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via Lobe Log
Speaking to Democracy Now! Gershon Baskin — the Israeli peace activist who assisted the process that led to Hamas’ release of captured Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit — offers his thoughts on the permanent truce deal he was working on with military leader Ahmed Jabari (who Aluf Benn writes was a [...]
My new piece just went up at the website of the Columbia Journalism Review. It covers some of the Iran hawks conclusions about the revelations, from the Wikileaks document dumps, about the alleged Iranian support for Iraqi militias.
I urge that, given the example of the campaign for the Iraq War and the reliance [...]
- Women’s Health Takes Center Stage at UN Population Awards
- Disagreement Continues Over Global Drug Policy
- Ethiopia-Eritrea: The Cry of the Imburi
- Let 5-year-old Sherry Tell You How Handwashing with Soap Saves Lives
- Bringing Back Our Girls Is Not The End of The Story
- Political Crisis Looms in Nicaragua in Run-Up to Elections
- Brits Shouldn’t ‘Brexit’
- Lords of the Campus
- Collective Indifference or Silent Acceptance?
- UN Staff Unions Demand Stronger Action on Sexual Abuse
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http://www.ips.org/blog/ips/tag/democracy-now/
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14875401
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Wild Flower Rice Square Throw Pillow.
Rice Padding for Your Sofa
The Wild Flowers Rice Square Throw Pillow by Koko looks like it’s right out of an Indian storeroom, even though it was hand-printed on fresh unbleached cotton! Bright hues of blue and red cover the Wild Flower Rice Square Throw Pillow with floral shapes, printed words, and vivid lines for artistic, vintage ambiance. Part of the Koko Rice Collection, the Wild Flower Rice Square Throw Pillow is perfect for your couch and armchair, bringing personality and a pop of color that’s impossible to ignore! It’s the ideal blend of cotton and antique for a one-of-a-kind exotic look in your living space.
Colorful 100% unbleached cotton pillow cover
Removable poly pillow insert included
Hand screen-printed rice bag pattern
Back center opening with tie closure
Made in India
Ships in 7-10 days
The Wild Flower Rice Square Throw Pillow is part of the Koko Rice Collection
- Price: $76.00 - In stock
- Brand: Koko
- Product ID: koko-91615
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http://www.purehome.com/decor/pillows-throws/wild-flower-rice-square-throw-pillow
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14875402
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Betdaq 500 In Free Bets Handicap (London Mile Series Qualifier) (BOBIS Race) 1m
- (3yo, 1m, Class 4, 7 runners)
- Winner £4,690 2nd £1,396 3rd £697 4th £349
- Going: Standard
- Surface: Polytrack
- Winning time: 1m 39.92s
- Off time: 19:35:45
|1st||4 Passing Star||11/10f|
|2nd||2 Zampa Manos||nk||16/1|
Tigers In Red (USA) 46
|3||133 9-7||D M Simcock||A Kirby||85||11/2|
Zampa Manos (USA) 176
|3||133 9-7||A M Balding||Oisin Murphy (3)||85||16/1|
Tree Of Grace (FR) 162
|3||131 9-5||R Hannon||L Dettori||83||6/4|
Passing Star 21
|3||131 9-5||C Hills||R Winston||83||11/10f|
Mick's Yer Man 15
|3||128 9-2||W G M Turner||Ryan While (5)||80||40/1|
Dovil's Duel (IRE) 165
|3||120 8-8||B R Millman||Hayley Turner||72||66/1|
Penny's Boy 19
|3||119 8-7 t||S Kirk||L Morris||70||33/1|
Frankie Dettori makes an appearance and looks to have every chance on his only ride of the meeting. TREE OF GRACE made a winning debut at Lingfield in October and should have improved in the interim. He has Passing Star to fear most in this given the latter remains unbeaten after following up a win at Lingfield with a victory over track and trip. Tigers In Red made a winning start at Southwell and can also figure if as effective on this surface. The remainder are harder to fancy with last year's Brocklesby winner Mick's Yer Man stepping up in trip for the first time.
Passing Star 5-2 (8-11) Held up in touch, took keen hold, improved over 2f out, led well over 1f out, soon edged left, quickened away inside final furlong, eased close home, won at Kempton 1m hcp 0-85 (4) pol beating Never To Be (9-3) by 1 1/2l, 6 ran.
Zampa Manos (USA) 14-1 (9-0) Tracked leading pair until halfway, pushed along over 3f out, weakened over 2f out, last of 6, 5l behind Extra Noble (9-0) at Kempton 1m (3) pol in Oct.
Tree Of Grace (FR) 9-2 (9-5) Tracked leaders, pushed along 2f out, chased leader 1f out, ridden and ran on to lead towards finish, readily, won at Lingfield 7f 2yo mdn stks (5) pol in Oct beating Syros (9-5) by 1/2l, 13 ran.
Dovil's Duel (IRE) 14-1 (8-11) Took keen hold, tracked leader, ridden over 2f out, every chance over 1f out, weakened final furlong, 6th of 8, 19l behind Pretty Flemingo (8-7) at Goodwood 7f 2yo hcp 0-85 (4) sft in Oct.
Penny's Boy 6-1 (8-8) Raced wide towards rear, ridden and headway 2f out, edged right over 1f out, soon went 3rd, kept on same pace, 3rd of 8, 9l behind Euro Charline (9-7) at Wolverhampton 7f 3yo hcp 0-80 (4) pol.
Tigers In Red (USA) 5-2 (8-10) Close up, headway to chase leaders over 2f out, ran green and led approaching final furlong, ridden and ran on, won at Southwell 7f mdn stks (5) fbs in Feb beating Moonlight Venture (8-10) by 2 1/2l, 7 ran.
Mick's Yer Man 16-1 (9-1) Tracked leaders in 3rd, ridden over 2f out, kept on inside final furlong, 3rd of 5, 2l behind Gone With The Wind (8-10) at Kempton 6f hcp 0-85 (4) pol.
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http://www.sportinglife.com/racing/racecards/27-03-2014/kempton-park/racecard/609234/betdaq-500-in-free-bets-handicap-london-mile-series-qualifier-bobis-race
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14875403
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Confirmed: Study that linked autism to vaccinations a total fraud
posted at 9:30 am on January 6, 2011 by Ed Morrissey
Some may wonder why anyone still wondered about the credibility of an infamous study conducted by Andrew Wakefield and published by The Lancet that purported to show a link between vaccinations and autism. Two years ago, the Times of London published its exposé of Wakefield’s “research,” in which Wakefield faked data and drew conclusions from a ridiculously small sample — a fact that should have warned the Lancet to refuse publication in the first place, even if Wakefield hadn’t faked the data. However, belief in Wakefield’s claims continues, even after Reason addressed the issue in May 2010 once again as anti-vaccination advocates insisted that Wakefield’s research was valid and that the Times debunking was either incorrect or a sellout to Big Pharma.
This time, it’s Wakefield’s colleagues in medicine who are calling him a fraud:
A now-retracted British study that linked autism to childhood vaccines was an “elaborate fraud” that has done long-lasting damage to public health, a leading medical publication reported Wednesday.
An investigation published by the British medical journal BMJ concludes the study’s author, Dr. Andrew Wakefield, misrepresented or altered the medical histories of all 12 of the patients whose cases formed the basis of the 1998 study — and that there was “no doubt” Wakefield was responsible.
“It’s one thing to have a bad study, a study full of error, and for the authors then to admit that they made errors,” Fiona Godlee, BMJ’s editor-in-chief, told CNN. “But in this case, we have a very different picture of what seems to be a deliberate attempt to create an impression that there was a link by falsifying the data.”
Britain stripped Wakefield of his medical license in May. “Meanwhile, the damage to public health continues, fueled by unbalanced media reporting and an ineffective response from government, researchers, journals and the medical profession,” BMJ states in an editorial accompanying the work.
How much will this declaration push back against the anti-vaccination industry? When this study first got published, it worried a lot of parents, who reasonably thought that a peer-reviewed study in The Lancet carried some scientific weight, an assumption we’ve learned since that time was sorely mistaken. As Sanjay Gupta says at the end, much of this has been known for almost two years, and even before the Times reported on Wakefield’s fraud, the study’s size and methodology had been considered very suspect, especially for its sweeping conclusion on a disease that’s still not well understood.
After that report, though, some continued to insist on opposing vaccinations in a movement that began to look a lot more like a religious movement than a rational response to scientific data. Take a look again at the Reason video from May (or watch the very NSFW takedown by Penn & Teller on their BS show) to see exactly who this announcement needs to convince. Will it change people’s minds about a supposed link whose connection never got substantiated in any subsequent study to have it called a fraud? It will certainly convince the rational, but those almost certainly changed their minds about vaccinations after the February 2009 exposure of Wakefield’s fraud. Having his colleagues in medical research call this “one of the greatest frauds in science” will certainly help spread the word, but don’t expect people with this much invested in their belief of eeeeeevil pharmaceutical companies to go willingly into the light.
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http://hotair.com/archives/2011/01/06/confirmed-study-that-linked-autism-to-vaccinations-a-total-fraud/
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14875404
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Miltenzwei Family History & Genealogy
Biographies & Family Trees
Find records of Miltenzweis by their first name:
Most Common First Names
- Eugen 100.0%
Miltenzwei Last Name History & Origin
Nationality & Ethnicity
These are the earliest records we have of the Miltenzwei family.
Leave a message to start a discussion about the Miltenzwei family with other AncientFaces Members.
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http://www.ancientfaces.com/surname/miltenzwei-family-history/4680536
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14875405
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Arum: I Don't Give Victor Ortiz Much of a Chance to Win
By Robert Morales
Earlier this week, Top Rank's CEO Bob Arum was asked to handicap next Saturday's big welterweight fight between Victor Ortiz and Floyd Mayweather Jr. As he always does, he gave an opinion that suits his needs - in this case, millions upon millions of dollars promoting a fight between his company superstar, Manny Pacquiao, and Mayweather being the opponent in other corner.
"I think Ortiz is a good, young fighter," Arum said. "But he's really inexperienced and in fighting Floyd he's fighting a guy who really knows boxing. So I don't give Ortiz much of a chance to beat Mayweather."
Arum probably is right. But he will be the first one to bellow "Oh, no" if Ortiz wins because he wants Pacquiao-Mayweather.
"They have to come to the table after November," Arum said of Mayweather and his team. "If they come to the table, that's our first choice. But we're not going to chase them."
[QUOTE=amayseng;11112862]i hope ortiz wins just for the fact that floyd doesnt deserve the payday against pac after going of vaca for these years and letting his fans and the boxing public down while claiming to be the best ever without…Comment by Paranormal on 09-10-2011
[QUOTE=big_james10;11115652]Dude, did you know that Floyd is making three times as much money to fight Ortiz as Pac is making against Marquez. Did you know that Floyd's guarantee against Mosley was four times what Pac's guarantee was against Mosley and…Comment by big_james10 on 09-10-2011
[QUOTE=amayseng;11112862]i hope ortiz wins just for the fact that floyd doesnt deserve the payday against pac after going of vaca for these years and letting his fans and the boxing public down while claiming to be the best ever without…Comment by big_james10 on 09-10-2011
[QUOTE=-Genesis-;11112366]I had a dream that Ortiz Controled the first 5 rds even hurting May, but then May took over. I had another dream two months back where Ortiz dropped may in the first rd with one punch. I hope the…Comment by big_james10 on 09-10-2011
[QUOTE=Pullcounter;11112219]arum knows wifebeater doesn't fight anyone he knows he can't beat...[/QUOTE] Good point. That is why he will be fighting Pacquaio in May 2012.Post a Comment - View More User Comments (35)
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http://www.boxingscene.com/arum-i-give-victor-ortiz-much-chance-win--43605
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14875406
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Possible Draft Day Trades
New Orleans Gets: 3rd pick
Charlotte Gets: J.R. Smith and 12th and 15th pick
Phoenix gets: 13th pick
Philadelphia gets: 21st and 27 pick
Houston gets: 5th overall pick
Atlanta gets: 8th overall pick and Luther Head
I think these three trades make sense for all teams. Charlotte gets their shooting guard plus depth with two picks and New Orleans moves up. Phoenix gets their man (Saer Sene) while jumping ahead of Utah and Philly gets their man (Shawne Williams) at a better value. Houston gets their guy (Brandon Roy) which nullifies Head's loss and Atlanta gets their guy (Shelden Williams) at a better value. What do y'all think
Not sure of the Bobcats trade
With the public not fully sold on the Bobcats after Shinn's messy exit, I'm not sure the 'Cats would be will to take on a young player with questionable habits. Also, dealing with the Hornets could be seen as unpopular as well. I just don't think Mike would bite on this one. The other deals make a lot of sense.
WTF will the Sixers do with the 21rst and 27th picks? Ill smack them.
They are taking BPA at 13.
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http://www.insidehoops.com/forum/printthread.php?t=2966
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14875407
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|04-07-2007 08:19 AM|
|Gearhead forever||I'm gonna have to watch that one now. I happen to be fond of Dog Eat Dog...|
|04-01-2007 08:23 PM|
deal or no deal
I love that show! The ladies go from not bad all the way to HOT! Its WAY to hard to pick just one. I have like 6 favorites. #9 Patricia is the best. Tamika (top left) with the short black hair! Anya is good too. #13 Leyla is great too. Aubrie reminds me of Lonnie Anderson and maybe a little Pam, too. Anyway, if they said take the money or the girl....
|03-13-2007 05:52 PM|
|engineczar||I'm not a big game show person but I find the whole show a giant science project into the workings of the human mind. I'd take $130k.|
|03-13-2007 03:18 PM|
Last night 2 of the contestants picked the 1,000,000 case. Both walked away for under $130k.
I like 18.
|03-13-2007 10:29 AM|
Deal or No Deal TV show
OK guys, who's your favorite number? Do lie I know you have a favorite.
My vote is for #4
I would have set up a poll but it only allows for 10 choices.
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http://www.hotrodders.com/forum/newreply.php?do=newreply&noquote=1&p=795265
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14875408
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Sweets by Deliciosa Cake Shop can design your one of a kind dream cake. Cake Designer and WMI, Eliana Simon can create anything that you can imagine for that special occasion.
Our mission it to provide our customers with fresh Wedding Cakes, Party Cakes and a huge variety of Cupcakes that look as good as they taste.
We include amazing design elements that will be unique and help to ensure that your guests will remember the special touch that you provided at your event.
We always deliver a clean, finished product made from the freshest ingredients.
Sweets by Deliciosa is proud that our establishment holds a seal of approval from the PA Department of Agriculture.
Custom designed cakes require a significant amount of time and work. We highly recommend that you contact us well in advance of your scheduled event so that there will be adequate time for consultation, design, preparation and delivery.
The only thing that is as amazing as the way our cakes look is the way that they taste!
Phone: (570) 497-9202
*Please note that our products may contain or have traces of nuts, nut oils, eggs, milk and other dairy products.
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http://www.sweetsbydeliciosa.com/
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14875409
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I love that little mouth
Henry stayed with his Daddy for a bit today while I went for a follow up appt at the doctor and to do some shopping. Henry had to sit through a conference call with his Daddy and decided to poo poo his diaper while Daddy was on the call. I would have loved to been a fly on the wall to see how Randall changed it and stayed on the phone without interruption. Henry hates to have a dirty diaper and also hates to have it changed...and usually screams the best he can through the whole event. Randall is a good daddy, so I am sure he did fine.
Anyway, It was the first time in 23 days that I had driven or been inside anywhere besides my own home, Randall's truck, the doctor's office or the hospital. Much needed time out today, but I must say this little mama is tired from the outing. I am still recouping from birthing this sweet thing you see posted above this text. The doctor weighed me today and I have already lost 25 pounds. I have about 25 more to loose for my own sake though. My blood pressure is still acting silly so we are watching it and I am a bit anemic from the blood loss at the hospital. Henry's mama is coming around...it is just slow going. The nurses all crowded around my digital camera today to look at pictures of him since I refused to bring him out in public this early. They made me promise to bring him in at my next appt in early Jan...I agreed.
This week Daddy has to work more than he did last week. He has fired some people and is hiring some new people. It is quite tedious for him but we are glad he works from home and can be in the house working instead off somewhere else. Nana and her sister are coming tomorrow to see him for a few hours while I go back out to finish my Christmas errands. We hope to meet his 4 sweet cousins next week and see Juju again. Marmie is coming for Christmas week and called a bit earlier to say she bought a nice red fleece robe to match Henry's Christmas pajamas. We got a beautiful, massive white poinsettia with baby blue accents from our Byhalia neighbors today. I sure miss them. Would you know none of our neighbors here in J'Town have been over since Henry arrived. I sent Randall over to their mailboxes with homemade bread, our annual card/letter and coffee the day before I had Henry. Funny how that works. Makes us laugh more than anything. Well, my good buddy Melissa is bringing us dinner in a bit, I best go get Henry ready for all her kisses!
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http://sistersabbyandjulie.blogspot.com/2009/12/baby-ramblings.html
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14875410
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Clark County is moving toward a ban on collective medical marijuana gardens.
Commissioners Marc Boldt and Tom Mielke both instructed county staff at a Wednesday morning workshop meeting to begin work on a policy that would prohibit the gardens as an acceptable land use in the county. Commissioner Steve Stuart was absent from the meeting.
The gardens allow medical marijuana growers to establish community gardens where as many as 10 patients can grow up to 45 plants. The state approved the gardens last year, but the county placed a moratorium on them until June 2013 to come up with an implementation plan.
Boldt and Mielke both said they are concerned that allowing the gardens would fly in the face of federal law, which prohibits marijuana use, sale and cultivation. Commissioners also said they would prefer to wait and see how the federal government handles voter-approved Initiative 502, which will allow adults older than 21 to use recreational marijuana.
“We took an oath to uphold the federal law, too,” Mielke said. “I think there are too many unanswered questions here. For us to move forward (on allowing zoning) would be premature.”
Commissioners also referenced a letter the county received from the federal Drug Enforcement Agency as a reason for their decision. That letter said if the county were to be involved in the permitting or regulation of such gardens, it could be in violation of federal law.
Another option presented to the board attempts to skirt that concern by simply zoning the use and staying out of the development and permitting process. But commissioners elected to play it safe and avoid the matter entirely.
The ban isn’t county law yet. An ordinance establishing a ban likely won’t go to the board for adoption until just before the moratorium is set to expire in June.
Mielke pointed out that gives the board “another four or five months” to discuss the situation as members observe how the federal government reacts to Initiative 502.
Commissioner-elect David Madore will replace Boldt in January, making him a voting member on the future ordinance. He said he agreed with the county’s decision to ban the use, as it goes against federal law.
Banning the use isn’t unprecedented. The city of Kent has banned the gardens, and that ban was upheld by King County Superior Court in October. The city of Camas also bans the gardens, saying land use not allowed by state and federal law is prohibited.
Chris Horne, a county deputy prosecuting attorney, told commissioners at the meeting he did not believe the county was endangering itself legally with the ban.
The city of Vancouver appears to be taking a different approach. Earlier this month the city council tentatively, agreed on a plan to zone the gardens in heavy and light industrial areas.
A public hearing on the city ordinance is scheduled for 7 p.m. Monday at City Hall, 415 W. Sixth St.
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http://www.columbian.com/news/2012/nov/28/county-weighs-ban-on-collective-marijuana-gardens/
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14875411
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3.20 out of 10 (what is this?)
Search unlimited reports including arrest records, driving records, online photos...
What will you find?
Find Hidden Profiles & Photos on Facebook, Instagram & More...
Search their Arrest Records, Driving Records, Contact Information, Photos and More...
35-year-old James Toomey lives in Providence, RI, but has also spent time in Greene, RI. Online, James goes by the alias j_analog.
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http://www.peekyou.com/james_toomey/10186413
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14875412
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What Makes Your Kid Tick
When my two daughters were born, I met two girls who would one day become successful young women, but via different paths. Before they were even a few days old, each showed a distinct and inborn personality. Gabrielle, the oldest, was a quiet baby and a silent observer of social situations. She tended to think about a situation prior to moving into it. Davita, born three and a half years later, was louder and, once she became mobile, moved more aggressively and physically into social situations. She would think about them after the fact. She would even jump right in to debate something just for the sake of debating aggressively.
You may have sensed that your own child has what I call a "core nature": particular strengths, vulnerabilities, qualities, and tendencies that have been there from day one. Have you ever heard yourself saying, for instance, "Jeffrey just came out of the womb that way," or "Hannah has been focused on being an athlete since she was born"? If so, your instincts are on the money. Recent genetic and brain research supports the theory that certain aspects of people are hard-wired from the start.
Among the inborn traits that we now know to be on each child's genome are:
- personality type
- emotional/relational style
- learning style
- gender differences
- talent set and proclivities
- inherent strengths and weaknesses
- resilience to trauma
That's a profound and useful list. When you know your child down to the core, you are empowered to help guide him through his childhood more organically. You can tailor your discipline style, the school you choose for him, learning methods used, the caregiver you hire, and if and when to schedule his activities, among so much more. In short, you can "nurture the nature" of your child.
What the Research Shows
Over the past 30 years or so, it has been popular to think of children as blank slates to be "filled in." So we've engaged in constant cognitive stimulation, competitive parenting, and multiple activities, and we've followed social trends advice from experts and the media. Unfortunately, this has snared families in a chaotic social system of high pressure overscheduling and under-nurturing, which in turn is causing negative stress in children and adults. In kids, this stress manifests itself as crankiness, sleep disturbance, moodiness, bad eating habits, obesity, disrespect of parents, or dislike of school.
Of course, stimulation, competition, and expert opinion can be right for a given child at a given time. I'm not suggesting you discard parenting techniques that work for you and your child. But research shows those choices really work best when we consider aspects of a child's self. Success for children, we are discovering, comes as much from adapting parenting and education to individual kids as it does from trying to teach all kids the same way. A 6-year-old boy who is a spatial-kinesthetic learner, for instance, is hard-wired for movement. He probably won't respond to "use your words" as well as the verbal-emotive learner happily planted in his seat. One size does not fit all.
Wisdom of Practice
Parents I've worked with grasp the idea of adapting their child-rearing through what I call "wisdom of practice." Through observation, investigation, and trial and error at home, in school, and the community, they have learned to direct their nurturing to the innate assets, proclivities, and specific vulnerabilities of their children. For example, Jennifer's mom realized that her daughter's temperament needed more specific challenge and less blanket praise. "She was getting very entitled and had developed quite an attitude. We realized she needed more criticism from us, fewer things, and more direction."
Similarly, Tim's mom noticed her son's personality is very introverted. "For 12 years he has avoided large groups, but he resents them, too, and he sometimes picks fights for no reason. Once we realized he was having trouble with his own personality, we stopped pushing him toward groups, like football and basketball, and focused on helping him find and keep one best friend."
Parents who focus on the core nature of their children can help them develop many abilities, including:
- seeking out and learning what they need to know
- completing tasks and setting goals
- finding a purpose in life
- de-stressing and recharging when needed
- enjoying play and outdoors time, even as adults
- communicating in relationships
Creating a Profile
You probably already know a lot about your child's nature, but to delve deeper, you can start developing a profile of your child. Ask grandparents, aunts, uncles, teachers, mentors, and friends to help you assess who your child is. You can even talk to your kids about it. This can be a wonderful bonding experience that children enjoy because they feel they are being respected.
You can begin to make adjustments to your parenting at home, and by extension, directly affect your child's life in the classroom. Start by looking at all the activities in your child's life, including his media consumption, and prepare to make a new plan for how your child will approach learning. Back to school is the perfect time to put this new plan in place.
The first major change you may want to make is to cut back on the number of activities your child participates in. Overstimulation is dangerous to the brain because of the high stress it causes and the related developmental trauma that can occur. Try using a "3 Plus 1" approach for his new schedule: Plan on one cognitive activity (such as school), one social activity (Girl Scouts or another group), one physical activity (soccer? gymnastics?), plus one "bonus" activity that exactly fits your child's budding talent set. For instance, if your child is really good at sports, the "plus one" might be a second sport. If it's music, it might be lessons.
You can support and encourage your child's core nature in numerous ways. For the 4 to 6 year old just entering the world of education, it's good to keep in mind that students develop at their own pace. Some will read well; others will develop more slowly. Try to steer clear of measuring your child against others academically and be patient. Additionally, children this age begin to ask meaningful questions about how they fit into society. Who am I? Am I a good person? Is there a God? Try to provide meaningful answers, while stimulating his mind through books, opportunities for creative play, and educational media.
By the time your child is 7 to 10 years old, her personality is "set." Her school-age brain is a sponge, so provide opportunities to learn new skills, but be cautious about overscheduling. Downtime is crucial for this age group. Let her have at least an hour a day to herself doing "nothing" — reading, playing, listening to music.
During the years 11 through 14, your child is learning to adapt to social and internal stimulation. It is crucial for you to stay strong — and adapt. Stay true to your present value assumptions — and adapt. Help your child learn from each failure and success in all his relationships. Be ready for any question, and answer first with something encouraging and welcoming, like, "That's a good question." Make sure your child knows he can speak openly to you without fear of shame or attack.
We have been parenting on this planet for thousands of years. And for most of them, we trusted our own instincts to guide us through child-rearing. If we can return to our instincts, while considering the best modern research into how our children's brains work, we'll be golden for thousands of years to come.
Recommended Products for Your Child Ages 6-13
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http://www.scholastic.com/parents/resources/article/more-social-emotional-life/what-makes-your-kid-tick
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14875413
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Rep. Todd Akin (R-Mo.) lost his bid for U.S. Senate, in no small part to comments he made about “legitimate rape,” but he might turn his lemon into lemonade (rufie not included).
In an interview with the St. Louis Post-Dispatch earlier this month, Akin suggested he may try his hand at writing:
Nonetheless, Akin, 65, is hopeful about what lies ahead. He said he is considering taking advantage of his new fame by writing a book — something Sen. Claire McCaskill, the victor in his race, also has discussed.
“I’ve always believed that if you’re willing to work hard and try to do the right thing, things will work out for you,” Akin said during interviews this week. …
“Maybe I can be the bad guy people want to hire,” he joked.
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http://www.theblaze.com/blog/2012/11/27/todd-akin-author/
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14875414
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Phone number or keyword you want to search for:
I have been getting these calls too. From what I see online it is connected with ALLSTATE MOTOR CLUB.
Calls and asks for me by name then disconnects!
called it back it's All state motor club
IRS scam on the rise
Scammers impersonating IRS
FTC goes after Robocallers
Ain't no sunshine when they call
Tech support schemers sued
Responsible parties were identified
What to do when fake IRS calls?
FTC visual guide
120$ million stolen
FTC shuts down scammers
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http://www.whycall.me/513-713-0720.html
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14875415
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(Above: "London | 2013" students discussing a reading at the RIBA cafe, 31 Jan 2013.)
Of the multiple foreign study programs available to students in the UNL College of Architecture, the LONDON program has been historically the most popular and the longest running. As the program enters its 43rd consecutive year, its own longevity speaks to the instrumental role that travel plays in our respective development as Designers. Considering both the human-centered and material natures of Design, travel remains the single-most effective learning tool in one’s design education.
(Above: "London | 2013" students visiting Wilkinson Eyre Architects, 08 Feb 2013.)
To this end, our studio will be embedding itself in LONDON for the majority of the SPR 2013 semester. As the largest metropolitan city in Europe, LONDON is the optimum urban condition from which to make original observations regarding the general realms of art, design and engineering, but also the specific design disciplines of Architecture, Industrial Design, Interior Design and Landscape Architecture. Overall, this immersive experience will expand our current interests, personal capabilities, and larger expectations for Design.
(Above: Visit to the Cutty Sark by Grimshaw Architects, 14 Feb 2013.)
Our Fall semester (1 credit) was primarily for information, logistics, and curricular planning. Our Spring 2013 semester (12-15 credits) is balanced equally between field observation and the generation of new creative content. "London | 2013" is being coordinated by Associate Professor Chris Ford.
“The best bribe which London offers today to the imagination, is that in such a vast variety of people and conditions, one can believe there is room for persons of romantic character to exist, and that the poet, the mystic, and the hero may hope to confront their counterparts.”
Ralph Waldo Emerson
"Culture," The Conduct of Life (1860)
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http://archinect.com/schools/release/14744391/university-of-nebraska-lincoln-london-2013-program/68000113
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14875416
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MISHAWAKA, Ind. (AP) — The northern Indiana factory that once made Hummer SUVs will be retooled in the coming month to start producing a luxury version of a wheelchair-accessible car.
The AM General factory in Mishawaka started last year building for Miami-based Vehicle Production Group the MV-1 car, which features a 3-foot high door that allows a person in a wheelchair to use a built-in ramp to get in alone and sit next to the driver.
Sales of the original model are going well and the company has received good feedback from customers on the higher-end version that will be sold in the upper $40,000s, said Mike Carney, chief marketing officer for the Vehicle Production Group.
"On this car, we are moving as fast as we can," Carney told the South Bend Tribune for a story Thursday (http://bit.ly/MCGmA1 ). "We think it will have great appeal."
About 75 workers will be laid off next week until mid-July while the factory is prepared for the new model, said Gary Wuslich, AM General's vice president of human resource.
The new MV-1 LX's features will allow the operator of the vehicle to open the door and deploy the ramp by merely pressing a button on the key fob. Carney said that model will also have paneling and a full mapping system.
"It's a positive retooling and restaging," Carney said. "It's a good sign. It means we are doing well."
The AM General factory built Hummers for General Motors until 2009 year, when it stopped producing the H2. The company's adjacent factory in the city just east of South Bend produces Humvees for the military.
The AM General factory that once made Hummer SUVs will be retooled in the coming month to start producing a luxury version of a wheelchair-accessible car.
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http://www.impomag.com/print/news/2012/06/factory-retools-new-wheelchair-car-model
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14875417
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I hope your getting ready to have a wonderful Summer weekend.
I run Dazzling Daily Deals and I thought you might enjoy a few great deals and freebies to kick off your Summer:
Kids bowl FREE all Summer
"Welcome to the Mom Bloggers Club! I hope you enjoy your time here! I write a blog called The Adventures of J-Man and MillerBug. I wanted to let you know about a few special events that are going on there that I would love for…"
Just wanted to share my blog with you :)
Little Boys are Made of Frogs and Snails and Puppy Dog Tails
I host a blog hop for moms every Tuesday! Come link up with us...it's a great way to get new followers!
"Hello, welcome to Mom Bloggers Club. MBC is one of the largest social network for mom bloggers. It is a place where moms who blog converge to talk about the latest trends in blogging and support each other in their blogging endeavors and a place to…"
"Welcome to the Mom Bloggers Club!
I wanted to invite you to link up at my Tasty Thursday Recipe Swap Blog Hop. If you leave a comment, I will like you back.
Have a great night!
-The How To Mommy
I'm fairly new to MBC myself and wanted to welcome you. I am a part-time family doctor and full-time mom of 4 boys. I have a parenting website. On the site I accept questions from parents about their kids' behavior and offer…"
I wanted to let you know that I am following you, and hoping when you get a chance you can follow me back. I also want to invite you to join my groups, The Blog Hop Network, Beauty Bloggers, and Children's businesses. Also, I would love to place a link to your site on my blog if you want to do the same with my blog on yours. Please let me know by sending me an email regarding this and it has been nice meeting you via the web.
Welcome to the Mom Bloggers Club! I hope you enjoy your time here! I write a blog called The Adventures of J-Man and MillerBug. I wanted to let you know about a few special events that are going on there that I would love for you to particiate in! First, come join up for our weekend blog hop! It's going on NOW and is a great way to find new followers and meet some new friends. You can find more information on that HERE.
Also, I am having a fantastic celebration since I reached 1,000 followers with a grand prize worth more than $550! I would love for you to join in! You can enter to win by clicking HERE. Below is a little sneak peak of all the goodies you could be winning! The giveaway ends this Monday so be sure to get your entries in soon!
While you are there, be sure to check out my other giveaways! I have some fabulous baby items up for grabs right now! They are a don't miss!
I hope to see you at my blog! And be sure when you visit to leave a comment with your blog URL so that I can be sure to follow you back!
I would also like to invite you to join my team as an Independent Scentsy consultant. It's the perfect way to be a stay at home mom and a successful business entrepreneur! It's simple - you get paid to party!
Scentsy makes wickless candles and other fragrance products. Wickless candles are safe for homes with kids and pets! Whether you want to make a little extra money or quit your job to be a stay at home mom, I will get you there! Please let me know if you have any questions!
Hello, welcome to Mom Bloggers Club. MBC is one of the largest social network for mom bloggers. It is a place where moms who blog converge to talk about the latest trends in blogging and support each other in their blogging endeavors and a place to make new friends. I review, blog and sell children’s books & gifts. My blog link is http://mymcbooks.wordpress.com. I will be stopping by your blog.
Most parents find that training their non-disabled children for life's activities is challenging enough. However, parents of physically challenged children have to be especially creative to make sure that their young people learn the daily life skills that they need to be self-sufficient. Occupational…
As mentioned, positive parental authority is built on values such as: personal example, good communication, seeing the goals of others, seeing others, tolerance and mutual respect, each according to his own set of values. Values are part of a framework of defined and given boundaries. In order for you to…
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http://www.mombloggersclub.com/profile/HarrineFreeman
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14875418
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1st August 06:12
LifeWay Offering Sunday School Classes Online (sign life)
Monday, Nov. 8, 2004 Posted: 11:55:09AM EST
LifeWay Christian Resources has launched its new Internet-based adult
Bible study website, myBibleStudy.com. The website, which offers online
Sunday school classes, includes a library where hundreds of Bible study
lessons can be assessed.
"While the needs of many churches continue to be met through the
traditional printed Bible study curriculum that LifeWay offers, there
are individual, and often Web-savvy, Bible study leaders who are looking
for more than a printed quarterly -- myBibleStudy.com is their answer,"
said Craig Kendall, manager for myBibleStudy.com.
The website also offers daily devotional content, customized lesson
plans, and many other features to users who sign up for membership.
These sources are sent to users through e-mail distribution or via a
small groupís Web page to group members.
Though LifeWay is not the first to offer online curriculum for small
groups and Sunday school classes, Kendall believes myBibleStudy.com is
the first to offer such a unique fusion of affordable study plan and
organizational management tools as well as easy-to-customize lessons,
Ted Warren, executive vice president and chief operating officer at
LifeWay, said, "Whether at home or on the road, we believe this will
help people apply what the Bible teaches to their daily life and bring
about spiritual transformation."
The service costs $17 a month and LifeWay offers discounts for quarterly
or annual subscriptions. For more information, visit myBibleStudy.com or
call myBibleStudy.com toll free at 866-627-8553.
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http://www.mombu.com/religion/hindu/t-lifeway-offering-sunday-school-classes-online-sign-life-8286489.html
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14875419
|
The championship banners and retired jerseys hanging along the Staples Center rafters represent what continuously drives the Lakers’ franchise. The two NBA titles the Miami Heat has collected in the past two seasons illustrate what drives theirs.
But when the Lakers (13-15) host the Heat (21-6) in a marquee Christmas Day matchup at Staples Center, this hardly will serve as an NBA Finals preview as many wrongly anticipated three years ago.
Far from it.
The Heat rank second behind the Indiana Pacers in a mediocre Eastern Conference. The Lakers remain 10th in a competitive Western Conference. Miami has LeBron James in his prime with no signs of slowing down. The Lakers have Kobe Bryant, who remains five weeks from returning because of a fractured left knee. The Heat has Dwyane Wade, who’s mostly played this season through aches and pains. The Lakers have Steve Nash, whose nerve issues in his back have kept him mostly sidelined.
When the Lakers and Heat take the court today they also will represent a case study on how two teams going in opposite directions build a championship roster this offseason amid a labor deal that punishes high-spending teams.
James, Wade and Chris Bosh teamed up three years ago and boasted they’d win “multiple championships.” They won two out of three NBA Finals appearances. But with each of them having the chance to opt out of their contract in the 2014 offseason, will the Heat have the funds to keep all three?
Larry Coon, an independent NBA salary cap expert who works as an IT director at UC Irvine, estimated James, Wade and Bosh would have to trim off at least $12 million to $16 million off their combined $60 million salary to ensure that happens.
This season, all NBA teams that spent over the luxury-tax threshold at $71.5 million paid more luxury taxes in hopes to increase more parity and decrease more bloated contracts. The cost entailed a ratio depending on how much teams spent over the tax threshold, including $1.50-to-$1 ratio for the first $4.99 million, $1.75-to $1 ratio between $5-$9.99 million, a $2.5-$1 ratio for $10 million to $14.99 million over and a $3.25 ratio for $15 million to $19.99 million.
This offseason also marks the first time NBA teams will have to pay a so-called “repeater tax.”
“They can have a big three,” ESPN analyst Jeff Van Gundy said. “It’s more about how many owners are willing to go into the luxury tax and pay the penalties. The profit margins of these owners in the bigger markets, they make a ton of profit. How many of them are willing to reinvest in their teams?
“But the Lakers have always proven they will pay for elite level talent.”
The Lakers showed that with Bryant by signing him to a two-year, $48.5 million extension before he even returned from a left Achilles tendon injury that sidelined him for eight months. But it also could yield some consequences.
The deal marked a pay cut from the $30.5 million he’s earning this season, but Bryant remained the NBA’s highest paid player at the expense of maximizing the Lakers’ financial flexibility.
Bryant’s deal will enable the Lakers only to pursue one max-level free agent instead of two within the next two years. The 2014 candidates include James, Carmelo Anthony, Zach Randolph, Rudy Gay and Luol Dang. The 2015 candidates include Kevin Love, Rajon Rondo, LaMarcus Aldridge and Marc Gasol. In 2016, stars such as Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook will hit the open market.
“This simply pushes the Lakers’ strategy to have financial flexibility back a year to where there are better free agents,” Coon said. “But what it doesn’t do is get Kobe more rings before he retires. His choice could’ve been the money or the possibility of more rings.”
The Lakers argue otherwise.
Bryant hasn’t spoken to reporters since fracturing his left knee last week. But shortly after signing his extension he downplayed whether his deal significantly hampered the team’s financial flexibility.
“I think the fans are, God bless them, they’re fans and have good intentions and a good spirit about it,” Bryant said. “But I don’t think they understand the cap or what strategically the Lakers are trying to do better than the Lakers do. I think we’ll be all right.”
“There’s a lot of ways in addition to being able to pursue a free agent that you can pursue,” Lakers general manager Mitch Kupchak said of the team’s cap flexibility. “We have done some things in the past where we have used it to our advantage.”
The Lakers last year found out money doesn’t secure NBA championships. The Lakers shelled out a $100 million payroll to feature a starting lineup with Bryant, Nash, Dwight Howard, Pau Gasol and Metta World Peace. But that lineup fell apart in a first-round sweep to the San Antonio Spurs amid overlapping injuries and player and coach agendas. In similar fashion, the Brooklyn Nets also are discovering a $187 million payroll has yielded only more misery. The Nets (9-18) paired expensive acquisitions (Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce) with high-priced holdovers (Deron Williams, Brook Lopez) and a rookie coach (Jason Kidd).
The Lakers took a different approach last offseason.
Before Bryant’s signing, the Lakers only had three players under contract next season, including Nash ($9.7 million), Nick Young ($1.2 million) and Robert Sacre ($915,243). Should Nash’s back issue persist, they could waive him next season via the so-called stretch provision. The Lakers could trade Gasol, let him leave or sign him at a reduced price from the $19.3 million he makes this season. Meanwhile, the Lakers signed a roster full of castoffs on one-year deals at the veteran’s minimum.
Not only has that created a locker room full of hungry players willing to do anything to secure an NBA future, but it also ensured breakout performances for role players such as Xavier Henry, Wesley Johnson and Young.
“There are other manipulations and trades that you can possibly get due to the fact that you’re playing so many young players and developing value there,” ESPN NBA analyst Hubie Brown said. “For those combinations, that could possibly bring you something else.”
How that plays out remains to be seen. But even with a changing landscape, there’s a certain equity that the Lakers have built through 16 NBA titles.
“I never discount the Lakers’ ability when they are in need of injecting more talent into their roster,” Van Gundy said. “They have a history of making the right moves.”
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http://www.sbsun.com/sports/20131224/nba-teams-must-learn-to-make-all-the-right-moves
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14875420
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If the shock absorbers are playing up, it may be time for other corrective action. Photo: Reuters
ECONOMISTS, always fond of metaphors, often refer to the Australian dollar as a ''shock absorber'' or ''relief valve''. It makes the exchange rate sound like some sort of benevolent force. Something that cushions us from the volatile outside world.
Lately, however, less flattering analogies have been doing the rounds. Westpac strategist Rory Robertson last week suggested the dollar had gone from being a ''hero'' to a ''villain'' due to its failure to drop in line with commodity prices.
The ANZ Bank said on Friday the pain inflicted by the high dollar was one reason the Reserve Bank would cut interest rates in both of the next two months.
Why the sudden fuss about the dollar? After all, it has hovered above $US1 for almost two years. What's new?
In a nutshell, economists are worried because the dollar is behaving differently to how history and theory have suggested it would.
''So what?'' you might ask. But this is more than just an irritation for currency traders. It is also threatening the economy's ability to adapt to a big change in global conditions.
The most direct impact many of us feel from the high dollar is cheaper overseas travel and online shopping. However, this understates the currency's big economic role in recent years.
Until now, just about every commodities boom going back to the 1850s gold rush has unleashed an outbreak of inflation.
Treasury boss Martin Parkinson last week pointed out that it is no small achievement that we have so far avoided this fate. ''In contrast to our usual history, this time we've had a period of good and sustained economic growth, contained inflation and really good unemployment outcomes,'' Dr Parkinson said.
The floating exchange rate, introduced in 1983, is a big reason things have been better this time. Until recently, the dollar has behaved remarkably similar to how the textbooks say it should.
As the prices of our biggest exports surged during the 2000s, the dollar jumped from US53c in 2003 to break through parity with the greenback in late 2010. Since then, it has averaged $US1.03.
The currency's rise kept inflation in check through two main channels. For one, the higher dollar lowered the cost of ''tradeable'' goods - those that can be imported. Since late 2009, the annual rate of tradeable inflation has hovered around minus 3 per cent. This offset persistent price rises in ''non-tradeables'' - goods and services you can't buy from overseas such as childcare, haircuts or electricity.
The second way in which the dollar has kept a lid on inflation is through the pain inflicted on trade-exposed industries, such as tourism or education. These industries - employing about a third of us - have had virtually no jobs growth in the past three years, HSBC says, while employment in the rest of the economy has grown by 11 per cent.
How is that a good thing? By curbing the trade-exposed industries' growth, the high dollar freed up extra resources - capital and labour - for the fastest-growing industries linked to mining.
Many businesses and workers in the trade-exposed industries have been hurt by the high dollar, of course. But from the helicopter view preferred by the econocrats, the unemployment rate of 5.1 per cent is historically strong and inflation is low.
Lately, however, the dollar has been decidedly less helpful. When the iron ore price tumbled to a three-year of $US86 a tonne this month, the dollar stayed above parity. The peak in mining investment now looks set to be smaller than many expected, but the dollar is ignoring that news, too.
Investors had expected the mining boom to tail off, of course. So it is possible the lower export prices were already ''priced in'' to the dollar's value. But few in the markets predicted this month's dramatic slide of iron ore - that is why mining share prices fell so sharply.
Instead, the dollar seems to taking the bad news in its stride. This is great for online shoppers and travellers, but unnerving for the economy as a whole. Put simply, the dollar isn't doing the ''shock absorber'' job that it is meant to.
Normally, if mining was weakening, a fall in the exchange rate would offset some of the associated pain. Mining profits would be partly shielded by the weaker currency because miners sell their products in foreign currency.
A weaker dollar would also give trade-exposed industries a much-needed leg-up. Tourists visiting Australia, for instance, might stay a few nights longer under a weaker exchange rate.
Unfortunately, this redistribution of growth does not seem to be happening to any great extent. And this is concerning the Reserve Bank. Minutes from this month's board meeting dryly state: ''Members discussed the possibility that the high level of the exchange rate was weighing more heavily on the economy than might be expected.''
A paper from the Reserve last week also outlined the long-term effects of a dollar that remained high even as the mining boom cooled. It said: ''To the extent that the nominal exchange rate does not depreciate in line with unanticipated declines in commodity prices and the terms of trade, this will affect the adjustment in other sectors of the economy, particularly in the other tradeable sector.''
In laymen's terms, it is saying a stubbornly high dollar will make it much harder for non-mining industries to fill the gap left by a weaker mining sector.
Despite these problems, trying to lower the dollar by cutting interest rates is probably a mug's game. The currency has barely budged after the cash rate was cut from 4.75 per cent to 3.5 per cent in the past year.
But the Reserve Bank seems prepared to cut rates in response to the impact of the dollar. That's a big reason the markets are tipping a 70 per cent chance of a rate cut next Tuesday. If the shock absorbers are playing up, it may be time for other corrective action.
Ross Gittins is on leave.
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http://www.smh.com.au/business/our-dazzling-dollars-doing-its-own-thing-20120923-26f0a.html
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14875421
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Director: Susanne Ofteringer
In this hauntingly vibrant documentary about controversial junkie goddess and Velvet Underground singer Nico, documentary filmmaker Susanne Ofteringer masterfully collects the puzzling pieces and presents them as an intriguing portrait of a complicated icon. Featuring candid interviews from those who knew the model/actress/singer best and using powerful footage from the Bohemian Andy Warhol scene for added effect along with many of Nico’s songs, this documentary is quite a find. Angering, staggering and magical like Nico herself, you long to look for the truth just below the beautiful surface and while you’re sure that nobody (including Nico) really knew whom the woman born Christa Paffgen was, Ofteringer’s film aids in solving the mystery. Although in the end, we realize: whom are we really kidding? Like many legends, the mystery is what makes them so damn fascinating to begin with.
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http://reviews.filmintuition.com/2007/01/nico-icon.html
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14875422
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|Meier's Ready Mix - Manhattan - Ogden, Topeka Plant, Concrete in Manhattan, KS|
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http://www.flooringcompanies.org/concrete/illinois/macoupin_slabjackers.html
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14875423
|
The Atomic Weight of Secrets or The Arrival of the Mysterious Men in Black: The Young Inventors Guild, Book One
In 1903, five truly brilliant young inventors, the children of the world's most important scientists, are taken from their lives and their parents by the mysterious men in black and left at an isolated farmhouse in Dayton, Ohio.
Who are the men in black? Are the men in black trying to kidnap them--or protect them? And if they're trying to protect them--from what? More
In 1903, five truly brilliant young inventors, the children of the world's most important scientists, went about their lives and their work as they always had.
But all that changed the day the men in black arrived.
They arrived to take twelve-year-old Jasper Modest and his six-year-old sister, Lucy—he with his remarkable creations and she with her perfect memory—from their London, England home to a place across the ocean they'd never seen before.
They arrived to take nine-year-old Wallace Banneker, last in a long line of Africa-descended scientists, from his chemistry, his father, and his New York home to a life he'd never imagined.
Twelve-year-old Noah Canto-Sagas, already missing his world-famous and beloved mother, was taken from Toronto, Canada, carrying only his clothes, his violin, and his remarkable mind.
And thirteen-year-old Faye Vigyanveta, the genius daughter of India's wealthiest and most accomplished scientists, was removed by force from her life of luxury.
From all across the world, they've been taken to mysterious Sole Manner Farm, and a beautiful but isolated schoolhouse in Dayton, Ohio, without a word from their parents as to why. Not even the wonderful schoolteacher they find there, Miss Brett, can explain it. She can give them love and care, but she can't give them answers.
Things only get stranger from there. What is the book with no pages Jasper and Lucy find in their mother's underwear drawer, and why do the men in black want it so badly?
How is it all the children have been taught the same bizarre poem—and yet no other rhymes or stories their entire lives?
And why haven't their parents tried to contact them?
Whatever the reasons, to brash, impetuous Faye, the situation is clear: They and their parents have been kidnapped by these terrible men in black, and the only way they're going to escape and rescue their parents is by completing the invention they didn't even know they were all working on—an invention that will change the world forever.
But what if the men in black aren't trying to harm the children? What if they're trying to protect them?
And if they're trying to protect them—from what?
An amazing story about the wonders of science and the still greater wonders of friendship, The Atomic Weight of Secrets or the Arrival of the Mysterious Men in Black, the first book of the Young Inventors Guild trilogy, is a truly original novel. Young readers will forever treasure Eden Unger Bowditch's funny, inventive, poignant, and wonderfully fun fiction debut.
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http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/277577
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14875424
|
|Crazy, Stupid, Love. (2011)|
|Blu-ray Romantic Comedy|
|Written by Noah Fleming|
|Friday, 04 November 2011|
The film was not widely recognized during its theatrical debut, but it gathered a little bit a following along the way. Where I find myself torn is whether or I feel like I have seen this film before, and whether or not I care for Steve Carell’s humor.
Okay, so, I felt like more a majority of the film I was watching a typical romantic comedy. The beats were predictable, as were the characters. There are a lot of contrived and lifeless moments. On the other hand, there are some unique and precious humorous moments. Ryan Gosling and Steve Carell’s shopping spree is quite entertaining as is the fight at the house and the salutatorian speech. But along the way you can’t help but question why is this film two hours long.
Second, Steve Carell has been a hit or miss actor for my. I hated “Evan Almighty,” but really liked his character in “Dan In Real Life.” So, during this film he sometimes comes across as “Even Almighty,” stupid, humorless slapstick comedy, and sometimes as “Dan In Real Life,” creatively humoristic and sensitive.
So that’s that. Whether I end up loving or hating moments, “Crazy, Stupid, Love.” is a decent romantic comedy. It isn’t full of slapstick humor with a side romance. It has meaningful and grounded relationships among at its center and the humor plays to those relationships and situations.
The image quality of this Blu-ray is more straightforward than the film itself. It is a fairly typical rom-com video transfer. The fleshtones take on a more often than not orange hue. Colors fluctuate a bit between lifelike and overly saturated. The sharpness of this transfer is the worst offender for me. It seems to have been scrubbed, but I believe it to an issue with the original production. The image softness wears on your eyes after a while, especially given the two-hour runtime. Textures and details are only so-so. This lack of any consistent sharpness keeps the transfer from oozing life. The black levels are decent, but occasionally absorb what details are present. There are few sequences in which shadow delineation is simply horrible. But all in all, the video transfer is suitable for the genre.
Likewise, the audio quality is pursuant to a rom-com. The rear soundfield is not very engaging, but can on occasion provide some nice ambience. The quality of the dialogue can fluctuate from sequence to sequence, beyond the changes in environment. This could be due to shotty production sound a lack of time in post-production. In any event, the dialogue remains intelligible, just a bit inconsistent. Dynamics are average and the LFE channel is absent. There isn’t anything memorably here. It is what it is.
As to be expected the special features on this release are light. There are about 10 minutes of deleted scenes, which seem almost more like outtakes. “Steve And Ryan Walk Into A Bar” functions like outtakes as well. “The Player Meets His Match” is just fluff. So, nothing substantial here. A DVD/Digital Copy is also included in the pack.
“Crazy, Stupid, Love.” Is one of those films where you just have to decide for yourself. The audio and video qualities are decent, but there is definite room for improvement. I recommend a rent for this title unless you absolutely know you will love it.
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http://www.avrev.com/blu-ray-movie-disc-reviews/romantic-comedy/crazy-stupid-love.-2011-.html
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14875425
|
The potato plant (Solanum tuberosum) is a member of the Solanaceae, or nightshade, family, a family of flowering plants that also includes the eggplant, mandrake, deadly nightshade or belladonna, tobacco, tomato, and petunia. Its starchy tubers (stem thickened for use as a storage organ), called potatoes, are one of the world's most commonly grown and important food crops.
Potatoes are the world's most widely grown tuber crop, and the fourth largest crop in terms of fresh produce (after rice, wheat, and maize), but this ranking is inflated due to the high water content of fresh potatoes relative to that of other crops. The potato is native to in the Andes, likely somewhere in present-day Peru or Bolivia, and spread to the rest of the world after European contact with the Americas in the late 1400s and early 1500s.
Being easy to grow and having excellent nutritional value (although raw and wild potatoes have some toxicity concerns), the potato was the major staple crop of Ireland when the potato famine hit in the mid-nineteenth century, costing millions of lives. That crisis revealed some of the worse of human nature and misapplication of religious beliefs. Some Irish Catholics simply accepted their fate as divine providence. On the other hand, some Protestants considered it punishment brought on by the Catholics for practicing a flawed religion—even requiring starving families to convert to Protestantism before they would be given food, thus ignoring Jesus' dictum to love one's enemy and the religious principle of living for the sake of others.
The sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas) is another crop plant with large, starchy, tubers (from roots), but is only distantly related to the potato (Solanum tuberosum). Although the sweet potato is sometimes known as yam in the United States, it is unrelated to the botanical yam.
The potato plant is an herbaceous perennial in that it lacks a woody stem and lives more than two years. It grows 90 to 100 centimeters (3 to 4 feet) tall and is covered with dark green leaves. The above-ground part of the plant dies each winter and regrows in spring. It flowers three to four weeks after sprouting. The flowers are white, pink, or purple with yellow stamens. After many years of cultivation, the potato has lost much of its ability to produce seeds. Only very rarely does a flower produce a fruit. These are called seed balls and look like small green tomatoes. Each contains up to three hundred seeds, which are sometimes planted in an effort to create new potato varieties. They should not be eaten as they have poisonous substances.
The below-ground part of the potato plant continues to live after the above-ground part has died in winter. Food energy for the next year's growth, in the form of protein and starch, and also water is stored in tubers, called potatoes, which are rhizomes (modified stems) attached to the root system. They are covered by an outer skin called the periderm. Inside that is the cortex, which serves as a storage area for protein and starch. Inside that is the vascular ring that receives starch from the plant's leaves and stem. The starch moves out of the vascular ring to the parenchyma cells that surround it. These cells are the tuber's main storage areas for starch. The pith, which makes up the center of the tuber, is the main area for water storage.
A potato plant grows anywhere from three to 20 tubers during its growing season. In the spring the tubers sprout and the above-ground plants grow anew.
There are about two hundred species of wild potato. They all somewhat resemble the common potato, Solanum tuberosum, which does not grow in the wild. They are found only in the New World where they grow in Western South America from central Argentina and Chile, north through Mexico, and into the Southwestern United States. Peru has the largest number of wild potato species (Hijmans and Spooner 2001).
Most potato species grow at high elevations in mountainous regions with hot summers and cold winters.
It is likely that people have been digging up and eating wild potatoes for thousands of years. At some point, it was discovered that by replanting stored tubers a larger crop could be produced and potato cultivation began. This seems to have happened about 7,000 years ago in Southern Peru. Besides Solanum tuberosum, six other species of potato are cultivated today in South America.
Potatoes were an important part of the diet of the Incas and other peoples of Western South America. They were prepared in many ways, including being frozen and ground into flour. Hundreds of varieties of potatoes were, and still are, grown in South America. They are adapted for different growing conditions, some being grown at an elevation of 4,500 meters (15,000 feet).
A. Hayatt Verrill, in his book Foods America Gave the World, wrote:
I do not believe that anyone knows how many varieties of potatoes there are in Peru, but to a person accustomed to out ordinary everyday “spuds," the display of potatoes in a Peruvian market is simply bewildering. There are tubers with white, yellow, pink, gray and lavender "meat"; with skins white, pink, red, yellow, brown, green, purple, orange, black, and spotted and streaked with various hues; potatoes of every conceivable size and shape, some as smooth and shiny as a tomato, others as rough and warty as a toad.
The first European record of the potato came in 1537 from the Spanish conquistador Castellanos, who discovered the tuber when his group raided a village in South America. After the potato was brought over to Spain, it gradually spread across Europe. Initially, the food was treated with distrust, and was believed to be unhealthy and even un-Christian. This prevented widespread acceptance for a period, although it began to be promoted as a medicinal plant.
Popular legend has long credited Sir Walter Raleigh with first bringing the potato to England. History suggests Sir Francis Drake as a more likely candidate. In 1586, after battling the Spaniards in the Caribbean, Drake stopped at Cartagena in Colombia to collect provisions—including tobacco and potato tubers. Before returning to England, he stopped at Roanoke Island, where the first English settlers had attempted to set up a colony. The pioneers returned to England with Drake, along with the potatoes. Agriculturalists in Europe soon found potatoes easier to grow and cultivate than other staple crops, such as wheat and oats; potatoes produce more food energy than any other European crop for the same area of land and require only a shovel for harvesting.
The potato became such an important food for the Irish that the popular imagination automatically associates the two today, but its early history in Ireland remains obscure. One speculation has it that the potato may have originally arrived in Ireland washed ashore from wrecked galleons of the Spanish Armada (1589). Another story credits the introduction of the potato in Ireland to Sir Walter Raleigh, a financier of transatlantic expeditions, at least one of which made landfall at Smerwick, County Kerry in October 1587. However, no record survives of what botanical specimens it may have carried or whether they thrived in Ireland. Some stories say that Raleigh first planted the potato on his estate near Cork. A 1699 source (over one century after the event) says, “The potato .... Was brought first out of Virginia by Sir Walter Raleigh, and he stopping at Ireland, some was planted there, where it thrived well and to good purpose, for in three succeeding wars, when all the corn above ground was destroyed, this supported them; for the soldiers, unless they had dug up all the ground where they grew, and almost sifted it, could not extirpate them” (Tomas 2003).
Whatever the source, the potato became popular in Ireland both because of its high productivity and because of the advantages of both growth and storage hidden underground. English landlords also encouraged potato-growing by Irish tenants because they wanted to produce more wheat—if the Irish could survive on a crop that took less land, that would free a greater area for wheat production. By 1650, potatoes had become a staple food of Ireland, and they began to replace wheat as the major crop elsewhere in Europe, serving to feed both people and animals.
A single devastating event, however, looms large in the Irish history of potatoes—the Irish potato famine. In the 1840s, a major outbreak of potato blight, a plant disease caused by a fungus, swept through Europe, wiping out the potato crop in many countries. The Irish working class lived largely on the unpalatable but fertile 'lumper,' and when the blight reached Ireland their main staple food disappeared.
Though Ireland grew a variety of crops at this time, most went as exports to Europe for sale at a higher price. In fact, during the Potato Famine, Ireland remained a net exporter of foodstuffs, being that the exported foods remained too expensive for the Irish themselves to afford. Historians continue to debate the roles that English rule and European market prices played in causing the famine. The potato, which was a blessing to Ireland because of its nutritional value coupled with the fact that many potatoes could be grown on small areas of land, became a problem when the people became overly dependent on it, with a homogenous diet.
Some misguided aspects of religion also played a role. Many of the Catholic Irish considered it the work of divine providence and just accepted their fate, and many of the non-Irish Protestants, particularly in England, as well as Irish Protestants, likewise considered it providence, caused by the Catholics for having a flawed religion. Some Protestants insisted on conversion prior to giving any food, even to those parents and children starving to death (Stitt 2006).
Ultimately, the famine led to almost a million deaths, and the subsequent emigration of millions more Irish. Over 18 percent of the population of Ireland died in 1847 and almost 18 percent in 1849. Emigration from the German states also grew, although central Europe did not suffer the mass starvation that occurred in Ireland.
By the seventeenth century, the potato had become firmly established as a staple of Europe's poor, leading richer people to spurn it. This changed gradually, with Antoine-Augustin Parmentier's persuading King Louis XVI of France of the value of the crop that he was fed as a prisoner of Prussia during the Seven Year's War. The soup potage Parmentier and shepherd's pie hachis Parmentier take their names from the great horticulturist. By the end of the eighteenth century, the potato had become popular in France due to the advocacy of Parmentier.
Today, potatoes grow widely in Germany, Czech Republic, Poland, Russia, and other Northern or Eastern European nations, due to their ability to thrive in cold, damp climates. Potatoes figure in many national dishes of this region. Because the potato grew so well in Northern Europe, it may have contributed to the population explosion there in the nineteenth century.
In Russia, potatoes met with initial suspicion: the people called them "the Devil's apples" because of folklore surrounding things that grow underground or that have associations with dirt.
Although potatoes were called "potatoes of the Virginia" by early English botanists, they were in fact from South America, not Virginia. The first mention of potatoes in North America comes in an account of Scots-Irish settlers in Londonderry, New Hampshire during 1719. Potatoes were used for food and as animal feed. The first potatoes planted in Idaho were in 1836, but it was not until after the development by Luther Burbank of the Russet potato that potatoes became a major Idaho crop, at the beginning of the twentieth century. While potatoes are grown commercially in at least 35 states, most potatoes are grown in the north. Idaho grows 30 percent of the total U.S. potato crop, Washington state another 20 percent; Michigan, Wisconsin, North Dakota, Colorado, and Oregon round out the top producers.
According to the Food and Agriculture Organization, the worldwide production of potatoes in 2005 was 322 million metric tons which makes it the fifth highest production crop in the world.
The leading producers of potatoes in 2005 were:
in million metric tons
Potatoes are an important part of the diet in many countries, especially in Northern Europe and North America, and are featured in a number of their national dishes and most popular dishes. Potatoes are an excellent food providing carbohydrates, protein, vitamins (especially Vitamin C and Vitamin B6), and minerals (especially iron and potassium). Freshly harvested potatoes retain more vitamin C than stored potatoes. Potatoes contain almost no fat, and are low in calories. The skin of potatoes has dietary fiber and cooking potatoes in their skin tends to result in less leaching of vitamins and minerals.
The potassium and magnesium content, with low sodium content, helps in keeping blood pressure low. Magnesium also helps to prevent tissue calcification and in overcoming formation of stones in the bladder.
Potatoes (particularly mashed potatoes) are known to have a high Glycemic index (rate at which a food raises the blood sugar level), a disqualifying factor in many diets. New potatoes have a lower Glycemic index, as well as are higher in vitamin C.
New and fingerling potatoes offer the advantage that they contain fewer toxic chemicals. Such potatoes offer an excellent source of nutrition. Peeled, long-stored potatoes have less nutritional value, especially when fried, although they still have potassium and vitamin C.
Potatoes contain glycoalkaloids, toxic compounds of which the most prevalent are solanine and chaconine. Cooking at high temperatures (over 170 °C or 340 °F) partly destroys these. The concentration of glycoalkaloid in wild potatoes and raw potatoes suffices to produce toxic effects in humans. Glycoalkaloids occur in the greatest concentrations just underneath the skin of the tuber, and they increase with age and exposure to light. Glycoalkaloids may cause headaches, diarrhea, and cramps. Those with susceptibility may also experience migraines, even from a small amount of potatoes. In severe cases of poisoning, coma and death can occur; however, poisoning from potatoes occurs very rarely. Light exposure also causes greening, thus giving a visual clue as to areas of the tuber that may have become more toxic; however, this does not provide a definitive guide, as greening and glycoalkaloid accumulation can occur independently of each other. Some varieties of potato contain greater glycoalkaloid concentrations than others; breeders developing new varieties test for this, and sometimes have to discard an otherwise promising cultivar.
Breeders try to keep solanine levels below 0.2 mg/g (200 ppmw). However, when even these commercial varieties turn green, they can approach concentrations of solanine of 1 mg/g (1,000 ppmw). Some studies suggest that 200 mg of solanine can constitute a dangerous dose. This dose would require eating one average-sized spoiled potato or four to nine good potatoes (over 3 pounds or 1.4 kg) at one time. The National Toxicology Program suggests that the average American consumes 12.5 mg/person/day of solanine from potatoes. Dr. Douglas L. Holt, the State Extension Specialist for Food Safety at the University of Missouri - Columbia, notes that no reported cases of potato-source solanine poisoning have occurred in the U.S. in the last 50 years and most cases involved eating green potatoes or drinking potato-leaf tea.
Solanine is also found in other plants, in particular the deadly nightshade. This poison affects the nervous system causing weakness and confusion.
All links retrieved May 27, 2015.
New World Encyclopedia writers and editors rewrote and completed the Wikipedia article in accordance with New World Encyclopedia standards. This article abides by terms of the Creative Commons CC-by-sa 3.0 License (CC-by-sa), which may be used and disseminated with proper attribution. Credit is due under the terms of this license that can reference both the New World Encyclopedia contributors and the selfless volunteer contributors of the Wikimedia Foundation. To cite this article click here for a list of acceptable citing formats.The history of earlier contributions by wikipedians is accessible to researchers here:
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http://www.newworldencyclopedia.org/entry/Potato
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14875426
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This product is no longer available. Continue shopping at GameStop.
Skylanders Giants Battle Pack
FROZEN IN OUR WORLD. ALIVE IN THEIRS. Thousands of years ago, the Skylanders Giants fought epic battles in Skylands but were banished to Earth. With a new threat looming, it's time to bring them back to join forces with the Skylanders. Only you can put them on the Portal of Power® to unleash their strength in the ultimate battle to save Skylands. Battle Pack is randomly chosen from one of three packs: Golden Cannon Battle Pack, Silver Cannon Battle Pack, or Scorpions Striker Battle Pack.
Average Customer Rating:
(12 Reviews) 12
Rating Snapshot(12 reviews)
3 out of 3100%of reviewers would recommend this product to a friend.
Customer Reviews for Skylanders Giants Battle Pack
Review 1 for Skylanders Giants Battle Pack
Age: Under 13
Did you buy this product for yourself or someone else? For me
This is real cool. Chop Chop is awesome! His Main attack is real good.Once you get one of the basic upgrades he gains health when he kills monsters. His shelid attack is ok, but once you get the wow pow power it is a lot better. His bone bramble attack is real good.Chop Chop has 600 life at lv 10. Shroomboom is weak once you get him but gets a lot better once you upgrade him. His first attack is real cool and does lots of damage if you go that path. His second attack is good for defence but dosent do much damage. His third attack is good. The self slingshot is awesome.He has 520 life at lv 10. The cannon is real cool in the story mode. It works as a magic item. I like the battle areans it unlocks about 4. I got the nomal one(cannon) but I am sure it is simmilar to the golden one.
The first game was/is the best game I ever played in my whole life and I can't wait any longer for "Skylanders Giants". Thanks to all the makers of it.
11 of 13 found this review helpful.
Review 5 for Skylanders Giants Battle Pack
I'm so excited!
Location: Greeley, Pa
I can't wait to get this for my son...yea that's it...my son...who will be at school all day, leaving me alone with the game to level up all the new Skylanders. A mom's work is never done!
17 of 22 found this review helpful.
Review 6 for Skylanders Giants Battle Pack
Veteran Chop Chop and Newbie ShroomBoom
Location: Cincinnati, Ohio
An undead skeleton knight Skylander and a Life Mushroom Skylander plus to quote Dangerous Bros. "IT'S A BLOODY CANNON!" included. Yeah, I'm getting this at some point.
9 of 11 found this review helpful.
Review 7 for Skylanders Giants Battle Pack
I can't wait to get this it going 2 be awasome. I have the first one and I love I am a huge spyro fan I have played all of his games. I can't wait to get this one I have it pre-orderd and payed off 4 mines I love it.
The golden cannon lights up on the portal and it also follows your skylanders around and fires a huge lazer at the bad guys the get near you. Shroom boom is adoreable and is pretty good he fires mushrooms from his slingshot and makes a musroom shield. And chop chop is just as cool and awewsome as he was from the first game.
2 of 4 found this review helpful.
Review 9 for Skylanders Giants Battle Pack
would be all over this if my son didn't already have chop chop i hope they sell the other 2 seperate
4 of 11 found this review helpful.
Additional information about GIANTFAN could not be loaded.
this chop chop is different than the other chop chop. this has a bigger, cooler sword and a spiked out shield your kid will want to keep it.
Review 10 for Skylanders Giants Battle Pack
i have 1 question is goin be on the wiiU skylanders giants,because if will be in WiiU it will be awesome and with WiFi better that you can battle other players
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http://reviews.gamestop.com/9014/103894/reviews.htm
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By Jennifer Jacob and David Martinez, Esri
Developers are invited to submit their original code samples for Esri's ArcGIS Server Mashup and Mobile Code Challenges (www.esri.com/devsummit), which will award cash prizes to the winners. The winners' names will be announced at the 2009 Esri Developer Summit (DevSummit) in March in Palm Springs, California.
The challenges give developers the opportunity to share their creativity and expertise with their peers in the geographic information system (GIS) developer community. The first-place prize for the ArcGIS Server Mashup Code Challenge is US $7,000, and the second-place prize is US$3,000. The first-place prize for the ArcGIS Mobile Code Challenge is US $4,000, and the second-place prize is US $2,000.
The developer community will have an opportunity to review and vote for the top two entries in each challenge based on creativity, applicability, and the relevance of each code sample. Entries must be mobile GIS applications developed using the ArcGIS Mobile Software Development Kit (SDK) or a Web mashup built with ArcGIS Server SDKs. For official rules and detailed guidelines, visit www.esri.com/devsummit/rules.
The DevSummit, being held March 23-26, 2009, attracts developers and others from around the world who use GIS, mapping, and spatial data. The event will be at the Wyndham Hotel and Palm Springs Convention Center. Developers will learn the latest GIS technologies and best practices to build, customize, and deploy spatially enabled applications. Visit www.esri.com/devsummit to learn more and register.
The code challenges are open to all developers, including Esri business partners, provided the applicant or the applicant's organization is a licensed user of ArcGIS Server 9.2 or ArcGIS Server 9.3 or is a current Esri Developer Network (EDN) subscriber.
To enter either of the code challenges, developers need to create an original code sample using ArcGIS Server or ArcGIS Mobile and upload it to the ArcGIS Server Code Gallery or the ArcGIS Mobile Code Gallery (resources.arcgis.com) for consideration. To qualify, the online entry form must be submitted by March 6, 2009, at 5:00 p.m. Pacific standard time. The developer community will vote for first- and second-place winners for each challenge. Winning applications will be announced no later than Thursday, March 26, 2009, at the DevSummit and will be showcased at www.esri.com and the Esri Resource Centers.
To learn more about the code challenges or the Esri Developer Summit, visit www.esri.com/devsummit.
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http://www.esri.com/news/arcwatch/0209/server-code-challenge.html
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Share this Article
TELLYO - the Finnish social TV startup and developer of the “Share the Moment” service has received a €200k investment from the international holding GS Group supporting GS Venture Fund to allow Tellyo to accelerate their development and growth throughout TV industry.
Tellyo's Share the Moment service allows just-seen TV moments to be shared by viewers across the social media platforms. Using their second screen devices (smartphones or tablets) viewers can capture with a single click a short video clip of moments seen on TV and instantly share them with friends on Facebook and Twitter. Shared TV Moments amplify audience engagement and provides an additional revenue stream for broadcasters.
Kimmo Koivisto, CEO and Co-Founder of Tellyo, commented:
"It has been quite a journey for our company to understand the interest and needs of TV viewers and translate that into a service which can be offered across the TV industry. With this investment and GS Group`s support and expertise we can now accelerate our mission in creating the easiest way to share TV Moments as well as drive and monetize social engagement around TV."
Share the Moment has already been used by nine top TV shows such as Big Brother and MasterChef in three countries. The shared moments from Finnish MTV’s show “Comedy Combat” recently reached almost two million Facebook users and generated over 100,000 likes, showing a growing demand for such service.
Sergei Filimonov, Head of GS Venture within GS Group, commented:
"We have been impressed by the early impact the Tellyo team have made with their Share the Moment service and we are excited to support this service to truly open the door and enable new monetization opportunities between TV and Social media industry. It is a service which we believe could become very successful and we look forward to seeing the service being adopted by many more operators wishing to boost their advertising revenues. We are not only investing to accelerate the company's growth, but we expect our globally expanding network of operators to further adopt Tellyo's services.”
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http://www.appmarket.tv/social-tv/2455-social-tv-startup-tellyo-receives-funding-gs-group.html
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Quintiles tops global international list in female execs
Research Triangle Park, N.C. — Quintiles rises two spots on the second World's Best Multinational Workplaces list to 23rd, and a major reason is its emphasis on female executives. The world's largest life science services firm has the greatest percentage of female execs among the 25 companies ranked....
WRAL TechWire Publisher and Editor Rick Smith dishes out tidbits from the local technology sector. Read more articles…
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http://wraltechwire.com/quintiles-tops-global-international-list-in-female-execs/11776732/
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Stabbing victim drives to service station for help
A man is in hospital after being repeatedly stabbed in Sydney's south-west overnight.
He walked into a petrol station on Punchbowl Road just before 9:00pm, bleeding heavily after being stabbed a number of times in the chest and wrist.
Paramedics treated the 33-year-old before taking him to hospital, where he remains in a stable condition.
Police believe the man drove himself to the service station.
Investigators say he has told them he was stabbed nearby on the same road, but they have been unable to find a crime scene there or on surrounding streets.
They say it appears the man was an unfamiliar visitor to the area, and it is not clear why he was attacked.
He remains in hospital in a stable condition after undergoing surgery.
Meanwhile police say they are questioning a person over the stabbing of a 19-year-old man at a house at Glebe in Sydney's inner west about 2:30am.
He is in a stable condition with a puncture wound to his stomach.
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http://www.abc.net.au/news/2012-09-05/punchbowl-stabbing/4243798
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Released: Nov 01st, 1988
Running Time: 85
Director: Paul Thomas
Company: Vivid Entertainment Group
Cast: Jeffrey Wallich, Stephanie Rage, April West, Jerry Butler, Rocky DiLorenzo
Critical Rating: AAA 1/2
Morality playlets in adult video are a crap shoot. Get the wrong cast chemistry and you have an insufferable bore on your hands with all those little self-examination speeches working like a tooth yank. Not so here.
Director Paul Thomas originally had First Of April in mind as The Brat transition feature that would explain the elimination of the Jamie Summer character. It would have been even more interesting to explain the existence of Jerry Butler who goes back to being the husband (he was in the first Brat feature, subsequently giving away to Tom Byron who continues as Nikki Randall’s husband). But why spoil a good transition. This feature works so well in of itself, regardless of the premise.
April West reminds me of a full figured Vanna White. As the new “Mrs. Morty” she’s winsome, sexy, then bitchy as her marriage to Butler courses through the bramble path from “I’ll serve you breakfast in bed – everyday, honey” to “But it was only $25,000, get off my case!” Thomas serves as Butler’s sounding board through all the little nuances, de-masculinizations and shifts in subtlety of the marital relationship.
West rips through some pretty interesting sex scenes in clouding a real cocktail shaker with a door-to-door bozo (Rocky DiLorenzo) who Butler hires as a test to the stability of their pact. Good sexy drama, which leaves you panting more for West-Brat or no Brat.P.S. look real close in the background of one of the hair salon sequences. Director Vince Benedetti plays a cosmetologist of all things.
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http://www.avn.com/movies/42953.html
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View Full Version : B/W: Unova's Autumn Festival - Blog Event
March 3rd, 2011, 5:12 AM
[css-div=height:940px;width:634px;border: 1px dashed #c04850;padding-top:6px;padding-left:10px;padding-right:10px;letter-spacing:1px;]March 3 - March 18
Unova Autumn Festival - Blog Competition
Have you ever wanted a PC blog? Well, keep reading!
In this thread exclusively, we'll be asking for people to write a review about how they felt when they first played the games "Black and White" / explored Unova, following the prompt below:
A Brand New Adventure
This can be anything about the start of the games - the atmosphere, how the music made the games better, anything really. It would also help if you gave some background information on the games too if possible. Either way, just write a review and don't forget to follow the rules!
Rules.1. Your review must be at least 10 lines long. You can check "quick reply" to see how many lines your review takes up.
2. Anyone can enter, but only those without PC blogs will ultimately win both a PC blog and an emblem.
3. You don't need to post about Black and White with your new PC blog if you win.
4. Your review HAS to be about Black and White.
That's about it, you have now until the 18th to submit your entry in this thread, but please don't discuss your entries, this thread is only for submissions.
March 3rd, 2011, 10:22 AM
So I just post this here?
As a Pokémon addict, I was pumped when Pokémon Black and White were announced, and Zoroark was revealed. I already knew the other games from heart, and this would be a completely new adventure, where everything was unknown, even the Pokémon. Soon after its Japanese release, I got myself a copy of Pokémon Black.
The first thing you notice when you start playing the game is that the conversations are much better. Granted, the main character doesn’t speak, but the NPCs seemed to have pretty realistic conversations, although I can’t read Japanese. Cheren was even impatiently tapping with his foot.
And then, the first battle. You get to pick one of three brand new starter Pokémon, and after that, your rivals immediately demand a fight. The first person you battle is Bel, or Bianca as she is called now. The aesthetics of the battle scene are simply amazing. Of course, it has been all over the internet and it was shown in commercials, but… The Pokémon move. All the time. It’s amusing to watch the animation of a Pokémon you have not yet encountered, because every Pokémon has different habits, either standing almost still, jumping around, spinning, flying, or even pulling up pants that fall down all the time.
After you beat Bianca, your room is completely messed up, there are even footprints on the wall. Of course, now Cheren wants to battle you, and after that, you are free to go out and explore Unova.
During your travels you will meet Team Plasma, an organisation aiming to free all Pokémon from their trainers, be it by pursuing them or even steal their Pokémon. You also meet a mysterious trainer called N, who claims to hear the voices of Pokémon.
Pokémon Black and white are two beautiful games with better graphics, more interesting mechanics and a better plot than their predecessors. With the seasons changing every month, you will keep finding things you were not able to access earlier. You will only find new Pokémon in Unova, which will give old and newer players the same gaming experience. With eight new gyms and a new Pokémon League, Pokémon Black and White provide a difficult challenge.
For fans of the Pokémon merchandise, this is of course a new game that you need ini your collection. But these games are also fun for newcomers to the series, and might just keep them hooked to the games for a lifetime.
March 5th, 2011, 3:22 PM
I got up 9 a.m, as I heard my cat, Tuxedo, meowing for food (As usual XD) and the only thing on my mind: Pokémon White. So after feeding Tuxedo, my dad drove me to Wal-Mart to get this long-anticipating game.
As soon as we walk in, I can see children everywhere so I want to get the game as soon as possible, but all my Dad wanted to do was look at Clearance Sale shirts for $3. Somehow I managed to get him away from the racks and towards Electronics.
As I headed towards the video game shelf, I saw that they were being sold by the cashier so I made a beeline right to it. It seems A LOT of people wanted White as me since that's all I saw being asked for. Poor Black XD.
I also noticed they had Special Edition handbooks on sale next to the games. At first, I thought I didn't need it, but I couldn't resist getting such a prize so I bought it too. x.x
The drive home seemd to take forever as all I wnated to do was play my game. When we finally came home, I went straight to my room fetch my DSi. I then opened up the box, and gently pulled out the cartridge. It looked great. But trying to contain my excitement, I first examined the box and the pamphlets, realizing I had actually got the game.
I couldn't wait any longer, so I put the game in, turned on the DSi and watch the opening sequence start.
Even though I had seen the opening before, it seemed to be better watching it play on my DS screen.
March 6th, 2011, 9:54 PM
Please only post your reviews in this thread from now on - no more reserved posts, thanks.
March 7th, 2011, 6:30 AM
My Review: A Brand New Adventure!
It felt like I had been waiting for years - even though it had been little more than a few weeks - and finally the day had come. A quick trip to the local supermarket had resulted in the possession of my newest holy grail of video games: Pokémon White! As soon as I was home, my DSi was plugged in to ensure longevity and my completed and worn-out SoulSilver cartridge was prised from its plastic cove to make room for the newest generation of gameplay. Straight away I knew this was going to be something special.
From the first notes of the gently-animated GameFreak logo to the beautiful music that accompanied a gorgeously drawn cutscene - showing a mysterious group of people hailing what appeared to be their new king - my heart began to race. All the excited tension that had been building up in the few days before the game's release was finally coming to a head. Everything felt just perfect. And as the cutscene faded into a segway highlighting moments from my coming journeys, I couldn't take it any more. I hit the A button to take me to the start menu and couldn't help letting out a wistful sigh as I was treated to a fully 3D image of the legendary Zekrom. It was simply stunning that such a level of graphics could be achieved on a handheld console, so much so that I felt intense gratitude to those who had worked so hard on this game.
The usual start-of-game exposition began, and immediately I felt a rush of familiarity, safeholding me to the fact that this was a Pokémon game, after all. But that first meeting with the region's professor introduced me to the biggest feature that I had heard so much about already; animated sprites. Not the kind we've seen before, from the two-frame animations of Crystal to the much-debated sprite manipulating of Emerald and back to smooth, simple cycles for HeartGold and SoulSilver. These were proper cycling animations. Professor Juniper, as she was called, was constantly moving, blinking... even her mouth moved as I scrolled the text! I finally understood what all the fuss had been about. It didn't stop there, either.
The first moments of the game are ones any player will hold dear, whatever the version they play; the moment you choose your first Pokémon. This time, in a break from tradition, you don't have to head to a laboratory in order to pick one up. Your character and their two friends have been gifted the Pokémon, and since the parcel containing them was delivered to your house, you get to pick first. To some people, this choice is meaningless as they don't intend on using their starter during the game and they simply pick the most useful one so their rivals are forced to choose weaker ones. However, to those who play the game with full intent, the moment you choose your lifelong partner is one of great memories, of distant dreams and hopes, and of intense importance. This is the Pokémon who will accompany you through thick and thin, no matter what the cost. This is the Pokémon who will be your best friend and who will support you through every battle. This is a choice that could affect the rest of your life. At least... that's what I felt. I chose the Pokémon that spoke out to me the most, that looked like it could be a real friend. I chose Snivy.
The two characters who were choosing alongside me - I had been assured that they were my childhood friends - were Bianca and Cheren, and they ended up with Oshawott and Tepig respectively. And any veteran player will know what happens next - the first fight with your rival. But how would I fare battling two in a row?
Yes, in a break from tradition - yet another, which seems to be the trend for this generation - both starters that you don't pick end up with trainers who will battle you regularly. The first fight is normally not too hard; the starters are pretty balanced, with no elemental attacks that would give them an advantage and no opportunity for a same type attack bonus. As a result, it's not difficult to win both battles. It is difficult, however, to do so without trashing your bedroom completely, which I found to be a humorous little touch from the designers. Little moments like this end up being ones that stand out the most, and that make your journey feel so much more special - attention to detail is high and will leave you amazed that the game designers thought of such a thing. The battle itself is breath-taking; seeing your very first fully-animated Pokémon battle is something to hold onto. When I first saw my little Snivy tapping his foot and nodding his head, I thought it was adorable. Seeing the camera move around, showing both your side and your opponent's and exploring new angles, while you decide which move to use, is something I didn't even notice at first but afterwards thought was incredible clever to include. It's the nearest we have at the moment to Stadium/Battle Revolution-style battles, but on a handheld! In a mainstream Pokémon game! Simply marvelous.
A couple of new features introduced at the start of the game are the C-Gear and the Xtransceiver ("cross-transceiver"). The C-Gear is explained within the game and becomes important for wireless and infra-red battling, but the thing that amazed me was the Xtransceiver.
As you and your two friends exit on your way out into the big wild world, it's Professor Juniper who activates this, using it to establish a four-way video call between her and your group. The four portraits are displayed on the top screen and simply took my breath away. They were beautiful Sugimori illustrations, complete with blinking animation and lip-flaps as their character dialogue appeared. It was... amazing. I couldn't believe something so graphically gorgeous was being displayed on my lowly old DS.
It didn't stop there, either. Next was the first appearance of many by this region's Ratatta - Patrat. I don't know about you, but after ten minutes of gameplay, I was sick to death of Patrat. They're everywhere. Literally everywhere. So it was fitting that Prof. Juniper chose to teach us about catching Pokémon by capturing one of these scurrying rodents. A second look at Pokémon battles in the new generation's style simply confirms how great it is, and increased my respect for GameFreak. They couldn't have done a better job in completely overhauling the battle display if they tried. A quick trip to the lab and a staple of every Pokémon game is finally handed over - the PokéDex. To a trainer, a PokéDex is the ultimate challenge - to catch every Pokémon and to fill every PokéDex page is a great achievement, and one that every trainer strives to beat. Then Cheren, Bianca and I were set loose upon the world.
Stepping into route one, the feeling of expectation rose its head once more. It was more that I had expected. It was glorious. The atmosphere of autumn was perfectly emitted by the lush, russet trees and the red-orange falling leaves that floated past the screen as I walked. A brisk breeze flowed through the short grass, creating golden waves of light as the sun shone against each blade. Thick, tall grass offered a hiding place for all manner of Pokémon, and a gentle tune playing in the background accentuated the feelings I was having.
This was it. This game was perfection, and nothing could ruin my happy mood. I took my first steps down route one. The start of my brand new adventure.
March 7th, 2011, 1:20 PM
Pokemon White - The review:
It's been a while since I last made a review for a pokemon game. Everything in the game is a masterpiece. The music, the surprisingly new battle systems, the 3D enhancements, almost everything. The game really gives off the excitement what I've first experienced 12 years ago when I first played Pokemon Blue.
Every music themes suits well in each cities and towns and they are stuck on my head now. The battle musics aren't worth forgetting either, especially the gym leader battle theme which really boosts up the esteem.
The new triple-battle and rotation system are a welcome for the new version. The triple-battles are quite the same as the double-battles that were first introduced in Pokemon Ruby and Sapphire but with a 3-on-3 battle instead of a 2-on-2 battle. The Rotation battle system is a new way of battling in where a triple-battle is implemented. You can rotate your pokemon team's place in any direction you want during your turn which makes your strategies more effective. The gym battles are pretty hard unlike the previous generations(III and IV). More and more the battles gets tougher.
I've also noticed the new way of giving out EXP.(Experience Points). The lower-level pokemon will get more EXP than the pokemon that has a higher level if used during a battle and survives. And the higher the level your pokemon gains, the lesser the experience points you'll gain. This new way of giving out EXP makes training a bit easier and harder at the same time.
The C-Gear and the Xtransceiver are the new gears of Pokemon. The C-Gear allows you to connect with other people around you and at the same time, it allows you to use the Game-Sync in which you can place one of your pokemon to the Dream World where you can meet up with other pokemon you normally cannot encounter during normal gameplay. the Xtransceiver(Cross-Transceiver) is a new calling device in which if you're using a DSi system, you can make video calls to other people around you.
If one would bring their good memories back to the days where Pokemon Red and Blue were one of the biggest hits in North America, for sure one would see how far Pokemon has reached from those days. From the basic 8-bit pixels to 3D gaming experience for a handheld gaming masterpiece.
March 7th, 2011, 9:57 PM
Pokémon Black - Yes or No?
Alright, let's get this started. About... A week ago? Yup, a week ago, my friend got his copy of the Japanese Pokémon Black. I know a little Japanese, so I asked if I could try it when I visited his house, started up the game and see the beautifully place cutscreen. Wow. My favourite part was the star falling on the ground and NINTENDO popping up. XD More seriously though, when I started the game (New Game) I saw Araragi walking in and that big present with Pokémon in it. Me being a Grass- starter lover, I picked up Tsutaarja (Naturally. ;D) After that I got so sucked into the game that by the time I left for home, I had reached the Day Care area. Based on that little all, I'm going to review Black, also based on what I have heard and screenshots.
Black / White have excellent graphics, and the new battle interface is very good. I like it how they decided to show us the entirety of the Pokémon's behind-side. Though I must say I like the prospect of Triple Battles, and the reusable TMs are excellent ideas, though painfully difficult to obtain. (The good ones like Psychic / Earthquake, that is.) The EXP gains are different, as I see. I swapped my Lv8 Choroneko for my Lv10 Tsutaarja and the cat gets more EXP? That is a good development, and is SO going to make Magikarp levelling easier. XD
Music. That is an interesting aspect of the game: while some themes - like Cheren's / Belle's - are irritating, some others like Team Plasma's is literally music to my ears. Now my favourite part is Plasma's theme, like all generations before. I always liked the villain theme.
Some of the attacks, like Sing-Around, are crazy and slightly hard to implement for the boost, but the Oaths were my favourites. Ahem -- my friend cheated to get the Hiyappu you get from the woman near the Lot of Dreams to learn Water Oath, and got Tsutaarja to learn Grass Oath. (Is that even possible...?) Anyway, I liked the effects given for most moves.
So Black - Yes or No? Not considering the names, YES!
March 8th, 2011, 7:51 PM
Pokémon Black and White Versions - Review
A Brand New Adventure For All
Written by ♪Twiggy♪
A New Generation
It's time to say hi to the new generation!
It's been a long time since the release of the first Generation IV games, Pokémon Diamond and Pearl Versions. The old generation is about to come to an end with the release of the first Generation V games worldwide. This will mark the end of Generation IV for early adopters - and eventually, everyone will have moved on the Generation V. It's time for Pokémon Black and White Versions to make itself stand out - and it does a great job in doing so. Game Freak has poured a lot of effort to these games. Let's take a deeper look at the new titles, shall we?
New Locations, New Appearance, New Graphics
A new, beautiful and smooth experience!
I put the game into my DS and booted it up. After the expected opening stuff... I have to say, even the opening is impressive in its own way. This also marks the first time the main series handheld Pokémon games used premade video - the opening is a video. The video quality is as good as ever, compared to most other DS games with video. No noticable compression artifacts, aside from colour banding caused by the limited bit depth of the DS's screen and GPU. Whatever video codec they were using must be made allowed to be used by other parties!
With the new games, comes a new region - the Unova region. (known as the Isshu region in the Japanese versions and names vary by language) The Unova region has a great amount of variety, and it shows. From the rural town of Nuvema, to the big city of Castelia - all the locations show the uniqueness of the locations themselves, thanks to upgraded graphics. Game Freak has decided to improve on the graphics used by the DS Pokémon games in more than one way - building variance, texturing, modeling and image quality.
Buildings are more varied than ever, and there is actually a city that looks like a city this time around. The textures used on the world do not look like they were warped pixel art anymore. Cliffs look like cliffs. Buildings themselves have interesting things going on. The border pixel issue that has plagued the Generation IV games were gone with a different rendering method - only polygons that need to be marked will be marked, and not all polygons. Trees aren't sprites anymore. (Or 4-5 sprites taped together in 8-10 polygons.)
The best thing out of all the graphical improvements are the breathtaking views of the bridges. Going through the Skyarrow Bridge is an experience you'll never forget. It shows off the improvements really well that it makes Pokémon Platinum Version look dated. Very dated. And that's putting it quite nicely.
Besides that, many of the cities have their own unique themes going on for them. Some places also have their backstory, explaining why it is like that. The seasons, while a minor addition, also adds to the experince by introducing new graphical effects and variance to the Pokémon world and make it look prettier than ever.
Battle transistions have entered the new era, too. Now it doesn't look out of place compared to the rest of the game. Some of the new battle transistions do look rather funky. Well, it's better for the whole package, huh? It no longer looks like they came out of a Game Boy Advance game anymore.
As for the battle graphics, it was improved upon the Generation IV games. Pokémon Black and White introduces a dynamic camera in battles - now, the camera can now move around in battles. It sure makes battles look better! Most of the battle effects are reused from the Generation IV games with tweaks so that they run faster and cleaner.
But, wait, there's more! Permanent Pokémon animations - not just entrance animations - are now finally introduced into the main series games! Pokémon are now animated in battles. Well-animated, in fact! Instead of creating individual frames by hand, Game Freak decided to split a Pokémon into multiple parts and animate them separately. This makes for smooth animation with a lot of frames without taking too much effort and storage space. Now your Pokémon are not statues anymore! Some of the animations are quite funny, too! Scraggy, anyone?
Most of the interface is cleaned up, too. Compared to the Generation IV games, the new games does away with most of the clutter, prefering to put everything nicely. Of course, it's still based on the interface of the Generation IV games, so it won't look too new. Better than suddenly having to relearn everything, eh?
Get your headphones/external speakers ready!
The audio has also caught up with the new games. Game Freak decided to include some music which changes depending on the situation, enabling and disabling music layers on-the-fly. Even the old beeping noise when your HP is low was replaced with an all-new tune! Battle sound effects are as good as ever, as good as the DS can manage. However, I did notice some audio dropouts during battles - maximizing audio channels sometimes cause music tracks to drop out when a sound effect is played. The themes for some locations, as well as the battle themes, are catchy as ever. Props to the music composer for that! (Oh, and the audio hardware!)
Older Pokémon still keep their old cries. While Generation III and IV Pokémon fits in there properly with PCM cries, the Generation I and II Pokémon cries are from the old Game Boy days, and it sounded out of place in Pokémon Black and White Versions. This is understandable, as it's for consistency's sake.
The music is very fitting, as well as catchy. Pokémon Black and White Versions has fitting music for most situations, due to more reliance on its story. All cities and towns have their own music this time around - no two towns or cities share the same music. Route music is catchy as ever and conveys the feeling of being in an adventure well.
A lot of people you meet have their own themes. Some of the music found in the games will remind you of other RPGs. Looks like the composer has taken some notes from other games. There are unique battle themes for certain important characters and Pokémon, and I have to say that these themes are also the best of them.
No such thing as slow!
One of the more common complaints about Generation IV games is the fact that the battles are rather slow compared to the Generation III games. Well, no longer. Pokémon Black and White Versions definitely sped up the game. Instead of 30 FPS as the Generation IV games use in battles, the battles now run in 60 FPS - ensuring smooth and fast action, compared to the minor stuttering in the Generation IV games. The massive amount of microloading in Pokémon Diamond and Pearl Versions which caused the pauses during battles are no longer present. The menus are more responsive in the new games, thanks to the fact that the games are no longer locked to 30 FPS - the games now run as fast as possible. 2D menus run at 60 FPS, allowing for faster responses. While the overworld is still at 30 FPS, the amount of slowdown, especially at large cities or interesting locations, is almost nonexistant. The choppiness of biking at Hearthome City is now a distant memory!
The actual battle processing is also way, way faster than any of the Generation IV games, with speed comparable to the Generation III games, sometimes even surpassing them. Game Freak has adjusted the text speed so that what used to be Fast is now even faster than before. Before Pokémon Black and White Versions, the normal text speed is too slow, even in the Japanese version of the games. However, this time around, sometimes, "Fast" feels too fast! (And let's not get started on N's hyperfast text. That's a broken fourth wall for you!) Well, at least it's better for the game speed. Much better. I definitely would have preferred that kind of speed!
Actual Plot, For Once
Game Freak did it, for once.
The opening of the games will draw you in. Especially the plot. While Pokémon Platinum Version introduced a proper plot for the first time in a main series handheld Pokémon game, it wasn't until Pokémon Black and White Versions that the plot is important to the game. While players will not miss out on features for not following the plot, this time around, the plot will get people thinking about it. There are now interesting things about people you meet. The plot actually kickstarts within 30 minutes of your first adventure. I'll not talk anymore to prevent spoiling the game.
When you play through the whole game, you'll find yourself pondering about the stuff that happened in the game. This has not occured in any other main series Pokémon game before this set of games. Also, let me tell you, you might want to get prepared for certain stuff that you might not expect in the games.
Nice Way of Translating Things
As usual, excellent localization.
The localizers at The Pokémon Company International (hereafter referred to as TPCi) did a great job at localizing the Pokémon, move and location names. All the names are meaningful in a way or another. For location names, they started to use theme naming again - this time, clouds. Theme naming wasn't really present in the Generation III and IV games.
TPCi also did a great job in localizing the puns in the Japanese names of the Pokémon... or changing them into relevant puns in the English language. All these changes are necessary so that it is understood by international players.
Of course, I also find some Pokédex entries a bit funny. You'll have to see it to believe it! TPCi really went for the extra mile with that, right? At least they are still in the realm of "pretty good" quality.
Although the telltale signs of Nob Ogasawara's translation in past Pokémon works are now absent, thanks to a completely different translator working, the quality is still excellent. This time, the dialogue is mostly translated faithfully. Sometimes, a bit too faithfully. "The communication channel must be to be opened to receive Mystery Gifts." Kinda literal, eh? Still, at least, now that we get to experience a different kind of translation work... I'm impressed.
All Your Pokémon Design Needs Covered
There will be one for you!
The Unova region is home to a lot of unique Pokémon never seen before. You thought 151 was a lot? Move over, Generation I - this time around, the Generation V games introduces us to more Pokémon than ever!
What's a new generation without new Pokémon? This time, with the new generation, comes new Pokémon for you to choose from, to be your partners in your Pokémon journey. It's obvious that Game Freak is trying to break the mold and change things up in the new generation. Even though some of the Pokémon designs might look silly or something, you should give them a chance. Give it some time, and you'll find yourself loving them. Cute Pokémon, cool Pokémon, tough Pokémon, scary Pokémon, mysterious Pokémon... They have all of them, and there's lots of variety. I'll bet that you will find something that you like, no matter when you started Pokémon - or whether you started Pokémon or not.
Take Oshawott for example. You see, when this Pokémon was first revealed, it's pretty much the most hated starter Pokémon due to its... awkward design. But no longer. It's pretty much an adorable Pokémon... that eventually pays you off with awesomeness that is Samurott when you evolve it. Also, it's so cute that you'll probably be going to hug him so hard that it'd have trouble breathing.
It's like that for most Pokémon introduced in this new generation. You may not like it in the first sight, but when you give them time, suddenly, you'll be loving them. Loving them a lot. I personally love Snivy, Tepig, Oshawott, Axew and Zekrom. What's your favourite this time around? You'll find something you like. I did.
In case you were wondering, yes, there are no old Pokémon in the game until postgame. It's good for a change - they want you to try out all the new Pokémon in the games. Give them a try! Oh, and if you do still want them, you can do so postgame. Or get someone to help you trade them over. Whatever method that suits you. However, the Unova-specific Pokémon are definitely in the limelight!
Battle-ready Pokémon On the Go!
Fight with your favourites!
Hey, what about their battling capabilities? Not to worry! The Pokémon introduced in the new generation is also battle-worthy. Perhaps even better than their older counterparts. And even if it's Pokémon from the previous generations, not to worry! New moves, new strategies, new battle modes and new abilities, granted by the access to Dream World Pokémon will make them shine again.
Game Freak has taken a lot of challenges to make all Pokémon usable in some way, and that has shaken up the metagame. The new Pokémon are also of some use ingame, so there's an incentive to use the new Pokémon and other neat things.
TMs are now reusable. Remember the time where you find it difficult to use the awesome Earthquake TM you have because you won't be able to use it again without obtaining another TM? No longer! This makes the life of most players, especially competitive battlers, much, much more easier. No such thing as drawbacks, aside from the raised TM cost...
...Raised TM cost? Don't worry, the games now allow you to carry 7-digit sums of money! You probably won't have to worry about hitting the money cap. Just as well, as there are items which are supposed to be sold at a high price, which is also its only purpose. The addition of special NPCs purchasing goods from you should make getting cash even easier. People that gather in the stadiums in Nimbasa City every day is even better for cash and experience - it's fast, it's reliable, and it's always there, unlike the not-so-reliable Vs. Seeker. Losing the Vs. Seeker is not a big loss after all!
Really meaty gameplay!
The Generation V games, Pokémon Black and White Versions, introduced not one, not two, but three new battle modes for players. The first one, Triple Battle, allows players to send out three Pokémon at once to battle. This reminded me of most other RPGs found on the system, where a 3-member party is common. Strategy is more important in this type of battle, as positioning now matters. A Pokémon located improperly won't be of much use in a battle. Moves are even adjusted to take advantage of the new battle system.
The second new battle mode is the Rotation Battle. It's a variant of the Single Battle mode, where you send in three Pokémon at once, but you can only use any one of the Pokémon sent out. This makes prediction important, as you will not know whether you will be hitting the right thing.
The third battle mode... Actually, it's more like an addition. The Wonder Launcher makes item usage possible in player-to-player battles, using points gained from battling. Now you can be something like those NPC trainers that constantly use items! As long as you have the points to spare, that is.)
The game has become more difficult for the new generation, however, the games do also offer some help. Healing spots are scattered throughout the Unova region, healing your Pokémon for free. It's not just resthouses or Pokémon Centers anymore. Doctors and nurses can, and will help to keep your Pokémon in tip-top condition. Opponent levels were increased relative to the older games, however, there is an experience adjustment formula to compensate for weaker Pokémon. Weaker Pokémon can now actually play catch up, and fast! And there's always Audino for you.
Gym Leaders are beefed up this time around. They will now take advantage of any given situation. They are not idiotic. They can pull something now. You'll be sorry if you think you can charge through the leaders with only one Pokémon. Before you say "level grinding", the experience adjustment will make your life difficult. The game now promotes variance on your party.
You only need one use of Cut to complete the story. Only purely optional areas require the use of HMs. HMs are not bound to badges (mostly), so if you manage to receive a Pokémon with earlier-than-usual HM moves through a trade, you can use them immediately most of the time.
Another new mechanic is the Critical Capture. Well, what does it do? When you throw a Poké Ball of any type, there is a chance that a Critical Capture will occur, dramatically increasing your chance of capturing the Pokémon. One shake is all it takes, compared to the usual three. Rarely a Pokémon with a very low catch rate will escape this. No escape for others!
Some Extra Neat Bits
Some bonus stuff you have to know!
I gotta love TPCi for making the English (and possibly international) versions region free on all systems, even though it's a DSi, DSi XL or 3DS. It sure makes things easier for import gamers and travelers. Also, the games will be able to communicate with games from another region. (Korean versions are not tested yet, as they are not released yet.)
Now the games come with a software QWERTY keyboard. Perfect for people who prefer keyboard typing. And it's more convienent, since you do not have to switch pages when you need to change capitalization. Makes typing much, much faster. The new phrase-character input system works like this - you start with a letter and then fill in the rest, looking for matches. There's always the group option, but that method will net you the word/phrase quicker.
Using Mystery Gift has become easier. It's even easier than Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver Versions! You can access Mystery Gift even without a proper save file now. If you do have a save file, the maximum amount of Wonder Cards that you can have is now increased to 12! Wonder Card sorting is also introduced, so you'll never have to have a messy Wonder Card album anymore!
The Final Conclusion
To buy or not to buy? BUY BUY BUY!
The new games are, in my opinion, the best Pokémon games yet, no matter what - main series or considering all the other spinoff titles. The almost perfect Pokémon game. The slight blemishes on the game are a minor thing - its sheer amount of good points completely outweigh the bad.
Whether you're a die-hard Pokémon fan, just starting up, too nostalgic or even not touched a gaming system, Pokémon Black and White is a great choice. Have you become a Pokémon Trainer today? All the new things make this a brand new adventure. You should get started, too!
P.S. Certain online-only stuff will not be in the review due to Global Link being down.
Lasting Appeal 10/10
Final Score 10/10
*Note that Final Score is not an average of all scores.
March 10th, 2011, 11:57 AM
Looking at the above (and below) reviews, I know I already have no chance, but at least I can say I tried. And hey, 100th (1146th) post lucky?
I had been highly anticipating this game for a long time. Ever since I saw Zoroark, had a couple of fangasms, and thought to myself "Wow, this looks badass, can't wait to see what the rest of the Pokemon look like!". And, day by day, week by week, it was all gradually revealed, and whilst the majority said things like "Eww these Pokemon are ugly!", or "OMG GAMEFREAK IS RUNNING OUT OF IDEAS!!!!!", or even things like "i coud do betar", I ignored them all, as I thought that these Pokemon were outstanding, in a way that not many others could see. The graphics - massively improved from previous generations - I honestly didn't really like at first. I thought they looked more Animal Crossing than Pokemon. Even when the game was released in Japan, and the internet was full of Roms, I thought the graphics looked extremely pixelly, and in general just looked pretty poor. My opinion on the graphics was drastically changed however when I got the actual game. The music...that music makes me feel so hot. Driftveil City has an amazing tune, as does Ghetsis's battle theme, although the chanting sounds more "Dennis" than "Ghetsis". Features...pretty damn good. I love how the Pokemon move, and there eyes shut when they sleep, they even blink; all of which adds up to make the game that little bit more realistic. And the idea of Random Battle over wi-fi is pretty good, although it's annoying when you battle a kid with his highest level Pokemon at level 14, run because you don't want to feel like a bully, then end up having to battle him again, win this time, and he disconnects. That got me pretty pissed off. I'm not too fond of the Poke-shifter, particularly the annoying little mini-game. Why should I need two DS's to transfer my old Pokemon into my new game? Something involving Friend Codes or something would've been much easier imo. I also love how they lower-cased the names. It's a lot better to look at:
"Youngster Example sent out Pidove!"
as opposed to:
"YOUNGSTER EXAMPLE sent out PIDOVE!"
And the musical instrument playing sort of people are [i]amazing.
There were a few thing in the game, however, that I did not like. For example, the trainers in the post-game use extremely high level Pokemon. Why is there a trainer with a level 68 Lapras when my highest level Pokemon after the league was my level 51 Samurott? And the sages, you don't even get to battle them. I was really looking forward to seeing what Pokemon they would use. And Musicals...me no likey Musicals. You don't even do anything...you put accessories that don't fit the body onto your Pokemon and watch them move from side to side. Wow. That is definitely why I bought this game. No VS Seeker? I think this one pretty much speaks for itself.
All in all though, this was a truly spectacular game, utterly magnificent, and if I use big words I might have a better chance of winning /shot.
And that's it. Doubt I'll win, but at least I can...oh, I said that already. xD
March 10th, 2011, 7:47 PM
even though im not much of a competive battler i must say pokemon black is mind blowing
the graphics are amazing and the pokemon are very interesting to hunt
my favorite thing about pokemon black is the pokemon musical
i can't tell you how amused i am everytime i enter a pokemon to take part
the gyms are much more challenging which great because it makes me think more about strategy
one of the parts that are still a disappointment to me is the gts
no one seems to know what a fair trade is anymore
its like for a little snivy they want something major like zorua which bothers me
in the end i hope to see better challenging stuff after the elite 4
like the ability to go to different regions and fight more gym leaders
with my team which i am working on to be the best for online battling
March 10th, 2011, 11:41 PM
So far i'd say the best improvement is speed, me being an impatient person noticed the battle speed difference instantly, and really aprieciates the increase of pace. Now as for the creativity of the new pokemon... (this is just my opinion and all but) i feel they could of tried a little harder especially with the names.. i mean patrat?? come on.. anyway over all decent game, im always happy for a new region to beat and more options to compete with and this satisfied that need for now, so no complaints here :)
Also i got it the day before it came out!! :D i know a guy lol
And some of the new abilities kick a** i mean butt hehe..
March 11th, 2011, 6:50 AM
So, it was an issue for me and a good friend of mine getting Black and White. We had decided I would get White because I liked the more primitive areas, and he would get Black for its more futuristic places. But we wanted each others' legends, so we decided we'd trade those once we had gotten them.
Fortunately, another good friend of mine brought me to the midnight release and he paid off the difference from my $20. We grabbed a bite to eat, went back to his place and played it like crazy.
Racing back and forth, always competing to see who was further and who had better Pokemon. Before the 1st gym we had a battle, in which I won just by a little bit (: All night it was played, and all day the next. This kept on repeating until today.
My judgment on the game is that it is most definitely one of the best Pokemon (especially recent) games made to date. For once it made me feel a little something, specifically at the castle when you go into the room that the Shadow Triad leads you into (btw, I LOVE them!).
I'm absolutely in love with this game. The new character looks much better than the previous ones as well. Wish there were more post-game content, but I know I'll be enveloped in this game for a very long time.
March 11th, 2011, 7:28 AM
Pokémon Black and White Review
Specifically made for everyone who loves the new generation...
4th Generation made me lose a bit of my love for Pokémon, I hated that generation so much that I only played 4th gen on Pokémon Online. Then, the 5th Generation was announced. I became hyped, very happy, so cheerful―even up to the point that I was so overhyped I almost fainted. It was released on Japan, and 5th gen Pokémon were now being used in PO. And by competitive battling, I have encountered a certain Pokémon that captured my heart: Cofagrigus. Back then, Cofagrigus was still called Desukan. That made me really want to get the new games.
Then, it came: my Japanese copy of Black. I started playing, and carefully watched the intro and because of too much excitement, I turned my DS off and decided to go downstairs. Unfortunately, my DS was horrifically destroyed. It fell down the stairs. I have to give my Black cartridge to someone―and I gave it to my cousin. Although, even if I only have watched the opening scene, I already knew that this game is great. Everything about it makes it unique. A couple of things that I really liked the most are unlimited TM use and triple battles. Although I haven't experienced them yet, still they shine out as the best features of these new games.
Days passed, I decided to try and emulate the game. To my success, I did. I successfully emulated Pokémon White. So I started playing, and playing, and playing, and playing, and playing. I played some more, and more, and more. I can't really stopped playing it. Its addicting yet enjoyable. Even training your Pokémon is not boring. It excelled in almost all ways I could look at it. I also liked the way that there are more than 1 rival. Cheren and Bianca are to completely different people that really loves Pokémon. They bring life to the game itself.
Now, onto the Pokémon themselves. I've already told you about Cofagrigus, right? Well, that was only one of the new sprites that amazed me. Klinklang aslo piqued my interest, its artwork made me love B/W more and more. If you want to ask more, then just look at Snivy. Its pose is so darn awesome, it deserves to be called "the gangster". I nicknamed my Snivy, Smugleaf because that name makes me happy.
The game, in general, is made beautifully. Sure there are a few errors here and there but hey, nobody's perfect. Even Albert Einstein makes mistakes. If he can make mistake, why can't Game Freak? But if you really ask me, I'd give the game 4 thumbs up, and a rating of 10 out 10. My opinion may seem biased, even though it is, the game really is great. To anyone who haven't played it yet, I suggest you do. Else, you'd be missing the fun that everyone is experiencing right now. What are you waiting for? Are you ready for Unova?
March 12th, 2011, 6:23 AM
What to say about Pokemon Black? I've played at least one Pokemon game from each generation, but with Black, I was at first shocked that no Pokemon from the previous generations would be seen until post-Elite Four. As I played through though, I became amazed with everything. The music's atmosphere fits every location. The 3-D graphics have much improved, and I especially enjoyed watching the Pokemon's animation in battle. The story was ingenious, I would say rivaling the story in Pokemon Platinum, if not beating it entirely. I also realized that the previous generation Pokemon were not needed post-Elite Four, the additional Pokemon in Generation V almost made it feel like I was playing an enhanced version of Generation I. I'm eager for the launch of the WiFi features, means as far as I know they are still updating the servers, just so I can explore more of what this game has to offer. I've only had one annoyance with the game: I understand why they are there, but does every trainer in the Unova region have to have one of the elemental monkeys? Seems like I seen someone with one around every corner.
Aside from the slight annoyance, I give this game two thumbs up and 9/10, because theres always room for improvement.
March 12th, 2011, 11:15 PM
[css-div="border-bottom: 1px solid #CCCCCC; text-shadow: grey 1px 1px 2px;"] Pokémon Black/White Review [/css-div][css-div="padding-left: 190px;"]http://i980.photobucket.com/albums/ae289/CKmaster/sigbuddies.gifBy Karpman of The PokéCommunity[/css-div]
Cue a myriad of bored Pokéfans jumping in joy at the announcement of a new generation of Pokemon Games. Like any new Pokemon game, Pokemon Black Version and Pokemon White version both seemed to have an immense amount of potential once it stepped into the public eye. Following my favorite generation of Pokemon, I had high hopes for B/W, and at first, I imagine that it would fulfill them. One of the first screenshots of the new games, which showed the playable character crossing a bridge in stunning 3-D style graphics, as well as a video showing the game's fully animated battle system left us to imply that the game was promising, graphically. Most of the Unova Pokemon's designs were satisfying and unique, although were extremely poor, the 'dex managed to round itself out well. While Pokemon Black and White didn't exactly meet a few of my expectations, it ended up being a solid game.
The Pokemon of Unova
Like every new region, Unova managed to throw a variety of different Pokemon at us, each adding it's own unique flair to the pokedex. The first of these Pokemon introduced, Zorua and Zoroark, lived up to their hype. Their abilities and inspirations were a fresh change from the Dark Types of the past. All in all, these are two very well-done Pokemon and are quite deserving of all of their "fanboys". The Pokemon following Zorua and Zoroark's release, the Unova starters, were certainly an interesting bunch. Snivy was unimpressive, overall, it's design being less than stellar and it's moveset being bone dry. Then again, Serperior has access to Contrary, but that's another story. Tepig, the next of the starters, had pretty much stolen my heart from the moment he was released. I guess I could say I'm a fan of Fire starters when they aren't bipedal and overrated. Tepig's evolutions weren't horrid looking, but nothing great either, which led me to choose Oshawott as my starter. Tepig's evos also carried that horribly blasé Fire/Fighting typing, which isn't a bad combo, just overused far too much. Oshawott, the last of the 3 starters was the most interesting of all. If it wasn't quite obvious, Oshawott and it's evolutions drew their inspiration from Samurai and Feudal Japan. Dewott's, Oshwott's evolution has a lackluster design, and it's color was badly chosen, Samurott, however, is a different story. Samurott would have to be the sole reason that I picked Oshawott. The Japanese inspiration was obviously "there", and it's design was quite creative, I'd prefer Sammrott have gotten Water/Fighting for it's typing, but I'm content with it, nonetheless.
Many of the other Pokemon that were leaked in the early stages of B/W had creative designs as well, Minccino, Sandile, Axew, and Gear (albeit his evolutions are devoid of any creativity) all posessed either great designs, unique typing, or in Galvantula's case, both. The two 3rd Stage Psychic types introduced, Reuniclus, which is exclusive to Pokemon White Version, and Gothitelle, which can only be found in Pokemon Black Version, were two of the most unique Pokemon released with the 5th generation games. The only "catch" to them is that Pokemon's target audience may not understand where the two draw their inspirations from, Reuniclus being a homunculus and Gothitelle being a "Goth Loli". The only dissapointments about the two were their pre-evolutions. Duosion and Gothorita (not to mention Gothorita's name) seem to lack any form of creativity. My OCD and I are still grateful that the two are both 3-stage evolutions and not standalones or 2-stage, however. Excadrill was another of the better-designed Pokemon, not only is it great for battle, it has a sleek and strong appearance that really embodies its Ground/Steel typing. Unova's "Golem and Machamp" Gigalith and Conkeldurr, have some of the best designs in the dex. Gigalith is one of the better looking Rock-types of the generation, and Conkeldurr is quite unique. Conkeldurr, whose design seems to be a mix of an industrial worker and a street thug, is one of my favorite designs presented with the 5th generation Pokemon. Conkeldurr and its pre-evolutions are the first fighting types to be holding some sort of weapon, but GF really incorporated the Plank/Iron Bars/Concrete in well, and it really allows the 3 Pokemon to stand out. Last but not least, Chandelure and Braviary also boast great and creative designs, and are both fantastic additions to the Pokedex.
Since we're done talking about most of the gems of Unova, I figure it's time that we address the less than favorable designs. First up, Palpitoad and Seismitoad. Their typing is a bit clichéd, considering it's been used multiple times, and their designs are just horrid. Tympole is decent-looking, but these two just seem to scream "Derp". Woobat and Swoobat are poorly designed as well. They look bad, even compared to Zubat, who they are supposed to emulate. A psychic puff with wings sounds like something out of Yu-Gi-Oh, to be quite honest. Another of these unecessary Pokemon would be Durant, and I don't mean the basketball player. Not only is its typing unneeded, as 2 other Pokemon share it, one of them being in the same region as Durant. Durant's legs are probably the worst part of it's design, there's far too many and they all look out of place. Last but not least, we have the famous Stunfisk, who also goes under the name of "Flounderp". It's typing is one of the better ones, but it's design is just atrocious. To be blunt, it seems as if Game Freak deliberately created a Pokemon for the sole purpose of "being a derp". All of the aforementioned Pokemon that had poor designs easily outclass Stunfisk. Well, enough bashing some of the undesirable Unova Pokemon, I figure it's time to talk about B/W's graphics.
The one thing that really increased B/W's value would have to have been its graphics. B/W's graphics were a huge improvement from those of Diamond, Pearl and Platinum as well as the graphics showcased in HeartGold and Soulsilver. Nearly all of the tiles in the Unova region are either majestic, bright, colorful or well-made, most being all 4. The sprites looked good as well, especially when the artists had to cut down on their shading so that each sprite's animation would look more fluid. The Animations in the game, such as the Driftveil Drawbridge connecting and Team Plasma's castle spawning were breathtaking to watch, it was really great to see beautiful animations of what was going on, incorporated into the games. The most amazing part of the game, graphics-wise, would probably have to be the Pokemon League gate. It really showed the prestige of the Pokemon League and improved my gaming experience. My only two qualms, both of which are quite small on a grand scale, are the pallete of the grass and caves/mountains. To be short and sweet, the grass is too bright, and the mountains are too dark. Other than that, B/W's artists really earned their paychecks with their work on the games.
The Music of B/W
Like any new Pokemon game, B/W featured an entirely new soundtrack, full of energy and zeal. The feature to add certain instruments to the game's soundtrack by talking to characters in the overworld was genius, as well as a nice change of pace. Most of the towns and cities in the Unova Region had catchy and nice-sounding themes, especially Nimbasa and Driftveil. The biking music was a gift to the ears, it was somewhere in between the Sinnoh region's music and Mario Kart, but it ended up creating some blissful music to listen to. B/W's non-battle soundtrack would have to be my favorite, out of all of the games. As for the in-battle tracks, not so much. The rival battle theme is far too ditzy, and doesn't get you motivated to crush your rival, such as the Rival themes did in FRLG and DPPt. The gym leader music sounded okay, but the real highlight to it was the variation of the theme that played when the leader was down to one Pokemon. N's theme was subpar, unlike most of the Evil Team boss themes of the past, but I was pleased with the track that played when you battled a Team Plasma grunt. The Elite Four music was a real disappointed. It was intimidating, but not as majestic and powerful as the Eltie Four music in R/S/E, then again, it was a nice change from having one set theme for both the Gym Leaders and E4. As ironic as it may be, my favorite track from B/W was one that was only used in the Unity Tower, as the rumor goes. That track would be the Kanto Champion Remix (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EEZrn5h7C-Q&feature=related), that some believe is hinting at a yellow version remake. All in all, the soundtrack of B/W was pleasing, but didn't completely amaze me as I had hoped it would.
B/W's plot was a minor enhancement from the "beat the evil team and catch the legendary" storylines of the past, and it even contained a plot twist at the end, albeit it was a predictable one. Team Plasma lacked any "admins" that you had to battle, which was a bit of a letdown, since most of the grunts were weak. I really liked how N fought you using Pokemon from around the area in which you fought, it really showed his passion for hating confinement and connecting with Pokemon in their natural habitat. It was also pretty neat how they incorporated N's goal of getting Reshiram under his control was incorporated into the gym challenge. The one thing I really dislike is that the only thing Reshiram/Zekrom's power was going to be used for (by Team Plasma) was to threaten people. Their goal seemed weak, when compared to Team Galactic's, and even Team Magma/Aqua's. The plot was another quality of B/W that didn't live up to what I had expected of it. I remember there was this crazy rumor way back when that N's brother was leader of Team Plasma and that he had sort of cut ties in the same way that Silver did with Team Rocket. I'm not really sure what I wanted to be added, perhaps some deep secrets that Team Plasma held or some plot twists that I didn't expect. The thing with the primitive and futuristic versions of Opelucid City, and the version-exclusive areas implied time travel, to an extent. In my opinion, it would have been nice if we had to travel back-or forward, depending on the version, to thwart Team Plasma's schemes. The plot was nice, and certainly an improvement from the previous storylines, but it could have been so much more.
Other Features and Closing Words
Well, it's time I wrap up this review and use this as a chance to voice my opinion on any of the features not mentioned above. I'll start with Triple battles, they seemed like a fun addition, but was also quite unecessary. The mechanics differ a bit from Single and Double battles, so that requires an extra aspect of Pokemon to learn. Either way, I'm indifferent, I may fight in the occasional Triple battle once in a while, but nothing I'm going crazy over. Pokemon Musical, the game's Contest/Pokeathlon-like event is, in my opinion, a great and fun way to waste time. The best part is that it's basically a big-dress up show, all for the purpose of watching your Pokemon "perform", no competition. Another thing I liked about the game is that they increased the diversity of the NPCs, having African-American characters, such as Aloe and Marshal, and having a lot of new trainer classes that one may not expect, like the "Hoopster". The Xtransceiver feature is another feature that really struck my fancy, being able to voice chat with Pokemon games , provided you have a DSi, is a great feature to have. The same applies to the Entralink and the Dream World, the mutliplayer features of Pokemon have really evolved with B/W. Another thing about the Dream World, that enhanced the metagame, were the special Dream World abilities given to each Pokemon as an alternate 2nd or 3rd ability. It's really great how some Pokemon have gained newfound usage because they had an ability that can really enhance a player's team, such as Politoed with its Drizzle ability. I figure I should wrap it up here. B/W was a fun game to play and it was great being a part of the hype and speculation.
March 16th, 2011, 5:36 AM
Vaporeon7's Pokemon Black and White Review!
I must say Pokemon Black and White made a great first impression on me. I must admit as soon as I saw Zoroark I thought it would be pretty bad as I was in denial about the fourth generation ending but then after seeing the character walk on the beautiful Skyarrow Bridge I was hooked. Game Freak could not have chosen anything better to try and sell the games to me on looks than showing me a dazzling bridge with an angle of view that we have never seen before in Pokemon. Then if that wasn't enough Game Freak also showed us other amazing features for us to get excited over such as the Nimbasa Gym's roller-coster and something we've or at least I've always wanted: animated sprites in battles.
The Land of Unova
Like every generation Game Freak supplied us with a brand new region that surpasses the last. Unova was designed very well because it had great variation that went from wetlands and deserts to villages on bridges and skyscraper filled cities. Unova was also the freshness Pokemon needed after 15 years of bringing us all joy going back to its roots and 'starting again' by basing it on a country other than Japan. I was also happy to see more bridges then ever before as I am quite fond of them. The even better part about this is all the bridges weren't the same like we've seen in so many other games. Overall the main stand out point that made Unova the best designed region since Hoenn is that it is like nothing we've ever seen before and it has a lot of variety.
At first I hated almost all of the new Pokemon. Pretty much sighing over most new Pokemon being revealed. And when I saw the whole list I thought that it had to be a joke because I dislike most of them. Some exceptions being Petilil, Lilligant, Galvantula and Alomomola. But after after about month I realised that I was still in denial about the new generation of Pokemon. I think I had completely forgotten that it had in fact been 4 years since the days of Hoenn. But as soon as I broke free of the denial that was preventing me from liking almost anything new I began to like most of the Pokemon. But of course there were ones I still despised. *coughstunfiskcough* After I had warmed up to their designs I learned their English names. Wow was I not pleased then. I almost found fault with every one. One of the only exceptions was again Lilligant. At that time when I saw the name Sawk I thought sock or Sawsbuck I though Starbucks. Again like before I eventually warmed up to most names. Stunfisk still bothers me though. After seeing some of the 5th generation Pokemon anime some of my opinions of some of the Pokemon changed. For instance I began to adore Oshawott after seeing Ash's and I began to like Pidove a little less, but overall watching the anime improved my opinions. But to sum up the new Pokemon get my approval.
I think most of the music of Pokemon Black and White is great. A favourite feature of mine is how in sum places you have the ability to add more instruments to the music such as the piano and drums to Accumula Town or the violin to Opelucid City. The music may have not reached the standard that Pokemon Gold and Silver set for me but it still performed exceptionally well. Another thing that was an outstanding first for Pokemon was lyrics in the music. Albeit japanese language it is still a feature that I am overjoyed that they did not remove in the translation. The music of Unova did very well compared to most regions.
Game Freak certainly outdid themselves with Pokemon Black and white. Skyarrow Bridge was a major standout. It was beautifully designed and had amazing camera angles. The addition of different camera angles then the normal 45 degrees was a huge thing for Pokemon Black and White. It was one of the things that impressed me when I was in denial. Castelia City was another big thing for me. At last a city that actually looked like one with more than 15 buildings and more than one or two skyscrapers. Game Freak also make lake water look beautiful being able to see the freshness of the water by being able to see the bottom. Before the battle with N has some of the best graphics I have ever seen and certainly the best from a Nintendo DS. It is a shame to see how pixilated your Pokemon's back-sprite is in battle but that is one of the few flaws that Game Freak actually made in this game. So long the days of a flat, same angle, black and white world and hello the days of a 3D world with bursts of colour and camera angles that allow you to see beautiful sceneries.
The plot of Pokemon Black and White was a great one even though it followed the same main plot as all the other games where you had to beat evil to save the world and catch the legendary that they wanted. I loved N as a villain. Team Plasma may not be any Team Rocket but they sure were good. I loved N's goal to liberate Pokemon and I also liked how you had two friends who actually were good enough as rivals with one actually beating the Elite 4. The plot near the end was a stand out for me. I always like a twist in plot. And this reminded me a little of Pokemon Mystery Dungeon. I liked how Team Plasma was actually evil (for the most part) all along.
Things That Needed Improvement/Should have been Included
Pokemon Black and Whites lack of mini games disappointed me. Pokemon Musicals weren't that entertaining as all you got to do was dress up your Pokemon and click twice in the performance. I would have enjoyed more with the Dream World still included. I was also disappointed that there wasn't a random weather pattern. It would have been really good if in winter it snowed in Castelia City and in summer there was a drought on Route 5 and maybe one day it would be clear on Route 10 and the next rainy. But all in all Pokemon Black and White didn't need much improving. One thing that constantly annoyed me was when you sent your Pokemon into battle and it would thud on the ground. If only Black and White used a time machine like in Gold and Silver...
The Good Things
Pokemon Black and White was full of great things but I will only mention the stand out things. The battles are so mush quicker then they were in the 4th generation. Trading and battling because so much easier not being limited to the Pokemon in your party and having access to your box. One thing that annoyed me and most people was the 6 Pokemon a day restriction when transferring Pokemon from an old game. Well Pokemon Black and White solved this making and unlimited amount of Pokemon a day. And what about when using Pokemon Black and White on a DSi/DSiXL/3DS being able to connect to WPA internet. This is so great for people like me who couldn't use Nintendo Wifi in the 4th Generation and had a lack of hotspots.
In conclusion Pokemon Black and White are must buy games. They are certainly nothing like you've ever seen before and something everyone just has to try.Something new will attract you wether it be the triple battles, Xtransceiver, the Dream World or any of the other wonderful new features.
Lasting Appeal: 10/10
March 16th, 2011, 5:32 PM
Lambda's Black Review!
Topic: A new adventure in Unova
On a first note I will begin by stating that Black is one of the best pokemon games I ever played, and a exceptional game in general. Only a handful of series of games these day are truly great games that incorporate wonderful storyline, fantastic mechanics, and a vast fan base supporting the games. Pokemon however without a doubt is on this list.
Now I will begin my review at the beginning, but not at the start of my adventure but the opening scene. I always had a tradition that every new pokemon game I got I’ll watch the opening scene to give my self a feel of the game. So the scene begins with a shooting star falling down break into the letters of GameFreak and then assembling itself. My first thought of this was “ Wow this is just the opening for GameFreak I wonder what the rest is?!”. Next the main thing of the scene happens it shows N’s Castle and Ghetis walking down the throne room carrying a crown in the through a row of the Sages. Soon the view is redirected to N walking being ready to be crowned while having a flash back of his youth. Finally it show him being crowned and then the gameplay is shown about hopes, dreams, and whatnot. Then like most games it shows the version legendary (which for me is reshriam) but I found this quite impressive for when I clicked “A” it shows a dramatic close up of our Fire and Dragon type. This may all seem unimportant but it is the small things such as this stuff that I like and really count.
Finally I began my adventure. Like all games I’m greeted by the regional Professor which in this case is Professor Juniper the first Female Professor in the series. She the rants about the usual pokemon and humans and asks for our name. Now Finally we begin playing where like all other games we begin in our room. Next our friends/Rivals Cheren and Bianca come in informing you of the present Juniper sent containing the starters. Now like all other games you pick your starter, so does your rival(s), a battle then commences, you go thank the professor graciously, you then receives a pokedex, and now your adventure unfolds!
So now your off to do the cliche be getting your badges and defeating the bad, bad team of that region. But this is the 5th Generation and is new adventure that is unlike any other!
Critique on Black
Graphics- This section was easily given a 10/10. Every newer game has better graphics. However these ones were very well done. First the cities were such nicely made and extremely original. Next the pokemon were nicely made to. The scenery to was such a natrual feel to it and had such a different arua to them that no other game I played has.
Team Plasma- I have to say I was first a skeptic of this Team Plasma would be a bunch of losers and be a terrible team. But once I first saw them I became a instant #1 fan of them. I had only one complaint about them, I wanted to battle the Sages but I can live without them. This Team is like a combo of Team Rocket and Galactic.There plans were so carefully formulated and thought out with amazing characters in it and outstanding plot. This is truly one now tied with Team Rocket for me that this is the best team of all time so far.
Characters- Through out pokemon it was always a standard to have such great characters with deep personalities. I can easily name some very remembered ones such as Blue and Professor Oak from Kanto, Lance and RocketExecs from Johto, May and Steven Stone of Hoenn, and Cynthia and Professor Rowan in Sinnoh. When I think of our past gym leader I think of just obstacles in the game meant to be defeated with little or no personality with the exception of Giovanni and some of the Sinnoh and HG/SS ones. However I enjoyed very much that they played a bigger role this generation. First now I realize that every Gym Leader made a appearance out side of their Gym. I really enjoy seeing them out side of the gym because it makes us feel like they are really part of story and are people to. And lastly but certainly not least is N. N perhaps is the most popular character in the 5th Generation. When he is first seen he is seen as very mysterious throughout the first part of the game till while in the middle finally reveals him self as the Head Of Team Plasma and still is Dubious from then on. N had a extremely complex type of personality and even after you beat the game you are left with question. N however is one of the best Characters crafted and thought of.
Plot- The Plot this Generation was bottom line remarkably crafted, fitted, and thought of. The Plot was so interesting to follow and you were constantly being amazed. I just have to say remarkably done could not get better.
Miscellaneous, Final Thoughts
I just have a couple of last concepts of the game I want to mine on.
First Kudos to Nintendo of making a very big difference in the two versions rather than just having a couple of different Pokes.
Next I would like to say thanks to making the game much longer with great story line and pokemon. I usually beat the Elite Four at about 18 hours but on white it took me 40 Hours. I love games where it takes a long time to beat so many things to do :)
Lastly I just want to say this was a great gaming experience.
March 17th, 2011, 2:51 AM
The Story of a Crazy Fan
When I first saw Zorua and Zoroark back in Feb '10 I dismissed all excitement for a new generation pretty quickly. I did this knowing it would be many months before any more information would be revealed. So I forgot all about it until the legendaries were revealed. I dismissed b/w as I thought obsessing over theme of Black and White (all that was really revealed at that time) would be pretty boring, as it sounded like a pretty tasteless theme tbh. I didn't really want to know anything about the game until the pokemon were revealed, so I could truly get excited. When the screen shots were revealed I didn't want to look as I never look at screeshots till the pokemon are named. And as more and more pokemon were shown I started to think this generation would be pretty cool. After generation 4 I thought there would be no more, after the creation of Arceus and tying up of loose ends in Sinnoh. So I was surprised at how engaged I got after the first cluster of pokemon were revealed over time. And that is what led me to PC. I was shockingly excited for yet another region and needed somewhere people friendly to discuss about the B/W revelations.
So many changes `@_@"
when it was revealed that Isshu would be set in America I was pretty shocked. Pokemon was always in Japan, so this meant that there would be many more generations to come! And then it was revealed that Alomomola was not after all a Luvdisc evolution. And that there would be no evolutions at all.... I was greatly peeved tbh and it made me neglect B/W for a while. Then I got over it, they did that in Hoenn as well, so I thought that it wouldn't be so bad, so different. A whole new start in a whole new continent. Another thing that peeved me off was the fact that there was no gym rematches OR that there was no follow feature, OR that there was no VS Seeker.... This m,ade me go back to not looking forward to the game, and I didn't think that it would be so enjoyable, and that it would get veerrry boring very soon. I never got over this till I got the game and found out how awesome it actually was.
At PC I actively posted in the b/w opinions thread, spazzing over each new pokemon over and over again. Goodness knows how many duplicate posts I made of the genie trio, Druggidon, Kyeremu... But I couldn't stops staring and examining every pokemon and discussing everything about them here. I just needed to know every detail!
However I avoided as many screen shot spoilers as possible and all images of towns, so that I could enjoy some surprises in the game.... but honestly, because all I cared about for ages was the actual pokemon, I wasn;t too interested in the towns or cities. I was interested in the new features, pokemon musicals. I thought it was an interesting addition and I enjoyed contests so I thought this would be a thing for me. The seasons was something I really looked forward to, and I thought was about time they added that. and Deerling was an amaaazing addition. I was so hyped to find there was a pokemon that changed with the seasons!
So yeah all in all before the game was released i had mixed feelings. I was so CRAZY about the new pokemon and I was greatly disappointed about the things they left out this time around but that leaves room for additions to make the third game impossibley more awesome
Speaking of the third game, I love predicting things it will have in it. I expect the follow feature to return, gym rematches, the VS Seeker or some other way to verse trainers again, Kyeremu to be the mascot and get a new form and some endless winter realm where it lives XD And that the third game will be called pokemon Grey!
ok... I am spaz typing right now XD It proves how excited I am, so sorry if some of this doesn't make any sense!
When the English names came out, I was sooo disappointed in most of them. I just adored all the Japanese names, and the english names were so goofy and uncreative... Crustle, Burgh, Sandile, Unova.... I loved the name Isshu as soon as I heard it, and Unova was something so completely different. I got used to Unova pretty quick though and I <3 it now <3 <3 <3 Most of the english names I have gotten over, and gotten used to as I expected, so it wasn't too much to stress over. I had always gotten used to the english names.
Really? What about us!?!?!?
Okay, so when Australia was revealed to get the games a week after Europe and days after USA I was P'd off. Like fuming. The most excited I have ever been over ANYTHING and we get it dead last.... with no visits from famous pokemon producers, with no day early release date, with no game based on us ok so what if i am being a drama queen here... i wanted and aus based game XD . Added on to the fact that my brother's router screwed over the Wi-Fi so no shiny beast or Victini for me, and the fact I had to wait an extra day, and would have hardly ANY time to play it because of 13 assessments due in a window of 3 wks.
I BOUGHT IT! MY LIFE IS COMPLETE!... almost.
Okay so I bought it for a reduced price because I am thrifty ^.^ I take it home.... I play it and freak out over the AMAZING graphics... I turned into a crazy anime fangirl and could hardly press the buttons right because of how urgently I wanted the characters to shut up so I could play. So.Much.Talking. Oh then they both want to verse me ;____;; I walk outside and there are Pidoves <3 and all the houses looks so 3D, it puts Platinum to shame. I love how all the angles change when you walk/enter a house/ walk on a bridge. I chose Snivy as my starter, because of how much I love Serperior. I thought the graphics on Skyarrow bridge were to die for, and it looked beautiful at night, seeing all Castelias lights.
I thought that all the cities were so much bigger and technological. Everything was so modern and fancy, which I loved, and all the Autumn trees and leaves were really pretty. I can't wait till winter. I thought Castelia was ridiculously massive, not in a bad way, and I loved how there were all those self absorbed people everywhere on their way to work. Before B/W came out I hated almost all the badges except the eighth one. But in game they truly look amazing, I love how the middle is the glittery glass, and outlined in the gold. I thought one of best areas I have seen so far in White was Charge Stone Cave. The blue electricity was so cool, and I loved the general look of it.
I liked how Bianca and Cheren follow you around a bit more, and sort if share the adventure with you, not like your other friends, running off and appearing a few times. These guys were true friends, although they got a little annoying battling you all the time. I liked Team Plasma's plot a lot, so far. There is logic to what they are going and they are just like pokemon rights activists trying to stop pokemon cruelty, pretty hypocritically kicking munna ;_; and taking it to the extremes. N was really mysterious and the way he talks to me was pretty random XD Like he expects me to really relate to him or something. And his sudden outburst at Juniper showed his evil side. I can't wait to uncover the full plot of Plasma, which I tried to avoid at all costs before it came out.
In pokemon battles it was great to see endless battle animations, that change under certain conditions, like how their eyes close when they are put to sleep. I also liked how when you send a pokemon out into battle it makes a thud as it hits the ground, but floating pokemon dont. All these details, the thuds, glitter on the badges, autumn leaves on the ground, electric currents in charge stone, differing camera angles in battle and on the bridges, animations and the different feel to the game that is what made it so amazing. every thing they left out has been completely forgiven because of all these small things they added making up for it. The new modern feel to the game suits me and I know I will buy black to have fun, non serious play throughs absorbing everything Unova has to offer.
11/10, best game I have EVER played. It has brought new joy into pokemon. And brought me to PC <3
And can I just say the music tracks have been excellent, especially Driftveils. So catchy~
I MAY EDIT FURTHER BEFORE THIS THREAD IS CLOSED :3
March 17th, 2011, 7:30 AM
Well, whatever. I might as well enter. So here I go:
Pokemon Black and White review:
Okay, I'm going to list down the good and the bad for Pokemon Black and White.
The Story - You are a Pokemon trainer set on a journey by renowned Professor Juniper to complete the Pokedex with your bestfriends: Cheren and Bianca, and along the way you encounter a suspicious group called Team Plasma who wants to free all Pokemon from the commands of humans, and another suspicious person called 'N'. I really like the idea of the story line. It's on the verge of Black and White morality. Yeah, I said it. Black and White morality means you don't know whether you're doing is good or evil. I mean face it, capturing Pokemon and putting them in ball capsules, and making them fight. Is it really a good thing? Also how awesome is it to have every Gymleader out of their gyms and contribute to the story? I wished that feature on Emerald, and I liked that they added it on Platinum. I liked on how the Elite four can also be out of the Pokemon league.
The Graphics - Oh my god. Scenery porn everywhere! 3D here, and 3D there. I don't know, but whenever I enter a new route, city, forest, etcetera, it reminds me of the Distorsion World. I mean, go and enter the Skyarrow Bridge. Zoom in, Zoom out everywhere! You also get to see your sprite on different angles. It's like the Distorsion World all over again! Which is a good thing. :D
The Sound - I never really paid any attention to the soundtracks of Pokemon game, but... B&W soundtrack is amazing! The OST track 'Emotion' got me, well, emotional! Also, the Bike theme and the red HP OST is amazing. In the previous games, I get irritated by it and I just mute my DS.
The Characters - There's the strict Cheren, and the loopy head Bel. There's also the mysterious N, and unlike the previous games, the Gymleaders and Elite Four actually has personalities! We also get the glimpse of the Champion's past. Character developments are everywhere.
The Gameplay - I liked the fact that they added Nurses and Doctors all over caves and forest. It makes me skip the part that makes me go back to the Pokemon Center and back again.
The Enhanced Features - It cranks it up to 120 of pure awesome-ness. First Gymleader isn't a Rock gym, Poison doesn't work outside of battle, the ability Sturdy, moving sprites, faster battle animation, and so much more! It's like, you entered a new generation of Pokemon, oh wait...
The Story - The story is good, but not well executed in my opinion. Especially N. I also knew what Team Plasma's real goal from the first time I battled them and without any spoilers. I took N's interest in me to be... an interest in me and kinda creeped me out. I also haven't got over the fact that how come lowly Team Plasma members knew of Ghetsis' scheme, but not N? Plot holes, plot holes. Also, THE GAME IS SO SHORT. I would like it if it's like R/S/E long, or HG/SS long. Where you finish the main game, and finish the second half.
The Graphics - It takes longer to enter a building. Especially if it's a building on the side, and especially in White Forest where the forest is zoomed out, and when you enter the Pokemon Center, it zooms in for about, I don't know 2 seconds. I also don't like the fact that there's talking heads in this game. That's for the Xtransceiver and really has no point. And only N, You, Cheren, Bel, Professor Juniper and your mom has talking heads.
The Sound - No complains about the sound, surprisingly.
The Characters - I failed to become attached to my rival, unlike in D/P/Pt where I was attached with Barry. I also don't like the fact that they didn't elaborate on any of the backstory except for N. I like to know more about Alder's and Brycen's backstory more. And I also like to know what is Drayden's role in Pokemon White. I didn't know that he was the Mayor of Opelucid City.
The Gameplay - THE GAME WAS TOO EASY. I beat the Elite Four with an underleveled team. I mean, I don't think my team is that good to beat the crap out of them so easily! And the Gymleaders are a breeze. The only Gymleader I have trouble with was Elesa, and that's because of her Emolga's. Her Zebstrika was a push-over. I also didn't get on why Skyla and Iris was so easy. I used to have a hard time with Winona and Claire. Hmph.
The Enhanced Features - The new features makes it hard for the game to be... challenging. Whenever I got my Pokemon to be poisoned, I use to rush to the Pokemon Center to get them healed, ASAP. I also don't get why there's lots of Nurses and Doctors around. It's not like I don't like it but, it makes the game unchallenging.
Overall Enjoyment: Despite on how I sound, I enjoyed the game very much. But I guess, it's going to be 8/10 for me though. I guess it's partly my fault for setting my expectations too high.
Well, that's my 2 cents.
March 17th, 2011, 5:51 PM
Just so you know!
Entries for the blog event will cut off in 2 hours and 9 minutes. So if you have any changes to add, or any entries to enter, do it now, because by then the thread will be locked.
Also, the results of this will be posted on Sunday, March 20, which is when this thread will be unlocked briefly to make any comments if you have any after the results.
March 17th, 2011, 6:58 PM
Pokémon Black and Pokémon White are the latest iterations of the popular Nintendo franchise based around the concept of collecting, trading, and battling monsters which can fit into your pocket. Black and White introduce over 150 new Pokémon to acquire and battle with, and feature a new region to explore, a new criminal syndicate to conquer, and several new wireless and online features to play with.
Plot and Setting
Black and White are set in Unova, a new region based off of the New York City area of the United States. Unova is a beautiful region, and is home to many interesting and unique cities and landmarks. At the same time, Unova is small and linear. The cities, towns, and routes are larger for the most part, but in exchange, there aren't nearly quite as many, and while many of these cities and landmarks are very enjoyable to explore initially, the majority of them become useless as you progress from them, and that's quite a shame.
Black and White feature the same basic, familiar plot as its predecessors, albeit with a few much-appreciated twists and modifications. Two rivals are incorporated into the story, in contrast with previous games which had only featured one, and both rivals mature and develop as characters and as trainers throughout the story. Black and White also feature a new criminal syndicate, Team Plasma, an organization led by a young man determined to separate Pokémon and humans, who considers the latter as beings who abuse Pokémon, especially by forcing them to battle against each other. It's an interesting goal, and it's a shame the concept isn't explored further, but rather only lightly touched upon. Still, it's a great chance of pace and a definite improvement to the criminal organizations of the past.
Graphics and Audio
As mentioned previously, Unova is a beautiful region. Black and White are amazing aesthetically, and the game's graphics are what stand out the most. GameFreak also came to the wonderful conclusion that bridges are a great way to display their graphics through a variety of different camera angles, and indeed, the five different bridges scattered throughout Unova look absolutely amazing. In addition, Pokémon now animate fluidly throughout the battle, and GameFreak have finally ditched the awful two-frame distortion animations that plagued the 4th Generation games.
Audio-wise, the game is not as great. Black and White do feature some great music--some particularly great tracks include the Wild Pokémon theme, the Team Plasma theme, the Elite Four theme, the Route 10 theme, the Driftveil City theme, and the Rival Battle theme. However, a good portion of the tracks are either boring or don't contribute to the atmosphere of their respective locations. Cries are another big problem--while the new Pokémon cries are just fine, GameFreak have continued to recycle the horrible, static cries of the older Pokémon. Not only are they inconsistent with the new cries, but they sound outdated and horrible, and there's no excuse for re-using the same cries for over 15 years.
Needless to say, the most important factor in any game is the gameplay, and overall, the gameplay is exactly what you'd expect it'd be, for better or worse. The battle mechanics for single and double battles have received no upgrades, modifications or refinements. Presentation has improved, fortunately, as a constantly-moving camera and the aforementioned animated sprites makes battle more exciting and fun to watch. And, as with previous generations, new attacks, abilities and Pokémon help shake things up a bit, particular when it comes to the adventure--indeed, Black and White is at its best when you're exploring Unova and discovering, catching and training the brand new Pokémon for the very first time. Even players that have been there since the beginning will enjoy the adventure, and the decision to exclude older Pokémon from the storyline was a great one.
Unfortunately, the adventure doesn't last for long, and virtually unchanged, the battle mechanics are the same as they have been since 2006, with the last refinement to the battle mechanics occurring with Diamond and Pearl and their physical/special attack changes. "If it ain't broken, don't fix it" no longer applies when battles begin to feel boring, repetitive, and outdated. Triple Battles and Rotational Battles have been introduced, and while there is a fair amount of strategy involved in both (the latter being considerably more strategical), neither are quite as enjoyable as single battles. And the biggest issue of all, balance continues to be an issue, with the type-chart remaining very unbalanced (c'mon, GameFreak, Grass-types do not merit 7 weaknesses), and many older Pokémon simply not being viable in battles at all, with notable factors including poor stats, lackluster movepools, or competition from newer, stronger Pokémon.
Luckily, GameFreak was a bit more innovative when it comes to the multiplayer options, and GameFreak does deliver in that regard. While the Underground and Secret Bases unfortunately do not return, we do receive a similar feature--the Pokémon Dream World. By connecting to the Internet, players can upload their Black or White save file online, and through the Pokemon Dream World/Global Link website, players can not only customize their own online houses for their Pokémon, but they can play a variety of mini-games, and by winning these mini-games, players are awarded Pokémon with special alternate abilities they cannot otherwise receive.
Outside the Global Link website, there are multiple other new Wireless features. The Entralink is feature where players can actually visit other player's Unovas (only through Wireless, not Wi-Fi, unfortunately), where they can interact with the other player, or accept missions, which in return give you special "powers", such as the ability to increase the amount of experience or money gained in battles, or to cut the prices of items sold in shops in half. There are also new Wi-Fi features, such as the ability to negotiate trades online through the GTS, or the new random battle feature, where players can randomly battle other players from around the world without the need for friend codes.
Black and White excel in some areas, and stagger in others. They don't innovate where they needed to the most, but the wonderful additions, particular to the game's graphics and story, outweigh the shortcomings and the result is one hell of an entertaining--if a bit familiar--Pokémon game. They're worth the purchase, and while I hope GameFreak will innovate and modify the slowly aging battle mechanics with future installments, Black and White offer enough to entertain players until that day.
March 19th, 2011, 10:15 PM
And your winners are here...
After the long await, the winners for the blog competition for Autumn in Unova are finally in! First off, I want to say all of your reviews and summaries were great and those who didn't win this competition, still did a great job with their entries. I appreciate all the hard work and effort put into them, everyone deserves a high five!
But your winners of the review competition are... ;
Congratulations to those guys, and thank you all for participating! Have fun playing the games and once again, thanks for all of the attempts and effort put into entering these events for the release of Black and White. :)
March 19th, 2011, 10:28 PM
omgomgomgomgomg i had a heart attack just thenasfdk
Thanksss I didnt know how I would fair, when I took the risk of formatting my review differently to everyone else, looks like it was effective ^.^ And congrats to those who won with mee!! Thank you! <3
March 20th, 2011, 2:42 AM
I read down the list nodding, thinking "Yeah, these guys were awesome... wish I'd done more... wait what."
Thank you so much! I'm so happy! Thankyouthankyou! And congrats to the other winners, too!
March 20th, 2011, 3:26 AM
I won? Along with others? The competition is apparently pretty tight, so I was surprised that I won - and the fact that there are multiple winners, all 5 of them. Thank you for holding the competition, Kaori and Forever, and thank you for being participants in the event, all participants. I think I'm going to enjoy this new feature that I now have.
The most important thing in your review is your heart. Write it out - it'll do much good. I hope that this kind of event comes back sometime later for everyone!
March 20th, 2011, 8:18 AM
Well...the important thing is that I tried. I've said that three times now. xD
Congrats to all the winners, and well done on obtaining a shiny new blog :)
March 20th, 2011, 11:10 AM
Wow! After reading some everyone else's fantastic reviews, I honestly thought I didn't have much of a chance.
Congratulations to all the other winners, and thank you, Kaori and Forever, for holding this competition!
March 20th, 2011, 12:10 PM
You guys know that you cam also get a blog if you get to 1000 posts or become a supporter :)
March 20th, 2011, 12:26 PM
You guys know that you cam also get a blog if you get to 1000 posts or become a supporter :)
Umm no you can't. Supporter yes, but it is 5000 posts XD
March 20th, 2011, 12:54 PM
I can't express how long I've wanted a PC blog, and I'm beyond thankful that Forever, Kaori and Sotomura gave me the oppurtunity to get one. Congrats to everyone that won, as all of you were justified
in winning a blog, imo. I'm glad that the 5 top blogs were recognized, as I did think my chances of winning were slowly declining as I saw some really solid and well-done reviews coming after my own, nonetheless,
this was certainly an experience that I was glad to be a part of.
March 20th, 2011, 2:15 PM
Oh man i knew i wasnt going to win but i wish well congrats guys!
March 20th, 2011, 10:43 PM
Aww. Well, I didn't really expect that I'd win anyway, but atleast I tried. Congratulations to the winners, though. :D
March 22nd, 2011, 5:39 AM
Oh, congratulations, you winners! ^.~ Use your new blog well~
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http://www.pokecommunity.com/archive/index.php/t-244731.html
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14875433
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The creators of Extras, Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant, must compete against each other in the best TV actor category at the British Comedy Awards.
Peep Show double act David Mitchell and Robert Webb are also in the running for best actor, and their show is listed with Extras under best comedy.
Catherine Tate is up for best actress while Ant and Dec, Harry Hill and Paul Merton compete for top personality.
The awards will be presented in London by Jonathan Ross on 13 December.
Tate faces competition from Katherine Parkinson, nominated for her role in The IT Crowd, and Tamsin Greig's portrayal of a scatterbrained doctor in Green Wing, also on Channel 4.
And Parkinson is also listed in the category for best female newcomer, which includes singer Charlotte Church, who now has her own chat show, and Miranda Hart from BBC Two's Hyperdrive.
Alan Carr and Justin Lee Collins of The Friday Night Project will compete in the male newcomer section.
Catherine Tate's series earned her a best actress nomination
E4's Russell Brand and Kevin Bishop from Star Stories, a spoof celebrity series, are also in that category.
Star Stories has a nomination for best new comedy, along with Suburban Shootout, shown on Five and Paramount Comedy, and BBC Two's That Mitchell and Webb Look.
And in one final recognition for Gervais and Merchant, the US remake of their show The Office - which features Steve Carell - is shortlisted for best international comedy, against Larry David's Curb Your Enthusiasm and Everybody Hates Chris, starring Chris Rock.
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http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/6147740.stm
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14875434
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Stop sending arms to Ukraine, Merkel urges Putin
Berlin - German Chancellor Angela Merkel urged Russian President Vladimir Putin to "stop the flow of military equipment, military advisers and armed personnel crossing the border with Ukraine", in a telephone call on Friday.
During the conversation, Merkel expressed "concern about the situation in eastern Ukraine", her spokesperson Steffen Seibert said in a statement.
"In order to establish a ceasefire as quickly as possible, the chancellor asked the Russian president to help calm the situation," the statement said.
Merkel also "expressed hope that the humanitarian convoys reach their destination quickly, to relieve the suffering" in Ukraine.
Summit in Berlin
Kiev and Moscow have been wrangling for days over a Russian convoy that Moscow says is carrying humanitarian aid for besieged rebel-held cities but which Kiev suspects could be a "Trojan horse" to provide military help to the insurgents.
The call comes ahead of a planned summit in Berlin on Sunday that will be attended by foreign ministers from France, Russia, Ukraine and Germany, Seibert said.
It follows a tense day marked by reports of a Russian military incursion into Ukraine, which was immediately denied by Moscow.
Merkel, a fluent Russian speaker, has held regular talks by telephone with Putin, who served as a KGB agent in Dresden during the Cold War, since the Ukraine crisis erupted, urging respect for Ukrainian sovereignty.
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http://m.news24.com/news24/World/News/Stop-sending-arms-to-Ukraine-Merkel-urges-Putin-20140816
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14875435
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October 16, 2008
Himfr.Com Analyzes 2009’s Grain and Cotton Import Tariff Quotas
BEIJING, Oct. 16 /Xinhua-PRNewswire/ -- Himfr.com, one of China's leading B2B search platforms with more than 30 B2B industry websites to its name, reports that 2009's grain ( http://www.cheaponsale.com/buy-rice_long_grain/ ) and cotton import tariff quotas will not change, but will remain the same as 2008. The wheat ( http://www.cheaponsale.com/buy-Red_Hard_Wheat/ ) import tariff quota is 9.6 million tons, or 90% of the proportion of state trading; maize's import tariff quota volume is 7.2 million tons, or 60% of the proportion of state trading; rice's ( http://www.cheaponsale.com/buy-jasmine_brown_rice/ ) import tariff quota volume is 5.3 million tons, or 50% of the proportion of state trading; and cotton's import tariff quotas volume is 0.89 million tons, or 33% of the proportion of state trading.
Himfr.com's market analyst said that the food import tariff quotas for the main varieties of basic food products necessary for self-sufficiency have not been used up in previous years. Among corn ( http://www.cheaponsale.com/buy-Corn_Gluten_Feed/ ), wheat ( http://www.cheaponsale.com/buy-Red_Hard_Wheat/ ) and rice, China only has a shortage of corn, but the annual average import volume is only several thousand tons. Going forward, any future food product imports will not be large-scale.In order to protect the domestic food ( http://www.cheaponsale.com/buy-chemical_food_grade/ ) market, maintain food security, and to stabilize prices, the state has adopted a variety of regulatory policies to reduce the export of main food products. At the same time, other main cereals' import volumes fell, with the exception of soybean. According to Customs data, in August of this year, China's imports of cereals and cereal powder totalled 11.7 million tons, an increase of 9.2% over the same period last year. However, wheat and rice ( http://www.cheaponsale.com/buy-jasmine_brown_rice/ ) imports have declined year-on-year.
Furthermore, cotton import volume is lower this year than last year. China's textile and garment market recession, which has impacted cotton consumption, as a whole, will continue to reduce demand. So far this year, cotton prices are still declining.
It is reported that this year China will see a bumper cotton harvest. The total output of cotton will match last year's record of 80 million tons.
For more information, please contact: Himfr.com Room 610, Ximen commercial Building, 256 Xinhua Street Tong Zhou District, Beijing 100110 China Tel: +86-10-5211-8138 Email: [email protected]
CONTACT: Himfr.com, Room 610, Ximen commercial Building, 256 XinhuaStreet, Tong Zhou District, Beijing 100110 China
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http://www.redorbit.com/news/business/1589207/himfrcom_analyzes_2009s_grain_and_cotton_import_tariff_quotas/
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14875436
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1. 4 - Six-Inch Squares
This should be your background fabric.
2. 4 - Five-Inch Squares
This is your pinwheel fabric
3. Fold the five-inch square across the diagonal. You will form a half-square triangle
I have an aversion to pressing so I choose not to press with this fold; however, that being said, the first time you make the block yourself it does help.
4. Fold each half-square triangle as pictured below
With this fold, it will make your life easier if you press this fold into place.
5. Pin the last fold you made in place
You must pin; even if you are like me and hate to pin.
6. Repeat Step 3-5 until you have five 'matching' squares.
Note: The champagne isn't required; except when you try to work with my art director underfoot and terribly unhelpful.
7. Form the pinwheel layout.
8. Seam together all four squares.
There is a lot of fabric when you seam the four squares together. I typically press open the first set of seams and press to the side on the second set of seams. The pins stay in during this step.
9. Remove the pins
10. The fun part
You will -at the very least- tack down the corners of each pinwheel.
Detail of Step 10
Or you can hand-sew the edges down (straight line)...
Or you can hand-sew curves --like I did in this project....
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http://southerngirlquilts.blogspot.com/2011/02/tutorial-origami-pinwheels.html
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14875437
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State and county notables sang the praises of Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst at a Tuesday hearing before the National Commission on the Structure of the Air Force, the group charged with assessing the future needs of the military branch.
Although representatives for the commission insisted the group is only gathering information, not planning for cuts, the strategic and economic importance of the base was emphasized by Joseph Donnelly, director of the Burlington County Board of Freeholders, and U.S. Rep. Jon Runyan, R-3rd of Mount Laurel.
"The importance of the joint base to our Burlington County community cannot be overstated," Donnelly said. "The joint base contributes approximately $6 billion in gross output to the regional economy each year. Obviously, that is a serious boost to our local economy."
Runyan reminded the commission of the crucial role the base played in supporting relief efforts in the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy. By merging the operations of several branches of the military, he said, the joint base is a model for the more streamlined force of the future.
"Whether you look at the Navy conducting advance carrier aviation research at Lakehurst, the Marine Corps Reserve's MAG-49 flying "helos' on the McGuire portion of the base, to being one of four major Army Reserve power projection platforms and mobilization sites and deploying over 23,000 in support of operations in Iraq, Afghanistan or around the world, there is no doubt that JB MDL is a key weapon in our nation's arsenal," Runyan said.
The afternoon hearing, which took place at the Clarion Hotel in Ocean County, followed a morning tour of the base. The recently formed commission has begun a cross-country tour to assess the Air Force's current operations, and the joint base was its first visit.
The commission was created as part of the fiscal 2013 National Defense Authorization Act after the Air Force clashed with members of Congress over proposed cuts in equipment and personnel.
The Senate Armed Services Committee rejected proposed cuts to the Air National Guard, and instead recommended fully funding the Guard's equipment and personnel for 2013.
The commission was formed after committee chairman Sen. Carl Levin, D-Mich., called for a national commission to recommend changes in the Air Force's structure.
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http://votesmart.org/public-statement/804820/courier-times-donnelly-and-runyan-speak-up-on-behalf-of-joint-base
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14875438
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Ivery Webb Lindsey, 82, of Pulaski, formerly of Allisonia, died Monday, Nov. 26, 2012, in LewisGale Hospital–Pulaski.
She was preceded in death by her husband of 49 years, William M. Lindsey; her parents, W.C. and Blanche Webb, and sisters, Edith Sutherland, Violet Webb and Imogene Sisil.
Surviving are her daughters, Katherine Lindsey, of Dublin, and Janet Hanks and her husband, Dr. Carl E. Hanks Jr., of Pulaski; grandchildren, Sarah Hanks Campbell and her husband, Jeff, of Harrisonburg, Suzanne Hanks, of Wake Forest, N.C., and Carl Hanks, III, of Bristol, Tenn., and brother, W. C. Webb Jr. and his wife, Ann, of Kettering, Ohio.
Funeral services will be held Wednesday, Nov. 28, 10:30 a.m., at First Presbyterian Church, Pulaski, with the Rev. Melissa McNair-King and the Rev. Hugh Kilgore officiating. The family will receive friends after the service in the church Manse. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to Pulaski Daily Bread, C/O First Presbyterian Church, P. O. Box 824, Pulaski, VA 24301.
Arrangements by Stevens Funeral Home, Pulaski, VA.
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http://www.southwesttimes.com/2012/11/ivery-webb-lindsey/
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14875439
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Speed combines two factors, the distance travelled in a certain amount of time. In aviation speed is most often expressed in knots (kt). One knot is one nautical mile per hour. In aircraft the speed is "measured" with a pitot tube, the result is not the speed of the aircraft, it is the speed of the air flowing around the aircraft, the airspeed.
In older planes, notably German WW II fighter planes, the airspeed is indicated in kilometres per hour (km/h), which is still used in present-day European glider planes. The conversion factor is 1.852, i.e. you can roughly divide a reading in km/h by two in order to get the value in knot.
If the speed is indicated in knot, sometimes a 'K' is put before the acronym, so KEAS stands for 'equivalent airspeed in knot'.
For (near-)supersonic planes the speed can be expressed in Mach.
- Ground speed (GS) is the horizontal speed in which the aircraft moves relative to a fixed point on the ground.
One needs to know the GS in order to see how long a flight from A to B actually takes. Nowadays GS can be directly measured using a GPS system, and some aircraft equipped with such a system have a GS indicator. The GS can be calculated from TAS by correcting it for the prevailing wind at altitude or by measuring the time between passing two points on the ground radio beacons with a known distance, but in Flightgear you can always cheat and get it from the property browser under velocities/groundspeed-kt.
GS is the velocity in the horizontal direction of the aircraft. I.e. in a steep dive, the aircraft can move very fast, but because the motion is chiefly vertical, the ground-speed can be very small at the same time. This is where the GS differs from the ground-speed of a car.
- True airspeed (TAS) is the speed in which the aircraft moves relative to the surrounding air.
The difference between TAS and GS is that the air itself may move with respect to the ground (that's wind), and dependent on course relative to the wind direction a discrepancy between TAS and GS is induced. TAS can't really be measured directly but needs to be calculated, unless standing still on the ground where the TAS can be "seen" with the windbag.
Knowing TAS during flight is surprisingly useless - for navigation, ground speed is needed, and aerodynamic limits do not depend on TAS but rather IAS. The chief value of TAS is as a measure of aircraft performance and in pre-flight planning before the wind effect is taken into account.
The TAS can be calculated from CAS, air temperature and pressure altitude and is the second step to calculate the GS from IAS for navigation.
Often TAS and GS are assumed (confused) to be the same, they are not.
Airspeed is usually measured with a #Pitot tube at the front of the aircraft. The IAS can be the CAS. The IAS is not the TAS since the pressure differs greatly with altitude (more specific the density of the air). The higher the altitude the lower the IAS while flying the same TAS.
In spite of this dependence on altitude, IAS is a very useful quantity in flight. Many aerodynamical properties, for example drag, lift, the stress on the airframe, stall speed or the forces on control surfaces depend on the dynamic pressure generated by the airstream, not on the actual aircraft speed. The stall speed of an aircraft at sea level is very different from the stall speed (in TAS) at 30.000 ft - but they correspond to the same IAS reading.
At sea level, a IAS of 400 knot roughly corresponds to 400 knot TAS. At 80.000 feet (the cruising altitude of a SR-71), the IAS of 400 knot corresponds to a TAS in excess of 1600 knot (..that corresponds with about Mach 3 at that altitude).
- Calibrated airspeed (CAS) is calculated from the #Pitot tube measurement and correcting it for standard errors.
Modern equipment can most often can indicate the CAS. For navigation the CAS is the first step to calculate the GS.
- Equivalent airspeed (EAS) takes into account another correction (above #Calibrated airspeed, this time having to do with air properties rather than sensor errors.
At high altitude, the compressibility of air changes, so even CAS becomes more and more unreliable. For the SR-71 Blackbird with a ceiling of 85.000 feet, the CAS becomes very unreliable and the plane has to be flown based on a EAS. For more conventional aircraft, EAS is not used. Thus, EAS is what a perfect dynamic pressure sensor would show when properly calibrated for the air compressibility at the current altitude. The EAS is the calculated result from the ram pressure (measured by the #Pitot tube) and the static pressure (measured by the altimeter).
- The Mach number (M) is the speed of the aircraft divided by the speed of sound (at that altitude). It is a calculated number without a unit.
The aircraft's behaviour at Mach 1 at sea level is about the same as the behaviour of the aircraft at an altitude of 60000 feet. A Mach number below 1 means that the plane moves subsonic. A Mach number above 1 indicates supersonic flight. The Mach number is critical because a number of phenomena take place just around Mach 1 (transonic speed), for example a sudden increase in drag induced by shock-wave generation (sonic-boom). Aircraft that are not designed to fly supersonic will break up at Mach 1. The shape of the aircraft can cause parts of the aircraft being at or above Mach 1 while the fuselage is subsonic. Flying near Mach 1 can be quite dangerous, for most fast (but subsonic) aircraft Mach 0.83 is the limit. High flying aircraft, like passenger aircraft, can reach that limit easy while descending.
The speed of sound changes with the compressibility (and hence temperature) of air, the Mach number is dependent on altitude (as the air temperature drops at higher altitudes). This implies that Mach 2 at sea level corresponds to a faster TAS than Mach 2 at 30.000 ft. The precise relation between TAS, Mach number and altitude is a complicated formulae and depends in essence on the local weather pattern determining the pressure and temperature gradients in the atmosphere. The Mach number is measured/calculated from the same information as the EAS (#Pitot tube and altimeter)
For the complete V speed "definitions" list please visit Wikipedia. Here a small abstract. Note that V speed definitions can depend of local Flight rules. Most V speeds depend on the aircraft configuration (how much it weights etc.) so must be calculated forehand and must be included in the flight-plan. V speeds are used to compare aircraft performance and will be mentioned in the aircraft flight manual (AFM).
- M speeds are expressed in Mach.
|V1|| Take-off decision speed & Critical engine failure recognition speed.
During take-off the speed at which the aircraft safely can take-off even when one (of more) engine fails ("eats a bird"). The co-pilot (FO) will call out V1 during take-off, the pilot will check if all engines are running and decides to continue or abort take-off.
|V2||Take-off safety speed.|
|V3||Flap retraction speed.|
|VA||Design manoeuvring speed. Above this speed it is a bad idea to make sudden manoeuvres.|
|VC||Design cruising speed, also known as the optimum cruise speed, is the most efficient speed in terms of distance, speed and fuel usage.|
|VD||Max dive speed (for certification only)|
|VFE||Maximum flap extended speed.|
|VLE||Maximum landing gear extended speed.|
|VLO||Maximum landing gear operating speed.|
|VMO||Maximum operating limit speed.|
|VNE||Never exceed speed.|
|VNO||Maximum structural cruising speed or maximum speed for normal operations.|
|VR|| Nose-wheel take off speed.
The speed at which the nose-wheel leaves (should leave) the ground. As the speed increases the yokes will be pulled at Vr. It is also the speed at which the aircraft still can be stopped if there is a critical failure. The co-pilot (FO) will call out "rotate" during take off. VR is very similar to VROT and VREF.
|VRef||Landing reference speed or threshold crossing speed.|
|VS||Stall speed or minimum steady flight speed for which the aircraft is still controllable.|
|VS0||Stall speed or minimum flight speed in landing configuration.|
|VS1||Stalling speed in a specified configuration|
|VX||Best angle of climb speed|
|VXSE||Best angle of climb speed, one engine out|
|VY||Best rate of climb speed|
|VYSE||Best rate of climb speed, one engine out|
- Not knowing the (complete list of) V speeds has caused dramatic accidents. It has occurred that the pilot and co-pilot were not aware of the minimal speed of an aircraft during landing with one engine damaged causing loss of control just before touch-down (the pilot gave full throttle hoping to gain speed expecting to get back control causing the left-over engine push the aircraft to one side).
The pitot tube is the tool to measure the airspeed. It is a tube directed forwards, exposed to the airstream. The air is being pushed inwards (rammed) by the motion of the aircraft and the (ram) pressure is measured. The measured pressure is corrected indicating the airspeed. The ram pressure is also called the dynamic pressure opposite the static pressure that us used to indicate altitude. Bigger aircraft have two pitot tubes and the indicator displays the average of the two. However, most often only one pitot tube is used to control the autopilot, even when the indicator is connected with two.
The pitot tube can be blocked easy, once blocked, or worse, partially blocked the IAS will have no relation with the speed of the aircraft. This situation is enhanced if the pitot tube controlling the autopilot is blocked.
Ice is a known cause of blockage of the pitot tube hence there are pitot heaters that should prevent forming of ice. Another known cause of blockage are insects. Blockage of pitot tubes is a known cause of some very dramatic accidents and every pilot should learn how to deal with strange behaving speed indicators and autopilots.
- Velocity: A vector combining speed and (angle of) direction. Often used as synonym of speed.
- Understanding Supersonic Flight
- V speeds on English Wikipedia
- US. CFR 14 §25.335 – Design airspeeds Do note that these are EAS (equivalent airspeed), not IAS (indicated airspeed).
- V-Speeds at Code 7700
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http://wiki.flightgear.org/Aircraft_speed
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14875440
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Combine half the watermelon, half the water and half the sugar in a blender; puree. Pour through a coarse strainer into a large container. Repeat with the remaining watermelon, water and sugar. Stir in lime juice. Refrigerate until well chilled, about 4 hours.
To serve, stir in club soda (or seltzer) and garnish with lime.
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http://www.dlife.com/printRecipe?recipeId=3000813
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14875441
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A fantastic buggy ride to discover the beautiful countryside near Marbella along routes planned by expert guides. Fun for the whole family and the possibility to discover unspoiled spots. Buggies are safe vehicles, so previous driving experience isn’t required to turn the excursion in an unforgettable moment. Get a day off the beach and golf courses and spend it discovering the magnificent Marbella countryside while driving a buggy along special trails.
Open 365 days a year 3-and-a-half- to 6-hour rides
All the buggies feature a 250cc engine and seat 2 people. Driver’s licence required.
Ctra. N-340, Km. 191. Elviria
Telephones: (+34) 952 833 664; (+34) 651 053 518; (+34) 655 891 422
Category: Spain family holidays
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http://cheapholidaysinspain.net/buggy-safari/
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14875442
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Antlerz are 100% natural, mineral rich, and long lasting dog chews. Deer Antlers are naturally rich in minerals and are a completely renewable source! Wild deer shed their antlers once a year as part of a natural process, after which the deer re-grow another set. These shed antlers are gathered by ranch workers, cut to the appropriate size, and cleaned.
ANTLERZ™ hold up substantially longer than most traditional chews made from plastic, bone, or compacted starch. They contain high concentrations of calcium and phosphorus, with trace amounts iron, zinc, and sodium. Deer antlers are a 100% natural, mineral rich dog chew that contains no plastics, no petrochemicals, no empty starches or artificial flavors.
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http://www.bestbullysticks.com/antlerz
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14875443
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Originally Posted by glennpendlay
Not sure if hes tall, but im fat, and think that the whole concept of "relative strength" is an evil conspiracy.
Agreed. It's a conspiracy. "King Kong" would be soooo easy if it weren't for those damn muscle ups.
All the best,
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http://www.catalystathletics.com/forum/showpost.php?p=52191&postcount=11
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14875444
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Had an email from Amazon.
Ordered 28th May, upgrade email arrived first thing this morning.
Upgraded my pre-order to the FIFA Mega Pack (PS4 + 2 controllers + Camera + Killzone Shadowfall + FIFA 14) for £489.
They did say however that I'd only get confirmation of that at some point in the next 7 days, so presumably they will allow a week for everyone to claim what they want and allocate as demand.
Still waiting to hear anything from GAME (I have two pre-orders but a buddy is having one of them. Don't worry, no price gouging or flipping here!) but now I've upgraded at least one of my orders I'll probably just stick to the core system there.
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http://www.neogaf.com/forum/showpost.php?p=85156075&postcount=432
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14875445
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As announced during Sony’s gamescom press briefing, Switch Galaxy Ultra is coming to PlayStation 4 and Vita. Here’s the first trailer, as well as details of the indie racer.
Like Switch Galaxy, the PlayStation Mobile title on which it is based, Switch Galaxy Ultra is sort of a racer and sort of an arcade reflex game – it reminds me of Flick Pig, and the trailer below gives the best explanation.
On the PlayStation Blog, developer Atomicom said the new version has new assets, a re-designed HUD and menu, new features, new levels, more ships, more power-ups and various improvements.
The most notable improvement is that the game will run in 60 FPS, despite a visual upgrade. There’s also a story sequence told in comic strips, courtesy of Darren Douglas, a Judge Dredd cover artist who worked on every Wipeout game. It introduces two new characters, Vince and Amur, and has a licensed soundtrack, although Atomicom isn’t ready to discuss which DJs it’s signed.
Sometimes we include links to online retail stores. If you click on one and make a purchase we may receive a small commission. For more information, go here.
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http://www.vg247.com/2013/08/23/switch-galaxy-ultra-headed-to-ps4-vita-at-60fps-first-trailer/
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14875446
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Exec Administrative Support Sp
CLAS Office of Student & Acad
Mail Code: 6605
Return to Basic Search | Go to Advanced Search
Select from the topics above to view the information.
Executive Administrative Support Specialist, Office of Student
and Academic Programs, College of
Liberal Arts and Sciences
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https://webapp4.asu.edu/directory/person/22125
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14875447
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Tickets currently unavailable. Click 'More Information'.
Arash: Play Reading
Written and Directed by Bahram Beyzaie
with Mojdeh Shamsaie and Mohsen Namjoo
Program and Performance in Persian
Arash is one of the most enduring stories of Iranian mythology. A few artists have offered their own renditions of this remarkable tale - the story of a man who offers to end the bloodshed between Iran and its neighbor, Touran, and instead uses the power of his arrow to determine the border of the two countries. Arash is one of Bahram Beyzaie's earliest writings, and though it has been performed numerous times, in numerous countries and languages, it has never been directed by Beyzaie himself. We are proud to present a stage reading of this singular work, with two of their generation's most acclaimed artists, Mojdeh Shamsaie and Mohsen Namjoo, in the leading roles. Each performance is approximately seventy minutes, and will be preceded by brief introductory remarks by Bahram Beyzaie.
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http://sto.stanfordtickets.org/single/eventDetail.aspx?p=5310
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14875448
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her little paw. so cute!!
Friday, October 30, 2009
her little paw. so cute!!
Thursday, October 29, 2009
i got a few of my friends hooked on twilight. my friend mary, who i got hooked on twilight, found a class at sips n strokes where we painted something from twilight. so she signed us up and we went! i had never been before, and i didn't really know what to expect. everyone i went with had been there before, so they kind of filled me in. it was only $25 and we got to take our paintings home that night!
i'm not going to lie. i'm not an artist....
we started with a white canvas and had to paint it all black. then we put a little red where we wanted...
mary was sitting right across from me, so i got a lot of picture of her :)
and the finished product! i sat there and kept adding to it. i didn't think it looked very good, especially compared to the teacher's. but now that i haven't been staring it for 2 hours, i don't think it looks too bad.
i'm proudly displaying my work of art :) and hopefully i'll go back soon to do more! i'll make sure to chose something that looks a little easier.
here's our group, minus one. she had to leave right after we finished. from left to right, melissa, me, mary, and sarah. and we all love twlight!!
oh, and they had a class where they painted a picture of edward from twilight. i laughed.
i told chris we were going to hang the picture above our bed. i was just kidding though. he hates twilight. but our bathroom is red, so i think i might hang it in there. and chris doesn't mind that either.
i can't wait to go back. i think my mom and i are going to try to go sometime. it's a lot of fun!
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
Monday, October 26, 2009
addison cut her first tooth last night/today. i'll write about that tomorrow.
wish me luck in my blog designing!
this week i decided to participate in MckMama's Not Me! Monday. it's the blog carnival that showcases what we did do, err didn't do, but are ok with admitting.
while in the kitchen, i did not spill some water on the kitchen floor. oops! usually, i would just grab a paper towel and clean it up. but this time, i was wearing socks, and i did not just run my foot over the water and let my sock soak up the water. i would never do such a thing. especially since there are paper towels right beside me. never!
i did not hit the snooze button on my alarm multiple times this morning. i would never try to squeeze in 15 extra minutes of sleep, even though i knew would be rushed getting ready and getting to school on time. i love my sleep!
on the days i didn't have class, i most certainly did not use my child as an alarm clock. and if she woke up earlier than i wanted to, i would definitely not get out of bed, give her some toys and her paci, and go back to bed. i mean, isn't that a lot of work to just get more sleep? i would never do a thing like that!
while changing addison's poopy diaper, one of her little nuggets (that's what chris and i call her little poops) did not fall on my foot. when noticing said nugget on my foot, i most certainly did not scream and kick my foot to get it off. i would never kick a nugget on the carpet just to get it off of my foot. ewww!
today, i most certainly did not shove my finger (yes it was clean) in addison's mouth so i could see if she was getting any teeth. i would never do such a thing, knowing it makes me mad. but she did get her first tooth! more on that later...
well, i think that's it for things i did not do this past week. or at least the things i'm willing to admit. now hop on over to MckMama's blog and check out what other people aren't doing :)
Saturday, October 24, 2009
i feel like i've gotten a lot done today. i've cleaned, done laundry, and finished some homework. i still have more laundry to do, but i think it's going to get done either tonight or tomorrow. i took addison over to my mom's house earlier. i went because i figured out a way to get the music from my mom's iTunes on her computer to my iTunes on my laptop. then i'll be able to transfer it from my laptop to my desktop at home. so i'll have all my music again. yay!
i left addison at my mom's to nap, and came home to get a few things done. i haven't really been that successful. i get distracted easier. no, i don't have ADD. i just find things
tomorrow, i'm going to my grandmother's with my dad and addison. she had surgery thursday on her shoulder. we're taking her breakfast, which we did last sunday as well. addison likes being able to play there instead of having to sit in a highchair. she's all over the place.
we never got around to taking addison to a pumpkin patch last week. i really wanted to go to Honeysuckle Hill Farm, but i don't think we'll get to this year. chris is off wednesday, so we'll probably just take her to the place over by my mom's house and get a few pumpkins. i'll try to take pictures there though.
well, time for me to go pick up my little stinker. she should be waking up soon, and my mom has stuff for a bottle, but no food. and i don't think addison would be very happy if she didn't get to eat!
Friday, October 23, 2009
i. love. uggs.
no matter how many people tell me they think they're ugly, i just love them. they are so comfortable. ahhh. just thinking about them makes me happy. i got my first real pair a few years ago, and i have 2 pairs now. chris got me my second pair 2 years ago, but i don't ever wear those. i don't like them. they're the really short ones, and i regret getting them. but the ones that i wear all the time are the medium height ones, and they're amazing.
they are really old and kind of dirty, so i'm thinking about asking for a new pair for christmas. i just love putting my feet into a new pair. they're so fluffy.
when i found out i was having a girl, i knew i wanted her to have uggs. i told chris, and he was just like whatever. but my mom surprised me and got her a pair! they are so cute. they're pink :) she got them off ebay, so they were cheaper than new ones. but i don't think a baby can tell the difference between new and used uggs.
this is addison only a few weeks old in her uggs....
this is addison now in her uggs. she doesn't really know what to think of them. but i think they look so cute! she wouldn't stay still long enough for me to get a good picture. she is an explorer full time now.
and here's mommy and daughter uggs :)
and they're off. addison would try kicking them off, so after we were done taking pictures, i just took them off. and she started chewing on whatever she could find.
if you live somewhere that has cold winters, i highly suggest you get a pair of uggs. they keep your feet so warm. and even though they may not be the cutest shoes (i still think they are), warm feet win!
Thursday, October 22, 2009
next were the meerkats. they are so cute! they just stood there so still. addison was quite fascinated.
they had this little bubble you could get in and be inside the meerkat area. you had to crawl under, like on your hands and knees, to get there. i was going to take addison there, but it was crowded the first time we passed it. but on our way out it was empty. so i crawled under and chris passed addison to me. she loved it!
she would wave at the animals. it was so cute! she waved at that little guy, and he was just looking at her like what are you doing. it was pretty funny.
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http://www.addictedtoaddison-blog.com/2009_10_01_archive.html
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14875449
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In recent years, the liqueur St.-Germain has been a skyrocketing success. With a primary flavor of elderflowers, primary but not too dominant, St.-Germain is an ingredient in thousands of cocktail variations. Its success is due not just to great marketing but truly to its inherent quality and versatility.
You would expect rivals to appear, and they have. A prominent addition is Pavan. Again French, this liqueur is, of course, based on a secret recipe with only modest revelations being made to us. The label says that fine muscat grapes and orange blossoms are the flavor heart of a complex product.
Suggested uses for Pavan are sangria, with sparkling water and ice, or mixed with vodka, gin, tequila or champagne. Your first use can be as a substitute for St.-Germain, generating new and quite distinct beverages.
You can employ Pavan in exotic combinations, with multiple spirits and fruits and syrups. Or you can go simple, leveraging Pavan’s own quite distinctive notes. In the Peacock Tail, it’s just Pavan with gin or vodka and a tad of lemon juice. Clearly, there are many variation available here in the Peacock Tail alone: gin comes in versions with many distinct flavor profiles and there is a rainbow of vodkas, including the citrus-based ones that are ideal for this cocktail.
Me? I happen to like sipping just a little Pavan. Neat. I cannot say the flavor is “orange” because there are so many different molecules involved her. But there is an orange influence here that cannot be denied. It’s there for your enjoyment.
If you dabble in preparing cocktails, then Pavan belongs on your shelf.
Pavan Peacock Tail Cocktail
Yield: 1 serving
- 1.5 ounces Pavan
- 1 ounces gin or vodka
- .5 ounces fresh lemon juice
- Mint for garnish
Put ingredients into a cocktail shaker. Fill with ice. Shake vigorously. Strain into an ice-filled Collins glass.
Photo Information Canon T2i, EFS 60 mm Macro Lens, F/2.8 for 1/80th second at ISO-1000
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http://www.cookingbythebook.com/dedicated-drinkers-diary/pavan-peacock-tail/
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14875450
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Posted by Denise Basham
on August 03, 2000 at 11:11:54:
In Reply to: So happy for you and your family! posted by G-ma Katie on August 01, 2000 at 18:57:58:
: Glad to hear your good news. I will continue to pray for you and hope your news update keep getting better.
You mentioned that Jacob wore a hat all day. Iam just wondering if this is becaused he pulled his hair. My son just turned 3 and we keep his hair short because he has pulled bald spot(large one) out twice already.Thank You,Denise
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http://www.healthboards.com/autism/5284.html
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14875451
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Sync iPod with Windows Media Player
Cameron says, "Hello, My name is Cameron, I NEED HELP! I want to put music on my iPod from Windows Media Player 10, but it won't let me put music on it to sync!"
This is by design. Apple wants you to use their end-to-end experience of iPod-iTunes-iTunes Music Store. The easiest way to connect your music collection with your iPod is through iTunes. Windows Media Player does not natively support syncing with any of the iPod line of players and likely never will. At best, you can bypass iTunes as an interface for your iPod, but there's nothing that's going to let you directly interface with your iPod by attempting to sync the library of music you use in conjunction with Windows Media Player. Here are a couple good options for syncing your iPod without needing iTunes.
The standard version of MediaMonkey is one way to sync files to an iPod without using iTunes. The software is hands down the best music file manager for Windows. With recent improvements, it's also one of the best ways to sync your iPod without using iTunes. You can manage all of the tracks you download from iTunes in MediaMonkey. You can import your Windows Media Player library and playlists. You can configure automatic sync of music between your iPod and your music library. The only thing MediaMonkey can't do is make files you purchased as non-iTunes DRM files playable on your iPod. I highly recommend MediaMonkey. It's the solution I use to keep my phone in sync with my own music library.
Xilisoft iPhone Magic
Another great alternative to iTunes is Xilisoft iPhone Magic. While the name implies working with iPhones, it also works with iPod devices too. This app handles all the music, video, and photo management for your iPod, while expanding beyond the basic features offered by iTunes. You can convert many audio and video formats so they playback on your iPod automatically. DVD ripping is supported, direct to the video library for your iPod. You can play files on your iPod on your PC speakers when the iPod is connected to your computer. iPhone Magic lets you build photo albums for your iPod (assuming you have an iPod that supports photos). And iPhone Magic lets you backup your iPod music, photos, and video to any computer, even if you aren't nearby the computer you normally sync your iPod with.
Of course, iPhone Magic also includes many of the standard media player features like editing album information, building playlists, and browsing your songs by artist, genre, album, etc.
More Great iPod Tips
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http://www.jakeludington.com/ask_jake/20050816_sync_ipod_with_windows_media_player.html
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14875452
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DeLisha Milton-Jones Likely Out for the Season
"It's a very, very tough loss for our team," said Los Angeles Sparks GM Penny Toler. "She's one of our most valuable players. She came to camp in great shape, and has put together an amazing comeback this year. Our entire team will have to step up for us to continue on our quest for a championship."
Milton-Jones suffered the injury to her knee in the Sparks’ 66-61 victory at San Antonio on Friday, July 9. She was on a fast break, moving to avoid a defender in the closing seconds of the first half, when she fell under the basket, grabbing at her right knee.
“I’m disappointed but at the same time it feels good to know that I will be able to comeback new and improved,” said Milton-Jones. “Although it wasn’t my ACL this time, having surgery for my medial meniscus will allow it to be repaired as well. I still believe in Mr. Khalifa’s treatment and if I had to do it all over again, I would do the exact same thing.”
“Right now I’m focusing on myself and my career. I still have an obligation to help this team win another championship; it’s just in a different role. You can best believe I plan on filling that role to the fullest.”
For the season, Milton-Jones appeared in 19 games, averaging 10.1 points with the Sparks, who currently have the best record in the WNBA.
The Los Angeles Sparks are now 14-6 and will return to action on Saturday, July 17 when they host the Sacramento Monarchs at 7:30 p.m. at STAPLES Center. Fans can tune in and listen to all of the team’s 2004 WNBA home games on KWKU Radio 1220 and non-televised road games on KLAC Radio 570 with Ann Meyers-Drysdale calling the action.
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http://origin.wnba.com/sparks/news/miltonjones_injury_040713.html
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14875453
|
Financial Counsellors assist Victorians in financial difficulty
by providing information, support and advocacy.
Working within the community sector, their
services are free, independent and confidential.
Problems with the map?
This map is hosted by MoneySmart on their website. Think of this as a mirror of their map, on our site. FCRC can not actually update or alter the map, as it's not ours.
Financial counselling services are free.
3 June 2016
The Rank the Energy Retailer Survey is back. Financial counsellors across the state have been.. Continue »
22 February 2016
The scholarship provides financial assistance, up to a maximum of $5K, to a person/persons to study.. Continue »
16 February 2016
National Hardship Register launched to protect vulnerable consumers FCRC welcomes the.. Continue »
Membership renewal details will be available mid-January
The conference will be held in Melbourne this year! More details to come closer to September!
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http://www.fcrc.org.au/
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14875454
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Mr. Anthony George Merchant - Williams of Portfield, Haverfordwest Suddenly at his home on October 30th and aged 52 years,Anthony, of Portfield, Haverfordwest. Much loved he will be sadly missed by his family and many friends. Funeral Thursday November 8th service 1.00 pm at Parc Gwyn Crematorium, Narberth. Family flowers only. Donations for the Paul Sartori Foundation may be sent c/o The Treasurer, 31, Haven Road, Haverfordwest. All enquiries to Roy Folland & Son Funeral Directors 01437 763821.
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http://www.westerntelegraph.co.uk/announcements/deaths/deaths/10031444.A_MERCHANT_WILLIAMS/
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14875455
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Please stop using the new editor
The new editor is not yet street ready and is causing numerous problems on any page edited with the new tools. Page format is being completely screwed with, massive extraneous inserts of Asterisks, removal of header identifiers and deletion of hard breaks are among trhe problems. Please go to your user preferences and disable the default use of the new editor tools.Fulongamer 17:26, 19 December 2008 (UTC)
Can I ask why you keep removing the infobox from the T-1002 page? --Kanamekun 00:13, 22 May 2009 (UTC)
- I thought that discussion was that we shouldn't have infoboxes on *Series* pages... terminators and characters should definitely have infoboxes. --Kanamekun 00:23, 22 May 2009 (UTC)
True, add it back and help me add for the series and films.
- If you'd like to make an infobox for the series or films, feel free to propose one! --Kanamekun 00:59, 22 May 2009 (UTC)
I have...can u still help me though? And TSCC has nothing to do with T3 and 4 right?
- I am not very good at making new infobox templates. And yes, TSCC seems to be separate. --Kanamekun 01:13, 22 May 2009 (UTC)
okay....thanks...all I do is copy other ones and change the info...
I need help with the picture in my infobox, can anyone help me? T-888 23:12, January 21, 2010 (UTC)
- Done, you didn't need to add the "[[File:]]" part, that's what made everything look all screwy and pushed to the side. No biggie, it's quite easy to do, I myself did many similar things when learning wiki coding and templates :-) --Terran Officer 01:02, January 22, 2010 (UTC)
Thanks,. T-888 01:44, January 22, 2010 (UTC)
waht it houer of the wolf about ? the terminator novel User:Olliedudley
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http://terminator.wikia.com/wiki/User_talk:T-888
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14875456
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Danes lined the streets on Friday to cheer as their prince married a foreigner without a drop of blue blood, putting Donaldson in line to be the first Australian-born woman to become a queen.
"She is stunning, absolutely stunning. Typically Australian. I think I'm gonna cry," said Hayley from the Australian city of Perth, visiting Copenhagen with her family for the wedding.
Security was tight as royalty from Europe and Japan gathered to watch the 35-year-old prince marry his bride of 32. She joins a royal house that the Danes say is Europe's oldest, dating back to the Viking king Gorm the Old, who died in 958.
The prince, popular for his common touch, cried as his princess walked up the aisle in a gown of white duchess satin with a veil of almost 100-year-old Irish lace, once used by Frederik's grandmother.
Mary Donaldson has enchanted
many Danes by learning Danish
Donaldson's bearded father wore the kilt of his Scottish clan and Frederik wore his naval uniform.
The Bishop of Copenhagen, Erik Svendsen, said in his sermon that "nothing in the real world is as uncomplicated as in the fairy tales" - and Donaldson's subjects expect the former estate agent and marketing executive to work for her keep.
"She will represent Denmark and sell us abroad, working for us just like Queen Margrethe and Prince Henrik," said Annie Jensen, soaking up the atmosphere as the self-proclaimed "world's biggest didgeridoo orchestra" played for the crowd.
The crowd roared when Donaldson, now Crown Princess Mary, kissed her new husband on the cheek as a horse-drawn carriage took them to Amalienborg palace, where they waved to the crowd from a balcony and kissed later on.
"It's easy to see they are real people and that they are truly in love. I cried when I saw Frederik crying in the church"
Around 400 guests were due to attend the evening banquet at Fredensborg castle.
"It's easy to see they are real people and that they are truly in love. I cried when I saw Frederik crying in the church," said Danish-American Deborah Marlow.
"We love it! We love it!" screamed Danish teenagers Signe Lundgren and Kristina Villadsen, both wearing plastic tiaras.
"Mary will make an excellent princess and queen," said Signe.
Across Australia, people gathered at pubs, clubs and even schools to celebrate the wedding.
In Donaldson's native Hobart, children went to school dressed as Vikings and princesses. Sydney's Danish community watched it live in the city's opera house, designed by a Dane.
The couple met in a bar in Sydney during the 2000 Olympics and, as befits a tale by the Danish storyteller Hans Christian Andersen himself, she did not know that he was a prince.
The bar marked the occasion by serving "Great Dane" and "Tasmanian Temptress" cocktails.
Donaldson has enchanted Denmark by learning the language, adopting Danish citizenship and converting to the Danish Lutheran faith from Presbyterianism.
But not everyone in Denmark thought she was Mrs Right for the prince. "It's still not too late, Fred," read a headline in the tabloid Ekstra Bladet, above a photo of a naked woman painted with the red and white Danish flag.
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http://www.aljazeera.com/archive/2004/05/20084915465968938.html
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Imagine a power plant in the middle of a wildlife sanctuary. Try to picture an energy source as a work of art. That’s exactly what the Land Art Generator Initiative asked designers and architects to do. For its second site-specific design competition the non-profit organization (LAGI for short), sought to inspire plans for land art installations with the duel function of being both ornamental attractions for visitors and sources of renewable energy. This time the initiative found a kindred spirit in a parks department that has asked citizens to envision a dumping ground as a place of natural beauty.
When LAGI’s directors were considering places on which to focus their 2012 contest, New York City’s Freshkills Park seemed like the ideal choice. The location’s transformation from what was once the world’s largest landfill to a 2,200-acre preserve is now being undertaken in stages over a 30-year development phase with a similar intent as the one informing LAGI’s own mission — questioning assumptions and repairing environmental damage with smart sustainable methods. And when it comes to alternative energy, the park has already begun harvesting methane from decomposing garbage to heat area homes.
In LAGI’s ultimate goal of one day witnessing the construction of “the world’s first work of public art, slash sustainable utility-scale power plant,” environmental stewardship goes hand in hand with the establishment of a public gathering place, just as it does in the ongoing overhaul of Freshkills.
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http://www.planet-mag.com/2013/art/jordan-sayle/artful-energy/
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|Cash at bank and in hand||1||1|
|CAPITAL AND RESERVES||2015||2014|
WESTFIELD MANAGEMENT SERVCES LIMITED has been working since 8/9/2013. The current status of the business is Active - Proposal to Strike off WESTFIELD MANAGEMENT SERVCES LIMITED located on LEAMINGTON HOUSE, BROAD STREET, LONG EATON, NOTTS, NG10 4PNAgent Elm Mark is known as a Director of the company. "Dormant Company" is a known activity of the company.
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http://intercreditreport.co.uk/company/westfield-management-servces-limited-08645512
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Greetings, Loyal Reader!
Royal Crush will debut one month from today – December 5!1
We’re in the final countdown. I am eagerly awaiting the cover art from an Artist To Be Named Once I Get The Cover Art and will flip that around to my cover designer to add the logos and titles. Meanwhile, I have completed multiple revision passes through the manuscript and am about to print it out for copyediting with my trusty purple pen. I copyedit by hand because it is easier to scrutinize paper than to spend even more hours staring at a computer screen.
That will take a few days. Then I’ll type in any corrections and switch gears to formatting the MS-Word file into an ebook file for uploading to the various online retailers. That’s my schedule for the next few weeks. I’m looking forward to finally getting Royal Crush into your waiting hands. Or, at least onto your favorite reading device!
- I pushed the launch date back from October due to some unforeseen production delays [↩]
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http://jasoncosmo.com/?p=1315
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Troubleshooting Common Windows 7 Booting Problem
Added: (Wed May 10 2017)
Pressbox (Press Release) -
With the publication of Window Vista, you could imagine your Window XP is old-fashioned and need automobile computer with Window Vista. However, if you keep your Window XP up to knowledge and the idea effectively, finito, no more need to get a new computer perhaps Window Vista CD.
If possess to forgotten win 7 passwords but didn't create your account information reset disk,then method one wouldn't sell your home. Keep reading, below lists a well-known method you to reset win 7 passwords after you forgot Windows 7 private data.
If you need to embed videos from YouTube, Google Video, MSN Soapbox or another website, press on "Insert Video." You can include a map from Microsoft Virtual Earth, click on "Insert Road map!" Photos are a little tricky, because for many folks blogs cannot just upload them within your PC; you need to include them from another website. Fortunately, there cost nothing photo-hosting websites online, like Flickr and Photobucket, restaurants to upload your pictures. You'll then click on "Insert Picture," then "Insert Picture from Web," and hand it the URL (web address) of the picture.
If your operating system does not boot at all, may get still make use of a system restore point. Use your installation DVD to boot off. This time you will not install a different copy of Window, instead Windows 7 Loader will choose to "Repair your computer" (you can find this option at the smaller left cupboard. Just press next to prompt with a screen with the available system restore variables. Select the restoration point by date and it will also take only few minutes to finish the same job.
Windows 7 doesn't have a Web Remove. You can choos to install Windows Live Family Safety (WINDOWS 7 ACTIVATORS Live Family Safety) which is a component of of the question Live Essentials suite If you want additional controls like Web Filtering and activity reports. To it you can block regarding certain sites and go for access a good activity report that shows you what sites your children have been visiting.
OK first things first, back your own data files and C:Documents to another hard drive, network or possibly a removable medium before reinstalling Windows. Also back up any other folders by you store your records. You also prefer to unplug all the cables and peripherals on computer and simply have the capacity cord connected. This is to prevent Windows from randomly loading drivers for printers and attached devices etc. may upset the configuration and sequence.
In the "Type another password" box, type a brand password, and then "re-type the password to confirm" box, type the password therefore.In the "Type a fabulous password hint" box, type the password prompt, and then click "Next."Click the "Finish", then eating out everyday log on to Windows Exp.
Thirdly. Fix blue screen on startup or black screen with excellent tool Insert the CD/USB in the computer and reboot. Completely enter to a WinPe system in a minute and the follow move is to double go through the "Windows Boot Genius" icon on the desktop. Considering that the resulting starts cost will the operation interface like the below picture shows. Choose proper solution according to your own the problem of personal computer and start to rescue. Your will be OK under some minutes at the final.
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http://pressbox.co.uk/Legal/Troubleshooting_Common_Windows_7_Booting_Problem_1873029.html
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New Delhi :European aviation major Airbus will start delivering new engine technology aircraft A320neos to low-cost carrier Indigo from next month, the airline announced today.
IndiGo was scheduled to induct these planes in the fleet from December last year.
“We are delighted to announce that Airbus has confirmed that beginning with March 2016, it will deliver 24 fuel efficient A320neos aircraft to the airline between March 2016 and March 2017 as compared to the original plan to deliver 26 A320neos,” a release said.
“The new A320neos powered by Pratt and Whitney’s fuel efficient geared turbo fan engines will enable us to structurally reduce our costs as fuel continues to be the single largest element of our cost structure,” IndiGo President Aditya Ghosh said.
“This also marks the beginning of the next phase of IndiGo’s growth and will enable it to make air transportation far more accessible for the flyers,” Ghosh said.
Airbus had in December informed IndiGo about the possible delay in delivery of the aircraft, which the manufacturer claims burns 10-15 per cent less fuel than the existing versions.
The airline had then said “at this time, IndiGo does not have a clear visibility of its future A320 neos delivery schedule and the potential for additional delays exists.”
IndiGo had announced to acquire 180 A320s including 150 A320 neos in 2011, the largest aircraft order by any Indian carrier at that time.
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http://www.siasat.com/news/airbus-deliver-a320neos-indigo-beginning-march-924787/
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Something I always hear from teachers when I broach the subject of using Moodle, is the age-old complaint that it will add to their work-loads. I have had exactly the reverse experience. If used correctly, Moodle will actually decrease your work-load. the bureaucracy of lesson planning is something I have always struggled with, Once I have planned my lesson, created any resources, and thought through the lesson, there always seems to be precious little time to write it all up, print it out and punch holes in the page so that it can be filed in the relevant folder ready for inspection by my Head of Department once in a blue moon! And then heaven help me if the page goes missing.
Using a lesson plan template is a plus, but it is still the first thing to be sacrificed when time is tight. When I started using Moodle, however, I soon realised that I could do away with the need for a lesson planning file altogether. Since all the Learning Resources were stored on the platform, by adding the Lesson Plan document itself as a hidden file, ie. not visible to students, I could become totally paperless.
Given that all my resources and planning documents are created digitally anyway, the time it takes to upload the files is the only additional work, and since this easily matches the time taken to do paper filing, it is no great hardship.
The great advantage, in terms of classroom management, however, is that all files are instantly accessible for editing and revision the following year.
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https://digiteacher.wordpress.com/2011/07/25/classroom-management-using-moodle/
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The mathematical origins of stitch are unknown, nonetheless it is believed thatability it may be derived to the Central Easterly as azoic as the African nation Primary Folk. Surviving examples of stitch are seen in place statues and piece of writing illuminationsability of thick armour. Scrapbookingability and stitch are all two-billion-dollarability industries, and theory and stitch are some enjoyingability a vast betterment in quality nigh on the world, in particular in the United States and Archipelago. Stitching and stitch are hobbies thatability ne'er go out of style.
Sewing Machines, Sergers, Stitch Machines, And Elaboration Machines
Today's handicraft machines grant us the skill to labour on large quilts beside more than tortuous routine designs. Their bobbinsability have more than twofold the size of old sewing machines, which helps in not changing bobbinsability as recurrently near new hole stitch machines. Prewoundability bobbinsability are matched with best hole and business machines and longarm stitch machines.Post ads:
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There are many student patterns to get you started quilting, and gives you thousands of unconfined bedclothes patterns to pick and choose from. All terminated the internet are a few basic, grassroots patterns which beginnersability can well maestro and get more than relaxing next to stitch. Near a lilliputian searching, you will insight several types of patterns thatability you can use to compound your domestic device stitch at warren.
Quilter's Wiggly Needles
What tool needles are you sounding for, and how many? The record predictable needles to go in a box of 100 are stitch needles. 'Betweens' are shorter needles, right for elaborate handwork, specified as superb tapestry on beefy fabric, as in craft. Room Felon Needles are a favourite because of their big prize. Expansion and clanging needles are each designed for use with precise wool - enlargement thread and clanging filament severally. You are going to impoverishment to nick threadbare and match your needles and put them all in one lay.Post ads:
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Many relatives have nowhere to be found excitement in knitwork because the patterns and possibilitiesability of stitch are considerably more attractive. The aggregation of the textile pieces into an creator design, the skillfulness of colors, and the acquisition of the building and stitch are righteous division of the fun. Tons have unnoticed thatability patchwork and stitch are two not like and outlined crafts and lone complete the later c or so geezerhood have incorporate mutually. New quilters, quilters near time of life of experience, paw quilters and or apparatus quilters, all green groceries divine industrial plant done thisability enjoyable, relaxing, and highly visual avocation.
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http://smallj9.pixnet.net/blog/post/73481730-tapestry-on-beefy-fabric-as-
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When recovering alcoholic and amateur football manager Joe (Peter Mullan) falls for health worker Sarah, who should know better, they both suspect the romance may be a bad idea, but it blossoms nevertheless. However, the lovers have very different ideas about how to deal with the problems Glaswegian life throws at them, and when Joe is forced to do some drug running to pay off a debt, their tentative relationship is in danger of spluttering to a halt.
1. Interview – Ken Loach
2. Interview – Paul Laverty
3. Interview – Peter Mullan
Subtitles:English, Russian (idx, sub), English (srt)
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http://worldscinema.org/2015/03/ken-loach-my-name-is-joe-extras-1998/
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Waterworld California is a water park with more than 30 waterslides and attractions, located in Concord (California). Waterworld California Water Park the perfect family vacation. Good place to go with family or friends.
Waterworld California’s lifeguards are highly trained and qualified. Please follow their instructions.
Waterworld California Water Park RIDES and SLIDES:
Dragon Tails: twisted family body slides dropping into Diablo Lagoon.
Diablo Falls: free fall 6 feet into the pool.
Cliffhanger: extreme slide.
The Big Kahuna: Family Raft.
Typhoon Slide Complex.
Tornado: six-story funnel.
Hurricane Slide Complex.
Honolulu Halfpipe: Tube Slide.
Treasure Island: interactive water-powered area for kids.
Lil’ Kahuna’s Waterworks: Children’s Activity Area.
Waterworld California Water Park WAVES and POOLS:
Breaker Beach: Wave Pool
Wild Water Kingdom: Family Activity Area
Kaanapali Kooler: Lazy River
FOOD and DRINK:
Birthday Pavilion: personal birthday party assist you during your event.
Wipeout Lounge: variety of drinks including ice-cold draft beer, wine etc.
Breaker Beach Refreshments: assortment of soft drinks.
Windjammer Food Court: cheeseburgers, pizza, grilled and breaded chicken sandwiches etc.
Surfside Grill: hot wings, mozzarella cheese sticks and American fries.
Coconut Hut: for lovers of sweets.
Dippin’ Dots: ice cream!
Address: Waterworld California, 1950 Waterworld Pkwy. Concord, CA 94520
Information Line: 925-609-1364
Other Water Parks
All rights reserved © All-Waterparks.com, 2010-2015
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http://all-waterparks.com/waterworld-california-water-park-in-concord
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Just like one other pure therapies for hair loss, this method has not been scientifically confirmed to lessen or reduce hair loss and it won't work for you.
To struggle this, Procerin is made up of active elements which assist to halt this transformation of DHT and thus stops hair loss.
The initial signs of hair thinning that folks will typically recognize tend to be more hairs than standard remaining while in the hairbrush right after brushing or within the basin just after shampooing. Styling might also reveal regions of thinning, such as a broader parting or possibly a thinning crown.[citation required]
Have a Bodily Examination. Some overall health disorders and disorders can cause hair loss that is not related to male sample baldness. When you are dropping hair, visit your health care provider who can diagnose the reason for hair loss and rule out any underlying problems.
I used to be on my five year anniversary holiday with my spouse and we were within a mirrored elevator at our lodge. That’s After i recognized for The very first time which i had a reasonably large ring of slim hair on the crown of my head, indicating hair loss. I was stunned, as I used to be only 28 and had no idea that was occurring to me.
Treatment of sample hair loss may perhaps simply involve accepting the problem.[three] Intervention that could be tried incorporate the prescription drugs minoxidil or finasteride, and hair transplant operation. Alopecia areata may be addressed by steroid injections while in the impacted space but these must be routinely repeated to get successful.
Procerin is usually a scientifically designed formulation that can re improve your shed hair. The results of Procerin are clinically confirmed. The method I meticulously created o handle hair loss in Adult men.
Attempt Minoxidil (Rogaine). Minoxidil is definitely an FDA authorised topical treatment to take care of male pattern baldness. It's an answer that stimulates the hair follicles to develop and it is used right onto your scalp.
Hair loss induced by cancer chemotherapy has long been documented to cause alterations in self-concept and human body graphic. System image isn't going to return to the preceding point out after regrowth of hair for the majority of individuals.
Drink numerous water. If Your entire body is not hydrated, the skin and hair cells will not be capable of mature and flourish. To maintain your hair balanced and developing, consume plenty of drinking water to forestall dehydration. Aim to acquire not less than eight cups of drinking water daily and a lot more during workout or incredibly hot temperature.
Our Advance Hair & Scalp Exercise Method or AHS-FP™ is usually a procedure we developed to be able to offer our customers with several treatments in just one system for your treatment of hair loss, Male Hair Loss Treatment hair thinning, androgenetic alopecia and baldness.
The demanded nutrients that encourage development of hair are equipped by topical treatment. It operates well with people today Adult men whose locks are still increasing, but procerin review have a receding or perhaps a thinning hairline.
Traction alopecia is most commonly located in individuals with ponytails or cornrows who pull on their own hair with extreme pressure.
Procerin’s organic formula doesn’t have negative consequences, may very well be utilized by males of every age team and it is offered doctor. You'll find zero severe chemical substances, zero sexual damaging results without having distressing surgeries to trouble with.
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http://connertkar765321.affiliatblogger.com/4432631/what-does-procerin-reviews-mean
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Avoiding wheat-containing foods in the grocery store can be confusing. Many products may contain wheat in hidden amounts that can make you sick if you have a wheat allergy or intolerance. If you need to avoid wheat in your diet, this printable shopping list can help you play it safe.
Shopping List of Wheat-Free Foods
The following list of wheat-free foods indicates which foods contain gluten to make it clear. If you have to give up wheat, don't lose heart; there are still plenty of choices at the market. If you need help downloading the printable list, check out these helpful tips.
Nearly all of the produce section in your local grocery store should be free of wheat and able to be consumed. This includes foods such as the following:
- Citrus fruit
Much of the dairy section of your grocery store should also be free of wheat. Safe foods include tasty products like these:
- Yogurt (Avoid yogurts with additives such as cookie crumbs.)
- Cheese (Avoid shredded cheeses unless they are labeled, "Gluten Free". Some shredded cheese is dusted with flour to prevent it from sticking.)
- Cottage cheese
- Sour cream
Meat and Fish Section
Nearly all the foods in the meat section of your grocery store are wheat-free. Watch out for whole turkeys, however, which may be brined with a liquid mixture that could contain wheat. Double check the ingredient labels to be sure. Other foods that are safe for consumption include the following:
- Fish (Avoid pre-made, breaded fish selections.)
Your deli counter can be a major pitfall if you are seeking wheat-free foods. Many deli meats contain wheat or gluten, which makes them unsafe for consumption. Look for the following brands to make sure your deli meats are safe:
- Applegate Farms
- Boar's Head
- Dietz and Watson
- Hormel Natural Choice
- Wilshire Farms
There are numerous types of canned goods available in your grocery store that do not contain any wheat. You can find everything from canned meat to canned sauces, fruits, and vegetables. This is a small sampling; make sure to check the label each time to be sure:
- Tuna fish
Grains and Pastas
There are numerous wheat-free grains and wheat-free pasta products on the market. Look for any of the following in either whole, ground or noodle form. Keep in mind that some of these options do contain gluten, even while they are wheat-free.
- Oat (may contain gluten)
- Rye (gluten)
- Spelt (gluten)
- Barley (gluten)
While most cereals do contain some form of wheat, there are some hot and cold cereals available that are wheat-free. As with all products, these cereals may still contain gluten. If you're gluten-sensitive, be sure to research the options thoroughly. Wheat-free cereals include the following options:
- Oatmeal (may contain gluten)
- Rice Crispies (may contain gluten)
- Cream of Rice
- Granola (may contain gluten)
Wheat Free Flours
If you are in the learning process of making your own bread or other baked goods, you can use any of these wheat-free flours. If you require help, consider using pre-packaged gluten-free (thus, wheat-free) flour blends until you get the hang of cooking without wheat.
- Chickpea (Garbanzo bean)
- Jerusalem artichoke (Sunchoke)
- Kamut (gluten)
- Oat (may or may not contain gluten)
- White rice
- Brown rice
- Rye (gluten)
There are numerous wheat-free snacks on the market as well. Some of these products may contain trace amounts of wheat, depending on how they are manufactured; always double check the label to be sure. In addition to the ones on this list, look for any manufacturer who specializes in gluten-free snacks and baking, such as Glutino.
- Dried fruit
- Corn chips
- Bean chips
- Soy crisps
- Potato chips
- Vegetable chips
- Ice cream (Avoid varities containing cookies, dough or the word "crunch" in the title.)
- Frozen fruit pops
- Italian ice
Most beverages do not contain wheat. Avoid or check the label on any drink mixes, such as powdered hot chocolate mix, as these may contain some wheat. Safe beverages include these options:
Wheat-Free Is Not Gluten-Free
The wheat-free diet eliminates all wheat from the diet and requires the reading of labels on not just food, but also skin care products and cosmetics. However, if you are worried about gluten, be advised that a wheat-free diet is not a gluten-free diet. For example, on a wheat-free diet, grains like buckwheat, millet, oats, rice and rye are recommended.
When considering the above grains for a gluten-free diet, oats may or may not be gluten-free. Oats are often suspect unless they are certified gluten-free because they may be cross contaminated during the growing and/or manufacturing process. If you are eliminating gluten from your diet, you should absolutely avoid rye.
Check the Labels
Even when you're eating foods that should be wheat-free, check labels to be sure no wheat or wheat by-products have been added as a filler or additive. For example, legumes are wheat-free, but when you buy baked beans, wheat may be an added ingredient. Cheese is wheat-free, but cheese sauce may not be. Learning to avoid wheat and wheat products takes knowledge, determination and dedication. You can find a wealth of information by reading books about wheat-free living, but if you are in doubt as to whether or not a food contains wheat, avoid it. For more help with your wheat-free diet, talk with your health care provider or nutritionist.
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http://gluten.lovetoknow.com/List_of_Wheat_Free_Foods
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|it obviously works for him|
And that was pretty cool. It was beauty time and bonding time and everyone is happy.
Little man HATES grooming. I had to go out and buy him his very own special long-bristled-super-soft dandy brush and even that used GENTLY makes him pick up his feet and dance. Heaven forbid I get out the TORTURE CURRY MITT.
|i like this mane. there is so much to grab.|
My grooming routine has radically altered--quick dust off, check feet, run a brush through his mane if I have lots of time. If I hose him off after a ride, I try to rinse his tail and throw some conditioner in it to limit breakage. Anymore, his mane is on the long side. It's a dressage horse look, I like it, and why not. Those are my reasons.
So. What else are y'all doing out there? Does anyone have a horse that likes being curried I can borrow?
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https://iamthesprinklerbandit.blogspot.com/2015/10/teach-me-tuesday-grooming.html
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The Swiss Army Knife is one of Switzerland’s most iconic and famous products. Most people are familiar with the classic red design and the unmistakable Victorinox cross and shield. The annual limited edition of the Classic pocket knife is a popular collector’s item and gift all around the world. The fresh and new designs should also increase the impulse buys and strengthen the Victorinox brand and its reputation of being creative, functional and appealing. It is already an annual appointment made with the very best graphic artists out there. Each year Victorinox challenges the most creative minds in order to create astonishing designs for the iconic Classic pocket knife. The Swiss company utilizes the crowdsourcing platform Jovoto and year after year we get our mind blown away with very interesting and creative ideas. Victorinox narrowed down the pool of ideas from 1,022 to 40 and then let Victorinox fans around the world choose their favorite. And they chose well. The top ten selections were produced, and each one offers a lifetime of enjoyment because functionality and creativity never go out of style.
This year there was a number one winner that created an amazing design called Wild Life – “Goodbye Safari”. The artist is Maria Galvez and she did all by herself on Adobe Illustrator. This is the story of a safari guide who neglected his vehicle and some animals took the opportunity to flee of the scene. Maria Galvez loves nature and wild life and her design is inspired by them. The obvious connection between Victorinox and this design is the fact that Victorinox is the ultimate brand for a outdoor adventure. Of course, it might be, hopefully, a less adventurous journey!
The Classic Limited Edition has fans all around the world in an extremely broad target group between 20 and 50 years old. The buying decision of the average customer is based on impulse, so your design plays a crucial role in this decision process. Since the Classic Limited Edition is sold worldwide, the cultural background of each potential consumer plays a big role. Here are some other shots from some of the winning designs.
Since 2010, Victorinox has been producing an annual limited edition of the small 58 mm Classic pocket knife. Back in 2012 the first design challenge was held on jovoto. This contest is now being held for the fifth consecutive time. The Classic Limited Edition 2015 is meanwhile available to purchase in stores worldwide and so Victorinox is now inviting you to submit your design proposal for the new Classic Limited Edition in 2016.
jovoto enables large brands and NGOs to brainstorm at scale and solve design and innovation challenges with more than 80 000 creative professionals globally. The scale of projects range from working with a few hundred curated talents under NDA to foster innovation by large scale creative conversations involving broad public audiences while turning the creative challenge itself into a media event. To date jovoto has worked with more than 100 000 creative talents and successfully organized more than 380 challenges. jovoto was founded in Berlin at the University of Arts in 2007.
In 1884, with the active support of his mother Victoria, Carl Elsener opened his first cutlery workshop in Ibach-Schwyz, Switzerland. In 1891 he delivered his first major order of soldier’s knives to the Swiss Army. Following the death of his mother in 1909, Carl Elsener chose her first name Victoria as the name of the company. When the stainless steel (also known as ‘inox’) was invented in 1921, he changed the company name to “Victorinox” by combining Victoria with inox. Victorinox is now run as an independent company by the fourth generation of the Elsener family in Ibach-Schwyz, Switzerland. The company has been synonymous with quality, functionality, innovation and iconic design, and has done for more than 130 years now. Today, it is a global company with six product categories: Swiss Army Knives, Household and Professional Knives, Watches, Travel Gear, Apparel and Fragrances.
You can read more about Victorinox and its amazing products by visiting the brand official website here:
This is an amazing project that proves that customers can really be very savvy. The designs are wonderful and fresh. You want to collect them all!
Info sourced at the brand official communication. All content is copyrighted with no reproduction rights available. Images are for illustration purposes only.
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https://luxuryactivist.com/design/victorinox-classic-limited-edition-2016-design-rules/
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The Bears go up against the Dallas Cowboys tonight on Monday Night Football, facing the biggest test of their season.
If the Bears win, the Jay Cutler contract is held off for another week; at least, I won’t be thinking about it.
The problem with Cutler right now isn’t that he’s not on the field. It’s that he’s depending on Josh McCown to keep his potential seasons to come, with the Bears, alive. I don’t want to see Cutler play when he’s hurt; the Lions game should show you why. However, if McCown and his squad come out with a loss, the Bears season is more than likely over. On top of this unfortunate news, the story for the rest of the season revolves around Cutler.
Should he receive the franchise tag or be given the long-term contract?
I don’t think Cutler deserves to be around with the Bears after this season, but what other options do they have (rhetorical question)? This Bears offense, under McCown, has shown it needs a QB who gets the ball out of his hands quickly and makes smart decisions. Now, I’m not saying McCown is the answer. The Bears need a quarterback who can also put some more points on the board. The Bears average 22.7 points per game under McCown and 28.7 with Cutler.
They’re not going to be able to find a QB with this ability quickly; it’s going to have to come in the draft. Thus, sticking Cutler with the franchise tag doesn’t seem like the worst scenario. Yet, it would put the Bears in some cap space issues.
Cutler would make around $17 million if he got tagged. That’s a heavy price for anyone to pay. It also doesn’t allow the Bears to go out and make many moves this offseason.
There’s one solution to all of these problems.
McCown wins tonight, and Cutler starts the rest of the season. If you’re Cutler, you have nothing to lose with gutting it out under center if the Bears beat the Cowboys. If the Bears make the playoffs, all of the credit goes to him down the stretch. If not and Cutler has a bad game or two, he can claim he wasn’t healthy. Cutler has to be starting next Sunday versus the Browns, though.
If this scenario happens, I think Cutler and the Bears will reach an agreement on a new contract. If the Bears lose to Dallas, I could see Cutler milking this injury because he has nothing to play for; he wants to be healthy for next season because he likely wouldn’t be with the Bears.
In my mind, the Bears need to win these next four games and finish 10-6 to make the playoffs. The Lions could finish 9-7; even if the Bears finish with that record as well and “tie” for the division, they wouldn’t win the division with the Lions holding the tiebreaker (2-0 vs. the Bears). Detroit could also win their next three games, and the division would be theirs, regardless of the rest of the Bears season. It’s up to Lions on how they want this to go down.
Here’s the mindset Emery and the rest of the Bears organization should go with. If Cutler guides the Bears to a 10-6 record down the stretch, give him the contract, regardless of making or missing the playoffs. If not, the Bears should draft a quarterback of the future and continue to start McCown next season, until the youngster is ready.
BEAR DOWN TONIGHT. Please.
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https://thelineupradiodepaul.wordpress.com/2013/12/09/win-or-now-what/
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Sometimes carrying cash isn’t an option. HOSTPOS’s HOSTABACUS box is for any place that’s using a cashless system and linked pre-paid customer accounts. It’s designed to be used in prisons, schools, hospitals, leisure centres, factories and more.
HOSTABACUS is a secure and simple wall-mounted box which accepts coins and notes. The cash value is transferred to a magnetic card or a contactless smart card.
When it’s needed customers can top-up their accounts at a time to suit them. All they need is a little bit of change. Cashless systems enable customers to credit balances online, but when the internet isn’t available HOSTABACUS is a secure and easy way to do it with cash.
HOSTABACUS features on-screen prompting to assist customers with their transactions. It means staff won’t have to spend their time demonstrating how it works.
HOSTABACUS accepts coins and notes.
…but that’s not all. HostTopUp is easily switched to accept different tender.
HOSTABACUS prints and emails daily reports. It monitors how much money has been credited and how many people have used the unit.
HOSTABACUS connects directly to your network of HOSTPOS touch screen tills.
From time to time you’ll want to update your HOSTABACUS machine. There’s a handy USB Port which makes upgrading simple.
In the unlikely event that something goes wrong HOSTABACUS will generate and send an email alert. It will warn you if it’s full or if it needs maintenance.
HOSTABACUS is made from industrial-grade steel and has twin locks.
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http://www.hostpos.com.au/epos-software/hosttopup/
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- THELMAs Award Winners Round-Up
- IDP Joins Exporting Education UK
- East meets West: Visit to the UK by IDP Regional Director
- What in the World?!
- Keep in the Loop with our Stakeholder Engagement work
- How was it for you? Top tips on getting better ROI from your agent conferences
- Update from the network: New IDP offices in the Philippines, India and Vietnam
- AIEC Now Open for Registration!
- IDP opens first IELTS test centres in Japan
- Reminder: IDP has opened an office in Iran
- Promotional opportunity for China
We were delighted to see so many of you at the recent Times Higher Education Leadership and Management Awards (THELMAs) which took place on 23rd June at Grosvenor House in London.
Once again IDP sponsored the Outstanding International Strategy category, highlighting institutions that have shown a real dedication to internationalisation through innovative recruitment strategies, focusing on student satisfaction and an understanding of the importance of international higher education.
The winner of this category was De Montfort University, with the judges being particularly impressed with their #DMUglobal initiative, which is aimed at increasing student mobility and recruitment through helping students to identify as ‘global graduates’.
The judging team said that De Montfort University showed “a really strong commitment from the university to provide students from a broad range of backgrounds access to a range of meaningful and life-changing experiences as part of its outward mobility strategy”.
Congratulations should also be given to all those nominated for awards this year, and to the following winners in their respective categories:
- Swansea University – Outstanding Leadership and Management Team
- University of Nottingham – Outstanding Development / Alumni Relations Team
- University of Bradford – Outstanding Student Services Team
- University of Strathclyde – Outstanding Administrative Services Team
- University of Kent – Outstanding Departmental Administration Team
- University of Glasgow – Outstanding Strategic Planning Team
To see the full list of winners, including judges’ comments and information about the winning projects, you can visit the THELMAs website here.
Next year’s THELMAs are due to be held on 22nd June 2017 at the Grosvenor House Hotel, Park Lane, London. We hope to see you there.
IDP Education (UK) Ltd is proud to be a member of ExEdUK as part of our ongoing commitment to supporting international education in the UK and representing the interests of our university partners to key stakeholders.
A new report from Exporting Education UK (ExEdUK) and Parthenon-EY estimates that the decline in international students arriving here since 2011/12 has already cost the UK £1.1 billion, with a further £8 billion in opportunity cost forecast by 2016/17.
The report, which provides the first comprehensive account of the impact of the UK’s student visa policies on the international education sector, offers seven recommendations to government to reverse the decline and secure the significant economic contribution which international students bring to the UK – including supporting over 200,000 local jobs.
ExEdUK also provides secretarial support to the newly launched All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) for International Students. The overarching purpose of the APPG is to promote the value of international students to UK education, economy and ‘soft power’.
In May we were delighted to welcome Allen Jiang, IDP Regional Director North Asia and Member of the Global Leadership Team, on an inward mission to meet with the UK IDP team and to visit clients and stakeholders.
In addition to IDP operational developments within China, Taiwan and Hong Kong, Allen shared a number of observations, opportunities and updates in relation to the overall economic and demographic conditions for these markets.
Some of the key takeaways:
- IDP is investing in more dedicated UK staff resources for Hong Kong and Taiwan that will allow us to further support our clients in these markets.
- In China we are exploring a new online, virtual counselling and application platform. This will be in addition to our traditional physical events and face-to-face counselling and is designed to complement existing activity as students increasingly go online for information when researching university choices and so digital is a key touch point. We will share further details on this with clients in the near future.
- The Chinese economy remains robust as the Government takes proactive steps to counteract the effects of economic slowdown.
- Despite demographic challenges, demand for overseas education in Hong Kong is strong among many families as the political relationship with Mainland China becomes even more fraught. Currency exchange fluctuations can also play a part in making overseas study more affordable and attractive.
- After a dramatic fall in enrolments to the UK from Taiwan between 2006-2009, the market has remained largely stable in recent years and interest in undergraduate study, although relatively small, has also been steady.
We are very grateful to the clients that hosted Allen for their time and hospitality. It was his first visit to the UK and he left with an incredibly positive impression. Thank you all.
During his time in Cardiff Allen delivered a market update briefing to several of our Welsh clients. This was coordinated in partnership with British Council Wales and Universities Wales under the Welsh Government’s “Global Wales” initiative.
IDP is keen to do more to support other UK regional initiatives such as this. If you have any suggestions then please contact email@example.com
A lot has happened in the world of international HE policy since our Spring Client Update. We thought it would be helpful to recap on the latest developments both in the UK and other English-Language speaking study destinations:
Australia announced a long-term growth strategy with an alumni focus
In April the Australian Government released the National Strategy for International Education 2025
It sets out a 10-year plan for developing Australia’s role as a global leader in education, training and research.
The Australian Government will provide $12 million over four years from 2016–17 to support implementation. The National Strategy is part of a suite of Australian Government initiatives to support international education, including:
- Austrade’s long-term market development roadmap – Australian International Education 2025
- Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade’s Australia Global Alumni Strategy
- Department of Immigration and Border Protection’s simplified student visa framework
Canada continues to say (and do) all the right things
Whilst the UK Government fixates on Brexit and indulges in sporadic largely negative public discourse around whether or not international students should be included in net migration figures, Canada has continued to operate firmly at the other end of the spectrum. Recently the Canadian Immigration Minister went on record as saying that “We must do more to attract students to this country as permanent residents . . . International students have been shortchanged by the express entry system. They are the cream of the crop, in terms of potential future Canadians.”
This came as part of a wider announcement that the Government is looking to reform the existing Express Entry system to make it easier for international graduates to remain in Canada.
The EU moves on PSW
For some time, organisations such as DAAD, Nuffic and Campus France have worked to promote their respective countries in overseas markets. The German Government has in recent years pledged to increase international student enrolments by 25% and the French introduced a Talent Passport scheme to attract and retain the best and the brightest international graduates. Student flows to Continental Europe from overseas markets has grown apace as more and more academic provision is now delivered in English. This has now been taken a stage further with the recent announcement that the European Parliament has approved amendments to the EU’s Visa Directive in order to make study and research more attractive for non-EU students. This essentially will give students more time after they have finished their studies to look for employment or set up a business.
Warning: For those that are already suffering from chronic EU referendum debate fatigue you may wish to scroll down to the next article. Attention has now been turned onto the potential impact of Brexit on international student flows to the UK. A Hobsons survey of prospective students found that a significant proportion of EU respondents and just over a third of non-EU would consider the UK to be a far less attractive study destination should the UK vote to leave the EU. This echoes research from the Institute for Social and Economic Research (ISER) into the impact on the UK workforce as many EU graduates perform strongly in terms of academic attainments and provide a talent pipeline that could be jeopardised in the event of Brexit.
A positive step from the UK
It is not however necessarily all doom and gloom. In May it was announced that a new All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) for International Student has been launched in order to lobby the Government for reform of immigration policy, as it is felt to be eroding the UK’s market share. The APPG is co-chaired by cross-bench peer Lord Bilimoria and Sheffield Labour MP Paul Blomfield. Further details on membership and scope of the Group can be found on the Exporting Education UK website.
HE White Paper: what does this mean for English Universities and the rest of the UK?
In what was becoming an already extremely busy month, the Department for Business, Innovation & Skills (BIS) launched a new White Paper “Higher education: success as a knowledge economy”, setting out the Government's plans to reform the system for HE provision and research in England.
- Linking UK/EU fee levels to teaching quality and meeting student expectations; this is part of the wider (and controversial) Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF) which is to be phased in gradually. The TEF will see the government monitoring and assessing the quality of teaching in England’s universities, in a similar way to which it has periodically assessed research quality. Under the White Paper, the Government is looking to build a link between a university’s performance in the TEF and the tuition fees they are able to charge. The White Paper proposes that there will be a formal assessment of university performance on measures such as student satisfaction and graduate employment, leading to a series of differentiated fee caps, this is not likely to come into effect until 2019. This means that high performing institutions may be able to increase their fees but also those that did not perform against criteria may have to lower their fees.
-Relaxation of rules to allow “start-up” universities; new higher education providers should be allowed to award their own degrees and charge £9,000 tuition fees from the day that they open, the higher education White Paper proposes. Alternative providers currently have to offer degrees validated by a partner institution for five years before they can apply for their own degree-awarding powers, with the application process taking up to two years, but the government proposes to radically speed up this process in a bid to increase competition and widen participation. The White Paper says that new providers should be able to apply for degree-awarding powers from day one of their operation, under a three-year probationary arrangement that would see them subjected to ongoing monitoring and annual reviews.
Trump poised to become Republican nominee
What once seemed like a far-fetched fantasy is now even closer to becoming a reality, as Donald Trump appears poised to be named the Republican Party’s nominee for the US Presidential Election in November 2016. In the event that he does enter the Oval Office, his rhetoric on immigrants and Muslims, already off-putting to many both within and outside of the US, could in future directly impact on international student decision making. Given his tough immigration stance he may even look to reverse some of the gains the US has made under the current administration by tampering with existing OPT rules (US equivalent of Post-Study-Work).
The IDP UK team have continued to work to support key stakeholders across the HE sector on a number of collaborative projects in order to strengthen the UK’s international position and add further value for our clients.
This includes attending events and sharing market insights as part of wider policy dialogues and lobbying initiatives. In addition to our membership of the on-going National Brand and Digital Platform Task and Finish Group, we are also in the process of exploring how we might contribute to the Education is GREAT Campaign and the recently launched All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) for International Students.
We were delighted to see a number of our clients at the recent networking evening that was hosted in London by the PIE News and WonkHe, bringing together over 100 HE sector influencers and policy makers.
IDP staff have been at NAFSA 2016 in Denver, and delivered two sessions on the future of international student recruitment and managing effective relationships with agents. The slides will be accessible via the Hub shortly. Keep checking the Conference Presentations section regularly for this and other updates. We have also posted photos and news from NAFSA on our Twitter feed.
In June we will be sponsoring and attending the International Unit conference in London, “Enhancing the International Student Experience”. We look forward to seeing you there.
And in July, we are delighted to sponsor and present at the BUILA Annual Conference in Liverpool. We will be delivering a session on the Middle East and India using our student buying behavior research and discussing the latest trends in social media and online usage. No doubt we will see many of you there.
We will continue to keep you updated on our work in this area. If you have any questions then please contact firstname.lastname@example.org
An excellent way of communicating the USPs of your institution to your agent network and building knowledge and awareness is through training conferences. But what should you do to get the most out of your conference? We know that they take up a significant amount of time, effort and investment. Here are some thoughts based on our experiences at IDP:
- It is important to give as much notice as possible in advance of the conference. That way we can work to ensure that the most appropriate person is available to attend the conference and make the experience more beneficial for you. Notice for an agents conference should be reasonable. 6 months is preferable. Less than 3 months can be challenging.
- Sometimes it is better to combine an agents conference with another institution if possible. This is attractive to agents as it means that they can attend more than one university’s conference in one trip, reducing costs and maximising time spent away from the office and their core work of supporting students. Are there other institutions in your city / nearby region that you can build rapport with and work collaboratively to coordinate your conference or at the very least avoid a direct clash.
- Encourage interaction and creative workshop activities – this way you will be able to measure the success of your conference by looking back on how well something discussed has been implemented in the market. This also makes it more likely that the attendees will be more comfortable and encouraged to share their market insights. Shorter, snappier more informal “speed dating” type sessions or a mock Open Day where different academic schools and professional services have a stand and agents can move freely between them to ask questions can be a good alternative to just traditional presentations.
- Quality over Quantity; do not try and cover everything rather pick out key areas of focus and stick to them; it can be hard to try and please everyone as all academic schools may want to be involved but we would recommend trying to rationalize. If is very difficult for an individual to remember everything about every faculty presented to him or her in a 3-day period, particularly if it’s their first time in the UK. English may not be their first language and of course the jetlag effect. Allowing some downtime for attendees to digest what they have learned, walk around the campus / city, meet with some of their students informally and chat to each other can be effective. Don’t feel you need to fill up every minute of time for attendees with planned activities.
- Try and encourage colleagues to draw out genuine USPs and points of competitive differentiation; ask them the question - why should a student select their programme over another? You need those attending the conference to leave you with a clear idea as to why and how you are different to your competitors across target subject areas. This could be based on faculty, facilities, placement opportunities, industry links, accreditation, teaching methods, course content etc.
- Involve current international students – they can be your best advocates and often provide the most memorable and authentic content of conferences.
- Staff – invite your most dynamic and passionate colleagues – individuals who show the institution in the best light, allow time to train and brief them. We appreciate that this can be difficult but the best sessions are when academics are able to make their presentations fun, memorable, interactive and thought provoking. Also ensure that they tailor their content to the audience and market type; can the member of staff talk or be prepared to talk authoritatively about undergraduate and postgraduate provision for their school?
- Follow up collateral and content – videos are great, soft copies of presentation slides and brochures are preferable to lots of hard copy material.
- And in relation specifically to IDP, keep your client relationship manager informed about your conference. We can help to coordinate with our Network colleagues to bring staff from the countries/regions you wish.
In June 2016, IDP’s Manila office will be relocating. Our bigger and better space can now accommodate more in-house activities to fully prepare our students leaving for their chosen study destination, allow clients to conduct more counselling sessions, and provide an area for IELTS candidates.
We opened our new office in the city of Thane, on 4th May 2016. The Thane office is IDP’s third in the very large Greater Mumbai Metropolitan Region, in addition to the established offices in South & West Mumbai.
Also in India, we opened a new office in the city of Surat on 19th May 2016. This is IDP’s 21st student placement office in India and means we now have a presence in 20 cities.
The Surat office is IDP’s third in the State of Gujarat, the others being Ahemdabad and Vadodara.
We are also pleased to announce that IDP has opened its second office in Hanoi.
For more information on these and all our offices worldwide please visit this link.
The AIEC (Australian International Education Conference) will be celebrating its 30th anniversary this year. With around 1,200 delegates representing over 400 organisations from 38 countries, it is the largest international education conference in the Asia-Pacific region. The event is jointly presented by IDP Education and the International Education Association of Australia (IEAA) and is designed for international education practitioners and policy makers. We are delighted to announce that this year from the UK, Vivienne Stern, Director of the Universities UK HE International Unit, will be speaking at AIEC. All staff from IDP clients are eligible for an additional discount on the conference attendance fee, this is on top of the Early Bird rate. For more information and to book your place please visit www.aiec.idp.com
We are pleased to announce the opening of our first IELTS test centre in Tokyo that took place on the 25th May. This latest exciting development is in response to the increased demand being witnessed in Japan for IELTS for academic, professional and migration purposes. IELTS tests will initially be available on a fortnightly basis in Tokyo, with further new IDP test centres to be opened in Kobe and Yokohama respectively in September and Osaka in October.
IELTS is jointly owned by IDP, the British Council, and Cambridge English Language Assessment. Each year more than 2.7 million IELTS tests are taken globally and IDP now has over 400 test locations across the world.
We are pleased to inform you that IDP has opened a student counselling office in Tehran. This exciting development builds on the well established network of IELTS testing centres that we already have in the country.
Through our regional structure the Iran office falls under the Middle East and our experienced staff there will be supporting colleagues in Tehran as they begin to promote our UK clients.
Are you interested in promoting your institution to more Chinese students? If so, then you may want to advertise in the 2016/17 Insider Guides - International Student Guide to the UK. The guide, which is in Simplified Chinese, will introduce prospective Chinese students to the culture, places and people in the UK through engaging student-written content, infographics, illustrations and photography. Insider Guides has been making guides for the Australian market for 7 years, and many of the major Australian universities are clients. 2016 is the first year Insider Guides will be published for the UK. For more information contact James Martin, Managing Director email@example.com
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https://www.idp.com/unitedkingdom/aboutidp/news
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My friend Moira Redmond has a blog called Clothes in Books. When she started it, I reminded her that Ayn Rand heroines favored high waisted gowns in the ‘Empire’ style, because she had, during her term as Fray Editor, remarked that any post mentioning Ms. Rand was likely to attract lots of comments.
Thinking about clothes in books led to my remembering the spate of pop songs about clothes, mostly “novelty” songs but a few straight-ahead rockers and sock hop squeeze ‘n’ shuffles, that crowded the airwaves during the late 1950s and early ’60s. One of the most memorable of these was Marty Robbins’ (photo above) 1957 ballad “A White Sport Coat and a Pink Carnation.”
The clip above is of a 1981 live performance by Robbins, made just a year before the singer’s death.
In 1956, Carl Perkins recorded “Put Your Cat Clothes On,” though the record was not released until 1970. Perkins refers to “Blue Suede Shoes” in the lyrics, a nod to another song he wrote in 1955 and recorded in January of ’56.
1957 was a big year for songs about clothes. A New Jersey group called the Royal Teens had a hit with “Short Shorts.” The piano player is Bob Gaudio, who would later join Frankie Valli in the Four Seasons and write several of their hits, including “Sherry”.
1957 also gave us “Black Slacks,” by Joe Bennett and the Sparkletones.
1957 was a big year in fashion as well, as couturier Cristobal Balenciega introduced his shape shrouding sack dress. In 1958, Gerry Granahan expressed his displeasure in “No Chemise, Please.”
In 1959 thirteen year old Dodie Stevens (exactly my age then) hit the charts with “Pink Shoelaces.”
Bryan Hyland made the top ten and Dick Clark’s American Bandstand in 1960 with “Itsy Bitsy Teenie Weenie Yellow Polka Dot Bikini.” The modestly dressed woman in high tops who gives the spoken interrogatories is Trudy Packer.
Another 1960 release was the Coasters’ paleo-rap “Shoppin’ for Clothes,” written by Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller, who had earlier penned “Hound Dog” for Big Mama Thornton, later covered by Elvis. Coasters member Billy Guy was working with the songwriters, and remembered a similar piece he’d heard on the radio. They searched record stores but couldn’t find it. Later they learned it was “Clothes Line,” written by Kent Harris and recorded by Boogaloo and his Gallant Crew. Harris was then given co-credit for “Shoppin’ for Clothes.”
I’ll close, as did many a school dance, with Bobby Vinton’s 1963 prom belly-rubber “Blue Velvet,” which later inspired a David Lynch movie.
I’ll do a second installment featuring songs from the late 1960s to the present. If anyone can think of clothes-themed songs from the period covered in this post or later, please let me know.
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http://brooklynbugle.com/2014/07/28/clothes-in-pop-music-part-1-1955-63/
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crossword solver, fast and simple
Searches summary in November 2013
Crosstips helped to find the following words this month:
Napster was an online music file sharing service created by Shawn Fanning while he was attending Northeastern University in Boston. The service operated between June 1999 and July 2001 . ...
the particular occupation for which you are trained
The people of Canada, or simply Canadians, are citizens of Canada. Canada is a multi-ethnic nation, home to people of many different ethnic and national backgrounds. ...
reduce in scope while retaining essential elements
disciple of Jesus and leader of the Apostles; regarded by Catholics as the vicar of Christ on earth and first Pope;
cock: obscene terms for penis
insidiously: in a harmfully insidious manner; "these drugs act insidiously";
banefully: in a noxiously baneful way; "this banefully poisoned climate"
a person who walks from place to place
covered or furnished with tiles
the cardinal number that is the sum of seven and one
a major road for any form of motor transport
trickery: verbal misrepresentation intended to take advantage of you in some way;
Skullduggery is a 1970 science fiction film starring Burt Reynolds, Susan Clark and Edward Fox.
not wise in the ways of the world
Beta Ursae Minoris (β UMi / β Ursae Minoris) is the second brightest star in the bowl of the "Little Dipper," the constellation Ursa Minor. It has the traditional name Kochab. Kochab's magnitude is 2.07. It is 16 degrees from Polaris. ...
the longest division of geological time
drab: lacking in liveliness or charm or surprise; "her drab personality"; "life was drab compared with the more exciting life style overseas"; "a series of dreary dinner parties"
lubricious: characterized by lust; "eluding the lubricious embraces of her employer"; "her sensuous grace roused his lustful nature"; "prurient literature"; "prurient thoughts"; "a salacious rooster of a little man"
stash - hoard: save up as for future use;
stash - hoard: a secret store of valuables or money;
Stash is the debut album by sludge/stoner metal band Bongzilla. It was released in April 1999 through Relapse Records. ...
a passage selected from a larger work
a condition promoting sanitary practices
These are words that are found when someone searches with exactly so many clues that only one single alternative is found.
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http://crosstips.org/searches/2013/November/
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Lower East Side
Chrystie St. Courts
The Basketball courts at Sara Delano Roosevelt Park are a great place to watch pick up games. Street ball in the city is a classic New York staple. Although these courts aren’t as intense and competitive as the West Fourth Courts (The Cage) in the Village, they have their own flavor and attract a more playful, neighborhood vibe.
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https://masculinemanhattan.wordpress.com/2013/07/31/court-action/
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REDUCED! Stylish residence offers a 1 Bedroom / 1 Bath Master Suite complete with Living Room, Kitchen, Private Balcony and Open Top Deck on the Top Floor. Ground Floor Offers 2 Additional Efficiency Units ideal for visiting friends, family, or for additional income from Tenants, Guests or for use as Office Space – location may be utilized for Commercial Use. Home also features a Roof Deck to capture the amazing views of the hills. Property is neatly landscaped and enclosed by a well-constructed fence with Bar Gates.
Home sits on a beautifully planted out 50 ft. (15.2 meters) x 137 ft. (41.9 meters). Lot directly on the Western Highway near the heart of San Ignacio / Santa Elena and directly next to the Loma Luz Hospital. **67 ft. (20.6 meters) x 137 ft. (42 meters) Lot directly next door (west) is also available for sale. Adding to Property’s Commercial Value & Potential.
Commercial Location Driveway Easy Access High Visibility Parking Landscaping
Hugo Moguel Phone: +501-223-2427
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http://www.belizerealestate.bz/listing-Cayo+Home+with+Street+Appeal+%26+Rental+Units+in+Santa+Elena+%96+San+Ignacio+-338.html
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I have recently shared my views on why Sanoma is sponsoring intrapreneurship and how we deploy innovation accelerators. In this post I would like to explain the next steps we are taking with the accelerator program.
#commerceaccelerator goes to college
One of the three core customer groups served by Sanoma is the advertiser: we provide effective solutions to advertisers based on our reach and consumer insight. We plan to further boost our innovation in this domain by running a #commerceaccelerator in the Autumn this year – an accelerator with a difference. The core process and principles of earlier accelerators remain in place. But this time we intend to work with a group of leading European universities; about half of the participants will be students. We believe this will further enrich our idea and talent pools and give opportunities to potential new employees.
#contentaccelerator goes to bootcamp
Earlier this week we selected the five concepts that will go to the #contentaccelerator bootcamp to be built as protoypes. They include i) a service to hear the news in a new way ii) a content marketplace iii) a fashionista community iv) a service to help parents to discover the talents of their children and v) a learning solution that mashes up the real and virtual worlds. Project leaders will join us for four days in Amsterdam, coming from Poland, Belgium, Finland and The Netherlands to build their prototypes and to make their pitch to establish a new venture. Congratulations to them on having won a place and good luck to them in Amsterdam! We are all super-excited about the bootcamp and I expect that we will create one or more new ventures as a result. I feel energized and upbeat just writing about it.
#mobileaccelerator goes to work
Four “mobile first” concepts have received funding as new ventures following the #mobileaccelerator and we are prototyping a fifth concept too. The teams for these ventures were formed at the beginning of April and given funding and coaching for an initial period of 12 months. At the end of that period we will decide whether to boost, continue or terminate the venture. Alongside the intensive coaching, we track the progress against Key Performance Indicators at the end of each quarter. The first round of these formal reviews takes place at the end of June. The teams are enthusiastic and are moving forward fast. I am very curious what we have learned and what the results are – where we stand in our goal of bringing these new ventures to market.
Thanks for joining us
So that’s where we stand today with the innovation accelerators at Sanoma. I would really like to thank everyone who has joined us on this journey so far and helped to bring it to life, either as a participant or facilitator. Respect to you for standing up and showing your ambition.
This is the final posting in the series. Thanks for reading.
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https://johnrichardmartin.com/2013/06/02/whats-next-in-the-accelerator-pipeline-at-sanoma/
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Fr. Kevin Russeau, C.S.C. is pleased to welcome you to the parish of Saint Joseph in South Bend, IN.Fr. Kevin Russeau, C.S.C., Pastor
226 North Hill Street, South Bend, IN 46617
Diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend
- Saturday8:00am, 5:00pm
- Sunday8:00am, 10:00am, 5:00pm
- ConfessionsSat: 8:30am-9:30am
- Devotions6:40am-7:00am - Morning Prayer
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http://discovermass.com/church/stjoeparish/
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baldy is a valid word in this word list. For a definition, see the external dictionary links below.
The word "baldy" uses 5 letters: A B D L Y.
Direct anagrams of baldy:
Words formed by adding one letter before or after baldy (in bold), or to abdly in any order:
e - belady dyable l - baldly r - drably
Shorter words found within baldy:
ab ably aby ad al alb ay ba bad bal bald bay by dab dal day la lab lad lady lay ya yald
List shorter words within baldy, sorted by length
Words formed from any letters in baldy, plus an optional blank or existing letter
Try a search for baldy in these online resources (some words may not be found):
OneLook Dictionaries -
Each search will normally open in a new window.
List all words starting with baldy, words containing baldy or words ending with baldy
All words formed from baldy by changing one letter
Other words with the same letter pairs: ba al ld dy
Browse words starting with baldy by next letter
Previous word in list: balds
Next word in list: bale
Some random words: fyce
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http://www.morewords.com/word/baldy
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"Begin today and write in it your goings and comings, your deepest thoughts, your achievements and your failures, your associations and your triumphs, your impressions and your testimonies. I promise you that if you will keep your journals and records, they will indeed be a source of great inspiration to you, each other, your children, your grand-children and others throughout the generations. Remember, the Savior chastised those who failed to record important events." --President Spencer W. Kimball
May 11, 2009
I finally got my camera back!!!
Ok, so I totally dropped my Nikon DX40 like a month ago and totally shattered the lens. I was totally bummed about it since I always take my camera with me. Thank goodness for the warranty (which I almost didn't buy) because they just replaced my camera for a new one for FREE. I'm SOOOOO glad I that after much debating, I opted to get the coverage. Now I'll be back to snapping photo's of every little thing!!!
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http://fangupofamily.blogspot.com/2009/05/i-finally-got-my-camera-back.html
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They say the proposal to raise taxes to pay for Labour’s National Care Service would cost a taxpayer on average earnings an extra £326 a year.
The accusation came as it emerged that researchers have been testing Labour’s idea on focus groups.
It was one of scores of potential manifesto ideas put to floating voters in four marginal constituencies by Deborah Mattinson, Labour leader Ed Miliband’s favourite pollster.
Research was conducted for Progress, the New Labour campaigning organisation, in the seats of Crewe and Nantwich, Harlow, Finchley and Golders Green and Redditch.
All four seats were held by Labour under Tony Blair but lost to the Conservatives in 2010 and are among the “frontline 40” that are identified by Labour as crucial wins if they are to return to power. Voters who backed New Labour in 1997, 2001 and 2005 but switched to the Tories in 2010 were asked their views on both parties and on potential Labour policies going into the next election.
This plan to raise income tax is evidence that Labour haven’t changed from the high-spending, high-taxing ways of the past
Ms Mattinson concluded that adding a National Care Service is something “Labour is well positioned to deliver with credibility – public services, particularly ones seen as an extension of the NHS, are a core strength of the Labour brand”. She also said that a “communications strength of adult social care is that the recipients of the taxpayer-funded service are not controversial”.
Getting taxpayers to fund the service would slap £326 more on the tax bill of those with average earnings of £26,000. Those on that salary now pay £3,312 a year in income tax meaning the £326 rise is equivalent to a percentage rise of 10.1.
Ms Mattinson and her firm, Britain Thinks, delivered the results of their polling to Labour MPs at an event for think-tank Progress last week.
Those in attendance included Mr Miliband’s close adviser Lord Wood and Liz Kendall, the shadow minister who would be in charge of a National Social Care service. At the event Ms Kendall appeared to suggest that Labour should be honest with the electorate sooner rather than later.
Sajid Javid, Financial Secretary to the Treasury, said: “This plan to raise income tax is evidence that Labour haven’t changed from the high-spending, high-taxing ways of the past. They have no long term plan for Britain, all they want is more spending, more borrowing and more taxes; exactly what got us into a mess in the first place and it is hard-working people who would pay.”
Just one in five Britons thinks Ed Miliband will be the next prime minister, a poll shows. The ComRes research for a Sunday paper found only 21 per cent thought the Labour leader would be in No 10 after the next election.
This is down ten points since May and comes despite the poll giving Labour a lead over the Tories of 36 per cent to 29 per cent.
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http://www.express.co.uk/news/uk/448761/EXCLUSIVE-Labour-accused-of-drawing-up-secret-plan-to-increase-tax-by-two-per-cent
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All-Ireland IHC final: Gleeson fires Tipp to title
31 August 2013
Tipperary captain David Young raises the All Ireland IHC Cup at Nowlan Park
Tipperary withstood a late Kilkenny rally to be crowned All-Ireland intermediate hurling champions at Nowlan Park this evening.
Two Ruairi Gleeson goals either side of half-time proved decisive as the Premier County gained a measure of revenge for their seniors' Allianz League final and All-Ireland qualifier defeats to the Cats at the same venue earlier this year. Tipp led by 2-10 to 1-7 entering the final quarter, but were left hanging on for victory after Jonjo Farrell's second goal for Kilkenny with four minutes remaining cut the gap to just two points.
The visitors signalled their intent with three early points from Willie Ryan and Niall O'Meara (two). Kilkenny hit back to level the game at 0-5 each after 23 minutes before Gleeson raised his first green flag in the 26th minute.
But on the stroke of half-time, the hosts replied with a goal of their own through Farrell to leave just the minimum in it, 1-6 to 1-7, at the short whistle.
Former senior Timmy Hammersley registed the first score of the second half before Gleeson's second major in the 37th minute propelled the Premier into a 2-8 to 1-6 lead. They extended their advantage to six points before Farrell's second goal left it 2-11 to 2-13 and set up a grandstand finish.
But it was that man Gleeson who made sure of Tipp's victory with a crucial point in the final minute.
Tipperary - D Egan; S O'Brien, M Butler, T Treacy; J O'Keeffe, D Young, P Heffernan; B Fox (0-1f), W Ryan (0-1); O Quirke, T Butler, N O'Meara (0-4); R Gleeson (2-1), D O'Hanlon (0-1), T Hammersley (0-5, 2f, 1'65). Subs: J McLoughney for O Quirke, P Molloy for D O'Hanlon, C Kenny (0-1) for M Butler, P Shortt for P Molloy.
Kilkenny - R O'Neill; S Cummins, M Walsh, S Prendergast; L Harney (0-1), P Hartley, M Moloney; B Kennedy, D Langton (0-1); B Beckett, R Hickey (0-5, 3f), C Phelan (0-1); J Brennan (0-1), J Farrell (2-0), D Walton (0-1). Subs: J Lyng for B Beckett, P Holden (0-1) for D Walton, S Donnelly for J Brennan.
Referee - T Carroll.
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http://www.hoganstand.com/Tipperary/ArticleForm.aspx?ID=199955
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I know it’s been a year since I last posted on this Blog. I started this Blog with the right intentions. I just did not follow through with writing like I should have. As for an update to what’s new with my Victoria’s Farmhouse Dollhouse (RGT), its assembled, exterior painted, and some interior walls painted. I will post pictures soon. I have been reading many Blogs and Mini Forums gathering ideas and techniques. I have made furniture after failing to get the scale right a couple of times. I feel like I have grown so much over the last year, though I would still call myself a novice. There is just so much to learn about Miniatures. This year I have decided to participate in the Build-Along Project 2014 with Real Good Toys. It’s a cabinet but I plan to make some sort of townhouse or hotel. The most exciting thing happened yesterday. I have found a Highland by Artply on Esty. Anyone who follows the Miniature world knows that this house is one of the most wanted and hard to get. I was strolling through Esty as I do from time to time to find unique miniatures and there it was. I think it took me about 20 minutes to buy it. Last year I blew an opportunity because I was over thinking the price and space in my Condo. However, now that I have moved into a house with more space, I don’t even think I blinked. I just bought it. Anyway, until next time, BTW I am posting a picture of the Highland. Can’t wait to build it.
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http://minimoreconfessions.blogspot.com/2014/02/a-year-all-ready-whats-been-up.html
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UNDATED (AP) — A new genetic test goes on sale Wednesday that gauges the aggressiveness of prostate cancer. That may help tens of thousands of men each year decide whether they need to treat their cancer right away or can safely monitor it.
The test joins another one that recently came on the market. Both analyze multiple genes in a biopsy sample and give a score for aggressiveness. They’re similar to tests used now for certain breast and colon cancers.
Doctors say tests like these have the potential to curb a major problem in cancer care — overtreatment. Prostate tumors usually grow so slowly they’ll never threaten a man’s life, but some prove fatal.
Treatment with surgery, radiation or hormone blockers isn’t needed in most cases and can cause impotence or incontinence.
A study led by Dr. Peter Carroll, chairman of urology at the University of California, San Francisco, suggests that the genetic test could triple the number of men who may only have to monitor their prostate cancer.
The tests are expensive though, and at $3,400 for the least expensive one, it’s unknown if insurers will pay for it without evidence it leads to better care or saving lives.
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http://ksnt.com/2013/05/07/gene-test-may-help-guide-prostate-cancer-treatment/
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The time when I was first becoming acquainted with designing for the web coincided with the dawn of the MySpace band. An industry once controlled by a select few who had, over the years, entrapped hundreds if not thousands of artists into unfathomably hostile record contracts had finally been unshackled from its tyrannous overlords, allowing anyone with a pirated copy of Pro Tools to turn their three-song EPs into global rock and roll tours.
This was not unlike my own experience of the web which, from the time I was in secondary school, had granted me the ability to make what I wanted and share it with the world. My pirated copy of Photoshop and a few lonely evenings and weekends introduced my ideas and personality to more people in a month than the total population of my hometown.
My own nascent musical proclivities, and later an opportunity to swindle some free studio time from a buddy of mine, allowed me to record an album of charismatically Christian choruses to publish in that god-awful Flash player for anyone with a web browser to hear. And that led to some shows, and some friends, and some opportunities to practice my also-nascent craft of web-making with some MySpace artist profile designs.
I don’t know if I even own the hard-drive that once housed those early PSD files. Maybe one or two out of a dozen or so would be worth spending an hour or two recovering one day. The rest could rot in ferromagnetic hell for the rest of eternity for all I care.
So it was not without some feeling of nostalgia that I read this evening a quote from Frank Ze, recently shared by Mandy Brown (in a beautifully written piece sharing her thoughts on the world’s transition from text to other, more modern mediums):
Regardless of what you might think, the actions you take to make your Myspace page ugly are pretty sophisticated. Over time as consumer-created media engulfs the other kind, it’s possible that completely new norms develop around the notions of talent and artistic ability.
This rings true to me. As my friend James Shelley once pointed out, the technology we create in turn creates us. My time designing and building MySpace templates for bands and songwriters introduced me to the skills I needed to learn so I could create my own future. It taught me that I need not be a victim of a system that rewards conformity and demonizes individuality, and that even your best friends can forget to pay an invoice on time.
There was no post-secondary syllabus with “Client Tomfoolery 101” emblazoned on a title page. My local library didn’t have a book explaining just what the fuck a spacer.gif was. I had to learn these things like everyone else who had uncovered the secret of View Source: through trial and error.
I believe young designers need this opportunity to experiment, to make mistakes on a smaller scale and learn from them so they are prepared when they’re pushed out onto a larger stage.
Occasionally I am asked how to get started in this industry. The truth is, no two paths are alike. But, I do believe that what separates those who make it and those who fall by the wayside is an understanding that it’s ok to make mistakes, to fudge a project or two or ten, to make something ugly in order to understand what it takes to make something beautiful. Character is developed not from the avoidance of falling down but from falling down and fighting your way back up again.
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http://patdryburgh.com/blog/myspace/
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THE BEST PROTECTION ON TWO WHEELS.
At Triple Eight, we’re not just skaters. We’re commuters, mountain bikers and BMX riders—and we have kids too. So we’ve recently hit the bike lanes, trails, ramps and neighborhood sidewalks with gear that delivers maximum protection with minimalist style. From Dual Certified helmets that defend your dome, to comfy, durable pads that help keep the rest of you in one piece, our bike line is just what the two-wheeled world has been waiting for.
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https://triple8.com/product-category/bike/
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- In a previous post, I complained about the prevalence of 3-D in movies and so forth. Today I received confirmation that the forthcoming handheld from my beloved Nintendo, the 3DS, is going to be exactly what I thought -- a fancy new toy with a special feature I can't use. The graphics are so good that it's almost worth it anyway, but...meh. That's my frivolous bullet point; on to more serious matters.
- Last night a gas explosion leveled a neighborhood in Allentown, which is the nearest city to my personal location. Five people were killed and several more lost their homes. I don't have the words, really. I heard it happen, although I didn't know what it was. All I can really do is urge anyone who wishes to help to give to the Red Cross disaster relief fund which exists for situations like this.
- The Red Cross is also encouraging people to give blood -- not for the explosion situation, but in general. The weather this winter has been so bad that many people have had to cancel their scheduled donations, and supplies are dipping below the safe level. If you can give, please consider doing so.
Having covered what I believe are all the salient points, I must post this while it's still Thursday (where I live, anyway) and get some sleep. This weekend holds a promise of magic for me, or at least some cheap laughs, and while I don't want to say just yet what I'm anticipating, I will say that there will be details next week.
I'll tell you this much, though. I am not rushing off to catch the first showing of the Justin Bieber movie. Honest.
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http://good-idea-time.blogspot.com/2011/02/some-brief-bullet-points.html
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Fabric Code : TSGGR
The common tree snake (Dendrelaphis punctulata), also called green tree snake and Australian tree snake is a slender, large-eyed, non-venomous, diurnal snake of many parts of Australia, especially in the northern and eastern coastal areas. This common snake is harmless, readily recognized as it is an agile snake with a very slender body and tail. The body color varies from green to olive-green to black, sometimes even blue.
The rain serpent is a common motif in Aboriginal artworks. When a rainbow is sighted in the sky, it is said that the serpent is moving from one waterhole to another. For this reason, some waterholes get never dried.
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http://mstexaustralia.com/portfolio/tree-snake-gathering-gray-peggy-brown/
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Pearl Valley Golf Estates
Pearl Valley Golf Estates is a truly legendary South African golf course. Opened in 2003 by Jack Nicklaus and South African great, Gary Player, it was home of the South African Open from 2007-2009 and is ranked in the top 5 in South Africa. The master-plan was shaped by the vision of golf legend Jack Nicklaus and his unique touch is evident throughout the course at Pearl Valley Golf Estates.
Traversed by roads in only three places, with a state-of-the-art drainage system in place that allows play to continue just minutes after a severe downpour, the course is truly in a league of its own. To meet the 'Golden Bear's' uncompromising standards of golf course design and aesthetic beauty, a combination of the deep, lush green on the fairways and greens, together with the brilliant white river sand lining the 81 bunkers was carefully planned to make Pearl Valley Golf Estates the most visually spectacular golf course in the country and arguably the world. Bunkers on Nicklaus's signature courses are renowned for being shallow, long and relatively benign.
Every hole is played against the spectacular backdrop of the mountains surrounding the estate and all are challenging due to the strategically set bunkers and fast greens. All par 3's and par 5's play in different directions, ensuring that the same conditions are seldom experienced during a round. The 13th hole, par 3, is the 'Signature' hole of the course and perhaps the most scenic.
The water cuts from the right and a greenside bunker awaits the cautious tee shot. This hole tests both your ball striking and your nerve. Hole 4 is also challenging with no room for error as you need to cross the creek three times on route to the green. This par 5 is listed as one of the best par 5's in South Africa, a real 'risk and reward' classic!
Pearl Valley is a world class championship course and boasts world class facilities including a well stocked pro shop, brilliant practice facilities, a luxurious club house with stunning restaurant, and a wellness SPA.View all Golf Courses in Western Cape Pearl Valley Golf Estates Website
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http://ozziesgolfguide.co.za/Pearl.php
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I have sold a property at 707 821 CAMBIE ST in Vancouver.
RAFFLES! In the centre of it all. This is a spacious two bedroom two bath unit with great separation for guests or sharing. Large open kitchen, great for entertaining. Stone counters, stainless steel appliances, rich floors andmodern finishings. This is just the place you will want to call home. Lots of space to work from home. Awesome location minutes walk from the seawall, library, entertainment, restaurants and shopping. It's a perfect match for your downtown lifestyle. YOU'LL LOVE IT!
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http://jeffbenna.com/blog.html/i-have-sold-a-property-at-707-821-cambie-st-in-vancouver-3097258
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Morrison paces Zags past Dons
San Francisco, CA (Sports Network) – Adam Morrison poured in a game-high 41
points and collected nine rebounds to guide seventh-ranked Gonzaga to an 84-75
win over San Francisco in West Coast Conference action at War Memorial
J.P. Batista posted a double-double with 20 points and 13 boards while Derek
Raivio netted 12 points for Gonzaga (16-3, 6-0), which has won seven straight.
Armondo Surratt tallied 30 points and had three steals for the Dons (7-11,
3-2), who had a modest two-game winning streak snapped. Jerome Gumbs and
Danny Cavic each scored 11 in the loss.
San Francisco trailed by seven early in the second half after a Batista layup,
but responded with a 12-4 surge to take a short-lived 52-51 lead with 13:19
The Dons fell back behind but kept it close throughout. They pulled back to
within three on a layup from Gumbs with 1:45 to play.
Gonzaga, however, scored the next five points to secure the game. Morrison
started the deciding spurt with a pair of free throws and Batista followed a
San Francisco turnover with a dunk with 43 ticks left to make it 77-70.
Batista continued to work down the stretch, hauling in a rebound on the
defensive end and then making 1-of-2 from the stripe after the ensuing foul to
seal the win.
Morrison went 5-of-5 from behind the arc in the first half and had 26
points in all to help stake Gonzaga to a 45-40 advantage after 20 minutes.
The Bulldogs used an 8-0 run in the latter stages of the opening stanza to
build a 41-26 lead. San Francisco, though, outscored its opponent 14-4 in the
closing minutes and Surratt sank a layup at the buzzer to make it a five-point
game at intermission.
Gonzaga improved to 5-2 on the road…Gonzaga holds a 32-20 advantage in the
all-time series with San Francisco, and the two teams split a pair a close
games last season…The Bulldogs committed 20 turnovers to the Dons’ 12.
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http://www.hoopsvibe.com/features/42667-morrison-paces-zags-past-dons
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BSNL allows Broadband users to change their plan, the quicker way to change your plan is to visit the nearest BSNL office and submit the plan change form, this takes 24 hours for your request to be processed, but approaching the customer care via Phone for the same takes more than three days.
If you’ve applied for BSNL broadband plan change and want to know whether your plan changed or not, or if you don’t know which broadband plan you’re on, to find out that, follow the simple steps mentioned below.
Find out which BSNL Broadband plan you’re using
1. Visit BSNL selfcare portal in browser
2. Sign into it with your username and password (if you don’t have an account, create one – useful to track broadband data usage online)
3. Under ‘My Subscribed Services’, expand Landline by clicking on ‘+’ sign and further expand Broadband, you’ll see the broadband plan you’re on.
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http://techdows.com/2016/11/which-bsnl-broadband-plan-you-are-using.html
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This timely set of solutions based on a new theory of economics shows how America can reverse its inexorable economic decline and stop the bleeding of its middle class by rebuilding its manufacturing sector on a green basis. * Tables and diagrams * Quotes from leading scholars * Primary government data
Back to top
Rent Manufacturing Green Prosperity 1st edition today, or search our site for other textbooks by Jon Rynn. Every textbook comes with a 21-day "Any Reason" guarantee. Published by Greenwood.
Need help ASAP? We have you covered with 24/7 instant online tutoring. Connect with one of our tutors now.
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http://www.chegg.com/textbooks/manufacturing-green-prosperity-1st-edition-9780313384769-0313384762
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FULLERTON – Japanese-American students, who were denied their college diplomas during World War II, are being sought to participate in this year’s commencement ceremony at Fullerton College.
An estimated 2,500 former students in California were forced to abandon their college studies and head for relocation camps.
Assembly Bill 37, authored by state Assemblyman Warren Furutani, would bestow honorary degrees to those who were denied their diplomas because of an executive order.
To demonstrate their commitment to the project, the North Orange County Community College District Board recently passed a resolution honoring Furutani and his dedication to the California Nisei Project.
For information on the project or to speak with individuals who have benefited from the Nisei Project, contact firstname.lastname@example.org or call 714.992.7014.
Contact the writer: 714-704-3762 or email@example.com
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http://www.ocregister.com/2010/02/08/diplomas-ready-for-japanese-americans/
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The book of Judges is a book of unfulfilled potential and broken promises. In this book, God chooses leaders from among the commoners in Israel to lead the people out of various harsh circumstances, particularly foreign oppression. However, each judge ultimately fails in their attempts to rescue the Israelites from evil.
In all cases among the various judges, the people fall back into wickedness, and thus because of the curse laid upon them in Deuteronomy, fall victim to raiders and foreign invaders. In some cases, notably Gideon and Samson, the people fall back into wickedness within their lifetime, or in the case of Samson, and to a lesser extent Gideon, the characters of the judges are inherently, fatally flawed.
In the case of Gideon, one of the two judges I plan to focus on, he has two primary character flaws that make him a failure among the judges. Firstly, Gideon is cowardly. In the opening of his story, he is working with grain in a wine cellar in order not to be noticed by the Midianites, who have been periodically, and destructively, raiding and stealing the grain of the Israelites. As Bretler notes, the place he is working entails that he is hiding from them. This however, is but one of several instances of Gideon’s cowardice.
The second instance of his cowardice comes from his first conversation with God. It has much in common with the first conversation between Moses and God and follows a similar pattern. When God tells Gideon that he is to lead the Israelites out of bondage, Gideon begins to list excuses as to why he is not fit for the task, for example, that his clan in Manasa is too small and weak to allow him to deliver Israel from the Midianites. Such a consistent lack of faith further shows how the judges were inherently flawed and why they ultimately failed to provide Israel a lasting time of peace and prosperity.
The third instance of his cowardice occurs in his destruction of his father’s alter to Baahl. He does not do this openly, but does so in secret in the middle of the night. In doing this Gideon shows a lack of faith in God as he feels he must destroy the alter stealthily rather than openly opposing the false God.
The fourth instance comes from when Gideon requires God to perform miracles in order to affirm that Gideon is indeed sent by god to free the Israelites from persecution. Gideon asks from these miracles on two occasions. First, Gideon asks for a fleece he puts on the ground to soak up no dew in the morning but for all the ground around it to be wet with this dew. After this miracle is performed, Gideon, not being satisfied with a single miracle to prove god’s support, asks for the opposite to occur. Testing god is a natural sign of lack of faith, and the fact that Gideon requires two miracles is particularly condemning of his character.
The Fifth and final act of cowardice Gideon performs occurs when he is preparing to attack the Midianite camp. God declares to him that if he needs assurance of victory, simply visiting and scouting the Midianite encampment will alleviate any doubts of the pending Israelite victory. Gideon and several others scout the camp and hear that the guards are particularly nervous due to unsettling dreams. Although this information ultimately leads to Gideon’s victory, when he throws the camp into chaos with horns and torches held by each of his 300 soldiers, his lack of faith is again demonstrated. The Lord presents the information to Gideon as a contingency in the event that he still has doubts. The fact that he scouted the camp for this reason demonstrates that he indeed, after two miracles, and direct conversation with God, Gideon still doubted the power and resolve of the Lord.
However, it is not Gideon’s cowardice that leads to his failure as a judge, but rather his greed. After a second campaign, Gideon is offered a chance to be king of the people. He rejects this offer. However, he asks for, and receives a large amount of treasure from Ismaelites that the book of Judges clearly states “Was a snare to him and his Descendants.” This statement is further enhanced by the appearance of one of his sons as an antagonist later in the Old Testament.
Samson, with his superhuman abilities and power, is both the book’s biggest hero and the book of Judges biggest disappointment. Unlike Gideon, Samson has no instance of cowardice or greed. However, He is rash and highly arrogant with all of his power. Also, his faith is misplaced in his abilities and his unwise trust of Delilah.
Samson is arrogant in many ways. Among the most obvious ways he does this is how he misinforms Delilah as to his actual weakness and puts himself in many dangerous situations, which he then escapes from to humiliate the philistines. This may be his goal, but he was sent as a hero to deliver Israel rather than to simply be a mythic figure among the philistines with whom he is consorting.
Also, Samson has misplaced faith in his allies and ignores his vow as a Nasserite to god. In direct violation to all of the Nasserite vows, Samson drinks intoxicating beverages, he marries a foreigner, and he has his hair shaved off. It is noteworthy that he must break all three vows before God removes his superhuman power.
The Book of Judges is not irrelevant to how one may look at modern history. Since the mid-18th century, revolutions have overthrown governments around the world and re-established new governments in their place. Such is occurring presently throughout the Middle East. However, as most of these revolutions have not significantly resolved, I have chosen to compare the failed judges, particularly Gideon and Samson, to leaders in the French Revolution. Like the period described in judges, the French revolution was full of unfulfilled promise. Many in the revolution hoped for an end to slavery, peace and prosperity, equality, and women’s rights, however, in all these areas the French empire would be disappointed. Some of this can be attributed to the prominent leaders of the Revolution. Robespierre was a member of the twelve-member “Committee of Public Safety,” and although he disapproved of the violence, he did nothing with his power to contain the out-of-control violence sweeping his country. In this way, with his hesitation to act, Robespierre is much like Gideon. Napoleon, who assumed power out of the chaos in 1799, Using popular appeals for liberty and equality to gain support as he assumed control, Napoleon would, in 1804, proclaim himself emperor. Even with his cries for freedom, Napoleon reinstituted slavery, which had been abolished, and brutally crushed any opposition in his way. Like Samson, Napoleon was known for his arrogance and also like Samson; he wound up betraying the original goals of the French revolution to which he proclaimed himself to be heir. Therefore, the idea of leaders ultimately failing, like the judges in the Bible, is not foreign to ideas of similar occurrences in the modern era.
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https://hebrewbible.wordpress.com/2011/02/20/topic-prospectus-judges-revolutions-and-broken-promises/
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Tonight’s Evening Brief is brought to you by the European Union Delegation to Canada, which is organizing “The Arctic Region: Between Modernisation and Tradition, Economic Development and Protection of the Environment” Conference on October 19. Click here to register for this conference. #EUArctic #EUCanada40
Not a member yet?
Click below for a free trial.
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https://ipolitics.ca/2016/10/13/evening-brief-thursday-october-13-2016/
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Aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage. Complications and outcome in a hospital population.
We describe total management results in a prospective series of 264 patients with aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) admitted to a neurologic unit. Referrals were actively solicited from general physicians as well as neurologists in the area. The diagnosis was based on computed tomography (CT). Secondary deteriorations were analyzed clinically and with serial CT scanning. Outcome was assessed 3 months after SAH. There were no relevant differences between the analyses of patients with and without an aneurysm confirmed by angiography or autopsy. One third of the patients either died within 1 day (12%) or remained in a poor clinical condition that precluded surgery (22%). One third were in good clinical condition, but contraindications to surgery were judged present or serious complications occurred before surgery could be performed. One third of all patients underwent surgery. Overall mortality in our series was 52%; only 26% made a good recovery. The risk of rebleeding was not related to the patients' initial clinical condition, but all other intracranial complications occurred significantly more often in patients graded poor compared with patients in good clinical condition. The most important causes of death and severe disability were hemorrhage (16%), recurrent hemorrhage (18%), and delayed cerebral ischemia (15%). The most important surgical complication was delayed deterioration caused by ischemia (20% of operated patients). We estimated that recognition of 'warning leaks,' surgery in patients over 65, and improvement of our surgical technique could decrease mortality from 52% to approximately 41%.
- Copyright © 1987 by American Heart Association
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http://stroke.ahajournals.org/content/18/6/1061
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14875498
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Hydro launches clean energy venture
The Tasmanian Government hopes its new renewable energy training centre will attract students from around the world.
The Clean Energy and Water Institute, run by Hydro Tasmania's consulting arm Entura, is based at Cambridge on Hobart's eastern shore.
The Energy Minister, Bryan Green says courses will cover cutting edge hydro, wind, solar and water management.
"[We want] to ensure that we can further opportunities around sustainable energy production," he said.
"I mean the globe is in an awkward space when it comes to fossil fuels, carbon.
"Here we are in Tasmania with a hundred years of expertise.
"We need to be able to utilise that to provide opportunity for other parts of the world."
The institute is expected to turn a profit which will flow to Tasmanians through Hydro Tasmania.
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http://www.abc.net.au/news/2012-12-11/school27s-in-at-hydro/4421748
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14875499
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About two years ago, digital marketers began talking about the “mobile revolution” and how it was going to change the Web forever. There’s been a lot of buzz about the Internet getting predominantly mobile by 2014.
However, this simplistic view of the global Internet’s future (which didn’t answer many of marketers’ questions) soon got replaced by a more informed opinion, which involves understanding how the searcher uses different types of devices for various purposes.
Nowadays, it’s not mobile vs. desktop any longer. We are now talking about multi-screen user experience (some solid data in this post, by the way), during which the searcher transcends different types of gadgets and different screens to complete one goal. Conclusion: In practice, mobile experience is not opposed to desktop experience, but compliments it.
Do you need a mobile strategy?
Despite all the mobile revolution talk, only 21 percent of websites are optimized for mobile. Sometimes site owners don’t realize the immense opportunities additional mobile traffic represents. In other cases online marketers believe there’s little target mobile audience for them because of their niche.
Usually, the moment of truth comes when a site owner looks at how many mobile users actually search for their industry term/s, which is easy to check with Google’s AdWords Keyword Tool by playing with Advanced Options and Filters:
And, you could check your Google Analytics statistics to see how much mobile traffic your site gets and what the bounce rates are.
Another test one could perform is to grab a handheld device (or better several of them) and see what their site looks like on, say, an iPhone. BTW, don’t gasp in awe if you see your homepage get auto-resized to fit a smaller screen—this alone doesn’t make your site mobile-ready.
What does make it mobile-friendly, though, is bigger text, cleaner layout, easy-to-click buttons (no tiny text links!), and other mobile usability wonders.
Now, as Google’s survey reveals, 61 percent of searchers say that, if they didn’t find what they were looking for on a mobile site, they’d quickly go some place else.
So, if your site requires the user to manually enlarge content or scroll, it’s probably time you think about making it more mobile-friendly to attract more visitors.
I think there are five major approaches to develop mobile presence, and you should decide what approach to use based on the size and the type of your business and the resources you can allocate for a mobile campaign.
I describe these approaches, including their pros and cons, in detail on my blog, so here’s just a list of them:
- A mobile site
- Responsive Web design
- A mobile app
- Local + Social
- Offer-oriented mobile Web presence
Do mobile users search a lot?
Another important point I’d like to make is that, not only should one create mobile presence for their brand, but also optimize their mobile site/offer for the search engines. Why? Because, according to Google, 63 percent of users actually use search to locate a business from their handheld devices.
Hence, it’s not enough to simply create a mobile page or a local webpage. It should have backlinks, shares, and mentions, and contain your keywords to occupy leading positions in the SERPs. Only then will your mobile Web campaign bring decent fruit.
How other brands do it?
Of course, most big brands nowadays are represented on the mobile Web, with smaller businesses getting there as well. And, quite often, a brand uses not just one, but multiple ways of reaching mobile users via a site, an app, an offer, etc. Here are some good examples:
Starbucks offers several solutions for mobile users. First, a nice responsive design site is available to the iPhone folks:
Can you see the “Find a Store” button? Very thoughtful of Starbucks, since most people would just probably be looking for a nearby store.
Second, Starbucks offers an Android and an iPhone app that let one use their Starbucks points, buy gifts, browse Starbucks locations, and more.
Besides, if you don’t have the app, Starbucks has a really cool store locator tool which renders just fine on an iPhone (thanks to RWD):
Now, Walmart are pretty serious about its mobile Internet presence. Not only do they have a mobile website, mobile.walmart.com, but also offer a variety of mobile apps to choose from:
Walmart also once did an interesting mobile promo campaign that got mixed reviews. The company created a mobile game, the point of which was to catch a fish to unlock Walmart’s fishing gear products.
Shoppers were expected to click on a product and land on the Local Ads page Walmart was promoting with the campaign. However, as the campaign’s critics pointed out, the destination page was not optimized for mobile, which was a failure on behalf of the retailer giant.
3. Cuckoo’s Nest
Finally, I’d like to provide an example of a small local business that’s quite well represented on the mobile Web, even though it doesn’t even have a website.
I’m talking about the Irish pub called Cuckoo’s Nest in Queens, NY. The pub has no website, but is listed on a whole lot of other Web resources that are pretty mobile-friendly: Google+ Local, Yelp, Foursquare, Facebook, etc.
And, as you see, it shows up for its name in the mobile SERPs, with its Google Local listing occupying all of the screen’s real estate.
With the holiday season underway, it’s time for online businesses to explore additional sales opportunities, many of which can be found in mobile Web marketing.
There are many approaches to promoting a biz to mobile users that fit different budgets, from developing a mobile app, to building a mobile site, to using QR codes to get people to follow you on Twitter, etc. Whatever method you choose, don’t miss your chance this Q4!
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https://www.searchenginejournal.com/how-to-get-your-mobile-strategy-for-multi-screen-web-plus-brands-that-did-it-right/49951/
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