correct theory of color? Newton’s experiments with prisms, refracting sunlight into its component colors differentiated by degree of refraction, is what first made him famous. Although I didn’t specialize in perception it does periodically engage my dilettantish attention, prompting me to post about it from time to time.

SU Suite Sayings with Botanical Builder Framelits February 21,2016 I used just one stamp from the SU Suite Sayings stamp set. Imagine making a bunch of these cards and adding sentiments as you need them…sympathy, birthday, thank you. *I was inspired by Linda Heller’s “white flower design on white” at our meeting:) If you pay close attention to all the sentiments- you will see a lot of the fonts coordinate with other sets in both the Occasions catalog and the Annual catalog. I liked how this particular sentiment matched the fern die cut. I am sharing this card with those playing along at The Card Concept # 49 Floral Radiance. I consider it CAS since it is uncluttered with lots of white space, limited layers, and quick to create. I was inspired by the top color in the photo since it was “minty” and matched one of the colors showcased in the SU It’s my Party Enamel Dots!

River guide swallowed by hippo, lives to tell tale River guide swallowed by hippo, lives to tell tale Courtesy: YouTube BEVERLY HILLS, Mich. – Paul Templer knew his would-be murderer. He was sort of hard to miss. After all, he was a two-ton hippopotamus. The Michigan native recounted his amazing tale in the London Guardian’s “Experience” serieslast week. Considering Templer was swallowed by a hippo and lived to tell about it, other stories in the series may end up failing in comparison. At the time of the swallowing, Templer was a 27-year-old river guide giving tours down the Zambezi river near Victoria Falls along the African border of Zambia and Zimbabwe. Everything started when one of Templer’s apprentices got his small kayak – complete with two worried tourists – hi-centered on the back of a large hippo. Templer said he paddled furiously back upstream in an attempt to assist the kayak. That’s when he was “engulfed into darkness.” “There was no transition at all,” Templer said. “No sense of approaching danger. It was as if I had suddenly gone blind and deaf.” The hippo had chomped down on Templer’s left arm and chest. A doctor would later find over 40 puncture wounds spanning the area. A confused Templer wrestled for his life. “I managed to free one hand and felt around – my palm passed through the wiry bristles of the hippo’s snout,” Templer continued. “It was only then that I realized I was underwater, trapped up to my waist in his mouth.” After wriggling as hard as he could with an arm almost completely devoid of flesh, Templer said the hippo opened its mouth and he was able to escape – momentarily. As he was swimming toward one of his apprentices, the hippo clamped back down on his leg, swallowed and dragged him back under 10 feet of water. “I’ve no idea how long we stayed under,” Templer said. “Time passes very slowly when you’re in a hippo’s mouth.”

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Most recommended CINNETIC is the emblem of the Cinnetic New Age group, who as a whole hoard up more than 100 years of experience developing rods, reels, lines and many kinds of fishing tackle products, trying to satisfy the needs of the most avid anglers. CINNETIC is the culmination of that "know how" providing technologically advanced products, durable and functional, with a modern and innovative design which aims to set trends into the angling fishing world. Cinnetic brand as such as its known logo (energy in movement) comes from something as mundane on sportive fishing and also in our own lives as the kinetic energy. We can see it in both the blades of a windmill as a fishing reel rotor turning and even on the movement of our fishing lures. The common ray image which can appreciate in many of our product envelopments is a graphic way to express that energy continuously flowing. Our aim is the continuous improvement of the products we develop. Our motivation is the illusion and satisfaction of the anglers who fishing with them. Concerning the international distribution, CINNETIC operates through two main platforms. The first and original one has its headquarters in Badalona, from where it is distributed throughout Europe and Africa. The second one is located in USA, where the staff of "Angle Sports INC" based in Columbia delivers service mainly the North American and Asian markets.

I really liked the different textures and colors when I looked at this scene and decided to shoot it. The great thing about the Nikon CoolPix P7000 camera is that it allows you to have it in your pocket whenever you are on the road and captures great pictures like this one. Walking around with my full frame Nikon D700 is a workout and having this little pocket camera makes my life less complicated. As Japan struggles to recover from the earthquake/tsunami, I post this picture in remembrance to those who lost their lives. I visited Japan in 2008 and spent 10 days touring this beautiful country. This image is how I remember Japan, here’s hoping for a speedy recovery. It has been awhile but I had a few things to take care of. Today we celebrate Ash Wednesday, a public holiday, and what better way to start the day but with a nice hot cup of coffee in this beautiful courtyard. This is the final installment in the Bike Week series. This picture was taken during the Reefathlon Time Trial that was held in the Cayman Islands on November 21, 2010. Professional cyclist Peter Stetina of Team Garmin-Cervélo brought his A-Game and showed the local cyclist how it is done at the pro level.

LAST NIGHT'S MATCH REPORTS Last updated : 02 January 2007 By Editor The Guardian: Until last night it is fair to say the overwhelming majority of the population, possibly Sir Alex Ferguson and Jose Mourinho included, had not heard of David Edgar. They have now. Edgar, not even in the 29 players listed on the back of the Newcastle United programme, has written his name into an increasingly beguiling title race. It now moves on to Villa Park this evening, where Chelsea will begin seven points behind Manchester United. By 10pm it could be four and Mourinho might just express his gratitude to Edgar. He was only playing due to an injury crisis at St James' Park that is threatening to become a plague. Edgar had been drafted in at Bolton on Boxing Day and played right-back. That was his debut. Last night, in his first home game, he was at left-back. He is a centre-half by vocation. Newcastle's captain Scott Parker set the tone in midfield but ahead of him Obafemi Martins worked tirelessly, as did Antoine Sibierski. Behind the midfield in which 20 year-old Steven Taylor was the most experienced defender - Nolberto Solano being a midfield fill-in at right back - fought, headed, showed composure, rode their luck and thanked Shay Given. Ferguson drafted in seven new starters from Saturday. Giggs and Saha were among them and their ninth-minute combination looked ominous. Giggs shot wide but Given then made a fine block from Saha, who immediately had a header cleared off the line by Parker. Milner had been prepared to run at Gary Neville, though there had been little hint that he would jink inside to such effect in the 33rd minute. But Milner did that, found a yard and struck a perfect rising shot beyond the helpless Van der Sar from 20 yards. The leaders may have been affronted rather than stunned and Given had to deny Wayne Rooney before Scholes' first in the 40th minute. It was a lovely move featuring Scholes, Giggs, Darren Fletcher and Scholes again. That was his fifth goal in his last five appearances at St James' and his sixth was not far away as he drove in a low effort, saw it clip Taylor and deflect past Given. In between Scholes' goals Sibierski might have made it 2-1 to Newcastle and Park hit the outside of a post. Though the second half saw fewer chances - Ronaldo's header was nodded away by Solano and Park failed from seven yards - in terms of noise Edgar's variation raised the roof, and the stakes. The Times: Strong winds obliged the authorities on Tyneside to cancel their planned public festivities for New Year's Eve but, as it transpired, the fireworks were merely postponed. After a captivating fixture, Manchester United took their leave of the North East with a stormy disposition, denied, frustrated and ultimately matched by a Newcastle United team running on empty. While an efficacious draw extended United's lead over Chelsea to seven points, their advantage will be whittled down to four should the champions emerge victorious from tonight's game away to Aston Villa. For Newcastle and Glenn Roeder — who have specialised in grasping pride but no points on occasions such as this — it was a delicious reward. It was Edgar who fashioned a splendid equaliser 16 minutes from time, astounding opponents who had been idling in a low gear. Edgar has pedigree, of sorts. Eddie, his father, had played one game in goal for Newcastle in 1976 and was a team-mate of Pelé's with the New York Cosmos, but celebrity has now been passed down to his offspring. The 13 senior players Newcastle were lacking included every recognised full back and left Roeder with Steven Taylor as his only senior centre half, where he played alongside Paul Huntington, 19. Durability was requested of United in the aftermath of Milner's fine, long-range shot and first goal of the season, a task complicated by the early withdrawal of Louis Saha with a groin complaint. Newcastle's advantage endured for all of seven minutes. Scholes initiated the mayhem, passing short to Darren Fletcher and regaining the ball from Ryan Giggs before curling it beyond Shay Given, the Newcastle goalkeeper, with an air of inevitability. Ferguson's team may not have scaled the peaks of recent weeks, but their frailty prompted a surfeit of incident. Antoine Sibierski nudged between his markers to meet an inviting cross from Solano and did so with power, but directed his header towards Edwin van der Sar's flailing boots. Yet United had as much cause to rue their inaccuracy. Giggs stepped inside Solano but dragged a free shot across and wide of goal, while Given was also to dash smartly from his line and dive bravely as the Wales forward bore down on him. In the final moments of the first half, Park Ji Sung, Saha's replacement, struck the base of the right post. United's powers of patience were not strained. The second period was 22 seconds old when a loud collective groan was emitted by Newcastle's biggest crowd of a turbulent campaign. Once more, Scholes was their tormentor, accepting a pass from Ronaldo and shooting from distance, between Taylor's legs. Independent: The first of January ushered in the first of the delicate away assignments that will determine Manchester United's fate in May and ended with Sir Alex Ferguson suffering a deflating climax to a festive season that had enriched his 65th birthday celebrations. Consumed by the thought of a nine-point gap over a divided Chelsea at the top of the Premiership, his ambitions were limited to a meagre draw against a depleted Newcastle United instead. Rarely can a seven-point lead on New Year's Day have felt so underwhelming. If United, the Manchester variety that is, are to land a first League title in four seasons, then it is success at such problematic destinations as St James' Park, Arsenal, Tottenham, Liverpool, Portsmouth, Chelsea, Everton and Manchester City that will shape their triumph more than any injury crisis or internal argument at Stamford Bridge. In that respect the first of those eight staging posts suggested a fraught scramble to the finishing line, the two-horse race now slowed by two-all draws as Newcastle defied a 12-man injury list and their home debutant David Edgar denied United the opportunity to tighten their hold on the top. The hosts were in such poor health that his opposite number had been forced to abandon plans to field Nicky Butt as an emergency defender against his old club when the midfielder reported to St James' with a swollen left ankle. Though Ronaldo and Park added to Ferguson's frustration with late misses, United had sat back and invited Edgar's equaliser by the time it arrived. Chelsea, for all their current turmoil, have been offered a reprieve. Telegraph: David Edgar's father played alongside Pele for New York Cosmos but to the Geordie nation, Edgar Jnr yesterday achieved an even more stellar footballing achievement. Never mind the Cosmos, Edgar's 72nd-minute equaliser against Manchester United was out of this world. St James' Park stood in raucous salute of the callow Academy graduate as his spectacular 30-yarder raced past Edwin van der Sar to secure a deserved point for Newcastle. Standing most proudly in the jubilant throng was Eddie Edgar, who appeared once in goal for the Toon, and who had flown in from Canada on the off-chance of his son making his home debut. The events unfolding at St James' were particularly remarkable because of the injury ravages endured by Newcastle. Such were Newcastle's diminishing options that it was difficult to see where Roeder's inexperienced back line began and the ball boys ended. Two teenagers started, Paul Huntington and Edgar, as well as a 20-year-old in Steven Taylor. Maybe it was the urging of the Newcastle faithful that stirred this rising star in black-and-white stripes. Or the presence of the guest of honour, Philippe Albert, who famously chipped Peter Schmeichel in a thrashing of United 10 years ago, a game immortalised in a video titled Haway 5-0. Both goalkeepers excelled. Shay Given somehow denied Louis Saha, who then saw a goalbound header cleared by Parker before limping off with a groin injury. The action in this enthralling encounter was non-stop, Newcastle appealing loudly for a handball against Nemanja Vidic as the giant Serb cleared a Milner drive. United contain such technical class and character that a sharp response was expected. Wayne Rooney, breaking off from his war of attrition with Parker, tested Given. United came calling again six minutes before the break. Scholes was the playwright and the leading man, scripting a flowing move, involving Darren Fletcher and Giggs, before producing a magnificent pay-off, a little shimmy past Huntington and a raking drive past Given. Few midfielders time their arrival into the danger zone as expertly as Scholes. Scarcely 20 seconds of the second period had unfolded when Scholes was parading his shooting skills again, this time exploiting a pass from Ronaldo before defeating Given. That should have been it. Game over. Another example of United's superiority, another victory. Newcastle, marvellously, refused to go quietly. Parker kept leading the resistance movement. Milner kept running upfield, and from one of the winger's little breaks, the ball was worked back to Edgar and the rest was hysteria.

As I’ve been making my way slowly to level 50 (no, I’m still not there yet), there have been a lot of things that caught my attention. Some enormous, some teeny. Some brought a smile, some amazement. All are brilliant. Today I’ll share some of the things that were pleasant surprises for me. More after the jump… I don’t remember where I was exactly. Some cut-scene early on. I do remember the grass or foliage of some kind moving back and forth in a breeze. I thought it was very cool, completely unexpected and added a dimension I haven’t noticed in an MMORPG before. I like how my character moves with my speeder. It gives me a feeling of real movement. I also like how her arms and hands are in different places, depending on the type of vehicle she is driving. No stock “driving” pose for SWTOR. Hands on the controls get a +1 from me. It’s cool to be able to visit a party member’s ship. So far, I’ve gotten to visit two other ships and I loved the experience. I played tourist and explored gleefully. While I like all of them and think all three I’ve seen are awesome, I must say Imperial Agent ships really rock. My own Sith Inquisitor and the Bounty Hunter ships are great, but there was something special about the layout of the Agent’s ship. Traveling from planet to planet gives me the feeling of being in the Star Wars galaxy. I usually like the travel on planet, with some exceptions that I will go into another time. Speeders on Tatooine especially rock, reminding me of pod races. I can see going back there from time to time just to take the taxi. Some of the scenery is nothing short of fabulous. The first speeder ride across Voss was simply amazing. I love the vistas and bigness of the worlds and there’s only been one planet I wasn’t fond of so far. The detail in trees, landscapes and – well basically everything – is incredible. There was an interesting reflection of light on the roads of Belsavis that I found interesting. It made me wonder what material the road was made of. Reflections in general are very well done. I also like the juxtaposition of the greenery against the ice and snow on Belsavis. Being able to repair at any vendor is a relief and those wonderful medical droids that pop up at out of the way places are wonderful. The music is perfect for the game and I’m glad I have both the CE soundtrack and the one we were able to download. I listen to those quite often, so I have more of the music ingame. The different architectures are simply stunning. The patterns, writing, shapes, colors and textures come together to truly create alien cultures and worlds that are great just for touring. I particularly love Alderaan’s Thul Palace, but then I really enjoyed my time on that planet in general. Visually it is a gorgeous game. Something many of us forget to do is look up. We might when we’re outside and notice the color of the sky, cloud patterns or such, but inside is a different story and we often don’t. I had forgotten on a lot of planets, but I remembered recently and was rewarded by a continuation of the rich detail seen everywhere else. The ceilings I noticed were complete with moldings, shadows and light, patterns and color that looked very realistic. I’ll be stopping to look up a lot more often now I’ve remembered. The giant windows that look out onto a planet are another fabulous visual and I will probably be back to visit those in the future. I imagine it could be very relaxing to just sit and watch the world turn from space. That’s my two credits on some of the things I enjoy. What’s yours? What are some of the surprises you enjoy? The first little thing I noticed that really tied the game to the SW universe for me and made me smile was the wookiee sitting across the holo chess table from a droid with no arms in the cantina on Hutta.

We noticed that you're using an unsupported browser. The TripAdvisor website may not display properly. We support the following browsers: Windows:Internet Explorer, Mozilla Firefox, Google Chrome. Mac:Safari. T2h2XzlfQzNB other travellers have booked this property online using TripAdvisor Payments. When you book your rental using TripAdvisor payments you are covered by Peace of Mind Protection. Overview Reviews (2)Make Enquiry Amenities & Details Dryer Grill Internet Access Washer Water Views Wi-Fi Suitability Pets allowed Smoking allowed Suitable for children x x x Wheelchair access Elder access x ✓ About this property A Cozy New England Boothbay Harbor, Maine Retreat, with water part views and 5 minute walk to town. These Delightful 1 Bedroom Condo is comprised of a Comfortable Living room, comfy large sofa, swivel armchairs, electric fireplace with flat screen Tv. Dining Room has table with 4 chairs, fully... View all property information SWpKXzhfaFBE other travellers have booked this property online using TripAdvisor Payments. When you book your rental using TripAdvisor payments you are covered by Peace of Mind Protection. Overview Reviews (2)Make Enquiry Amenities & Details Air Conditioning Dishwasher Dryer Fireplace Grill Internet Access Satellite TV Washer Suitability Pets allowed Smoking allowed Suitable for children x x ? Wheelchair access Elder access x ✓ About this property Nestled up on a hill peeking over Boothbay Harbor you will find this cozy two bedroom cottage. The two bedrooms have twin and full size beds. The living room has a sleeper sofa, gas fireplace, tv, DVD and wifi. The Kitchen is fully equipped with a 4 burner gas stove and dishwasher. In addition a... View all property information SUJMXzE0X2tiTg== other travellers have booked this property online using TripAdvisor Payments. When you book your rental using TripAdvisor payments you are covered by Peace of Mind Protection. Overview Reviews (15)Make Enquiry Amenities & Details Dryer Fireplace Grill Internet Access Mountain Views Satellite TV Washer Suitability Pets allowed Smoking allowed Suitable for children x x ? Wheelchair access Elder access x x About this property Our log cabin is nestled in the Sprucewold Community, about a 5 minute walk to a beautiful beach and a 10 minute walk to downtown Boothbay Harbor. It is a spacious 2 bedroom + loft cedar log cabin that was recently redone with brand new floors, a screened in porch, and bathroom. We have a fully... View all property information On the quiet East Side, perched on a hill overlooking the harbor this stand alone apartment brings the world of boating in Maine right before your eyes. In addition to enjoying views from inside, you have two decks to enjoy outside. Everything is included in the weekly rental..(sat-sat)... View all property information the cottage is on a 50 foot bluff, western exposure facing the atlantic ocean. it has a low water beach. its a comfortable cottage with all the amenties 2 bedrooms - 4 twin beds, 2 beds per room kitchen stove, refrigerator, microwave dining room living room fireplace, tv, radio... View all property information A perfect home right in the heart of Boothbay Harbor. This bright cottage is the ideal spot to unpack, kickback and relax on the second floor deck that overlooks Boothbay Harbor and it’s boating activity. Step in from the deck and enjoy the 2nd floor family room that offers fantastic sunlight, and... View all property information Lakeside Cottage Lakeside Cottage is a compact bright and cheery one bedroom cottage overlooking Appalachee Lake. Grill dinner on the deck while enjoying the sunset over the lake. Relax in the open living/dining/kitchen area and be taken in by the lake views from the extensive windows. Watch... View all property information Coveside House, a Sea Captain-style home overlooking Decker's Cove,is located on beautiful Southport Island on the coast of Maine, just an hour's drive from Portland, and minutes from Boothbay Harbor. This coastal home is approximately 140 years old having gone through several transformations and... View all property information This one-floor log home is sequestered among whispering pines and offers privacy and tranquility, yet is only a short walk from town. Enjoy limited views of Mill Cove and the outer Harbor from the screened porch and living room. Tastefully decorated and comfortably furnished. Beds: 2 Twins, Double,... View all property information ZENaXzFfTkJt other travellers have booked this property online using TripAdvisor Payments. When you book your rental using TripAdvisor payments you are covered by Peace of Mind Protection. Overview Make Enquiry Suitability Pets allowed Smoking allowed Suitable for children ? ? ? Wheelchair access Elder access ? ? About this property Beautiful oceanfront house with lots of open space and views from every room. Minutes from Reid State Park, Five Islands, and fresh lobster! Studio suite also available for rent separately from house. View all property information NklqXzJfYWZ3 other travellers have booked this property online using TripAdvisor Payments. When you book your rental using TripAdvisor payments you are covered by Peace of Mind Protection. Overview Make Enquiry Amenities & Details Balcony Grill Housekeeping... Internet Access Safe Wi-Fi Suitability Pets allowed Smoking allowed Suitable for children ? x ✓ Wheelchair access Elder access x ? About this property This 1800s schoolhouse is full of charm! Gleaming wide pine floors and beamed ceilings add to the appeal. The home's location is truly what makes it exceptional. Walk 1 minute to the harbor or to our favorite breakfast spot. A 4 minute walk takes you to all Boothbay Harbor has to offer--shops,... View all property information RndRXzJfaUZ2 other travellers have booked this property online using TripAdvisor Payments. When you book your rental using TripAdvisor payments you are covered by Peace of Mind Protection. Overview Make Enquiry Amenities & Details Air Conditioning Balcony Grill Internet Access Private Fishing... Satellite TV Waterfront Water Views Suitability Pets allowed Smoking allowed Suitable for children x x x Wheelchair access Elder access x x About this property This oceanfront cottage is ideal for one or two people. It is fully self contained having everything you need for a memorable vacation. An amazing sunrise greets you each morning. It is quiet and and peaceful place as you sip your morning coffee on the porch which overlooks world famous Cabbage... View all property information LAZY DAYS For boaters, Spruce Point is the entrance to Boothbay Harbor. Lazy Days is the perfect spot to watch the ‘commuters’ come and go! From your private water-side deck, you have one of the best views around. Relax with a cocktail as the sun goes down for spectacular sunsets, swim from the... View all property information This lovely revolutionary war era cape-style house has a large central chimney, original pine floors, exposed beams and other period details. Electric wiring and indoor plumbing were added sometime in the last century -- this house is simple, authentic and quaint, not modern or luxurious. With... View all property information This beautiful, rustic cabin sits on a peninsula of Big Knickerbocker Lake and is the perfect choice for those seeking seclusion and privacy. Surrounded by old oak trees and water on three sides, this classic Maine hideaway was built by local craftsmen using reclaimed wood from a nearby antique... View all property information Oceanview Cottage Beautiful 2 bed, 2 bath overlooking Linekin Bay in Boothbay Harbor area. Each bedroom has abundant closet and dresser space as well as a private bathroom and windows that assure good nighttime breezes. One room has twin beds that easily convert to a king, and the other has a... View all property information PLEASE NOTE: Thank you for visiting this property's page. We are still trying to determine available future dates for 2014 and beyond. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause.... View all property information Spectacular Ocean Views from almost every room of this Island Cottage! Ocean, islands, boats of all kinds and a sandy beach, make it the perfect spot for a Maine Oceanfront Vacation. Enjoy your meals outside on the terraced area using the gas grill. There is an outdoor dining set and outdoor chairs... View all property information An On the Water in Maine 'Top 10' property, this classic 1907 cottage is a perfect combination of traditional Maine charm and modern amenities. The Jones cottage had a major kitchen renovation in 2014, and has undergone upgrades including new furnishings, two remodeled bathrooms, modern appliances,... View all property information Imagine sunrise breakfast, sunset dinners, and in between, life on the edge...the oceans edge! Our quaint Captains Cottage has all the warmth and comforts of home with an everchanging view! The first level includes, livingroom, 2 bedrooms, fully equipped kitchen, diningroom and bathroom. Off the... View all property information SALTAIRE Head down to the ocean from your front porch and enjoy your private dock and float right on Linekin Bay. Or, head to the end of your driveway and enjoy a shared sandy beach at the freshwater Appalachee Lake! Saltaire is the perfect location for the best of both worlds. With all that water,... View all property information Ever wonder what it would be like to live on the edge of a true working waterfront? To watch a thriving harbor community go about everyday life and feel like you're a part of it? You can – by spending your vacation in the heart of Boothbay Harbor, Maine! Wake to the rising sun on the front porch... View all property information WkZFXzJfYnNh other travellers have booked this property online using TripAdvisor Payments. When you book your rental using TripAdvisor payments you are covered by Peace of Mind Protection. Overview Reviews (3)Make Enquiry Amenities & Details Balcony Dishwasher Dryer Grill Internet Access Satellite TV Washer Waterfront Suitability Pets allowed Smoking allowed Suitable for children x x ? Wheelchair access Elder access ✓ ✓ About this property Beautiful oceanfront property at the head of the harbor. Bright open concept kitchen/living/dining room with abundant natural light. Two cheery bedrooms, with nautical themes and one convertible sofa sleep up to six. One and a half baths include a new stackable washer and dryer. A balcony off the... View all property information The Bayville Cottage is a furnished 3 bedroom, 1.5 bath vacation rental home on the shores of the quiet and picturesque Linekin Bay in Bayville, Maine, just minutes from the buzzing little downtown of Boothbay Harbor, where you can take in Lobster, drinks at McSeagull's, stroll through several art... View all property information At Sunny Woods House, the living and dining space, kitchen, dedicated office, media room, 2-3 bedrooms and 2 full bathrooms are all on one level—no stairs! You will find everything you'd expect to find in a modern year-round house: fully-equipped kitchen (including a dishwasher), washer and dryer,... View all property information White Rocks is a classic New England shingle style summer cottage on the salt water in mid-coast Maine. The cottage overlooks a large bay and has spectacular views of islands, lighthouses, and the rocky coastline. White Rocks has a screened porch and a deck that both overlook the water, as well as... View all property information ZUpWXzFfTVdP other travellers have booked this property online using TripAdvisor Payments. When you book your rental using TripAdvisor payments you are covered by Peace of Mind Protection. Overview Reviews (11)Make Enquiry Amenities & Details Dishwasher Dryer Fireplace Grill Internet Access Satellite TV Washer Waterfront Suitability Pets allowed Smoking allowed Suitable for children x x ? Wheelchair access Elder access ? ✓ About this property Portside is a year-round luxury condo with the charm of a cottage in the heart of historic Boothbay Harbor, Maine. The cottage is in the town center and yet you will find tranquility and privacy inside. We share a dock and float with the other two Back Bay Cottage units and have our own deck on the... View all property information Early 1800's Maine home on Cosy Harbor with a shared dock and float. You are welcome to share our 2 kayaks when available. The dock is tidal, but has water around it most of the tide(8'at high tide). Walk to the Southport Yacht Club, Beaches, or the General Store for ice cream. The yacht club... View all property information FROSTY GLENN Launch your kayak at the nearby town dock or from the cottage seaside shoreline (rocky), then paddle out around Cuckolds Lighthouse and Cape Island. Take an icy dip in the Atlantic from the rocky shore. Walk. Commune with nature. Meet the locals. Enjoy all this beautiful seaside... View all property information This cozy Maine cabin with sandy beach is a short walk to seven other Association Beaches, and forest preserve with hiking trails. Located at Indian Point in Georgetown you are just a short drive to the Bath/Brunswick area and the Boothbay Region. Wonderful views of Sagadahoc Bay. Accommodations... View all property information THREE SEAS Perfectly located on McKown’s Point and part of the Juniper Point Association this beautifully quaint little two bedroom cottage is the perfect family retreat for your summer vacation! Enjoy views of Mouse and Squirrel Island from the living room windows and grassy yard. Open the windows... View all property information Perched hillside, this updated older two story home is just a short walk to downtown Boothbay Harbor, with all of its restaurants, shops, and activities. Rent a kayak to explore the Harbor or go on a Whale Watch. Go deep sea fishing or sail on one of the windjammers, all accessible by foot! No... View all property information Want to get away? No cars and a five minute ferry ride get you away from the hustle and bustle. This island property boasts 4 bedrooms and comfortably sleeps up to nine people. The ocean is a short walk away and the northern 2/3 of the island provide a nature conservancy with walking trails for... View all property information GARRAVALE Garravale sits at the head of West Harbor Pond in Boothbay Harbor. This garrison style cottage has plenty of room for the family with four bedrooms and two baths, eat in kitchen and open living/dining room; not to mention the large wrap deck just off the kitchen. The large yard is... View all property information In town but with an out of town feel. It's just a short walk to the shops and restaurants from this intown duplex townhouse. Leave the car at home and walk down the hill to the shops, restaurants and waterfront activities. The Seahorse is located on Fisher Hill intown Boothbay Harbor. This cottage... View all property information MOLLY’S CAPE Molly’s Cape is perfect for an active family wanting to swim and kayak as well as anyone looking for a quiet, beautiful place to soak up the sunshine and listen to the ocean! Located on the west side of Southport Island Molly’s Cape provides the perfect out-of-the-way location with... View all property information THE LEDGE Listen to the gulls keen. Watch the Cormorants and osprey dive. Smell the salty tang in the air. Feel the pounding of the surf come up through the ledge on which you stand taking it all. Imagine the taste of the yummy lobster dinner planned for tonight! The Ledge will excite your senses... View all property information This 'Little Cabin' is nestled among the spruces, pines and hardwood trees that is often the image evoked when people are dreaming of a Maine vacation. The open concept livinig/dining/kitchen allows for everyone to participate in conversation or to sit and enjoy the piano. In addition to three... View all property information Light and airy condominium situated right on Boothbay Harbor. A close-up view of the Windjammers, Fourth of July fireworks and boat watching are yours at this Condo. Dining room seats 4 with views of Boothbay Harbor. Within walking distance of many fine seafood restaurants. Level entry access to... View all property information Situated on the southern end of MacMahan Island, our turn-of-the-century Maine cottage has breathtaking views. It is a unique island, where one walks or uses a golf cart to get around the island. Automobiles are left on the mainland in a parking lot 1/4 mile from the landing after unloading your... View all property information WHITELEY’S WHARF Whiteley’s Wharf; come on in, relax, unwind and enjoy the spectacular views! Barter’s Island moves at a different pace, and the owners of this newly constructed home have captured that feeling in the layout, décor and landscaping. Thoughtfully creating their idea of the perfect... View all property information ATLANTIC SUNSET Atlantic Sunset is all about the views! Sunsets, lobster boats, sea birds, Outer Harbor Island, the rocky coast and southeast entrance to Boothbay Harbor. That is what this property is all about! This is the perfect spot for watching fireworks, tall ships and other sail boats!... View all property information House was professionally built in the year 2005 and is highly maintained. Additionally the house is weekly rental, it also include convenient access to slip of the lake front land abuts the West Harbor Pond. Guests can take short walk ( ½ mile or so ) to lake and swimming, fishing, kayaking else... View all property information Acorn Cottage The Acorn half of the Seacorn duplex cottage is just a short walk to downtown Boothbay Harbor. Located at the end of a quiet neighborhood road, this two bedroom condo unit has a wonderful garden and terrace area. Acorn Cottage is fully equipped with a washer/dryer, dishwasher,... View all property information A dream that has been repeating but now seems to be coming true has often been used to characterize past guests experiences after staying at Barnacles. What one will often describe when asked what they envision their Maine vacation on the rocky coast of Maine would look like. This classic Maine... View all property information PIFFI BIFF Piffi Biff is a beautiful cottage located on the historic Southport Island on the Boothbay peninsula. With incredible views of the Atlantic Ocean, Squirrel Island, Boothbay Harbor, Burnt Island, you will also see porpoises, whales, migratory shore birds, sailboats, yachts and lobster... View all property information TIDEWATER FARM This is Island Living the way we do it in Maine! Tidewater Farm is a beautiful little cottage located on Southport Island, about three miles from Boothbay Harbor. Once you come across the swing bridge, notice the second hand on your watch slow right down. Stunning views, cove and... View all property information PINE CLIFF DWELLER Pine Cliff Dweller is perched on the edge of a cliff overlooking Burnt and Squirrel Islands and the entrance to Boothbay Harbor and the open Atlantic! The owners of this magnificent property have maximized the view with tons of windows, covered and uncovered decks and indoor... 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Only valid for active forum users. Active means at least 30 postings within the last 30 days (no spam postings). This will automatically being checked at www.starbike.com shopping basket so make sure that you are logged in at the WW board!If there does not appear a WW discount position when you check out you do not have enough postings! No, I havent tried Bontrager myself. I dont like the powertap concept, you get the inconsistent data because its on the other end of the drive train, and you loose important data when you change wheels, or you have to fit every wheelset with a powertap and their by spend more money. I change frequently between high and low profil wheels.I would have gone with the pedal based if it was available last year, but I didn't have the patience to wait for them, and it looks like you are forced to run a specific clipless pedal system depending on you powermeter. I very happy with my power2max. Changes in temperature does show, but can be nullified by zero the system. Which is done by not pedaling for 2 sec. So not an issue in my eyes. If I was a pro I would go for the SRM but don't have the money.If you can afford Enve, you dont have a choice to make darkblue08 wrote:No, I havent tried Bontrager myself. I dont like the powertap concept, you get the inconsistent data because its on the other end of the drive train, and you loose important data when you change wheels, or you have to fit every wheelset with a powertap and their by spend more money. I change frequently between high and low profil wheels.I would have gone with the pedal based if it was available last year, but I didn't have the patience to wait for them, and it looks like you are forced to run a specific clipless pedal system depending on you powermeter. I very happy with my power2max. Changes in temperature does show, but can be nullified by zero the system. Which is done by not pedaling for 2 sec. So not an issue in my eyes. If I was a pro I would go for the SRM but don't have the money.If you can afford Enve, you dont have a choice to make Yeah I saw the ENVE cost and said "Hell no." I'm thinking of the Zipp 303 CC, night weight, great aero, and braking performance that will do me well in college if I end up at the one I want to go to in the mountains... Climbing sucks, but its my weakness and I have to train it ! I'll be buying a complete power kit, in other words, headunit, and meter all together, so that wont be an issue.You do lose 2-5 watts with drivetrain flex... I'd love an SRM but I'd have to change my choice from SRAM to Shimano. for aesthetic purposes (I realize how petty that sounds). So I'll stick to quarq or possibly the pedal based systems if, on release, they show to be plenty accurate in comparison to powertaps then I'll consider them as well.