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Why Is the Pay So Lousy?
Those last two are the make-or-break elements of a prosperous economy. Because if private property is not respected and defended, and/or if contracts are not enforced, and/or if the justice, tax and/or regulatory systems are corrupt, capricious and arbitrary, then the formation and deployment of capital will be retarded or destroyed no matter how many physical and intellectual resources are available. If you don’t believe this American on this point, ask the Peruvian economist Hernando de Soto, author of “The Mystery of Capital: Why Capitalism Triumphs in the West and Fails Everywhere Else,” who documented all of the “dead” capital that exists in the Third World, due to the lack of a system of recognition of ownership, in order to unleash its power to create wealth for all.
Howard Hyde is author of “Pull the Plug on Obamacare,” available in Kindle and paperback editions from Amazon.com. He edits the website www.hhcapitalism.com. Email: HHCapitalism@gmail.com. Follow on Twitter: @HowardHyde.
Freedom Center pamphlets now available on Kindle: Click here.
• Sheik Yerbouti
Massive hoarding of money always seems to get us to this point. We never seem to learn.
• philbest
There is a difference between the amassing of wealth by way of zero-sum rentier activity, which is a plague now, and the accumulation of productive capital that the above article is about.
One of our major problems now is that zero-sum rentier get-rich-quick schemes are sucking money away from productive investments in productive capital. This only makes the above author’s point more valid. There is usually a government “enabler” role to be found somewhere.
Frederick C. Howe, in “Confessions of a Monopolist” (1906) says that first, politics is a necessary part of business. To control industries it is necessary to control Congress and the regulators and thus make society go to work for you, the monopolist. So, according to Howe, the two principles of a successful monopolist are, “First, let Society work for you; and second, make a business of politics. These….. wrote Howe, are “the basic rules of big business.”
These rules have superseded the teachings of our parents and are reducible to a simple maxim: Get a monopoly; let Society work for you:
This is our problem, and as Henry George pointed out 100 years ago, it is a tragedy that the political representatives of “labor” constantly war against the employer class while the rentiers in finance and property laugh all the way to the bank. It is often the more left-wing mainstream political party under which the rentiers are most successful in the economy.
• A Z
I just can imagine Elizabeth Warren saying “You didn’t build that”
Which is true. But if it is pass down through your family from father to son (or mother to daughter; you get the picture), then it is yours.
If someone give you something, it should not be of any concern of anyone else.
All that matters is that they engaged in fair trade to build their wealth.
Progressives refuse to wrap their mind around that fact.
• A Z
Oh yeah, Elizabeth Warren was that get rich quick house flipper that got rich on other people’s misfortune.
• Eugene Patrick Devany
GDP has been undervalued by about 3% due to the combined productivity – monopoly effect of intellectual property rights. Intellectual property rights enable corporations to increase sales while reducing payroll because competition is locked out. This means fewer jobs and lower wages for Americans. These valuable rights are gifts from the government that determines what can be protected and enforced. The owners rather than the workers have gotten all the benefit. The job killing payroll taxes need to be replaced to rebalance the economy.
An “optional” 2% tax on average net wealth (excluding $15,000 cash and $500,000 retirement funds) could be paired with a flat 8% income tax (and no payroll taxes) for about 95% of the population. In the alternative, a higher 26% individual income tax rate (plus deferred capital taxes on gains, gifts and estates and no wealth tax) could be paid by anyone (but they would likely be very, very rich). A 4% VAT on business would enable a reduction of the C corporation rate to 8% and elimination of payroll taxes (so combined business tax revenue and consumer prices remain about the same).
The payroll earnings tax base has been shrinking compared to both net wealth and sales tax bases. Tax base growth can provide funds to pay down the debt without raising the low 2-4-8 rates. | <urn:uuid:fcac64ff-0031-45df-8e65-6a527cef95d9> | http://www.frontpagemag.com/2013/howard-hyde/why-is-the-pay-so-lousy/ | en | 0.952881 | 0.034149 | mlfoundations/dclm-baseline-1.0-parquet |
Review by Truck_1_0_1_
"This Console is Going to the Grave With Me... I'm Serious."
1998 was a mystical year: The Yankees won their record 24th World Series (those damn Yankees), Microsoft released the brand new Windows 98, and the Sega Dreamcast was released on the market. The Dreamcast introduced many innovations into the Video Game world, and most were great. We were thrust into the sixth gaming generation (aka the 128 bit generation), and though the Dreamcast suffered many highs and lows it eventually succumbed to the Sony hype machine. The Dreamcast had a very nice design, both inside and out.
Design: 10/10
Aesthetically, the Dreamcast is one of the more pleasing consoles, and it was Sega's second white console (the first being the SG-1000). Along with its white shell, came four controller ports (which is now the norm), and a 56K modem, included in the back. Hardware-wise, the Dreamcast was incredibly powerful then, and it is fairly powerful now. It has two 32-bit processors running at 200MHZ, and a 12x GD-ROM drive with custom 1GB capacity. All of this packed into a neat little two kilogram shell. Not only does the outside and inside of a Dreamcast look good, the result on screen is just as good.
Graphics: 10/10
The Dreamcast has exceptional graphics, and is arguably the second best of the sixth generation consoles graphically (with the PS2 being the worst, the Dreamcast being around even with the Gamecube, and the Xbox being the best). The Dreamcast has five different methods of input/output, with the poorer ones being RF, and A/V, and the better ones being RGB Scart, S-Video and VGA. That is another area worthy of mention, that the Dreamcast was one of the two consoles of the four in the sixth generation to support VGA. Some games on VGA look as good as some games on Xbox 360, for example: Soul Calibur, Rez, Shenmue, and more. Even the poorer graphical games on the Dreamcast look as good or better than average to poor PS2 games. The graphics on the Dreamcast are spot on, as are the sounds.
Sounds: 10/10
The Dreamcast has some of the best sound of any console, be it sixth generation, seventh generation, or any generation. It has a separate CPU for sound, thus the system can focus only on sound, while it has the two other CPUs running on the game. Sound though really has not been a weak point in consoles since the fourth generation anyway. Bottom line; the Dreamcast does sound very well. Just as they did with the next element, only this time, there was innovation.
Controller: 9/10
Sega's Dreamcast controller was an innovative controller, and was also a great controller. You have your standard four buttons on the right (A, B, X, Y), an analog stick and the d-pad on the left, and an L and R trigger on the left and right side respectively. There were also two slots at the top of the controller with a window in the centre. In the slots, you could place certain accessories that could be used in-game, accessories such as the rumble pack, the VMU (more on this later), etc. The one beef that exists (though I do not have a beef with it) is the chord. Unlike other controllers, the chord on the Dreamcast controller came out of the bottom, and many gamers found the chord positioning to be a nuisance, even though you could make it so that the chord really went out from the top (two small clips on the back of the controller). As for the rest of the accessories, there is even more innovation.
Accessories/Peripherals: 10/10
One of the highlights of the Dreamcast is its many different peripherals and accessories. The most important, and innovative one is the VMU. The VMU was not your ordinary memory card; it can save your games, and you can play mini games on it. Also during game play, you can look at the VMU and see certain vital statistics, such as health and ammo. There is also the standard memory card (and its many third party clones), the 4X memory card (and its third party clones), the rumble pack (and its MANY third party clones), and the microphone (used solely for three games, namely Seaman). For the peripherals, you have the fishing rod controller (which uses the same motion technology as the Wii, and this was in 1998!), the DDR dance mat (used solely for DDR), the Samba de Amigo maracas and Cha Chas (used solely for Samba de Amigo), the karaoke add-on (released only in Japan), the light gun (released only in Japan due to many gun-related deaths in North America), the arcade stick, the twin sticks (used solely for Virtual On), the Dreameye (released only in Japan), and the keyboard and mouse. Speaking of the keyboard and mouse...
Online: 10/10
(I know that a section for online may be dubious, however online was a major factor for the 6th Generation).
The Dreamcast was the first (and only) fully online console, and the first to be online out of the box. Also, and more importantly, it is the only console to have full online capabilities (surfing, gaming, instant messaging, etc.). The keyboard and mouse were released to make the online experience easier and more efficient, and at 56K through your ISP, not too much was more efficient in 1999 than what is efficient now. Sega also released a broadband adapter for cable/dsl connections, and that is typically a lot faster than a modem, however very few were made and as a result, today it is rare and sells for a hefty buck. More than anything though, a console can be deemed good or bad by its gaming titles. Another area the Dreamcast is a slam dunk.
Game Titles: 10/10
Granted the Dreamcast may not have as many titles as the PS2, however the amount of good titles is good enough. Aside from RPGs (and even those are good, solid games), every genre is well represented on the Dreamcast, with the fighting and shooting genres being the most prolific. Some of the more popular games are Soul Calibur, Sonic Adventure, and Shenmue. The Dreamcast is also home to many exclusives that are fine games, including the three mentioned above. One problem for game titles was the lack of third party support (namely Electronic Arts). With EA backing out of making software for the Dreamcast, Sega developed their own sports titles, with many being better than the current crop of EA titles (this can be seen mainly between the NFL 2K franchise, and the Madden Franchise). Guess EA really blew that one...
Even though it is 2007, and there are no more games being made in North America or Europe, the Dreamcast is still a great buy for the casual gamer, or the non casual gamer (not to mention that it is very easy and cheap to buy).
When Sega announced that they would stop support for the Dreamcast, it showed just how dangerous hype is. Losing out to the over-hyped PS2 was Sega's nail in the coffin, and had the Dreamcast been as successful as the PS2, Sega may still be making consoles. The dream died in 2001, but with games still being made in Japan, and people still flocking to their Dreamcasts to get in one more game of Soul Calibur or Shenmue 2, is the console really dead? Not in my book...
Reviewer's Score: 10/10 | Originally Posted: 07/20/07, Updated 11/22/10
Game Release: Dreamcast Hardware (US, 09/09/99)
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There's something about this eye makeup look on model Lara Stone that's off.
It's not really anything about the eye makeup, but what she paired with it, you see. It's her lips. I think they're too nude.
Now, I'm all for a nude lip—especially with a bold eye look. The two things were basically made to go hand in hand. But—BUT—if you go too nude, like Lara here, it washes you out. Plus, since the color is uneven, she looks like she's been picking at her lips. The tiniest bit of tinted lip balm would have done wonders here.
So let this serve as a warning to the rest of us: Nude is great, but, in general, you want just a little color involved. Your lips should not fade away completely. Got it?
Related: We Can Hate On Eva Longoria And Her Perfect Nude Lips Or We Can Learn From Her. Let's Go With Option #2.
Photos: Getty Images | <urn:uuid:582e2de9-ee26-404e-beac-4b9ae9980f13> | http://www.glamour.com/lipstick/blogs/girls-in-the-beauty-department/2012/05/make-sure-youre-not-making-thi | en | 0.969974 | 0.064196 | mlfoundations/dclm-baseline-1.0-parquet |
Canada Day Terror Plot: Legislature Party Continued After RCMP Assurances
Posted: Updated:
VANCOUVER - To people who knew them, the couple accused of planning to bomb a crowded Canada Day celebration at the British Columbia legislature were Johnny and Anna — a pair of "street punks" who struggled with addiction and poverty but seemed to be getting their lives back together.
But at some point, the RCMP allege, John Nuttall and Amanda Korody drifted off that recovery path, converting to Islam and becoming Canada's latest home-grown terror suspects. They are now accused of hatching an al-Qaida-inspired plan to kill their fellow citizens.
They were arrested on Canada Day — the day the terrorism plot was allegedly set to unfold — leaving friends and acquaintances baffled to explain how the quiet, "kind-hearted" couple could become the suspected masterminds of a destructive terrorism plot.
"They're really, really nice people, really caring," said Ashley Volpatti, who lives less than two blocks from Nuttall and Korody in Surrey, B.C., and has known them for about two years.
"Everybody just wants to know why. Knowing them, I just don't think they could have done this on their own."
Nuttall and Korody arrived in Vancouver more than three years ago to get away from the Victoria drug scene, said Volpatti. He had racked up a list of criminal convictions in Victoria for assaults and drug charges.
Neither worked, relying on social assistance and occasionally borrowing money to pay their rent and make ends meet, their landlady said.
Nuttall first moved to Vancouver Island in his teens to live with his grandmother after bouncing back and forth between his parents' home and foster homes, said one of Nuttall's former band mates, Stefano Pasta, who played with him in the band The Lust Boys.
"When I met him, he was living with his grandmother. He had just recently moved from the Okanagan, I guess far away from his parents," Pasta said. "I'm not sure of the situation there. I think his parents basically said, 'Go live with your grandmother.' They couldn't handle him or whatever. He was in and out of trouble with the law quite a bit."
As a teen, around 18 or 19 years old, Nuttall dabbled in recreational drugs like magic mushrooms and pot. By the time Pasta ran into him again on the street in Victoria five years ago, it appeared his drug use had escalated and Nuttall was not looking well.
Pasta remembers a young man with fierce loyalty, who was "a simple character ... not the sharpest tool in the shed."
"He definitely kept his friends very close, because he didn't have a lot of friends and I guess any social circle that would actually accept him, he was very protective of," he said.
"He was a bit of a social outcast."
Growing up in Sooke, they were long-haired rocker boys in a small fishing and logging town.
"We got in a lot of scuffs every week," Pasta said with a laugh.
His time with The Lust Boys didn't last long. Another former band mate, Colin Stuart, said Nuttall wasn't welcomed into the band after a one-month trial period because he was "extremely difficult to work with and he would always be at rehearsal completely either drunk or messed up on some kind of substance."
Much of Korody's past remains a mystery. She was originally from Ontario and went to high school in St. Catharines, south of Toronto, a former classmate confirmed.
Nuttall's lawyer, Tom Morino, said the last time he heard from Nuttall before this week was about five years ago, and Korody was with him then.
"Amanda was clearly devoted to the relationship," said Morino.
Korody was described as a quiet and shy young woman. Her landlord said she had seen Korody wearing a burqa, the head-to-toe covering common in countries such as Iran and Afghanistan.
Volpatti, the friend in Surrey, said she first met the couple about two years ago when Korody was working at a nearby convenience store.
Volpatti had seen them around before — "they were just street kids, street punks," she said — and eventually she and her boyfriend eventually struck up a friendship with them. Volpatti's boyfriend regularly played paintball with Nuttall.
Volpatti always knew Nuttall and Korody had converted to Islam, which they talked about openly, but she said there was no indication they could be turning radical.
"They talked about their religion, but no terrorist plot, there was nothing like that," she said.
"There was nothing leading up to this, no warning signs."
Something changed six months ago, said Volpatti, when Nuttall and Korody abruptly cut off contact.
"They wouldn't answer their phone, they were never home," she said.
Nuttall and Korody lived in a two-bedroom apartment that sits at the bottom of a house in a residential area of Surrey, about 30 kilometres southeast of Vancouver.
Investigators searched the house on Monday and Tuesday, but the police were also in the area about a month earlier.
In June, both the landlord and a neighbour said police blocked off the entire neighbourhood and warned residents that a vehicle might contain explosives and chemicals.
"We were not allowed to come in because they found some chemical in a vehicle there," said Ashok Garcha, who lives nearby. "It (the vehicle) was close to that place."
The landlord said she never heard anything else about the incident.
On Wednesday, there was little in the way of furnishings or belongings in the apartment, but what was there was strewn about in messy piles. It wasn't clear whether the mess was the result of the police search. The suite smelled of cat urine and there was cat food scattered across the floor.
On one wall, there was a poster with what appeared to be Arabic writing and a piece of paper money, also with Arabic writing, tacked onto it. On the kitchen counter sat several prescription bottles of methadone with Korody's name on the labels.
Inside the bedroom, another poster read: "Celebrating the life and birth of the Prophet Muhammad," with the date of a women's conference printed below. Also in the bedroom was a television set with small holes smashed into the screen.
Beyond the TV, there were no other electronics, such as a computer, inside the apartment. Municipal pet control officers took custody of the couple's cat as police searched the suite, said the landlady.
Both Nuttall and Korody were on social assistance, the landlord said, and Nuttall had asked to borrow money in the past, which he promptly paid back.
The woman said she once went to the door and saw Nuttall watching what she believes may have been a religious leader on the television, but he did not talk about religious violence or al-Qaida, the international terrorist group the RCMP say inspired the attack plan.
Police say Nuttall and Korody had no links to any outside groups, but the landlord said she does not know how the poverty-stricken couple could have afforded to finance the alleged plot.
"Where did they get the pressure cookers? It costs money. Explosives? It costs money. How can they go to Victoria? With the pressure cookers in their hands? They don't have even a bike," she said.
"I cannot understand."
Nuttall and Korody remain in custody and are scheduled for a bail hearing on July 9. They are each charged with knowingly facilitating a terrorist activity, making or possessing an explosive device and conspiracy to place an explosive device with the intent to cause death or injury.
Morino, the lawyer, said he will represent one of them, but he hasn't sorted out whether that will be Nuttall or Korody.
When asked whether the couple has any response to the allegations against them, he simply replied: "It's too early for that."
Related on HuffPost:
B.C. Terror Suspects
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sun protectant
Tresemme Thermal Creations Heat Tamer Spray
8 oz. | Styler, Second Day Styler
see all Tresemme products
With a moisture-locking vitamin complex, it
Rating: Product Rating: 2 Curls
Warning: do not use without gloves. The product will harm the skin. Usually, home styling requires you to hold the section of hair which is being styled. The product says spray the lower end of hair shaft. But it should mention , avoid direct contact of spray on fingers. Why ? The spray leaves a film on the skin similar to dried super glue. So my guess is it leaves the same finish-film on the hair which reacts to the heat of the flat-iron. You will get an immediate straight shine, with the cruchies and flakiness a few hours after the hair cools. The product might be more useful for straight looks during summer outdoor days Too bad, cause the price is really affordable and there is an ample supply. I would use it with caution as with any other heat product.
Water (Aqua), Glycerin, Amodimethicone, PEG 12 Dimethicone, PVP, Propylene Glycol, Hydrolyzed Silk, Tocopheryl Acetate (Vitamin E), Niacinamide, Biotin (Vitamin H), Panthenol, Ascorbic Acid (Vitamin C), Polysorbate 20, Cetrimonium Chloride, Trideceth 12, Cetyl Pyridinium Chloride, Benzophenone 4, Triethanolamine, Disodium EDTA, DMDM Hydantoin, Alpha Isomethyl Ionone, Benzyl Benzoate, Butylphenyl Methlyproprional, Citronellol, Geraniol, Hexylcinnamal, Hydroxyisohexl 3 Cyclohexene Carboxaldehyde, Limonene, Linalool, Fragrance (Parfum)
Ingredient Attributes: sun protectant
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NAND Flash: A Classic Disruptive Technology
This article is part of an on-going series of blog posts at the IT Experts blog.
Solid state drives for computer systems are old technology – they have been available for over a decade. The earliest solid state drives (SSDs) were based on DRAM, the same underlying technology as modern memory – although they were often priced well in excess of regular memory (and beyond the reach of consumers) due to the engineering and integration efforts required – and the willingness of enterprise customers to pay top dollar. So while SSDs are themselves unremarkable, it is NAND flash (used in most modern SSDs) that will have a profound impact on the storage business for both technical and economic reasons. This article focuses on the latter – how NAND flash can actually be cheaper than a hard disk for low storage capacity applications.
The economic argument for low-volume, high-end NAND based SSDs is relatively simple – higher performance for random I/O operations. A single NAND SSD can achieve 10-30K random I/O operations per second (IOPS), while a single SAS disk can achieve perhaps 250 IOPs. For some database operations, such as random reads or writes (e.g. using an index) the SSD may outperform the disk by 3-4 orders of magnitude. The list price for an enterprise database license (Oracle, DB2 or SQL Server) ranges from $5K-50K, so spending a few thousand dollars to double performance is an easy choice and this rationale extends to other expensive applications equally well. However, DRAM based SSDs also offer this same benefit – albeit at higher prices. In later articles, we will delve into the fundamental operation of NAND flash and SSDs and explain this performance advantage.
NAND can be less Expensive than a Hard Disk
NAND flash is a truly disruptive technology in the low-end of the market. Since flash is non-volatile it can replace hard disks for permanent storage – unlike DRAM, which is volatile and hence does not directly compete with hard disks. In the low-end of the market the fundamental difference between hard disks and NAND flash is not performance – but is cost and capacity.
The mechanical components of a hard disk – a hermetically sealed case, actuators, arms, magnetic heads, ball bearings, etc. have a minimum cost of around $20, and the disk controller might cost $3. The smallest capacity of a hard disk is a single platter and additional platters provide incremental capacity. In a modern 2.5” hard drive, the smallest capacity platter is 160GB and that capacity will increase over time as areal densities improve.
The smallest NAND storage solution is a single chip. The cost of a single NAND flash chip varies based on market conditions, but is generally in the range of $1-$8, depending on performance and density. At present, the cost of a 32Gbit (or 4GB) NAND chip using multi-level cells (MLC) is approximately $7, and the controller is the same price as for hard disks. Increasing capacity for NAND flash is as simple as using additional chips, and scales up linearly. This means that for certain capacities, NAND flash actually costs less than the minimum cost of a hard disk – which is precisely why USB thumb drives always use NAND flash.
Figure 1 – Price vs. Capacity for NAND and Hard Disks
Figure 1 above illustrates the cost curve of NAND flash and hard disks from 12/17 at an online retailer. NAND is shown in blue, while hard disks are shown in green. Note that the lowest capacity (and lowest price) for a hard drive is 80GB, which is priced at $35. The 16GB NAND flash is slightly less expensive at $30. That is approximately where the cost curves for the two technologies intersect – the cross-over point. At or below the cross-over point (i.e. 16GB and below), NAND flash is cheaper, while above the cross-over point (i.e. over 16GB) hard disks are more cost effective.
NAND flash is fundamentally a semiconductor device and benefits from the increased density due to Moore’s Law. Hard disks also benefit from exponential increases in density for storing data, so there is no risk that NAND will overtake hard disks. However, the disruptive aspect of NAND flash is that the cross-over point changes over time – in tune with Moore’s Law. Today, the cross-over point is ~16GB; in two years from now it will be ~32GB, and in four years, 64GB.
If the cross-over point is more than the amount of storage needed – people will end up shifting to NAND storage to reduce costs. In reality, that is a bit of an oversimplification since NAND has other benefit besides cost (e.g. energy efficiency impact resistance) that are valuable. On the other hand the amount of data storage tends to increase over time. Digital media such as photos, MP3s, DVDs, Blu-Ray, etc. all increase the need for storage and are a better fit for high capacity hard disks in some respect. So for users with a large appetite for media, hard disks will still make sense for a long time to come – consider that a lossy rip of a 2-hour 1080p movie takes up around 10-15GB. But the general trend seems to be that the market for storage will split into several pieces: cost focused, performance focused, and capacity focused. Right now it looks like the first two may be dominated by NAND flash, rather than hard disks.
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Badlands is back, on general release, more than a year after it opened and ignominiously folded across the country. Then it was touted as a companion film to Steve Spellberg's Sugarland Express: both rural road movies with a fifties atmosphere, both by young and unknown directors. Spellberg's film, which was lighter and more abourdiet, was a success, and Spellberg has just made the biggest box-office movie of all time. Terry Malick, who made Bedlands, would have submerged again but for somehow flanging this re-lease, and no doubt being pleased that a bally of critics have sung its praises to the skies upon its return.
But the film is not that special--its reputation has the inflated air of the underground favorite. Martin Sheen is a bored youth in a fifties town in the Dakotas. Nothing is happening. He and a young woman he picks up take off, heading nowhere, playing out occasional fantasies, not saying much, and eventually committing a few senseless murders. You identify with them, of course--they're all the movie gives you--and it's sad to see them caught by the police (one of whom is Harvard professor John Womack-don't even try to figure that out), especially when they don't really know what's going on. But they're so unaware and insulated from the terrain upon which moral judgements are made that their crimes are uninteresting, and you never see the connection to 1950's America or whatever is supposed to justify their deadhead lost-child innocence-turned-guilt. Malick shows gory murders, then our sympathetic characters, and the inevitable tearing-apart this inflicts on the audience is supposed to pass for ambiguity and profanity. Well made by Malick, well acted, but all in all kinds boring and overrated, considering the fuss it's been getting. | <urn:uuid:7bca8559-07da-46d5-8aa3-b3bf47b5d9fe> | http://www.thecrimson.com/article/1975/8/15/the-screen-pbadlands-is-back-on/ | en | 0.979177 | 0.233107 | mlfoundations/dclm-baseline-1.0-parquet |
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Battery life hasn't been compromised in the upgrades the iPod touch has received. Apple claims 40 hours of audio and seven of video, which isn't an unrealistic claim, but gaming is still very much a huge drain. A two hour game of Civilization Revolution took us from about 80 per cent to around 20. Not that we could tell exactly, because the iPod touch doesn't get the iPhone's percentage indicator - you're stuck with just the battery icon.
One area of improvement that iPod sceptics might not expect is the sound quality. Like the iPhone 4 before it, the fourth generation iPod touch is a noticeable improvement on the previous version of the device. There's an added fullness to the bass, and a crispness to the mid-range and high-end as well as a more natural sense of space.
There's not enough improvement to warrant an upgrade from an older device, but it's one criticism fewer to lay against the iPod touch. A Sony X-Series Walkman or Samsung YP-R1 are both better options if you want a touchscreen player for listening to music, but those players don't have an App Store, don't have a Retina Display to make web browsing and video playback such a pleasure, and don't have the inexplicable "I want one" appeal of an iPod touch.
Pricing is also still a potential issue for the iPod touch. The £189 8GB model should really be the same-priced 16GB entry-level unit, and the £329 asked for the 64GB unit is a significant outlay. Fortunately, the 32GB iPod touch, at £249, strikes a nice balance between capacity and price which, while almost certainly engineered to be so by Apple, makes it an attractive proposition - you are getting a lot for your money.
What makes the iPod touch still such a brilliant device, four generations in, is that it still remains utterly peerless. No rival device does everything the iPod touch does and, more importantly, despite being something of a jack of all trades the iPod touch is far from a master of none. The App Store has an almost ridiculously comprehensive library of applications at this point, and while the games aren't necessarily of PSP or Nintendo DS quality, there are more than a few gems to be found.
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Sun Or Moon ?
Yup if you guess it was the moon well your wrong. It was todays sun coming out of this mornings fog believe it or not this was taken around noon time,
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Skip to definition.
Noun: Wilson's disease
1. A rare inherited disorder of copper metabolism; copper accumulates in the liver and then in the red blood cells and brain
- hepatolenticular degeneration
Encyclopedia: Wilson's disease | <urn:uuid:20d691b3-ab13-4a3f-8bbb-64eda01371e8> | http://www.wordwebonline.com/en/WILSONSDISEASE | en | 0.841473 | 0.976927 | mlfoundations/dclm-baseline-1.0-parquet |
The Koch brothers' game plan
They've spent millions to fund climate change denial ... and they're just getting started.
The Koch brothers and their allies just announced their plan to spend nearly $300 million this year to not only elect climate change deniers, but also to oppose President Obama's plan to curb carbon pollution from power plants.
That's their game plan: spend as much as humanly possible to get their way. We're the ones who have to tell them that's not going to work this time. Our grassroots movement doesn't have to outspend them, but we need to have the resources to fight back.
Help take on the Koch brothers' anti-climate campaign—chip in $5 or more today before our June fundraising deadline.
The President's climate plan isn't small potatoes—it would reduce carbon emissions from existing power plants 30 percent by 2030. The New York Times called it "the strongest action ever taken by an American president to tackle climate change."
It's no coincidence that dirty polluters and special interests like the Koch brothers are pouring their money into shutting down the President's plan.
This is a time when being a grassroots movement pays off—no matter how much the other side spends, everything we're doing is focused on reaching actual people.
As long as each of us steps up to play a part, what we're building is the single greatest threat to their strategies. If you believe in that, we're asking you to support it with a donation today.
Help build the biggest, baddest grassroots movement around—chip in $5 or more today:
Chip in
Show Comments Hide Comments | <urn:uuid:69de4366-ebb7-4798-a9c9-9c39495984f7> | https://www.barackobama.com/news/the-koch-brothers-game-plan/ | en | 0.951295 | 0.070222 | mlfoundations/dclm-baseline-1.0-parquet |
Dancing in the sky,
The colourful dancers from Rio now up in the sky.
They flutter onto clouds of dreams,
Bumble onto tiny buds of summer,
They humbly taste exotic smells.
Their majestic patterns like tiny drops of art,
Each one painted with great care.
To walk through their kaleidoscope of shapes and colours,
Is a secret pleasure of mine.
As I see them take to the sky,
I know I may never catch their names.
But I will always hear their whispers in the flutters of their wings. | <urn:uuid:f5885dba-1c7e-4187-a327-aa493b957eb3> | https://www.fictionpress.com/s/2958105/1/A-Flutter-Of-Wings | en | 0.94336 | 0.679764 | mlfoundations/dclm-baseline-1.0-parquet |
United States Flag
Official Website of the Department of Homeland Security
Financial Crimes
Virginia man sentenced to 87 months in prison for bribing foreign government officials
Longest prison sentence ever imposed related to Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) violations
WASHINGTON - Charles Paul Edward Jumet of Fluvanna County, Va., was sentenced today to 87 months in prison for paying bribes to former Panamanian government officials to secure maritime contracts, in violation of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA), and for making a false statement to federal agents, following an investigation by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and the FBI.
"This sentence serves as a warning to those who engage in corrupt business dealings," said ICE Special Agent in Charge of the ICE Office of Investigations for Washington, D.C. and Virginia John P. Torres. "ICE will continue to work with our law enforcement partners both here and abroad to investigate and prosecute those involved in such illicit activities."
In addition to the prison term, U.S. District Court Judge Henry E. Hudson for the Eastern District of Virginia ordered Jumet to pay a $15,000 fine and to serve three years of supervised release following the prison term. The 87-month sentence is the longest prison term imposed against an individual for violating the FCPA.
Jumet, 53, pleaded guilty on Nov. 13, 2009, to conspiring to violate the FCPA and making a false statement to federal agents. The FCPA makes it a crime to pay or offer to pay anything of value to a foreign government official in order to obtain or retain business.
"Today's sentence - the longest ever imposed for violating the FCPA - is an important milestone in our effort to deter foreign bribery," said Assistant U.S. Attorney General Breuer. "As this case confirms, foreign corruption carries with it very serious penalties, which can include substantial prison time for individuals who violate the law."
"Bribery isn't just a cost of doing business overseas," said U.S. Attorney MacBride. "Today's sentence makes clear that this is a serious crime that the U.S. government is intent on enforcing."
"Today's sentencing is an example of how those who intentionally bribe and mislead the government for their personal gain will be prosecuted to the maximum extent," said Assistant Director Henry. "The FBI is committed to pursuing those who disrupt the level playing field to which companies in the U.S. and around the world are entitled."
According to court documents, from approximately 1997 through July 2003, Jumet and others conspired to pay money secretly to Panamanian government officials in exchange for awarding contracts to Ports Engineering Consultants Corporation (PECC) to maintain lighthouses and buoys along Panama's waterway. In December 1997, the Panamanian government awarded PECC a no-bid 20-year concession. Upon receipt of the concession, Jumet admitted that he and others authorized corrupt payments to be made to the Panamanian government officials. In total, Jumet and others caused corrupt payments of more than $200,000 to be paid to the former administrator and the former deputy administrator of the Panama Maritime Authority and to a former high-ranking elected executive official of the Republic of Panama.
Jumet also made a false statement to federal agents about a "dividend" check payable to the bearer in the amount of $18,000 that was endorsed and deposited into an account belonging to the high-ranking elected Panamanian government official. Jumet falsely claimed that this "dividend" check was a donation for the high-ranking elected official's re-election campaign, when, in fact, Jumet admitted it was given to the elected Panamanian government official as a corrupt payment for allowing PECC to receive the contract.
In a related case, John Warwick pleaded guilty on Feb. 13, 2010, for his role in the same conspiracy to violate the FCPA. He is scheduled to be sentenced by Judge Hudson on May 14, 2010.
The case was investigated by the FBI's Washington Field Office, the FBI's Richmond Field Office and ICE's Richmond Field Office. | <urn:uuid:320fc210-e63a-4a38-a309-ad7e3eb2c778> | https://www.ice.gov/news/releases/virginia-man-sentenced-87-months-prison-bribing-foreign-government-officials | en | 0.962335 | 0.075877 | mlfoundations/dclm-baseline-1.0-parquet |
My Lord Conqueror: Taking Chances
By Kennedy Northcutt ©2011
Part 4
Chapter 11
They were on the outskirts of Corinth and everything seemed in order. The army was doing drills on the practice field and was much larger than it had been before they departed. Xena marveled at the efficiency and discipline she saw from atop Ares' sleek back. Several units were marching in perfect synchronization, while others were sparring and still others were engaged in hand-to-hand combat. She could also tell which troops were brand new and still wet behind the ears. Those were the ones being put through the more rigorous paces by the seasoned warriors.
The joining ceremony and subsequent transfer of power to Ephiny had been a fairly subdued and somewhat confusing affair. Gabrielle had officiated at the ceremony and the priestess had blessed the union of regent and weapons master. Then Gabrielle had unceremoniously-much to Ephiny'schagrine-turned the queen's mask over to the curly-haired blond and named her as the new queen in her stead. Needless to say, it came as a complete shock to most of the Thracian Amazons gathered there. Others were merely grateful to have a "true" Amazon in possession of the queen's mask, once again.
Xena knew Gabrielle was glad not to be in charge of the Amazons anymore. She watched a new spring enter Gabrielle's step immediately following the transfer of power. And Xena was more than a little surprised when Gabrielle actually danced at the celebration. Gabrielle ususally shied away from anything like that, especially in public. Then again, Xena had never seen Gabrielle drink like that before, either.
And the hangover Gabrielle suffered the next morning put a crimp in their travel plans. But Xena didn't mind the delay. The extra day with the Amazons gave her a chance to make amends. It also gave Gabrielle a chance to oversee her last official council meeting, in which she officially documented the transfer of the queen's mask to Ephiny.
"A dinar for your thoughts," the quiet words brought Xena out of her reverie, as a warm palm pressed against her thigh.
Xena glanced over to find Gabrielle watching her curiously.
"Just going over a few things in my head," Xena replied with an easy smile. "A lot's happened in the last few days."
"Yeah," Gabrielle nudged her mare a bit to get her to keep pace with Xena's stallion. She then glanced back at the Amazon escort following in their wake. "I can't believe Eph won the argument and insisted on another escort. I really thought giving up the queen's mask would get me off the hook." She frowned.
Xena tried unsuccessfully to hide a grin. "Yeah, she sure got you with the whole 'once a queen, always a queen' bit."
"I think you're enjoying this a little too much, my lord," Gabrielle scrunched her nose.
Xena feigned shock and pointed at her own chest. "Me?"
Gabrielle gave Xena an exasperated eye roll. "I also think you're enjoying the title they bestowed on you at Eph and Eponin's joining. Supreme Overlord.Pfft!Just a hairsbreath away from goddess, if you ask me. I have no idea why I didn't see that one coming."
"Makes two of us," Xena's expression turned guarded. "Amazons tend to shy away from anything short of complete independence. They're just not the sheepy, follow-the-flock type of people one might expect out of a bunch of women." Sarcasm dripped from every word. "And they don't take orders or direction well. I wonder why that is." Her expression turned thoughtful, before she shrugged. "Ah well, I guess we learned a lesson in that little skirmish with Draco. Damned Amazons were scattered all over the place doing only the gods knew what." She then turned a satisfied grin on Gabrielle. "But I have to admit, being their Supreme Overlord is turning out to be more fun than I thought it would be. Did you see the look on Eponin's face when she had to get down on all fours and put her face in the dirt before me? Can't put a price on something like that. I'd still like to know where the idea came from, though. Ephiny refuses to tell me, even when I invoke Supreme Overlord privilege."
"She won't tell me, either," Gabrielle added. She then shot a quick glance over her shoulder again. "Can't believe she actually came with us…again. I really thought she and Eponin would stay in the village and enjoy their time together."
"Stop talking about us like we're not here, Gabrielle!" Ephiny called.
Her words were followed by chuckles from the warriors decked out in full Amazon regalia, who, up to that point, had remained stoicly silent during the entire trip. The weapons master was sitting straight and tall in the saddle-at least as tall as she could. Her own leathers were brand new and there were several new feathers in her dark hair. One of those feathers marked her as queen's consort and had been put there by Ephiny during the ceremony.
"You wanted to come, Ephiny!" Gabrielle called without turning around. "I'm not the one who insisted! And I most certainly did not ask for an escort!"
"You're still our queen, no matter how much you try to weasel your way out of wearing the mask!" Ephiny shot back with a bemused smirk. "The only way to get out of that honor and privilege is to die. And since the Supreme Overlord, there, is also your champion, I don't see that happening anytime soon."
"Ugh!" Gabrielle gritted her teeth and squeezed her eyes shut, much to Xena's amusement. "Laugh it up, My Lord Conqueror. You didn't hear them talking about their plans for the upcoming coronation and subsequent celebration afterwards."
Xena's head snapped around as she stared wide-eyed at Gabrielle. "Another one?Seriously? Ugh! I don't think I've recovered from the last one."
"Ephiny sent three scouts ahead to inform Agatha this morning," Gabrielle smirked at the pitiful look Xena gave her. "Or maybe they were merely warning her. I'm not really sure. Eph is being especially tight-lipped about the whole thing."
"Oh, for the love of…" Xena watched as several troops on horseback exited the city gates and headed their way. "Great. Here comes another escort."
"We need another escort like I need another hole in my head," Gabrielle groused, as she prodded her mount into a canter and Xena did the same.
The gates of the city loomed in the distance, as they were joined by more than twenty seasoned cavalrymen. The lead rider was none other than the general of Xena's army. He rode tall and proud in a new uniform of dark maroon trimmed in silver. The dappled gray stallion he rode was nearly as big as Ares, but was much more restless than Xena's war horse. Braes held up a hand as he approached the group and halted his men just in front of them.
"My Lord Conqueror!" He put a fist to the silver wolf's head engraved in the crimson armor he wore over his maroon surcoat and bowed his bald head to Xena. "We are honored by your return, Your Majesty."
Xena set her expression into her signature stoic mask. "General," she acknowledged him with a nod. "All is well at the palace?"
"It is, my lord," he met her gaze with an unreadable expression. Then he looked at Gabrielle and the hint of a smile touched his lips. "Your Grace. 'Tis good to see you looking well. Your journey was a successful one, I trust?"
"We got a few things ironed out," Gabrielle replied with an easy smile. "Unfortunately…"
"Hey, Braes!"Eponin called with a smile of greeting and a quick wave, as she nudged her mare forward. "Surprised to see us?"
"Hello, my friend," he grinned genuinely, as he glanced from the Conqueror to the retinue behind her. "Not really. No."
"We can't seem to get rid of them," Gabrielle piped in with a frown.
"Hey!" Ephiny nudged her own mount forward until she was even with Xena and Gabrielle. She then scowled at Gabrielle who merely narrowed her eyes at her. "We resemble that remark, your majesty. But we don't appreciate having it pointed out at every turn, though."
"Get over yourself, Eph," Gabrielle replied with an exasperated eye roll.
"Well," Braes rested his crossed and bracered forearms on his saddle bow. "Agatha was informed of your approach and she had rooms set aside for all of you."
"Rooms?" Gabrielle's interest perked up. "Does that mean things are…"
"Well in hand, your grace," Braes finished for her. "The kitchens are spotless and have been running smoothly for more than a fortnight. Meals have improved exponentially. We had wild boar roated over a spit with a very nice huckleberry sauce and tiny potatoes for our meal last evening, matter of fact. And all the bedchambers of the palace have been scrubbed, whitewashed and repaired. A number of rooms had rotted floors that had to be replaced." He waved a hand. "I'll let Agatha fill you in on the particulars."
"And my-our-chambers?"Xena glanced at Gabrielle.
"In perfect order, Majesty," he replied with a curt nod. "The royal chambers were the first to be cleared of debris and scrubbed clean, per Agatha's strict orders. She had six crews working night and day to set things right in the entire place. And the royal chambers took top priority with two of those crews. She was in there for the better part of an entire week. I'm a little surprised that she made time to put an entire staff of servants in place while you were away. She even found a new seneschal to oversee things."
"I see," Xena let her eyes roam over the landscape beyond. "Will I like him? Or am I going to be bashing his skull in before sunset?"
"He's okay," Braes moved his mount and fell into line next to the women. "You just might appreciate his straightforward, no-nonsense demeanor. He hails from a small fishing village on the coast and served as the magistrate's man. He's still feeling his way around the palace. Apparently, it's much bigger than the villa he oversaw."
"Anyone ever find out where Elestan wandered off to?" Xena continued to absently scan the countryside, as the walls of Corinth loomed closer. "I'd really like to have the smith clap him in irons, so I can use a little persuasion on him and find out what the hades happened while I was away during all those years."
"No one has seen or heard from him or claims to know anything about his disappearance, Majesty," Braes replied. "And if anyone knows something, they're not coming forward with the information. I think they're afraid you might…er…well, you know." He finished by slicing a finger across his throat. "Can't blame the citizens for being terrified of you, Majesty. Your reputation alone is enough to put the fear of the gods in them."
Xena kept her expression neutral. Inwardly, however, she cringed. She knew the general populace feared her-and not just in Corinth. Peasants, villagers and townsfolk alike feared The Conqueror. She had spent years cultivating that fear and molding it in those she considered as lesser humans than herself. But, lately…
"I really hate that," Xena muttered sub-vocally.
No one else caught the words, except Gabrielle, whose mount was shoulder-to-shoulder, hip-to-hip with Xena's. A blond brow rose on her sun-kissed features, but she remained silent. She wasn't about to question Xena's half-uttered statement in front of the general.
"Ephiny?" Gabrielle pulled her mount to a halt.
"Yes, my queen," Ephiny bowed her head to Gabrielle as she pulled up next to her.
"Oh, for the love of…Stop that," Gabrielle growled. "Or I'll send you all back to the village."
"Yes, my…" Ephiny caught the death glare Gabrielle gave her and clamped her lips shut.
"I'm sending the escort on ahead to the palace," Gabrielle kept her eyes narrowed at the woman, as if daring Ephiny to argue. "Go with them and make sure everything is in order."
"Your maj?"Eponin put in and almost fell out of her saddle when Gabrielle turned the glare on her. "Er…right. Gotcha.Will do."
"Good answer," Gabrielle turned her mount and kicked the mare into a trot. She caught up to Xena easily and fell in beside her.
Gabrielle waited for the Amazons to thunder past before meeting Xena's expectant gaze.
"Wanna tell me what has their asses on fire to reach the city gates?" Xena commented.
Gabrielle looked past Braes and gave him a silent signal with her eyes. His widened, as he quickly understood.
"We'll ride ahead and…er…make sure things are secured for your arrival, Your Majesty," Braes kicked his mount into a fast canter before Xena could respond.
She turned a questioning gaze on Gabrielle. "Okay, spill it, Gabrielle. What gives?"
"Nothing," Gabrielle shrugged, as she rested her crossed forearms on her saddle bow. "Just thought it might be nice to have some alone time before we're bombarded with matters of state and all that."
"You heard my comment," Xena shot her a raised-browed look.
"Yes," Gabrielle let the hint of a grin touch her lips.
"And?"Xena prodded.
"I thought you might need time to get yourself composed into your Conqueror persona," Gabrielle said. "You've been off-really off-lately, Xena. I know things haven't been going your way for quite some time, but that doesn't mean you should give up and stop being you."
"Who says I'm not being me?" Xena didn't meet the gaze staring back at her. Instead, she looked out over the sun-dappled landscape and caught the gleam of the city gates beyond. "The Conqueror isn't exactly the sum total of who I am, Gabrielle. Maybe I'm finally coming to terms with the me that is the real me-putting the past behind me and moving forward."
"No, you're not," Gabrielle agreed. "You may not be Conqueror of the Known World, anymore, but you're also not a pushover. And, lately, well…"
"You think I'm letting people push me around?" There was hurt both the tone and the eyes staring back at Gabrielle.
Gabrielle swallowed down a sudden lump in her throat. "I think you're letting your recent failures get you down, Xena," Gabrielle stated. "You've been carrying that around for a while, now-maybe ever since before the skirmish with Draco?"
"Please, Gabrielle, don't hold back," Xena snorted sardonically. "Tell me what you really think."
"I think I love you?" Gabrielle grinned sheepishly.
"You think?"
"I know?"
Xena narrowed her eyes at Gabrielle, who bumped Xena's leg with her own.
"My horse seems to love you, too," Gabrielle commented, as she patted the chestnut mare's neck.
"You really need to give that horse of yours a name," Xena let the hint of a smile show. "Can't keep calling her 'your horse' all the time, now, can we?"
"Oh, I don't know," Gabrielle nudged the mare into a slow and lazy walk. "Seems to suit her more than any other name I've tried to come up with. I certainly don't want to name her after one of the gods."
"Nice," Xena rolled her eyes. "Oh the abuse. Why don't you call her Majestic? Or Brownie?"
Gabrielle snorted. "Kind of a big leap from Majestic to Brownie, don't you think?"
"Well, she sure doesn't look like a Bruno," Xena teased. "But I wouldn't put it past her to bully Ares when we get to the stables."
"Your horse is a pushover, Xena," Gabrielle shot her a knowing look. "Kinda like his mistress."
Xena's eyes narrowed again. "Oh, you think so, huh?"
"I know so," Gabrielle replied with confidence and then batted her lashes at Xena. She then nudged her horse closer to Xena's, placed a hand on the leather-clad thigh and squeezed. "Especially in bed."
Xena glanced sidelong at Gabrielle, who smiled demurely from behind lowered lashes.
"Not fair, Gabrielle."
"All is fair in love and war, my lord."
And then she kicked her mount into an all-out gallop, leaving Xena behind with a bemused expression.
"So, does this constitute the former or the latter?" She quietly asked her horse, who merely tossed his dark head. "Yeah, I thought so."
Xena then kicked her own mount into a gallop in an effort to close the distance between herself and Gabrielle. The walls of Corinth loomed closer and the sky was a cerulean blue with puffy white clouds gliding slowly by. A few wary birds lifted their voices in song and the clatter of carts and grew louder as Xena quickly closed the distance between them. It wasn't long before the two were neck-and-neck, much to Gabrielle's dismay. But all she did was laugh at Xena's antics, when the dark-haired woman hopped to her feet on her horse's back and stood upright with her arms stretched out to her sides and her head thrown back in triumph.
When she let out a high-pitched battle cry, did an effortless forward flip with a mid-air twist and landed with perfect precision astride the horse's back, people stopped to stare and gawk. She bowed over her horse's arched neck when several guards on the wall roared their approval and whistled loudly. A stiff breeze whipped several new standards with a gray wolf emblazoned on a deep maroon field and trimmed in silver atop the wall.
Xena smiled.
Her men or Agatha or someone familiar with her expectations had placed them there for all to see. Corinth was definitely hers. She just needed to inspect everything and add her own little personal touches. Then she could call it home.
It was no longer a place, Xena realized as she glanced over at the woman riding next to her. Home was now a person-specifically, the one next to her. With shoulder-length, braided reddish-blond hair gleaming with golden highlights, Gabrielle was a vision to behold. And Xena's heart swelled to near-bursting when she watched the once-timid young woman who now rode confidently next to her.
And then Gabrielle turned her head and graced her with a dazzling smile that quickly turned into a playful chuckle.
"You did that on purpose, my lord," Gabrielle's soft words tickled her ears and sent shivers of longing down her entire length. "Show off."
Oh, yeah. This was definitely home for her. And she was looking forward to seeing her quarters-their quarters. What had Agatha ordered done with the place in their absence? Would it meet her expectations? Would it need to at this point?
Xena glanced at her riding companion again and caught a smoldering look in the sea-green eyes gazing back at her. Did any of it matter? Not really. A roll in the hay loft of the royal stables would suit her just fine, as long as Gabrielle was right there in her arms. In that moment, nothing else mattered.
Gabrielle inhaled deeply of the fresh aromas of hay and horses as they halted in front of the stables. There was also a hint of leather, but she had been smelling that for weeks and didn't want to think about it anymore.
Actually, all she really wanted was a nice, hot bath to rid her body of the thick layer of dust that covered her from head to toe. They hadn't had time to stop near any of the streams or pools on the way. Not even to quickly rinse off the grime from a day's travels.
Gabrielle dismounted stiffly and handed the reins over to a waiting groom dressed in dark purple livery. She waited for her legs to remember how to hold her weight again, before turning to face Xena, who had already handed her horse over to another groom and was stretching out the kinks from their ride.
"Well, what?" A blond brow rose on her sunkissed features, as she marveled at the way the sun haloed Xena's head and set off a few lighter brow highlights the Amazons had given her. She just smiled stupidly at the sight.
"Anything look different to you?" Xena wasn't even looking at her. She was scanning the inner courtyard with a critical eye. "Something is definitely different around here. I just can't seem to put my finger on it."
"It's clean," Gabrielle deadpanned. "Much cleaner than it was the last time we were here. I wonder what they did with that dung heap that smelled so gods-awful."
Gabrielle closed her eyes and inhaled deeply again. She let the fresh smells clear away the dust of their travels from her nostrils, as a faint hint of roses wafted on the breeze and she caught a hint of something else in the air.
She exhaled slowly and felt her world settle, just a bit. It was nice to be-home? Her eyes drifted open and she glanced around the quiet inner courtyard. Maybe it would eventually be her new home. It just didn't quite feel like it, yet.
"And the people?"Xena said absently.
Gabrielle exhaled sharply. "They weren't cheering our return, if that's what you're asking?"
"They weren't throwing rotten fruits and vegetables, either," Xena scoffed. "That's something. They were, however, watching you intently."
"They were staring at our escort," Gabrielle corrected her. "I suppose seeing scantily-clad Amazons in full regalia doesn't happen every day in this city."
Xena snorted. "Apparently, not."
"Ach! So there ye are!"
"I told you they would be along shortly. Xena! Gabrielle!"
Xena and Gabrielle both looked at each other in wide-eyed trepidation, before turning toward the familiar voices that greeted them.
"Mother?"Xena turned in time for her mother to wrap her arms around her in a welcome hug. "What are you doing here?" She returned the hug.
"I came as soon as word reached Amphipolis that you were headed here to Corinth," Cyrene stepped back and looked Xena over with a critical eye. She then turned to Gabrielle and enveloped her in a warm hug. "Hello, Gabrielle. How are you?"
"Fine, Cyrene," Gabrielle returned the hug. "You?"
"Never better," Cyrene stepped out of the way so Agatha could hug the two women.
Cyrene smiled as Agatha stepped back.
"Good to have ye home, yer majesties," Agatha planted her hands on her hips with a slight frown on her weathered features. "Now," she continued sternly. "What in the name of all the gods were ye thinkin' bringin' those…those…"
"Amazons?" Gabrielle supplied with a playful half-grin.
"I thought ye'd leave 'em in their village, where they belong?" Agatha's frown deepened.
"Oh, Aggie," Cyrene took her sister's arm in hers. "Leave the girls alone, for goodness sake. They just got home. Give them a chance to at least step inside the palace door before you nag them about their choice of an escort. They haven't even seen their new quarters, yet. And I'm sure they're famished after the long, hot journey."
"Ah, yes, the royal chambers," Aggie nodded sagely. "Took us the better part of a fortnight to get that part of the palace in order, let me tell ye. Twern't easy ta clear out all the debris. I still get shivers when I think of all those spiders and mice we came across while we were hauling everything out and burnin' it behind the practice field."
Xena and Gabrielle exchanged worried looks.
"I hate-really, really hate-spiders," Xena shuddered involuntarily.
Gabrielle crossed her arms over her chest and graced Xena with an incredulous look. "Spiders?Really, Xena?"
"Ever since she was a child," Cyrene chuckled. "If a spider crawled across the floor or dropped from the ceiling, Xena would quickly duck behind my skirts and beg me to get rid of it. It took her forever to fall asleep at night, because she would just lay there staring up at the ceiling until all hours."
Agatha chuckled at the eye roll and exasperated sigh Xena elicited.
"Mother," Xena groaned. "I was-what?-four? Five, maybe?"
Gabrielle tried not to laugh at the childish look of chagrin on Xena's face and failed miserably.
"What?" Xena glared at her, which only made Gabrielle laugh that much harder. "Like you didn't just exclaim something about mice?" She waved her hands in front of her and did a little freakish dance.
"Did I?" Gabrielle was suddenly all innocence. "I really don't remember."
"Oh, you two," Cyrene rolled her eyes as she turned and headed off toward the white stone walls of the palace. "Dinner is almost ready," she called over her shoulder.
"Yep," Agatha turned to follow her younger sister. "Thought ye might enjoy something that weren't charred beyond recognition."
Xena wrapped an arm around Gabrielle's shoulders and pulled her close. "Come on, your majesty. Don't want to miss out on a decent meal that actually has some taste to it. I'm starving."
"Me, too," Gabrielle replied with a smile of anticipation. And then her stomach growled loud enough for Xena to hear. "What?"
"Was that-"
"I haven't eaten anything except a handful of nuts and berries since we started out this morning, Xena," Gabrielle huffed. "That pace you and Eph set didn't leave much room for a proper midday meal."
"Good thing Aggie cooks for an army, then," Xena snickered and got a slap against her leather-clad stomach for it. "Hey! What the-"
"You, so, deserved that," Gabrielle replied with a smirk.
They ducked through a newly-constructed side door and paused in the dim hallway long enough to allow their eyes to adjust to the gloom. Xena took the opportunity to pull Gabrielle against her and plant a smoldering kiss on inviting warm lips. The kiss deepened and their tongues danced until Gabrielle pulled back enough to grace Xena with a bemused smile.
"What was-"
"Welcome home, your majesty," Xena cut her off with a knowing grin.
And then she kissed Gabrielle again. This time they took their time and reveled in the shared heat that ignited between them, as their bodies pressed closer and their hands explored familiar territory. Lips seared a fiery path along Gabrielle's jaw line and down her neck. She shuddered in response, as her body instantly responded to Xena's touch.
"Are you two coming?"
They jumped apart, stood against opposite walls and looked like a couple of kids caught with their hands in a cookie jar. The interruption doused the flames of desire burning between them as effectively as having icy river water dumped over their heads.
"She's your mother," Gabrielle grumbled, as she closed the distance between them again, ducked her head and rested it against the leather-clad chest in front of her.
"Yes, she is," Xena agreed with a resigned sigh, as she wrapped her arms around the smaller woman and rested her chin on top of Gabrielle's head. "We'll be there, shortly!" She called loudly.
Gabrielle chuckled and shook her head, as she hugged Xena back. "Welcome home, your majesty."
They both chuckled, as Xena wrapped an arm around Gabrielle's shoulders and steered them into the palace interior.
"Nice digs," Eponin did a slow circle in the middle of the guest suite she was sharing with Ephiny. "This is really swank."
"Swank?"Ephiny stopped in the doorway of the bedchamber and leaned against the frame with her arms crossed over her chest. "Where in the world did that come from? Is it even a word?"
"Kids," Eponin shrugged. "You wouldn't believe the things they come up with these days. Half of it don't make any sense."
"And yet you seem to be catching onto their lingo, just fine," Ephiny closed the distance between them. "But it seems a little strange to hear swank coming from these lips." She then pressed her lips against Eponin's. "Want to try out the bed?"
"Is it as swank as this room?" Eponin chuckled.
Ephiny grabbed Eponin by the hand and dragged her into the bedchamber. They both stopped dead. Eponin just stood there with her mouth agape, as she stared in awe at the elaborate bed in front of them. Heavy burgundy draperies were pulled back and secured with gold ties. The bed itself stood taller than both their waists and was covered in a deep burgundy cover edged in gold. A mound of pillows were piled on it added to the bed's imposing height.
"Does this answer your question?" Ephiny turned a seductive smile on the weapons master. She then yanked her over to the bed. "Beats our digs back at the village, now, doesn't it?"
"Yes, yes it does. Makes our bed at home look like an old crate with tattered rags."
They collapsed onto the mattress and looked at each other in surprise.
"What the-"
"Artie's left tit!"
Their expressions went from amazement to mutual satisfaction to smoldering desire in the space of a few heartbeats. They lay there together and just stared into each other's eyes for several heartbeats-enjoyng the plush mattress and reveling in their love.
"I really like this bed," Ephiny smiled, warmly. "You think we can smuggle it back to the village with us?"
"Not sure it goes with my leathers," Eponin glanced down at her top. "The colors kinda clash, matter of fact."
"Oh, you…" Ephiny closed the distance between them and smashed her lips against Eponin's in a searing kiss. She then pulled back hesitantly. "Maybe we should head down to the main hall for the evening meal. Agatha was very adamant that we not show up late."
"The woman is a tyrant," Eponin scoffed, as she moved in and lightly brushed her lips against the skin just above Ephiny's leather top.
"Yes, she is," Ephiny sighed, as she ran her fingers through Eponin's dark hair and pulled her closer. "But I really don't want to talk about her, right now."
"Mm, me either."
"Then let's not talk at all. 'kay?"
"I hear and obey, my queen."
Clothing was quickly discarded and their bodies came together in a writhing dance as old as time. It wasn't long before their bodies were slick with sweat and the cries of their lovemaking permeated the stillness around them. Flesh to flesh. They moved together as one. Mouths tasted. Lips explored. Hands moved along sweat-slickened curves and valleys until fingers teased wet folds and quickly gained entrance.
Ephiny writhed against her lover, as Eponin moved with her in that most ancient of rhythms. Their breasts brushed and taut nipples rubbed tantalizingly against each other, driving Ephiny to the point of no return. She felt the pressure building to a fever pitch and grabbed Eponin's shoulders in a vice-like grip. Pulling her closer, Ephiny drove her hands into the dark tresses that framed Eponin's face and pulled their mouths together. Her tongue dove into Eponin's mouth and she cried out her release, as the first waves of the maelstrom of violent shudders rocked her entire body.
Her body arched even further into Eponin's as her legs wrapped around the woman. Eponin continued to ride the waves of Ephiny's release until she felt the tension building in her own body.
"Sweet Artemis!"Eponin panted breathlessly, as Ephiny's hands moved to cup her bare buttocks.
And then their positions were suddenly reversed and Ephiny was smiling down at her with passion-glazed eyes. Ephiny's hands shifted and found her wet folds and Eponin lost all track of space and time. The world around her suddenly narrowed to just the two of them. Nothing else existed. Her body responded instantly to Ephiny's touch. Warm lips and a wet tongue trailed a fiery path down her neck, along her collarbone, between her breasts…
Teeth latched onto a taut nipple and Eponin couldn't help the cry of pure pleasure that exploded from her lips. The tension was out of control and she knew her release was close. Her body responded to every touch, every tantalizing stroke, every lick and kiss. She was a bowstring strung too tightly and wordlessly begged for release.
And that release came suddenly and with such force that it ripped through her like a violent explosion and sent her over the edge into complete oblivion.
"Eponin?"Ephiny's alarmed tone was the first thing that Eponin was aware of as she returned to consciousness.
The next thing she noticed was the gentle stroking of her cheek and the breath against her skin.
"Yeah," Eponin uttered quietly.
"Are you okay?"
Ephiny chuckled. "Are you sure?"
Ephiny rested her cheek against her lover's. "Can you say anything besides yeah?"
"Uh-uh," Eponin responded with a slight shake of her head, as her breathing slowly returned to normal.
"You want me to go find a healer?"
Eponin managed to open her eyes and was a little surprised to have Ephiny's face inches from her own. Concerned hazel eyes stared into hers, before a small smile tugged at lips swollen and bruised from their lovemaking. She didn't know how she did it, but she managed to lift her hands and brush her fingertips against Ephiny's lips.
"Are you okay?" Eponin's voice was a little hoarse and she cleared it. "I didn't hurt you, did I?"
Ephiny snickered. "You're asking me? I think I'm the one who should ask you that question. You passed out on me and were out for nearly a quarter candlemark, Pon." She brushed her own fingertips against Eponin's swollen lips. "I thought I killed you."
"Not possible," Eponin smiled timidly. "I just…" She swallowed and let her eyes roam over the beauty she couldn't quite fathom was right there in front of her. "Gods, you're a gorgeous woman, Eph. I am the luckiest damned woman in the world, right now, to be sharing this with you."
Ephiny answered with a gentle kiss and slowly traced the tip of her tongue over the outline of Eponin's lips. When those lips parted, their tongues met timidly.
"You sure you're okay?" Ephiny lifted her head slightly and looked into glassy dark eyes still filled with smoldering passion.
"Better'n okay," Eponin ran her hands down the bare back of the body covering hers. When her hands reached the twin mounds of soft flesh that resided lower, she gently kneaded and felt Ephiny press closer. "I'm perfect. This is perfect. You are perfect, Eph."
She pressed her lips against Ephiny's and the kiss quickly deepened, re-igniting their mutual passions and pulling them back down into a world where nothing else existed but their love.
"Well, that was…um…interesting," Gabrielle commented absently as she rubbed her temple and winced slightly.
The headache had started about halfway through the evening meal. She wasn't sure what brought it on or why it was now pounding incessantly behind her eyes and down her neck. It could have been the raucous revelry in the main hall. Or it could have been the tension she could sense throughout the room, despite the seemingly relaxed atmosphere.
Several lords from surrounding lands had arrived unexpectedly before the evening meal and waited expectantly for an invitation to dine with the infamous Conqueror. Xena obliged them, much to Gabrielle's dismay.
True to form, Agatha had prepared a meal fit for an army. Actually, the meal had been fit for the Ruler of the Known World. And there was more than enough to feed the pack of lordly wolves that arrived unannounced.
Gabrielle glanced over at the silent figure in deep crimson silk who was climbing the stairs next to her. Xena had been uncharacteristically quiet throughout the entire evening. She appeared to be brooding over something. And she hadn't argued with the men who had basically strong-armed their way into her midst.
Xena hadn't given them more than a passing glance all evening, actually. She had appeared to listen attentively when they bowled their way into the newly redecorated throne room. She merely held up a staying hand to Braes to stop him from ordering his men to decapitate the lot of them.
Their leader, a tall, skinny man with short-cropped dark hair, a pointed gotee on his prominent chin and a thin mustache gracing pasty features, introduced himself as Lord Varagas with a courtly bow and a flourish of his bejeweled hand. Xena had merely rolled her eyes at the flamboyant display. Then he opened his mouth and Gabrielle actually cringed. His nasally voice droned on, as he explained in detail the reason for his presence at Corinth.
Gabrielle listened to his entire speech, despite the fact that his tone was condescending and hauty. She couldn't stand his nasal drawl, either. But she listened, nevertheless. She had glanced over at Xena several times during Varagas' speech and noted the glassy look the woman was sporting. Xena wasn't listening. Had probably stopped listening after the first few words.
And Gabrielle had heard every word and gleaned the meaning behind much of what he said. The lords with him merely nodded. Not a one of them spoke as Varagas continued to drone on in his nasal drawl.
Gabrielle could tell by the tone that Varagas and the others wanted more than a reduction in their taxes. They were out for a bigger piece of the pie and were trying to weasel their way into Xena's good graces. Gabrielle could see it and hoped that Xena had heard enough to get it, too.
"The meal was great," Xena commented absently, as they reached the upper landing and headed to their suite. "Agatha outdid herself, again."
"She did," Gabrielle replied. "There was enough food there to feed the entire city for a week."
"I had the leftovers sent over to the local orphanage," Xena opened the door to their suite and ushered Gabrielle inside. "I'm sure the kids'll get a kick outta all that fancy food."
"You did?" Gabrielle stopped and turned to face Xena with a smile. "That was very thoughtful of you, my lord." She moved in for a hug and wasn't a bit disappointed when Xena's lips met hers. "Nice."
"I can be," Xena shrugged.
"No, I meant…oh, never mind," Gabrielle shook her head and stepped back. "What did you think of Varagas and his cronies?"
"Windbags," Xena walked to their bedchamber and quickly divested herself of her gown, replacing it with a soft robe. She returned to the sitting room and found Gabrielle standing near the window with her back to her. "What was your take, Gabrielle?"
There was a pregnant pause, as Gabrielle continued to stare out the window at the darkness beyond. She didn't hear Xena walk up behind her and didn't move when warm, strong hands caressed her shoulders.
"Well, I'll tell ya what I think," Xena continued, as she kneaded the taught muscles beneath her hands. "If you want me to." A dark brow shot up when Gabrielle didn't take the bait and remained silent and distant. "Okay, spill it, Gabrielle. What gives?"
"I could ask you the same question, Xena," Gabrielle said after another long pause.
"What's that supposed to mean?" Xena stopped and glared at Gabrielle's reflection. "Are we back to that, again? I thought we finished that discussion before we entered the city gates."
Gabrielle turned to fully face the tall woman she had vowed to spend the rest of her life with. She studied the angular features and blue eyes sparkling in the firelight. Reaching up with one hand, she brushed her fingertips against Xena's cheek and watched the features soften instantly, as Xena's eyes fluttered shut.
"The celebration is in three days," Gabrielle said. "Is an announcement in order?"
"Announcement?"Xena's brow furrowed, as she tried to recall if she was missing something important.
"Rome?" Gabrielle watched her closely. "Are we still going to Rome, Xena?"
Xena blew out an exasperated breath. "For cryin' out loud, Gabrielle, we just got back." It was her turn to stare out the window at the darkness beyond.
"Yes, we did," Gabrielle replied. "But this was just supposed to be a stopping point. Or is it? I really want to know, Xena. Are we staying here? Or are we going to Rome to find your son?"
Xena turned away and strode toward a chair covered in deep-purple velvet. It clashed with the rest of the décor, but it was comfortable and Xena wasn't arguing with comfort. She plopped down on it and tilted her head back, blowing out a frustrated breath.
Gabrielle remained by the window and crossed her arms over her chest as she continued watching the woman she loved more than life itself. Right at that moment, however, Xena was pushing her patience to the limit.
"I don't know," Xena practically groaned.
Gabrielle walked over, sat on Xena's lap and wrapped both arms around her neck. "Why don't you know? Hm?"
"What if Pompeii took Solon to Rome as part of some twisted scheme to lure me there and kill me?" Xena refused to make eye contact.
"So?" Gabrielle shrugged. "We'll just show up and thwart his plans. Go steal your son right from under his nose."
"We don't even know exactly where Pompeii is holding Solon," Xena added. "Rome is a big place. He could be anywhere."
"Or he could be in the most obvious place."
"Which is?"
"Caesar's palace."
Xena was skeptical. "I seriously doubt Pompeii would march my son into Rome and dump him in Caesar's lap, Gabrielle. Those two are only allies when the circumstances suit their mutual interests."
"And you don't think Caesar knows Pompeii has your son?"
Xena's brow quirked thoughtfully. "Okay, good point. Any other bright ideas, my beautiful, sexy wife?" She wrapped her arms around Gabrielle's waist and pulled her close.
A smoldering kiss followed. Warm lips met and tongues explored as the kiss deepened and became more heated. They both put every emotion they were feeling into the kiss and finally hesitantly broke apart. They were both breathless, as they shared the same air and hovered only a hairsbreath apart.
"Ideas?" Gabrielle breathed into the silence. "What were we just talking about again?"
Xena easily stood up and hefted Gabrielle in her arms, carrying her to the bedchamber and gently depositing her in the middle of their new bed.
"Methinks you are overdressed, my queen," Xena quickly lifted the heavy brocade gown over Gabrielle's head and tossed it aside. "Mm, better," she eyed the simple cotton shift with a touch of lace Gabrielle wore underneath, before ducking her head and sampling the exposed flesh.
"You're a little overdressed yourself, my lord," Gabrielle said breathlessly, as she pulled the tie that held Xena's robe closed. The robe opened to reveal an enticing display of muscular flesh beneath. "Okay, not so much."
The remainder of their clothing was quickly tossed aside as flesh met flesh and they spent the rest of their evening together without thoughts of Rome, Xena's son, court intrigues or anything else, for that matter. All that mattered was the pleasure they shared and the exquisite delite that came from their lovemaking.
Eventually, they were both content to fall asleep in each other's arms, as the sky outside their window slowly turned from black dotted with tiny pinpricks of light to a slightly lighter shade of dark-gray. Storm clouds completely obscured the sun that eventually rose, as the two women slept peacefully and remained undisturbed.
Gabrielle sat propped against the trunk of a tall elm tree in the welcome shade. She wore a simple loose-fitting linen shirt open at the collar with a tan leather vest and a pair of dark breeches that hugged her legs. She didn't want to wear a gown outside and her Amazon leathers just didn't seem appropriate. Besides, she wanted some alone time and knew her leathers would attract unwanted attention. With her hair pulled back in a French braid and knee-high leather boots, she just looked like any other villager enjoying the late-summer day.
In the field a few paces away, Zea, the young Amazon horse wrangler who had traveled with the escort from the village, worked Gabrielle's mare in a circle on a taught lead line. The nameless chestnut mare tossed her head and snorted, as Zea cracked a short whip and urged the mare to pick up her pace.
With one leg bent at the knee and her arm resting on it, Gabrielle gazed fondly at the circling mare. She was a beautiful animal with nearly perfect conformation. Her sleek lines and long stride gave her a smooth gait that Gabrielle appreciated, especially during a long day in the saddle. Everything about the mare tugged at Gabrielle's heartstrings, but she just couldn't bring herself to give the animal a name.
And she had no idea why.
The mare was being particularly playful and occasionally skittish after being cooped up for the past two days. She had started her workout by kicking, bucking and attempting to bolt on more than one occasion. But Zea's firm grip on the lead kept the mare from getting too carried away, as they continued their circle in the bright mid-afternoon sunlight.
"Zea!" Gabrielle called.
"Yes, my queen?" Zea responded without taking her dark eyes off the mare.
"What name would you give her if you could?" Gabrielle leaned forward and crossed both arms on her knee.
"My queen?"Zea shot a quick glance at Gabrielle, before immediately returning her attention to the task at hand.
"She needs a name, Zea," Gabrielle stood up and approached the pair. "We can't keep calling her The Queen's Mare or whatever else everyone is calling her."
Sensing her owner's approach, the chestnut mare slowed her pace and her ears pricked toward Gabrielle, who stopped a safe distance away. Gabrielle stood there with her arms crossed over her chest, as the bright sunlight danced in the blond braid and a slight breeze blew.
"She does need a name, my queen," Zea dropped the whip and walked toward the mare. "Whoa, girl." She reached up and patted the sleek neck. "I just don't think it is my place to offer any suggestions. She belongs to you, my queen."
Gabrielle approached the mare on the other side and pulled a crisp red apple from a pocket. The mare eagerly devoured the treat, as Gabrielle stroked her nose and scratched behind her ears.
"I'm asking," Gabrielle moved to stand in front of the mare's nose and was nudged in the chest for another treat. She smiled and let the mare nibble her fingers, then looked at the young Amazon expectanly. "I can't seem to come up with anything that might fit her. So, here's your chance to impress me, Zea." Gabrielle cocked her head and gave the young woman an anticipatory half-smile.
Zea thought about it for a moment, as she continued to stroke the mare's neck. "If she were mine, I'd name her Aella," she replied tentatively. "It means 'storm wind' or 'whirlwind' and is a very noble name among our sisters."
"She was an Amazon warrior supposedly killed by Hercules," Gabrielle replied with a nod. "I don't believe the myth, but I read the story of Aella's heroism in battle when I first stayed in the village. She was very brave and somewhat impetuous."
"My mother used to tell me the story when I was a child," Zea smiled shyly. "It was my favorite. I wanted to be just like Aella when I grew up. But I'm better with horses than I am with a weapon. That's what Eponin says, anyway."
"I wanted to be a famous traveling bard. It was my fondest dream and one I shared with my sister. Lila always scoffed at it. She said I was just being silly," Gabrielle chuckled wryly as a wistful smile tugged at her features. "She died without ever realizing her dreams. And here I am the queen of a tribe of Amazons, a warrior of sorts and joined to one of the most powerful women in the known world. I didn't become a famous bard, but there's still time for that, I suppose." She turned her attention to the mare, took her face in both hands and looked her in the eye. "Aella?" The mare stared back at her for a moment and then tossed her head and snorted. "Okay, then, Aella it is." She ran her hand from the mare's forelock to her nose, then produced another apple which the mare gobbled up in one bite.
"I'm really glad she has a name, now, my queen," Zea scratched behind the mare's ear closest to her, as a faint smile played at the corners of her lips. "Calling her 'horse' was getting old. She is too beautiful for such a mundane name. Aella suits her."
"Do you think she's ready for a good run?" Gabrielle eyed the mare's bare back and then the bridle that was lying in the grass a few paces away. "I'd really like to go see what Xena's doing."
"Yes, of course, my queen," Zea quickly grabbed the bridle and switched it out for the halter. She adjusted the straps and buckles to fit the mare's head. "I'm sorry that I didn't think to bring a saddle with me. I had no idea you would want to go for a ride."
Gabrielle hesitated only a moment, before grabbing a handful of mane and pulling herself up onto Aella's back. Zea immediately handed her the reins and she settled comfortably.
"No worries, Zea," Gabrielle smiled down at the young Amazon. "I think I can handle a short ride without a saddle."
"Yes, my queen," Zea backed away a few steps with her head bowed.
"Thank you, Zea," Gabrielle said and smiled when the woman's head snapped up in surprise.
"My queen?"
"Thanks to you, Aella is no longer the queen's horse-without-a-name," Gabrielle's smile widened.
Gabrielle nudged the mare into a fast trot and then into a canter with her knees, just like Xena had taught her. They crossed the field in a few strides and Gabrielle reveled in the freedom of being on horseback. Once they were beyond the field, Gabrielle turned the mare onto a dusty road. The hard-packed dirt road wound through a stand of trees that eventually emerged onto the practice field where she knew Xena was working with the men. A broad smile graced her suntanned features as she gave the mare her head and let the wind whip her loose-fitting shirt. It was open at the collar in deference to the warmth of the day, and she enjoyed the feel of the wind against her body and the power of the horse beneath her.
Gabrielle was happy. She was happy to be at the palace in Corinth, instead of in a drafty rustic hut in the Amazon village. She was happy to have a beautiful bed in a plush suite of rooms that she shared with Xena. Their furnishings in the palace were a far cry from what she was used to lately. Even the keep at Surra hadn't been nearly as nice as the palace there in Corinth.
She was beyond happy to be sharing her life with Xena.
Their lovemaking the previous night had started out playful and immediately turned passionate as their mutual desire ignited. Those first orgasmic moments together were so base, so carnal, in their intensity that Gabrielle actually left angry, red claw marks on Xena's shoulder blades. She apologized, but Xena only smiled.
Once their initial ardor was sated and they both floated back to earth on a gentle cloud of Elesian bliss, they explored each other lazily. It was so wonderful to exchange gentle kisses, soft touches and feather-light caresses. They tasted. They teased. They basked in the glory of the love they shared. And they didn't fall asleep until dawn. It was beautiful. Sensual.Exhilarating.Exhausting. And Gabrielle was happy.
Her thoughts turned to the impending coronation celebration scheduled for that very evening. It was gearing up to be a really big affair and one that was sending an army of rabid butterlies churning in her guts. That was why she ducked away from the palace and ended up in that field where Zea was working Aella. That was why she was riding away from the city and heading toward the only solace she knew-Xena.
They entered the woods and Gabrielle slowed Aella to an easy trot. She felt the peace and quiet of the woods close in around her and savored the shade the trees provided. It was cooler within the woods and she could hear a small brook bubbling nearby.
Gabrielle patted Aella's neck and smiled when the mare's ears flicked. "So, do you really like your new name, Aella?"
The horse snorted and tossed her head.
"Okay," Gabrielle chuckled. "I'll take that as a yes, then."
Suddenly the mare's ears pricked and she shied a few steps. Gabrielle reined her in and tightened her knees.
"What is it, girl?" Gabrielle looked around the woods and could see nothing amiss.
Aella tossed her head again and let out a high-pitched whinny. She danced and side-stepped despite Gabrielle's efforts to rein her in. Changing tactics, Gabrielle pulled her into a tight circle in order to get her under control.
"Settle down, Aella," Gabrielle patted the mare's neck in an effort to calm her.
Gabrielle would only vaguely remember what happened next. There was rustling in some bushes nearby and then she heard the whine of something. Suddenly Aella let out a piercing scream and it was all Gabrielle could do to hang on for dear life. The mare reared and then bolted into the trees.
Gabrielle lost her grip on the reins. She leaned forward and frantically grabbed for the reins that dangled just out of reach, but couldn't quite grab either of them. Branches and twigs slapped against her face and arms, as the mare continued her headlong flight.
"Whoa!" Gabrielle shouted. "Whoa, girl!"
The mare appeared not to hear her, as she continued on into a denser part of the woods that Gabrielle was not familiar with. Gabrielle leaned out farther and made another frantic attempt to grab at least one of the reins, but Aella veered away from a tree and it was all Gabrielle could do to hold on for dear life.
"Aella!" Gabrielle shouted again. "Whoa, girl!"
The mare veered again and then vaulted over a fallen log. But the ground on the other side was uneven and the mare stumbled. That didn't stop her headlong flight, however. She merely bolted again.
Gabrielle was so intent on trying to remain on the mare's back that she didn't see the low-hanging tree branch until it was too late. Her eyes widened in surprise a heartbeat before her forehead connected with the thick branch. Head snapping back on impact, Gabrielle toppled off Aella's back and landed in a heap on the hard ground. Stars and pain exploded throughout her entire body, as darkness quickly closed in and she lost consciousness.
The frightened mare continued on through the quiet woods without a backward glance, completely unaware that her mistress was no longer seated on her back.
Continued in Part 5
Return to the Academy | <urn:uuid:354874dc-8ea1-4b77-8e04-5d80dbf07607> | http://academyofbards.org/fanfic/k/kennedynorthcutt_takingchances4.html | en | 0.984745 | 0.107593 | mlfoundations/dclm-baseline-1.0-parquet |
Re: Help- selective symbol exposure after link in ELF/DWARF
"Ronald F. Guilmette" <>
27 Feb 1997 00:51:37 -0500
From comp.compilers
Related articles
Re: Help- selective symbol exposure after link (Dave Lloyd) (1997-02-20)
Re: Help- selective symbol exposure after link in ELF/DWARF (Ronald F. Guilmette) (1997-02-27)
Re: Help- selective symbol exposure after link in ELF/DWARF (Ian Lance Taylor) (1997-03-01)
| List of all articles for this month |
From: "Ronald F. Guilmette" <>
Newsgroups: comp.compilers
Date: 27 Feb 1997 00:51:37 -0500
Organization: Compilers Central
References: 97-02-119,
Keywords: linker, debug
Dave Lloyd <> wrote:
> ... And I've just spent most of this year grappling with the
> limitations of ELF (a classic example of a highly generalised format
> capable of nothing).
I, for one, would like to know _exactly_ which limitations you are speaking
of. (Just concrete specifics please.)
>> Why oh why do the compiler people ignore the linker?
>The trouble is noone can agree whether the linker comes with the
>compiler or the system. The system architect designs a linker to link
>the system calls together and nothing else (a.out) while the compiler
>architect has to worry about compatibility with objects from other
>compilers (users will not put up with a single language environment)
>and so has to plumb for the LCD.
I agree that these are all real problems.
> ELF/COFF are compromises from the system architect listening to the
> complaints of the compiler architects (mostly now C++)
COFF was entirely less than optimal. I think that's pretty clear. ELF
on the other hand is not bad at all, and certainly not as bad as you
make it out to be.
>... - ending up with hacks like .ctors in gnu's ld...
I came up with the idea of using .ctors and .dtors sections to
implement g++ under ELF, and I don't see it as a ``hack''. Quite the
contrary. ELF supports sections. I used that feature (in what other
people have praised as an elegant way) in order to implement the C++
language in an efficient manner.
When I did my original work (at least) and perhaps even now, today,
in the present era, the GNU linker didn't have (or need) any special
knowledge of the .ctors or .dtors sections. In other words, having
the g++ compiler use those sections didn't have any effect on the
linker at all. Why? Because any decent ELF linker is _supposed_ to
do what I asked the GNU linker to do with the .ctors and .dtors sec-
tions... i.e. just glue them together... nothing more, and nothing
less. (Well, OK. Linkers are expected to do final relocations too,
but we here all know that. That goes without saying.)
>... (this tool can't even handle objects not generated by gnu's
>own BFD library gracefully, so much for robust software engineering).
I certainly would agree with you 100% that the quality of the code in
the GNU linker leaves a lot to be desired. There's no question about
that. What Can I say? I certainly won't defend the quality of the
GNU linker (in particular) because, quite frankly, I didn't write it.
But just because you found *one* rather buggy linker that *purports* to
fully support ELF (but which may actually have a lot of bugs which only
get revealed when you throw something at it that _didn't_ come from a
GNU compiler) I don't think that that alone is an adequate reason to
condemn the ELF object file format. I disagree with you there.
ELF is a good general-purpose object file format. It's cleaner and more
well designed than any other object file format which has EVER seen wide-
spread use. If you wish to assert otherwise, then please do provide some
specific complaints about ELF, rather than just non-specific complaints
about one particular _linker_ that claims to support ELF.
>For all the flaws in its format (1k records etc) the old Intel OMF (as
>used by DOS and OS/2) is not bad - it at least provides groups and
>binds symbols to symbols not sections.
I hack compilers assemblers, linkers and debuggers for a living, and I
_still_ haven't the vaguest idea what you are talking about when you
say ``binds symbols to symbols, rather than to sections''.
Can you elaborate further on this.?
>Sorry for the rant, but my job has never been harder than on Unix where
>C defines the behaviour of *everything*.
If _that_ bothers you then take my advice and DO NOT become a CPU
designer. (In case you haven't noticed, an awful lot of the behavior
of an awful lot of recent CPUs has also been defined by C. This isn't
a strictly UNIX-based phenomenon either. Ask Microsoft what WindowsNT
is mostly written in.)
>Here is my wishlist for anyone
>working on linkers:
> (*) Define symbols against symbols *not* text (a section should
> define a symbol like any other)
I still haven't any idea what you mean.
> (*) Symbol expressions, being able to define section$begin and
> section$end and resolve something to section$end - section$begin is
> invaluable.
In many cases crt1.o and crtn.o provide ``frontspieces'' and
``tailpieces'' for specific sections, so I don't really see what you
think you need that you can't already get.
> (*) Resolve by indexing through a fixed mapping table (damned useful
> for types)
Sorry, don't understand what you're getting at.
> (*) A defined collating order and ability to control that from the
> object (some lds lets you do some of this with a link-script) with
> frontispieces and tailpieces around whole sections.
Not clear what you're collating here -- names, sections, something else?
> (*) Namespaces for symbols (this can be handled by defining unique
> global symbols such as fred$joe, but it helps if the linker
> understands this particularly when reporting errors).
C++ now has namespaces. I agree that it would be nice to have some support
for those at the link level, but what kind and how? The devil(s) are in
the details. If you have some concrete and specific ideas, why not throw
them out?
> (*) Members are pulled out of archives only when a symbol they
> define is needed.
Do you know of linkers which do otherwise??? If so, please tell me so
that I can avoid using them.
> Full minimum coverage also needs some members
> pulled in when they reference certain symbols that have been defined
> (you do need to go both ways).
Sorry. I'm not that kind of guy. :-)
But seriously, this is another case where I haven't any idea what you think
you need to do or even why. How about a concrete example?
> (*) Type checking even of the simple form of comparing two integers.
> (We use a canonical numbering for our compositor).
I agree 100% that this has been *the* single most embarrasing failing
of all linkers over the entire time I've been in this business. As I
just noted in a separate posting, this *could* be implemented in many
linkers where it is not now implemented, and the type-checking *could*
be entirely based upon the available symbolic-debugging information.
Why that hasn't been done is obvious I think. Nobody ever got
motivated enough to do it. But it is definitely technically
deasirable and it definitely should be done. When somebody finally
offers somebody some bucks to do it, it will happen.
[Plus ca change -- I used linkers 20 years ago that did type and
argument checking. It's not rocket science, dunno why it hasn't
caught on. I suspect that in the Unix world, people assume that since
you have lint, why duplicate its function in the linker? (The answer
is "because you use the linker every time".) -John]
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Karsch And Anderson Top Ten 6-13-11
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How are people in Cleveland celebrating the Heat’s loss?
10. BigALinTheField – how Cleveland fans r celebrating…not sure how they r celebrating, but Delonte West has been consoling Lebron’s mom all nite.
9. How is Cleveland celebrating… they are declaring today as LeBron James day and everyone gets to leave work 12 minutes early. From Conor
8. By inducting Lebron into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame for being the best and biggest choke artist.
7. How is Cleveland celebrating: College kids are skipping class, because just like Lebron they don’t want to show up for their finals. BP
6. From Tim in Ferndale to instant feed back fun how did the fans in cleveland celebrate the heat loss??? They decided to spend the evening with someone else’s mom
5. Not sure about Cleveland but in Columbus gordan gee is just happy the mavs didn’t beat him! Greg in Farmington
4. How is Cleveland celebrating? They plan on paving their roads with all the bricks Lebron threw in the finals. Terry. St. Clair Shores.
3. How is Cleaveland celebrating Lebrons’s loss, the “choker” has been declared the offical piece of jewelry for the greater Cleveland area. Ron Macomb
2. Instant feedback: In Cleveland, the Heimlich Manuever will now be known as ” The James Experience.Craves @ work
1. FROM: Deuce… How Cleveland is celebrating Heat loss: Fatheads is creating Lebron-doms, condoms that disappear when you need em most, Travis Henry spokesperson
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September 26, 2006
After the pope, now Mozart?
Otto von Bismarck, the Prussian prime minister and prominent statesman of Germany in the Nineteenth century said
"An appeal to fear never finds an echo in German hearts".
However, this is the twenty first century and the world is ridden by the new fear, offending the Muslims and its consequences. A Berlin opera house proved Bismarck wrong by imposing self-censorship on the performance of the Mozart opera Idomeneo fearing an attack by Islamists. Receiving a security alert from police, the Deutsche Oper, one of the Berlin's three Opera houses cancelled the Idomeneo shows starting from November 4, 2006.
The opera is set in ancient Greece after the Trojan War and tells about the human resistance to making sacrifices to the gods. The production by Hans Neuenfels premiered in 2003 and drew widespread criticism over a scene in which King Idomeneo presents the severed heads not only of the Greek god of the sea, Poseidon, but also of Muhammad, Jesus and Buddha. The disputed scene is not part of Mozart's original staging of the 225-year-old opera, but was an addition of Neuenfels' production, which was last performed by the company in March 2004. (source)
Scene from "Idomeneo" during a rehearsal in 2003: King Idomeneo (played by Charles Workmann) places the severed heads of the Prophet Muhammad on a chair next to the head of Buddha. (Picture courtesy Der Spiegel)
The German government and the main political parties condemned the decision but the Opera house defended it citing the consequences of Danish Cartoon protests.
We now look at how the protests in the Muslim world take place taking Bangladesh as example. During the Cartoon controversy this February, I was in Dhaka and witnessed how political Islam forces people to act on their tune. After the recent Pope speech controversy, CNN published a photo of a Bangladeshi boy protesting, who might be part of a 300 man strong procession. But do they represent roughly 118 million Muslims in the country as the media claimed? Does they really pose a threat to the freedom of speech of a person quite distant from the place of protest?
Andrew Morris writes about the Bangladeshi Muslims:
I watch with increasing despair the portrayal of Muslims in the mainstream Western media. Armchair commentators, many of whom have never lived in a Muslim culture, fulminate about the Muslim threat, basing their entire conception of the religion on a few cardboard cut-out figures. Whose purposes does this tension serve?
Here`s another perspective, from a place where for the vast majority of the population, Islam is part of the home, the street and the village. Where it`s a lived religion, not just a media construct. And you know what? Like all religions played out from day to day, it`s pretty uneventful. It`s not an ideology: it exists in the commitment of minuscule acts of human friendship. It works through and around individuals. It offers a seasonal catalogue of festivals to mark the passing of the months. It provides, in short, the whole background to the grind and flow of daily life. Islam here is in the air, but not in your face.
Of course you can observe the religion at work in people`s appearance too - in the generally modest dress worn by women, although saris or salwar kameezes are actually more expressions of culture and climate than faith. And in the loose robes, beards and skull caps worn by more devout men: although again these are actually a small minority: most men preferring western dress.
But the picture is neither uniform nor static: there are also plenty who don`t go to pray. I have a number of friends who are avowedly secular and even anti-clerical. All in all it`s a pretty laid-back place, where you practise at a level of your own choosing, not dictated to by the imposition of orthodox or fundamentalist belief.
Nothing extreme then. Nothing to be alarmist about. The media is obsessed with those who preach and proclaim the `truth` of Islam, and concentrates on the outlandish personalities, the orthodoxies, the narrow interpretations, the perceived `mediaevalism` and `inflexibility` of the faith. But all that is a long way from people`s experience here, as they go about their daily lives, looking out for each other, complaining about the government, dodging cars, getting food on the table and kids into school.
These you will not find in any international media.
So where does the fear come from? The Saudi blogger "Religious policeman" wrote ironically about the Muslim offense level indicator. His every words came true as the world continued to feed the trolls. This fear has to end somewhere. The media need to stop trying to hunt down lone lunatic from an African country who gave a fatwa against the pope. I mean what is it worth? It is probably his right to speak as Pope had the right to speak his mind (whether or not he was right that is another issue). And the world is gauging a religion with the yardstick of few political parasites and Lunatics.
Der Spiegel writes:
Militant Islamists will always find something. But the response needs to be firm. Freedom of speech, after all, is a vital value and needs to be defended.
The world needs courage to fight the fear, otherwise it will give away the peoples' livelihoods to the wills of a few terrorists and power hungry politician veiled with religion.
"Fear is a disease that eats away at logic and makes man inhuman."
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Take the 2-minute tour ×
Is it possible, in Android or any other mobile OS, to access the encrypted information passed from the SIM card to the cellular network? I mean the mobile signature, or the TMSI number. I need this data after it is encripted by the sim. I mean the IMSI after it is encrypted by the SIM to be sent to the network. Thanks :)
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3 Answers 3
Impossible. Android so far does not provide any direct API's and/or other interfaces to SIM card, except for some basic information like country code, operator name, etc, which is kindly provided by TelephonyManager.
Additionally, SIM interface normally is connected to modem CPU, not application one, thus eliminating any possible hacks/workarounds.
share|improve this answer
Oh really? I'm not sure if we both mean the same thing but with the TelephonyManager you can query a couple of SIM things like SIM country ISO code, SIM operator code, SIM operator name, SIM serialnumber and SIM state. – Octavian Damiean Aug 16 '11 at 7:54
Correct, but seems like topic owner wants initiate APDU communication with the SIM card. – Andrejs Cainikovs Aug 16 '11 at 8:00
True. I was just trying to tell you that the statement should be a bit specified. – Octavian Damiean Aug 16 '11 at 8:02
I see. Thanks :) – Andrejs Cainikovs Aug 16 '11 at 8:03
As I know SIM doesn't encrypt the IMSI information,that's the one reason to use TMSI.
share|improve this answer
thanks for you answer. I want to make an application that will do something like rSAP (remote SIM access profile) on Android. for that, I need to read from the SIM whatever it is that is needed for making a phone call. Can you please tell me what those things are? Does the SIM API on Android give me access to that information, so I could use the phone as a "SIM card reader"? Thanks :) – user574606 Feb 27 '11 at 20:51
Exactly, SIM doesn't do that. Its all done using Hardware of phone. And TMSI don't have anything to do with phone. It is used in radio interfaces just to secure user information and confidentiality. Phone will be always identified by IMSI not TMSI. Basically they uses some key values. And those keys do the twist. Algorithm A5 and A8 are used for key purpose.
Pankaj Singh
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Take the 2-minute tour ×
I have an XSLX file where some rows have multiple lines, for example:
When I'm trying to export (using menu "Save As") this file as CSV or Excel workbook (1997-2003), Excel substitutes multi-line cell's value with a lot of hash symbols
Are there any ways to export these file to CSV file without skipping such cells?
I see hashes in Excel (because it doesn't fit the cell) and in any text editor used to open the CSV file after exporting XSLX as CSV.
share|improve this question
I've add a couple of details in my question. I see hashes in Excel (xlsx) and in any text editor (csv). Hashes in Excel is not a problem definitely. – ravnur Feb 1 '12 at 10:27
2 Answers 2
Problem is solved.
I added "`" at the beginning of each cell using VB. After that I change cell format from "text" to "number". After these manipulations file was correctly saved to csv format.
share|improve this answer
Are you sure it's not just because the cells are too small for the contents? For example, if I put 121221312121121221 into an Excel cell, then make the cell smaller, at a certain point all the numbers in the cells turn into ####.
It's probably because CSV files don't hold any type of table width data. If you open the CSV in Notepad, your data will probably be there.
Have you tried dragging the cells of the CSV file bigger? This should make the data appear. If this is the problem, it is only a temporary measure though, as CSVs don't save cell width data.
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How Not To Do Environmentalism For Kids In ‘The Lorax’ Movie
Posted on
"How Not To Do Environmentalism For Kids In ‘The Lorax’ Movie"
David Roberts unleashes a righteous rant on the disaster that looks like it will be a new adaptation of The Lorax:
While I agree with a lot of David’s criticism, including of the transition of the Lorax to a comedic figure, the personification of evil in a way that doesn’t require collective blame, and the insult to children’s intelligence, but I’d be curious to hear his thoughts on a couple of questions.
1) Collective responsibility is an important principle, but isn’t identifying specific villains also sometimes necessary? As with the financial crisis, there’s space between the “we’re all to blame” perspective and the “Bernie Madoff is the sole villain” view that’s pervading popular culture. Someone like Don Blankenship is uniquely evil, and worth calling out specifically, both for his environmental degradation of the Appalachians and for his disgusting record of disdain for his workers’ rights and safety. Does it make sense to draw general principals from specific examples, to illustrate a web of environmental interconnectedness? Villains can be a hook, rather than a distraction.
2) When it comes to kids, what should our asks or action items be? Getting children to start making responsible choices when it comes to sustainability, reusability, and the environment is important, but when they don’t have that much consuming power, what should the message be? I don’t think the overall framing of the movie is brilliant, but the idea that it wants to communicate a sense of wonder about a natural world kids may take for granted is not a bad one.
3) How do we draw the balance between respecting children’s intelligence and overwhelming them? If I read The Lorax to a young child, I’m not sure I’d expect them to get the argument that the vanished trees are an anchor species for the ecosystem. Instead, I’d focus on a sense of wonder and inherent value for the trees themselves. But if anyone here has a better grasp of early childhood education and elementary learning than I do, I’d be curious as to your thoughts on when these kinds of concepts are likely to stick and how we achieve that balance. At the end of the day, this is a mass market entertainment. I’m eager to respect children and young adults, and deeply appreciative of fiction that does. But I think the best tends to work at different levels for readers of different ages and often to reward re-reading, so I’m curious as to where folks thinks we might most productively aim certain messages.
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Coleman Glow In the Dark Koozie
There's nothing worse when camping than losing your beer in the wilderness. (Okay, there are lots of worse things, but none that you're all that likely to experience). This Glow In the Dark Koozie ($6) can help prevent such a problem. Made by the outdoor lighting experts at Coleman, it accommodates most 12 oz. cans, helps keep them cold, and ensures that you'll be able to find them in even the darkest situations.
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Revolution Xtreme
Ph: 631/435-8888
The Revolution Xtreme hybrid window system combines a rigid PVC frame with a cellular PVC sash incorporating a fiberglass reinforcement fully integrated into the sash profile to provide superior strength and performance. Mortise and tenon joinery and traditional lift groove provide the traditional look and feel of a wood window. | <urn:uuid:1b6b844e-0c51-4d49-ba12-3d695c8db8f5> | http://windowanddoor.com/product/november-2008/revolution-xtreme-hybrid-window-system | en | 0.83806 | 0.083565 | mlfoundations/dclm-baseline-1.0-parquet |
(Adopted 4/18/72, Amended 1972-1975, 11/09/95)
In addition to the basic content required by Rule 504, each petition for a variance shall include:
I. Administrative Requirements
A. Section, Rule or Order complained of.
B. Facts showing why immediate compliance with the Section, Rule, or Order is unreasonable.
C. Whether or not any case involving identical equipment or an identical process is pending in any court, civil or criminal.
D. Whether or not subject equipment or process is covered by a Permit to Operate issued by the Control Officer.
E. Excess emissions calculations in pounds per hour and total emissions for the requested duration of the variance.
F. Excess emissions fees calculated pursuant to Rule 305. Payment of such fees shall be included with the application.
II. Schedule Requirements
A. Period of time the variance is sought and why. Include a compliance schedule showing dates when the following milestones will be or were completed:
1. Submission of final control plan;
2. Issuance of contracts or purchase orders for process and control equipment;
3. Initiation of on-site construction of process and control equipment;
4. Completion of process and control equipment; and
5. Final compliance.
B. Damage or harm resulting or which would result to petitioner from immediate compliance with such Section, Rule or Order.
C. Requirements petitioner can meet and the date(s) when petitioner can comply with such requirements.
D. Advantages and disadvantages to residents of the District requiring immediate compliance or of the Hearing Board granting a variance.
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Unread 07-03-2012, 11:19 PM #69
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Join Date: Jul 2008
Posts: 7
This is my first time posting feedback about the convention so here is my 2 cents.
I only went to a few events this year because I was mostly cosplaying the entire time, and I couldn't really get into some of the smaller panels I wanted to attend, but for the one's I did attend this is what I thought.
Lounge 21: It was a nice experiment for the first time around, but there are some improvements that are needed. There were only two bartenders in the room on opposite sides, which is definitely not enough for the number of people in attendance. I think it would have been a better design to have an elongated bar area (like every bar in L.A.) in the back of the room staffed with 3-4 bartenders rather than two serving one customer at a time in a line. I ended up getting stuck behind two people that could not make up their mind on what they wanted after waiting 15 minutes in line. It took them 5 minutes to figure out what they wanted and another 5 to realize they did not have enough money. At least with the elongated bar design bartenders can tend to multiple customers rather than one at a time. Also, can the prices be more realistic? The prices were like for an above average bar, which that place definitely was not. $2 less for most of the things would have been more realistic - I'm just saying.
The Magic Macabre Show: IT WAS AMAZING!! It was funny, and crazy, and disgusting at times. They did a really good job this year, and I hope to continue to see the acts again next year.
The AX Dance: The line was extremely long, and no one is allowed to use the restroom unless you're a girl (friend of mine got back in). There is really no way I can think of handling the line other than splitting the dance to 2 or even 3 separate rooms of the same size. I would like for it to be hosted in the big room where the line was, but I understand the risk in terms of security and safety and how LACC security is not equipped to handle a dance party that large the way it was set up. No one wants an EDC riot happening, which is usually the case with dances that big.
The Gaming Room: Definitely a big improvement form previous years. Very much a similar setup to Fanime, and I very much appreciated it.
The X-games was definitely in the way this year. Thanks to the event the price and demand for parking sky-rocketed. Also, we all got our fair share of rude looky-loos that did not understand what our convention was about. Really did not appreciate being directed on the outskirts of the convention center to get to the Marriott. Then I found the the shortest path going through the parking lot.
Aside from the troubles, it was a pretty enjoyable time this year. Saw a lot of really good cosplays this year, and was able to pull off my own good cosplay as well.
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Evolution News and Views
Culture and Ethics NEWS
In Praise of Jacques Barzun
Historian Jacques Barzun was born on November 30, 1907, at Créteil, France, when Darwin's theory was still very fresh in the collective mentalité of the Western world. Indeed Joseph Dalton Hooker, Darwin's close confidante was still alive, as was the co-discoverer of natural selection, Alfred Russel Wallace. Living in retired comfort at Old Orchard, Broadstone, Dorset, England, Wallace still had yet to write his grand evolutionary synthesis, The World of Life, three years later and his two social commentaries in 1913, Social Environment and Moral Progress and Revolt of Democracy, that would mark the farewell of England's great remaining naturalist and its most brilliant and prescient mind. But Barzun deserves honor for more than longevity.
On March 2, 2011, when Barzun received the National Humanities Medal from President Obama, if not physically present at least a good many of us were there in high spirit and hearty assent. I had "known" Barzun for a long time. For me it was as a young undergrad at a state university when I picked up a copy of his Darwin, Marx, Wagner: Critique of a Heritage. By then it was in its second edition (1958) and I must say the reading of that book was transformative for me. For the first time I recognized that in my hands was the work of a sagacious historian and an incisive social commentator who was unafraid of icons. Now in its third edition, it remains in print for a new generation to reap of benefits of Barzun's bold, rich analytical mind.
Forty years after writing Darwin, Marx, Wagner, Barzun points out "a continuing intellectual need" for "that which prompted me in my youth to see in the combination of three influences the origin of our leading superstitions" (p. vii). Here I will deal with only one of those great sorcerers of modernity -- the one that most captured my own attention as young student -- Charles Darwin.
I excerpt here a passage from Barzun's now-classic work:
By substituting Natural Selection for Providence, the new science could solve a host of riddles arising in practical life, though by the same exchange the new science had to become a religion. This necessity is what makes the Darwinian event of lasting importance in cultural history. We do less than justice to the men of the nineteenth century who first did battle for evolution if we think that it was altogether for secret or unconscious economic motives that they clung to Darwinism. A man like Huxley may have been tempted by his pugnacity and evangelical passion to overstate his conclusions, but he was neither stupid nor dishonest. He had the highest kind of courage, and a Calvinistic desire to be chosen for the right reason, which for him was the possession of truth. "Science and her methods," he declared, "gave me a resting place independent of authority and tradition." His rejection of everything untested by him was radical, revolutionary, heedless of consequences. And it left him and his world naked before moral adversity. Europe became more and more like the vaunted jungle of the evolutionary books, and Huxley died heavyhearted with forebodings of the kind of future he had helped to prepare (p. 64).
Barzun points out how deeply perturbed Huxley was over the fact that at no point had any human selection ever created a genuinely new species. For an idea that levied such a high social and moral cost, where was the dividend of empirical proof? Barzun goes on:
Are we to conclude that a sound scientific foundation is one which is also insecure in its logical basis? To the skeptical, Huxley kept affirming that evolution is "no speculation but a generalization of certain facts which may be observed by anyone who will take the necessary trouble." Yet it was the fact of observation that Huxley himself was seeking and waiting for. Until it was produced, evolution should have remained, at least for one who loved fine distinction, speculation and not theory (p. 64).
So how did Darwinism gain such authority? Barzun asks, "Why was evolution more precious than scientific suspense of judgment? Why do scientists to this day [and even now!] speak with considerable warmth of 'the fact of evolution,' as if it were in the same category as the fact of combustion . . .?"
Barzun suggests that the reason for this warm embrace was the carte blanche it gave to scientists and especially to Darwinian scientists. Indeed, "They had their way in clerical as well as in civil courts, in education as well as in the popular mind. The spread of evolution was truly worldwide. . . . Materialism, conscious or implicit, superseded all other beliefs. Nor is it hard to understand why it did," Barzun adds, "for it satisfied the first requirement of any religion by subsuming all phenomena under one cause."
That is why Huxley called Darwin the Newton of biology, why he called the evolutionary debate a New Reformation, and why he liked to date events in the history of human thought as pre-Darwinian and post-Darwinian -- under the old dispensation or the new. This profound emotional and intellectual victory once gained, it would have taken a superman or a coward to retreat from it for so trifling a cause as lack of final proof (pp. 65-66).
Under this new Darwinian Holy See, "Others who claimed for themselves the freedom of agnosticism or atheism were in fact just as deeply committed to dogma -- the infallibility of the new church -- as any prince of old" (p. 66).
Fortunately there have been enough "superheroes" and "cowards" -- Barzun among them -- to ask for this proof. What is most striking in Barzun's words (written now 70 years ago!) is how utterly true they remain today. Writing at a time in the mid twentieth century when it was in many ways least popular to do so, Jacques Barzun is brave and prescient figure for whom we all owe an intellectual debt. Thank you Jacques! | <urn:uuid:c28d71cd-5dbf-4453-bb5a-a0ebf102c95e> | http://www.evolutionnews.org/2011/08/in_praise_of_jacques_barzun049361.html | en | 0.971282 | 0.043925 | mlfoundations/dclm-baseline-1.0-parquet |
A Star Wars: Battlefront release date has been confirmed for Summer 2015, according to numerous sources privy to information discussed on a recent investors call at EA headquarters. EA Chief Financial Officer Blake Jorgensen said the game "will most likely come out around the same time the Star Wars movies start to come out, probably in the summer of '15." So what does a Star Wars: Battlefront release date of Summer 2015 mean for fans?
Lots of very good things.
First and foremost is the care that will be placed into this game. EA's DICE studio has been quick to point out that this game is NOT Battlefront 3, despite the association being made by fans and games writers. Last month, EA Games Label boss Patrick Söderlund told Eurogamer that the next Star Wars game would not be a reboot of the canceled-while-nearly-completed Battlefront 3 fans were clamoring for (especially after this one hour of gameplay leaked earlier this year).
"This is DICE's interpretation of what Battlefront should be," Söderlund told Eurogamer. "That's the best description you can have. There are absolutely things in the previous Battlefront games that you'll recognise and remember, but DICE wants to put its own flavor on it. That's the only way we can do it. Hence it's called Star Wars: Battlefront, without a 3 at the end. We want to say it's something new. But again, it's going to be very Star Wars and very cool."
Ok, so it's not EXACTLY Battlefront 3, but DON'T FREAK OUT! I've always felt that DICE was a rare bright spot in the rainbow of sh-t that are EA games. The Battlefield series, although not my preferred shooter, is unquestionably one of the most gorgeous titles in the genre. The Frostbite 3.0 engine alone should make Battlefront 3 fans happy that EA is making this game. It's hard for me to watch Battlefield 4 footage now and not just imagine Storm Troopers and an army of Yodas tearing up Mos Eisley.
Frostbite 3.0 Gameplay Footage
What's especially exciting about the Star Wars: Battlefront project is that it wasn't assigned to DICE, in fact, Karl Magnus Troedsson and Patrick Bach (who are the minds behind the Battlefield series and the stellar rep DICE has in the industry) actually asked to be a part of the project, something that caught Söderlund off guard.
"The DICE guys Karl Magnus Troedsson and Patrick Bach were talking and I told them we were in dialogues with Disney over this deal and they just looked at me and said, 'Why haven't you spoken to us? What are you doing? We want to make Battlefront,'" Söderlund told CVG in June. "DICE is a very particular place and they are very proud of what they do and you don't really tell them what to do ... But they were just like, 'we would kill to make this game' and the whole studio started talking about it like, 'please give us this game'. That's when I called Frank [Gibeau, EA Labels boss] and I realized we had something here. 'If they want it that badly, then the game will be freaking awesome - we have to figure it out'. So we figured it out, we got them the game and it was that simple."
It's no surprise to fans of Battlefront that top tier designers would want to work on the project. The series is revered amongst gamers and many have formed strong attachments based on late-night gaming sessions involving intense multiplayer battles. And that type of gaming is exactly what DICE is built for, and will almost certainly deliver on the Star Wars: Battlefront release date in summer 2015.
But there's more than just the rep of DICE on the line here. I think EA is going to be incredibly invested in making the project a success because, frankly, the company needs to chalk up a win in the hearts of gamers everywhere. Despite the obvious financial successes attached to franchises like Madden and Battlefield, EA has the worst reputation of any gaming company and, according to a Consumerist poll, was voted "Worst Company In America" two years in a row. Gamers blame EA for the botched Mass Effect 3 ending and the diarrhea minefield that was Dragon Age 2. For better or worse, EA is seen as a ruiner of franchises, so turning out a flawless version of a beloved game based on a legendary franchise could turn the tide of public opinion in their favor.
This is why EA didn't just churn out Battlefront 3 as quickly as possible because it wouldn't be as good as it COULD be. Instead of us getting a cross-gen multi-platform game that was rushed out and based on substandard Lucas Arts designs, EA has decided to let its absolute best people run wild with arguably the best graphics engine in the business right now to create a shooter that will take advantage of the substantial hardware of next gen consoles and PCs. So while a Star Wars: Battlefront release date in summer 2015 seems far, far away, I take solace in the idea that once Star Wars: Battlefront comes out, it could raise the bar for next-gen gaming and establish a franchise that fans will embrace for the next decade.
And if EA totally botches the whole thing and the series is a flop? Well, they'll pretty much be in the exact same position they're in now. Loved by investors, reviled by fans and fated to crank out annualized sports games to pay the bills. | <urn:uuid:60469ff0-6a63-4938-ba3a-f0ad5a32f987> | http://www.idigitaltimes.com/star-wars-battlefront-release-date-summer-2015-confirmed-game-will-save-ea-video-361619 | en | 0.970429 | 0.018525 | mlfoundations/dclm-baseline-1.0-parquet |
Cardiogenic shock is a condition in which your heart suddenly can't pump enough blood to meet your body's needs. The condition is most often caused by a severe heart attack.
Cardiogenic shock is rare, but it's often fatal if not treated immediately. If treated immediately, about half the people who develop the condition survive.
Oct. 09, 2014
You Are ... The Campaign for Mayo Clinic
| <urn:uuid:1bbd2292-15b5-40d8-8cce-d5d94e205ad1> | http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/cardiogenic-shock/basics/definition/con-20034247?redate=04032015 | en | 0.971907 | 0.056492 | mlfoundations/dclm-baseline-1.0-parquet |
Media Influence: The Rest of the Story
Rhetoric aside, the entertainment industry has been largely indifferent to private and public-sector concern over the societal impact of graphic material in movies, television shows, music, and video games. At times Congress has made noise about becoming directly involved in the matter, leading to industry pledges to deal with the problem, resulting in...nothing.
Those supposed cleanup efforts have been so flaccid as to be doomed from the beginning. For example, in 1997, the television networks adopted age-based and content ratings for their programming in order to inform parents which shows they should keep their kids away from. What happened? The ratings have been applied permissively, haphazardly, and unreliably, rendering them meaningless. Worse, the ratings system has allowed the programs to become trashier than ever.
In the wake of the Littleton massacre, Washington again is thinking hard about legislation. As Broadcasting & Cable magazine stated, "The Senate is more than willing to crack down on media violence if senators feel the media...can't sufficiently police themselves."
All this leaves conservatives in a pickle. We are righteously indignant over Hollywood's complacency and nose-thumbing, yet we believe that this massive, ongoing problem shouldn't be solved by politicians, no matter how thoughtful and sincere, like Joe Lieberman. And certainly not if they're opportunistic and two-faced, like...well, keep reading.
There are several things wrong with the current debate. For the past few weeks, discussions of the media's influence on society have, understandably, centered on violence. But as the Columbine story becomes less personal and more political, this focus grows more worrisome.
On the surface, Bill Clinton is triangulating this issue, positioning himself in the center, with Hollywood and the NRA on the extremes. But since Tinseltown writes the checks for the Democratic Party, nothing will come between Clinton and his moolah.
In his May 15 radio address, Clinton opined, "There is still too much violence [on] our nation's screens, large and small. Too many creators and purveyors of violence say there is nothing they can do about it...Those with greater influence have greater responsibility." Those who produce entertainment fare, he declared, should make it "as if their own children were watching" it.
But later that same day, at a Democratic fundraiser in Beverly Hills, Clinton remarked, "There's no call for finger-pointing here...That doesn't make anybody who makes any movie or any video game or any television program a bad person."
A $3 million Beverly Hills fundraiser will buy you that kind of Slick Willie doubletalk.
The result? Nothing is accomplished, but boy, we feel good about it.
By obsessing over violence, we also ignore other cultural blights. On broadcast television, the medium with the widest reach, sexual references and depictions are far more common than all the punches, kicks, and shootings put together - and though there could never be a spectacular, dramatic sexual equivalent of Littleton, the impact of media-promoted promiscuity is no less real, or less devastating, than the impact of media-glamorized violence.
If we are going to look seriously at media violence, let's move beyond the highly choreographed, almost cartoonish martial arts of "Walker, Texas Ranger" and the high-tech, generally bloodless gunplay of "The Matrix" to the world of video games.
The May 14 New York Times carried a report by Andrew Pollack from the annual Electronic Entertainment Exposition, a video-game trade show. Much of the article was at once eye-opening and stomach-turning. According to Pollack, one company, Interplay Productions, makes both Carmageddon, "in which virtual motorists rack up points by running down pedestrians, [which] a company advertisement said was 'as easy as killing babies with axes,'" and Kingpin, Life of Crime, an ad for which says that "players can 'target specific body parts and see the damage done - including exit wounds.'"
Clearly executives at Interplay and other gore-happy video-game companies badly need a sense of shame. But is the right person to lecture to them about this...William Jefferson Clinton?
Interplay exists only because there's a demand for what it sells, and it has reason to believe that a reduction in carnage might lead to a reduction in profits. Pollack writes that "several years ago [Nintendo] came out with a tame version of Mortal Kombat while Sega continued to sell the original, ultra-gory version." The result, as described by Nintendo executive Howard Lincoln: "We got creamed in the marketplace and got letters from parents saying we were censors."
How do we expect a video-game company, or a television network, or a movie studio to mend its ways if it's virtually certain of getting "creamed in the marketplace"? All the legislation in Washington will do nothing; all the new regulation will create is another forbidden fruit to feed the seemingly insatiable appetite of a popular culture obsessed with death. | <urn:uuid:835c2668-6634-4545-92f8-575e53e17d47> | http://www.mrc.org/bozells-column/media-influence-rest-story | en | 0.95649 | 0.136793 | mlfoundations/dclm-baseline-1.0-parquet |
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Thank you Roy, for being so open
June 5 2012 at 12:34 AM
Tim (no login)
Response to who I have become in my life?
I grew up with someone with speech impairment. So I understand what you've been threw friend. He couldn't pronounce the T's in words. His name was Curtis, but he called himself Curis.
But I had my own problems with dyslexia, I couldn't spell Tim until I was in 7th grade. I always wrote MIT. wink.gif
So I was always in SLBP classes each day. (Special Learning and Behavioral Problems).. They lumped us all together.
I've had two wives and never any kids and I'm 49 years old.
And I feel as though I missed out on having kids, and I also feel a lack of love, and I feel like God might be angry at me or disappointed in me.
I've done things in the past I'm ashamed of, mainly theft and cheating on my girlfriend in High School. But we are still friends on Facebook. wink.gif
She was also in the SLBP classes in School.
I grew up as a rebel, hanging around downtown till all hours of the night with the other misfits at 14 years old, causing some trouble hear and there.
The police and my parents threatened to have me put into a boys home if I didn't shape up.
One of my fondest naughty boy memories is hot wiring golf carts and riding them around all night in the moon light with a friend. But one night when we went to bring them back to the golf club there was about 5 cop cars in the parking lot and men standing around at about 3am but we split out of there on the golf carts and never got caught. And walked home. No harm done, I guess.
But all in all, I'm glad its today and not 35 years ago. I've learned a lot and repented and changed my ways. But I still don't feel worthy of salvation, but only by the promise of having Faith in Jesus the Son of God.
Bro Tim
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Find more forums on Religion and PhilosophyCreate your own forum at Network54 | <urn:uuid:04a37b10-88db-4516-af8b-15a008885bed> | http://www.network54.com/Forum/272761/message/1338870873/Thank+you+Roy%2C+for+being+so+open | en | 0.975653 | 0.019695 | mlfoundations/dclm-baseline-1.0-parquet |
Six tips to get the best bloom out of poinsettias
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on December 01, 2012 at 5:48 AM, updated December 02, 2012 at 12:03 AM
It's the time of year when poinsettias are popping up in stores, luring you to buy one (or more) and take them home. Only question, what do you do then?
Here are six tips for keeping your poinsettia looking beautiful.
* Give them plenty of natural light, at least six hours a day.
* Don't place plants near cold drafts or heat sources, such as fireplaces or heat vents. Don't let the leaves or bracts touch cold windows.
* Don't expose plants to temperatures lower than 50 degrees. Optimum is 68 to 70 degrees.
* Let the soil dry out between waterings. How can you tell when it's time to water? Pick it up the plant; it will feel much lighter.
* Don't allow poinsettias to sit in water. That includes the foil wrapper they come in. If you must keep it in the foil, take the plant out when it's time to water, let it drain and then put it back.
* No need to fertilize during the holiday season while bracts are in color. If you plan to keep it as a houseplant, feed with a balanced, all-purpose fertilizer in spring. But keep in mind, poinsettias are difficult to cajole into color. So unless you want a nonblooming, green-foliaged houseplant, compost it after the holidays.
| <urn:uuid:e3236d83-7745-4926-86aa-e3cc15f73663> | http://www.oregonlive.com/hg/index.ssf/2012/12/six_tips_to_get_the_best_bloom.html | en | 0.927891 | 0.06086 | mlfoundations/dclm-baseline-1.0-parquet |
White Google Nexus S hands-on
The world loves a shiny white smartphone and it seems that both Google and Vodafone are aware of this as together they bring the exclusive that is the white Google Nexus S Android phone.
Rocking the Gingerbread version the open source mobile OS, the pretty handset has been snapped up the UK's Newbury-based operator and should be hitting the shelves within a handful of weeks. While the prices on the white Nexus S haven't been worked out yet, Pocket-lint has got its hands on one and this is what it's like.
Funnily enough, sitting on its back, it looks almost no different to the standard Nexus S. The entire front surface is the same one piece, edge-to-edge glass covering that 4-inch Super AMOLED display and, yep, it's still all black. However, get a profile view or pick the thing up and your eyes are met with a very attractive, lightly spotted white gloss chassis.
The weight of the device belies what is a premium look and feel as you realise that it's a plastic build. All the same, it's no less appealing to use and hold. While you might initially feel that you've been done, given that the front surface is the same old black, there's a nice surprise when you open the Nexus S up and find out that the white finish isn't just skin deep.
The hardware configurations and buttons are just the same as before with lines so smooth and an appearance so minimal that it's actually quite hard to work out where the on button is until you discover it. Other than that, the only other blemishes on the body are the single strip volume rocker control, the micro USB connector on the bottom edge and the 3.5mm jack next to it, and the phone is delightfully finished off with a elegant curve giving it the most subtle version of the "chin" made famous by the G1, HTC Hero et al.
The bottom line is that we'd rather not have given it back. It might not have that assurance that comes with HTC's all metal bodies but, my, it's pretty and the exclusive colour is the icing on the cake. | <urn:uuid:07a73c40-de2a-4f08-8436-90afb0beb9a1> | http://www.pocket-lint.com/news/108758-white-google-nexus-s-photos | en | 0.963278 | 0.060516 | mlfoundations/dclm-baseline-1.0-parquet |
Over the past few decades, I have watched the financial industry change. Some parts have evolved quite slowly, while others shift rapidly. But I am always amazed at how some business models manage to hang on despite overwhelming proof of their lack of purpose or value added.
Some parts of the investment world exist simply because people don’t know better. The information is out there, but it is obscured by a relentless parade of advertising, promotion and marketing. The truth gets lost behind a smokescreen of noise and deception. Indeed, there are increasing numbers of people who are employed for just that purpose.
Ignorance: It’s a job creator.
But rather than merely complain, what if we take a look at the parts of the financial industry that don’t create value.
Continues here
Category: Investing, UnGuru
2 Responses to “Why Does the Newsletter Business Exist?”
1. VennData says:
The whole IPO thing should be like Google’s.
People like Larry Ludlow and Jim Cramer at the the time disparaged the simple auction. Everyone “in the business,”
This can all be done like Snapchat.
2. Willy2 says:
“Parasites”. Amen. | <urn:uuid:a1d49b43-e05d-4a18-9ad3-eafdcd678a09> | http://www.ritholtz.com/blog/2014/05/why-does-the-newsletter-business-exist/ | en | 0.905291 | 0.070467 | mlfoundations/dclm-baseline-1.0-parquet |
The perfect cabbage match for St. Patrick's Day (and otherwise) meals
FDY Cabbage_001.jpg
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. --- We are looking forward to the Forest Avenue parade but lament the loss of the traditional run beforehand. Ah, well...while we're not having any kind of party this year, we'll certainly be cooking corned beef and cabbage, then corned beef hash for breakfast the following day.
Anyway, a reader recently asked, "What can you use a Savoy cabbage for?"
The wrinkled, dark green outer leaves of the Savoy cabbage are most ideal for stuffing, say, with ground meat or roasted salmon mixed with wild rice, then baked in the oven with a sauce or chicken broth. Also, savoys (compaired to other versions of the vegetable) does not emit much stinky sulfer when boiled.
For sauerkraut and coleslaw, stick with the common white head. And when cooking a red cabbage make sure vinegar or some kind of fruit acid is included: It preserves color and heightens the earthy flavor in the vegetable.
Ideal complements to cabbage (either white or Savoy) steamed with corned beef are whole cloves and/or allspice or juniper berries. If you're adding beer to the liquid base of the dish and wish to taste its flavors include the booze about halfway through the cooking process.
Enjoy the parade! | <urn:uuid:75f14fed-dbec-4cf8-a485-f20bd2d2fb93> | http://www.silive.com/entertainment/dining/index.ssf/2013/03/the_perfect_cabbage_match_for.html | en | 0.910648 | 0.046314 | mlfoundations/dclm-baseline-1.0-parquet |
JXTC Urban Life - шаблон joomla Продвижение
Tracey Browne, new single
Tracey Browne, 'My Best Friend, My Ego' taken from the album 'Everyone is Ordinary'
'Everyone is Ordinary', an album invoking comparison to a host of singer-songwriters including…A British Joan Osborne perhaps, a 21st century Kirsty MacColl, a folkier Sarah McLachlan, a poppier Sheryl Crow...we invite you to judge for yourself.
Championed by Nigel Stonier and Thea Gilmore, Tracey has also garnered praise from Lavinia Blackwall (of Trembling Bells) and has supported O’Hooley & Tidow (finalists in the BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards 2013). Hers is a sound that transcends comparisons; often deceptively straightforward and shot through with a pop sensibility, Browne's material seems hand crafted to catch those fleeting, transient moments, the times in lives where the axis tilts and the season begins to change.
Tracey is also a qualified and experienced sound engineer, based mostly out of Airtight Studios in Manchester, an established studio which has regularly played host to acts of the calibre of Paul Weller and I Am Kloot. Tracey engineers and produces bands and fellow songwriters on a regular basis at Airtight.
It was two years ago while playing a series of charity bike rallies across the UK that it was pointed out to Tracey that her own tunes, often personal and intimate, were reducing the bikers in her audience - normally inebriated and waiting for their favourite cover versions - to tears and to impassioned and frequent requests to play 'em again...
Tracey's answer was to find, not a studio, but a 17th century church in Northenden, Greater Manchester. Perceiving something magical in the acoustics, she gathered a team of musicians and producer of choice Nigel Stonier - who, having worked with Thea Gilmore, Joan Baez, Martha Wainwright and Clare Teal to name but a few, knows a quality singer songwriter when he hears one. Jumping in at any hour of the day or night, Tracey engineered AND performed, literally hitting the record button in the control room then dashing through to the studio area to perform her vocal overdubs.
The result is a stunningly fine 11 track album in which the emotions of Tracey’s songs take flight on the empathy of the musicians and the combination of spirit and quirk brought to the recording process.
“Tracey Browne is the real deal, an exciting new talent. Heartfelt melodic songs that echo the spirit of Kirsty MacColl, a brilliant voice which can swoop from a rock holler from a tender whisper, and a lively spunky stage presence. Once heard, she's in your head and your heart for good.”
-Thea Gilmore
‘I can understand why Thea Gilmore has taken a close interest in the blossoming career of singer-songwriter Tracey, as there is much resembling Gilmore’s early work in these Simple yet cleverly constructed songs…distinctly better than ordinary.’
Daily Express in Scotland
Editor - aka KW, head tea boy at Somojo Magazine.
With a background that includes interior design, working in the music industry, film & video production and photography........I share my love of the creative arts giving a platform for independent creatives to get their work out to a larger audience. | <urn:uuid:da26d481-6d3e-4a1e-9a80-084ee9eb43ed> | http://www.somojomagazine.com/index.php/music/music-news/908-shades-of-jade-free-track- | en | 0.946669 | 0.027872 | mlfoundations/dclm-baseline-1.0-parquet |
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Styleforum › Forums › Men's Style › Classic Menswear › The deal that wasn't
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The deal that wasn't - Page 2
post #16 of 20
Out of town and ended up in the local outlet mall. Â Wasn't really shopping, but wanted to see what was out there. Found a Canali in my size at Off 5th for $600: Â gray Prince of Wales plaid pattern. The find of the day was at Burlington Coat Factory though. Â A Corneliani Linea Sartoria for $250. Â It was a very neutral brown-black tic weave that would have gone with most anything. Â It's a shame I was travelling light and couldn't pick it up. Just had to get the wistfulness out of me...
what would you have done with a brown suit?
I'm going to take a wild guess here and say he would have worn it. Probably with a shirt. Most likely with shoes. Possibly also with a tie.
post #17 of 20
I've heard that Brown suits make excellent window treatments. But seriously, I love Brown suits. But I think that they are limited to Fall and Winter for the most part. Marshall's can be great. I've gotten Ike Behar shirts there for 15 bucks. They regularly carry Polo blue label for $350 as well. Sometimes they have some great ties. How is Century 21 by the way? What brands do they carry in suits, and what are the prices? Do they usually have normal sizes, or just big sizes?
post #18 of 20
JN, As far as brown suits go, last season's Sak's catalog had a nice look: Brown Dolce & Gabbana 3-button suit, shirt made up of a white ground with light blue, medium blue, brown, and tan stripes. I can't remember if there was a tie or not. It was a sharp look.
post #19 of 20
My favorite type of Brown suit = Medium brown with almost imperceptible tan and light blue windowpanes, low three button stance. Some brown cordovans would go nicely. Too bad I can't afford that look.
post #20 of 20
Thread Starter
The pattern was brown-black weave, but it seemed more tan-black to me. It had a nice conservative look to it (from my POV). I couldn't see myself wearing it for evening affairs, but it'd be a great workday staple.
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Chevy 5.3 Liter LS Salvage - Generation Gap
Power And Performance From A 5.3-Liter LS? Yes, And Plenty Of It.
Mike Harrington Oct 1, 2008 0 Comment(s)
Sucp_0810_01_z Chevy_53_liter_salvage Salvaged_engine 2/27
In the 11 years since the LS-series of small-block Chevys was introduced, they have been factory-installed in everything from Corvettes to passenger cars, trucks and SUVs. It's the latter that we want to focus our attention on in this article.
Among the advantages of these engines are factory aluminum heads, lightweight composite intakes and in some cases aluminum blocks. Many, such as the 5.3L (RPO LM7) have a cast-iron block with aluminum heads and composite intake. While the LS1 has received tons of attention, the 5.3L V-8 is of a lesser-known quantity. Literally millions of these cast-iron 5.3s have seen service in vehicles like Suburbans and Silverados.
Take a walk through any salvage yard and you're bound to come across plenty that have met an untimely end. We recently did just that, visiting Dave's Golden West Auto Wrecking in Westminster, California, where we found tons of wrecked late-model Chevrolets with 5.3-liter engines.
Sucp_0810_06_z Chevy_53_liter_salvage Royal_purple_motor_oil 3/27
Since the engine came out of a salvaged Suburban, we had no idea when the last oil change was. So it was off to the parts store for oil filter and plugs. At Super Chevy Shows around the country, I've seen many Nitro Coupe cars using Royal Purple motor oil. If it's good enough for a race car, it is good enough for this little 5.3.
For all practical purposes, the Gen III 5.3 is nearly equal to its older brother, the 5.7 LS1. In fact, the iron-block 5.3 can be bored out to 5.7, and any performance mod done to an LS1 can be done to the smaller 5.3. But that's not the purpose of this article. The goal here is to take a salvaged engine that is in good shape and add a few items to open up its nostrils so it can breath a bit easier. We were curious to see what kind of power it would make in stock trim and then with aftermarket goodies-in this instance, heads and a cam.
Most of us will never stop driving our beautiful classic cars, regardless of the price of fuel, and the modern 5.3 presents an excellent way to consume less gasoline and have excellent power for our classic rides. This particular engine will end up between the rails of a '58 Chevrolet Apache Fleetside truck.
Sucp_0810_07_z Chevy_53_liter_salvage Painless_harness_system_setup 4/27
Westech manager Steve Brule is setting up the Painless harness system we employed (more on that in a moment) and plug wires. The 5.3 came with the entire factory accessory drive system, OE harness and electronic control module (computer). The accessory drive system was removed and a Meziere electric water pump was installed. A set of long tube dyno headers carried away the exhaust. Other than that, this engine is stock.
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What happens to the intensity of first heart sound (S1) in atrial fibrillation ?
Posted Jun 29 2010 10:10am
It is a well known cardiac auscultatory sign, S 1 becomes variable in intensity with the onset of atrial fibrillation.
In physiology , the intensity of S 1 is determined by many factors.
1. The valve morphology(Thickness, Calcium , Rigidity )
2. Valve mobility
3. PR interval
4. Force of LV contraction
5. Preceding RR interval (4 and 5 are inter related)
6. Insulation and auditory factors (Thick chest wall etc)
How does atrial fibrillation modify the intensity of S1 ?
It is to be noted , atrial fibrillation alters only one of the above factors, namely the RR interval which becomes irregular.
The mix of short and long RR intervals occurs at random . A short RR interval, results in a relatively softer S1 and vice versa . The mechanism is directly attributable to the degree of LV filling and subsequent change in force of contraction .
Many times , at fast ventricular rates (Say >150) the distinction between short- long cycles is negligible in terms of net cardiac cycle.
If the RR interval , is too prolonged there can be an inverse relationship with s 1 intensity .It gets muffled as the mitral valve floats back to it’s orifice and a partial or even complete closure occurs , making force of LV contraction irrelevant in the genesis of S1 .
The vanishing act of PR interval in atrial fibrillation.
It does not require great brains to understand , if P waves are absent , PR interval must also be absent !
If PR interval is absent , there can be no influence of it on the first heart sound. Logic demands absence of PR interval must have some sort of influence on the intensity of S1. As far as i know cardiology literature has not answered this query.
What are the two types of S 1 variation ?
Experince has shown us , the variation of S1 can be of two types*.
Sequence 1 : Varying between , Loud -Louder- Loudest -pounding
Sequence 2: Varying between , Loud -Normal – soft -Muffled
* Applicable only for those with shrewed ears !
S 1 intensity with reference to underlying pathology : Valvular vs Non valvular atrial fibrillation
It is obvious the impact of varying RR interval on the intensity of S1 will directly depend upon the underlying pathology. The intensity of S1 in non valvular AF (Like , lone AF, Thyrotoxic AF, Hypoxic AF ,Ischemic AF etc) are more vulnerable to changing RR interval .
In rheumatic heart disease , the influence of valve morphology , rigidness, calcification and presence of MR generally prevail over the impact of changing RR interval .So, in a case of tight mitral stenosis and AF it is expected the sequence 1 is more common .
In lone AF or AF due to CAD , sequence 2 is more likely * Associated LV dysfunction , and ischemic MR may further dampen the intensity of S1 .
Clinical implication
Hearing few occasional loud S1 in AF , is an indirect indication that underlying LV function is good, as it reflects the force of LV contraction .
Silent AF
Some hearts are notoriously silent even in the midst of AF. If the silence is not due to obesity or other insulation defects, it suggests a sinister diagnosis , like severely dysfunctional ventricle like DCM etc.
As a corollary, it is often noticed , palpitations* are , often not felt by patients with dysfunctional ventricles in spite of atrial fibrillation. (As loud S 1 is rare with dysfunctional ventricle)
*Palpitation is a symptom that equates to Dp/Dt of ventricles.
What happens to mid diastolic murmur in AF ?
The murmur length varies linearly with reference to RR interval. The pre systolic accentuation disappears ,but pre-systolic component may persist .
Final message
Simple, bed side auscultation during atrial fibrillation can give us vital clues about the etiology, and the underlying LV function . Let us not be ashamed to talk about clinical cardiology . . .at least in the bed side !
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Study shows economic impact of Battleship on Cape Fear area
WILMINGTON, NC (NEWS RELEASE) -- The Battleship NORTH CAROLINA releases the economic impact assessment as completed by the University of North Carolina – Chapel Hill Center for Competitive Economies.
Examination of the Battleship’s annual economic impact was for each year in the period from 2000-2010 and cumulatively for the entire period. Based on the analysis the findings are as follows:
During 2010 the USS NORTH CAROLINA contributed 303 jobs to the New Hanover county economy, including 46 employees at the ship itself and another 257 jobs created in the region by ship visitation
For the 2000-2010 period, the USS NORTH CAROLINA accounted for 3,173 job/years of employment
During 2010 the USS NORTH CAROLINA contributed $7.9 Million in income received by citizens of the New Hanover county economy
For the 2000-2010 period, the USS NORTH CAROLINA accounted for $83.5 Million in local income
Economic Growth
USS NORTH CAROLINA grew the New Hanover county economy by $23.4 Million during 2010 and by a total of $245 Million for the 2000-2010 period
Real Estate Value Contribution
The prominent - and decidedly favorably perceived - presence of the NORTH CAROLINA on the Wilmington waterfront was found to increase real estate values on nearby properties
Research suggests that the ship contributes a “heritage view value” premium of approximately 3 to 5%, with contributed value varying by each properties’ utilization.
For the 273 parcels that have some view of the NORTH CAROLINA, the ship is estimated to add a total of $5.7 Million to their aggregate tax value
Research found that the USS NORTH CAROLINA makes a significant and remarkably consistent contribution to the economy of its community. The significance of the ship’s contribution to the regional economy was magnified by the “counter-cyclical” nature of its impact. The NORTH CAROLINA actually increased its economic contribution during period of regional and national economic recession, thus providing important stability to the region.
It was also found that those economic contributions include – but also extend beyond – the NORTH CAROLINA’S prominent role in regional tourism. The NORTH CAROLINA was also found to play a prominent role in defining the Wilmington “brand” to external audiences and to serve as an enduring and iconic symbol of community identity for the citizenry of a rapidly changing city. The ongoing evolution of the USS NORTH CAROLINA has the potential to increase this role and the economic value it brings to its community.
The Battleship NORTH CAROLINA is self-supporting, not tax supported and relies primarily upon admissions to tour the Ship, sales in the Ship's Store, donations and investments. No funds for its administration and operation come from appropriations from governmental entities at the local, state or federal levels. Located at the junction of Highways 17/74/76/421 on the Cape Fear River. Visit or follow us on and for more information. Relive with the crew on the Battleship Blog The Battleship NORTH CAROLINA is an historic site within the North Carolina Department of Cultural Resources (
$23 million boost to a $14
$23 million boost to a $14 billion economy. Not even in the rounding error.
Its a boat
It's a boat! I'm impressed by the 23 million dollar number for a fairly small tourist stop. Extremely similar to the DPAC in durham (a 24 million dollar contribution) with the exception that well we are talking about an old boat and that's about it here. Pretty impressive.
Gotta be kidding... seriously,
Aw, c'mon. This is garbage, the same garbage that keeps taxpayers pumpin money into stadiums and semi-pro (aka "college) sports teams. Someone takes some figures, multiplies them wildly, and says that the entire region is rich 'cause you have a NASCAR race, or a NBA franchise, or whatever. Oh, and they always do that about the time they hit you up for more money.
Here's the deal -- even NASCAR (hardly a stranger to NC, although you wouldn't know it by the lack of NASCAR stuff these days) says that unless the visitor travels 300 miles or more, you're just recirculating local money. And while there are obviously many that come from a half day's drive or more, the truth is that most are local to the area. And of those coming from far away, how many make this a destination and stay a while to buy more than a burger and a tank of gas?
Betting both NC and this battleship go for more money with numbers like this... what you wanna bet?
I will disagree just a little on this one.
Yes the multipliers are egregiously too high.
That said the BB is totally self sufficient meaning no government funds are involved.
So if they sell rooms meals etc the state reaps the taxes on those purchases with no overhead to take away from the bottom line.
The difference is that there are no costs involved to run the BB55 - so any increase in sales represents increased taxes.
This one gives us more bang for our bucks so to speak...... | <urn:uuid:caaafabf-0d56-4e29-a90b-55b24f80a4cc> | http://www.wwaytv3.com/2013/05/29/study-shows-economic-impact-of-battleship-cape-fear-area | en | 0.935485 | 0.048358 | mlfoundations/dclm-baseline-1.0-parquet |
Sentence Examples
• I just didn't see any point in spending money on new clothes when my old ones still had a lot of wear in them.
• Maybe he didn't know Alex was spending half his nights tending horses, or maybe he was realizing the impact it had on their relationship.
• Of course, that might be uncomfortable, but surely he must know that spending so much time with her might prove uncomfortable later.
• He had been spending too much time with the television lately.
• Would she ever reach the point that she felt comfortable about spending the money he had earned before they met?
How would you define spending? Add your definition here.
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Will cloud sync be free? Yes!
A lot of people have been asking about the cost of cloud syncing lately. Jürgen himself gives the answer in the comments to these two blog posts:
11 Aug 2009
"All 1.x updates will be free. All the features mentioned in the blog post will be part of upcoming 1.x updates."
16 Mar 2010
"We are certainly not going to charge for 1.x updates in the future. Cloud sync and sharing will be implemented in 1.x updates. Also, to reiterate what I wrote above, cloud sync has the highest priority."
Thats that, I guess?
Well, the ability to use it will be free but there could be some sort of subscription model for the actual syncing and storage on CC's servers.
@Robert: I suspect there will be a web app that costs, but that syncing will be free.
I don't lose any sleep over a subscription model vs. free, but @Robert is spot-on with the possibilities. The update to Things that supports cloud sync has been promised as free, but free cloud sync is still speculation at this point.
Guess so. Seems as if Jürgen is implying that it will be free, though.
It would be a pretty awesome service, ie not just sync, for me to pay for it, though.
Pretty much what you said, thurfjell. There are a *lot* of companies competing to get my money (they must not know how little I make ;) ). As much as I love Things, if they want me to pay them for anything again it better be _awesome_ and unable to live without, as right now there's not much I'd pay for what they’ve delivered this year. Don't get me wrong, it's been ok to get some features throughout the year, but frankly a lot more companies give a lot more bang for the buck.
That said, I've never seen CC hint anywhere at a paid cloud sync solution. We'll just see what they say in the next week I guess.
They have certainly hinted at [the possibility of] a paid cloud sync solution now; look at Jürgen's comment at the very bottom of this page: [culturedcode.com]
If CC make the decision that this will be a subscription based sync solution, I'm out. Not because of Things, but because of CC. I don't want to support a company that screws it's customers over in that way, however good the product is. Not that it matters to CC – they will live without me and the few who decide that CC are not worth it. Things will still be an awesome app, but I'd rather live with the suckiness of OF than support CC, if they go down the charge-for-sync-road.
You just can't promise/hint at, that a sync solution that should have been in place at day 1 will soon be in place, for two years, and then charge for it when the major competitors (and many others) manage to offer real/proper synchronisation for free. It is not CCs customers fault that two years worth of development time was spent on this cloud sync solution. CC could have went the incremental way, and probably should have. Two years is not a long time in this business at, this time – it is forever.
Quite frankly, even if CC would not offer me a refund when I leave, I will take the hit and leave.
Edited: for clarity (content within brackets).
Deleted by me (nom). I was expressing my disappointment with the tone the thread was taking, but it wasn't helpful & didn't add to the discussion.
I will say this: the comment by Jürgen that @thurfjell referred to does not hint that cloud sync will cost anything. It states, categorically, that CC do not yet have enough information to estimate server load, so they cannot yet predict their costs and hence whether a charge will be required.
I completely agree with thurfjell.
If CC wants to charge, fine. But don't expect me and perhaps others to stay around and pay when many have already given $80 to your company.
@nom: I have edited my comment in this thread to more accurately reflect the content of Jürgen's comment on the blog post I linked to, and the continued content of what I say in my comment on this page.
I see now that I was unnecessarily harsh in my next to last entry. Leaving it as it is, though.
I won´t mind one bit to pay for a good sync service. If it means that CC will be able to maintain it and improve upon it I´ll gladly pay what they ask for it. Of course they should be paid for their work, just like any other service. If people don´t like what they have to offer they can just buy something else. I have no sympathy for the people who complain about the money they have "wasted" on Things because they can´t use it the way they would like it until the cloud sync service arrives. I paid money for a product back then because I liked what it did back then, now they are working on a service that lets me sync my devices via the cloud, and why should it be free? It´s not my birthright to have a way to sync Things on all my devices via the cloud, people will still be able to sync via WiFi if they don´t want to pay more to CC.
I have only seen one good cloud sync service out there, Dropbox but that´s only free because a small group of people, like me, pay for it. The rest of the sync solutions out there that work really well cost money.
It's up to the user to decide if it 'should' be free. But omnigroup offers free syncing, and it's worked perfectly for me. So if CC decides to charge, they'll have to deal with that comparison.
In other words, the market will decide the 'should'. If culturedcode can charge for it, more power to them.
Just like it´s not up to you to decide if you should pay for your groceries in the supermarket or not, it´s not up to you to decide if people should be paid for the work they do.
It´s up to you to decide if you can afford the product/want to pay for the product, and then you can either purchase it for said price or pick something else.
And yes, while it is true that the Omnigroup sync server is free at the moment, they have said that the new features they plan to add to the sync service might cost money. I don´t see it as being that different than what Jürgen said in his blogpost. As far as I understand the CC sync solution opens up for some extra features, and if they decide that they should be paid for all the work they put into it, I see no problem in that.
They've told us why they're not yet answering the 'will it be free' question. Their reason makes perfect sense. Now we just see how long it takes for them to get us an actual answer.
That they won't charge up to v.2.0 is correct, but this doesn't have to mean, that they won't charge for a subscription based model for using the Cloud Sync solution.
It's okay when they charge for it when it's finally released, just think about that they'll also have to pay the servers to store user accounts. These are not very much for now, as we're currently in beta, but think about how many guys will use it when it's released for the public crowd.
Best example is iOS App Store's In-App Purchase solution. Many developers charge for global Push Notifications, and this is still ok.
I don't know if you heard about Todo by Appigo, but they also give you the possibility to use their Cloud Sync Solution. Price is 16$ for one year.
@Marvin Niedt wrote:
Read the quotes in the first post again. Cloud sync will be part of a 1.x update, and 1.x updates will be free. I guess CC could do what Sophia Teutschler (maker of CoverSutra) did, and totally disregard promises of free upgrades.*
@Marvin Niedt also wrote:
The entire OmniSync Server is hosted on a Mac mini. That's a huge cost? A few Mbit/s down and up to a Mac mini can't be that expensive.
* She says that she forgot, though. Doesn't change the fact that she didn't remedy the situation.
You also don't have to use the OmniGroup sync service if you don't want to. You can use a local or network filesystem, any WebDAV fs, or your MobileMe DAV service.
Coming across this historic discussion now that Things Cloud is finally out brought a smile to my face... :) But I realized it’s still very relevant, I have lots of thoughts on Things Cloud sync:
Price: As it seems the beta is now free, but will the final version charge for the app, and not for the sync, like some of you said above, or, will it remain free up to v2.0 (like others of you said above)?
Backup: What happens to my backup/historic Things data? In the blog post announcing the beta, they write that “Our next milestone is to enable the import of existing databases into the beta. Until then the beta continues to use an extra database, leaving users’ existing data untouched.” I suppose this means that until the final version is out, the cloud will include only the newly-updated versions of Things and not the old versions?
Why sync on Things at all?? Think about it: Apple’s iCloud (which, btw, doesn’t work so well on all versions of iPhone) enables you to sync all your iPhone/Mac/etc. apps in one place. But Things Cloud will only sync Things. So why not add the ability to (at least) connect Things to other cloud storage services like Box, skydrive and Xeround cloud db? I actually found a discussion here where someone wrote up code to sync Things using Dropbox, and I think this is a great idea! Shout out if you too have been wondering about this :)
Check out the August 22, 20122 Blog post on the subject.
Or for those not wanting to wait for the year 20122, this link works. ;)
Click on the FAQ link.
uh, huh. Thanks, Greg!
Regarding charging for Things Cloud, view this page.
Regarding using your regular data in the cloud right now, view this page and this page.
Regarding using other services for the cloud – none of them, in their current form, suit our needs entirely.
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Excerpt: 'Summer Roses'
Luanne Rice returns with her 20th novel, "Summer of Roses," which revisits the characters she introduced in her best-seller "Summer's Child."
On the isolated coast of Nova Scotia, Lily tries to let go of painful memories from the past and tries to build a new life for herself and her 8-year-old daughter, Rose. Along the way, Lily and Rose's lives intertwine with several unforgettable characters.
You can read an excerpt from "Summer of Roses" below.
Excerpt -- Chapter One
How does a person reenter a life she left nine years earlier? Knowing that there had been a relentless search for her, that her picture had been plastered on the front pages of every newspaper in Connecticut and beyond? Understanding that every local police department remained on the lookout for her? Realizing that all but one of her friends and family have given her up for dead?
The answer is, she walks right in the front door.
That's what Lily Malone did in the very-early-morning hours of August ninth. Just past 1 a.m., Liam Neill parked his truck in the turnaround at Hubbard's Point, lifted Rose -- sleeping, after the long drive from Nova Scotia -- and followed Lily down the stone steps.
Lily glanced at the arch over the wishing well -- there was the house name, Sea Garden, its letters just a little more rusty, a bit more filigreed from the salt air, than they had been nine years earlier. The sight gave her a pang so deep, she gasped out loud. Lily was really home. A breeze blew off Long Island Sound -- salt water, just like the Gulf of St. Lawrence in Maritime Canada, where she had lived and hidden these last nine years. But this night breeze was warm, gentle, filled with scents of marsh grass and sandy beaches -- instead of the fjord's arctic cliffs and cold, clear water flowing straight off the pack ice.
"Oh my," she said out loud, alive with the thrill of finally coming home. The roses greeted her -- their perfume filled the air, and if the ones growing up the trellis beside the front door were slightly less well tended than they'd been nine years ago, they were still profuse and extravagant. Lily reached up, through the thorns, to feel underneath the shingle just beside the dark porch light, and there it was -- the key her grandmother had always kept hidden there, guarded by the roses' foliage and thorns. "She didn't move it," she whispered.
"Of course she didn't," Liam said in her ear, standing behind her with Rose. "She never stopped hoping you'd come back."
"Maeve is coming home too," Lily said, opening the squeaky screen door, holding it open with her shoulder, fumbling with the key in the rusty old door lock. "Right? Tell me she's going to be okay -- "
"She will be, Lily," Liam said.
Lily felt the key turn. Nine years later, the door made the same bump as it opened, one of the hinges hanging just slightly. Stepping into the kitchen...smelling beach-house dampness encroaching from the absence of its owner. Yet someone--Clara, obviously--had opened a few windows. Lily walked through the first floor as if she were a ghost, haunting her most beloved, familiar place on earth.
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SA Politics
News and analysis of the local scene.
Tracy Idell Hamilton: Paquel, the lone female candidate
Lt. Marcia Paquel “grew up in the Sheriff’s Office,” and sees becoming interim Sheriff as the culmination of her almost 24 year career.
Her priorities include putting automatic weapons in patrol cars and hiring public information officers who could make crime scenes and meet with the media. She wants a helicopter, with uniformed officers in the pilot and copilot seats, and a beefed up evidence unit.
That’s a whole lot of new money Paquel is talking about, money that just isn’t there, at least for this budget cycle.
It’s clear Paquel isn’t terribly familiar with commissoners’ big concerns, and she doesn’t seem to have a sense that resources are both tight andfinite, which will probably hurt her chances of becoming the big cheese.
One juicy tidbit: She said that former Sheriff Ralph Lopez told her he wouldn’t “set a precendent” and name her the first female captain on the force. If that’s true, it raises an interesting question: How many other women weren’t promoted during Lopez’ tenure?
Categories: Uncategorized
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Top Definition
1. the act of wagering the retention of one's anal virginity. This is a very risky wager and advanced technique only to be used if you're absolutely positive you can win, unless you're gay of course 2. the act of using one's ass as a gambling device i.e. ass shuffler or dice roller. this is usually frowned upon by much of the gambling community because of its unsanitary results of players haviing to play with shit covered cards/dice
1. Josh- "Brian said he doesn't wanna hang out today. He spent last night being anally violated because he ran out of money at the poker game." Evan- "I told that cock smoker he needed to quit ass gambling" 2. "I thought craps was a dice game, there's shit everywhere. Fucking ass gamblers, I'm leaving!"
লিখেছেন- E-Murda321 14 de অগাস্ট de 2011
ফ্রী দৈনিক ই-মেইল
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chuck's story about the supposed movie possibility was that it was being shopped around to different producers/directors...until 9/11, and "suddenly no one was very keen on a plane-hijacking story." of course, not everyone was so keen on fight club as a movie either. 9/11 was a tragedy, but people need to be able to grasp the differences between what happened there and the movie. i guess it's all about the bottom line, though--people can't grasp differences if they stay away in droves, which they might if they hear the word "hijacking." i guess my interest in a movie of survivor is purely personal, since if trent and chuck--the two people i have altars to at home--ever collaborated, i think i'd wet my pants. | <urn:uuid:f6350291-dc46-4a1e-b786-a4b2b33a6a02> | http://chuckpalahniuk.net/comment/1005838 | en | 0.973424 | 0.923053 | mlfoundations/dclm-baseline-1.0-parquet |
{{Missmonkeh}} is an irritatingly talkative South Londoner. She does indeed talk with a Cockney accent (albeit a "posh" one) and indulges frequently in pie 'n' mash. She is married to a [[LatinLover Sicilian]] man who coerced her into moving to Essex. If you ask nicely, she'll make you a cup of tea and maybe some toast.
She is relatively new to the site and apologises for the slightly rubbish page.
She does not typically talk in the third person but feels it a necessary requirement in this instance.
'''Tropes that describe this Troper''':
{{Perky Goth}} - or used to be before she got a Respectable Job
{{Beware The Nice Ones}}
{{Spot Of Tea}} - always.
{{Consulting Mr Flibble}} - actually does own a Mr Flibble puppet.
{{Crazy Cat Lady}} - or getting there.
{{Fiery Redhead}}
{{Older Than They Look}} - mostly due to the below attribute.
{{Pettanko}} - used to hate it, but have now embraced it.
{{Hartman Hips}} - see above.
{{Bookworm}} - and proud.
{{One Of The Boys}} - love football, hate shoes.
Often accused of being a {{Straw Feminist}} despite being a perfectly reasonable feminist (the kind who campaigns for equal rights but understands that most men are perfectly nice human beings} | <urn:uuid:2c90af10-064c-4481-b8f1-baefb570e4e2> | http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/folderizer.php?target=Tropers.MissMonkeh | en | 0.913558 | 0.068835 | mlfoundations/dclm-baseline-1.0-parquet |
contentscontents What has science done
for you lately?
page 2 of 7
previousprevious | nextprevious
Fueling technology
Basic science fuels advances in technology, and technological innovations affect our lives in many ways everyday. Because of science, we have complex devices like cars, X-ray machines, computers, and phones. But the technologies that science has inspired include more than just hi-tech machines. The notion of technology includes any sort of designed innovation. Whether a flu vaccine, the technique and tools to perform open heart surgery, or a new system of crop rotation, it's all technology. Even simple things that one might easily take for granted are, in fact, science-based technologies: the plastic that makes up a sandwich bag, the genetically-modified canola oil in which your fries were cooked, the ink in your ballpoint pen, a tablet of ibuprofen — it's all here because of science.
While images of big, complex innovation, might be the first to spring to mind when you think of technology it can also be the smaller, simpler, science-based innovations that we take for granted.
Though the impact of technology on our lives is often clearly positive (e.g., it's hard to argue with the benefits of being able to effectively mend a broken bone), in some cases the payoffs are less clear-cut. It's important to remember that science builds knowledge about the world, but that people decide how that knowledge should be used. For example, science helped us understand that much of an atom's mass is in its dense nucleus, which stores enormous amounts of energy that can be released by breaking up the nucleus. That knowledge itself is neutral, but people have chosen to apply it in many different ways:
• Energy. Our understanding of this basic atomic structure has been used as the basis of nuclear power plants, which themselves have many societal benefits (e.g., nuclear power does not rely on non-renewable, polluting fossil fuels) and costs (e.g., nuclear power produces radioactive waste, which must be carefully stored for long periods of time).
• Medicine. That understanding has also been used in many modern medical applications (e.g., in radiation therapy for cancer and in medical imaging, which can trace the damage caused by a heart attack or Alzheimer's disease).
• Defense. During World War II, that knowledge also clued scientists and politicians in to the fact that atomic energy could be used to make weapons. Once a political decision was made to pursue atomic weapons, scientists worked to develop other scientific knowledge that would enable this technology to be built.
Knowledge of the atomic nucleus has been applied in many different ways.
So scientific knowledge allows new technologies to be built, and those technologies, in turn, impact society at many levels. For example, the advent of atomic weapons has influenced the way that World War II ended, its aftermath, and the power plays between nations right up until today.
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• Science contributes to many different sorts of new technologies.
• Science builds knowledge about the world, but people decide how that knowledge should be used.
Computer chip photo provided by NASA; lab research photo provided by James Gathany/CDC; International Space Station photo provided by NASA; ibuprofen image comes from Bright_Star's flickr page and is used under this Creative Commons license; canola oil image comes from adpowers's flickr page and is used under this Creative Commons license; pen tip image comes from Tzatziki's flickr page and is used under this Creative Commons license; Rancho Seco nuclear reactor photo provided by Warren Gretz; x-ray photo provided by CDC/Libero Ajello; missile photo provided by DOE
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Answer a question Ask a question
is it ok to start my son on regular milk at 5 months
i started my son with regular milk because he wont take the formula and hes been ok with it he poops fine sleeps fine and is reacting good to it its been a month 1/2 but i im trying to get better advise if im doing bad or if its ok to give him the regular milk im not trying to harm my son is just that he loves this milk and i want was best for him.
Posted: 02/24/2011 by bairesisela
Mom Answers
infants digestive system can not properly break down the protiens that are in cows milk, and can damage the kidneys as the childs body trys to get rid of the extra protien. it is not recommeded for this reason to start kids on milk until after they turn 1 year old. cow milk also has a low iron content therefore your child may not get enough iron, it also has protiens that inhibit iron absorption in infants so the child could end up with a low blood level because of lack of iron try a different formula - or soy formula if needed
posted 02/25/2011 by akj_25
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Keep tring different formula types and brands until you find something he likes but you really need to STOP giving him regular milk. He is going to get sick and start to have many digestive and lactose problems if you keep giving him regular milk at his age. You also run the risk of shutting down his digestive tract and then he will be in the hospital, so if you really want the best for him, stop the regular milk and just try different formulas. You will find one he likes! Good luck!
posted 02/26/2011 by Angela32378
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No regular milk is not good for infants under one year of age. It doesn't have all of the vitamins and nutrients their bodies and brains need to grow and develop. In addition to that milk is something that is very hard to digest and can cause damage if given to an infant regularly.
posted 03/11/2011 by RikkaKorte
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Celebrity News
Axl Rose 'sues over Guitar Hero Slash'
160x120 Axl Rose
© Rex Features
Axl Rose has filed a $20 million (£12.7m) lawsuit against Guitar Hero manufacturer Activision.
In documents filed in LA Superior Court this week, the Guns N' Roses rocker claimed that the company had violated a contract between the two which stipulated that no imagery of Slash was to be used in Guitar Hero III.
He claimed that the video game giant tricked him into authorising the usage of the band's hit 'Welcome To The Jungle' by agreeing to leave out any reference to Slash, said The Hollywood Reporter.
"[Activision] began spinning a web of lies and deception to conceal its true intentions to not only feature Slash and [new band Velvet Revolver] prominently in GH III but also promote the game by emphasising and reinforcing an association between Slash and Guns N' Roses and the band's song 'Welcome to the Jungle," the suit stated.
Rose also claimed that the company misused 'Sweet Child O' Mine' by featuring it in promotions for a game other than the one it was released for.
He is asking for $20 million in damages.
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Hot Men of Argentina
Have you ever been to Argentina??
What I did not know was how hot guys of Argentina were!. Before we were even out of the airport, I was adrift in a warm sea of boys and men, some brash and others languid, some dark eyed and almond-skinned, some blue-eyed and Germanic looking. It looked like Little Europe, and it felt like sensuality incarnate.
Even the youngest were already muscled, their bodies sinewy and toned, as if they had already spent their lives working hard. A sense of athleticism prevailed in the boys and men I saw around me. They moved with the loping grace of wild cats. Wild cats with bedroom eyes. Even the mean looking ones seemed to have eyes that glimmered with some hint of sidetracked tenderness.
There is openness to Argentineans, an engaging directness, that amplifies even the most passing or casual connection, and leaves you feeling touched, stroked, caressed or even intimately rejected. I think I even fell in love with our cab driver. It’s as if people want to leave the mark of their desire on each other there, like a mass foreplay that frankly is intoxicating.
It starts with the way they look at you. So distinctly un-American. , They look into you, and hold your gaze, as if they were sifting through your psyche for some reflection of admiration for them, and when they find it, their expression softens. Even the married ones, the straight ones with wives and children. It’s almost as if some mutually pleasurable secret has been exchanged, and you both move on, but with the strange sensation that you’ve just made telepathic love with the man you passed that you will never see again. | <urn:uuid:7473b71b-7206-492f-b0f7-e522bb6e1f14> | http://www.freehotnakedmenpics.com/category/buenos-boys/ | en | 0.981256 | 0.036348 | mlfoundations/dclm-baseline-1.0-parquet |
Hylant: Claims
Experienced Advocates Fighting for Your Interests
Hylant: Claims
Hylant's Large Account claim advocacy team approaches each loss with a qualified group of professionals that produce the best possible outcome in each case.
Claim teams often include client executives, practice group leaders, and market relationship managers, as well as a variety of specialized and technical resources. Coupled with unparalleled service, Hylant's claim professionals have extensive knowledge in loss preparation and guidance, casualty and specialty claim management, and claim analysis.
In the case of critical claims, Hylant is uniquely positioned to respond in a manner equal to the severity of the claim, no matter how serious the situation.
With around-the-clock access, Hylant's service teams provide internal claim reporting and management assessments, carrier and third-party administrator service expectations, guidelines and performance reviews, reserve analyses, closure audits, collateral and claim escrow needs, analysis, and reductions. | <urn:uuid:a5010fba-9e05-449a-a048-b2dafdaebd3b> | http://www.hylant.com/risk_practices/claims.htm | en | 0.901235 | 0.031964 | mlfoundations/dclm-baseline-1.0-parquet |
Dow has resources to complete merger – Rohm and Haas
09 February 2009 03:24 [Source: ICIS news]
SINGAPORE (ICIS news)-- Philadelphia-based specialty chemicals firm Rohm and Haas said late Sunday that Dow Chemical has the resources and flexibility to complete the merger and should refrain from “frightening” its employees, communities and customers with threats of pulling out of the deal.
“Rather than focus on the necessary steps, Dow has embarked on an aggressive campaign in an attempt to frighten our employees, communities and customers with its statements,” Rohm and Haas said in a statement.
“Rohm and Haas believes that the combination of the two companies will create a strong global competitor to benefit shareholders and all other stakeholders in the long term,” it added in a statement.
The company sued Dow in Delaware Chancery Court after the US chemical giant refused to close the merger. Dow warned that closing the merger now would endanger the viability of the combined company.
Dow argued in a 62-page court filing on 3 February that a forced merger would only benefit the current shareholders of Rohm and Haas and would be contrary to the interests of the 55,000 Rohm and Haas and Dow employees, the associated communities, suppliers and customers.
Rohm and Haas has since rejected those arguments and said that the combined company is “well positioned” to meet those challenges.
Separately, Rohm and Haas has suggested a meeting between the companies’ financial advisors to establish an essential foundation for future discussions following three “disappointing” meetings between their executives.
“At none of those meetings, despite our repeated requests, did Dow's representatives provide ours with meaningful details of what Dow is doing to secure financing for the merger, to address the concerns of the rating agencies, or take other actions necessary to close the transaction as soon as possible,” said Rohm and Haas in a letter to Dow dated 6 February.
“We were also very troubled to learn yesterday that your intervention with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) went far beyond what Dow had previously disclosed to us,” it added without providing further details.
The merger trial that Rohm and Haas filed against Dow Chemicals is set to begin on 9 March.
For more on Dow Chemical or Rohm and Haas visit ICIS company intelligence
To discuss issues facing the chemical industry go to ICIS connect
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5 Lead Climbing Basics
Any aspiring climber should know these 5 lead climbing basics. Lead climbing is exactly what it sounds like. There is one person who is in the lead, that sets the gear on the climbing rock for the protection of the climbers behind them. Lead climbers have a very hard and technical job to do, it is also more dangerous for them. Since they are the ones setting the gear into place, they have no protection for themselves between placing the rope.
Lead climbing is done in sections for multi pitch climbs, or to put up a top rope for shorter sport climbs. After the lead climber places the rope, the next person to climb will remove the extenders on their way up. It is important for each climber to understand their roles in advance. Rock climbing can be a very dangerous and very rewarding experience.
1. Learn How to Place Extenders: Extenders are two carabiners with a rope of a certain length holding them together. One carabiner is attached to a bolt on the face of the rock and the other is attached to the lead climbers rope. If an extender is place improperly the rope can simply slip out and cause a falling climber to get injured. Improper placement can also cause "rope drag". This can lessen the life of the gear and the rope because of the amount of unintended friction.
2. Place Protection During the Ascent: It seems like common sense, but it needs to be said. The only proper way to lead climb is to place the protection during the ascent. It cannot be properly done while descending, and the second climber will not be able to set the protection they will need to make the climb. If they fall they will be relying on the fact that the lead climber put everything where it was supposed to be regardless of whether or not it is a top belay or bottom belay.
3. Stay Calm and Focused: Climbing requires not only physical strength, it requires thinking too. There can be situations where a climber needs to improvise and they will need to be calm and focused to do that so that nobody gets hurt. If a lead climber makes a mistake it can cause injury to themselves and/or the people on the ground.
4. Have the Gear Ready: Look at the route before beginning the climb. A different amount of gear will be needed for each individual climb. Having the gear prepared in advance will ensure that the lead climber isn't carrying too much weight or not enough protection.
5. Don't Over Climb: This is especially true for beginners learning how to lead climb. Over doing it can lead to injury and potentially fatal mistakes. If the lead climber gets to tired to finish placing the safety gear they should find a way to rest and/or get back down.
It can take months or even years before a climber might be ready to take the lead. Lead climbing is a big responsibility and should be taken seriously. A regular training routing is recommended to help a potential lead climber to build the strength and necessary skills to follow through with the first lead.
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Extra Hard LOTR Books/Movies Knowledge Quiz
Random Movies or Movie Titles Quiz
Can you name the LOTR Books/Movies Knowledge?
Quiz not verified by Sporcle
How to Play
Leader of Nazgul
The Demon who fights Gandalf in Moria
Doorwarden of Rohan's Palace
Lord of the Eagles
Cousin of Gandalf / Messenger of Isengard
Lady of Lothlórien
Described as a 'hasty ent.' Accompanies two hobbits through forest
Owner of Prancing Pony in Bree; Bartender
Prince of Dol Amroth; Fought in War of Ring
Hosts Hobbits in Old Forest; Race Unknown
Evil 'Advisor' of King of Rohan
Captain of the White Guard; saved Faramir from being burned by Steward of Gondor
Giant Squid-Like Animal who lives near Moria; Nearly Kills Frodo
Name of the fields where the main battle of the ROTK takes place
Character played by Andy Serkis
Boromir's Killer
Given to Frodo by Bilbo. Has a value 'greater than the Shire and everything in it.'
The inn where 'Strider' meets Frodo and his friends
What Galadriel offers to Frodo when he leaves the Lórien
Stands as a symbol of Gondor in the Court of the Fountain in Minas Tirith
Sam's Father
Merry's Father
Pippin's Father
Legolas' Father
Location of Frodo's stabbing by the Witch King
Friend Scores
Player Best Score Plays Last Played
You You haven't played this game yet.
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Super Street Network
| | | Formula One Renault - Feel The Force
Formula One Renault - Feel The Force
Flying flat-out in a Renault F1 car
Nick Hall
Feb 8, 2011
Photographer: Steve Hall
I’m almost through the first lap and I’m swearing, cussing, laughing and screaming inside my full face helmet. Then I hit the brakes, the laughter stops as the air is punched from my lungs and the car tried to snap my neck. This is madness, pure violence on wheels and the purest sensation of speed you’ll ever come across. I’m driving a real Renault F1 car on the Hungarian Grand Prix circuit, and you can too.
Epcp_1103_01_o+formula_one_renault+front Photo 2/12 | Formula One Renault - Feel The Force
America might not have taken to Formula One like the rest of the world, but any car nut knows they are the most advanced machines on the planet. Mercedes, Ferrari, Red Bull and Renault spend up to $700 million a year to go racing and the lion’s share goes on the car that would easily cost $1 million. So how did I, a relative monkey, get my hands on this 2004 car with a 700hp V10 strapped to my shoulder blades?
Renault’s Feel It course, which started in 2005, and is open to anyone over 22 years old with a full license. That’s how. And though it costs 5,500 ($7,600), every fleeting second makes it more than worth it for the 240 people that drive the car every year.
Epcp_1103_02_o+formula_one_renault+driver Photo 3/12 | Formula One Renault - Feel The Force
The cars are prepped by ex F1 team mechanics, telemetry experts are on hand and a physio (personal trainer) violently pushes and pulls my head to ensure I can handle the up to 5.5 g under heavy braking and, if I get it right, 4.5 g in the corners. The Bugatti Veyron Super Sports, by comparison, manages 1.4 g in the bends. We’re in fighter jet territory here.
First, though, comes the classroom instruction and 40 laps in a 200hp Formula Renault that makes any road car feel like an unwieldy bus. I’ve driven single seaters before and feel fast, smooth and confident that the laptop-wielding engineers’ praise will flow free. I am so wrong.
Epcp_1103_03_o+formula_one_renault+front Photo 4/12 | Formula One Renault - Feel The Force
I need to brake twice as hard, and slowly bleed off the pedal when the downforce drops off, I’m using too much curb and I’m five seconds off Renault F1 driver Vitaly Petrov’s time. My ego is smashed, but at least I’m good enough to drive the F1 car.
Soon I’m squeezing into the cockpit of the F1 that is based on the R26 that Fernando Alonso took to the Drivers Championship in 2006, staring at two huge, grooved Bridgestone tires and the 30,000 front wing. Then comes another shock as the engine fires up without my help and settles at its 4500rpm idle that sounds like a high revving chainsaw plugged into an amplifier.
Epcp_1103_04_o+formula_one_renault+team_renault Photo 5/12 | Formula One Renault - Feel The Force
The chassis is fitted with a 3-liter V10 that comes with 700 hp mated to a seven-speed paddleshift gearbox, but it’s limited to 12,000 rpm to save the team from expensive blow-ups. There’s a foot clutch, too, and a sort of traction control system that helps keep the car on the road.
It is more than enough for 650 kg of car and gives the Renault a power-to-weight ratio of 1,077bhp/ton. As a point of comparison the Veyron Super Sports delivers 638bhp/ton.
Thankfully there is no disastrous stall, the car trickles away from the line and then, suddenly, I am dragged out of the pitlane by some unseen force. The next minute is a total blur. The power, steering, everything are completely overwhelming and I forget about racing lines, braking points, even breathing. This is shock and awe in automotive form.
Epcp_1103_05_o+formula_one_renault+renaults Photo 6/12 | Formula One Renault - Feel The Force
On anything approaching straight the wind rips at my helmet. Then there’s the downforce, where the faster you go through a corner, the harder the car sticks. An F1 car could stick to the ceiling of a tunnel and literally drive upside down. But knowing I need 50 kph more than feels safe is a difficult concept to grasp in the eye of the storm.
Then there are the brakes. There’s hardly any feel, the pedal is more or less a wooden block, but it stops so hard it draws tears from my eyes. And I’m still not on the pedal hard or late enough.
I’m already through the tight first hairpin, the Third gear sphincter-tightening blind left that can take Fourth, but gets Third, and down the hill. There’s no speedo, just the rev counter and shift lights, I just know it’s hellish fast.
Epcp_1103_06_o+formula_one_renault+renault_F1_cars Photo 7/12 | Formula One Renault - Feel The Force
I am still swearing, laughing, wincing and almost crying, all at the same time, the jumble of emotions, the sheer overload of power. And then, as I head into the final sequence of bends on the 4.3km course comes the tragic dawning realization: I’ve got just one lap left.
The sad fact is you only get two laps of the 4.3km Hungaroring in the F1 car. That’s four minutes of the wildest fun you’ll have in your life. Renault admits it’s partially to safeguard the car. Given 10 laps, some would find false confidence and plant the car in the wall. And while even two laps takes a physical toll, 10 would apparently rip our puny necks to shreds.
So I have two minutes left and as I round the final corner, a mental flick switches. So I try to take the car by the balls, plant the throttle, attack the main straight and drink in the noise as that buzzsaw of an engine climbs to 12,000 rpm and threatens to burst an eardrum.
Epcp_1103_07_o+formula_one_renault+front Photo 8/12 | Formula One Renault - Feel The Force
Then I stamp on the brakes, blip down three gears and go for it, the car even moves at the rear on the slowest bends and I feel like a hero, for a fleeting second at least.
It’s the brakes that truly blow my mind, as I slam on the anchors at the end of the Hungaroring’s straight and 170 mph becomes 50 as my eyeballs make a leap for my visor, my internal organs try to meet the six-point harness and the g-force tries to snap my neck before I hit the apex and the 700hp V10 seemingly strapped to my back fires me towards the next bend.
Before I know it I’m being shepherded into the pit lane and the game is over. There is just one further ego crushing moment as we head out for a passenger ride in the three seater and find out just how feeble our best efforts were. I’m humbled, knowing that I used 60 percent of the car’s skills, possibly less. But I don’t care. It was the greatest drive that money can buy and the chance to be an F1 driver, if just for a few minutes.
And that is a truly priceless thing.
Epcp_1103_08_o+formula_one_renault+side Photo 9/12 | Formula One Renault - Feel The Force
Formula One Renault
3.0-liter V10
Power: 700 hp @ 12,000 rpm
Torque: 400 lb-ft @ 9000 rpm
0-60 mph: 3 sec.
Top Speed: 183 mph
By Nick Hall
30 Articles
Luke MunnellFeb 27, 2015
Sam DuFeb 23, 2015
Jofel TolosaFeb 20, 2015 | <urn:uuid:c4101595-3dd8-444d-a3dc-cdcfda7d0e6d> | http://www.superstreetonline.com/event-coverage/motorsports/epcp-1103-formula-one-renault/ | en | 0.904823 | 0.02239 | mlfoundations/dclm-baseline-1.0-parquet |
Wait, what?
Glitch Goes Live, You Should Check It Out
Glitch went live today at 1pm EST, and having played the beta, I’m going to say that you should check it out. What is Glitch you ask? Well, if you’re asking that, you must have missed out on this lovely little trailer (which you should watch immediately and then walk around singing for the rest of the day) so I’ll give you the skinny as best I can. Glitch is a lot of things.
First of all, Glitch is a browser-centric, Flash-based, social MMORPG developed by Tiny Speck (aka those guys from Flickr) and Keita Takahashi (aka that dude from Katamari Damacy). Weird combination, I know. Glitch has a strong social gaming influence. You can taste the FarmVille if you’re trying to, but there’s also considerably more depth here. Learning skills involves the standard “click the learn button, wait X hours” behavior common to browser-based games, but there is also a strong avatar-based world. In the world, you run around doing bizarre things like nibbling piggies (both of those words are specific, technical terms; I’m not trying to be cute) milking butterflies, playing music for crabs, and squeezing chickens as well as more conventional things like making food, earning money, mining minerals, and saving up for a house.
Those of you entirely unfamiliar with the game probably hitched up at the “nibbling piggies” part and had to go back for a second pass. Yeah. This game has a very distinct, and in my opinion, successful brand of humor. Not only that, but the humor is 100% integral to the experience. The premise is that the world is imagined collectively by 11 “giants” with names like Humbaba and Spriggan; think cute versions of Lovecraftian elder gods. Now, that isn’t a spoiler. Everyone is acutely aware of this fact and the many characters in the game will discuss it with you. When I say “the many characters” what I really mean is that everything talks. Rocks, trees, plants, piggies, and chickens will all talk to you and their dialogue is delightfully conversational. Sometimes you just want to click through the dialogue boxes to finish mining the rock that’s trying to talk to you, but they are worth reading.
While the tone and the writing of the game are its greatest strengths, the gameplay is solid too. The interface is terrific at accepting input from mouse or keyboard so you can run around the level like a stage in a platforming game, collecting exp bubbles if you want to, or just click the end of the zone to automatically walk there while you go make a sandwich or something. Your time in world is largely comprised of completing quests that come with newly learned skills, at least at the beginning. For instance, you learn to nibble piggies for meat and you get a quest along the lines of “Yo, go nibble 7 piggies, man.” You also spend time collecting and eating food to maintain energy, drinking drinks to maintain mood and collecting money, “currants,” to spend on tools, food, drinks, or even a house.
Of course, like every other MMO released since a few months agoGlitch is a free-to-play game with some subscription options. While currants, the in-game currency, (get it?! Glitch loves its puns) are needed to buy things like houses and tools, subscription options earn you “credits” which can be spent on clothes, hair, and other visual customizations, as well as things like teleportation tokens. The separation should allow free players to still get the full experience, even if it means not looking as cool.
All in all, Glitch has been a good experience for me so far, and I plan to continue playing (as a free member) when it goes live. The bulk of the action is 5-minutes-from-now, “I’ll do this so I can do this other thing” questing, but that’s pretty standard for browser-based MMORPGs. The unique tone and writing Glitch brings to the table is more than enough to suck you into the bizarre little universe they’ve got going. Since the beta has been wiped (a couple of times, I think) I’m interested to see how the world will be when there are a large number of players and a large number of players who are highly leveled.
If Glitch sounds at all interesting to you based on this article, you should really go grab an account as soon as you can. There is a lot to this game, a lot, and considering I can’t talk about everything, I feel the need to urge everyone to try it out. It’s a pretty stylized game, so it may not be your cup of tea, but if it is, man, you’re going to really enjoy that cup of tea.
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Tuesday, December 20, 2011
Star Wars: The Old Republic, The MMO You're Looking For
Without Luke and Leia and Han, I might never have discovered all the wondrous worlds of science fiction. I'd be a very different person without Star Wars, as so much of what I've come to love and identify with has been a result of that one movie. And since the day I saw Luke trying to wield a lightsaber aboard the Millenium Falcon I have wanted to step into that universe. A Star Wars based MMO seemed like a dream come true, but I've never stuck with one in the past. Would this be any different?
There have been countless Star Wars games and I've played most of them, but I am by no means an expert gamer. I don't play to up my gamer score or increase my character level or reach some hard and fast achievement that will give me bragging rights. That's just not how I game. I play for fun.
There are lots of gamers out there who are all about the achievements, the boasting, the "I can kick your butt!" aspect of gaming, and there's not a thing wrong with that attitude. They're still having fun, but there's a seriousness, a focus, that is completely different from how I game.
I don't care if my levels increase at a snail's pace. I don't care if I'm the weakest person in the party and get fragged the most. I do care about the story. That's what makes or breaks a game, any game, in my eyes.
I want to feel like I'm part of an elite unit of troops when I play Halo. Sure, I'm the worst shot in all of history, but I'm there for the story, not the achievements. I want to imagine that I can, in fact, hit a rusty tin can perched on a fence when I'm playing Red Dead Redemption. And I wanted to feel like a Jedi Knight, trying to make all the right choices, when I played Star Wars: The Old Republic.
My biggest worry was that no MMO had ever sucked me in to becoming a devoted player. There's never been one that made me want to return to it again and again. Sure, for a few days they're fine, but I don't have any desire to spend hours wandering through their worlds. I wish I did, because I feel left out of some secret club. Alas, not being a fantasy person, WoW is not appealing so no guildies for me. But maybe, I thought, Star Wars: The Old Republic could be the one.
I have been looking forward to this for months, talking about it and hoping beyond hope that it would finally be the MMO that grabbed me. If ever there was a game that could change things for me, this was the one. It was officially released at midnight but has been out for those of us who pre-ordered for about a week now. Did it live up to my expectations? Did it make me feel like I'd just survived the assault on the Death Star, or that I'd fallen into the Sarlacc pit with Boba Fett?
If my current bleary-eyed state is any indication, I not only survived the Death Star, I'm ready to go back and do it again. There were two things this game needed to do for me. It needed to make me feel like I was living in the world of Star Wars and it needed to not be so ridiculously complex out of the gate that I couldn't figure out what I was doing, got frustrated, and threw my laptop off the roof.
It is straight-forward enough that even a complete noob like myself can figure things out as the game progresses. I'm able to easily navigate, shoot the baddies, and manage my inventory. I have already tricked out my Jedi Knight in new clothes and I am rocking the Padawan look. Really, I am so ready to kick the Empire's butt, but in a non-vengeful, completely unemotional, Jedi-like manner.
More importantly, the game feels like Star Wars. It's not just another MMO with Jedi and Sith and Smugglers. The music, the scenery, the story, the characters you create and the ones you meet, even the challenges you face all "feel" right. Those who've played MMO's will find a lot of familiar techniques and a vast amount of detail that will let you build your character and increase levels. I have only scratched that surface, but I can see it, and I am genuinely looking forward to exploring and expanding how I play.
But as a noob, as that person who doesn't have thirty expert friends who've been playing other games for years, this is still a fantastic game. If you are a fan of the Star Wars universe, give it a try. There are a surprisingly large number of players just like me, who aren't expert, who don't know how it all works and who are learning as they go. Sure, I may not have the immediate appreciation, or criticisms, of the more technical aspects of the game, but that's not why I'm playing.
I'm playing to feel like I'm in a world where Luke goes from whiny kid to hero, where Han charms us all and where no odds are too great when you've got determination and The Force. This is the MMO I've been looking for....
Want to hear more about my experiences playing and learning all about Star Wars: The Old Republic? Check out the brand new Sith Heads podcast with me and MMO veteran Michael Gaines.
1. Nicole - I agree COMPLETELY. I've been loving the earlier access to SWTOR. Apparently, these are the droids we've been looking for!
2. I am right there with you! I love the RPGs but I was never interested in an MMO until this one. I am having a blast with it so far though, and it does completely feel like Star Wars to me!
3. I'm with you as a noob and not worried about being the best. There will always be people who plY more, level up faster, etc. I just want to have fun! I haven't even really explored playing with others much, I've been so caught up in my story!
I finally gotmy lightsaber on Sunday and was suffering from withdrawals yesterday while the servers were down. I'm sure I'll be up really late tonight saying just one more quest! Happy gaming!
4. Yep. On paper MMOs sound right up my alley . In reality , I've never been able to stick with one for more than a month or two . It's the grind . It wears me down . Through the various beta stages , early access , and now release I've LOVED the game . I yearn to try other classes ( even tho I am loving the story line of my Bounty Hunter ) .
I think , finally , I've found the MMO I'll stIck with .
5. This is my first MMO, too! And I'm loving it. I've been playing both a Sage (which I've mostly been soloing) and a Guardian (whom I pair with my brother's Gunslinger). I agree, it's all about the story, and being immersed in that world, not about comparing DPS or whatever.
Did you end up joining a guild? I haven't, yet. Being new to MMOs, the idea somehow intimidates me. What server are you on? There are so many, it's unlikely we'd be in the same one...I've been playing on the Master Zhar Lestin server.
I'll have to check out your podcast :)
If you've got something to say, this is the place! | <urn:uuid:ad3dfefd-9cba-4328-9245-ab452b54cf25> | http://www.totalfangirl.com/2011/12/star-wars-old-republic-mmo-youre.html | en | 0.971499 | 0.061718 | mlfoundations/dclm-baseline-1.0-parquet |
Jennifer Aniston Romance Rehab: 10 dream dates (or playmates) for her next Cabo getaway
It all started with a little free advice from " The Millionaire Matchmaker" herself, Patti Stanger, on "Access Hollywood Live." Bravo's resident cupid suggested that James Franco and Jennifer Aniston might just be a match made in heaven. GQ's Man of the Year agreed, telling Access that Jen is "a very beautiful woman," and indicating with a cute wink and nod that if she were single he too gives the notion a thumbs up. (And for the record, we too at Zap2it 100% endorse an Aniston and Franco romantic pairing!)
Maybe we're a little bit jealous that we weren't invited on Jennifer's Thanksgiving getaway to Cabo San Lucas, but we're happy to see her tanned and fit as always, enjoying margaritas with her bestie gal pal Chelsea Handler. However, our holiday wish for Hollywood's most eligible bachelorette is that next year's holiday getaway is a romantic one with a man FINALLY worthy of Aniston. So, we here at Zap2it have compiled a list of potential suitors who we think would be a fabu "Mr. Jennifer Aniston." Take note, boys.
1. James Franco:
The perfect combination of serious actor, funny guy and heartthrob.
Why he's perfect: Patti Stanger can't be wrong. We watch "The Millionaire Matchmaker" religiously and are pretty confident she knows her stuff. James possesses just the right combo of star power and hotness to totally bring the sexy back into Jenny's life.
Why he's not: Franco is still one of Hollywood's most eligible bachelors and may not quite be ready to settle down. (Note: The mustache has got to go but easy enough to solve with a couple strokes of a razor).
2. Chris Pine:
Handsome, mature and floats effortlessly between drama and rom-com.
Why he's perfect: We love that Chris lays low and steers clear of any tabloid fodder, not to mention he's devastatingly beautiful. At 30 he's still young, but aged enough to settle down.
Why he's not: Pine might be just a tad too serious for our fun-loving girl. We vaguely remember him having comedic chops in the Lindsay Lohan box office bomb "Just My Luck" but obviously that film is pretty forgettable. So we'll wait to see more of his comedic side in "This Means War," opposite Reese Witherspoon and Tom Hardy, when it hits theaters. Maybe then we'll reconsider.
3. Ryan Reynolds:
The 2010 Sexiest Man Alive and a bonafide movie star ( Brad Pitt is so 10 years ago).
Why he's perfect: We adored him as Berg on "Two Guys, a Girl and a Pizza Place," but since then Ryan has proven himself to be a worthy leading man both on-screen and off. Both Aniston and Reynolds are gorgeous with a great sense of humor, and together these two would absolutely rule the rom-com world. Seriously though, will someone at least cast them together? We're dying to see it.
Why he's not: He's already spoken for, (and we do love Scar-Jo).
4. Joaquin Phoenix:
It seems as though the "I'm Still Here" actor is, in fact, sane and supposedly our girl has a little crush on him.
Why he's perfect: Joaquin is a great actor, with just a perfect mix of serious sense of humor, intrique and mystery. Jen is rumored to have referred to the bachelor as "single, funny and handsome," according to a British celebutab. Which leads us to our next point.
Why he's not: These reports are from a British celebutab. Do we really trust them? Not so much, but you never know. Even after admitting that his short lived rap career was officially a hoax, we still worry that Joaquin may still be a little off his rocker. We fear his days as the baseball-bat-wielding Uncle Merrill in "Signs" are long gone (we had a major crush on him too back then, now not so much).
5. Ryan Phillippe:
He's hardworking, beautiful and successful. He wears fatherhood well, hands down one of Hollywood sexiest daddies.
Why he's perfect: Bone structure doesn't lie, if we saw these two together, it'd be tough to look away. Maybe mutual co-star, Malin Akerman, could hook them up? They each have a very public romantic history and seem to be in similar places with their lives. Ryan is an awesome daddy to his kids and we think Jenny would be a fabulous step-mom, it's his history that might just be the biggest reason he's not perfect.
Why he's not: Deja vu. Ryan and Reese divorced after tabloids had a field day with his "involvement" with co-star Abbie Cornish while still married to Witherspoon. Sound familiar. What's the name of that "little" movie that the house of Brangelina was built on? "Mr. and Mrs. Smith." Enough said.
6. Alex O'Loughlin:
The smokin' hottie first caught our attention opposite Jennifer Lopez in "The Back-up Plan," and now this Australian boy spends his days in Honolulu filming "Hawaii Five-0"
Why he's perfect: Australian accent, hello! He's got a steady job on television and Jen would have an excuse to spend time sunbathing in Hawaii whenever she likes (not that she needs an excuse, but it certainly doesn't hurt).
Why he's not: He's still a little on the younger side. Do you detect us subconsciously attempting to turn Jennifer into Hollywood's next ubercougar? Well, so be it. Hot is hot. Jury's out as to how the CBS star treats the ladies, so stay tuned.
7. Tom Hardy:
The London born "Inception" breakout star has just begun to make his mark on this side of the pond. Oh, and how adorable is he?
Why he's perfect: Hardy's the bad boy we can't take our eyes off of. Well, lets make that reformed bad boy. Tom's been sober for several years after battling addictions in the past, and now has his sights set on taking Hollywood by storm. Tom is also set to co-star with our No. 2 pick, Chris Pine, in "This Means War." We can't wait to catch a peek of his comedic side when the film hits theaters.
Why he's not: Hardy is recently engaged to a former co-star, he has not only an ex-wife, but also an ex-girlfriend with whom he has a child. Probably best not to get mixed up with this mess, Jen. Although it hasn't stopped some bad choices in guys before. See: John Mayer.
8. Cristiano Ronaldo:
Tall, dark, handsome and the highest paid football (aka soccer to us Americans) player in the games history.
Why he's perfect: He serves as captain of the Portuguese national team and at 25-years-old (cougar alert, we just can't help ourselves), he's wise beyond his years. Cristiano doesn't drink, and has full custody of his infant son. With that body and face, he's the total package. We bet there's ladies lining up along the streets of Portugal for just a chance at being his baby-mama.
Why he's not: Long distance is tough for anyone, especially when it spans across continents. We're sure Jenny would be there to cheer on her man at all his games, but she's an independent woman and we know she has business of her own to attend to here in the states. He'd sure be fun to have around though.
9. Chris Evans: He first captured our attention in "Not Another Teen Movie" (don't judge us, we actually enjoyed it), but has since shown his knack for action as well as comedic timing.
Why he's perfect: Clean cut and All-American, Chris is exactly the type of boy we'd like to see Jenny with. We think he'd treat her well, and he's formed a respectable career for himself after starring in several comic book film adaptations, among other sci-fi and action movies. In 2011 Evans will also be starring as a rom-com leading man. If you haven't figured it out already, we think rom-com experience is a definite plus.
Why he's not: At 29, he hasn't been linked to anyone since breaking up with Jessica Biel back in 2006. We aren't sure what to make of this just yet. Either he's a really great guy and is holding out for Ms. Right, or there's something potentially wrong. Either way, we're willing to give it a shot cause he's so damn cute.
10. John Stamos:
As we all know, "Full House's" former Uncle Jesse boasts both acting and musical chops. The 47-year-old can currently be seen on working both of them on FOX's "Glee".
Why he's perfect: In our opinion, Stamos has only gotten better looking with age. Though we weren't fans of his 80s' sitcom coif, both he and Jen were known for signature hairstyles back in the day (bonding potential?). So far, Jen's struck out with both actors and musicians individually, but what about when talents combine? Maybe Stamos will have the magic combination to unlock Jenny's heart. We wonder if any sparks flew on the "Friends" set when he guest starred back in 2003?
Why he's not: We have a sneaking suspicion that the Stamos might be just a little bit of a player. Jenny doesn't need any of that in her life, so as long as he's willing to settle down we'll give our stamp of approval.
Who would you pick for Jennifer? Anyone we missed?
Photo/Video credit: Getty Images | <urn:uuid:2d499c1f-5e61-4b22-ba56-6c466e09b137> | http://www.zap2it.com/blogs/jennifer_aniston_romance_rehab_10_dream_dates_or_playmates_for_her_next_cabo_getaway-2010-12 | en | 0.972154 | 0.376446 | mlfoundations/dclm-baseline-1.0-parquet |
cpython-withatomic / Misc / Porting
The branch 'legacy-trunk' does not exist.
Full commit
Q. I want to port Python to a new platform. How do I begin?
A. I guess the two things to start with is to familiarize yourself
with are the development system for your target platform and the
generic build process for Python. Make sure you can compile and run a
simple hello-world program on your target platform. Make sure you can
compile and run the Python interpreter on a platform to which it has
already been ported (preferably Unix, but Mac or Windows will do,
I also would never start something like this without at least
medium-level understanding of your target platform (i.e. how it is
generally used, how to write platform specific apps etc.) and Python
(or else you'll never know how to test the results).
The build process for Python, in particular the Makefiles in the
source distribution, will give you a hint on which files to compile
for Python. Not all source files are relevant -- some are platform
specific, others are only used in emergencies (e.g. getopt.c). The
Makefiles tell the story.
You'll also need a pyconfig.h file tailored for your platform. You can
start with, read the comments and turn on definitions that
apply to your platform.
And you'll need a config.c file, which lists the built-in modules you
support. Start with Modules/
Finally, you'll run into some things that aren't supported on your
target platform. Forget about the posix module for now -- simply take
it out of the config.c file.
Bang on it until you get a >>> prompt. (You may have to disable the
importing of "" and "" by passing -X and -S
Then bang on it until it executes very simple Python statements.
Now bang on it some more. At some point you'll want to use the os
module; this is the time to start thinking about what to to with the
posix module. It's okay to simply #ifdef out those functions that
cause problems; the remaining ones will be quite useful. | <urn:uuid:83736a06-ed94-46d8-8cb4-c34313aeb6ea> | https://bitbucket.org/arigo/cpython-withatomic/src/f31e18d313c7/Misc/Porting?at=legacy-trunk | en | 0.911643 | 0.160668 | mlfoundations/dclm-baseline-1.0-parquet |
May 7, 2011
Microscope will be on UF football, basketball during summer
Classes and graduations are over. Gainesville has officially turned into a ghost town for the summer. Traffic jams and crowded facilities will take their annual hiatus until the hustle and bustle of August returns to the little college town. Florida football and basketball seasons are over. It's a decidedly quieter and hotter time in the 'Ville for the next three months. But that doesn't mean there's no UF sports news to follow over the summer months. Friday, ITG broke down the first half of our 10 burning questions for the summer. Today, we finish up the countdown, including our No. 1 burning question for the summer.
| <urn:uuid:9bdc2d8d-377b-4236-87e6-399a64a70196> | https://floridastate.rivals.com/barrier_noentry.asp?script=%2Fcontent%2Easp&cid=1219606 | en | 0.960944 | 0.029805 | mlfoundations/dclm-baseline-1.0-parquet |
8:28 pm ET
Aug 13, 2012
Samsung’s First Witnesses Push ‘Prior Art,” After Minor Victory
• Part of the
• This is ridiculous. I have been programming since 1963 and still do. Calling "image zooming" or "bounce back" a "technology" is ludicrous. Moving images around on computer screens and zooming is as old as computers with graphics ability which dates back to the late 70's. Implementing it on a handheld computer with a graphics screen is not a difference in kind or concept. It is still a computer with a graphics capable screen. Calling minor programming choices is also not a technology, only a minor variation in programming. This sort of utter nonsense does nothing other than stifle competition and reduce choices available to consumers. It is not in any way beneficial to the market.
• Part of the reason I can't stand Apple. Like all companies, they ripped of technology from small companies then patent it as their own.
• "when the image snapped back, it went back to its original position. Apple’s “bounce back,” technology, by comparison, bounces back to the closest position that fills the screen"!!!
• The real problem here is the entire concept of patenting software. Software isn't a machine any more than the G code for making a part on a milling machine is a "machine". It's a set of rules for the machine to follow, not the machine itself. The US patent system is badly broken and is in large part responsible for the demise of manufacturing in the US.
• Programming back in 1963 but cannot understand software patents?
Just the terminology reveals a person's knowledge of this field and business. There is "programming" and there is "Software Engineering". Programming is just one portion of software engineering.
The tidal wave of technological advances in computing hinges on patents. If our architecture, design, and algorithms and processes are not protected, copycats like Samsung will just steal it and destroy our business. In my days, it was Microsoft, the biggest of all idea-thief.
If one has invented anything new worth protecting, because the protection means bringing home to put on the dinner table, then one can pontificate about patents being meaningless.
For Apple, it is the Human Interface that is under debate, not just software. Anyone who has software engineering experience and has shipped product can tell he difference.
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About Digits
• Digits on Twitter | <urn:uuid:6a6e408e-ffaa-4f63-b294-db100b73e86c> | http://blogs.wsj.com/digits/2012/08/13/samsungs-first-witnesses-push-prior-art-after-minor-victory/tab/comments/ | en | 0.944417 | 0.025861 | mlfoundations/dclm-baseline-1.0-parquet |
Twin Atlantic live the Barrowlands dream
Twin Atlantic
Twin Atlantic: Will Dreamember this weekend for a long timeMaterial
Living every Scottish band's dream, and it wasn't being supported by The Brows From Busted, Twin Atlantic, long serving figures of the Glasgow music scene, sold-out the infamous Barrowland Ballroom two nights on the trot, in a personal career high to kick-off their UK tour from their home ground.
Leaving the support as a headlight to showcase two local bands who are furiously tracking their trail, last night was the turn of the ravenous United Fruit, after Paisley's Carnivores opened up for the four-piece on Friday.
Having seen the band on various festival outings this summer, the now five-piece have tamed the beast, exchanging part of their raging rock pheromones for an underlying pop current, though this remains well-buried beneath their cage-rattling brawn. Crossing over to their kindred punk in one track, United Fruit have evolved into a more marketable commodity whilst retaining their edge in a win-win situation.
With Biffy allowing bagpipe solos these days, and Idlewild gathering dust, it's an open playing field for new blood to fight their way to the forefront of the fervent Scottish music scene. With material in their back pocket, and riffs to kill, learning to command a bigger crowd is the last remaining memo on the to do list for United Fruit.
I'm afraid I'm going to have to mention the inevitable B- word again, but from their crowd surfing opener, Time For You To Stand Up, Twin Atlantic have made giant leaps into the craters of Scottish rock that were blown into the ground by Biffy Clyro before them. Yes, everyone compares them to Biffy, but with alt rock and aching hearts from a Braveheart bellow, there's obvious reason.
More than local heroes these days, the hard working four have crossed over, sending Atlantic into the daily vocabulary of Radio 1 DJs, even if they'd struggle to point to it on a map. With distorted guitars keeping the boys happy, and enough emotion and skinny jeans to keep the girlfriends interested, the band have an evenly split crowd in a scene that can often become testosterone saturated. Well, music-scene creative testosterone saturated; it's not quite the potent brand that laces the walls in the weight rooms of gyms, interspersed between salt-crystals.
With heart on sleeve nasal depressions voiced before the acceleration into epic tirades of four-four sway rock, there's not a lot of variety in Twin Atlantic's sound, but the rush of the quiet-loud-quiet-loud interchange, accompanied by blaring lights, serves as a playground for pumped up fans.
A down tempo breather in You're Turning Into John Wayne rivalled the old Frightened Rabbit sing along stakes, though it was their plundering anthem Free that had the crowd running from toilets and bars, their obvious vehicle to the Radio 1 A List.
At their best in the encore, a Beatles cover exercised the lower range of Sam McTrusty's vocal, showing more depth than the range at which most of Twin's material is written. Leading into the emo dream of Crash Land, the cello accompaniment gave warmth in the lower end, before fan favourites served the finale grand. With giant coloured balloons released into the crowd Flaming Lips style, they still couldn't rival the high of this evening's hosts, as they bounced up into the infamous stars of the Barrowlands.
Twin Atlantic do what they do very well in flawless synchronicity served with skinny jeans. They've reached all good music stores, and probably your Asda down the road, and for now they retain the integrity they started out with to show hard work really can pay off. | <urn:uuid:84948360-d262-4fb1-bd8d-bb53842d4173> | http://entertainment.stv.tv/music/197139-twin-atlantic-live-the-barrowlands-dream/ | en | 0.959902 | 0.040151 | mlfoundations/dclm-baseline-1.0-parquet |
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15641 Non-Gaming / Hardware / Software Hell / First time building a new rig... help me! help me! on: July 12, 2006, 04:27:01 PM
I would personally suggest NCIX; they also do price matching, so if you find it cheaper online, they'll match it (including rebates).
Best bang for the buck (video) - eVGA PCI-E 256MB Nvidia 7600 GT CO. The cons listed on the newegg page are false; there's something else buggin' his system up. rates it pretty high. I've had one for 3 months, no problems.
Minimum a gig of dual channel ram. I'd recommend the low-end ASUS board; A8N-SLI (not the 32, unless you KNOW you're going to go SLI for sure). If you don't need firewire, go for the M1697 version of the ASROCK ULI board. It's good considering the price (once again, bang for buck). Don't go for the M1695 version, and NCIX doesn't carry the M1697.
I would put the money into a 3800+ X2 dual core CPU(AnandTech conclusion on Manchester X2 3800+); Windows Vista will use it, so go for it. As for sound, get an oem Audigy 2 (or the 4 which is just a repackaged 2). It's not as good as the X-FI, but it will still use less processing power than onboard sound. Onboard sound will chew up ~15-19% of CPU (under load like gaming), whereas a PCI soundcard will sit at less than 5%. Sonata II has an awesome internal design, powersupply and case, you may want to pick up a second 120mm silent case fan for the hard disk bays.
I'd suggest hitting a local store and test-driving a few keyboards/mice. I'm a fan of "natural" boards and the Saitek Eclipse. You can also get a G7 gaming mouse for teh cheap at NCIX (using pricematches).
NCIX is predominantly a canadian site, so their canadian sales site is actually cheaper than the american side... but since they offer price matching you're laughing. Either way I've provided the alt links so you're not restricted. Try to get a cheap shipping promo (NCIX had a "under 300lbs for 7.99 ground" shipping deal when I had my case, speakers and a monitor shipped). Also, the NCIX prices below are all based on reg. pricing; they have sales section updated weekly which I didn't use (as it changes so often).
Here's the rig I'd build: (in USD)
$ 139.99 PCIE eVGA 7600 GT CO - Pricematch with to get rebate right away.
$ 297.00 Athlon 64 X2 3800+ Dual Core S939 Manchester 2GHZ 512KBX2 90NM Retail - Pricematch with
$ 117.00 ASUS A8N-SLI Motherboard ATX NFORCE4-SLI S939 DDR 2PCI-E16 2PCI-E 3PCI SATA RAID LAN Sound 1394 is more expensive.
$ _80.00 ASRock 939SLI32-eSATA2 Socket 939 ULi M1697 ATX AMD Motherboard - Retail
$ 100.00 Seagate Barracuda 7200.10 320GB SATA2 3GB/S 7200RPM 16MB Cache NCQ Hard Drive 99.99 in combo deals till jul.20 or Pricematch
$ _48.50 Creative Sound Blaster Audigy 4 SE PCI 7.1 Surround Sound Card OEM doesn't carry this. (go with Audigy 2, it's the same basic thing)
$ 100.00 Antec Sonata II Black ATX 16IN Mid Tower Quiet Case 450W Air Duct 120MM Fan - Pricematch with or combo with CPU at NCIX.
$ _37.00 BenQ DW1655 Lightscribe DVD+RW16X16X8 DVD-RW16X16X4 CDRW48X48X32 OEM DVD Black W/ SW - Pricematch with
$ 100-150 1GB PC3200 2x512MB DUAL Channel RAM
$ 30-150 Keyboard / Mouse based on preference.
The remaining (I'll assume 100 for RAM and 50 for KBD/Mouse) is : 10 bux or 60bux (with the ASROCK). With taxes and shipping you'd have a system that will run oblivion REALLY WELL, the only thing missing is a monitor.
5. KD shows up at my house and delivers a paralyzing martial arts attack, leaving me incapacitated in a wheelchair for the rest of my life.
Monkey Steals the Peach.
15642 Non-Gaming / Off-Topic / Let's name off supermodels we've slept with! on: July 11, 2006, 08:16:48 PM
Quote from: "Suitably Ironic Moniker"
This thread is worthless without U2K.
U2K is worthless without this thread.
15643 Gaming / Analog Gaming / What would make the perfect game store? (need ideas) on: July 10, 2006, 09:48:42 PM
One other thing... make sure your gamer employees are sales people.
There's nothing more annoying than some schmuck who's telling you that you shouldn't bother with the Xbox360, cuz the PS3 is gonna "Stomp that crap into the ground". It's not professional to dis half of your products based on personal bias. Hey, SOMEONE wanted Barbie Horse Adventures made.
They shouldn't lie about it, but having a bit of knowledge on the product is a great thing.
15644 Gaming / Console / PC Gaming / What are you buying this week? (7/10) on: July 10, 2006, 09:38:18 PM
No guarantees on anything. Just ordered Titan quest online for teh cheap.
15645 Gaming / Console / PC Gaming / PS3 Q&A Leaked. on: July 10, 2006, 09:37:18 PM
Quote from: "disarm"
according to this answer, doesn't sound like you'll get a 'spiderman' color at launch ...
Q3. Do you have two color variations of black and silver for two different models ?
A3. This model comes in one color (clear black) only. There may be color variations in the future.
I understood that to mean that the PS3 -gimp- came in black only (hence the "This model" comment). The prev. two questions spoke to Gimp edition, which lends itself to that context.
I think the expensive one comes in multi-colors.
15646 Gaming / Console / PC Gaming / PS3 Q&A Leaked. on: July 10, 2006, 08:05:12 PM
Yeah, I know the region coding isn't necessarily SCEA's idea (although Sony Ent is probably part of the other side to that coin).
As to the boiling down part, I'm referring specifically to USB reduced ports, no media readers, no hdmi, most games are NOT headed to 1080p (it's likely going to be like XBOX1 with 1080i... 4 titles, IIRC).
I'm sure the rumble dropped has nothing to do with gyro; immersion has indicated that they'd already found a solution for it. Sony just doesn't want to play nice.
Cost + no royalty to Immersion is more likely.
15647 Gaming / Console / PC Gaming / PS3's good points? on: July 10, 2006, 05:25:41 PM
Quote from: "Destructor"
Quote from: "Arkon"
I guess my hearing isn't very good, but I can't tell a difference between iTunes and a CD.
My hearing is good and the differences between a 128kbps encoding and a CD are very minor, at best.
a little off-topic, but the 128bit iTunes ain't the same as 128bit ripped MP3. The AAC is higher quality. There's a few new formats that are "lossless".
15648 Gaming / Console / PC Gaming / Are willing to pay for this? on: July 10, 2006, 03:34:34 PM
As to companies selling stupid things, (like gamerpics) it's just that it's their IP (intellectual property). They choose to do it; and since no one has lowered the price then it stays where it is. You will be able to take pics with your camera later this year; I expect gamerpics to be free (as it's almost advertising their products).
15649 Gaming / Console / PC Gaming / What are you buying this week? (7/10) on: July 10, 2006, 03:08:51 PM
Quote from: "warning"
I played the Prey demo and it was fine but not really anything that stood out. I might buy it once it drops in price a bunch.
But of COURSE we've seen multi-surface spirit-walking portal jumping FPS's about american natives. Isn't that a rip-off of Barbies Whores Adventures? slywink
15650 Gaming / Console / PC Gaming / PS3 Q&A Leaked. on: July 10, 2006, 03:06:07 PM
Q27. Why did you reduce the number of USB ports from 6 to 4 ?
A27. PS3 is a computer system. Number of ports can be expanded by using adaptors available on the market.
Q28. Why did you reduce the number of Ethernet ports from 3 to 1 ?
A28. We had one input (WAN) and two outputs (LAN) in mind, but given that nowadays network connection is spreading within the homes, we considered that one Ethernet connection to a router would be sufficient.
So they're boiling away the crap and it's coming down to it. They STILL aren't getting rid of region encoding... :: sigh ::
I don't doubt that I will buy a PS3 (platinum Spiderman edition) on launch day, but whether or not it hits EBAY has yet to be seen. biggrin
15651 Gaming / Console / PC Gaming / PS3 Q&A Leaked. on: July 10, 2006, 03:03:24 PM
Quote from: "Arkon"
Nah, just a matter of clever placement, and there are pleasurable nerve endings in more than a few spots on the female body...
You bastards.. I'm at work right now; I don't need to be trying to think of where to put 7 non-vibrating controllers on my gf to "Stimulate". :?
15652 Non-Gaming / Off-Topic / What was the #1 song on the day you were born? on: July 08, 2006, 09:28:44 PM
Quote from: "dbt1949"
Mine was theBattle Hymn of the Republic. :?
I thought it would have been "Scotland the brave" slywink
15653 Gaming / Console / PC Gaming / PS3's good points? on: July 08, 2006, 12:08:16 PM
Quote from: "corruptrelic"
Itagaki has expressed concerns over the limited capacity DVD offers in the era of High Definition. He feels developers will struggle to fit High Definition pre-rendered sequences onto the 9GB format, being particularly problematic for Japanese developers who prefer to use pre-rendered over real time cut scenes.
Backwards compatiblity is important to me mainly because there's at least 35 PS2 games I have that I plan on keeping around for the next-gen. Yes of course 100% of games aren't going to be BC, that's impossible. The vast majority of ps1 games played on the ps2 without problems though, so I can't see how it'd be any different for the PS3.
Granted the PS3 isn't out yet as you've pointed out so it's hard to speculate how things will fall into place once the PS3 launches at the end of the year, and the years to follow.. but I know this debate has only got me that much more interested in seeing some charts for the PS3 games released on BluRay and just how much space they're taking up..
First of all, they are building pre-rendered sequences. How much space do you need for 2 hours of movie? So how much of the game are you getting? If they want to fill up disks with FMV, then by all means go for it. It isn't game though... it's filler. It's support for games, it's not games itself. Granted it is nice, and can be done well, but I'm not a big fan of watching games. (MGS I'm lookin' at YOU). You'll also note that the western devs aren't crying so loud about space.
Now, in running a risk of having multiple disks is a bad thing? How many PS2 games, how many PS1 games have been multi-disk?
The cost offset to include a new, and market untested technology in a strategic product is far too risky IMHO. I would have LOVED HD-DVD in the 360, but I understand and can respect their decision to release what they did. I wouldn't be surprised if MS releases a 200GB HD in the near future and lets devs get their FMVs installed on the HD to overcome the "i don't wanna swap disks" complaint. I have no problems changing media. I just think about how many seconds of effort that is to add up to 600USD. slywink
BC is a transition benefit; most people, once having the new console, will move forward. You said so yourself ... we're moving into the future. I'd rather play GRAW than RS6 3.
Also, to Kevin Grey... move your older consoles to a secondary television, or get one of those play-switch devices and get yerself 4 of them to daisychain. Tell your wife that a cablemonster has infested your livingroom, and they can't go in there anymore. smile
15654 Gaming / Console / PC Gaming / PS3's good points? on: July 08, 2006, 11:52:19 AM
Quote from: "unbreakable"
Quote from: "Purge"
Quote from: "only1"
I remember a day when a gaming system actually came with, oh, a GAME! Now you have to buy your first game seperately.
NES. Mario & Duck hunt. SNES may have as well, however no other console after it was not available as the core itself, IIRC. Oh, and that inflated the cost of the console and stuck you with a title you may not have wanted. There *is* another side to this coin.
GameCube came with Super Mario Sunshine.
Check out the bold. You could buy the system without a game. Also, that was it's primary selling option. Most people bitch nowadays when bundles are forced on them (XBOX1 initially forced bundles; they caved due to customer demand)
15655 Non-Gaming / Trading Forum / Zarkon's BUY ME A NEW PC Sale on: July 08, 2006, 11:44:17 AM
no biggie smile
15656 Non-Gaming / Trading Forum / Knightshade Clears the Shelves again on: July 08, 2006, 11:41:34 AM
15657 Non-Gaming / Hardware / Software Hell / Educate me on flat panel, widescreen, gaming monitors on: July 08, 2006, 11:33:17 AM
We got a viewsonic for my dad and it's nice too.
The thing with the dell is the stand also rotates 90deg, so you can go from landscape to portrait (WAY better for browsing the net, less scrolling).
All you need to do is set up a keyboard function for your video card to swap.
15658 Non-Gaming / Hardware / Software Hell / Educate me on flat panel, widescreen, gaming monitors on: July 07, 2006, 11:21:19 AM
The dell one is a top-rated monitor, although HP is up there too.
I have the 2405FPW which is last year's model (and I got it last year).
I love it. biggrin
Anandtech's guide to LCDs
They've also got comprehensive reviews. Go check it out Ron! smile
15659 Gaming / Console / PC Gaming / XBox360 RPGs on: July 07, 2006, 11:15:20 AM
I think the JRPG is wait-n-see for most of the developers... I mean, MS is still battling uphill in their primary market, but they'd be shooting themselves in the foot if they can't sell it overseas (where MS is likely to have at least an even market share).
15660 Gaming / Console / PC Gaming / PS3's good points? on: July 07, 2006, 11:10:47 AM
Quote from: "only1"
Okay... like Turtle said, he was just trying to show that we can think about the positives of the system as well as all the negatives being bandied about.
You'll notice in my response to Turtle that there are positives. I'm not nearly as worked up about this as you might think... I was bored and decided to actually respond. smile
Quote from: "only1"
Gaming is hot, and with it being at the tip of technology, I really don't see it as a trend that will disappear anytime soon.
Traditionally, console gaming is only the tip of technology six months before the hardware platform is released. Then PC gaming surpasses it in technology. Sales on the other hand...
Quote from: "only1"
Quote from: "only1"
point being... backwards compatibility is not important is FALSEmaybe it's not to you, but you don't make up the entire gaming market. (and I'm using you as a generality, the reader, not any specific person)
How many titles are important to you in backwards compatibility? Are you still playing Battle Arena Toshinden? How about Twisted Metal one? Kings Field? Maybe for nostalgia; the point I was making is that the BC functionality of PS3 is irrelevant. It may help with transition; it ultimately gives buyers some "warm and fuzzy" initially, but you (specifically) are a hardcore gamer. (the fact that you are in a forum on a gaming website lets me make this assumption).
Sports games are the most popular in the gaming world. I don't play many of them. They get released every year. There is a new version every year. How many people Play Madden 97 over their Madden '07 ? I'm not disputing the convenience of BC, I'm pointing out how insignificant it is compared to the rest of the features. It's like the bonus crap on DVDs. How often do you go through the directors commentary? If you do, how many of your family members do this? Would you consider yourself a hardcore person?
How much do you think that directors commentary made in buying that version of the movie; or was it a "bullet point" on the back of the -collectors edition-? The only bullet points I go for are deleted scenes, alternate endings and tech specs of the movie itself.
Quote from: "only1"
again, I've heard it's no big deal. Why, because your X-Box 360 doesn't dupport HD-DVD nor Blu-Ray? [...] Blu-ray's hold as much as 25+gigs of info. that's huge. think of how amazing the games 2 years from now may be. \ sure, the machine itself will have to support what the developers want to do, but we could see some amazing stuff. Hell, I'm just excited at the depth of Smackown Vs Raw in the future might be. Endless storyline possibilites, libraries of wresters, whole arenas to take the action into, not to mention licensing out certain arenas. Blue-ray will offer a lo[t]... even if the platform fails for the home movie market, the game developers will still be able to utilize it.
Someone has to WRITE that data. Not just throw 1's and 0's on the disk. Is it a bad thing to have more available space? No. Is it worth paying a premium for one floppy disk worth of data inside a box made for a refrigerator? No.
We ARE talking about 9GB disks man. 9. It's not a palty amount, considering in 2010 the expected game growth is to 7GB. Unless the bluray player reads from the outside in, there's no performance benefit (as the outer rim of any rotating disk media is the most efficient track... lower DATA : RPM ratio). They may do this (the Xbox1 did). Who knows? That's why I left BluRay off the "positives" list in my response to Turtle. We're paying for BluRay; we don't know if there is a benefit to the gamers, other than potential to not having to switch disks.
15661 Gaming / Console / PC Gaming / PS3's good points? on: July 07, 2006, 10:42:38 AM
Quote from: "Turtle"
You're upset that your thread is getting attention? :lol:
PS3's good points are as of yet uncountable. The only things we know are:
PS1, PS2 games are playable.
gyro control, without rumble
Will play great CGI movies (go, go Metal Gear Solid!)
has WiFi out of box (which is a plus)
Has a lot of horsepower potential, with enough programming effort. (subjective at this point)
15662 Gaming / Console / PC Gaming / PS3's good points? on: July 07, 2006, 02:45:54 AM
corruptrelic, I've condensed some quotes. Let me know if I've missed a context somewhere
Quote from: "corruptrelic"
Microsoft coudn't keep working with Nvidia. Microsoft didn't have backwards compatiblity in mind, otherwise we woudn't be having these problems now. Sony has committed to backwards compatiblity; Sony [has said] that telling their customers "We can only support half of the games for BC" just isn't right.
Microsoft's XBOX was their first console on the market and they licensed the technology from NVIDIA. Our current situation (where we don't have hardware BC) is due to NVIDIA as the culprit; they were the ones that broke the relationship by breaching contract agreements on sale costs. This time around, MS owns the technology and outsourced some development and manufacturing.
Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me. They've learned and moved on.
As to the "half the games" comment, I'd put forth that A: more than half the games on ANY console (especially the PS2) aren't worth setting up with BC, and B: it's easy to point out the flaws in your competitors product when yours isn't even on the market.
Quote from: "corruptrelic"
Pay $50+ for a game, feel comfortable knowing that next gen can still play it? on multiplatform games I chose ps2 version over xbox.
I have a nice TV and surround system; I prefer risking BC loss than staring at a baboon's ass and listening to it scratch. All of my games that I kept beyond XBOX1 were exclusives. I waited for Burnout Revenge on 360. I had intent, and made my choice. I don't buy xbox games anymore; I have no interest in the limitations it imposes.
Quote from: "corruptrelic"
And for those that say BC isn't important, look at the uproar Peter Moore caused when he said something along the lines of gamers didnt care about backwards compatiblity, to which he had to apologize for saying and then saying MS intended to get nearly every game on the BC list.
First of all, it shouldn't surprise you to know that he's probably right. BC ISN'T important. It's a freakin' bullet point in a spec sheet. Is it critical that you can play your old games on your new system? No, but you might like to play the blockbuster titles. If someone wants to play Metal Dungeon again they can go screw themselves. I didn't buy a new console to play old games. What he said EXACTLY is this
Taken out of context, that could sound like they weren't still working on it. Far from it. They proved it a week later by releasing more games and improving the existing ones. They have the Live network with stats, they can tell when a 360 is running in compatiblilty mode. Guess what? It's probably single-digit percentages.
Quote from: "corruptrelic"
voiding any warranty, not being able to play online
Even if I could afford to hold on to every console, my space is limited as it is and as big as the Xbox is it was either keeping that or getting the 360. I chose the 360.
You, as a consumer, exercized your right to buy the new product. You took a 200+ retail product and accepted a paltry 50 bux. You cut 75% of your money and gave it to the retailer, rather than putting the old system in a box and holding onto it. Nevermind warranties and Live play; you could have turned it into a fully functional computer (you DID mention interest in the UNIX possibilities on the PS3).
Quote from: "corruptrelic"
MS has always had "This isnt a PC" stance for the Xbox, why change it now? It took a third party to come up with the mouse and keyboard for FPS's for the original Xbox. Yeah the 360 supports usb keyboard for one game - Final Fantasy Online because it's needed.
I think we're more likely to see the Hilton twins in a hot steamy erotic twin sister lesbian porn flick than we are to see MS release a web browser for the 360.
Think about the "media center" functionality, the photos, the music, the videos. The 360 supports the keyboard for more than FFXI, try one out. You can use it to interface with any screen where you can type in anything (messages , text boxes, etc). MS stated with the 360 that if a developer wanted to release games requiring keyboard and mouse that it's an open door that they're willing to go through. The xbox1 adapter was a way for people to bypass the developers intent. I had one, it wasn't that great.
That being said, keyboards SUCK for controls. The only valid point to a keyboard is for complex sets of instructions (even though most people only use some of the following: WSAD,q,e,r,f,shift, space,alt, and maybe the z,x,c and 1-5 rows), or typing. people have trained themselves on the mouse, and thusly they want to keep it as it is familiar to them. I think the Wii has a better way than the mouse.Bigger field means greater accuracy. Wii'll see when it's released.
only the $600 version will have the HDMI connection but so what? If you have the setup with an HDMI port on your HDTV, you're getting the best. If not, your ps3 is still going to play the same exact games and with Sony telling developers to make games with the hard drive in mind, I see no reason why it won't be taken advantage of because it isn't split up like MS did where developers can't depend on a hard drive being there like they could on the original Xbox.
So what? So WHAT? That invalidates the HD from the movie player portion... BluRay (due to DRM) *requires* the HDMI to play HD content off the drive. Basically, you've bought yourself a dvd player, 480p. Whoop-dee-doo.
Why not go out and buy a rocket car that takes negative energy fuel, and also has a standard 6cyl 3.8litre motor? I mean, hey... if you've got the negative energy fuel it's a ROCKET CAR!! But for most people, it's a car. Or you could buy the lower end model that only comes with the fuel tank for the car, but still has the cost, and parts, for the ROCKET part. Yeah, THAT makes sense.
Quote from: "corruptrelic"
the only thing I like about BluRay (at this point) is the fact that it will allow developers to stick gobs and gobs of content on the discs, not worrying about any kind of bottlenecks in the years to come as games continue to evolve and get bigger and bigger.
You do realize that bloated programs run worse, not better, than efficient ones, right? Do you think they use all of that space effectively? I'm all for bigger and better, but working in the IT industry I see so much waste due to a lack of attention to detail. A single web site that is currently running on a IBM Websphere 5.1 (old, I know) had a heap space of 1GB RAM. With optimization, it now runs better on 72MB of RAM. BETTER. The less it has to address and cache, the better it runs.
The averages I spoke of (regarding games and their space used) were taken from a reliable 3rd party (and not MS directly). I would suggest you go look this up; offering me more space when I don't need it isn't going to get me to buy a product. I'm not buying 4 acres in Florida swampland, thanks.
Quote from: "corruptrelic"
This month's issue of GameInformer also interviews Sony on that too pretty funny how they say there's no way any other format could win over BluRay.
Gee, ya think? Sony, supporting BluRay? slywink I'm just teasing you; I'm sure it was a compelling story. Keep in mind that the ink on that article likely dried before June 1.
Quote from: "corruptrelic"
I've got a strong feeling games like Unreal Tournament 2007 [PS3] will add optional mouse and keyboard support, as they did with the Unreal Tournament for the PS2.
Other PS2 games like Red Faction II and Quake 3 had mouse and keyboard support as well - and Sony has no problem with allowing this.
As stated above, MS doesn't have a problem with it either (as long as it's developer driven). Hell, they put out the Capcom 40 button steel battalion controller. And it sold out , too ! :shock:
Quote from: "corruptrelic"
I don't think they're going to charge for the "basic" model, which would include playing online for free.At least from all the interviews I've read, Sony continues to point out their history is not charging to play online without actually directly saying it would be free.
My impression is that what will cost is when you download content, etc. and that's how Sony expects to make their money online, while keeping the online portions of PS3 games in the hands of the developers (as they did with PS2) and it's up to the developer if they charge or not. I've had Xbox Live in the past and sure I enjoyed playing on it.. but unless it's a MMO game, it's hard to justify paying to play online, especially when you are hosting your own servers anyway.
That's not entirely true. The matchmaking and connectivity is server side; there is a primary host for some games (like halo2). If you look at games like Amped2 (where the host could drop the game and it kept going due to live server control which would then move the host to the next best connection), then you start to realize how great the service is. (there wasn't even a real hiccup when it did this)
The "basic model" that Sony is offering is "try your luck, it might work" service. You get what you pay for; they have no commitment to getting it right, or keeping cheaters off the system, etc.
Quote from: "corruptrelic"
According to Sony, they seem to think it costs more producing multiple DVD's in High-Def than it does a single BluRay. (GameInformer interview again)
And they said BetaMax would win. They spin; it's what they do best.
Quote from: "corruptrelic"
However you look at it though, I enjoy my Xbox 360 and will continue to support it.. just as I know I'm going to enjoy the PS3 just as much (if not more) but when you compare them side by side on what they both can do, IMO, the PS3 comes out the winner.
Your opinion on a non-released product, in my mind, is far to premature. I am taking this whole PS3 / bluray thing with a huge grain of salt. I'd rather be pleasantly surprised than extremely disappointed.
As it stands right now, this thread was to point out the good points of PS3. This is difficult to do as there is so much negative press and the discrepancies between what was promised and now what is coming down the pipe. The "Sony says MS is doing it wrong" comments doesn't fly with me; at least MS is in the ballpark. Where was this spring release? where is this much-touted exclusive console that is a must-have?
I have no doubt that it's a powerful system, but it has yet to come to pass. Praising it's good points is hard enough without hand's on experience; given the misinformation and the constantly changing status makes it about as simple as trying to nail diarrhea to the wall (at room temperature, you clever little people who freeze your runny poop). Just remember, if you miss the nail on the head you're slamming that hammer into a LIQUID. Ew.
Let me put this another way.
X360type = Apple
PS3type = Unicorn
if X360type = PS3type ;
then {
I'd write the rest of it, but for some reason, the picture of the kid in the tree keeps popping up.
15663 Non-Gaming / Off-Topic / Ken Lay has died on: July 06, 2006, 07:48:52 PM
Why do I even check this thread? It's like having a scab and I keep picking at it.
15664 Non-Gaming / Off-Topic / Show us your Jedi Skills, Hmmm? Yes. on: July 06, 2006, 12:35:32 PM
better than being a non-clone storm trooper. :shock:
actually, I got just past 5000 on my last try.
15665 Gaming / Console / PC Gaming / PS3's good points? on: July 06, 2006, 12:16:21 PM
Quote from: "metallicorphan"
i think this is one of the reasons why i actually started to hate sony
Replace Sony with "Console Hardware Manufacturers". They are all on the Apple Computers bandwagon.. charge 2 arms and 3/4 of a leg for a peripheral (such as a memory stick). MS's 64MB cards go for 40+.
15666 Non-Gaming / Off-Topic / Ken Lay has died on: July 06, 2006, 05:04:54 AM
I don't know if this will help or hurt, however I would suggest that this debate is getting personal. I'd say everyone take a deep breath, and remember the people you are talking to are real people.
Ken Lay's family has directly benefitted due to the criminal acts he has perpetrated. I don't think they deserve any sympathy; I don't think they should be "screwed"... Justice can be cold without holding malice.
As to the liberal / conservative arguments going back and forth and the "Hitler was voted in" comment, there was an administration behind it. Hitler was also a visionary who brought forth a lot of positive change for 50+ million people (like bringing back to being a world leader from the shattered remains of a WW1 trouncing with little help to rebuild, and 4 failed provisional governments). Were he to have died in 1938, he would have been a celebrated hero. Time Magazine had him pegged as man of the year.
Hitler also had (through his administration) created two forces that propelled him into the world of madmen; the Schutzstaffel (known as the SS, it translates to protection staff and peaked at ~1 million in '41 iirc) and the GeStaPo (short for Geheimniss Staats' Polizei or Secret State Police).
Does this sound familiar? Oh yeah, it does. You have the CIA and Homeland security. Does this mean Bush is Hitler? No, but he could be. He has the platform; he could easily create an Amerikanisher Reich. Germany doesn't hold the patents, trademarks or even the origins of despot rulers. Hell, most countries have similar programs set up; it's just a matter of whether or not they're following the rules they expect their own society to follow in using these resources.
If those leaders and their "defence" programs are above the law, then they truly act without impunity and your leader(s) have opportunity to sieze power as a dictatorship.
I don't see anything wrong with people asking questions; this to me would seem to be the best course of action for ANY governed people.
15667 Gaming / Console / PC Gaming / PS3's good points? on: July 06, 2006, 04:49:52 AM
Apparently 600 is too low for the console ( according to sony execs). They are landing the price between 60-100USD per an interview 2 weeks ago.
15668 Non-Gaming / Trading Forum / Age Of Empires III (PC) FT/FS on: July 06, 2006, 04:47:59 AM
15669 Gaming / Console / PC Gaming / Trauma Center is the hardest game I've ever played on: July 05, 2006, 09:27:08 PM
ET on Atari was the hardest game for me.
I couldn't get past the second screen.
15670 Non-Gaming / Off-Topic / Secrets men keep on: July 05, 2006, 09:26:16 PM
Quote from: "Knightshade Dragon"
Heh, my wife points em out. "Jesus! Look at the rack on that girl!" Most of the time it is her joking around to see my reaction, but every once in a while it is a big juicy slab of steak sitting just on top of a hair-trigger bear trap that'll take my leg clean off.
Dude, that ain't your leg she's aiming for. slywink
15671 Non-Gaming / Off-Topic / Ken Lay has died on: July 05, 2006, 09:25:01 PM
/all canadians duck out of the room, waiting for the gunfire...
15672 Gaming / Console / PC Gaming / PS3's good points? on: July 05, 2006, 04:00:10 PM
Quote from: "corruptrelic"
I coudn't imagine having an original xbox, the 360, my ps2, and then a ps3, just because Microsoft didn't do backwards compatiblity the right way.
I don't know why it would be MS's fault that you have a PS3 and PS2 hooked up... slywink As to doing BC "the right way" how would you suggest they do it? re-license the technology from NVIDIA, raise the cost of the system considerably for older games? How about absorbing the cost in time and wages for a crack team to actually get an emulator running on their new platform (which most experts in the field said it couldn't be done as the processing power needed was too high).
MS did fine by me. There are some games that I want to play yet, but I can wait.
Quote from: "corruptrelic"
Backwards compability is a big thing for me as well, so I have no problem spending $50 on a new PS2 game knowing full well I'll still be able to play it on the next-gen.
Don't count the chickens before they hatch; you could be a very pissed of PS3 owner.
Quote from: "corruptrelic"
(I traded my xbox for $50 store credit towards my 360)
You could have skipped out on 2 PS2 games instead of trading in your box, modded your old xbox1 and turned it into a media center or ran linux on it. (Imagine the possibilities, indeed).
Quote from: "corruptrelic"
-Web Browser
-All PS3's come with a hard drive
-Blu-Ray DVD player out of the box
-Support for usb mouse/keyboard
-Alleged Linux comes installed on the hard drives (imagine the possiblities)
-Free online gaming (the way it should be)
Web browser... you don't think MS is coming out with an IE7 for the 360? I suspect it's something on the books for the Vista launch. I mean, the 360 comes with Media Center already built in... it's not a far stretch.
All PS3's coming with a HDD. Didn't they say the 500 unit will not have the same HDTV connections (only one HDMI) and the harddrive isn't removable? I could be wrong on that, but it's not a big selling point for me.
BluRay DVD support isn't necessarily all that grand, my friend. Just because it's included doesn't mean it's the best implementation. Look at XBOX, XBOX360 and the PS2. The people who own them, do they also have set-top DVD players? This is, IMHO, another future-chicken-counting event.
The keyboard support is there for the 360 as well, and I don't think game designers (for PS3) are going to be incorporating mouse support into the games. My $.02 .
Alleged. Windows IS on the 360. A custom version of it... can you access it and change stuff? Not to the capacity where it is considered useful or accessible, no. I doubt you're going to fire up the PS3 and it's going to give you a BASH or KSH prompt with the ability to access the gaming portion of the system (if at all). Also, the programs you run would need to be designed for the PS3's specific hardware, a much more daunting task than a triple-core gen use platform (as I understand it).
Free online gaming... didn't Sony announce they were doing the exact same thing as live now? You think they aren't going to charge for services? As to Live, the online component (that isn't an EA game) is rock-steady and worth the cost. If you don't do the versus thing, you still have access to the rest of the marketplaces etc. In this regard, I believe you get what you pay for.
Quote from: "corruptrelic"
I'm no fanboy either I have a 360 and am playing the hell out of it, but there are just some things I wish Microsoft would have done differently. In 2 or 3 years when the storage demand for games goes up and the 360 is still using regular DVD's while the PS3 is giving developers upwards of 50gb to work with, does that mean the 360 is going to suffer in quality games, or that they'll have to come on multiple discs?
That would be up to the game developers. Multiple DVDs is less expensive than BluRay or HD-DVD. I remember reading an article somewhere that showed gaming growth on consoles has reached less than 4GB, and projected growth is under 7GB by the end of 2010 (for most games). I'd rather get up and switch a disk (as long as the point is broken up well) than to pay for something I may otherwise never use.
I'm excited about the lack of rumble in the controller, or the sore wrists from using them to hold the controller at a wierd angle. Or falling off ledges cuz someone nudges me, or I adjust how I sit. Yep. Lookin' forward to that.b[/sarcasm] I think you either need a focus on positioning (such as the Wii) or go with no readout as to hand position.
We'll see; there really is no point in getting worked up about it. I just decided to respond mostly due to the critical nature on MS implementation vs. Sony's (as-of-yet) non-existant implementation. You're comparing apples to unicorns.
(added sarcasm tag to ensure clarity slywink )
15673 Non-Gaming / Hardware / Software Hell / My main PC can't download anything on: July 04, 2006, 07:36:55 PM
Is it running half or full duplex? That can certainly have an impact. In terms of troubleshooting, I recommend you use process of elimination.
replace both cables (PC <---> Router <-----> Modem) Test.
Were I a betting man, I'd say the problem lies exclusively with PC <----> Router (inclusive).
Try disabling the firewall and NAT routing on the router and let your PC get itself an IP from the net.
Also you may want to upgrade the router firmware.
15674 Non-Gaming / Off-Topic / Cool Lego Video on: July 04, 2006, 07:31:44 PM
I liked the whole disassemble / reassemble when the missiles fired.
A work of art! biggrin
15675 Non-Gaming / Trading Forum / Titan Quest-DVD version up for trade on: July 04, 2006, 07:06:23 PM
PM sent
15676 Non-Gaming / Hardware / Software Hell / New system, would love some opinions on: July 03, 2006, 08:00:32 PM
Gratch, this is what I built for myself two months ago :
ASUS A8N-SLI Deluxe 147USD
Athlon 64 X2 3800+ - 335USD
eVGA 7600 GT CO 185USD
2GB RAM (3200 400Mhz dual channel) 199USD
Got this for about your price range (866USD w. 2GB) and it meets what you're looking for. Note that I waited for sales, went with price comparisons, etc. I also go with the cheap shipping etc.
I think I ended up paying about 880 CAD after tax and shipping, as well as getting a DVD burner and 2 120mm case fans for my ANTEC Sonata II case.
You could get the SLI 32 as well, if you were planning on getting 2 7600 GT CO's... it costs less than a 7800 GT. or a X1800X ATI.
15677 Non-Gaming / Hardware / Software Hell / I need your advice! High Speed Hard Drives on: July 03, 2006, 07:51:31 PM
Partition as follows -
C - 60GB (Raptor)
D - 90GB (Raptor)
G - 10GB (Raptor)
E - 120GB (7200rpm)
F - 120GB (7200rpm)
H - 10GB (7200rpm)
move Documents and Settings to D: drive, as well as Program Files. This means you are running on a different memory space than your OS; when it comes to performance it will work out better (that, and defragging).
Your swap file should be sitting on G and H (both identical 2.5x RAM +14MB for MIN & MAX). This means that they're not going to be growing or changing. The extra space is good for growth. Make those drives last so you're using the contiguous space at the end of your drives.
As to the E and F drives, I wouldn't use them as drive letters; instead mount them into your C and D file systems to wherever you are going to need storage. The advantage to this is if your raptor drive dies, you don't lose the data files you were looking for, If you wanna cut them up smaller it's even better as it keeps the block size down thusly reducing wasted space.
So in essence :
C:\ OS & utils such as codecs, win apps, etc. 60GB is recommended as some apps may "Need" to be on C drive, and you have an abundance of space for any growth. You can have a "C:\Program Files\ folder as well; I would use it exclusively for non-app, non-game things such as utils, tsrs and the like.
D:\ Profiles, desktops, my documents and space for app installs under %ProgramFiles%. This is where WoW, FEAR, Photoshop etc would go.
E, F - can be mounted as drives as well, but should be mounted into the C or D for things like "%USERPROFILE%\Desktop\KnightShade's Shady PR0N\Midgets" or any folders for MP3s... it requires a bit of effort in setup, but it has some big benefits. For one, you're only storing data and not running apps or services; it makes defragmentation easier and thus you get better performance out of your slower drive. Also, it introduces redundancy, especially if you decide to mirror the drives (use hardware mirroring, IMHO). You're using them exclusively for storage, downloads and backup structure. I've listed E and F at those sizes, but really you could have a dozen points. Use this drive as you would UNIX disk mounts. You don't have to use it all at once, but I would suggest incorporating growth into it. As an example, if you have 40GB of MP3s and you haven't been actively collecting, you may want to give it 80GB to be safe. If you have no other use for the space (so you've got you 10GB for swap and this 80GB and you decide to increase it, you can create ANOTHER 120GB partition, move the content over, and mount the new drive into the old drive's location(s) and then eradicate the old 80GB partition.
G,H are going to be the drives with your swap files. The only reason you may want to put your swap files on C,D,E,F is if you find apps like WinRAR will work on the same drive as where you are extracting, thus removing the "copying from C". The Swap being on its own and at a min=max setup is that there is next to no thrashing or space change. It's going to have all the space it needs and not be a burden to you. Also, its on both physical drives which means it can use it where it wants it (heavy primary drive activity means RAM can use busmastering to access secondary controller/drive and not burden the primary controller). It's not like you NEED a swap file 2.5x your RAM, but since you have it, might as well follow "best practice" methods.
You can always do some benchmarking if you're unsure.
my $0.02.
15678 Non-Gaming / Off-Topic / Autobot or Decepticon? on: July 02, 2006, 09:29:52 AM
15679 Non-Gaming / Off-Topic / Having trouble sleeping? on: July 02, 2006, 03:17:43 AM
Or put the wealthy white in the neighborhoods that have the impoverished blacks... I'm sure they wouldn't sleep NEARLY as well. slywink
15680 Gaming / Console / PC Gaming / IGN Titan Quest review on: July 02, 2006, 03:16:05 AM
Quote from: "Knightshade Dragon"
Quote from: "SuperHiro"
I've also heard nocd cracks and warez cocks it up mightily. And it might be mean to ATI cards.
Well, I'm not in either area, but it does run significantly better on my desktop. Strange, that, given that my laptop is more powerful. Guess it hates something in the box.
Built-in components generally degrade performance. Do you find the difference is consistent with other games?
Also, you may want to look at adjusting your cache size and location.
Also, don't download pr0n in the background.!!
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Tuesday, June 19, 2007
The "$20,000" Climate forecast bet
This looks interesting:
Tim Lambert said...
I think this bit from Armstrong's paper says it all:
"History is filled with the poor treatment of those who attempt to introduce science into arenas where emotions are high and vested interests are threatened. Galileo springs to mind."
James Annan said...
Yes, it's full of...quotable quotes :-) I initially gave him the benefit of the doubt due to Gelman's link (and to be fair there is nothing obviously kooky about the statistical significance thing).
Chuck said...
Are there any errors associated with the bet?
Belette said...
Who would have thought that there are 140 principles to forecasting? And that IPCC managed to break 72 of them. I suspect he wrote his own wiki page, too... Why is this anything other than a pile of b*ll*cks?
Note, BTW, the terms of the bet: "he will be able to more accurately forecast climate change than can any fully disclosed climate model". First off, that rules out any averages. Secondly, it rules out, e.g., HadCM3 which isn't disclosed. But why should he insist on disclosure of the model rather than the forecast?
Belette said...
Sorry, found another wonderful quote rather approriate to forecasting; "Carter, et al. (2006) examined the Stern Review (Stern 2007)."
James Annan said...
That quote's a goodun :-)
I was meaning that the model mean would be a sensible choice for him, to probably beat any one model output. I agree there are lots of potential gotchas in what he has written. I have emailed him for more details...
Marion Delgado said...
lord this is demented - what difference does it make whether the model is fully disclosed? This is not like Deep Blue vs. Kasparov.
has he backtracked and postdicted better than the IPCC's announced consensus (it's not like they have one Grand Unifying Model that all bow to)?
Or is he channeling the wisdom of the market? Anyway, it'd be fascinating to find out what he would say would be a not-fully-disclosed factor that would let some greenie climate alarmist out-predict his "model". | <urn:uuid:7489eeb3-4876-4fe9-8995-bfce1bc794b5> | http://julesandjames.blogspot.com/2007/06/20000-climate-forecast-bet.html | en | 0.967275 | 0.246832 | mlfoundations/dclm-baseline-1.0-parquet |
The Best Non-Kitchen Tools You Should Have in Your Kitchen
For most of us, a tool has to be really useful to earn a spot in our kitchen. That doesn't mean that kitchen space should be limited to cooking gadgets and uni-taskers though. Let's build a list of the best non-kitchen tools that work wonders when you're cooking. We'll get you started.
We're willing to bet that you have a few things in your kitchen that aren't technically kitchen tools, but that you'd be lost without—things that you found a particularly clever use for, but someone who wasn't in the know would look at and think it was pretty unusual. We've highlighted some great kitchen tools before, but this time we want to hear about your clever uses. Here's how to format your suggestion:
1. Include a picture! Anything to add a little visual interest, especially if it's something you can just order or grab from the closet.
3. Try not to repeat clever uses! If you see someone who's already mentioned your favorite trick, click the star and reply to their comment to give them a boost!
4. Tell us why it's clever and useful! How do you use it in your kitchen? Where did you find out about it? Tell us your story!
Title image made using OpenIcons, OpenIcons, OpenIcons, Nemo, Nemo, and Nemo. | <urn:uuid:8e6c42e4-8194-4dea-97c3-8e354bdd9d27> | http://lifehacker.com/good-old-fashioned-clothes-pins-i-use-them-to-keep-all-1590375954 | en | 0.963259 | 0.695838 | mlfoundations/dclm-baseline-1.0-parquet |
Retail Traffic: How much excess space are you seeing enter the market right now?
Matthew Bordwin: I can't give you any particular number with regards to square footage, but the state of the retail market right now is not good. Every day it seems a retailer is either filing bankruptcy or announcing store closures. And even healthy retailers are looking to get out of locations that are not working for them, and it's happening more and more.
RT: Which sectors seem to be hit the worst?
Bordwin: Any specialty retailer that's got a non-essential product, it's not a good time for them. In the furniture sector in particular there has been an extraordinary number of retailers that have disappeared and it's clearly a function of what's going on with the subprime market. Restaurants are seeing trouble, as people stay home more. There are not many sectors that are doing well right now.
RT: How hard are you finding it to secure replacement tenants for the spaces you are currently marketing?
Bordwin: It's difficult across the board right now. We are just finding that retailers' expansion plans are being held back, so unless you happen to have a location that they've been looking at and wanted for a while, we are hearing, “We already targeted the stores that we want for this year.” Three years ago, they'd say “We already have our plans for the year, but boy, we really like those 20 locations.” That type of deal has dried up.
RT: Are there sectors that are growing?
Bordwin: I think the types of retailers that will benefit from what's going on will be discount and off-price chains. As people get more conservative with their spending they will be looking to go to the wholesale clubs more and off-price clothing stores. Anything with a discount attached to it has a better opportunity in this market than the average retailer.
RT: How worried are landlords about the current situation?
Bordwin: I think there is a disconnect between landlords and retailers right now, so the number of leasing deals that are happening is decreasing. Landlords have not yet reduced rents or done what they needed to get the marketplace moving along again. But they will need to do something to lease their space.
RT: Do you think landlords might help matters by lowering rents and offering greater concessions?
Bordwin: I am sure in certain situations it's happening already. But I have no sense as to what level rents will have to drop to for retailers to start back on an expansion path. What happens in markets like these is everyone gets scared, and even if retailers start doing more transactions, they will do their due diligence and make sure that the stores they are opening make sense. When money is good, sometimes they open stores at a crazy rate just to keep expanding. In the down cycle, that changes.
RT: What kinds of properties do you think will be most affected?
Bordwin: The class-A locations will continue to do well — retailers that have traditionally been in the class-B locations will be able to get in and take over space when other chains decide to close their stores. It's the [lower class] locations that I think will bear the brunt of the downturn.
Managing Director and Co-Group Head of Real Estate Services KPMG Corporate Finance LLC | <urn:uuid:e3a221bb-7cfd-415b-9ad8-ae5577255c02> | http://nreionline.com/print/expert-qampas/surplus | en | 0.973079 | 0.02387 | mlfoundations/dclm-baseline-1.0-parquet |
15 March 2006
Ideology, sociology and psychology of strings
There is a paper by Bert Schroer, String theory and the crisis in particle physics, where it is claimed that the ideologically dominated string community is causing a huge crisis in high energy physics. I think that is a good exercise in psychology (even if you are not a psychologist) to try to understand what is behind this paper.
First of all, Bert works in axiomatic field theory not in string theory, so his comments are not of a technical nature. It should also be clear that he thinks that quantum field theory is not a closed subject. I think we all agree on that but not for the same reasons. He claims that there should exist an intrinsic formulation of QFT in which the concept of fields is not mandatory. That is a good topic for research. It is in the same foot as the search for a unique formulation of string theory. It may exist or not but it does not prevent that progress in understanding the theory can be gained by other means. The reason I think QFT is not complete is the lack of a full understanding of its non-perturbative sector, something that author fails to appreciate and that axiomatic field theory is far from even beginning to address.
So let us go back to his paper. His first argument against strings are citations found in discussion groups and texts for layman, like "Superstring/M-theory is the language in which God wrote the world". This hardly can be taken as a serious argument, and Bert knows that, so it seems that he is just warming up the reader. Then his main argument goes like the quantized strings are not really quantum strings because the string excitations are localized around the string center of mass. And he concludes that all this is just "a trick to find a Lagrangian packing for the dual model with its infinite mass tower". Well, anyone who has calculated the spectrum of free strings knows all this. And it seems that all critics of string theory go only to the point of studying free strings and to presume they know it all. There are other comments on the physics of string theory but they are not technical and do not deserve any consideration.
So let us look now at the ideological side to pin down what is behind all this. He lists what he considers to be five big problems. The first is that young people do not know the conceptual axioms of field theory and that he can not talk to them because they only know string theory. Well, surely young people will study axiomatic field theory, if that is relevant for what they are doing, but older people should also study strings if they want to discuss the important issues of today. If you are too old or too lazy to study new things what can be done?
He then complains that the editorial boards of high energy physics journals are full of string people, and that there is an "ideological battle between two globalized groups rather than a critical analysis of its contents", probably refering to submited papers. Is this just another way of saying I can not publish my papers in good journals? After all, if you look at editorial boards you can send your papers to non-stringy physicists. His third point is a complain about the undergraduate course in string theory given at MIT. As we all know young students want to learn string theory and there is nothing wrong with that. If that can be done seriously, why not? What really happens is that undergraduate students keep asking questions about many things. What do you do when they ask you about strings if you do not work in strings? This is tricky, very tricky.
His fourth point is more interesting. As said before he does not consider quantum field theory to be a finished subject and string theory is worse since its "structural properties" are not known (I assume that by structural properties he means an intrinsic formulation). He then says, let us assume that the AdS/CFT correspondence is true and since we know the quantum field theory side we could use the correspondence to find out the "structural properties" of string theory. What a good idea! He just doesn't realize that this is happening, and in both ways. We can learn new things about quantum field theory as well as about strings. In fact, he fails to recognize that what he calls "structural properties" of string theory is named M-theory and string field theory.
Finally, his last point is about the future of particle physics. The problem of having so many string theorists getting jobs and appearing in the media worldwide. Well, this is happening for a long time now, at least since the past century. Relativity, quantum mechanics, atomic bombs and many other topics generated great curiosity in the public and received attention in the media. What can be done if no journalist is looking for you? Do you have any interesting thing to say?
In the second part of the paper Bert tries to convince the reader that we must abandon string theory and go back to quantum field theory, but in his way, to the old fashioned S-matrix bootstrap approach of the 60's! He also claims that the mathematical issues of field theory will be solved soon (probably by him or his group) and criticizes strongly any geometrical approach to field theory. Reading this looks like general relativity is in the wrong track and leads nowhere. Also, the geometrical Atiyah-Witten work is also condemned in his paper. It would be very interesting, however, to see axiomatic field theory saying something about anomalies. Or even about asymptotic freedom. And we are not talking about properties of some formulation of field theory but about Nature itself.
So now we have a clear psychological picture of the paper. Full of prejudices and lack of understanding of what are the main goals of QFT and string theory and very revealing about the author's personality. The only crisis after all is in the author's understanding of the modern world. Unfortunately he is living in Brazil and we have to be sociable and civilized.
Just in time, Lubos and Woit have posts on Bert as well.
1 comment:
urs said...
Since I don't have a blogger account, regard the fpollowing link as a manual trackback: | <urn:uuid:e493b9c1-f83b-4175-882f-d2e0bc40607c> | http://rivelles.blogspot.com/2006/03/ideology-sociology-and-psychology-of.html | en | 0.968135 | 0.030426 | mlfoundations/dclm-baseline-1.0-parquet |
Take the 2-minute tour ×
In Windows I want to list the files from the drive in all the subfolders with the following attributes
• From all the subfolders
• File name
• File Creation date
• File Last Modified date
• User name of last modifier of the file
I use the following command:
/s gives all files in subfolders
/O:N gives name
/O:S gives file size
/T:C gives creation time
/T:W gives last modified time
My questions:
1. Is this the correct way to use the command?
2. How should I get the user name who modified/created the content last?
share|improve this question
migrated from stackoverflow.com Nov 10 '11 at 3:43
This question came from our site for professional and enthusiast programmers.
1 Answer 1
up vote 0 down vote accepted
The DOS command looks correct. However I use something like the following command and output my results to a text file so I can then review and use it:
dir "%windir%\*.*" /a:-d /o:ns /t:ca /s >files.txt
I also like to insert the /b switch however no timefield info will display.
Change the filter <path>\*.* if you like including the full path &/or from the current directory to be something more specific.
share|improve this answer
Thanks - How should I get the suer name who last modified the file – user549432 Nov 10 '11 at 2:57
Your Answer
| <urn:uuid:48267a8c-49ea-48d7-90e2-a6fa50b7a678> | http://superuser.com/questions/355771/windows-listing-of-files-from-command-line | en | 0.830232 | 0.043341 | mlfoundations/dclm-baseline-1.0-parquet |
Thursday, March 18, 2010
Obamacare Solidified in Granite
1 comment :
Ed Martin said...
Obamacare was blown out of the water after Brown won, or so they thought. This stellar achievement by Barack Obama and the Democrats absolutely cements this guy's legacy in the hall of fame and places him into the same sentence as FDR. The Republicans put all their energy into trying to destroy Obama and make sure he turns out to be one of the biggest duds in recent memory. They almost pulled it off, but this blew up in their faces BIG TIME, and they know it. They're presently going over Niagara Falls in a canoe and trying to figure what to do now as they grasp at straws. Ironically Sen. Dodd said it was Brown's win that likely made this possible. It was a wake up call. | <urn:uuid:1654f4b0-51dd-481a-ad63-0d74d63d7e1a> | http://thoughtfulideas.blogspot.com/2010/03/obamacare-solidified-in-granite.html | en | 0.977932 | 0.026243 | mlfoundations/dclm-baseline-1.0-parquet |
Vietnamese caramelized chicken
October 28, 2009
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Serves 4 as part of multicourse family meal
1 pound boneless chicken thighs with skin, cut into 1/2-inch pieces
Salt and pepper, to taste
4 stalks lemongrass, trimmed and very finely chopped
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
2 tablespoons sugar
1 large onion, halved and cut into thin crescents
4 cloves garlic, finely chopped
3 red Thai chilies, seeded and cut into rounds
2 teaspoons bottled Asian fish sauce
2 tablespoons fresh cilantro leaves (for garnish)
1/2 bunch scallions, trimmed and chopped (for garnish)
1. In a bowl, toss the chicken with plenty of salt and pepper and 3 tablespoons of the lemongrass. Set aside.
2. In a large skillet, heat the oil over medium-high heat. When it starts to shimmer, add the sugar. Cook, stirring constantly, for 1 to 2 minutes or until the sugar clumps together and then melts into a syrup. Cook, stirring, for 2 to 3 minutes longer or until the syrup turns into a caramel brown liquid suspended in the oil. You will smell a pleasant burnt sugar aroma. Watch carefully as it can burn at this point. If it starts to turn black, pull the skillet off the stove before continuing.
3. Stir in the remaining lemongrass, onion, and 1 tablespoon of the garlic. Cook, stirring, for 1 minute or until the mixture turns golden.
4. Add the chicken and turn the heat to high. Cook, stirring constantly, for 1 1/2 minutes. If there isn’t enough sauce to coat the chicken, add water 1 tablespoon at a time (it may sputter and seize; pull the skillet off the stove until it stops).
5. Add the chilies and cook, stirring, for 2 minutes. Add the fish sauce and remaining garlic. Mix well. When the chicken is cooked through (cut into a piece to check), taste for seasoning. Add more salt and pepper, if you like. Garnish with cilantro and scallions. Serve with rice. Adapted from “The Asian Grandmothers Cookbook’’ | <urn:uuid:cddfd40f-17b0-4b18-83a7-def8c10af201> | http://www.boston.com/lifestyle/food/articles/2009/10/28/vietnamese_caramelized_chicken_recipe/?camp=pm | en | 0.877945 | 0.064425 | mlfoundations/dclm-baseline-1.0-parquet |
New Posts All Forums:
Posts by Byakushiki
I highly doubt a vented dynamic would work well due to lack of isolation, but perhaps a reshelled one may? Throwing a (somewhat) insane idea out there. Universals in general might be a good idea, since they can potentially isolate better than customs; customs generally cut out ~26dB, whereas some universals do up to 35-42dB. (Shure, Etymotic, Westone w/i olives) But otherwise, it might be a good idea to check out some of Unique Melody's offerings.
No. That is wrong, at least as far as I remember. L and R should always face the nozzle. The pin's polarities always go ground -> signal, from the left pin to right pin on each connector, with the letter that says the side facing you. It's also the reason why with Westone cables, the L (blue) dot always faces out and the R (red) dot always faces in if you're using them on the TF10.
Look at the Amazon entry for the Dark Silver UE700. There's a couple pictures of the cable separating from the right angle jack.
A few more pics that made nice backgrounds....
The new ones have a revised right angle jack that actually doesn't fall apart. The difference is really the nozzles though...They're more like the standard UE nozzles with a bit of a lip instead of the older ones, which also used the more tapered silicone tips. Lemme pull up the thread regarding revisions...
425. Back up your music library often. I just borked my linux install (surprise surprise) again and just happened to forget that there's still music sitting around in the partition... Lucky me, it booted after some work. Wireless is down, but I did manage to download the whole of the updates...time to fix this install. As the saying goes, "if it boots, it can be fixed".
A good place to start then would probably be a Shure SE215 with the Mic cable. Easily a good entry level IEM. From what I recall, it's a warm sounding piece with slightly rolled off treble, so it's easier on the ears. Enough bass to satisfy most people's needs too.
If you have cyanogenmod7 installed as a custom rom, you can use dsp manager to adjust the overall volume down a few dB. A bit crude, but it does work.
Once again, decore a pair of the Comply foam tips that came with the TF10 and then shove the foam into the medium silicone. If it's too hard (which was the case for me, it caused some pain after extended wear), soak the foam with warm water, squeeze it dry, and shove back into the silicone tip. It becomes a great deal softer. No loss in isolation and ends up being quite comfortable and seals well.
If they stayed true to the Pioneer house sound, then it should be a very fun, bassy set of cans, yet still neutral enough to handle other genres.
New Posts All Forums: | <urn:uuid:8e690050-65e6-491e-ab60-acf1a34dfcda> | http://www.head-fi.org/forums/posts/by_user/id/192738/page/40 | en | 0.952544 | 0.090294 | mlfoundations/dclm-baseline-1.0-parquet |
Meet the Class OF 2015
Kevin OShields
Arlington, Texas
1. Where did you grow up?
Arlington, Texas, by way of Frederick, Oklahoma
2. Where did you attend undergrad?
The University of Texas at Arlington, home of the Mavericks (way before the NBA Mavs), whose football team has been undefeated since 1984!
3. What degree(s) have you earned?
BA of Inter-Disciplinary Studies
4. Why did you choose to attend OU Law?
OU Law was a natural fit due to my interest in continuing my career in Oil & Gas. Also, for most of my life, I've been a Sooner fan in exile, and now that I've been repatriated to my home state, I look forward to having an institutional tie to my favorite college team.
I like the tradition.
5. What is your favorite thing about OU?
I like the tradition.
My wife Karissa encouraged me to look into law school, but my uncle Tom Creekmore, who graduated from OU in '78 and OU Law in '82, also played a major role.
7. What is an interesting fact about you?
I adopted a dog named Newton from Kelly Petrusuwich, who graduated from OU Law in '12, and subsequently met my wife Karissa. We live in Oklahoma City with our blended family of my dog Newton, her cat Brad and our dog Otis. | <urn:uuid:22c4f3dd-eac9-4cd2-92e1-dd6d1a5feede> | http://www.law.ou.edu/node/1036 | en | 0.96709 | 0.0413 | mlfoundations/dclm-baseline-1.0-parquet |
Guilty Verdict in NJ Triple Schoolyard Slay
Prosecutor said juror lied on her questionnaire.
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Getty Images
Judge rejects defense attorney's move for mistrial.
A 20-year-old man was convicted Tuesday of murder in the execution-style slayings of three college-bound friends in a Newark, N.J., schoolyard in 2007.
Alfaro was found guilty on 16 of 17 counts. He was found not guilty of attempted murder on the survivor of the attacks.
The jury reached its verdict after about 20 hours of deliberations over four days. It received the case on Thursday afternoon.
Alfaro's half-brother and another man are already serving multiple life sentences for the killings. Three defendants' cases are pending.
Alfaro was convicted on three counts each of murder and felony murder, four counts of robbery, two counts of conspiracy and four weapons counts.
During the month-long trial, Alfaro testified that he was coerced into bringing the machete to the Mount Vernon School playground on the night of Aug. 4, 2007, by half-brother Rodolfo Godinez, a high-ranking member of the violent MS-13 street gang.
Alfaro admitted joining the gang several months before the crimes, but testified he was shocked that night when he realized what was happening. According to Alfaro, Godinez had told him there were "rivals" at the playground, which he took to mean rival gang members.
Victims Iofemi Hightower, Dashon Harvey and Terrance "T.J." Aeriel were friends from Newark who were already attending or planning to attend Delaware State University in the fall.
During deliberations, jurors requested and were re-read the survivor's testimony in which she described the six suspects "circling" the four friends and demanding that they lie on the ground and give up their valuables. The prosecution contended Alfaro played a part in the robbery, which by definition would make him guilty of felony murder because the murders occurred as an extension of the robbery.
Jurors also were re-read testimony from Alfaro's cousin, Nancy Ramirez, who testified that Alfaro described the incident to her the following day. | <urn:uuid:8c9d34fe-db97-40b5-bbad-10bdbdcd3045> | http://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/local/Lying-Juror-Halts-NJ-Triple-Schoolyard-Slay-Deliberations-119250124.html | en | 0.984283 | 0.019243 | mlfoundations/dclm-baseline-1.0-parquet |
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So Far So Good! -Chicago, IL
I started sweating when I hit puberty around 12...
I started sweating when I hit puberty around 12 years old and life was NOT fun. Finally, 13 years later there is something that works for excessive sweating and takes away the pain and embarrassment of it all!
After spying the brochure at Chicago Cosmetic Surgery & Dermatology I asked some questions and only had reservations because of the pricing. ($1,500 per treatment). Finally, I could not handle it anymore and decided to book my consultation with Stephanie. She is super nice and throughly explained everything about the procedure, pre and post as well. I went in feeling confident, excited, and nervous all at the same time.
Like I was told, I shaved morning of and did not wear any deodorant. It started off with Stephanie and her assistant measuring the size of my underarms, and I guess I am in between sizes so they used the larger one. On went the grid 'tattoo' that tells them where to inject the Lidocaine and where to put the miraDry machine. Both started injecting the Lidocaine at the same time and yikes! They start with every other line so when they go back you really don't feel the second round. This was the most painful part of the procedure. I immediately began feeling the effects of the Lidocaine (I rarely drink caffeine) and began shaking and I just could not help it.
Next up came the treatment itself. Stephanie did a level 2 on the top portion and then level 4 on the rest. I felt not a thing, except once it got a little warm but even then it really felt like nothing at all. It went by like a breeze and some other staff came in the room to check it out and chit chat. Soon I was done and leaving with my after care instructions and my ice packs! And the Lidocaine shakes…I had those for another 30 minutes or so.
I was feeling pretty good for a bit and then 4 hours post it started to really swell up and become painful. I was thankful for the leftover Vicodin I had on had from a root canal last month. It was hard to get comfortable for sleeping. I am a side sleeper and let me tell you, side sleeping is NOT happening. I ended up sleeping on my stomach.
The next morning I was pretty sore and pretty swollen. The ice packs were a very welcome relief, and very necessary. My underarms were the most swollen and sore on this day, though I did have some great relief for a few hours after taking a few ibuprofen. It got me through Thanksgiving dinner! Sleeping this night was much easier and I even spent some time sleeping on my sides.
Now, 2 days later my underarms are much less swollen, still tender, but overall looking and feeling good. Reaching is not such a great feeling though, but I have a better range of motion.
The only thing bothering me now is my breasts. They have swollen up a cup size and are sore and tender. Most of the tenderness is nearest my underarms, but some on top as well. Maybe from holding my shoulders oddly from the day prior?
I haven't worn deodorant since Tuesday (!!!) and I do not smell and I have not sweat at all since the procedure Wednesday afternoon.
I will go for my next treatment at the end of February/beginning of March and Stephanie will do a level 3 on the top few lines and then a 5 on the rest. I am looking forward to it!
5 Weeks Later...
Still going strong! I have sweated some, but not nearly on the same level as before. The times I did sweat a bit were because I was delivering gallon tins of popcorn to all 35 floors of tenants or because I was incredibly warm. Even then the sweating was not bad at all! I have been incredibly happy!
Pain-wise the loss of sensation is still there but at the same time it is also sensitive. It's hard to explain...it hurts but the sensation is not fully there.
Got my second treatment...
I got my second treatment and did levels 4 (top few 'lines') and 5 (on the rest) and it went so much faster than the first round! It also did not hurt as much nor did I get as swollen as I did the first time. Recovery was a breeze this time around. No sweating as of yet but we will have to wait and see!!
Stephanie Fox
Stephanie is great! She is super nice and friendly. She is very knowledgable and really wants to help you out.
5 out of 5 stars Overall rating
5 out of 5 stars Doctor's bedside manner
5 out of 5 stars Answered my questions
5 out of 5 stars After care follow-up
5 out of 5 stars Time spent with me
5 out of 5 stars Phone or email responsiveness
5 out of 5 stars Staff professionalism & courtesy
5 out of 5 stars Payment process
5 out of 5 stars Wait times | <urn:uuid:1d498681-aa03-417f-b4e2-3839adba1d00> | http://www.realself.com/review/chicago-il-miradry-good | en | 0.979527 | 0.02098 | mlfoundations/dclm-baseline-1.0-parquet |
Seed Starting 101: 7 Tips for Indoor Seed-Starting Success
Endless Bouquet Feverfew SeedlingStarting seeds early, when done right, is one of the most satisfying aspects of gardening. To see young, green shoots perk up through the soil while winter carries on outside is incredibly gratifying. It's as if spring begins as soon as the first cotyledons (first leaves) pop open. It's also an essential part of growing tomatoes, peppers, eggplant, and other crops, which otherwise don't have a long enough season in northern climates to mature much ripe fruit.
For the home gardener lacking a heated greenhouse, there are two main ways to start seeds under protection: indoors or in a cold frame (we’ll talk about cold frames next week). For many, starting seeds indoors is the preferred, tried-and-true method. However, despite what most people believe, to be successful requires more than just a sunny windowsill. Successful indoor seed-starting requires the following components:
MOISTURE: Seeds sown indoors are easy to water, but be sure to locate the seeds somewhere where you'll be free to water liberally when needed. Watering can create drips and mess, and if you put the set-up in a pristine living room you risk being too precious about things to get done what has to get done.
SOIL: A good quality soil mix allows the three elements above to function harmoniously and provide the seedlings with nutritious and safe (from diseases and bacteria) environment. Always choose organic. If you want to make your own, Cornell University recommends a "lightweight, porous growing medium." For more information, take a look at this PDF on Container Gardening.
CONTAINERS: There are a myriad options out there: from complex mini-greenhouses, to simple wood boxes. We prefer simple and mostly use fiber trays in our gardens and plastic cell-packs on our farm. The choice is yours: consider how much space you are working with and how many times you're planning on potting-up before transplanting. Make sure your container is at least 2 to 3 inches deep with drainage holes at the bottom. If reusing last season's, clean with warm, soapy water first to prevent the chance of disease. For a thorough overview on container options, take a look at this Indoor Seed Starting Guide from Purdue University.
SOWING: Pack soil into containers loosely, try not to compact it. Most seeds prefer a depth of about 2 times their length. The tiniest seeds can be sprinkled directly on the surface. Cover the seeds with a thin layer of soil or peat. Plant about 3 seeds per hole (more if using older seeds) and once they germinate, thin down to leave only the strongest seedling. Margaret Roach's (from A Way to Garden) approach is: "wait until they get their first set of true leaves (not the first ones, called seed leaves, that all look basically the same, but the ones that start to have the character of the specific plant. Then use a small scissor to snip off the weaker of the two right at the base. Pulling it may dislodge the one you intend to keep." For more seed-starting tips from Margaret, see here.
Leave a Reply | <urn:uuid:81fadd5c-5ad8-4905-ba47-ba91aae73210> | http://www.seedlibrary.org/blog/seed-starting-101-xx-tips-for-starting-seedlings-indoors/ | en | 0.93319 | 0.025274 | mlfoundations/dclm-baseline-1.0-parquet |
Why every Liverpool fan must be furious with the Uruguay FA hangers-on
Luis Suarez. How could it go so wrong so quickly?
Luis Suarez. How could it go so wrong so quickly?
Rewind a month and he had the respect of his peers and the admiration - not begrudging, but bowing - of his past detractors. In his trophy room on Merseyside sat the European Golden Boot, the PFA Player of the Year and the Football Writers' Player of the Year.
He was a celebrated triumph for the culture at Liverpool, the forgiving nature of Premier League fans and those who cover the game's biggest competition.
Fast forward to today and all that hard work, all that achievement has been thrown away. Luis Suarez is now a World Cup villain. His reputation straddling the deepest of disappointment and the height of worldwide derision.
So what happened? Well, it's stating the bleedin' obvious, but the Uruguayan FA, that's what happened.
The hints were there after Suarez's wonderful two-goal performance against England. It even had Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho, one of his biggest critics, describing him as "amazing, just amazing". But Suarez's reaction was to turn on the English media, the very same people who had helped rebuild his reputation after he took a chunk out of Chelsea defender Branislav Ivanovic's arm.
There was no humility, no sign of being a gracious winner as is the 'Liverpool Way'. Away from his club captain Steven Gerrard and manager Brendan Rodgers, this was the Luis Suarez of Uruguay.
Then against Italy it happened.
And what followed was everything that those at Liverpool had worked so hard against. No personal accountability. No personal responsibility. And zero contrition. It's difficult to rate what was more pathetic. The act of one man biting another - or those in positions of power trying to defend one man biting another: from the Uruguayan president, to their FA president, to the captain, Diego Lugano, and their coach Washington Tabarez.
Tabarez, in the aftermath, resigned from his position on FIFA's strategic committee. Not out of shame, but in protest against Suarez being suspended.
Well, cry me a river.
The only people who deserve sympathy in this sorry, childish affair are those at Liverpool. And, no we're not talking about some big, grey, unrelatable organisation. We're talking about individuals who have worked damn hard over the past year to improve one man's character and quality of life:
Steven Gerrard, the Liverpool captain, who has become a big brother and mentor to Suarez, the pair strengthening their relationship in the aftermath of the Ivanovic incident. Brendan Rodgers, the manager, who could easily have washed his hands of Suarez 12 months ago. But this is a leader who, from his days working with youth teams, doesn't see players as commodities. So in came Dr Steven Peters to work with Suarez, on call, always available to the striker.
And this support network was working. Indeed, today's revelations that Suarez has allegedly bitten EIGHT players in the past makes the work at Liverpool all the more remarkable - and the behavior of Uruguayan officials even more pathetic.
The great irony is Suarez's ban would not have been so severe if he had shown contrition when stating his case to FIFA. That Suarez, egged on by the sycophants inside the Uruguayan FA, offered no hint of regret was enough for FIFA to hand down their four-month suspension.
But forget the wailing Uruguayan FA. It's Liverpool which have been hurt most and Rodgers, Gerrard et al, who have been betrayed by the Suarez hangers-on.
In defending their ruling, FIFA secretary general Jerome Valcke urged Suarez to seek help: "He should go through treatment. It is definitely wrong."
But he was getting that at Liverpool. They were changing a lifetime of poor behaviour. But while Suarez will miss eight internationals with Uruguay, he's also suspended for 13 games at Liverpool.
The question now for LFC is whether it's all worth it? Luis Suarez is worth it. The work they've done is worth it. But is it worth all the stress and concern when Suarez leaves the Melwood environment to rejoin his national team?
Liverpool's reputation is too great to involve it with such irresponsibility.
Have your say | <urn:uuid:24a61413-804e-427a-9771-28e960e52259> | http://www.tribalfootball.com/articles/why-every-liverpool-fan-must-be-furious-uruguay-fa-hangers-4028822?utm_source=main_feed | en | 0.973337 | 0.076046 | mlfoundations/dclm-baseline-1.0-parquet |
A look at North Korea's nuclear program
A look at North Korea's nuclear program:
REACTORS: 5-megawatt facility in Yongbyon capable of producing plutonium, which can be weaponized to make nuclear bombs, was shut down in July 2007 as part of a disarmament-for-aid deal. In April, North Korea said it would restart its atomic program and reprocess spent fuel rods.
RADIOACTIVE MATERIALS: North Korea is believed to have produced up to 110 pounds (50 kilograms) of weaponized plutonium - enough for half a dozen or more bombs. Reprocessing 8,000 additional spent nuclear fuel rods in storage could yield enough weaponized plutonium for yet another bomb. In September, North Korea said reprocessing of spent fuel rods was in the final phase.
North Korea also admitted to having a uranium enrichment program, which would provide a second way to make atomic bombs.
NUCLEAR TESTS: North Korea conducted an underground test of a nuclear device in October 2006, and a second test this May. However, experts say North Korea has not mastered mounting the device on a long-range missile.
MISSILES: North Korea has "Rodong" missiles with a range of about 800 miles (1,300 kilometers) - far enough to reach Japan - and Scud-type, short-range missiles that could reach South Korea. Also has fielded intermediate-range ballistic missiles that can travel at least 1,860 miles (3,000 kilometers) and has test-fired a Taepodong-1 missile with an estimated range of 1,550 miles (2,500 kilometers).
Also believed to be developing a Taepodong-2 missile with potential range more than 4,100 miles (6,700 kilometers), and a new missile with an even longer range that could potentially put Hawaii, Australia and Eastern Europe within striking distance.
The Associated Press
| <urn:uuid:c331c061-7c42-4251-bd10-ac4aada843fb> | http://www.utsandiego.com/news/2009/dec/09/a-look-at-north-koreas-nuclear-program/ | en | 0.943562 | 0.14956 | mlfoundations/dclm-baseline-1.0-parquet |
Storm in a D-Cup
Bot-hunters were somewhat puzzled recently when a botnet called Mega-D suddenly started grabbing headlines as the successor to the Storm (or Nuwar) botnet. Though the Storm network does seem to have declined in overall numbers over recent months, reports of its demise still seem exaggerated, and no-one seemed quite sure what Mega-D was and where it had come from. However, an excellent analysis by the estimable Joe Stewart casts some light on the subject.
According to Joe’s investigations, the Mega-D network seems to have grown to a formidable 35,000 or so machines, virtually unnoticed. (By his estimate, Storm currently runs at around 85,000 bots.) Why did the size of Mega-D come as such a surprise?
It seems that Mega-D is using the Ozdok bot family, which Joe describes as "little known". He’s also pointed out, having submitted a sample to VirusTotal, that while most vendors detected it (yes, of course we did, but thank you for asking!), very few detected it by that name. So, as Shakespeare said, what’s in a name? If you detect it, does it matter what name you identify it by? Well, usually, no. In fact, the sheer volume of malware variants nowadays means that it’s more efficient to use more generic detection techniques such as heuristic analysis and generic signatures wherever possible. So this doesn’t represent a detection failure in terms of bot-compromised PCs: it’s unlikely that the botnet would be any smaller if all companies were using the same identifier. However, it would probably have taken much less time to flag the existence of what turns out to be a fairly hefty botnet, because we’d have recognized the commonality of the infections. Whether that would have had any mitigating effect on the scale and impact of Mega-D is another question.
You could see this as an illustration of the problem this industry has with naming: no-one has the time and resources to crossmatch all the samples we see so that everyone can use the same name for every variant or subvariant.
On the other hand, there’s something quite reassuring about the way the name can change as we learn more about a specific family or variant. Pierre-Marc checked back on some of the samples we’ve received over the past month or so. If NOD32 picked up an Ozdok compromise on your network, the actual identifier it would have used might have varied quite a lot, according to which variant it picked up and when. Some of those samples were identified generically as a bot or agent: for example, programs using obfuscation techniques characteristic of malware families ring an immediate alarm bell. Some were identified as specific Ozdok variants, and those are usually the ones that have been around long enough for more detailed analysis. But what matters most is that they’re detected as malicious programs, and as early as possible in their evolution.
David Harley, Research Author
Author David Harley, ESET
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Copyright © 2015 ESET, All Rights Reserved. | <urn:uuid:298d49b8-557d-4220-a561-443d33c3511e> | http://www.welivesecurity.com/2008/02/19/storm-in-a-d-cup/ | en | 0.956344 | 0.031419 | mlfoundations/dclm-baseline-1.0-parquet |
Mail Servers
I hate asking this, but I thought that this would be the fastest
way to get the answer.
I may be setting up a mail server for a factory. From what little
I know so far, it will be for all a mail server for all five hundred
employees. (one in each location) so they can check work
related email. I was thinking about using woody, but have
the following 2 questions.
1 What is the max user limit that woody + exim will support
2 Could someone point me to a good pointer / how-to for this.
Reply to: | <urn:uuid:e9976828-0a17-48da-bcb3-d21248bb63ad> | https://lists.debian.org/debian-isp/2002/03/msg00189.html | en | 0.931802 | 0.655299 | mlfoundations/dclm-baseline-1.0-parquet |
18 U.S. Code § 1660 - Receipt of pirate property
Whoever, without lawful authority, receives or takes into custody any vessel, goods, or other property, feloniously taken by any robber or pirate against the laws of the United States, knowing the same to have been feloniously taken, shall be imprisoned not more than ten years.
Historical and Revision Notes
Based on title 18, U.S.C., 1940 ed., § 552 (Mar. 4, 1909, ch. 321, § 334,35 Stat. 1152).
Provision relating to concealment of pirate and words “is an accessory after the fact to such robbery or piracy” were omitted in view of definitive section 3 of this title.
| <urn:uuid:0b9bfa23-c38b-4f64-82a9-03608c1ff54a> | https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/18/1660?quicktabs_8=1 | en | 0.909425 | 0.064401 | mlfoundations/dclm-baseline-1.0-parquet |
View Full Version : How to restrict animation to be displayed only onc
05-11-2011, 03:59 AM
Hi, being a begineer i am facing some problems in the given below program as follow
i am making a program to animate a ball over a field it goes like,
void display() {
/* code to draw a field */
loop:1 to 5
loop:1 to 6
/* here comes the code to animate the ball over the field */
} I want whenever user press "right_Arrow" the whole scene get rotated by some angle problem:whenever the user presses "right_Arrow" key it rotate the scene by some angle but also display whole animation again...but i want animation to be displayed only once(after maximazing window) and then the user can rotate the whole scene
by some angle without displaying any animation on pressing "right_Arrow" key
How should i do this in my code? | <urn:uuid:033ee219-7da8-4e00-b90b-814f488e4508> | https://www.opengl.org/discussion_boards/archive/index.php/t-174570.html | en | 0.857084 | 0.018546 | mlfoundations/dclm-baseline-1.0-parquet |
Fictional Elements in Sixteenth- and Seventeenth-Century Sonnet Sequences and Early Modern Fictions
Article excerpt
Sonnet sequences are not a place where we would expect to find fictional devices, and yet fictional mechanisms such as truth-telling frames, arguments, and meta-fictional discourse occur in sonnet sequences printed in the sixteenth and early seventeenth centuries. Furthermore, the mechanisms found in the early printed sonnet sequences display elements of early modern printing practices also employed in the printing of fictional narratives. The sonnet sequence is one of the few genres that offer first-person fictions on the subject of love to the medieval and early modern reader. True, complaints, prose narratives with poems and other medieval and early modern first-person genres--consolations, confessions, public letters, and dream visions--also sometimes contain discussions on erotic subject matter. A notable example of two love narratives presented in distinct poems is the English Poems of Charles D'Orleans (c. 1450), but the cultural influence of this work in the early modern period is low: available in a single manuscript (British Library, MS Harley 682), the work was first printed in the nineteenth century. (1) Sonnet sequences, on the other hand, are mostly conceived of as philosophical and poetic explorations of erotic, usually unrequited, love from the perspective of a first-person speaker, and had a vast cultural influence.
Opinions are divided on whether sonnet sequences are narratives or not. By and large, critics working in the Anglophone tradition do not believe them to be so. Although the speaker of the sonnets is viewed as distinct from the historical person of the writer, this acknowledgement of fictionality does not equate to an acknowledgement that the sequences are either integral or narrative works, nor is having a fictional speaker taken to mean that the genre will function as a work of fiction. By way of example of the variety of opinions on the subject, Heather Dubrow argues that readers impose narrative on sonnets that resist it, yet, in the same argument she proposes an alternative narrative arrangement of the sonnets. (2) A critic who argued in favour of the idea of integrity, Shakespearean scholar John Kerrigan, advocated it not in relation to the sequence itself, but to the Quarto's 'tripartite Delian structure'. (3) Taking its name from Samuel Daniel's Delia (1592), this structure is exhibited in a number of English sonnet sequences including Shakespeare's, and consists of the sonnet sequence proper, Anacreontic verse (verse on lighter or mythological themes), and a complaint (a narrative poem, often written in the first person). Literary critics working in the Italian tradition or cultural historians such as David Buchbinder, Teodolinda Barolini, Marco Santagata, Roland Greene, or Jacques Barzun, on the other hand, acknowledge that sonnet sequences function as works of fiction. (4) Without focusing on the vast body of literature which argues that autobiographies (5) or calendrical or numerical structures (6) may be concealed in the sonnet sequences, I propose that our contemporary editorial focus on individual sonnets is anachronistic, and that the early modern writer and reader would have seen sonnet sequences as integral works belonging to a genre with strong links to narrative genres. I will describe fictional mechanisms and printing practices present in the early editions of English sixteenth- and seventeenth-century sonnet sequences and argue that they are related to earlier, contemporary, and later narrative genres, such as romances and early novels, and therefore have a place in the history of fictional genres. (7)
The nature of fictionality, the relationship between autobiography and fiction, fiction and narrative, and the origins of the novel are vast topics, exceeding the scope of this article; from Fielding and Bakhtin, to Terry Eagleton and Franco Moretti, (8) opinions are many and wide-ranging. The two points I wish to make here, to add to these debates, are quite specific: first, that elements of what we now call the novel have developed in unexpected places, and that fictional and narrative functions can be located in the sonnet sequence, a genre of disputed narrativity, suggests the genre belongs within a broader examination of how novelistic techniques have developed over time; and second, that the correspondences between fictional mechanisms and printing practices used in narratives and sonnet sequences would suggest that authors of sonnet sequences may have been writing first-person fictions, and that printers and readers may have perceived sonnet sequences and narrative genres as related. … | <urn:uuid:37e940c8-d943-4b4f-a31d-0fbf8772e21d> | https://www.questia.com/article/1G1-339636446/fictional-elements-in-sixteenth-and-seventeenth-century | en | 0.947614 | 0.095248 | mlfoundations/dclm-baseline-1.0-parquet |
Tuesday, 22 February 2011
Surry With The Hinge on Top
2009 USA
Directed by Jonathan Mostow
Touchstone Region 2
Warning: There is a fairly big spoiler here but I think it’s necessary to spill it to make my point... sorry.
It seems to me that the Bruce Willis starrer Surrogates was a very much overlooked film on its release in 2009. I remember going to see it at the cinema and liking it a fair bit and remembering that it really didn’t stay at the local cinema very long. I don’t know how well it did at the box office but my guess is that it was unfortunately, in the case of this movie, a flop. What I do know for sure, however, is that it’s also a smart, if simplistic, little science-fiction thriller with some okay action sequences and a warm little heart beating away in the background.
The plot of Surrogates is pretty much lifted from old fifties and sixties sci-fi short stories and is very much in the vein of Philip K. Dick... who has probably written a few variations of this basic story in his time and I’m guessing that it was the strength of the basic Phildickianesque concept of this movie that kept the audience away from this one when, instead they should have been flocking to see it. The plundering of old fifties pulp sci-fi concepts seems to be a very well-worn habit with Hollywood at the moment (Avatar or Inception anyone?) but the difference between this film and some of those other less successful movies (though they were huge in box office takings) is that this film never really treats its central themes with anything other than respect and attention to detail which makes some of the other films crowding our grubby multiplexes at the moment look amateurish in comparison.
The film takes 5 or 10 minutes to give the viewer the history of the world in which this particular story plays out... a world where humans now stay at home hooked up to a machine and let robot “surrogates” or “surrys” (in another nod to Phildickian intercultural slang) do everything else for them... they are more powerful (superhuman in some senses) and younger versions of their real life alter-egos and so most people spend the majority of the day inside their surry via a hook up to a machine receiver at home, while it goes about their daily business and does their 9 to 5 job. A world in which violent crime is practically at zero.
When a surry is “fried” by a human member of one of the "cells" of anti-surrogacy groups left on the planet with a weapon that also kills the human receiver/transmitter for the surry... Bruce Willis and Rhada Mitchell (Lucy from Australian Soap Neighbours) launch an investigation which involves more brutal surry/human murders and leads right back to a plot (the films big weakness in my opinion) to overturn the popular phenomenon of surrys which have pretty much been taken up by the large majority of the planet. Along the way their are all the things you expect to go through with this kind of plot... a major character’s surry getting horrendously killed and him having to deal with trying to do his job without his robot self to make things bearable for him, a surry taken over by “one of the bad guys” and used to infiltrate the very group of FBI detectives trying to solve the crimes and the troubled wife who doesn’t want to leave her surry since the car crash which crippled her and killed her son.
Yeah, okay... so it’s all predictable stuff but, surprisingly enough, the film manages to handle it all with a certain gravitas and respectability and there are some really nice touches and attention to detail which aren’t necessarily there to move the story along in that, oh so Hollywood, cause and effect kind of script structure and which are little bursts of inventiveness in and of themselves... like Bruce Willis trying to avoid the heavy, painful accidental blows of walking through busy streets populated solely by surrogates about their owners daily business. Or the fact that in a world where violent crime is gone... their are still wars, fought with surrys. It’s all good stuff.
Also, there’s a bit of an edge to this picture which isn’t always to be found in less daring popcorn fodder. Regular, sympathetic and, yes, sometimes female characters do get killed off without any notice... these deaths are handled quickly and fairly matter-of-factly and there is no crying over spilt blood after. This is not a film where every death is woefully mourned and used as a motivating force for other characters... and this makes the deaths hit home harder for the viewer who is forced to accept them quickly and move on... and the director can be applauded for that. There are also betrayals by friends who are more involved than they let on and this, too, is handled without any shilly-shallying or dwelling on the morbid circumstances that lead the characters to their actions... like the best hard-boiled thrillers (of which this has so obviously used as its template) this one sketches characters and their betrayals quickly... and then moves on.
The final solution of this movie ups the stakes somewhat though... and I so wish it didn’t. In solving the crime and stopping the deaths of millions of innocent people, Willis’ character takes the decision to leave part of the villain’s end game in place which ensures that by the end of the movie... no surrogate in the world is left standing and humanity will have to come out of its self-made shells and start living as itself again... a moral stance that the majority of the best hard-boiled thrillers would allude to but not set in stone as the final denouement of their story. This movie takes that leap because... well I guess the studio felt it needed that kind of grandeur to help it appeal to the kids is my guess. I would personally have liked it if they’d toned it down a bit, kept it fairly small scale and left the world in general in the same sorry state it’s gotten itself into... but no such luck and that’s a shame.
Still, though, a brilliant little gem of a movie if you’re into old style soft sci-fi concepts mixed with plain, old fashioned police procedural narratives. Definitely one to check out if you're of the mood.
1. Thanks for this. Bruce Willis is kinda sorta my guilty pleasure. He does everyman so well. Letting the air out of the puffed-up ending would have been a good idea. Have you ever made a film? Fave word ever: Phildickianesque.
2. Yeah, he's cool... but very hard to work with is my understanding. James Garner said some bad stuff about working with him at the start of Willis' career and recently, one of my writing/directing/acting heroes Kevin Smith, said pretty much the same thing. But he's a "star" and a good actor so... I'll watch his stuff.
Tried making the same short from one of my scripts three times in the last 20 years... cursed with bad luck. Even had one shot and edited and then the master tape fell out of the editors car somewhere! Seriously!
Again, and as always, thanks so much for your interest and your wonderful comments. | <urn:uuid:333d6d3a-5b5c-4d65-abfc-8ebe90adf2ee> | http://nuts4r2.blogspot.com/2011/02/surry-with-hinge-on-top.html | en | 0.971401 | 0.04577 | mlfoundations/dclm-baseline-1.0-parquet |
Location: PHPKode > scripts > ZBZ5 Simple Localizing Tool > zbz5-simple-localizing-tool/readme.txt
ZBZ5 Simple Localizing Tool
Author - Vidar Løvbrekke Sømme <hide@address.com> (http://www.zbz5.net)
Copyright 2005 Vidar Løvbrekke Sømme
Licensed under the GNU Lesser General Public License v2.1
ZBZ5 Simple Localizing tool was created because I needed a localizing
tool, and my host did not have the PHP GetText modules installed.
The library was made to be as easy to use as possible, and allso have a
very simple syntax for the language files
In the top of the zbz5.php file there are 4 constants that can be used to
customize and set up the localizer.
ZBZ5_LANGUAGE_DIR : the directory that contains your language files. Relative path from the file where the object is
called. No trailing slash!
ZBZ5_FALLBACK_LOCALE : zbz5 operates with a fallback locale, if you have one locale i.e english that is 100% translated
and another locale i.e spanish that lacks a few phrases, the fallback locale will be used if the phrase can not
be found in the current locale. The value is used to filter out the language files to use. example value: en_EN / no_NB
etc if you choose to follow the i18n naming style. If not choose your own code, but remember to name you language
files iaw with this.
ZBZ5_DIVIDER : The symbol that is used to separate elements of your language files to indentify them
(LanguageCode[divider]whateveryouwanttonameyourfile), i.e: no_NB.adminstrings.
ZBZ5_SEARCHSTRING : The perl style regex search string used to identify key->value language pairs in your
language files (basically it defines the syntax the language files).
currently it is setup to find this:
Line1 optional comment line
Line2 key string
Line3 translated value string
The language files must be named iaw the language codes you choose to use.
the script uses the first segment of the filename to determine what language
the file belongs to: en_EN.adminstrings is an example where en_EN is the language
identifyer '.'(dot / punctuation) is the divider (can be changed in ZBZ5_DIVIDER) and adminstrings which is
a custom name that you can choose to your liking.
the language files have a very simple syntax. The strings are organized like this:
Optional comment line
key line
translated value line
and that's it, nothing more, any two or three lines that are adjacent to each other will be
interpeted as (comment)key->value sections
The syntax of the language files can be changed by altering the ZBZ5_SEARCHSTRING constant.
include the zbz5.php file in your application
create a new zbz5Localizer object with the desired locale.
use the $object->zbz5 method to translate $string
include zbz5.php
$translater = new zbz5Localizer('no_NB');
print $translater->zbz5('Translate this');
//prints out 'this translated'
ZBZ5 supports variables in the string i.a.w the sprintf function in PHP:
advanced example:
include zbz5.php
$translater = new zbz5Localizer('no_NB');
$number_of_apples = 'five';
print $translater->zbz5('There are %s apples', $number_of_apples);
//prints out tranlated: There are five apples.
ZBZ5 Simple Translation too is only tested on small applications with a few (less than 1000) phrases.
It may very well be that it will fucntion on larger scales aswell, but it has not been tested.
Some sort of caching and or database backend should probably be added to the ZBZ5 code to up perfomance in such
Allso, the default searchstring of ZBZ5 does not support phrases that spans over multiple lines,
To support such long strings with linebreaks you would have to alter the ZBZ5_SEARCHSTRING constant, and
change the regex code.
Return current item: ZBZ5 Simple Localizing Tool | <urn:uuid:aa19f2ef-7406-4dc1-aa96-817d3bae93f4> | http://phpkode.com/source/s/zbz5-simple-localizing-tool/zbz5-simple-localizing-tool/readme.txt | en | 0.793138 | 0.034541 | mlfoundations/dclm-baseline-1.0-parquet |
PokeBase Battle Subway Meta-PokeBase Q&A
Suggestion about Flags.
8 votes
asked Apr 25, 2012 by (Abnormal1!)
retagged Dec 23, 2012
This is kind of un-necessary, but I think this would work well finding people that flag a lot.
(Also nice to know who likes to flag things!)
Yeah, that paired with http://pokemondb.net/pokebase/meta/11547/a-couple-of-suggestions-to-prevent-tons-of-repeat-and-bad-q-as
That way we can find out who flags and know when they do it so the Editors/Mods/Pokemaster can remove bad flags.
Sam **x4** how is this **unnecessary** ? The Purpose for this suggestion was to be able to **STOP**:
1. Spam **Flagging**
2. Help us find Spam **Flaggers**
3. Like you said See who likes to **Spam Flag**
This would help out a **Ton**,Like I said this would help to **Cure** one Less Head ace ;)
^Ab, that's basically the same thing
I agree though, this would be helpful
Yes I understand it is there to help Abnormal, but those kind of statistics should be kept towards users that can actually use that information (Pokemaster, Mods, Editors, etc.).
It would be kind of weird seeing how many flags a person has.
And the Mods and Editors as well as Pokemaster are the only ones that can really do something to stop the excessive flagging/spam anyway, what do we need to see it for?
@ SuperSaiyanMagikarp:In the comment I posted the main reasons we should be able to see how many flags
a person has gave out/received.Do you understand now why I said how is this unnecessary because me and Samx4 have the same reasons that was the point I trying to get him to understand. Thanks for agreeing with me ;)
@Samx4:I understand when you said (''those kind of statistics should be kept towards users that can actually use that information'') But I feel It would be quicker if everyone could see it and Report it which would be 10x quicker and again One less head ace to have to worry about.
(Pokemaster, Mods, Editors, etc.)
When you say (''It would be kind of weird seeing how many flags a person has.'') In my opinion it wouldn't be weird at all,We would be able to help Tell Pokemaster, Mods,and Editors.Who is being Spam Flagged.Since Pokemaster/Mods are the only ones who can give Temporary Ban/Ban forever to the user/users who are spam flagging for no apparent reason.
Who's to judge?
Great! :)
1 Answer
0 votes
Best answer
answered Jun 3, 2012 by Pokemaster
selected Jun 14, 2012 by (Abnormal1!) | <urn:uuid:9d5c1563-a5b1-44db-ba7b-ed78bab2c161> | http://pokemondb.net/pokebase/meta/11680/suggestion-about-flags?show=11719 | en | 0.964567 | 0.064812 | mlfoundations/dclm-baseline-1.0-parquet |
Psychology Wiki
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Redirected from Status characteristic
In sociology or anthropology, social status is the honor or prestige attached to one's position in society (one's social position). It may also refer to a rank or position that one holds in a group, for example son or daughter, playmate, pupil, etc.
Status in different societies Edit
Status refers to the relative rank that an individual holds; this includes attendant rights, duties, and lifestyle, in a social hierarchy based upon honor or prestige. Status has two different types that come along with it: achieved, and ascribed. The word status refers to social stratification on a vertical scale.
In society, pariah status groups are regarded with disdain or treated as outcasts by the majority of the population. The term derives from the Paraiyar (Pariah caste), members of which are treated as outcasts in Hindu society.
In modern societies, occupation is usually thought of as the main determinant of status, but other memberships or affiliations (such as ethnic group, religion, gender, voluntary associations, fandom, hobby) can have an influence. The importance of social status can be seen in the peer status hierarchy of geeks, athletes, cheerleaders, nerds, and weirdos in Hollywood stereotypes of American high schools.[1][2] Achieved status is when people are placed in the stratification structure based on their individual merits or achievements. This status can be achieved through education, occupation, and marital status. Their place within the stratification structure is determined by society's bar, which often judges them on success, success being financial, academic, political and so on. America most commonly uses this form of status with jobs. The higher you are in rank the better off you are and the more control you have over your co-workers.
In pre-modern societies, status differentiation is widely varied. In some cases it can be quite rigid and class based, such as with the Indian caste system. In other cases, status exists without class and/or informally, as is true with some Hunter-Gatherer societies such as the Khoisan, and some Indigenous Australian societies. In these cases, status is limited to specific personal relationships. For example, a Khoisan man is expected to take his wife's mother quite seriously (a non-joking relationship), although the mother-in-law has no special "status" over anyone except her son-in-law—and only then in specific contexts. All societies have a form of social status.
Status is an important idea in social stratification. Max Weber distinguishes status from social class,[3] though some contemporary empirical sociologists add the two ideas to create socioeconomic status or SES, usually operationalised as a simple index of income, education and occupational prestige.
Income and status Edit
Main article: Status inconsistency
Status inconsistency is a situation where an individual's social positions have both positive and negative influences on his or her social status. For example, a teacher may have a positive societal image (respect, prestige) which increases their status but may earn little money, which simultaneously decreases their status.
Inborn and acquired status Edit
Statuses based on inborn characteristics, such as gender, are called ascribed statuses, while statuses that individuals gained through their own efforts are called achieved statuses. Specific behaviors are associated with social stigmas, which can affect status.
Ascribed Status is when one's position is inherited through family. Monarchy is a widely-recognized use of this method, to keep the rulers in one family. This usually occurs at birth without any reference as to how that person may turn out to be a good or bad leader.
Social mobility and social status Edit
Status can be changed through a process of social mobility. Social mobility is change of position within the stratification system. A move in status can be upward (upward mobility), or downward (downward mobility). Social mobility allows a person to move to another social status other than the one he or she was born in. Social mobility is more frequent in societies where achievement rather than ascription is the primary basis for social status.
Social mobility is especially prominent in the United States in recent years with an ever-increasing number of women entering into the workplace as well as a steady increase in the number of full-time college students.[4][5] This increased education as well as the massive increase in multiple household incomes has greatly contributed to the rise in social mobility obtained by so many today. With this upward mobility; however, comes the philosophy of "Keeping up with the Joneses" that so many Americans obtain. Although this sounds good on the surface, it actually poses a problem because millions of Americans are in credit card debt due to conspicuous consumption and purchasing goods that they do not have the money to pay for.
Social stratification Edit
Main article: Social stratification
Social stratification describes the way people are placed in society. It is associated with the ability of individuals to live up to some set of ideals or principles regarded as important by the society or some social group within it. The members of a social group interact mainly within their own group and to a lesser degree with those of higher or lower status.
• Wealth and Income (most common): Ties between persons with the same personal income
• Gender: Ties between persons of the same sex and sexuality
• Political Status: Ties between persons of the same political views/status
• Religion: Ties between persons of the same religion
• Ethnicity/Race: Ties between persons of the same ethnic/racial group
• Social Class: Ties between persons born into the same group
• Coolness: Ties between persons who have similar levels of popularity
Consequences of class positionEdit
Different consumption of social goods is the most visible consequence of class. In modern societies, it evolves into income inequality, and in other societies it can manifest into malnutrition and periodic starvation. Although class status is not a causal factor for income, there is consistent data that show those in higher classes have higher incomes than those in lower classes.
Max Weber's three dimensions of stratification Edit
The German sociologist Max Weber developed a theory proposing that stratification is based on three factors that have become known as "the three p's of stratification": property, prestige and power. He claimed that social stratification is a result of the interaction of wealth, prestige and power.
• Property refers to one's material possessions and their life chances. If someone has control of property, that person has power over others and can use the property to his or her own benefit.
• Prestige is also a significant factor in determining one's place in the stratification system. The ownership of property is not always going to assure power, but there are frequently people with prestige and little property.
• Power is the ability to do what one wants, regardless of the will of others. (Domination, a closely related concept, is the power to make others' behavior conform to one's commands). This refers to two different types of power, which are possession of power and exercising power. And some people in charge of the government have an immense amount of power, and yet they do not make much money.
Max Weber developed various ways that societies are organized in hierarchical systems of power. These ways are social status, class power and political power.
• Social Status: If you view someone as a social superior, that person will have power over you because you believe that person has a higher status than you do.
• Class Power: This refers to unequal access to resources. If you have access to something that someone else needs, that can make you more powerful than the person in need. The person with the resource thus has bargaining power over the other.
• Political Power: Political power can influence the hierarchical system of power because those that can influence what laws are passed and how they are applied can exercise power over others.
Status group Edit
Main article: Status group
Max Weber also developed the idea of status groups. Status groups are communities that are based on ideas of proper lifestyles and the honor given to people by others. These groups only exist because of people's ideas of prestige or dishonor. Also, people in these communities are only supposed to associate with people of like status, and all other people are looked at as inferiors.
Pierre Bourdieu's theory on class distinction Edit
The French sociologist Pierre Bourdieu developed theories of social stratification based on aesthetic taste in his work Distinction. Bourdieu claims that how one chooses to present one's social space to the world, one's aesthetic dispositions, depicts one's status and distances oneself from lower groups. Specifically, Bourdieu hypothesizes that these dispositions are internalized at an early age and guide the young towards their appropriate social positions, towards the behaviors that are suitable for them, and an aversion towards other lifestyles.
Bourdieu theorizes that class fractions teach aesthetic preferences to their young. Class fractions are determined by a combination of the varying degrees of social, economic, and cultural capital. Society incorporates "symbolic goods, especially those regarded as the attributes of excellence, […as] the ideal weapon in strategies of distinction".[6] Those attributes deemed excellent are shaped by the interests of the dominating class. He emphasizes the dominance of cultural capital early on by stating that "differences in cultural capital mark the differences between the classes".[7]
Aesthetic dispositions are the result of social origin rather than accumulated capital and experience over time. The acquisition of cultural capital depends heavily on "[t]otal, early, imperceptible learning, performed within the family from the earliest days of life".[6] Bourdieu hypothetically guarantees that the opinions of the young are those that they are born into, the accepted "definitions that their elders offer them".[8]
He asserts the primacy of social origin and cultural capital by claiming that social capital and economic capital, though acquired cumulatively over time, depend upon it. Bourdieu claims that "one has to take account of all the characteristics of social condition which are (statistically) associated from earliest childhood with possession of high or low income and which tend to shape tastes adjusted to these conditions".[9]
According to Bourdieu, tastes in food, culture and presentation, are indicators of class, because trends in their consumption seemingly correlate with an individual's fit in society.[10] Each fraction of the dominant class develops its own aesthetic criteria. A multitude of consumer interests based on differing social positions necessitates that each fraction "has its own artists and philosophers, newspapers and critics, just as it has its hairdresser, interior decorator or tailor."[11]
Bourdieu does not wholly disregard the importance of social capital and economic capital in the formation of cultural capital. In fact, the production of art and the ability to play an instrument "presuppose not only dispositions associated with long establishment in the world of art and culture but also economic means…and spare time".[12] However, regardless of one's ability to act upon one's preferences, Bourdieu specifies that "respondents are only required to express a status-induced familiarity with legitimate... culture".[13]
"[Taste] functions as a sort of social orientation, a 'sense of one's place', guiding the occupants of a given... social space towards the social positions adjusted to their properties, and towards the practices or goods which befit the occupants of that position".[14] Thus, different modes of acquisition yield differences in the nature of preferences.[15]
These "cognitive structures…are internalized, 'embodied' social structures", becoming a natural entity to the individual.[16] Different tastes are thus seen as unnatural and rejected, resulting in "disgust provoked by horror or visceral intolerance ('sick-making') of the tastes of others."[17]
Bourdieu himself believes class distinction and preferences are "most marked in the ordinary choices of everyday existence, such as furniture, clothing or cooking, which are particularly revealing of deep-rooted and long-standing dispositions because, lying outside the scope of the educational system, they have to be confronted, as it were, by naked taste".[18] Indeed, Bordieu believes that "the strongest and most indelible mark of infant learning" would probably be in the tastes of food.[19] Bourdieu thinks that meals served on special occasions are "an interesting indicator of the mode of self-presentation adopted in 'showing off' a life-style (in which furniture also plays a part)".[19] The idea is that their likes and dislikes should mirror those of their class fractions.
Children from the lower end of the social hierarchy are predicted to choose "heavy, fatty fattening foods, which are also cheap" in their dinner layouts, opting for "plentiful and good" meals as opposed to foods that are "original and exotic".[9][19] These potential outcomes would reinforce Bourdieu's "ethic of sobriety for the sake of slimness, which is most recognized at the highest levels of the social hierarchy," that contrasts the "convivial indulgence" characteristic of the lower classes.[20] Demonstrations of the tastes of luxury (or freedom) and the tastes of necessity reveal a distinction among the social classes.
The degree to which social origin affects these preferences surpasses both educational and economic capital. In fact, at equivalent levels of educational capital, social origin remains an influential factor in determining these dispositions.[13] How one describes one's social environment relates closely to social origin because the instinctive narrative springs from early stages of development.[21] Also, across the divisions of labor "economic constraints tend to relax without any fundamental change in the pattern of spending".[22] This observation reinforces the idea that social origin, more than economic capital, produces aesthetic preferences because regardless of economic capability consumption patterns remain stable.
See alsoEdit
References Edit
2. The Effect of Middle School Extra Curricular Activities on Adolescents' Popularity and Peer Status - EDER and KINNEY 26 (3): 298 - Youth & Society
3. Weber, Max. 1946. “Class, Status, Party.” Pp. 180-195 in From Max Weber: Essays in Sociology, H. H. Girth and C. Wright Mills (eds.). New York: Oxford University.
4. OLMIS - Women in the Labor Force
5. Digest of Education Statistics, 2007 - Introduction
6. 6.0 6.1 Bourdieu 66
7. Bourdieu 69
8. Bourdieu 477
9. 9.0 9.1 Bourdieu 177
10. Bourdieu 184
11. Bourdieu 231-32
12. Bourdieu 75
13. 13.0 13.1 Bourdieu 63
14. Bourdieu 466
15. Bourdieu 65
16. Bourdieu 468
17. Bourdieu 56
18. Bourdieu 77
19. 19.0 19.1 19.2 Bourdieu 79
20. Bourdieu 179
21. Bourdieu 78
22. Bourdieu 185
Further reading Edit
• Botton, Alain De (2004), Status Anxiety, Hamish Hamilton
• Social status. (2007). In Encyclopædia Britannica. Retrieved October 17, 2007, from Encyclopædia Britannica Online:
• Stark, Rodney (2007). Sociology, 10th Edition, Thomson Wadsworth.
• Gould, Roger (2002). The Origins of Status Hierarchy: A Formal Theory and Empirical Test. American Journal of Sociology, Vol. 107, No. 5, pp. 1143–1178.
• McPherson, Miller; Smith-Lovin, Lynn; & Cook, James M. (2001). Birds of a Feather: Homophily in Social Networks. American Journal of Sociology, 27, pp. 415–444.
• Bolender, Ronald Keith (2006). Max Weber 1864-1920. Bolender Initiatives. URL accessed on 2010-10-15.
• Bourdieu, Pierre. Distinction: a Social Critique of the Judgment of Taste, translated by Richard Nice. Cambridge: Harvard University Press, 1984.
Around Wikia's network
Random Wiki | <urn:uuid:e964f490-da99-4e2b-b7cc-362b686a20a8> | http://psychology.wikia.com/wiki/Status_characteristic | en | 0.933466 | 0.127444 | mlfoundations/dclm-baseline-1.0-parquet |
Take the 2-minute tour ×
I would just like some recommendations.
Currently i am sitting with a vps server in europe that hosts my webserver and my mysql database. It servers our clients as a place to download documents and reports. We used to host the server on our company network which is 2 adsl lines not bonded just each line use for there own purpose one for our vpn to our international Head office and the other one for surfing. But my clients where complaning about slow downloads from the adsl lines (4Mb/512Kb)so only 512 Kb upload which rounds about to 60KBps max upload speed it will also limit the use of that line completely resulting in slow browsing speeds etc.
So i moved the server to a vps overseas and now all the clients are happy to be downloading at very high speeds but now the problem is that when we upload documents and anything else to it is takes very long due to our small upload speed.
Is there any efficient solution to upload the files to a local server and then every hour or so it replicates to our vps server overseas.
Is this a effective solution for my problem or are there better ways a addressing my current problem.
Thanks in advance
share|improve this question
1 Answer 1
up vote 1 down vote accepted
You can use rsync in a cron job to push/pull changes to your webserver from local machine. Rsync can compress your data during transfer and also allows you to set bandwidth limit so that your browsing doesn't suffer.
share|improve this answer
Ye was thinking of doing that will guve it a try and let you guys know how it works out. – Ludjer May 25 '11 at 16:36
Your Answer
| <urn:uuid:2f0606e7-3877-4ad9-a6c3-429f520bfbc2> | http://serverfault.com/questions/273045/web-server-mysql-replication-over-slow-adsl-lines | en | 0.93213 | 0.041782 | mlfoundations/dclm-baseline-1.0-parquet |
Wednesday, August 24, 2011
Wordless Wednesday - Mary Ellen Gorry born August 24, 1979
1. Aww, you're still so freakin' cute. Happy birthday, Mary!
2. Happy Birthday! I've got two years on you (turning 34 next week) and have scheduled some posts of my toddler pics just for fun. I hope you have a wonderful, glorious and super fun birthday!
3. Thanks, J. Green! And an early happy birthday to you, too! | <urn:uuid:38018241-cabb-4424-95ca-fee646990b14> | http://threadingneedlesinahaystack.blogspot.com/2011/08/wordless-wednesday-mary-ellen-gorry.html?showComment=1314214139336 | en | 0.946914 | 0.030768 | mlfoundations/dclm-baseline-1.0-parquet |
Apparently, it's all the rage for developers to bring classic games to modern platforms. Games that used to require full PC setups or (then) powerful consoles now run perfectly on mobile devices, so resurrecting this "old tech" for a new generation seems like the perfect idea.
The developers behind the port of Duke Nukem 3D have brought another classic FPS (first person shooter) to Android: Painkiller: Purgatory. For the uninitiated, Painkiller is a throwback game from the early 2000s where you play the part of a young man trapped in Purgatory, trying to find his way to Heaven so he can be with his wife. In order to make that happen, he has to take out four of Lucifer's generals - all of which are running rampant in Purgatory in preparation for an unholy takeover.
1 2 3
The game features insane weapons, intense boss battles, an original soundtrack, and multiple levels of difficulty: insomnia, nightmare, and trauma.
Painkiller: Purgatory will set you back $1.11, so If you're ready to travel the long, hard road out of hell, hit the widget below. | <urn:uuid:2320474d-f321-4f9b-af61-9627448f73f3> | http://www.androidpolice.com/2012/04/02/painkiller-purgatory-comes-to-android-lets-you-relive-the-early-2000s-fps-style/ | en | 0.924873 | 0.057999 | mlfoundations/dclm-baseline-1.0-parquet |
Part 5
Brown sand didn't glow in the moonlight the way white sand would have, but there were lights on the fence, enough to illuminate the large yard. The metal chain-link fencing was fifteen feet high and lined with barbed wire, five hundred volts of electricity preventing anyone from climbing in or out. But no one had tried to escape since Duo had arrived, and he was sure the fence worked more to keep people out, rather than in. The yard didn't sport grass in the arid climate, but there were tables set out, small shelters that reminded him of the ones in public parks. He sat on the table of one such shelter, his legs folded under him as he faced the flat, dark expanse of desert. They really had picked a marvelously isolated place. It made him wonder what state they were in.
Raising an eyebrow, Duo cocked his head to the side, his arms tightening around himself. "Texas, maybe."
//This is Nevada.//
"Arizona," Duo continued, nodding his head sharply. "Yeah, that sounds about right."
//What are you playing? How long do you think this can last?//
The voice was soft, unconcerned, and carefully void of any threatening tone. Duo smirked. "To think I used to miss this, it's so pretty at night. The moon really looks brighter without all of the streetlights." A low growl whispered in his ear, but it was almost too quiet for him to hear. If anything, it made him come close to forgetting his anger. It wasn't often that he held the upper hand over the demon. But it knew better than to push him now. He was more awake than he'd been in days; caffeine really was a wonderfully addictive drug. "What's the point in sleeping, anyway? So many hours wasted for nothing."
"Is this a better way to spend your time?" Wufei's lips twitched when the longhaired boy nearly fell off the table, turning so fast. But he didn't smile, lifting a cup by way of greeting as he moved to sit beside Duo. "Coffee?"
"Don't mind if I do," Duo said lightly, flashing his friend a smile.
"Are you really planning to stay awake indefinitely? You'll just make yourself sick trying." Dark eyes flicked away from him and Wufei turned his gaze to the desert visible outside the fence.
"Don't get me wrong," Duo muttered, pausing to take a drink from the mug. "I'm not stupid enough to think I can just stop sleeping. Just consider this a test."
"Quatre's worried." It was cooler than the daytime and Wufei leaned forward on his knees, his white shirt not keeping out the breeze. The boy was looking at him again and he frowned at Duo's dark expression.
"So you're not the only one up." Duo turned toward the doors, glaring at the dark wall of the facility. "I can't stop Quatre from worrying, but I didn't expect the rest of you to."
"What are you planning?" Wufei asked, his voice quiet. They were allowed to roam freely, but he remembered what the boy had said about cameras. It made him uneasy.
"What are you going to do about this?" Wufei qualified, frowning when the boy turned wide eyes on him.
"There isn't anything to *do* about it," Duo said, "don't you think I would have done something before now if there was? If you want to know what I'm planning right now, I plan to drink a shit load of coffee and pay the bastard back for earlier. Then, I'm going to get myself a room and sleep for a few weeks."
"You already *have* a room," Wufei reminded him, his eyes narrow. "But what do you mean, pay it back?"
"Well, it doesn't have control when I'm focused, I'm stronger then." Duo smirked suddenly, clamping down on the voice that tried to argue with his words. "You might say I'm giving it the silent treatment. Believe it or not, but it usually hates that. I may not be able to stay awake forever, but I figure a few days should be enough."
"And then what? Won't that just make it angry?" Wufei glared when the boy shrugged and turned away from him. "So you're going to make it angry on purpose. What do you think is going to happen when you're too weak to stay awake?"
"Don't worry," Duo said softly, grabbing the cup and hopping to his feet. "I told you guys earlier, it won't kill me. Lately what happens in my dreams is gone when I wake up. And as long as I'm no where near you guys, there's no problem." He didn't glance back as he walked to the doors, but he heard Wufei jump to his feet and he paused, waiting for the teenager to catch up.
"Nothing happened to *us* when you were dreaming," Wufei said quickly, catching Duo's arm. The boy tensed and he let go quickly, his hands curling into fists. "You don't have to isolate yourself to protect us. And your idea of revenge on the thing is flawed, Duo. You have to realize that staying awake for so long just means you'll sleep longer when you break. I admit, we haven't had any luck waking you from your nightmares before, but you *did* wake up this time. If we're there, we can wake you up when things get bad."
"Do you know what happened when I woke up?" Duo asked, not looking to the boy standing behind him. "It stabbed me...and *twisted* the knife. Believe me, I'd rather have kept sleeping."
"Then we won't wake you up! That still doesn't mean we're going to leave you to that thing by yourself. Duo, we're not going to let you move out."
There was something about the Chinese boy's voice, a ring of familiarity that sent a cold chill down Duo's back. His eyes narrowed and he could tell the demon was paying close attention. But he couldn't help the feeling. "We...or *you*...?" He turned sharply, taking in Wufei's startled expression. Dark eyes blinked at him and he moved away, grabbing the door. "Don't get attached to me, Wufei. Friends of mine...people close to me have a habit of changing...or dying."
Wufei jerked when the boy stepped into the building. "Duo-"
"I'll be in the cafeteria," Duo called, not slowing as he walked down the hall. "Get some sleep. I'll see you guys in the morning."
* * *
The cafeteria stayed lit at all hours and Duo took his usual seat. They had access to the kitchen despite the fact that meals were prepared in a room adjoining the main one. The door to that area was sealed, though, and they never saw the people who cooked for them. Not that he'd ever wondered about it. As far as he was concerned, it didn't matter who cooked so long as it wasn't him. The coffee dispenser was constantly full, and that was all he cared about. An hour passed as he sat, keeping an eye on the doorway that led to the dormitory. But it seemed Wufei had delivered his message. Hopefully he wouldn't be getting any more concerned visitors.
//They're still awake, talking about you and your plan.//
Duo was half tempted to silence the thing, display his power over it, but he didn't want to do that. Then he'd be admitting he was listening. Instead, he leaned comfortably against the table, sighing as his eyes slid over the wide room.
//You can't ignore me. Wufei is right, you don't want to make me angry, Duo.//
That didn't deserve a response even if he'd been willing to talk to it and Duo rested his chin in his folded hands. He was already tired, as if the caffeine had reached its limit and was now having the opposite effect. But he'd never fallen asleep with his eyes open so he wasn't that worried.
//He isn't like Solo, Duo. I can read his thoughts the same as I can yours and you're wrong about that. You said you don't hate him, but I already knew that. It isn't *his* attachment that worries you, it's your own. You're getting attached again. It makes things so much easier for me. Whether he acts on the thoughts running through his head doesn't matter when I know your feelings. You're so desperate it's sickening. Your need for comfort, but it's more now. Do you know? Solo never saw you as anything but the little brother he never had. You blame me for his death almost as much as you blame yourself, but it was his choice. He thought I planned to kill you. Neither of you was supposed to die, certainly not him. Believe me, I would have rather he lived. I never thought I'd have more people to use on you.//
Duo's eyes narrowed for a moment before he calmed his anger. He wouldn't let it affect him, not this time. It was quite talkative now that he refused to hold a conversation with it. If it wanted to talk so badly, he'd let it. After all, it *would* help him pass the time.
//Pretend you aren't interested if you have to, but we both know differently. It's too late to try and push them away from you now. Trowa is the only one you could try with and he would never ignore the pain of Quatre's friend. You do know about them, don't you? I thought so. If you hold out long enough, he'll form his own bond, but Quatre already cares deeply about you.//
His mouth opened, but he clenched his teeth shut almost immediately, his eyes narrowing again. It wasn't telling him anything. Of course Quatre cared about him, that was common knowledge. In which case, he shouldn't be bothered by it. Staring at his hands, Duo blinked a few times before relaxing again. He *wasn't* bothered by it.
//Wufei, then. Do you know you might be his first friend? You aren't the only one who had a lonely childhood. He never had someone to talk to the way you did, ungrateful as you are. He's been drawn to you since the first time you met, but he isn't like Solo, no, he's very different from Solo. I think I'll let him live. Want to know why? Stubborn. But I'll tell you. He's more use to me alive. I might even use him after you give in. You think I'm just trying to anger you, I can tell. You're wrong, though, you *will* give in eventually. You'll regret this when you fall asleep, Duo. It just gives me time to make my *own* plans. Wufei has such potential. He thinks he's so good at hiding things, I like him as much as you do, though in a different way, of course. As old as I am, I still have much to learn about you humans. If it weren't for him, I might have missed the changes in you.//
He didn't know what it was talking about, but his silence was hard to hold onto. Questions were trying to form in his mind and he was close to shutting it out. Giving in wasn't something he worried about, he was confident in his own will power, but he couldn't fight the foreboding that bubbled up at its words. Wufei *was* the optimum choice, though, he'd give it that much. Actually, he had expected that much sooner.
//And you'll get exactly what you'd expected, but so much more than that, Duo. You have no idea what I'm planning to do. I do so enjoy surprising you. You may know the form, but not the method... Yes, you're right. You don't have to ask the question, Duo. I know you're determined not to speak to me, but I can read it in your mind. Do you think you can hide *anything* from me? You're smarter than that. I *have* left one out. But that's because he doesn't matter. I'm going to kill him.//
"Why?! He doesn't even *know* me!" His voice echoed in the room and Duo nearly winced to hear it. He hadn't meant to speak to the damned thing, but that short phrase had shocked him with the pure ice in the tone.
//Why don't I play with him like the others? It doesn't matter why, Duo. I've already decided. He dies.//
Confusion widened his eyes and Duo stared at his hands. They were shaking. It had to be tormenting him, surely that was why it planned to kill Heero. There was no other reason. The others were close to him so it would play with them, drawing out their pain to add to his. He barely knew the Japanese boy so the best way to hurt him would be to add his new friend's death to his already overburdened conscience. Duo blinked when a growl sent shivers down his back.
//He isn't worth using to get to you. He'll die because I *want* to kill him, not to add to your ridiculous notion of guilt. I only tell you his fate because his name was in your mind. Wipe it away. Don't bother getting to know him. Spare yourself that pain, I'll give you enough with the others. There's no need to make it worse, believe me, what I plan is bad enough.//
He'd already broken his pledge not to speak to it and Duo glared at his hands, his voice cold. "The why *does* matter. Why him? If it isn't to hurt me, then why? What makes you hate him so much? I thought you were beyond such *human* feelings."
//Make no mistake, Duo, I have no feelings such as yours. I don't hate him. I will peel the skin off his hand, strip by strip, break every bone, and extract the shards through his flesh. His actual death will be even slower. Yes...shudder, Duo, it will be severe. Buy you see, don't you? I don't hate him. It is so much more than hate. There is no comparison.//
"But *why*?"
//It doesn't matter. Accept it, and keep your distance.//
* * *
Gundam Wing fanfiction
GW Index | <urn:uuid:22fa6a27-9619-4c3b-9fac-156190e106de> | http://www.arigatomina.com/fanfiction/gw/sufferance-05.html | en | 0.987147 | 0.597066 | mlfoundations/dclm-baseline-1.0-parquet |
Search baits for all seasons
John Neporadny Jr.
When you have to fish as many unfamiliar waters as pro bass anglers do, you need a couple of reliable search baits for finding bass in a hurry. Bassmaster Elite Series pro Scott Rook relies on crankbaits and flipping tubes when he needs to find bass in practice, no matter where he is on the tournament trail.
“You can cover a lot of water with crankbaits since they come in deep- or shallow-running models,” Rook explained. “And the one bait I have tied on everywhere I go is a tube. The first thing I am going to start doing is looking for shallow fish, and the tube is my favorite flipping bait.”
Crankbaits are dependable search baits because they are good year around fish locators. In the early spring, Rook likes to use flat-sided crankbaits, and as the water warms and the fish move into shallower muddy water the Arkansas pro switches to a square-bill crankbait that features an extremly wide wobble. A lipless crankbait is Rook’s choice for most fall fishing.
“When the fish get up on the flats, you can cover a lot of water with a lipless crankbait.”
For clear, cold-water situations, Rook opts for the tight wiggle of Rapala DT10 and Shad Rap crankbaits.
Rook pays more attention to seasonal patterns than water clarity when choosing crankbait colors. When the water is cold and shad are deep in the late winter and early spring, he prefers crawfish-color crankbaits -- brown-and-orange or red.
“It seems like you can get more of a reaction bite out of an orange or red crankbait.”
These colors also produce because Rook is often targeting rocky banks, which hold more heat during this time of the year and attract crawfish.
When throwing crankbaits in the summer, Rook favors a chartreuse (with blue back) model no matter what the water clarity.
“Even in real clear water that chartreuse with a blue back works real well for me” said Rook, who recalled catching bass on it even in the crystal clear waters of Nevada’s Lake Mead. “I took a chartreuse-and-blue DD22 and could see it all the way down where it hit the salt cedars. I could actually see the fish come out underneath that bait at 20 feet deep.”
In the fall, Rook’s choice of crankbait color is based on water clarity.
“If the water is muddy in the fall, I might throw a fire tiger crankbait, but if it is clear I go to the shad colors or chrome and blue back.”
Crankbaits are ideal for covering water in a hurry, but Rook also likes the versatility of the tube for locating fish, which he says works well in clear and stained water. Rook takes issue with those who consider the tube a slow-moving bait
“When I am flipping I have it on a 5/16- or 3/8-ounce weight most of the time so I can move it pretty fast. I can probably flip a tube as fast as most people can go down a bank with a spinnerbait.”
Rook prefers a tube over a jig because of its erratic fall and the weight adjustments he can make to the soft plastic lure.
“I have found that a jig works for me better in cooler water, but when the water gets warm, I can change the weight of my tube better.”
He also believes a tube will trigger more reaction strikes than a jig when pairing it with a heavier weight, which creates a faster and more erratic fall. Moving the tube at a quick clip is a good summer technique.
“If I can get it on a limb or a clump of grass and yo-yo it, that is my favorite way to use it. The tube doesn’t fall the same way every time like a jig, which seems to fall in the same direction every time.”
Changing weights increases the versatility of the tube bait, but Rook notices some anglers fail to make this simple adjustment. During the 2001 Bassmaster Classic, Rook discovered how much difference a weight change can make. The first day of the tournament, he started with a 5/16-ounce weight and hooked a fish that broke his line. He then picked up a rod with another tube, but didn’t get a bite for the next two hours.
“I then realized I had a 1/4-ounce weight rather than the 5/16, so I rigged up my other rod with a 5/16-ounce weight and caught a limit within an hour. It was the faster, erratic fall that made all the difference.”
Most of the time, Rook pegs his weight to the tube with a toothpick.
“I like for my bait to stay with the weight when it falls through tree limbs or comes through grass. I don’t like it to separate from the weight because it doesn’t have that fast, erratic fall when it’s not pegged.”
Though other lures can find fish in a hurry, Rook has proved that crankbaits and tubes offer enough versatility to serve as search baits for all seasons.
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Protect The Harvest
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Vernon, city (1991 pop. 23,514), S British Columbia, Canada, near the north end of Okanagan Lake. The center of a fruit-growing and dairying area, it has packing and dehydrating plants. There are lumber mills, sawmills, and food processing plants in the district.
See more Encyclopedia articles on: Canadian Political Geography | <urn:uuid:a60bbff3-a758-448f-b296-c3fdebfbb22a> | http://www.factmonster.com/encyclopedia/world/vernon-city-canada.html | en | 0.871989 | 0.081662 | mlfoundations/dclm-baseline-1.0-parquet |
SPOKANE, Wash. -
While Wednesday's storm only stayed in place for several minutes, it was enough to cause extensive damage to the area.
"Transformers are five feet off the ground, the trees all the way through the alley in the neighbor's yard,” Steve Schatz said. “It's pretty bad down the alley."
Power was out in Schatz's North Spokane neighborhood. Strong winds caused a tree to fall on a power line which caused a ripple effect to other power lines.
"The tree just fell over and landed on the power lines caused a lot of tension on the line caused that to snap over," Schatz said.
At Indian Trail, it's the same scenario. Neighbors took matters into their own hands to clear the road. Some were chainsawing branches, while others picked up debris off the street.
As of 5:30 a.m. Thursday, more than 23,000 Avista customers and more than 13,000 Inland Power and Light customers were without electricity. As to when power will be restored, it will vary from home to home depending on the extent of the damage.
Avista is asking their customers to turn on their porch light so crews know which homes have power. In the meantime, Schatz suggests those affected should take action.
"We're going to my sister's to get coolers and ice and get things for at least a day out without power," Schatz said. | <urn:uuid:80448ca9-e3b0-40e1-b4fa-5ca170ca02ee> | http://www.kxly.com/news/spokane-news/thousands-without-power-following-storm/27122852 | en | 0.972931 | 0.065743 | mlfoundations/dclm-baseline-1.0-parquet |
boy and girl
Sugar and spice and not so nice?
Mums are more critical of their daughters
The results showed that mums are twice as likely to criticise daughters. One in five admitted to letting their sons get away with more and more than half of all respondents (55%) even went as far as admitting they have stronger bonds with their sons. Mums also ‘type’ their children according to their gender. Boys were labelled as ‘funny’, ‘cheeky’, ‘playful’ and ‘loving’. Girls on the other hand were said to be ‘stroppy’ ‘argumentative’, ‘eager to please’ and ‘serious’. Even mums who have only daughters used the same more negative ‘labels’ to describe girls, suggesting that these views on gender are inherited rather than learned.
These gender views and the more critical upbringing can have a serious and lasting effect on girls as they grow up.
Siobhan Freegard, co-founder of Netmums, said:
“As a mum of two boys and a girl, I know first-hand that, try as we might, it can be very hard to treat all of your children the same. This is a great wake-up call to mums to help break these gender cycles and even out the differences in how the sexes behave and think about themselves. It’s a powerful call to change the current gender dynamics, which is a huge ask, but an achievable one!”
How does this effect our children?
This combination of a more critical upbringing and attributed negative personality types can have a long-lasting and serious effect on the female psyche, according to Crissy Duff, Psychotherapeutic Counsellor and Netmums Parent Supporter.
Crissy says:
So what can we do?
To help mums to get to grips with gender and navigate one more minefield of parenting, Crissy has put together these tips:
• Offer your children options. Why shouldn’t girls enjoy trains and building blocks? Boys have no problem playing with a toy kitchen rather than a toy garage unless Mum or Dad raise an objection.
• Break the gender mould. Why should little girls care how they dress and why shouldn’t little boys prefer fashion to football? Some boys love a cuddle just as some girls love to wrestle. Show them you value them just the way they are.
• Be gender aware. Within reason do the same rules apply for both your sons and your daughters?
• If it hurts, it hurts regardless of your gender. Big boys can and do cry given half the chance, and little girls can be tougher than they look so don’t wrap them up in cotton wool.
• Don’t rescue your daughter every time you see her struggling with a task. Given the time and space to problem solve for herself, her sense of self worth and independence will flourish.
• We all want to be good role models for our children but consider how you as parents model your own roles for your kids.
• Like children, families come in all shapes and sizes. Kids benefit from spending time with a wide variety of adults of both sexes e.g. - relatives, friends, teachers and mentors. What matters is not what relation they are ‘to’ the children but that they have a good relationship ‘with’ the child.
• Teach boys and girls that both are worthy of and deserve respect.
What do you think?
See what other mums are saying and share your views in the Netmms Coffee house | <urn:uuid:359dd5d7-ec0b-4a7e-9e8d-12e0ac1bf411> | http://www.netmums.com/lifestyle/house-and-home/netmums-gender-survey | en | 0.962723 | 0.020408 | mlfoundations/dclm-baseline-1.0-parquet |
Doc al-Qaeda
Judge to punish Cypress resident and former CVS pharmacist tied to terrorism plot against U.S. soldiers
Doc al-Qaeda
A Los Angeles CVS pharmacist who tried to aid al-Qaeda and Taliban mujahedeen operations against American soldiers in Afghanistan, only to be caught by the FBI because of sloppy secret-agent moves, has a message for U.S. District Court Judge Josephine Staton Tucker: "Please forgive me for my actions."
Tucker is scheduled next week at the Ronald Reagan Federal Courthouse to punish Orange County resident Oytun Ayse Mihalik, 38, a Turkey native who used a fake, Americanized name, Cindy Palmer, in her efforts to supply more than $4,000 to Islamic terrorists in 2010 and 2011. The U.S. government is seeking a 12-year prison trip for Mihalik. She is hoping for a whopping 10-year reduction. If she wins her argument, she could be set free in about six months, as she has been in the custody of U.S. marshals for 18 months.
From the perspective of her defense lawyers, Mihalik deserves a significant downward departure from federal sentencing guidelines. They say that except for a brief, "tumultuous period," she has led "an extremely law-abiding life" and was "not singularly motivated" to aid terrorists through "a passionate radical ideology," according to court records. They describe her as nonviolent, well-educated and a onetime horseback-riding devotee. Her pro-al-Qaeda moves resulted from "a confused and conflicted mental state" caused by her troubled marriage, her brother's pilgrimage to Pakistan, her 69-year-old mother's chronic cough and a miscarriage. They also claim their client was "easy prey" for al-Qaeda operatives' "dramatic and emotional use" of the Koran to manipulate her mindset.
Bob Aul
"Ms. Mihalik never attended any terrorist-training camp," Van Nuys-based criminal defense lawyer Alan Eisner told the judge last year. "Ms. Mihalik was never privy to any specific terrorism plot. Ms. Mihalik never offered any plan or advice for any terrorist attack."
FBI agents and federal prosecutors hold a more sinister view of the defendant, who has been residing legally in the U.S. because of a marriage to an American. After returning from a 2010 trip to Turkey, she voiced anti-American sentiments to her husband, who was so frightened he secretly contacted Homeland Security officials. He reported that she told him, "If I have to kill people for Allah, I will," and that she called taking a citizenship oath to the U.S. "a blasphemy."
Mihalik was unaware that on-the-ball U.S. agents had copied her laptop files when she'd landed at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX). They found that she had saved "The Al Qaeda Manual" as a "favorite" Internet Explorer tab and had viewed information pertaining to the book The Mind of the Terrorist. After activating the computer's online "privacy" mode, she searched for "true jihad" and "Jihad in Afghanistan." Agents also determined that she studied the pro-al-Qaeda manual repeatedly during her flight to LAX. Rather than reading terrorist manuals for training purposes, Mihalik claims she viewed the information only in an effort to understand her brother's commitment to radical Islam.
But, according to a Feb. 8 brief filed by Assistant United States Attorney Judith A. Heinz, Mihalik—a Cypress resident who worked at a Norwalk CVS pharmacy for more than $59 per hour and got her education thanks to sponsorship from Walgreens—knowingly tried to avoid detection by using a fake name to make three separate payments to "Allah's Soldiers" in Pakistan via Western Union at a Ralphs grocery store: $750 on Dec. 21, 2010; $600 on Dec. 29, 2010; and $700 on Jan. 11, 2011. Though the total amount of the wired funds doesn't seem monumental, Heinz describes the $2,050 as enough to fund a single al-Qaeda operation against U.S. soldiers. The government has redacted huge portions of the files in the case by citing protection of national security methods, but it seems likely given the contents of captured emails—communications that cryptically mention a car and contain the words "infidels," "jihad" and "mujadeen"—that the money may have been intended for a car bomb attack.
(An FBI report also claims that Mihalik, who obtained a master's degree in pharmaceutical marketing and health-care administration from Long Island University in 2002, convinced her father in Turkey to make an April 2011 payment of $2,000 to al-Qaeda.)
In August 2011, Mihalik tried to leave the U.S. at LAX with a one-way ticket to Istanbul—the day after FBI agents questioned her about the transactions. Following her airport arrest, she confessed during an Irvine interrogation to harboring anti-American feelings. "She stated repeatedly and with great conviction that she sent the money to [al-Qaeda operative] Ebu Yasir, knowing that he intended to use it for mujahedin operations against United States military forces in the Afghanistan/Pakistan region," wrote Heinz. "[She believed that] sending money to [the terrorist] was right because it would keep her in Allah's good graces."
In fact, an FBI report claims Mihalik told agents "sending the money made her feel good inside" and expressed contempt that they'd been able to electronically trace her moves.
Defense lawyers initially fought the charges and mocked the government's use of secret evidence in the case. "The government has not proffered any evidence that [our client's] conduct involved any intelligence that, if revealed, would be a threat to the United States," they argued, calling her ties to al-Qaeda "extremely limited." Last August, however, she dropped the fight and signed a guilty plea.
In February, Mihalik told Judge Tucker that she was "ashamed" of her conduct and viewed the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks on New York and Washington, D.C., as "the heinous act of evil-minded" people.
"I am deeply sorry," Mihalik wrote to Tucker. "I love the United States of America and consider it my home country since this country allowed me to achieve all my career and personal goals, widened my perspective in life to appreciate freedom, equality and liberty. I have admiration of the system [in which] people from all over the world with different backgrounds and traditions live in peace and harmony. I realize my American dream has been ruined. . . . Looking back at my conduct and recounting the events, I can clearly see how disturbed I was emotionally."
In their quest for leniency, Mihalik's lawyers assert that she is "no risk" to the U.S. now and noted that other terrorism-related criminals have won punishment below federal guidelines, including Osama bin Laden's personal assistant, a Holy Land Foundation activist, a funder of Hamas and two Earth Liberation Front members.
Heinz isn't swayed, calling the defendant's request for a relatively light punishment "not justified." I would explain her position fully if I could. However, she redacted nearly 100 lines from her sentencing memorandum.
Whatever prison sentence Tucker renders on March 29, one portion of the punishment is already known: When Mihalik eventually emerges from her prison stint, she'll be deported back to Turkey. According to her plea deal, she will be allowed to return to the U.S. under one condition: She obtains written permission from high-ranking, national-security officials.
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As long as I get my free birth control pills what difference does it make?
vegandawg23 topcommenter
Didn't read the article but what is the justification for letting these people in the country? Why not just deny tourist/student/residency visas to anyone from muslim countries? Is it discriminatory? Sure, but these aren't citizens and they don't enjoy constitutional protection. Better than giving up our civil rights domestically. Hell we could even issue more to our Mexican Latino friends. I'd take their drunk on tequila donkey show watching preverts over a bunch of weirdos who don't drink and make their women wear towels on their heads any day of the week. More mexicans, less muzzies.
the story is very intriguing.... "infidels," "jihad" and "mujahideen" are everyday language even to moderate Musilms! so probably most of them should be arrested :) It is also interesting how Koran is used to manipulate vulnerable people. I think there should be a campaign to ban religious books of every kind as they are more dangerous than rifles
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Skip Navigation LinksHome > Articles > Preventing-dry-skin-from-the-inside
Preventing dry skin from the inside
Many skin care products are designed to help retain moisture topically. However, supplementing with certain nutrients can go a long way toward avoiding dry skin in the first place. "Internal nutrition is a like a cake, and topical skin care is the icing," says Benjamin Fuchs, R.Ph., formulator for Sanitas Skincare. Below, Ben shares his knowledge about preventing dry skin from the inside.
First and foremost, essential fatty acids (EFAs) have major benefits for maintaining skin hydration. Omega 3s and 6s reduce inflammation which has been blamed for depriving the skin of nutrients and causing secondary dryness. Both of these essential fatty acids are involved in the production of skin factors such as phospholipids and ceramides, which contribute to overall skin health and moisture.
Secondly, overall skin health is closely connected to vitamin A metabolism. That's why skin manifestations of vitamin A deficiency classically involve dryness. Supplementing with this important nutrient can have a profound effect on skin hydration and the proliferation of excess skin cells that can show up as flakiness or milea.
Vitamin C is also of critical importance to skin softness and moisture levels. Not only is this nutrient involved in protecting the skin from environmental assaults that can disable the skin's moisturizing machinery, but this fundamentally important substance is also involved in the production of skin moisture factors. For example, the production of certain ceramides and sphingosines-important precursors to skin moisture factors-depend on vitamin C.
Of course, without effective digestion and absorption, the intake of nutrients may not result in health benefits. This underscores an often times missed aspect of skin care. Digestive symptoms like discomfort or bloating after meals generally signals a potential concern. If you experience digestive discomfort, consider taking digestive supplement aids like enzymes, probiotics, betaine HCl, pharmaceutical HCl drops or herbal stomach bitters before meals.
Dry skin is inevitable without key nutrients like EFAs, vitamins A and C, and perhaps digestive support. The good news is that dry skin, like many other health conditions, is rapidly responsive to appropriate nutritional supplementation. Within days to weeks of implementing a good nutritional program, the skin's natural health and moisture can begin to be restored.
Contributed by Benjamin Fuchs, formulator for Sanitas Skincare
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Rx for Arson?
A doctor suspected of torching his own house is arrested at license hearing
Dr. Craig Hiller sighed heavily, then picked up his cell phone to tell his wife he was about to be taken to jail.
The physician, who is fighting to keep his medical license after problems with sexual misconduct and drinking, showed up impeccably turned-out in a blue suit for a state Osteopathic Board of Examiners (OBEX) hearing last Friday. He left wearing handcuffs. Scottsdale police and Maricopa County Sheriff's officers arrested Hiller midway through the hearing on suspicion of burning his house for the insurance money. Hiller's bail has been set at $1 million.
"It's a classic case of arson for profit," says Detective Paul Stearns of the Scottsdale Police Department.
Hiller flew in for the hearing from Arkansas, where he moved and opened a new practice, with a provisional license based on his Arizona license. If Hiller loses his license here, he'll also lose his new practice.
Hiller maintains the fire started accidentally when he dropped a butane lighter into a pile of clothes.
"The simple fact is, you pay your insurance premiums, and when you have a fire, you expect them to come in and do their part," Hiller says. "And instead, they come in and come up with all of this junk."
Stearns says the fire was started by a propane torch, not a butane lighter.
Hiller's arrest was the cap to a hearing which seemed to emerge from pulp fiction: The doctor was accused of selling drugs to a professional escort seeking treatment for a leaky breast implant; uniformed and plainclothes cops milled in the parking lot outside the board offices; and a witness on Hiller's side was also arrested on an outstanding warrant.
Hiller was ordered to appear before OBEX, which regulates the state's 1,500 osteopathic physicians, on charges that he'd failed to meet the terms of his probation. Hiller was censured last year by OBEX for sexual misconduct and alcohol use. He was fired by two employers for unprofessional conduct, according to board records. He was ordered to undergo therapy and regular urine tests.
During his probation, another doctor, Rose Richards, contacted the board. She reported that a 19-year-old woman, referred to her by Hiller, tried to buy painkillers from her for $100 cash.
"The impression that I had was she was getting it [painkillers] on a regular basis from Dr. Hiller, and there was payment," Richards told the board. "She actually had the money in her hand. It was bizarre."
The young woman, who went to see Richards about pain from a leaking breast implant, also told Richards that Hiller had made sexual advances to her. "Her words were, 'I'm an escort person, so maybe that's why . . .'" Richards testified. Richards called both the police and OBEX after the office visit.
The woman has moved to Colorado, and did not appear at the hearing. However, in a phone call to board staff, she apparently disputed the charges.
Hiller denies ever prescribing drugs improperly or making any advances to the woman. On cross-examination, Tom Baker, Hiller's attorney, pointed out that Richards, who is also a friend of Hiller's, wrote him a glowing recommendation for a new job at a hospital in Arkansas--even after she'd agreed to testify against him at the hearing.
"I feel terrible," Richards said. "If all I've heard about him in the last few months is true, this is a Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde."
The board stopped monitoring Hiller after he told staff he was moving to Arkansas. But, according to testimony from Ann Marie Berger, executive director of the board, he remained in the state and continued to write prescriptions for some patients.
Hiller says that he did remain in Arizona longer than he had planned. But now that he's in Arkansas, he's complying with Arizona's terms of probation.
Baker also noted that Hiller's drug screenings have been clean.
"I had a lot of troubles here, but I have a great practice there now," Hiller says. "I'm seeing a psychiatrist, my wife is there, my kids are in school there now. . . . I wouldn't have come back but for the fact that I have to to keep practicing medicine."
Anthony Coviello, the woman's former boyfriend, was arrested on an outstanding warrant while waiting to testify on Hiller's behalf.
The hearing was then cut short in deference to Hiller's observance of the Sabbath. Hiller is Seventh Day Adventist, and observes the Sabbath from sunset Friday to sunset Saturday. He was taken into custody soon after.
Hiller's arrest is the first time a doctor has ever been taken into custody at an OBEX hearing.
Hiller, who is black, and his attorney contend that the charges are racially motivated.
"The doctor lived in a nigger-free zone and his house caught on fire," Baker says.
Stearns denies the case is anything but an ordinary arson investigation. "I'm disappointed that the attorney would stoop to something so low as the race card; it's just an attempt to cloud the issue," he says.
Berger couldn't say what the board might do because Hiller's probation case is still pending. If the board finds Hiller violated the terms of his probation, his license could be revoked. Another hearing was set for this week, but Hiller might still be in jail, unless he can make bail.
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