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0.628176 | <urn:uuid:4f78b39a-1271-498f-ab80-0ee4907204c9> | en | 0.983967 | Can't help you out with the OPK but looks like you have plenty of advice on that from others.
I know what it's like when cycles go all crazy on you, I normally have a 29 day cycle, these past months have included a 55 and 39 day cycle. For me AF did eventually show, but I am being sent to a gynecologist to figure things out. | http://www.pregnancy.org/bulletinboards/planning-family-grads-630/positive-opk-not-671389/index2.html | dclm-gs1-011130000 |
0.945857 | <urn:uuid:3fcbf14a-c116-48fe-b050-31704f18dd91> | en | 0.902023 | Science, Tech & Environment
Geo answer
For today's Geo Quiz, we were searching for the location of the southern Africa headquarters of the Cheetah Conservation Fund. The answer is Otjiwarongo, Namibia. Chris Bartos of the Philadelphia Zoo just traveled there with her border collie Finn to help conservationists track endangered cheetahs.
Player utilities | http://www.pri.org/stories/2009-03-26/geo-answer | dclm-gs1-011150000 |
0.082667 | <urn:uuid:45f478ba-ac95-426a-977e-22e7326f2cc5> | en | 0.953725 | The race for the final West playoff spots
Written by Quixem Ramirez on .
6. Golden State Warriors (42-32)
With fewer than 10 games remaining, barring a minor collapse, the Warriors will likely remain in the sixth slot or, in a worst case scenario, in the seventh seed if the Rockets continue their blistering pace. Meaning a matchup with the Spurs is unlikely. This isn't bad news nor is it good news; Golden State is a volatile team -- in their last 20 games, they have drubbed their opponents, allowing 99.3 points per 100 possessions according to, which would be fourth over the course of the season -- and can disrupt even elite teams when Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson have space on the perimeter. But they are heavily flawed -- namely defensively, though they do allow the fewest attempts at the rim -- and until they dial down their mid-range attempts and distribute their shots more efficiently, they shouldn't be considered a legitimate playoff threat. (Note: Swapping super sub Jarrett Jack for Harrison Barnes may do the trick however; in a limited sample size, the Warriors starting lineup plus Jack has been incredibly effective, outscoring opponents by 12.3 points per 100 possessions.) But they will still be plenty fun.
7. Houston Rockets (40-33)
8. Utah Jazz (38-36)
9. Los Angeles Lakers (38-36)
Having won 13 of their last 20 games, the Lakers appear to be gelling at the right time. Although their recent play is encouraging, the Lakers have only been marginally better since the All-Star break. To compensate for a failing defense, which has regressed even more since February, the Lakers have upped their offensive pace. What resulted is an offense that is producing 107.3 points per 100 possessions, a mark that would be behind only Miami, Oklahoma City, New York and Denver. Defensive ineptitude aside -- Mike D'Antoni hasn't been able to commandeer his roster, which does include some halfway decent defenders, into playing active defense -- the Lakers have discovered a few positive silver linings; small-ball lineups including Earl Clark at power forward have been effective and, as long as Kobe Bryant doesn't jack up too many shots, the Lakers will Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sportshave little trouble scoring points in bunches. Integrating Pau Gasol is still a bit awkward, since Steve Nash, Dwight Howard and Bryant have already developed a healthy repertoire. Los Angeles should not be feared or overlooked at this point.
10. Dallas Mavericks (36-37)
Utah or the Lakers seem the weakest teams. But on the other hand, none of these teams have the strength of OKC or the Heat. So does it really matter?
@be_Spurs None of these teams should beat the Spurs in the first-round. That's obvious. But drawing the ideal opponent could shave off some unnecessary playoff games before OKC/DEN/LAC/MEM.
You Might Like... | http://www.projectspurs.com/2013-articles/april/the-race-for-the-final-west-playoff-spots.html | dclm-gs1-011160000 |
0.028155 | <urn:uuid:259bfd94-cfbc-4251-bb16-ed8a145e9099> | en | 0.776735 | 446 Results Found for Ray Lancaster! Select a State Below
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0.031126 | <urn:uuid:739782cf-cfe6-4655-95b3-bde9ada37c0d> | en | 0.9755 | Can we count on the D-League?
Philadelphia, PA (Sports Network) - Mark Cuban opened his mouth recently, which is always good because it gives me something to write about.
Here's what he said: "The NCAA rules are so hypocritical, there's absolutely no reason for a kid to go [to college] ... if the goal is just to graduate to the NBA or be an NBA player, go to the D-League."
Southern Methodist head coach Larry Brown disagrees.
"They don't teach guys how to play, in my mind," Brown said about the D- League. "The head coaches in the NBA and a lot of the assistants do, but [college] is the greatest minor league system in the world."
Despite Brown's objections, one pretty prominent college player has already taken Cuban's advice. Instead of waiting for the NCAA to reinstate him, suspended University of North Carolina guard P.J. Hairston went ahead and signed with the Texas Legends, a minor league affiliate of Cuban's Dallas Mavericks.
Cuban is right about one thing. One-and-done culture has definitely gotten out of hand. Only two of the 25 players who appeared in this year's All-Star Game went to college for all four years (Indiana's Roy Hibbert and Portland's Damian Lillard).
Statements like the one Kansas freshman Andrew Wiggins made to ESPN Magazine a few months ago only strengthen Cuban's argument. Wiggins said his favorite part of playing for Kansas was "being able to enjoy my last year of school."
That subtle enough for you?
The system may be broken but the D-League is certainly not the answer. In fact, I'd contend the D-League is even more flawed than the NCAA.
Forty-six NCAA players were selected in last year's NBA Draft. In the D- League's 12 years of existence, only four D-League players have ever been drafted with none going higher than 35th. Two of those four (Chukwudiebere Maduabum and Latavious Williams) never even played in the NBA.
Of course, I'm simplifying things just a tad. It's much more common for a player to go undrafted, join the D-League and then get called up to the NBA. Plenty of D-League players have made contributions in the NBA, including Andray Blatche, Brandon Bass, J.J. Barea, Will Bynum, Marcin Gortat, Chris "Birdman" Andersen, Hasheem Thabeet, C.J. Watson and Matt Barnes.
Still, the D-League has yet to produce an NBA All-Star. That's unless you count Antoine Walker, who played for the Idaho Stampede only after his NBA career fizzled out. D-League advocates also boast that Bobby Simmons (2005 NBA Most Improved Player) is one of their own, yet he didn't join the Reno Bighorns until 2011, ten years after he was drafted by the Sonics. Ricky Davis is another former star who tried to resurrect his career in the D-League with limited success.
Andrew Goudelock was named the 12th MVP in D-League history at the end of last season. In 48 games (including postseason) at the NBA level, Goudelock has reached double-figures just six times. His career-high 20 points came in a game when the Lakers were without Steve Nash, Kobe Bryant, Jodie Meeks and Steve Blake.
Though 11 of the 12 D-League MVPs have played in the NBA, only three (Matt Carroll, Marcus Fizer and Devin Brown) have gone on to average double-digit points. None of them came close to making a difference in fantasy.
The two most recognizable D-League alums are probably Aaron Brooks and Jeremy Lin, who were teammates on the Rockets earlier this season. Brooks has since been traded to Denver.
In 2010, Brooks looked like he was on the brink of something special, averaging 19.6 ppg in his 82 appearances. Since then, he's averaged just 8.6 ppg on 40.1 percent shooting.
Lin's most productive stint, as everyone knows, came during a two-week period in February 2012 (24.6 ppg over ten appearances). The post-Linsanity Lin has only been average (13.2 ppg in his last 151 contests).
What we're finding here is that the D-League isn't a breeding ground for All- Stars. By and large, it's a place for the guys who couldn't cut it in the NBA.
But what Cuban and Brown are forgetting is that college and the D-League aren't the NBA's only "minor league" systems. EuroLeague players have been arriving in bulk over the last decade and many of them have been just as productive as their college and D-League counterparts.
Manu Ginobili (two All-Star appearances, three championships) has built a Hall of Fame career for himself since leaving Italy in the early 2000s. The Gasol brothers (five All-Star nods) have been just as dominant. Andrei Kirilenko (All-Star in 2004), Vlade Divac (All-Star in 2001) and Toni Kukoc (1996 Sixth Man of the Year) also made their mark overseas before becoming stars in the NBA. Goran Dragic (20.6 ppg), Jose Calderon (11.6 ppg) and Ricky Rubio (sixth in the league in assists) are probably headed down that same path.
That's not to say every player who makes the leap from Europe to the NBA does it flawlessly. Remember Darko Milicic (6.0 ppg over ten seasons)? I know Pistons fans would prefer not to.
Maybe commissioner Adam Silver will raise the league's age limit to 20. Maybe he'll keep it the same and the one-and-done epidemic will continue.
But hey, at least Andrew Wiggins is having a good time, right?
| http://www.sportsnetwork.com/merge/tsnform.aspx?c=sinclair-richmond&page=fantasy/columns/pantuosco/nba/index.htm | dclm-gs1-011310000 |
0.178646 | <urn:uuid:20aeeb42-e488-425a-bf5a-cfa4927cfb23> | en | 0.980976 | • Search
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Lottery scam still pops up
Mrs. Smith (fictitious name) told us she recently received what appears to be a form letter from "The National Lottery (In Conjunction With Blanchard Contractors, Inc)." It states that she is the "lucky winner in the World International Consumers Sweepstake to be held in the United Kingdom on the 13th of May 2013." The letter informed Mrs. Smith that her name was randomly selected from a computer database. She became part of the database when she or a household member shopped at a North American department store using a credit or debit card and was the winner of $135,000.
Enclosed was a valid-appearing check in the amount of $3,750, which was deducted from her prize money. She was asked to pay a nonresident tax of $1,750 and a $930 processing fee. She was instructed to deposit the check in her bank and draw funds from it to pay $2,680 for the tax and fees. She then was to contact her "claims agents for further directives." The two payments were to be made only through Western Union Money transfer and Money Gram. She was told that after she completed making the payments she would receive a second check (delivered by FedEx) which would be the balance of her $135,000.
Of course, she won nothing, and if had she chosen to follow the given instructions, she would have ended up losing $2,680.
Though the sweepstakes scam is an old one, people are still falling for it; otherwise it would no longer be making its rounds in our area as well as many other parts of the United States. The scammer just chose the name of a reputable, existing company to print on the check (Blanchard Contractors Inc.) hoping people would recognize the name and know that it is a good company thus the victim-to-be may more likely fall for this scam ... but fortunately the scam.
Watch out for this mystery shopper offer
In a tough economy, consumers are trying to find some work to help pay their bills. There have been reports of college students being reeled in by online "Mystery Shopping" opportunities, which involve receiving a check (counterfeit) and filling out a survey about the efficiency of Western Union's money-transfer services. Once the money is sent off and the bank figures out that the check is counterfeit, they go after the person who deposited it into his/her bank account. The bank has to get money from somewhere! The people receiving the money through Western Union service never identify themselves and most likely are operating in a foreign country, which makes it next to impossible for law enforcement to track.
BBB tip: Check with the BBB first to ensure that a mystery shopping opportunity is on the up and up.
| http://www.sun-sentinel.com/topic/sbt-lottery-scam-still-pops-up-20130613,0,5543068.column | dclm-gs1-011340000 |
0.834086 | <urn:uuid:5b8052b2-d534-4908-be86-4003b20e942c> | en | 0.889396 | Protecting astronauts beyond the ISS
Astronauts venturing beyond the safety of the International Space Station (ISS) will face increased exposure to cosmic radiation.
Water-mining lunar robot revealed
Carnegie Mellon University spinoff Astrobotic Technology has now completed a full-size prototype of a solar-powered robot designed to search for water ice at the moon's poles.
Exploring the moon in 3D
Could alien soils make spacecraft heat shields?
NASA scientists will next week test whether a heat shield made from the soil of the moon, Mars or an asteroid could stand up to a plunge through Earth's atmosphere.
Blue moon will light up the sky tonight
A phenomenon will occur tonight that only happens once in a blue moon - literally.
Space elevator planned for the moon
The latest Kickstarter project, looking for crowd funding, is a little different to most - a space elevator to be built on the moon.
The man who walked the moon passes away
Neil Armstrong - the first man to walk on the moon - has passed away at the age of 82 following complications resulting from cardiovascular procedures.
Helium found in moon's atmosphere
Observations from NASA's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO) have revealed the presence of helium in the thin atmosphere surrounding the moon.
Perseid meteor shower will hit peak on Saturday
If you want a good look at a meteor shower, you'd better head outside this Saturday.
US flags still standing strong on the moon
Harsh conditions and extreme temperatures are nothing in the face of symbols of American pride.
Just how poisonous is the moon?
The moon could be a highly toxic place, say scientists, warning of cancer and breathing problems even when astronauts remain in their space suits.
Hubble spots fifth Pluto moon
NASA has confirmed the discovery of a fifth moon orbiting the icy dwarf planet Pluto.
Extensive water ice found in lunar crater
Almost a quarter of a crater near the moon's south pole is covered with ice, scientists using NASA's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO) spacecraft have found.
Glass bubble find may explain weird lunar soil
NASA completes main Grail mission ahead of time
NASA's Grail mission to study the moon from crust to core has completed its main task ahead of schedule, gathering information about the internal structure and evolution of the moon in unprecedented detail.
From lunar rovers to wet wipes: protecting artifacts on the moon
NASA's a bit concerned that the rush to the moon created by Google's Lunar X Prize could damage historic sites there.
NASA uses moon as mirror to watch Venus transit sun
Just like human eyes, the Hubble Space Telescope can't observe the sun directly - so NASA scientists plan to study Venus's solar transit in June by using the moon as a mirror.
NASA says the moon's crust is being stretched
New images snapped by NASA's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO) indicate the moon's crust is actually being stretched - forming minute valleys in a few small areas on the lunar surface.
Moon 'wasn't created by giant collision'
A new chemical analysis of lunar material collected by Apollo astronauts in the 1970s appears to disprove theories that the moon was created through a massive collision between Earth and a Mars-sized object 4.5 billion years ago.
Cosmic rays alter chemistry of lunar ice
A bombardment of cosmic rays on the moon's surface could be creating complex carbon chains similar to those that form the foundations of biological life. | http://www.tgdaily.com/tag/moon?page=1&HttpOnly=&HttpOnly%2C_cmf_i=2046052568515ca4ce9a55f7.63762893 | dclm-gs1-011370000 |
0.040632 | <urn:uuid:89c9d371-665c-45de-b067-9dafb2a36009> | en | 0.952818 | Nation Topics - Law | The Nation
Topic Page
News and Features
On November 7, voters in Alabama erased from that state's Constitution a provision dating from 1901 that declared that "the legislature shall never pass any law to authorize or legalize any marriage between any white person and a Negro, or descendant of a Negro." This declaration represented in part a desire by white supremacists to express as fully as possible their intention to expunge the racially egalitarian symbols, hopes and reforms of Reconstruction. Although Alabama had never enacted a law expressly authorizing interracial marriage, in 1872 the state's Supreme Court did invalidate the law that prohibited such unions. But it promptly reversed itself in 1877 when white supremacists regained power. The Alabama Constitution's disapproval of interracial marriage, however, had still deeper roots. It stemmed from the presumption that white men had the authority to dictate whom, in racial terms, a person could and could not marry. It was also rooted in the belief that certain segments of the population were simply too degraded to be eligible as partners in marriage with whites. At one point or another, forty states prohibited marriage across racial lines. In all of them blacks were stigmatized as matrimonial untouchables. In several, "Mongolians" (people of Japanese or Chinese ancestry), "Malays" (Filipinos) and Native Americans were also placed beyond the pale of acceptability.
Rationales for barring interracial marriage are useful to consider, especially since some of them echo so resonantly justifications voiced today by defenders of prohibitions against same-sex marriage. One rationale for barring interracial marriages was that the progeny of such matches would be incapable of procreating. Another was that God did not intend for the races to mix. Another was that colored people, especially blacks, are irredeemably inferior to whites and pose a terrible risk of contamination. The Negrophobic Thomas Dixon spoke for many white supremacists when he warned in his novel The Leopard's Spots that "this Republic can have no future if racial lines are broken and its proud citizenry sinks to the level of a mongrel breed." A single drop of Negro blood, he maintained apocalyptically, "kinks the hair, flattens the nose, then the lip, puts out the light of intellect, and lights the fires of brutal passions."
Although opponents of prohibitions on interracial marriage have waged struggles in many forums (e.g., academia, the churches, journalism), two in particular have been decisive. One is the courtroom. In 1967 in the most aptly titled case in American history--Loving v. The Commonwealth of Virginia--the United States Supreme Court ruled that prohibitions against interracial marriage violated the equal protection and due process clauses of the Fourteenth Amendment. (Although much credit is lavished on the Court's decision, it bears noting that nineteen years earlier, in 1948, the Supreme Court of California had reached the same conclusion in an extraordinary, albeit neglected, opinion by Justice Roger Traynor.) When the federal Supreme Court struck down Jim Crow laws at the marriage altar, it relied on the massive change in public attitudes reflected and nourished by Brown v. Board of Education (1954), Martin Luther King Jr.'s "I Have A Dream" address (1963), the Civil Rights Act (1964) and the Voting Rights Act (1965). The Court also relied on the fact that by 1967, only sixteen states, in one region of the country, continued to retain laws prohibiting interracial marriage. This highlights the importance of the second major forum in which opponents of racial bars pressed their struggle: state legislatures. Between World War II and the Civil Rights Revolution, scores of state legislatures repealed bans against interracial marriage, thereby laying the moral, social and political groundwork for the Loving decision. Rarely will any court truly be a pioneer. Much more typically judges act in support of a development that is already well under way.
Unlike opponents of Brown v. Board of Education, antagonists of Loving were unable to mount anything like "massive resistance." They neither rioted, nor promulgated Congressional manifestoes condemning the Court, nor closed down marriage bureaus to prevent the desegregation of matrimony. There was, however, some opposition. In 1970, for example, a judge near Fort McClellan, Alabama, denied on racial grounds a marriage license to a white soldier and his black fiancée. This prompted a lawsuit initiated by the US Justice Department that led to the invalidation of Alabama's statute prohibiting interracial marriage. Yet the Alabama constitutional provision prohibiting the enactment of any law expressly authorizing black-white interracial marriage remained intact until the recent referendum.
That an expression of official opposition to interracial marriage remained a part of the Alabama Constitution for so long reflects the fear and loathing of black-white intimacy that remains a potent force in American culture. Sobering, too, was the closeness of the vote; 40 percent of the Alabama electorate voted against removing the obnoxious prohibition. Still, given the rootedness of segregation at the marriage altar, the ultimate outcome of the referendum should be applauded. The complete erasure of state-sponsored stigmatization of interracial marriage is an important achievement in our struggle for racial justice and harmony.
Even the relatively better-informed mainstream accounts fail to convey the brutality of this policy. There are a number of excellent news outlets for those who want unjaundiced reporting. The website for Middle East Research and Information Project is trustworthy (www.merip.org), as is the Electronic Intifada (electronicintifada.net/new.html). For the latter, the intro essay by Nigel Parry gives a useful overview of media coverage. Electronic Intifada also has links to other sites, as does ZNet's Mideast Watch (www.zmag.org/meastwatch/meastwat.htm). Particularly comprehensive is Birzeit University's (www.birzeit.edu/links).
Fair Game
A corporate antiviolence program targets students who don't fit in.
As the media obsessed over the seesaw presidential poll, voters across the country quietly made their choices on more than 200 disparate ballot measures and initiatives. For progressives the results are--as usual--mixed.
In Missouri corporate opponents--including Anheuser-Busch, KC Power & Light, Hallmark Cards and the Missouri Association of Realtors--poured hundreds of thousands into their victorious antireform campaign. Californians, meanwhile, approved Proposition 34, billed as campaign reform but actually cooked up by the establishment to block real reform. The returns on these three measures should compel campaign finance reform activists to rethink their strategies. These are significant and stinging defeats.
Colorado voters defeated the so-called informed consent measure on abortion, but Arizona and Nebraska approved a ban on same-sex marriages and civil unions. In Maine a measure to protect gays from discrimination was defeated. In Oregon the notorious Measure 9, which outlaws "teaching" homosexuality in schools, failed. Oregonians also rejected two antiunion "paycheck protection" measures, which the state labor federation had vigorously fought.
DNA testing can convict the guilty; it can also destroy the privacy of millions.
In New Mexico, communists who fail to register their party affiliation with the state commit a felony. Under New Mexico's DNA databanking law, if they are caught they are required to submit a DNA sample to the department of public safety. In Idaho, consensual sodomy with a partner other than your spouse constitutes a sex-crime felony. Those unfortunate enough to be caught in the act are similarly required by law to submit a tissue sample to the state's DNA databank for the purposes of preventing future sex crimes. And if Governor George Pataki is successful in the next legislative session, New York will begin collecting genetic material from any person convicted of a misdemeanor, such as resisting arrest or disorderly conduct as a result of peaceful civil disobedience.
In an age of biotechnology and computers, we are all but a needle-stick away from disclosing hereditary-disease susceptibilities, familial relationships and identifying information. Anyone who values privacy should therefore be concerned that US law-enforcement agencies are amassing ever larger portions of the general population's DNA while neglecting to implement measures that would protect the privacy and presumptive innocence of citizens. And because DNA evidence is currently enjoying an unprecedented degree of bipartisan enthusiasm, these gradual developments have tended to be sheltered from the criticism that might otherwise confront such policies.
Not that DNA evidence's celebrity isn't well deserved. It is many rape victims' best hope for identifying their assailants and law enforcement's most penetrating method of apprehending serial offenders. It can be credited with triggering a re-examination of the nation's capital punishment system by exonerating eight death-row inmates. Like its predecessor, the fingerprint, DNA profiles are a reliable means of identifying individuals (except in the case of identical twins). But glib analogies to fingerprints obscure important differences. DNA samples can reveal far more information than fingerprints, including sensitive medical conditions, traits or a person's biological parentage. In addition, while fingerprints are unique to every individual, genetic profiles are partially shared among blood relatives. Thus, databanks contain identifying information on nonoffending relatives of people explicitly covered by databanking statutes. Finally, because we shed our genetic calling cards in a trail of hair follicles, skin flecks, saliva aerosols and finger smudges, DNA can also provide a trace of our activities.
DNA databanks are premised on statistics indicating that individuals convicted of a serious violent offense often commit other violent offenses that leave behind incriminating DNA. Tissue samples, usually in the form of a blood sample or cheek swab, are thus collected from offenders covered by their state's databank laws and are analyzed using a technique called "profiling," which detects genetic variations among individuals that, at least as currently understood by geneticists, have no biological function. The resulting data are then computerized so that profiles produced from crime-scene samples can be compared with those already in the database, allowing authorities to eliminate certain suspects or target those whose profiles match. In effect, databanks provide a means of genetically frisking anyone who has ever committed a covered offense for any crime in which DNA has been recovered.
As of June 1998 all fifty states had enacted statutes authorizing state and local law-enforcement agencies to operate criminal DNA databases and to pool their DNA profiles into a national FBI-operated database called CODIS (Combined DNA Identification System). Though the earliest laws targeted convicted violent sexual felons, civil libertarians looked to the history of Social Security numbers, fingerprinting and drug-testing to warn of an inevitable migration of the technique from convict to suspect terrain. A decade later, as many states have passed laws to cover new offender categories, the Cassandras appear to have been vindicated. Delaware, for instance, requires submission of genetic samples for all those who have committed offenses against children, which include selling tobacco or tattooing minors without the consent of a guardian. Twenty-three states cover certain categories of misdemeanors, and seven states have enacted legislation that would require DNA submission for any felony, which extends DNA databanking into realms such as perjury, larceny, bribery and fraud. Thus, in addition to New Mexico's statute covering unregistered communists, Alabama's code covers tax evaders and Virginia's targets people who deface brands or marks on timber. Experts like CODIS program director Steve Niezgoda have predicted that all states will eventually amend their statutes to cover all felonies; four states have already done so, and another three have recently considered or will consider such an expansion in their next legislative sessions. Among these three, New York's proposal stands out as by far the nation's most comprehensive, targeting all convicted felons and class-A misdemeanants.
DNA databanking laws are furthermore part of the ferment that is corroding the century-old juvenile justice system that treats minors as a category of offenders separate from adults. More than half of all states authorize inclusion of DNA profiles collected from juveniles in their databanks. In contrast to the convention of sealing or erasing juvenile criminal records after a period of time--a practice grounded on a rehabilitative ideal--none of the statutes require states to remove juvenile DNA profiles from their databanks, and one (Arizona's) expressly prohibits their removal. Several states have revised their original legislation to cover juvenile offenders as well. The spread of DNA databanking to minors is especially troubling when considered against the racial inequities that plague the juvenile justice system. According to Vincent Schiraldi, president of the Center on Juvenile and Criminal Justice, "When you control for poverty, white and black [teens] commit the same amount of violent crime, [but] blacks are arrested at four times the rate of whites and imprisoned at seven times the rate of whites. So don't think for a second this databank will be race-neutral. This policy will grossly overrepresent criminal behavior by blacks and exacerbate disparities in incarceration because [databanks are] going to be used against people."
An indirect consequence of expanding DNA databanks is their partial coverage of a larger proportion of nonoffending relatives as well. Because individuals share portions of their DNA with biological relatives--half in the case of siblings, parents and children--an incomplete match between a databanked person's profile and that of a crime-scene sample might lead investigators to question an individual's immediate family. The effect of such profiling by proxy is that identifying information about nonoffenders is present in criminal databank systems as well; in effect, if you have a relative whose profile has been databanked, you're likely to be partially genetically frisked as well.
A critical unresolved question about current databanking practices concerns what law-enforcement agencies actually do with their frozen vials of human tissue. The human genome contains approximately 100,000 different genes, many of which are associated with specific illnesses. Though DNA profiles have few applications beyond linking individuals to biological specimens, the actual tissue samples submitted by offenders could in principle be analyzed for genetic traits ranging from sickle-cell anemia to schizophrenia. Since evolving typing techniques may one day outmode profiles currently being entered into computers, more than half of US states are authorized or required by law to archive their samples so they can be retested. This sustains the possibility that samples may eventually be used for purposes other than profiling.
Most statutes restrict sample use to "law enforcement"--a term whose broadness in this context can only be described as oceanic. Twenty states allow law-enforcement agencies to use samples for research on improving forensic techniques, which could mean searching banked DNA samples for genetic predictors of recidivism, pedophilia or aggression. One Massachusetts legislator publicly advocated such a use, and Tom Callaghan, program manager of the FBI's Federal Convicted Offender DNA Database, refused to rule out such a possibility when pressed at a National Institute of Justice Symposium in September 1999. Moreover, tissue repositories created by databanks would provide genetics researchers with congenial waters in which to trawl for genes thought to be involved in criminal behavior. Alabama's databanking law brushes perilously close to this by authorizing release of anonymous DNA population data collected by law-enforcement authorities to "assist in other humanitarian endeavors including, but not limited to, educational research or medical research or development."
Experimenting with offender DNA in this way would violate basic tenets of biomedical ethics by using tissues that were not obtained by consent for purposes that arguably run counter to the interests of the research subject. "If [law-enforcement authorities] want to do research," argues Boston University bioethicist George Annas, "they should follow the same rules everyone else has to follow in terms of informed consent and privacy.... Criminals have privacy rights like everyone else." As such, using databanked samples for research without consent also runs counter to recommendations by the American College of Medical Genetics.
Such research authorizations are especially troubling in light of this nation's checkered history of experimentation on prisoners. In 1875 social reformer and prison inspector Richard Dugdale wrote his famous study of the Jukes family after he noticed a disproportionate number of inmates with that last name. The availability of banked criminals' tissues may prove a valuable resource should society's interest in genetic explanations for social ills be renewed.
Legal challenges of DNA database laws have generally failed and are therefore unlikely to stem their widening sweep. Practices in Britain, the first country to enlist DNA in its crime-fighting cavalry, may portend dramatically widened use of databanking in the United States. Britain's Forensic Science Service is authorized to collect DNA samples from anyone questioned about or suspected of any offense for which a person could be detained. As of July 1999, England had collected 547,000 DNA samples; the effort was projected to reach 30 percent of British men eventually. In addition, England has conducted at least eighty "intelligence-based screens"--the official term for what is colloquially called a "genetic sweep"--in which the general population is asked to submit DNA samples to help police investigate a particular crime. Although samples are provided voluntarily, social pressures, heavy media coverage and the concern that failure to submit a sample may itself invoke police suspicion undermine the notion of submissions being truly consensual. Other countries, including Canada and Germany, have conducted similar sweeps, and while some argue that the Fourth Amendment would probably bar such practices in the United States, privacy watchdogs like New York Civil Liberties Union's executive director Norman Siegel caution that "Fourth Amendment challenges [of databanks] have not been successful; these are the only reference points we have [for predicting how courts will rule on genetic sweeps], and they're not promising."
The next battle between civil libertarians and law-enforcement authorities concerning DNA databanking is likely to concern the leap from profiling convicted felons to arrestees. Former NYPD chief Howard Safir has championed arrestee profiling, and US Attorney General Janet Reno has begun to explore the implications of such a policy by querying a National Institute of Justice commission. Arrestee profiling would dramatically broaden the reach of DNA databanking and, if not subject to careful restrictions, would empower law-enforcement authorities to arrest people for minor offenses, collect a tissue sample and search their databases for a match between the arrestee's profile and another crime-scene sample. Despite widespread enthusiasm in law-enforcement circles, profiling on such a scale isn't likely to be implemented anytime soon, given the backlog of tissue samples awaiting profile analysis and the high costs (at least $100 per sample). Nevertheless, one state (Louisiana) profiles arrestees for sexual offenses, and advancing automation technologies are likely to erode these fiscal barriers.
Though this is reason for despair among privacy advocates, there are a few hopeful signs among the various statutes. Twenty-seven states (and the federal government), for example, prohibit disclosure of genetic materials or information to unauthorized third parties. Wisconsin requires that law-enforcement authorities eliminate DNA samples of convicted persons after profiling is complete, and six states (Indiana, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Texas, Vermont and Wyoming) restrict what authorities can do with collected DNA by prohibiting analysis of genetic mutations that could predict a person's traits. But in an environment where the political leaders most likely to raise objections to such policies are often silenced by a fear of appearing to be soft on crime, the stability of these protections remains to be seen.
Imagining a fair and protective system for using DNA evidence in the criminal justice system isn't all that difficult. People claiming innocence should be given opportunities to volunteer DNA to clear their name. For them--and more broadly for the credibility of the criminal justice system--DNA forensic technology may be the only life vest within reach. Upon overturning a conviction, volunteered DNA samples and profiles should be promptly destroyed, preserving the individual's presumptive innocence. For people convicted of serious violent offenses and beyond the reach of such exculpatory evidence, however, the trade-off between privacy and public interest may tilt toward favoring a DNA databanking system with strong privacy protections, including sample destruction after profiling and prohibitions on uses other than comparing profiles with those collected from crime scenes. And finally, to protect the presumptive innocence of convicted offenders' family members, states should impose stringent requirements for when a match between a crime-scene sample and a databanked profile can trigger an investigation.
Privacy is a zero-sum entity: The extension of law-enforcement authorities' genetic gaze comes directly at the expense of an individual's power to withhold such information. Where most human DNA handling once occurred in medical clinics and research laboratories--institutions that are generally subject to public oversight and cautious (if imperfect) ethical review--DNA has now entered a territory not particularly distinguished for its ethical circumspection. States are not providing many reasons for the public to be confident that they are taking these concerns seriously; perhaps of even greater concern, negligence in protecting the privacy of offenders and criminal suspects may acclimate a public to weak protections of genetic materials. As the predictive powers of genetic technologies are refined, this could have grievous consequences for everyone.
Just how remote the capital-punishment rhetoric of this campaign is from reality is suggested by a ruling from the Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit in the case of Calvin Burdine, who sits on death row in Huntsville, Texas. Burdine's court-appointed lawyer, Joe Cannon, slept through long stretches of his trial, a practice frequently ratified by Texas courts [see Bruce Shapiro, "Sleeping Lawyer Syndrome," April 7, 1997]. Federal District Judge David Hittner threw out Burdine's conviction, but on October 27 a Fifth Circuit appellate panel reinstated it. The two-judge majority--including Judge Edith Jones, a favorite Republican prospect for the Supreme Court--claimed that the record failed to show whether the lawyer's naps came during "critical" phases of the life-or-death proceeding. The panel's lone dissenter, Judge Fortunato Benavides, wrote that the circumstance of Burdine's trial "shocks the conscience."
Clearly, we need a national timeout on executions. Thirty-five cities nationwide--most recently Greensboro and five other municipalities in conservative North Carolina--have endorsed such a moratorium. As legal scholar Anthony Amsterdam said in October in his keynote address to the American Bar Association's annual convention, the system is "fatally unjust and prone to error." And that also applies to the federal court system, in which a recent study showed widespread racial bias in death sentences. The first federal execution since the Kennedy years is set for December unless President Clinton intervenes, as he certainly should. Senators Carl Levin and Russ Feingold and Representative Jesse Jackson Jr. have introduced legislation that, in varying ways, would put executions on hold. Their bills deserve vigorous support.
A postscript to the Bush-Gore deterrence theory: According to the FBI's Uniform Crime Reports, released in October, while violent crime is declining nationwide, it is up in the execution capital of the country, Texas.
In their 1996 book The Next War, former Secretary of Defense Caspar Weinberger and Peter Schweitzer concoct some troubling scenarios they imagine could confront the United States. One is with Mexico: It's 1999, and a radical nationalist comes to power with the assistance of drug traffickers, resulting in a flood of migrants and drugs across the US boundary. In response, the Pentagon sends 60,000 troops to the border region. Tensions between the two countries mount over the next few years, leading to a full-scale US invasion of Mexico that restores law and order within six months. In constructing this nightmare scenario, the authors draw on a long history of depicting undesired immigrants as invading hordes and the international boundary as a line of defense. Peter Andreas recounts this hawkish vision in his provocative and highly persuasive Border Games: Policing the US-Mexico Divide. He argues that predictions of an inevitable march toward greater levels of militarization in the region--of which the Weinberger/Schweitzer vision is the most extreme--ignore the necessity of maintaining a porous boundary because of the significant and intensifying levels of economic integration between the United States and Mexico.
Still, as part of the US government's war on drugs and "illegal" immigrants in the border region, the enforcement regime has grown dramatically over the past two decades, as chronicled by Andreas. The antidrug budget of the Immigration and Naturalization Service, for example, rose 164 percent between fiscal years 1990 and 1997, while the overall budget for the INS nearly tripled between FY 1993 and 1999, from $1.5 billion to $4.2 billion, with border enforcement the biggest growth area. At the same time, transboundary trade has reached unprecedented heights because of the 1994 implementation of NAFTA. This exacerbates the challenge of "enforcement." As a 1999 government report cautioned, "Rapidly growing commerce between the United States and Mexico will complicate our efforts to keep drugs out of cross-border traffic." With a daily average of 220,000 vehicles now crossing into the United States from Mexico--and only nine large tractor-trailers loaded with cocaine required to satisfy annual domestic demand in the United States--the task facing US authorities is daunting.
Given such practical contradictions, it's the creation of an image of boundary control that has been most significant. As Andreas explains--and this is his well-written book's central point--the escalation of border enforcement is less about deterring drugs and migrants than it is about symbolism. In other words, state elites are more concerned about giving a good performance for reasons of domestic political consumption than they are about realizing the stated goals of boundary enforcement. In fact, the political-economic costs of too much success serve to limit enforcement. As one high-level US Customs official cited in Border Games stated, "If we examined every truck for narcotics arriving into the United States along the Southwest border.... Customs would back up the truck traffic bumper-to-bumper into Mexico City in just two weeks--15.8 days.... That's 1,177 miles of trucks, end to end."
To the extent that there is an appearance of success, however (statistics showing more interdiction, for example), it helps to realize a variety of political agendas. As Andreas contends, "Regardless of its deterrent effect, the escalation of enforcement efforts has helped to fend off political attacks and kept the drug issue from derailing the broader process of economic integration."
Thus, in the case of NAFTA, the deceptive image (one carefully crafted with the Clinton White House) that Mexico under Carlos Salinas de Gortari was having significant success in the binational war on drugs facilitated a reluctant Congress's passage of NAFTA. Moreover, the Administration promised that NAFTA would bring even greater levels of transboundary cooperation in the drug war and lead to more resources for boundary enforcement.
NAFTA also intertwined with the Administration's offensive against unauthorized immigration (a matter Andreas does not discuss), which was, in part, the US answer to massive disruption in Mexico's rural and small-business sectors brought about by growing economic liberalization. While Administration officials promoted NAFTA as a boundary-control tool (by creating better, high-paying jobs in Mexico, went the argument, NAFTA would lead to less immigration from Mexico to the United States), they also understood that NAFTA would intensify pressures to migrate among Mexicans displaced in the name of economic efficiency. As INS Commissioner Doris Meissner argued to Congress in November 1993, "Responding to the likely short- to medium-term impacts of NAFTA will require strengthening our enforcement efforts along the border."
For Andreas, specific developments are often the "unintended feedback effects of past policy choices" as much as the result of particular bureaucratic incentives and rewards. The 1986 Immigration Reform and Control Act (IRCA), for example, led to the legalization of large numbers of unauthorized immigrants as a way of ultimately reducing unsanctioned immigration. IRCA's main effect, however, was "to reinforce and expand already well-established cross-border migration networks" and to create a booming business in fraudulent documents.
These "perverse consequences" laid the foundation for the anti-immigrant backlash that emerged in the early 1990s--most vociferously in California, a state especially hard hit by the recession and feeling the effects of a rapidly changing population due to immigration. In advancing this argument, Andreas cautions that his goal is "not to provide a general explanation of the anti-illegal immigration backlash." Rather, he seeks to show how political and bureaucratic entrepreneurs partially whipped up public sentiment and channeled it "to focus on the border as both the source of the problem and the most appropriate site of the policy solution." While there is much merit in such an approach and the explanation that flows from it, it is insufficient.
First, as many have argued, the backlash of the 1990s was not simply against "illegal" immigrants but, to a large degree, against immigrants in general--especially the nonwhite, non-English speaking and the relatively poor. Moreover, as Andreas shows in a stimulating chapter that compares and contrasts similar developments along the Germany/Poland and Spain/Morocco boundaries, the seeming paradox of "a borderless economy and a barricaded border" is evidenced along boundaries that unite and divide rich and poor in other parts of the world. Given the locales of these developments and their uneven impacts on different social groups, there is need for another type of explanation.
How does one explain the differential treatment of the interests of the rich (enhanced trading opportunities) and those of the poor (those compelled by conditions to migrate and work without authorization)? It is in this area that Grace Chang is of great help. Disposable Domestics offers a refreshingly new perspective on immigration control. Chang's tone is overtly political and more polemical than that of Andreas, but her approach is equally rigorous. Her goal is to make poor immigrant women visible, to humanize them, to highlight their contributions and tribulations, and to show them as actively trying to contest their conditions of subjugation.
Chang argues persuasively that poor immigrant women--largely Third Worlders--have become a central focus of "public scrutiny and media distortion, and the main targets of immigration regulation and labor control" in the United States. To show the continuity between past and present, she provides an overview of the long history of imagery portraying immigrant women as undeserving users of welfare services and hyperfertile breeders of children. In doing so, she makes an invaluable contribution, showing how the regulation of immigration and labor is inextricably tied to matters of gender, as well as to those of class, race and nationality.
The author effectively challenges mainstream assumptions that surround the immigration debate. For example, she argues that studies attempting to measure the costs and benefits of immigration--regardless of their findings or the agendas behind them--ultimately reduce immigrants to commodities or investments. Chang sides with an emerging consensus among immigrant advocates that sees such studies as missing the point, and instead emphasizes the human and worker rights of all immigrants. In this regard, she criticizes immigrant advocates who have fallen into the trap of dividing immigrants between good ("legal") and bad ("illegal").
Chang highlights the folly of this approach in recounting the trials of Zoë Baird, Clinton's first nominee for Attorney General. When it came to light that she employed two undocumented immigrants as domestic servants--a common "crime" among two-career, professional couples--her nomination was sunk. What led to public outrage, according to Chang, was more the "resentment that this practice was so easily accessible to the more privileged classes while other working-class mothers struggled to find any child care," rather than the flouting of the law per se.
Throughout, Chang gives us moving accounts of gross exploitation of immigrant women working as domestics or caretakers, showing that relatively well-off households often look specifically for "illegals" to save money and to facilitate their privileged lives. Indeed, "the advances of many middle-class white women in the workforce have been largely predicated on the exploitation of poor, immigrant women." For Chang, this explains why "the major women's groups were conspicuously silent during Baird's confirmation hearings"--a manifestation of the racial and class privileges their members enjoy.
Recent antiwelfare efforts in the United States, which Chang explores in another provocative chapter, also rely on the exploitation and scapegoating of immigrant women. She compares representations of poor women--native and immigrant--used both in the promotion of welfare "reform" and in efforts to regulate undocumented working women. In both cases, poor women are portrayed as exploiters of the system (to facilitate their hyperfertility) and as criminals--either as welfare cheats or as "illegals." For welfare mothers, the resulting backlash is "workfare"--a program that forces them to work (outside their homes, under the assumption that raising children is neither work nor a benefit to society), but not for a wage. They work for their welfare benefits instead, a remuneration usually far below what they would earn as employees. Meanwhile, government officials, corporate spokespersons and household employers mask their exploitation of low-wage employees as beneficence, purportedly providing them with opportunities, training and preparation, and the ability to assimilate into respectable society.
The war on the poor (welfare reform) and that against unauthorized immigrants are also sometimes functionally tied. Virginia's state office of social services, for example, cooperated with the INS to open up jobs held by "illegals" for workfare participants. This, along with INS raids of workplaces in the midst of unionization drives, according to Chang, is a growing trend. It is far from clear, however--at least on the basis of the anecdotal evidence Chang presents--that such events indicate a long-term, upward trend. Indeed, while anti-union employers have long used the INS to undermine immigrant-worker organizing, with a number of especially outrageous incidents taking place in the late 1990s, those appear to have diminished over the last couple of years, apparently due to the outcry from union, immigration and human rights activists. In part, the discrepancy reflects the fact that Chang wrote the book--more a collection of essays stitched together--over several years, with some of the chapters having appeared in previous publications.
Chang tends to see the factors that create and drive immigration and the mistreatment of low-wage immigrant workers as derivative of an overarching economic logic and a resulting set of intentional, goal-oriented practices. Thus, the workfare/INS-raid nexus illustrates the "true function" of the INS: "to regulate the movement, availability, and independence of migrant labor." More generally, immigration "is carefully orchestrated--that is, desired, planned, compelled, managed, accelerated, slowed and periodically stopped--by the direct actions of US interests, including the government as state and as employer, private employers, and corporations." United States elites keep Mexico and other countries in "debt bondage" so that they "must surrender their citizens, especially women, as migrant laborers to First World nations." And the purpose of California's Proposition 187, which would have eliminated public health, education and social services for unauthorized immigrants, is "perhaps" to mold immigrant children into a "category entirely of super-exploitable workers--those with no access to language or other skills and, most of all, no access to a status even remotely resembling citizenship that might allow them the safety to organize."
Such contentions imply a level of unity within the state and coherency in thought among economic and political actors (who are seemingly one and the same) that simply do not exist. They also downplay the agency of immigrants--who appear to be mere pawns of larger forces--and factors internal to their countries of origin driving immigration. Finally, such economic reductionism is puzzling given Chang's emphasis on race, gender and nationality. It seems at times, however, that she thinks that these are mere tools for highly rational, all-knowing and all-powerful economic elites.
This is why we need to appreciate the autonomous roles of race-, class-, gender- and nation-based ideologies in informing much of the anti-immigrant sentiment--factors that do not always dovetail with the interests of capital. Indeed, those elements are frequently at cross purposes. More than anything, anti-immigrant initiatives over the past thirty years have been the work of opportunistic and/or entrepreneurial elected officials, state bureaucrats and the cultural right--often small grassroots organizations and right-wing think tanks--rather than the business sector. Historically, capital has been generally pro-immigration. As the New York Journal of Commerce gushed in 1892, "Men, like cows, are expensive to raise and a gift of either should be gladly received. And a man can be put to more valuable use than a cow." Today, the Wall Street Journal advocates the elimination of border controls for labor. While this probably does not represent the view of most capitalists, it is significant nonetheless. And in the case of Proposition 187--as Chang reports--California employers, while collectively failing to take a public stand on the measure, generally opposed it for fear that they had much to lose if it passed. That said, the author is undoubtedly right to castigate employers for doing little or nothing to stand up for the rights of immigrants from whose labor, and from whose politically induced marginalization, they profit.
Given the divergent emphases and approaches of Andreas and Chang, very different solutions emerge from their arguments. Andreas criticizes the overemphasis on the supply side of unauthorized immigration and drugs. In terms of immigrants, for example, he observes that among wealthy countries, the United States "imposes the toughest penalties on the smuggling of migrants and related activities yet is among the most lenient with those who employ them." Similarly, he criticizes the scant resources available for enforcing existing workplace rules, which would undermine the ability of employers to exploit unauthorized workers, and he chides Congress for failing to develop a forgery-proof identity card system. (His stand on continued drug policing in the border region is less clear, although he calls for framing the drug problem as one of public health rather than law enforcement.)
Andreas seems resigned to the continued emphasis on border controls, too, despite demonstrating their brilliant failure. As one INS official he quotes explained, "The border is easy money politically. But the interior is a political minefield." Ending the border buildup is also a political minefield--one Andreas seems unwilling to enter. He is decidedly critical of the border status quo and aware of the hardships it causes (a topic to which he gives insufficient attention), but he critiques it on its own terms. In this regard, he does not stray outside the mainstream confines of debate.
A law-enforcement approach to unauthorized immigration is destined to fail. The ties between the United States and Mexico (and increasingly much of Latin America) are too strong, migrants are too resourceful and creative, and Americans are too resistant to the types of police-state measures that would prove necessary, to reduce unsanctioned immigration significantly. A far more effective and humane approach would be to work with progressive sectors of Third World societies to address the breakdown of political, economic and social systems and/or institutionalized injustice that often leads to immigration.
De-emphasizing boundary policing will likely reduce the deaths of unauthorized migrants (almost 600 in the California border region alone since 1994). But increased internal enforcement will create other difficulties, such as increased discrimination against those who do not look "American." It will also cause greater hardships in immigrant households, many of which contain people of different legal statuses. Should the US deport a principal breadwinner (an "illegal") from such a household, for example, leaving behind his or her US citizen children and "legal" spouse to fend for themselves?
Although Andreas argues that "the state has actually structured, conditioned, and even enabled (often unintentionally) clandestine border crossings," he discusses this matter in narrow terms, focusing on how previous "solutions" to the putative problems had an exacerbating effect. Meanwhile, he neglects the role played by the government and US-based economic interests in creating the conditions that fuel immigration. Thus, no issues of moral or political responsibility enter the analysis.
Grace Chang, on the other hand, puts a strong emphasis on the responsibility of the United States in fueling outmigration; it benefits from immigrant women's labor and wreaks havoc in Third World countries through the likes of military interventions and the imposition of structural adjustment programs. For Chang, the question is not one of trying to devise the best policy to control the unauthorized but of bringing about the changes needed to realize the rights of immigrants as workers and as human beings. In making this case, Chang correctly calls upon those of us who benefit from an unjust world order to stand in solidarity with immigrants--especially low-wage, Third World women who enable our privileged lifestyles--in their struggle for social justice at home and abroad.
The judge who chided Bush over aid to children is part of a state tradition.
The proposal would reduce sentences for nonviolent drug traffickers by about a year.
March 13, 2014
March 12, 2014
Hunger strikers at Northwest Detention Center in Washington are demanding better prison conditions and an end to deportations.
March 11, 2014
March 7, 2014
March 7, 2014
March 6, 2014
March 5, 2014
Produced by Alex Gibney and Robert Redford with narration by Susan Sarandon.
March 5, 2014
The unlikely allies are leading a push to reform sentencing guidelines for nonviolent drug offenders.
March 4, 2014 | http://www.thenation.com/section/law?page=149 | dclm-gs1-011460000 |
0.058248 | <urn:uuid:6e49478e-5ab7-4751-8c67-e6ab00c1b7dc> | en | 0.902057 | 1. If only she had a flat head and turned into a pizza at midnight.
2. For him, it’s like having a Fleshlight that won’t shut up about saving the whales.
3. She should stop wiping her nose on his shirt.
4. UnholyKrep
“Seeing you all now what finds I, in box hayvink cracker jackses first.”
5. UnholyKrep
Is that some sort of Slavic thing, male lactation when aroused?
6. Hugh Gentry
she must be amazing to fuck. She would make my dick look huge!
7. “My names Epic Winh, I am bangink tiny giraffe.”
8. Trail Mix
Nice redneck tuxedo he’s got going on, there.
9. She must be hollow.
10. Dutch
Got Dick?
11. brit
After squeezing breast milk at the backdrop, please do not forget to wipe.
12. Jenny with a Y
Little known fact, Wladimir Klitschko is actually only 5 foot 4. Not many people know that.
13. yoyored
14. Kayne East
“And if I move my middle finger, I can make her wink.”
15. Captain Slappy
Interesting…..I didn’t realize genetically modified cloning had hit the miniature humanoid phase. Like toy poodles….mad science gone wrong? OR MAD SCIENCE GONE RIGHT!
16. I just wanna rough every girl in the world
Lol I think im getting jealous a little…
17. s'up bitches
If I had girlfriend that Tiny, I would let her do the “Fred Flinstone” on my testicles. Sans the bowling ball.
18. Turd Ferguson
Couldn’t figure out how to tie the Bolo, eh Drago?
19. She always seems to have “that” smile on her face these days. Wonder why?
20. The Critical Crassness
He’s not really giant…She is a Munchkin!
21. Jon
Too short.. 69′r fail.
22. ingen haagen daaz
my vagina gets scared for her.
23. cc
She gives me a total boner. I hate him for dating her…and I’d say it to his face too. And then I’d say ‘Oh ya, you gonna do something about it, dumpkopf?’. I ain’t scared o’ shit.
24. arnieblackblack
Ironically she turns out to be a size queen… whodathunkit?
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Gwyneth Paltrow
Triggers Racial Controversy
after Using N-Word
breaking news
No Avatar
648 days ago
Um, don't put it in the title of a song if you don't want people saying.
648 days ago
I'm A Lawyer
As usual, people making a big deal out of nothing. It's the name of the damn song.
648 days ago
Guys call women b*tches all the time. So what's the difference between that and a white woman using the n word?
648 days ago
Typical backwards racism. Black rappers use the word "******" or "*****" in their music all the time. Samuel L Jackson used it no less than 4 times in an interview with BET. But...If just ONE white person says it (or Tweets it...)....*****s be gettin all uppity.
648 days ago
Not one ounce of talent between them. Paltrow has a better singing voice than either one of those clowns.
648 days ago
It is title of the song. Don't like it don't follow her!!
648 days ago
oh...and "Thanks TMZ" for the's try another word... "Cracker"
648 days ago
Gwyneth tweeted the name of the song that was playing at the concert she attended -- with the wife of the rapper!!! She didn't call anyone that. Is she not allowed to post the names of songs????
This is beyond made up controversy. First MTO, now you guys. Ridiculous.
648 days ago
Can we all just agree that the "n" word is offensive, regardless of who's using it? I'd like to see it retired from the English language. As for Gwyneth, there are few things more pathetic than some blue-blooded, blonde, rich beeyotch trying to gain "street cred" by using the word.
648 days ago
don't want people saying the n word? don't put it in the title of a song. wow that people were upset by that is a bad, bad sign.
648 days ago
How bout that..."Cracker" seems to avoid the TMZ censor. As a "white guy" I find that word offensive. That one...and "Clowns"....and "Asparagus"
648 days ago
I refuse to vote based solely on the fact that TMZ refuses to stop using the term "African American". When it became a crime to say the word black, I will never know. SMDH.
648 days ago
blacks want to throw that word around non stop. they use it in almost every rap song. i am white. when i talk to blacks at work, i will comment on rap lyrics, say a joke, repeat an incident on the train - all which include the N word. They have NO PROBLEM with it. Only the news media does,so they can get people to watch their shows or sell their papers. Oh, and Jesse Jackson has a problem with the word, he wants it outlawed, but he was caught on tape saying it against Obama. Please
648 days ago
People just need to get over themselves. What was she suppose to write...African-American's in Paris. Just doesn't have the same flow. Lol.
648 days ago
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Photog's Last Call
He Absolutely Believed
Justin Was Smoking [AUDIO]
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brian rounds
Justin is in NO way to blame for this. The pap should not have been stalking, who he thought was Justin. Justin is due his privicy like everone else. I think Miley said it best when she said wasn't Princess Di enough.
435 days ago
TMZ come on now.. Who cares if JB is smoking weed or not, he is not 5 for Goodness sake.. Focus on the person that died.. How can this guy blame someone who wasn't there? he is ok.. Even if he was there, he still didn't hit him so its not his fault
435 days ago
Yea keep dreaming buddy your friend should have watched where he was going and the person that hit him would not start out the new year feeling bad. STFU!
435 days ago
This is ridiculous! Justin was in no way involved with the death of the photographer. Was it Justins fault that he crossed the street without looking? No! Didn't your mother always tell you to never cross the street without looking? The paps dont HAVE to follow him around and stalk his every move. But hey, its not my problem. And all the rumors about Justin smoking pot? Its bull****. I do not personally know Justin, but these rumors are just stupid. Out of anyone Justin would never EVER do pot. He is one of the best influences in the music industry. He is a very faithful man and knows to stay grounded. Everyone needs to understand that trying to blame an amazing, talented, and down to earth kid for doing pot and blaming him for a death is just ridiculous. Stop with all of the drama. Stop with all of the rumors. None of its true unless confirmed.
435 days ago
Harvey has been making loads of money off these pap/stalker pictures,his TV show,his appearances on the various TV news outlets as well as the cash cow tour vans that hold up traffic all over the sunset strip/Beverly Hills areas,yet he plays camera shy when its turned on him? Hypocrisy at its highest level,so much they should have the little worms picture next to the word in Websters!
I was a fan of the original TMZ platform and have watched it decline into just another douchebag webpage collecting hits with bullcrap stories that are far beyond "the 30 mile zone". thats made Mr.Levin more wealthy than he already was,and taken what small of amount of moral character he had back in his peoples court days away. its sd but true!!
435 days ago
As for Miley Cyrus' comments, he says, "Good Christians that I know ... don't throw stones at people who get killed." .......
................Good Christians don't blame other people for their own mistakes or their friend's mistakes. There is no one to blame except the person that wasn't paying attention while walking across a busy road. Happens everyday across America. People think the cars will stop for them when they walk across the road. Sorry but not everyone is expecting someone to walk illegally across the road that is why we have cross walks. RIP young man. I hope others learn from your mistake.
435 days ago
That makes no sense. It's partly Justin's fault because of rumors that he does weed? He doesn't control the rumors. If the pap believed these rumors, then that's his fault, not Justin's. And reckless driving? The 'reckless driving' is in response to being chased by paps! How does his apparent reckless driving have anything to do with the paps death?! Anyway, it doesn't matter what his job was or whose fault it was, it was still a life. As Justin said, condolences to the family and friends. I hope this prevents similar things happening in the future. My thoughts are also with the poor driver who hit him.
435 days ago
Justin is not the least bit responsible for this paparazzi's death. The guy was not the sharpest knife in the drawer. He doesn't even know enough to look both ways before crossing the street? Not surprised another pap is sticking up for his friend, but his comments are ridiculous.
435 days ago
The friend's overwhelming grief obviously makes it impossible for him to think clearly.
As an LA resident, I can plainly state that this accident was waiting to happen to any pedestrian on that road [which has no sidewalks.] Sepulveda is a winding row that parallels the 405 freeway. People tend to drive way too fast on Sepulveda as they pace themselves to the cars on the fwy that are doing 65.
RIP young man Too bad you never got the chance to seek a real job
435 days ago
Who cares if he was smoking pot, who freaking cares but the pap thought it was a great story and look at what happened to him can't blame anyone except the deceased sorry
435 days ago
Feel bad that the guy got killed but he's 100% to blame for his own death.
435 days ago
So if I run across the street (without looking) to get a doughnut and get hit my family can sue Krispy Kreme? I think not! Same rules apply. The negligent party died of his own faults.... Not obeying the common sense to look both ways pays a horrible price. His death was his own fault.
435 days ago
"He also says he believes Justin is partly to blame for Chris' death because of the singer's reckless driving history and alleged pot smoking which made it a big story to follow."
Seriously? Who cares if Bieber was smoking pot or smoking crack. Was it really worth the paps life. I feel bad for the paps family but this is all on the pap not bieber. Bieber will probably be a footnote in pop history in a matter of a couple of years but this pap will be gone for good. Hope it was worth it.
435 days ago
tampa mama
The risk you take being a papparatzzi...100% his fault. Who cares if. Justin was smoking pot?!
435 days ago
It's really quite simple. This was a GROWN man running around in traffic who got hit and killed. Totally his own fault, sad but true.
435 days ago
Around The Web | http://www.tmz.com/2013/01/02/chris-guerra-last-phone-call-justin-bieber-pot-marijuana/11/ | dclm-gs1-011520000 |
0.021929 | <urn:uuid:0c75e576-9c61-437e-87b7-5fd03cd79ca7> | en | 0.963387 | View Single Post
Old October 7 2013, 05:00 PM #3
Basill's Avatar
Location: TN
Re: Star Trek: TMP questions and observations
I think WarpFactorZ touched on these quite well, but I thought I would add a little to the last 3 questions.
Gotham Central wrote: View Post
4) Why does V'ger fire torpodes on both the Klingons and the Enterprise, but seems to simply "eat" or disolve Epsilon IX?
It was certainly less dramatic, but I believe they were hit with the same methodology. Since the Enterprise crew was watching by broadcast on the Rec Deck, we missed the initial "pow," though the bright light and intense shadows of the "torpedo" are seen just as Kirk orders "External view!" and everyone is a aghast. Everything switches to the "real time" event at that point, but the station is already in plop-fizz mode. Epsilon IX station was probably a bit larger than the Klingons and thus took a little longer to reduce to data patterns as well, so it does appear to be a long dissolving process. (What gets me is that after both the Klingons and Epsilon IX are gone... the cloud it still visible in observing view screens. Must be that Quad L-14 sensor drone working overtime.
5) Given all of the rereleases of older material with new edits, do we know what is considered "canon" about these movies? For instance...was V'ger's cloud REALLY 82 AUs or was it a mere 3 (which is still enormous...Earth should have been engulfed in the cloud long before V'ger arrived in orbit).
Uhura was able to receive faint Starfleet signals as V-Ger closed in, and there is direct dialogue referring to the slowing and dissipation of the cloud (rapidly no less) as it approached Earth. While I don't like all the changes done to the Directors cut, (computer voices and other dialogue cuts; major scene editing for pacing) I personally am a fan of the reduction of the cloud diameter from 82 to 2 AUs.
6) This is more of a trektech nitpick but it seems reasonable to point out....V'ger obviously has some form of FTL propulsion in order for it to cross the vastness of space. Indeed it arrives in Earth orbit from Klingon space in mere days. Yet oddly enough, both the Klingons and the Enterprise approach V'ger at impulse. How are they not getting "run over."
I've always seen this as the Enterprise circling around the behemoth cloud and approaching it from behind. Considering the Enterprise pierces the last of the cloud only to close in on V'Ger's aft section, this seems to be supported. Now this may have been intended or a direct result of the wormhole deviation, but they are under warp power at the very least until they've entered the cloud boundary. The cloud was unquestionably an energy field, and there is some nice dialogue available on only certain versions of the film that indicate the object at the heart of the cloud is generating more energy than Earth's sun. Possibly the kind of power necessary for all of V'Ger's functions and the propulsion of such an enormous vehicle at FTL speeds. The cloud itself may have just been trapped galactic riffraff energized and ionized by V'Ger's form of warp propulsion. Then again, it might have been far more complex and utilitarian. Still, after Enterprise broached the barrier, they might have be within the intruder's propulsive influence, perhaps even taken along for the ride before piercing the veil at the heart of the cloud.
"As they say, life is what happens to you while you're making other plans." -Art Linkletter
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0.023782 | <urn:uuid:3996c050-8698-4b33-8dc1-7df5c71002df> | en | 0.946599 | Has the 'Peak Oil' Tipping Point Arrived?
The concern with peak oil may be overblown, but there are still ways to prepare for it.
By and SHARE
Robert Hahn is director of economics at Oxford's Smith School, chief economist at the Legatum Institute, and a senior fellow at the Georgetown Center for Business and Public Policy. Peter Passell is a senior fellow at the Milken Institute in Santa Monica and the editor of its quarterly economic policy journal, The Milken Institute Review. They co-founded Regulation2point0.org, a web portal on economic regulation.
"Peak oil" is one of those ideas that used to be the province of commodity speculators and zanier environmentalists, but is now entering the mainstream of the energy policy debate. The idea is simple on its face: For one reason or another (which one does it matter), we are approaching a limit to global oil production; thereafter, it must fall. Does this magic moment/number matter? Yes, if, as many suggest, the post-peak era is bound to be one of sharply higher energy prices that disrupt the global economy or, at very least, reduce the potential for economic growth just when the globe's have-nots seem to have a chance of joining the middle-class.
Like many other economists, we think the concern with peak oil is overblown. (For a lucid explanation, check out this jargon-light article by Oxford University's Dieter Helm.) But to cut to the chase, the explanation is straightforward: Markets generally adjust to supply and demand changes in ways that facilitate adaptation. We'll concede, though, that a smooth adjustment is not guaranteed—that the revelation of peak oil could lead to price spikes that generate significant economic pain.
[See a collection of political cartoons on gas prices.]
Which brings us to the real subject of this column: a recent insightful paper in the prestigious journal Nature, in which very senior scientists James Murray and David King suggest that the day of reckoning really is approaching—that "oil's tipping point has passed." (For the record, Murray and King are colleagues of Hahn's). They argue that we are running out of oil accessible at low cost, and that other fuels may not fill the gap left between energy supply and demand at acceptable prices. The solution, they conclude, is to get serious fast about energy efficiency, alternatives to fossil fuels, and the containment of climate change.
Their description of the problem is first rate, but their policy analysis is less developed, likely because Nature imposes tight word constraints on authors. Murray and King suggest a bevy of policies for dealing with peak oil. Among them: oil taxes, energy conservation mandates, the promotion of nuclear power, lower speed limits, tax credits for renewables, and… you get the idea.
[Check out the U.S. News energy blog.]
While their concerns are justified, we think they may conflate two very different problems—and in the confusion, risk both waste and overkill. If climate change is the issue, the simplest, most efficient fix is to tax carbon emissions. If excessive energy use is the problem, the way out is to tax energy use. No muss, no fuss (in theory, anyway); just set taxes equal to the negative spillovers created by the harmful behavior.
If a sudden jump in the price of energy is the concern, then the solution is more complicated. Still, something less than a regulatory war on energy use would be called for. One approach would be to expand buffer stocks of fuel, like the U.S. Strategic Petroleum Reserve. Another is to deepen the futures markets for energy, making it easier for enterprises (public and private) to hedge against the risk of a price spike. In any event, the bottom line is the same: policymakers should choose the right tool for the right problem, carefully weighing the potential benefits against the likely costs.
[See a collection of political cartoons on energy policy.]
We assume that the authors prefer a smorgasbord of fixes because they are all too aware that the world of public policy is not as straightforward as economists would like it to be. (King would know: He served as Prime Minister Tony Blair's chief science adviser). But throwing a bunch of proposals at the ceiling and seeing which ones stick seems to us a recipe for waste. Somewhere along the line, somebody has to set priorities—preferably on the basis of what delivers the most bang for the buck/pound/euro.
There is, by the way, another element to the peak-oil story that deserved more attention in the Nature piece. If we are running out of fossil fuels faster than we thought, carbon dioxide emissions may be lower than some climate models suggest and climate change may be a less immediate danger. Perhaps there is a small silver lining in this latest limits-to-growth scenario after all.
• See a collection of political cartoons on the economy.
• Check out Economic Intelligence on Twitter at @EconomicIntel. | http://www.usnews.com/opinion/blogs/economic-intelligence/2012/02/29/has-the-peak-oil-tipping-point-arrived | dclm-gs1-011630000 |
0.034008 | <urn:uuid:6a5fd098-ee0b-4438-a97d-a595c8445ed1> | en | 0.917317 | EVE Online: players call for greater transparency, CCP says no
Thursday, 14th February 2013 02:08 GMT By Brenna Hillier
EVE Online players have requested the developer provide proof of wrongdoing when handing out bans, and escalate protests as high as posible. CCP has refused, saying it can’t escalate higher than its own CEO, and protesting it wields the ban hammer based on “actual empirical evidence” pulled from servers, which for various legal and technical reasons cannot be made accessible to players. The scandal at the heart of the drama involves a player from a generally “good” corporation receiving a ban for using bots and the community’s incapacity to believe he might have been cheating. It has been lovingly chronicled on Destructoid if you’d like to jump down the rabbit hole.
Breaking news
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1. digitalAngst
Always keep in mind: EVE Online ≈ Assholes Online
Which means even ‘a player from a generally “good” corporation’ could very well be the mangiest bastard imaginable. If the person in question were one’a them Goons no one would bat an eyelash.
Even I have my evil phases :D
#1 1 year ago
2. spatuluk
Instead of making unreasonable requests from CCP, why don’t they ponder why their member biomassed over a mere 14 day ban (he didn’t know the ISK was going to be confiscated at the time)?
He is blatantly now playing with a different account and an adjusted bot.
#2 1 year ago | http://www.vg247.com/2013/02/14/eve-online-players-call-for-greater-transparency-ccp-says-no/ | dclm-gs1-011640000 |
0.035114 | <urn:uuid:7131c388-6db9-404b-95e2-4ecedf2f528f> | en | 0.984299 | Questions over length of Terry ban
John Terry has been handed a four-match ban for racially abusing QPR's Anton Ferdinand but the length of the suspension has already been questioned.
The Chelsea skipper had denied the charge but an FA independent regulatory commission ruled he was guilty of misconduct during the Barclays Premier League defeat at QPR on October 23 last year. He was also fined £220,000, thought to be just over a week's wages.
Terry, 31, is considering an appeal, meanwhile questions have been asked why the ban imposed was only half the length of Liverpool's Luis Suarez, who served an eight-match suspension for racially abusing Manchester United's Patrice Evra.
Senior figures in football's anti-racism movements have privately queried the difference, but are unlikely to speak publicly until the appeals process is completed.
Joey Barton has also criticised the decision as "a shambles" compared to his own 12-game ban for violent conduct. He said on Twitter: "What an absolute farce. 12 games for violent conduct and only 4 for that. FA should be embarrassed £shambles."
Terry expressed disappointment after the outcome, pointing out he was found not guilty in magistrates court in July of a racially-motivated public order offence in connection with the same incident.
Terry's representatives, Elite Management, said in a statement released on his behalf: "Mr Terry is disappointed that the FA Regulatory Commission has reached different conclusion to the clear not guilty verdict of a court of law. He has asked for the detailed written reasons of the decision and will consider them carefully before deciding whether to lodge an appeal."
Terry had been accused of calling Ferdinand a "f****** black c***" as an insult. He admitted using the words, but insisted he had only been repeating words he thought Ferdinand had accused him of saying.
The written reasons will also provide the explanation for the difference in length of ban compared to Suarez. The most likely outcome is that Terry only said the insult once, while Suarez was judged by his panel to have called Evra "negro" up to seven times. Suarez was also fined around a week's wages - in his case £40,000.
Terry is likely to still be available to play for Chelsea against Arsenal on Saturday as the ban does not start until after the appeals process has been concluded. The defender has 14 days from the receipt of the written reasons for the decision, and if he does appeal then that hearing may not take place until the end of next month.
Related stories
From around the web | http://www.wirralnews.co.uk/wirral-news/uk-world-news/national-sport/2012/09/27/questions-over-length-of-terry-ban-80491-31922705/ | dclm-gs1-011670000 |
0.028522 | <urn:uuid:ce6fdb1a-0bb2-4ce8-bb1f-ee3a4f662496> | en | 0.924585 | Quest:Now, When I Grow Up...
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Children's Week icon
Horde 32 Now, When I Grow Up...
StartBlood Elf Orphan
EndBlood Elf Orphan
Level70 (Requires 60)
CategoryChildren's Week
Reputation+250 Lower City
PreviousHch'uu and the Mushroom People, A Trip to the Dark Portal, and Visit the Throne of the Elements
NextBack to the Orphanage
Now, When I Grow Up... is part of the Shattrath Children's Week quest chain for the horde.
Both Now, When I Grow Up... and Time to Visit the Caverns must be completed before the next quest is offered.
Objectives Edit
Take your orphan, Salandria, to see the Elite Tauren Chieftain in Silvermoon City's Walk of Elders. Make sure to call for her if she is not present when you arrive.
Description Edit
Maybe I already asked you this, but when you were my age did you know that you wanted to be a <class> when you grew up?
I'm not sure what I want to be. Maybe a mage or a warlock, or a Blood Knight, like I said before? Or maybe... A rock star!! Like Sig Nicious, the blood elf, in the Elite Tauren Chieftain!
I heard that when the aren't touring, they hang out in Silvermoon City! They just sit on a balcony in the Walk of Elders waiting for people to stop by.
Please take me there. Please!
Completion Edit
Did you see that? They were cheering for me!!
Now I know how they feel when they are up on stage singing! I felt the power and the energy!
Just like they say in their song!
My mind is made up, I am going to be a rock star when I grow up!
Gains Edit
Patch changesEdit
This quest replaces When I Grow Up....
However, Salandria still sends a letter saying she has been released into Lady Liadrin's custody.
Quest progression Edit
1. Official horde mini-icon [70] Children's Week
2. All of:
3. All of:
4. Official horde mini-icon [70] Back to the Orphanage
External linksEdit
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Around Wikia's network
Random Wiki | http://www.wowwiki.com/Quest:Now,_When_I_Grow_Up...?oldid=2260849 | dclm-gs1-011700000 |
0.242428 | <urn:uuid:4ef8b34d-17e9-4c5b-87df-b844d0629ac3> | en | 0.8167 | id summary reporter owner description type status priority milestone component version severity resolution keywords cc focuses 17034 E_NOTICE with WP_DEBUG when calling get_the_ID() tillkruess When get_the_ID() is called, but $post is NULL (for example on a 404 page) a E_NOTICE is caused when WP_DEBUG is set to TRUE. defect (bug) closed normal General 3.1 minor wontfix | https://core.trac.wordpress.org/ticket/17034?format=tab | dclm-gs1-011780000 |
0.232112 | <urn:uuid:0068b16d-cb30-417b-8516-532562fe3e56> | en | 0.982126 | It must be horrible when you suffer from Cliff-hanger suspense! Well, do not matter! You'll be facing many in the following story. From now, I'll be concentrated more in this story. HAPPY NOW? Oh and by the way, if you're a WWE and Kingdom Hearts fan, then you would love to read and review my story Wrestling Kingdom Hearts, and my other two stories, Yugioh: Necroshadows and Yugioh: Heart of the Cards. Anyway, read on…
Fanfiction High School
The truth is out there
The students looked at the figures. They were none other than famous duellists. The first one to catch the students' attention was a purple-yellow spiky-haired kid, with a chain around his neck, with a pyramid. He was none other than Yugi Mouto. The second one was a blonde haired kid named Joey Wheeler. Finally, the third one was a black and white spiky-haired kid named Shobu Kirifuda.
"Many of you might be wondering who we are! We're called the Master Duellists, and we're here to teach you all the art of a Duel! It's officially opened the Duel Club!" said Yugi.
"We can teach you Duel Monsters and Duel Masters! Just join the Duel Club! It's free for this school's students!" said Shobu.
"So if ya kids wanna kick some other duellists' butt, just join our club" finished Joey.
The three of them walked out of the cafeteria. Everyone went silent. Finally, they talked about the Duel Club.
"Of course I'm gonna join the club! Not only because it's free, but… well, mostly it's because it's free!" said Fireblade to Tony.
"Wow, having the King of Kings, the Kaijudo Master and the Legendary Wheeler as my teachers of Duel… I CAN'T MISS THIS GODDAMN OPPURTUNITY!" yelled Alter to Squirt's ears.
Squirt's years were ringing from that loud scream.
"PUMUNTA KA SA IMPYERNO!" said Squirt to Alter's ears.
"VAI TU ARDER NO INFERNO!" said Alter to Squirt.
They were both arguing really hard.
"Hey Darth, Tiny, could I talk to you in private?" asked Neros to Tinyrocket and Darth Ben Valor, who nodded.
The three went to the outside of the school, since they had a break. They then got to Fiction Town.
"Look, you two are my best friends, and I need your help!" said Neros to them, while the three of them entered in the Weapon Shop. Then, the owner of the shop, Elmer Fudd appeared.
"What would you thwee kids want?" asked Elmer, and then Joey appeared. "Hey kid, could you wait a second, pwease?"
"No prob, Elmer!" said Joey, and then he recognized the three kids. "Hey I know you three! You were at the Cafeteria when I entered with Yugi and Shobu!"
"Yeah, kind of! You're Joey, right?" asked Neros.
"Ya damn right I am! Are you thinking of joining Duel Club?" asked Joey, interested.
"Sort of, but how do we join?" asked Tiny.
"Jut sign our contract, and you'll be with us in no time!" said Joey.
Neros, Darth and Tiny were now walking out of the shop, while Joey was behind them. When Joey was about to leave the shop, Elmer pointed a Bazooka to him.
"You're not gonna steal my customers anymowe, am I clear?" said Elmer, and Joey slowly nodded.
At another part of the town, Fireblade was buying a deck of Duel Monsters cards, and a deck of Duel Masters cards. She then saw many powerful cards in her deck, and saw another card called Toon World.
"Toon World? What is this? Better ask Yugi!" said Fireblade, as she returned to school.
She then saw David, Seth and Arias whispering something. They entered in a bar called Time Beer. She decided to follow them, and hided herself behind an Arcade. They were now talking more silently.
"If the town knows what happened, then this town really knows how to disguise it! What the heck happened here?" asked Seth, really angry.
"I have a plan! At night, we shall see the Principal's diary. I know he wrote the secret in the diary!" said Arias.
"Looks like a good plan, but we don't know if the principal has a diary!" said David.
"I know that he has, because I saw him writing in a book, and he locked the book with a locker!" said Arias.
"Well then, Saturday night we go for the diary!" said Seth.
Fireblade had heard everything, and was now thinking about what they were doing.
"So the school is hiding a secret from the students, hum? Very interesting… very, very interesting…!" said Fireblade. "To know the secret myself, I'll have to secretly help them, so they don't get into trouble!"
Fireblade then got out of the bar. They then saw her getting out of the bar.
"Wasn't that Fireblade? It looked like her!" said Seth.
"Well, it should've been someone else! No one knows we're here!" said David. "We should get also back to school, it's almost time for our last class!"
At another part of the town were Alter, Orange Sora and Dr.Dude. They were talking about their fictions.
"My fictions are way better than your crappy stories!" said Alter to Dr.Dude.
"Oh yeah, well I've got more ideas than you, which means that the crappy stories are your fictions, not mine!" said Dr.Dude to Alter.
"Oh come on, you two! Everyone knows that my stories rule yours!" said Orange Sora.
Everyone started fighting, until they saw a graveyard. They looked back, and saw that their fight brought them to then end of the town. They red a sign saying "No-Return Hills". The famous place that protected the Graveyard from any kind of Grave robbers. They looked at the Graveyard. They entered in it, and saw many graves of famous people. One of them had a name. The name was Mariah Johnson. There was a picture of her in the grave.
"She was a beautiful woman! Even prettier than that OneShot teacher!" said Orange Sora, smiling.
Suddenly, they saw that her last job was written in the grave. They looked at it, but suddenly they heard a voice from the entrance of the graveyard. It was an old man with a grey moustache, a farmer suit and a shotgun. He was aiming his shotgun to the boys, and they stayed silently, looking at the man.
"What are you kids doing here? Do I need to blow up your head?" yelled the man, and the three boys just runned away to the town.
The man then walked to the grave of the woman the three boys were seeing, and tears ran from his eyes.
"If you were still here… God, why did you had to go, instead of me?" said the man, crying really hard.
At Fiction Town, everything was silent. The students had returned to school. Squirt and Tony were now in the classroom of their last class, waiting for the teacher and the rest of their fiends to arrive. Squirt then looked at the desk.
"Hey Tony, why don't we check out the teacher's desk?" asked Squirt to Tony.
A minute later, they opened the desk, and found a Love Letter.
"Great, the teacher's a maniac who's in love with somebody!" said Tony. "It's directed to… Mariah Johnson?"
To Be Continued
Finally finished, people. R&R… | https://www.fanfiction.net/s/2931395/4/Fanfiction-High-School | dclm-gs1-011840000 |
0.026298 | <urn:uuid:d6c93f63-b03a-4273-89e4-8f16ab67bd75> | en | 0.981231 | A/N: Twilight and its characters belong to Stephenie Meyer. Any similarities to the original characters or themes from the books or media franchise are used here for entertainment purposes only, with no monetary gain for me, the FanFiction author. All original content, ideas, and intellectual property of Rm w/ a Vu are mine . . .
. . . but the responsibility for the replacement of any ruined articles of clothing due to spontaneous combustion after reading the citrusy parts of this story is all yours.
I want to thank all of those who read and reviewed the last chapter. While not all of them were *great*, I do appreciate you taking the time to tell me how you felt. I knew when I plotted this story out a year ago that I was going to upset some people when I went this direction, but I'm not the kind of author who's going to change a storyline just because a few people are upset. The truth remains that a lot of you (while still worried about this situation) trust in me to give you that HEA.
Chapter 31. Decisions, Decisions
I can't believe how accepting Bella's been about this whole fucked-up situation. However, I'm not sure I entirely buy it either. Yes, she surprised me by acting so maturely, but I can tell it still bothers her—how couldn't it?
She assures me that she'll support whatever decision I make, but does she mean it? She flat-out told me she's not ready to be a mother, and while I would never force that upon her, if I choose to raise this baby, things will change. The baby will cry at all hours of the night—I'm not naive enough to think otherwise—and she'll find it hard to find any quiet time to study. Not to mention, our relalationship, while I wouldn't want it to, could suffer horribly.
I can't believe I got myself into this mess. I'll never drunk dial anyone ever again; no good comes of it.
Trying to find the right time to tell Bella everything proved to be difficult, and ultimately, I decided to wait until we were home. No matter how I spun it in my mind, it ruined the vacation. Of course, Bella points out that my emotional withdrawal did that, anyway. I'm such an asshole.
It's just my luck that when I finally find the courage to just rip the Band-Aid off, we're interrupted . . . by the source of my dilemma, no less.
When all the pieces fall into place for Bella, the look in her eyes kills me. Knowing I caused her that look makes my stomach roll, and I vow to never forgive myself.
The minute she grabs her keys and starts for the door, I feel sick to my stomach. I don't know what exactly to do, but I know I can't just let her walk out that door without trying to explain everything to her. She says she'll be back—that she just needs to think—and while I know she's absolutely entitled to some time alone to process this, I'm reluctant to agree. I let her go, though, because I have to deal with Irina. While I would much rather hash things out with Bella now and not later, I need to know the details of what needs to be discussed. And only one person has that information.
Angry that Bella found out the way she did—again, it's completely my fault for not telling her sooner, but I'm looking for a scapegoat for my blame—I glare at Irina as I storm back into the house. She's hot on my trail and closes the door behind us.
"I'm sorry," she quickly says. "I didn't realize she had no idea."
"Why are you even here?" I demand, furious.
Irina's eyes widen and she pulls back slightly, almost afraid. "We're running out of time." Her voice is quiet and hesitant. "I figured coming to you and discussing this maturely was the right thing to do."
"How do I even know it's mine? We used a condom, and you were supposedly on the pill."
Her face contorts from afraid to angry in an instant. "How dare you even imply—"
"How dare I?" I shout. "You came barging back into my life with this."
"Oh, pull your head out of your ass," she barks. "Condoms have a three percent failure rate—it's written right there on the box. And yes, I am on the pill, but apparently the antibiotics I was on for a bronchial infection rendered them completely fucking useless." She takes a deep, cleansing breath before continuing. "Now, it took both of us to make this mess, and I'll be damned if you leave it all on me to clean up."
"What do you want from me? Money? To get back together?" I ask, pacing back and forth, my self-loathing and rage still bubbling under my skin.
Staring at me incredulously, Irina shakes her head. "You're unbelievable, you know that?" I stare at her, dumbfounded. "Everything's always about you, right? All the girls are just lining up to get a piece of Edward Cullen." Her sarcasm isn't appreciated, but it knocks me off my high horse for a moment.
"I don't want you back, Edward," she seethes. "I want you to decide what the next step is." She looks down, placing her hand over her flat stomach. "I don't have a maternal bone in my body—you know that. Kids were never in my future."
I swallow thickly, taking a step back until I hit the wall and letting it support me as my legs threaten to give out. "So what are you saying?"
"I'm saying, if you want the baby, it's yours. I'll get a paternity test to ease your mind, and I'll carry it to term. Like a surrogate. I'll do all the things a pregnant woman is supposed to do: I won't drink, I'll avoid large quantities of seafood and caffeine . . . I'll give you a healthy child, and after it's born, I'll sign over any and all claim to the child. Or there's always . . ." She lets her words hang there for a minute, implying that she'd be okay terminating the pregnancy.
Even though this isn't how I saw my life turning out right now, the thought of not manning up to the responsibility being thrust at me makes me uneasy.
"Why?" I croak, once I've found my voice again.
"I've always been selfish," she says with a smirk. "You know that. I just got the opportunity of a lifetime working in Italy. A child would complicate that. I haven't signed my contract yet, and I'm sure I can negotiate its terms so I can stay in the US until after the baby is born." A heavy silence fills the room, and Irina watches me expectantly. "I'm giving you the choice."
"I don't . . . I can't . . ." I thrust my fingers through my hair, fisting it roughly. "Bella."
"I'm not going to ask you to make up your mind right now. But sooner would be better than later." She offers me a smile. I think it's meant to come off as reassuring, but I'm not feeling it. "No tricks, Edward. I'm serious when I say I'll sign over all parental claim."
All I can do is nod in her direction, but I barely see her; I'm staring at nothing and everything at the same time, all of it blurring into nothingness.
"She's lovely, by the way." She laughs once, genuine humour ringing out. "Quite the firecracker. I didn't mean to cause trouble for the two of you, but I think she's stronger than you're giving her credit for. If she feels as strongly for you as I think she does, based on the death glare she gave me earlier, then I think she'll stick by you through this. Give her time, Edward."
With that, she leaves, and I am faced with a decision that has the potential to change my entire life.
I stumble over to the stairs and sit down to figure out how my life had gone from damn-near perfect to completely fucked in what feels like seconds.
When Bella finally arrives home, she seems nervous, but less upset than before. I'm beyond relieved she showed up at all, because, while she told me she'd be back, I figured she was just feeding me a line to placate me.
From there, we talk. We talk about it all. She's more than candid about how she feels—about my omission, my obvious distress, and where she's at. Neither of us really eats, instead picking at the sandwiches we've made for something to busy our fidgeting hands. By the end of the conversation, I'd say we're in a better place than moments earlier. It's not back to where it was, but we've still got so much to work through.
Exhausted, we head upstairs for bed. I'm supposed to go into work tomorrow, but I'm thinking I might see if Emmett can handle everything solo for a few days. I've got a lot to figure out, and not a lot of time to do it.
I stare at Bella across the bed from me. It's dark in the bedroom, the moonlight only casting enough light that I can make out her expressive eyes. There's two feet between us as we lie on our sides, facing one another, and the room is silent except for the sound of our breathing. I admire her silently, thankful and confused for how forgiving she's been.
"Thank you," I whisper, reaching out and pushing a strand of hair behind her ear.
"For what?"
"For saying you'll support me. It can't be easy for you to have to go through this."
Bella shrugs, dropping her gaze from me. It's something I've come to recognize as her tell when she's trying to be strong and selfless. "It's nothing. You'd have done the same."
"Bella . . ."
She sighs. "Yeah, it sucks," she confesses, reaching out and taking my hand. "But I love you."
Still worried that she doesn't understand just how much things could change for us with a new baby, I give her hand a squeeze. "You know a baby will change things, right?" She stares at me, her eyes wide and nervous. "It doesn't change the way I feel about you or us, but I want you to really think about this, sweetheart. If I decide to raise this child on my own, your life will be affected as long as you live here."
She sits up in an instant, pulling her hand from mine and placing it against her chest like she's guarding her heart. "Are you asking me to move out? Do you not want me here anymore?"
"What?" I exclaim, following her lead and sitting up. "No. That's not what I'm saying at all. But you said you're not ready to be a mother. If you live here, you'll be subjected to the all-night crying, midnight feedings, and diaper changes. You're young and just starting your life. Going to school, getting ready to start your career . . . I'm giving you the opportunity to change your mind. To back out of your lease . . . and out of this relationship."
"I've already told you I'm not going anywhere. I've known about all of this for less than eight hours, Edward. I'm scared. You need to give me time to process everything. Right now, it all feels like I'm caught in a dream. Like I'm going to wake up at any minute and we'll still be in Whistler." She pauses for a moment and smiles, restoring a little of my hope. "Yes, I said I'm not ready to be a mother . . . but I didn't mean ever. We'll figure this out. We'll just have to take it one day at a time."
There's conviction behind her words; it wavers a bit, but it is enough to convince me that we'll be all right. I turn to look at the alarm clock and see that it's late, and we're both clearly exhausted. We lie back down and continue to stare at each other until we fall asleep. There'll be time to talk tomorrow.
::: Rw/aV :::
I refuse to make a choice until a paternity test can confirm whether or not Irina's telling the truth. She tells me she'll set up the paternity test and let me know when the appointment is. Apparently, between ten and thirteen weeks, the most accurate way to test paternity is to collect a chorionic villus sample. I suggest we try to get in before Irina enters her second trimester so we still have options, and while she seems a little annoyed by the underlying insinuation that the child isn't mine, she agrees to it.
Denial isn't just a river in Egypt, folks.
The first few days are still a little tense, but Bella and I try to get things as close to normal as we can. Emmett and Rose assure me they can cover for me for the rest of the week. I haven't given them the details of why I need a few extra days off, but they're understanding nonetheless.
In addition to not telling Emmett and Rose, I've decided to wait and not tell my parents until I know for certain that the baby is mine. Bella agrees that it's for the best, and her constant reassurance helps keep me grounded through it all. Even if I still don't deserve it after all I've kept from her.
That night that we talked about everything, I vowed before falling asleep to never keep anything from her again. If something happens in the future, I will tell her immediately. No matter what it is.
Irina sets the paternity test up for two days after she and I spoke. I'm extremely nervous, but Bella helps calm my nerves. She offers to come with me, but I don't want to make her feel obligated to do something she's not quite comfortable with. While I would love her to be there, just the offer is enough to show her support.
Irina and I wait in the waiting room after we sign the appropriate paperwork. She seems perfectly fine while I can't get my hands to stop sweating. Normally, I'd be a little concerned by how calm she is, but it only makes sense given the future she's chosen for herself.
"How is she?" Irina asks politely, trying to keep my mind occupied. "Bella, I mean."
"She's good. Better than good, actually," I confess. "She's been surprisingly supportive."
"I told you she would be."
"Irina?" The nurse's voice interrupts us, and Irina stands up to follow her into one of the rooms. Not long after Irina leaves, another nurse calls my name, and I follow her into a room across the hall. My portion of the test is far less invasive than Irina's, as they take a swab from the inside of my cheek, so I'm done before Irina and wait for her in the waiting room.
She comes out with the nurse, looking no different than when she went in, and we're assured that we should have the test results within the week. Which means I could be explaining this to a lot of people by next weekend.
Thinking about what my parents might say causes my anxiety to spike, and it's all I can think about on my way home. Bella notices the minute I step through the door, and she ushers me into the living room, settling me onto the couch and rubbing my shoulders to help ease the tension in them.
"It'll be fine," she assures me softly, letting her fingers move up my neck and into my hair. It makes my scalp tingle, the sensation moving below the surface of my skin and all over my body. "They'll understand. They're going to be grandparents. How could that not be good news?" She pauses for a minute, her hands ceasing their ministrations, and she rests her chin on my shoulder. "Regardless of how it happened."
I sigh, letting my head fall to the side to rest against hers. "How are you so okay with this?"
Bella lifts her head and starts massaging my shoulders again. "I'm still not . . . not completely, anyway," she admits. "But I'm taking it a day at a time, Edward. I'm working toward accepting what life's thrown our way."
I reach up with my right hand and place it on hers, giving it a gentle squeeze. "Take as much time as you need. Just promise you'll tell me if you're ever feeling . . . fuck, I don't know . . . overwhelmed."
"I will."
As the week passes, I go back and forth about how the paternity results will come back. Part of me feels without a doubt that Irina is telling the truth, but the part of me that wants so badly to go back in time to the way things were with Bella hopes otherwise.
When the results come in the mail, Bella's by my side, having just returned from school. She stands behind where I sit at the kitchen table and places her hands on my shoulders. It feels like she's lending me any strength she has as I open the envelope and pull out the piece of paper.
It tells me what, deep down, I already knew it would: the baby is mine.
I sit there, staring at the paper in silence. Time seems to stop, the edges of my vision darkening until all I can focus on are the results. My eyes start to itch and dry out from my inability to blink, and it isn't until Bella wraps her arms around my neck and kisses my cheek that I take my first breath.
"Okay," she says sweetly. "So now we know." I nod, rubbing my hand over her forearm.
"Now we know," I repeat. "I guess it's time to make a decision."
Sighing lightly, Bella straightens up and walks around my chair, taking the test results from me and setting them on the table before she sits across my lap. "Edward, you made the decision the minute Irina explained everything." I open my mouth to protest, but Bella smiles and cuts me off. "Don't try to deny it. I could see it in your eyes that night. The fact that you're willing to step up to the plate and do what needs to be done is . . . admirable, and I think it's made me fall in love with you just a little bit more."
She's not wrong; there was very little doubt that I would raise this child if it turned out to be mine. But I still worry that this whole situation will drive an even bigger wedge between us than it already has. Wrapping my arms around her waist, I nod. "And you're sure you're all right with this? For a baby to come into my life?"
"Our life," she amends. "We have . . . what? Seven months?" She inhales a shaky breath, her smile faltering for the briefest of seconds. "I think that gives us enough time to figure things out."
::: Rw/aV :::
I invite my parents over for coffee Saturday afternoon. I'm nervous as hell to tell them that they're going to be grandparents, but Bella is sure to remind me that they don't seem like the type that will be upset.
"They might need time like I did to understand it all, but they'll be ecstatic," tells me before they arrive. I'd assume Bella will make an excuse to get out of the house while I tell them, but I'm surprised to find out she's planned on showing her support by staying close by.
When the doorbell rings, Bella runs off to the kitchen to prepare the tea and coffee, and I usher my parents into the living room.
"Where's Bella?" my mother asks brightly.
"Um, getting the coffee," I explain, clearing my throat as they take a seat on the sofa.
They watch me expectantly as I stand before them, and I decide to just tell them. Stalling in an effort to figure out the best way to deliver this news caused problems for Bella and me, and I wasn't going to repeat that mistake again.
I take a deep breath. "So, the reason I asked you both here wasn't just to have coffee," I confess, wringing my hands in front of me.
"Oh, dear," my mother says, reaching for Dad's hand. "What's happened?"
"Um . . . well . . . You're, uh . . . You're going to be grandparents." They're eyes go wide simultaneously, but I don't see anger there, only excitement.
Before I get a chance to clarify, Bella appears just then, holding a tray with the coffee and teapots on it, and when my parents notice my focus shift to her, they're on their feet and turning around.
Mom quickly takes the tray and sets it on the end table before wrapping her arms around Bella, pinning her arms to her sides. "Oh, this is so amazing—I mean, a little soon, sure, but you two were just meant to be together."
"Oh, this is awkward," Bella groans, bringing her arms up as much as possible to pat my mom's back. "Esme, no." She looks to me for help, and I step forward.
"Mom, Bella's not pregnant," I amend, my voice low and rough.
Mom releases Bella, looks to Dad, and then to me. "I'm confused," she says.
"Irina," I croak. "Irina's pregnant."
Now their eyes go wide with every emotion other than excitement. "Irina," Mom repeats, reaching blindly to her left for my father. "Irina's pregnant. How? When? Good god, Edward, why?"
I suddenly feel like a six-year-old child again, under the scrutinizing glare of my parents when they caught me kissing the neighbour girl in the backyard. "I didn't . . . it wasn't . . ." I sigh, collapsing into the chair and pressing my face into my hands. "I don't know."
"Is that why she called the house?" my father asks, and I nod, still unable to look at them.
A warm hand presses to my shoulder, and I feel Bella's presence as she slides onto the arm of the chair. "She came to the house just after we'd returned and delivered the news. We were caught off-guard, yes, but we're trying to make the best of the situation," Bella explains, running her hand over my shoulders.
I lift my face from my hands and look up at her in awe. I didn't fail to notice how she used the word "we," and while I'd heard her say it the other day, it still renders me momentarily speechless. Her support gives me the strength I need to continue explaining everything to my parents.
By the time I tell them what Irina's proposal is, my parents seem to have relaxed. A little. Like Bella, they're still trying to process what they've just learned, and are going to need a little time. They leave after their coffee is finished, hugging Bella and me and telling us to call them if we need anything.
Once they're gone, Bella closes and locks the door before turning to me with a smile. "Well, that could have gone worse."
Unable to voice my gratitude for all she'd done this afternoon, I pull her into my arms and kiss her. Saying "thank you" just doesn't seem like enough, but even kissing her doesn't seem sufficient.
She accepts it, though, winding her arms around my neck and pulling me closer, her tongue tracing the line of my lips before deepening our kiss. My hands move down over her hips until I grab her ass and lift her up. The minute her legs wrap around my waist, I turn us around and head for the stairs. I stop kissing her so I can see the steps, but she continues to kiss and bite the skin of my neck, making it difficult for me to focus on climbing the stairs when all I want to do is press her against the wall and have my way with her. When her fingers twist into my hair, they send a tingling sensation from my scalp, beneath my skin, and straight to my groin—it's really not helping my inability to focus.
At the top of the stairs, I find myself unable to keep my lips off of her anymore, and I move forward quickly, slamming us into the table outside the game room. It rocks beneath the force of our weight, and everything that was on it falls to the floor one at a time. I grunt as my lips find Bella's again, and her hands frantically begin tugging at the button of my jeans before she slips her hand inside and wraps it around my cock.
"Ah, fuck," I moan against her lips as she moves her hand, tightening her grip slightly and repeating the action. Instinctively, I thrust my hips into her palm while my hands move up under her shirt.
The table wobbles beneath Bella, and she giggles, her head falling back while I kiss the smooth column of her throat. "Perhaps we should move this to the bedroom before this table gives out."
Always one to oblige, I remove my hands from her tits and grab her ass, lifting her off the table and carrying her down the hall. Inside my bedroom, I toss her down on my bed, and we scramble to remove each other's clothes. Our fingers claw desperately at buttons and hems, our hands paw at newly exposed naked flesh, and before I can even kick my pants off entirely, I grab a condom from the bedside table and put it on before nudging her knees apart and entering her slick heat.
The instant I'm sheathed within her, I realize that it's the first time that we've made love since we left Whistler, and I wonder if she's made this realization as well. One look in her eyes tells me she has. I lower myself until our bodies are completely pressed together, all of the air expelled from within our bodies until we can feel one another's heartbeats, and I hold most of my weight off of her by balancing on my forearms.
As our hips roll together, seeking the pinnacle of ecstasy, I attempt to slow our lovemaking, to show her how much her love and support have meant to me these past two weeks, but she's having none of it. She uses all of her strength to roll us over, taking her place above me and setting our pace. I always love it when she's on top, and I find myself struggling to hold on as her hips move up and down, back and forth, and around in sensual circles while her fingers curl against my chest, her fingernails biting gently into my skin.
Every muscle in my body tenses, and the surface of my skin tingles from head to toe, my fingers going numb, as I teeter on the edge of losing control. My hands fly to her hips, curling around them and pulling her harder against me. She cries out as her pussy tightens around my cock, coaxing my own orgasm from me before she collapses on my chest, panting heavily.
We lay like this long enough that I get to feel her quickened heartbeat slow to its normal pace once more. My hand moves up and down her spine slowly as my eyes fall closed, contentedness blanketing the both of us.
"What are you thinking about?" Bella asks out of nowhere, shifting her head until her chin rests on my sternum.
I tilt my head to look at her and smirk. "Nothing really, just basking in the moment. You?"
"I miss Whistler," she confesses.
I automatically assume she means she misses how simple our lives seemed when we were in Whistler, so I look at her apologetically. Before I can respond to her, though, her eyebrows pull together and she shakes her head. "Oh, no. This isn't about what we came back to. Not at all. It's just . . . because we came back to all of this, I never really got a chance to really let our vacation soak in, you know? I'm going to miss the cabin, and it makes me sad that we'll never get to go back there. We'd built a few memories there, and I'm sad we won't be making more in the vacation home you grew up in." She pauses, biting her lip lightly. "Especially now, you know?"
I do know, and she's absolutely right. Some of my best memories were from our family vacations up to Whistler, and I'd enjoyed the new ones there with Bella. And now that I was going to have a child of my own, I could imagine introducing him or her to that part of my life.
And maybe this would be the perfect way to show Bella how much I appreciate all that she's done. It would prove my loyalty to her and show her that I foresee a long and happy life with her . . .
"What if we didn't have to say goodbye," I say quietly, drawing curiosity from her eyes.
"What do you mean?"
I smile, lifting my hands to her face and pushing her hair back before cradling her jaw, my thumbs moving idly over her cheekbones. "What if I bought the cabin from my parents? For us."
A/N2: I know I've already lost readers due to this turn of events. I knew it would happen, and I'm okay with it. Really. There've been some pretty harsh reviews, but it's not something I've never experienced before with some of my other fics. I get it. It's cool. I appreciated every review, because it helps me understand what people like and dislike.
Those of you who have chosen to stick by me through this little twist, what did you all think of how the situation is being handled? I tried to get a little of the humour back that we were used to (as well as some of the citrus ;)). I clearly can't get RIGHT back to it, because that would be unrealistic and a bit insensitive to the situation, but it'll get there. I promise.
One more thing I want to mention to all of those who are having trouble grasping how Bella could possibly love a child that's not biologically hers: this Edward is adopted. To site this huge biological reason as to why Bella could never love it as if it were her own seems odd to me, especially when Edward is proof that DNA and blood don't give you the ability to love...it's the size of the person's heart and their ability to open it to others. Yes, he made the baby with an ex, but it's still a half of the man she loves. How could she not love it :)
So, let me know what you thought! Teasers await those who review!
Next up, we hear from Bella. Some big stuff is going to happen. In a very good way :) | https://www.fanfiction.net/s/7829435/31/Rm-w-a-Vu | dclm-gs1-011900000 |
0.436785 | <urn:uuid:a6d56bd1-a037-4c89-a5d8-5a05b78f6c13> | en | 0.853067 | Difference between revisions of "Failure to deallocate data"
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Line 79: Line 79:
[[Category:General Logic Errors]]
[[Category:General Logic Error Vulnerability]]
Revision as of 15:09, 4 August 2006
If memory is allocated and not freed the process could continue to consume more and more memory and eventually crash.
• Availability: If an attacker can find the memory leak, an attacker may be able to cause the application to leak quickly and therefore cause the application to crash.
Exposure period
• Languages: C, C++, Fortran, Assembly
Required resources
Likelihood of exploit
Avoidance and mitigation
• Pre-design through Build: The Boehm-Demers-Weiser Garbage Collector or valgrind can be used to detect leaks in code. This is not a complete solution as it is not 100% effective.
If a memory leak exists within a program, the longer a program runs, the more it encounters the leak scenario and the larger its memory footprint will become. An attacker could potentially discover that the leak locally or remotely can cause the leak condition rapidly so that the program crashes.
In C:
bar connection(){
foo = malloc(1024);
return foo;
endConnection(bar foo){
int main() {
//thread 1
//On a connection
//thread 2
//When the connection ends
Here the problem is that every time a connection is made, more memory is allocated. So if one just opened up more and more connections, eventually the machine would run out of memory.
Related problems
Not available. | https://www.owasp.org/index.php?title=Failure_to_deallocate_data&diff=8716&oldid=4152 | dclm-gs1-011960000 |
0.033113 | <urn:uuid:3e690466-0c3b-40b1-9391-3ba3db94cc9c> | en | 0.948213 | • 0 answers
• 1 post
• 0 reviews
1. Home & Family Is MPA a joke? I noticed my Samsung refrigerator freezer side is not making ice ( ice melts to water) , and also building up moisture in the freezer side. I use internet to schedule appointment and received a computer message to contact customer service. I called the number and customer service rep. gave me an appointment for Aug 6th. It is two weeks away from my initial request(July 26). I checked again the website for faster response and noticed that if I pay $65.00 service charge you get appointment on July 31st. What a rip off? I paid 3 year maintenance contact for peace of mind and sears is ripping me off. If water leaks in the kitchen it will damage the wood floor also. Why your sales people want us to buy MPA if you cannot protect the customers in a reasonable time frame? | https://www.sears.com/community/author/646Dallas/ | dclm-gs1-011970000 |
0.185958 | <urn:uuid:6cb77f50-59b3-4435-af11-e86c51ecd50e> | en | 0.920606 | Related videos by Shutterstock
Mandark's picture
407 pencils
If would get that in the mail...i would freak out!! not touch it not read it...not funny. what's next? a finger DM? damn...
sneakyhands's picture
1857 pencils
it's a great event to sponsor and promote for the brand, but yeah, the DM blood bag goes too far. why not save the blood bags for the donation centers? it would be less wasteful and more sanitary.
whitespace's picture
1955 pencils
cool stuff.
i think the blood bags aren't the sanitary type... just created for promotion purposes.
Log in or register to post comments | http://adsoftheworld.com/media/ambient/off_blood_bag | dclm-gs1-011980000 |
0.019032 | <urn:uuid:29290756-726c-49e1-8cc9-b3310c96916e> | en | 0.943996 | YOU ARE HERE: LAT HomeCollectionsPaparazzi
June 10, 2007
Re "It's sprung time for Hilton," June 8 How about some real celebrity justice? Let's sentence Paris to no paparazzi for life. KATHIE MARSHALL Northridge
December 5, 2001
"Celebrity Access Shuttered" (Nov. 30) looked at the difficulty the celebrity paparazzi are having in getting access to the stars since Sept. 11. Well, the loss to the paparazzi is a gain for the rest of us, because the only things of lower value than the inane products most stars perform in are the sycophantic media that celebrate the banalities of those same stars. Steven Stark Los Angeles
October 18, 2012 | By Matt Donnelly
Ciao, bella! Justin Timberlake and Jessica Biel's Italian wedding is off and running, as famous friends have landed in the southern town of Puglia. Widely published paparazzi shots have folks such as "SNL" alum Andy Samberg, "7th Heaven" actress Beverley Mitchell and music manager Johnny Wright in attendance. Wednesday saw a cocktail reception at exclusive beach club Cala Masciola, a luxury haven on the Adriatic Sea, where lanterns and Champagne awaited the casually dressed crowd. Marvin Gaye's "Let's Get It On" piped through the fete , extra-exclusive as according to Masicola's website the beach is closed through Oct. 31. The entire party was later treated to a 10-minute fireworks show. Timberlake and Biel have been engaged since December.
May 6, 2001
Two facts are closely related: Fans think baseball agent Scott Boras is the devil ("Running Down Scott Boras," by Ross Newhan, April 8) and the masses blamed the paparazzi for the death of Princess Diana. Quite simply, the public is the villain in both cases. If fans are dumb enough to spend more than $100 to take their families to a ballgame, then [baseball] owners will use that money and TV advertising revenue to bid millions for players. If fans stay home for a while, it all collapses and sanity might return.
January 6, 2013
Re "Bieber has point on paparazzi," Column, Jan. 4 David Lazarus calls celebrity paparazzi parasites "whose sole motive is personal enrichment. " On the other hand, war journalists fearlessly put themselves in harm's way "to perform a public service and document a bona-fide news story. " I can't see celebrity photographers as any more parasitical than any other ancillary job to celebrities. How is it different than someone who sells rock T-shirts? And although war journalism can be noble, one could see a parasitical aspect to it. News organizations know war coverage sells papers and boosts viewership.
October 18, 2005
Re "Paparazzi Flash New Audacity," Oct. 16 Don't blame the paparazzi; blame the fools who buy the magazines. Are their own lives so dull they have to read that trash? RICK LEDGER San Gabriel Re "Paparazzo Says He's a Scapegoat of Hollywood," Oct. 13 The tables are turned and photographer Todd K. Wallace doesn't want his picture taken. Just remember your own response, Mr. Wallace, the next time you force your way closer to get "just that shot" of such stars as Demi, Ashton or Paris.
June 19, 2010 | By Robert Faturechi, Los Angeles Times
A Malibu jury deadlocked Friday in the trial of two surfers charged with beating a French paparazzo on the beach two years ago. The hung verdict comes after about half a dozen delays in the trial of Skylar Peak, 26, and Philip Hildebrand, 31, who were each facing one count of misdemeanor battery. The June 2008 incident was caught on camera and spread across the Internet. A dozen paparazzi were angling for a shot of actor Matthew McConaughey when they were confronted by a group of local surfers, including Peak and Hildebrand.
Los Angeles Times Articles | http://articles.latimes.com/keyword/paparazzi/featured/5 | dclm-gs1-012030000 |
0.04516 | <urn:uuid:b2228276-ce90-407c-ba93-0b9efc6600b7> | en | 0.967629 |
From Bulbapedia, the community-driven Pokémon encyclopedia.
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OMG...this article does not meet the quality standards of myself. I'll clean it up later. -Politoed666 01:29, 11 September 2007 (UTC)
On second thought, it's so horrible and irrelevent that it might as well be deleted. -Politoed666
Don't delete it. Someone who knows more about Holon and EX Delta-Species should fix it up though. Satosuke 03:11, 5 June 2008 (UTC)
Couldn't Holon have some connection to Aldoran and the Tree of Origin?--Satosuke 14:29, 10 February 2008 (UTC)
Unlikely, Anime isnt related much to TCG. (MathijsP 12:56, 5 June 2008 (UTC))
True; I wrote that comment months ago though - it' under a different chain of ideas than my comment above it. Still, there are a lot of similarities, and the EX Legend Maker set, which introduced Holon, was deeply influenced by Pokémon 4Ever and Jirachi: Wishmaker. Satosuke 17:10, 9 June 2008 (UTC)
Why aren't the Ranger game regions considered official? --LynnCreed 15:57, 14 August 2008 (UTC)
Official region?
Holon is considered an offical region, unlike Fiore or Almia.
What makes Holon to be considered more of an "official" region than Almia and Fiore just because its featured in the TCG? Both Ranger games actually communicate with the main-series games. I mean when has the TCG ever really been considered to be "that canon" that this statement can be made?
By the looks of things, Almia and Fiore are much more of an "official" region than Holon, and that statement just seems biased to me. Unless anyone is against it, I think that comment should be edited out.
--Outrage DD 01:35, 6 September 2008 (UTC)
The Almia page even has a specific location to it relative to Sinnoh while the Fiore page notes that Sinnoh is hinted to be close to it in the Manaphy mission. --Outrage DD 01:44, 6 September 2008 (UTC)
It's also speculated that Orre is east of Almia. --InMooseWeTrust 13:15, 31 January 2008 (UTC)
Holon's Backstory
Anyone have the backstory from Holon? It was in the press releases for the different Holon sets and might have even been in the boxes. Someone must have archived them... They ahd more details about Holon, not a lot but they'd definitely would add more to the article.--sdp | http://bulbapedia.bulbagarden.net/wiki/Talk:Holon | dclm-gs1-012180000 |
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In ancient Rome, virtus was originally the quality of "manliness," from vir, "man." It often means "valor," but as the quality that made a man fulfill his potential as a man, it came to mean something more closely akin to "character, personal integrity," and hence "virtue," which women could also possess. Virtus was personified as a deity, though not always of the same gender. In the Roman Republic, Virtus often received sacrifices in the company of Honos, Honor, and the pair were also cultivated as deities jointly at temples. Virtus continued to be regarded as a deity in the Imperial era, and was one of the qualities or virtues associated with the cult of the emperors.
Media in category "Virtus"
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0.053387 | <urn:uuid:c3638fae-b4b4-4cd8-b103-74adacf8ebe6> | en | 0.85893 | Rings of Neptune
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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The scheme of Neptune's ring-moon system. Solid lines denote rings; dashed lines denote orbits of moons.
The rings of Neptune consist primarily of five principal rings and were first discovered (as "arcs") in 1984 in Chile by Patrice Bouchet, Reinhold Häfner and Jean Manfroid at La Silla Observatory (ESO) during an observing program proposed by André Brahic and Bruno Sicardy from Paris-Meudon Observatory, and at Cerro Tololo Interamerican Observatory by F. Vilas and L.-R. Elicer for a program led by Williams Hubbard.[1][2] They were eventually imaged in 1989 by the Voyager 2 spacecraft.[3] At their densest, they are comparable to the less dense portions of Saturn's main rings such as the C ring and the Cassini Division, but much of Neptune's ring system is quite tenuous, faint and dusty, more closely resembling the rings of Jupiter. Neptune's rings are named after astronomers who contributed important work on the planet:[3] Galle, Le Verrier, Lassell, Arago, and Adams.[4][5] Neptune also has a faint unnamed ring coincident with the orbit of the moon Galatea. Three other moons orbit between the rings: Naiad, Thalassa and Despina.[5]
The rings of Neptune are made of extremely dark material, likely organic compounds processed by radiation, similar to that found in the rings of Uranus.[6] The proportion of dust in the rings (between 20% and 70%) is high,[6] while their optical depth is low to moderate, at less than 0.1.[7] Uniquely, the Adams ring includes five distinct arcs, named Fraternité, Égalité 1 and 2, Liberté, and Courage. The arcs occupy a narrow range of orbital longitudes and are remarkably stable, having changed only slightly since their initial detection in 1980.[6] How the arcs are stabilized is still under debate. However, their stability is probably related to the resonant interaction between the Adams ring and its inner shepherd moon, Galatea.[8]
Discovery and observations[edit]
A pair of Voyager 2 images of Neptune's ring system
The first mention of rings around Neptune dates back to 1846 when William Lassell, the discoverer of Neptune's largest moon Triton, thought he had seen a ring around the planet.[3] However, his claim was never confirmed and it is likely that it was an observational artifact. The first reliable detection of a ring was made in 1968 by stellar occultation, although that result would go unnoticed until 1977 when the rings of Uranus were discovered.[3] Soon after the Uranus discovery, a team from Villanova University led by Harold J. Reitsema began searching for rings around Neptune. On 24 May 1981, they detected a dip in a star's brightness during one occultation; however, the manner in which the star dimmed did not suggest a ring. Later, after the Voyager fly-by, it was found that the occultation was due to the small Neptunian moon Larissa, a highly unusual event.[3]
In the 1980s, significant occultations were much rarer for Neptune than for Uranus, which lay near the Milky Way at the time and was thus moving against a denser field of stars. Neptune's next occultation, on 12 September 1983, resulted in a possible detection of a ring.[3] However, ground-based results were inconclusive. Over the next six years, approximately 50 other occultations were observed with only about one-third of them yielding positive results.[9] Something (probably incomplete arcs) definitely existed around Neptune, but the features of the ring system remained a mystery.[3] The Voyager 2 spacecraft made the definitive discovery of the Neptunian rings during its fly-by of Neptune in 1989, passing by as close as 4,950 km (3,080 mi) above the planet's atmosphere on 25 August. It confirmed that occasional occultation events observed before were indeed caused by the arcs within the Adams ring (see below).[10] After the Voyager fly-by the previous terrestrial occultation observations were reanalyzed yielding features of the ring's arcs as they were in 1980s, which matched those found by Voyager almost perfectly.[6]
Since Voyager's fly-by, the brightest rings (Adams and Le Verrier) have been imaged with the Hubble Space Telescope and Earth-based telescopes, owing to advances in resolution and light-gathering power.[11] They are visible, slightly above background noise levels, at methane-absorbing wavelengths in which the glare from Neptune is significantly reduced. The fainter rings are still far below the visibility threshold.[12]
General properties[edit]
A Voyager ring image shown at increased brightness to bring out fainter features
Neptune possesses five distinct rings[6] named, in order of increasing distance from the planet, Galle, Le Verrier, Lassell, Arago and Adams.[5] In addition to these well-defined rings, Neptune may also possess an extremely faint sheet of material stretching inward from the Le Verrier to the Galle ring, and possibly farther in toward the planet.[6][8] Three of the Neptunian rings are narrow, with widths of about 100 km or less;[7] in contrast, the Galle and Lassell rings are broad—their widths are between 2,000 and 5,000 km.[6] The Adams ring consists of five bright arcs embedded in a fainter continuous ring.[6] Proceeding counterclockwise, the arcs are: Fraternité, Égalité 1 and 2, Liberté, and Courage.[8][13] The first three names come from "liberty, equality, fraternity", the motto of the French Revolution and Republic. The terminology was suggested by their original discoverers, who had found them during stellar occultations in 1984 and 1985.[9] Four small Neptunian moons have orbits inside the ring system: Naiad and Thalassa orbit in the gap between the Galle and Le Verrier rings; Despina is just inward of the Le Verrier ring; and Galatea lies slightly inward of the Adams ring,[5] embedded in an unnamed faint, narrow ringlet.[8]
The Neptunian rings contain a large quantity of micrometer-sized dust: the dust fraction by cross-section area is between 20% and 70%.[8] In this respect they are similar to the rings of Jupiter, in which the dust fraction is 50%–100%, and are very different from the rings of Saturn and Uranus, which contain little dust (less than 0.1%).[5][8] The particles in Neptune's rings are made from a dark material; probably a mixture of ice with radiation-processed organics.[5][6] The rings are reddish in color, and their geometrical (0.05) and Bond (0.01–0.02) albedos are similar to those of the Uranian rings' particles and the inner Neptunian moons.[6] The rings are generally optically thin (transparent); their normal optical depths do not exceed 0.1.[6] As a whole, the Neptunian rings resemble those of Jupiter; both systems consist of faint, narrow, dusty ringlets and even fainter broad dusty rings.[8]
The rings of Neptune, like those of Uranus, are thought to be relatively young; their age is probably significantly less than that of the Solar System.[6] Also, like those of Uranus, Neptune's rings probably resulted from the collisional fragmentation of onetime inner moons.[8] Such events create moonlet belts, which act as the sources of dust for the rings. In this respect the rings of Neptune are similar to faint dusty bands observed by Voyager 2 between the main rings of Uranus.[6]
Inner rings[edit]
The innermost ring of Neptune is called the Galle ring after Johann Gottfried Galle, the first person to see Neptune through a telescope (1846).[14] It is about 2,000 km wide and orbits 41,000–43,000 km from the planet.[5] It is a faint ring with an average normal optical depth of around 10−4,[a] and with an equivalent depth of 0.15 km.[b][6] The fraction of dust in this ring is estimated from 40% to 70%.[6][17]
The next ring is named the Le Verrier ring after Urbain Le Verrier, who predicted Neptune's position in 1846.[18] With an orbital radius of about 53,200 km,[5] it is narrow, with a width of about 113 km.[7] Its normal optical depth is 0.0062 ± 0.0015, which corresponds to an equivalent depth of 0.7 ± 0.2 km.[7] The dust fraction in the Le Verrier ring ranges from 40% to 70%.[8][17] The small moon Despina, which orbits just inside of it at 52,526 km, may play a role in the ring's confinement by acting as a shepherd.[5]
The Lassell ring, also known as the plateau, is the broadest ring in the Neptunian system.[8] It is the namesake of William Lassell, the English astronomer who discovered Neptune's largest moon, Triton.[19] This ring is a faint sheet of material occupying the space between the Le Verrier ring at about 53,200 km and the Arago ring at 57,200 km.[5] Its average normal optical depth is around 10−4, which corresponds to an equivalent depth of 0.4 km.[6] The ring's dust fraction is in the range from 20% to 40%.[17]
There is a small peak of brightness near the outer edge of the Lassell ring, located at 57,200 km from Neptune and less than 100 km wide,[5] which some planetary scientists call the Arago ring after François Arago, a French mathematician, physicist, astronomer and politician.[20] However, many publications do not mention the Arago ring at all.[8]
Adams ring[edit]
The outer Adams ring, with an orbital radius of about 63,930 km,[5] is the best studied of Neptune's rings.[5] It is named after John Couch Adams, who predicted the position of Neptune independently of Le Verrier.[21] This ring is narrow, slightly eccentric and inclined, with total width of about 35 km (15–50 km),[7] and its normal optical depth is around 0.011 ± 0.003 outside the arcs, which corresponds to the equivalent depth of about 0.4 km.[7] The fraction of dust in this ring is from 20% to 40%—lower than in other narrow rings.[17] Neptune's small moon Galatea, which orbits just inside of the Adams ring at 61,953 km, acts like a shepherd, keeping ring particles inside a narrow range of orbital radii through a 42:43 outer Lindblad resonance.[13] Galatea's gravitational influence creates 42 radial wiggles in the Adams ring with an amplitude of about 30 km, which have been used to infer Galatea's mass.[13]
The brightest parts of the Adams ring, the ring arcs, were the first elements of Neptune's ring system to be discovered.[3] The arcs are discrete regions within the ring in which the particles that comprise it are mysteriously clustered together. The Adams ring is known to comprise five short arcs, which occupy a relatively narrow range of longitudes from 247° to 294°.[c] In 1986 they were located between longitudes of:
• 247–257° (Fraternité),
• 261–264° (Égalité 1),
• 265–266° (Égalité 2),
• 276–280° (Liberté),
• 284.5–285.5° (Courage).[5][13]
The brightest and longest arc was Fraternité; the faintest was Courage. The normal optical depths of the arcs are estimated to lie in the range 0.03–0.09[6] (0.034 ± 0.005 for the leading edge of Liberté arc as measured by stellar occultation);[7] the radial widths are approximately the same as those of the continuous ring—about 30 km.[6] The equivalent depths of arcs vary in the range 1.25–2.15 km (0.77 ± 0.13 km for the leading edge of Liberté arc).[7] The fraction of dust in the arcs is from 40% to 70%.[17] The arcs in the Adams ring are somewhat similar to the arc in Saturn's G ring.[22]
The highest resolution Voyager 2 images revealed a pronounced clumpiness in the arcs, with a typical separation between visible clumps of 0.1° to 0.2°, which corresponds to 100–200 km along the ring. Because the clumps were not resolved, they may or may not include larger bodies, but are certainly associated with concentrations of microscopic dust as evidenced by their enhanced brightness when backlit by the Sun.[6]
The arcs are quite stable structures. They were detected by ground based stellar occultations in the 1980s, by Voyager 2 in 1989 and by Hubble Space Telescope and ground based telescopes in 1997–2005 and remained at approximately the same orbital longitudes.[6][12] However some changes have been noticed. The overall brightness of arcs decreased since 1986.[12] The Courage arc jumped forward by 8° to 294° (it probably jumped over to the next stable co-rotation resonance position) while the Liberté arc had almost disappeared by 2003.[23] The Fraternité and Égalité (1 and 2) arcs have demonstrated irregular variations in their relative brightness. Their observed dynamics is probably related to the exchange of dust between them.[12] Courage, a very faint arc found during the Voyager flyby, was seen to flare in brightness in 1998, while more recently it was back to its usual dimness. Visible light observations show that the total amount of material in the arcs has remained approximately constant, but they are dimmer in the infrared light wavelengths where previous observations were taken.[23]
The arcs in the Adams ring remain unexplained.[5] Their existence is a puzzle because basic orbital dynamics imply that they should spread out into a uniform ring over a matter of years. Several theories about the arcs' confinement have been suggested, the most widely publicized of which holds that Galatea confines the arcs via its 42:43 co-rotational inclination resonance (CIR).[d][13] The resonance creates 84 stable sites along the ring's orbit, each 4° long, with arcs residing in the adjacent sites.[13] However measurements of the rings' mean motion with Hubble and Keck telescopes in 1998 led to the conclusion that the rings are not in CIR with Galatea.[11][24]
A later model suggested that confinement resulted from a co-rotational eccentricity resonance (CER).[e][25] The model takes into account the finite mass of the Adams ring, which is necessary to move the resonance closer to the ring. A byproduct of this theory is a mass estimate for the Adams ring—about 0.002 of the mass of Galatea.[25] A third theory proposed in 1986 requires an additional moon orbiting inside the ring; the arcs in this case are trapped in its stable Lagrangian points. However Voyager 2's observations placed strict constraints on the size and mass of any undiscovered moons, making such a theory unlikely.[6] Some other more complicated theories hold that a number of moonlets are trapped in co-rotational resonances with Galatea, providing confinement of the arcs and simultaneously serving as sources of the dust.[26]
The rings were investigated in detail during the Voyager 2 spacecraft's flyby of Neptune in August 1989.[6] They were studied with optical imaging, and through observations of occultations in ultraviolet and visible light.[7] Voyager 2 observed the rings in different geometries relative to the Sun, producing images of back-scattered, forward-scattered and side-scattered light.[f][6] Analysis of these images allowed derivation of the phase function (dependence of the ring's reflectivity on the angle between the observer and Sun), and geometrical and Bond albedo of ring particles.[6] Analysis of Voyager's images also led to discovery of six inner moons of Neptune, including the Adams ring shepherd Galatea.[6]
Ring name Radius (km)[5] Width (km) Eq. depth (km)[b][g] N. Opt. depth[a] Dust fraction,%[17] Ecc. Incl.(°) Notes
Galle (N42) 40,900–42,900 2,000 0.15[6] ~ 10−4[6] 40–70 ? ? Broad faint ring
Le Verrier (N53) 53,200 ± 20 113[7] 0.7 ± 0.2[7] 6.2 ± 1.5 × 10–3[7] 40–70 ? ? Narrow ring
Lassell 53,200–57,200 4,000 0.4[6] ~ 10−4[6] 20–40 ? ? Lassell ring is a faint sheet of material stretching from Le Verrier to Arago
Arago 57,200 <100[6] ? ? ? ? ?
Adams (N63) 62,932 ± 2 15–50[7] 0.4[6]
1.25–2.15[7] (in arcs)
0.011 ± 0.003[7]
0.03–0.09[6] (in arcs)
40–70 (in arcs)
4.7 ± 0.2 × 10–4[13] 0.0617 ± 0.0043[13] Five bright arcs
*A question mark means that the parameter is not known.
1. ^ a b The normal optical depth τ of a ring is the ratio of the total geometrical cross-section of the ring's particles to the area of the ring. It assumes values from zero to infinity. A light beam passing normally through a ring will be attenuated by the factor e–τ.[15]
2. ^ a b The equivalent depth ED of a ring is defined as an integral of the normal optical depth across the ring. In other words ED = ∫τdr, where r is radius.[16]
3. ^ The longitude system is fixed as of 18 August 1989. The zero point corresponds to the zero meridian on Neptune.[5]
4. ^ The corotation inclination resonance (CIR) of the order m between a moon on inclined orbit and a ring occurs if the pattern speed of the perturbing potential \Omega (from a moon) equals the mean motion of the ring particles n_p. In other words the following condition should be met m\Omega=n_pm=(m-1)n_s+\dot\Omega_s, where \dot\Omega_s and n_s are the nodal precession rate and mean motion of the moon, respectively.[13] CIR supports 2m stable sites along the ring.
5. ^ The corotation eccentricity resonance (CER) of the order m between a moon on eccentric orbit and a ring occurs if the pattern speed of the perturbing potential \Omega (from a moon) equals the mean motion of the ring particles n_p. In other words the following condition should be met m\Omega=n_pm=(m-1)n_s+\dot\omega_s, where \dot\omega_s and n_s are the apsidal precession rate and mean motion of the moon, respectively.[25] CER supports m stable sites along the ring.
6. ^ Forward-scattered light is light scattered at a small angle relative to solar light. Back-scattered light is light scattered at an angle close to 180° (backwards) relative to solar light. The scattering angle is close to 90° for side-scattered light.
7. ^ The equivalent depth of Galle and Lassell rings is a product of their width and the normal optical depth.
1. ^ Hubbard, W.B.; Brahic, A.; Bouchet, P.; Elicer, L.-R.; Haefner, R.; Manfroid, J.; Roques, F.; Sicardy, B.; Vilas, F. (1985). "Occultation Detection of a Neptune Ring Segment". Press Abstracts from the Sixteenth Lunar and Planetary Science Conference, held March 11–15, 1985, in Houston, TX. LPI Contribution 559, published by the Lunar and Planetary Institute, 3303 Nasa Road 1, Houston, TX 77058, 1985, p.35. Bibcode:1985LPICo.559...35H.
2. ^ Manfroid, J.; Haefner, R.; Bouchet, P. (1986). "New evidence for a ring around Neptune". Astronomy and Astrophysics 157 (1): L3. Bibcode:1986A&A...157L...3M.
3. ^ a b c d e f g h Miner, Ellis D., Wessen, Randii R., Cuzzi, Jeffrey N. (2007). "The discovery of the Neptune ring system". Planetary Ring Systems. Springer Praxis Books. ISBN 978-0-387-34177-4.
4. ^ Listed in increasing distance from the planet
5. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q Miner, Ellis D., Wessen, Randii R., Cuzzi, Jeffrey N. (2007). "Present knowledge of the Neptune ring system". Planetary Ring System. Springer Praxis Books. ISBN 978-0-387-34177-4.
6. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af Smith, B. A.; Soderblom, L. A.; Banfield, D.; Barnet, C.; Basilevsky, A. T.; Beebe, R. F.; Bollinger, K.; Boyce, J. M.; Brahic, A. (1989). "Voyager 2 at Neptune: Imaging Science Results". Science 246 (4936): 1422–1449. Bibcode:1989Sci...246.1422S. doi:10.1126/science.246.4936.1422. PMID 17755997. edit
7. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o Horn, Linda J.; Hui, John; Lane, Arthur L. (1990). "Observations of Neptunian rings by Voyager photopolarimeter experiment". Geophysics Research Letters 17 (10): 1745–1748. Bibcode:1990GeoRL..17.1745H. doi:10.1029/GL017i010p01745.
8. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Burns, J.A.; Hamilton, D.P.; Showalter, M.R. (2001). "Dusty Rings and Circumplanetary Dust: Observations and Simple Physics" (pdf). In Grun, E.; Gustafson, B. A. S.; Dermott, S. T.; Fechtig H. Interplanetary Dust. Berlin: Springer. pp. 641–725.
9. ^ a b Sicardy, B.; Roques, F.; Brahic, A. (1991). "Neptune's Rings, 1983–1989 Ground-Based Stellar Occultation Observations". Icarus 89 (2): 220. Bibcode:1991Icar...89..220S. doi:10.1016/0019-1035(91)90175-S.
10. ^ Nicholson, P.D.; Cooke, Maren L. et al. (1990). "Five Stellar Occultations by Neptune: Further Observations of Ring Arcs". Icarus 87 (1): 1. Bibcode:1990Icar...87....1N. doi:10.1016/0019-1035(90)90020-A.
11. ^ a b Dumas, Cristophe; Terrile, Richard J. et al. (1999). "Stability of Neptune's ring arcs in question" (pdf). Nature 400 (6746): 733–735. Bibcode:1999Natur.400..733D. doi:10.1038/23414.
12. ^ a b c d dePater, Imke; Gibbard, Seren et al. (2005). "The Dynamic Neptunian Ring Arcs: Evidence for a Gradual Disappearance of Liberté and Resonant Jump of Courage" (pdf). Icarus 174 (1): 263–272. Bibcode:2005Icar..174..263D. doi:10.1016/j.icarus.2004.10.020.
13. ^ a b c d e f g h i Porco, C.C. (1991). "An Explanation for Neptune's Ring Arcs". Science 253 (5023): 995–1001. Bibcode:1991Sci...253..995P. doi:10.1126/science.253.5023.995. PMID 17775342.
14. ^ Editorial (1910). "Obituaries: G. V. Schiaparelli, J. G. Galle, J. B. N. Hennessey J. Coles, J. E. Gore". The Observatory 33: 311–318. Bibcode:1910Obs....33..311.
15. ^ Ockert, M.E.; Cuzzin, J.N.; Porco, C.C.; and Johnson, T.V. (1987). "Uranian ring photometry: Results from Voyager 2". Journal of Geophysical Research 92 (A13): 14,969–78. Bibcode:1987JGR....9214969O. doi:10.1029/JA092iA13p14969.
16. ^ Holberg, J.B.; Nicholson, P. D.; French, R.G.; Elliot, J.L. (1987). "Stellar occultation probes of the Uranian rings at 0.1 and 2.2 μm – A comparison of Voyager UVS and earth-based results". The Astronomical Journal 94: 178–188. Bibcode:1987AJ.....94..178H. doi:10.1086/114462.
17. ^ a b c d e f Colwell, Joshua E.; Esposito, Larry W. (1990). "A model of dust production in the Neptunian ring system". Geophysics Research Letters 17 (10): 1741–1744. Bibcode:1990GeoRL..17.1741C. doi:10.1029/GL017i010p01741.
18. ^ Adams, John (1877). "Prof. Adams on Leverrier's Planetary Theories". Nature 16 (413): 462–464. Bibcode:1877Natur..16..462.. doi:10.1038/016462a0.
19. ^ <Please add first missing authors to populate metadata.> (1881). "Fellows deceased, list of Lassell, W". Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society 41: 188–191. Bibcode:1881MNRAS..41..188.
20. ^ Hansen, P. A. (1854). "Extract of a Letter respecting the Lunar Tables (Obituary of M. Arago)". Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society 14: 102–107. Bibcode:1853MNRAS..14....1H.
21. ^ <Please add first missing authors to populate metadata.> (1893). "OBITUARY: List of Fellows and Associates deceased during the year: John Couch Adams". Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society 53: 184–209. Bibcode:1893MNRAS..53..184.
22. ^ Hedman, M. M., Burns, J. A., Tiscareno et al. (2007). "The Source of Saturn's G Ring" (pdf). Science 317 (5838): 653–656. Bibcode:2007Sci...317..653H. doi:10.1126/science.1143964. PMID 17673659.
23. ^ a b Showalter, M.R.; Burns; De Pater; Hamilton; Lissauer; Verbanac; et al. (2005). "Updates on the dusty rings of Jupiter, Uranus and Neptune". Dust in Planetary Systems, Proceedings of the conference held September 26–28, 2005 in Kaua'i, Hawaii 1280: 130. Bibcode:2005LPICo1280..130S.
24. ^ Sicardy, B.; Roddier, F. et al. (1999). "Images of Neptune's ring arcs obtained by a ground-based telescope". Nature 400 (6746): 731–733. Bibcode:1999Natur.400..731S. doi:10.1038/23410.
25. ^ a b c Namouni, Fathi; Porco, Carolyn (2002). "The confinement of Neptune's ring arcs by the moon Galatea". Nature 417 (6884): 45–47. Bibcode:2002Natur.417...45N. doi:10.1038/417045a. PMID 11986660.
26. ^ Salo, Heikki; Hanninen, Jyrki (1998). "Neptune's Partial Rings: Action of Galatea on Self-Gravitating Arc Particles". Science 282 (5391): 1102–1104. Bibcode:1998Sci...282.1102S. doi:10.1126/science.282.5391.1102. PMID 9804544.
External links[edit] | http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adams_ring | dclm-gs1-012320000 |
0.040061 | <urn:uuid:88002be1-1d8d-4886-8174-4ba87ffc182c> | en | 0.900288 | From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Jump to: navigation, search
The first ancient theatre of Larissa
The first ancient theatre of Larissa
Seal of Larissa
Larissa is located in Greece
Country: Greece
Administrative region: Thessaly
Regional unit: Larissa
Districts: 4+1
Mayor: Konstantinos Tzanakoulis (ND)
(since: 1998)
Population statistics (as of 2011)[1]
- Population: 162,591
- Area: 335.1 km2 (129 sq mi)
- Density: 485 /km2 (1,257 /sq mi)
Municipal unit
- Population: 146,926
- Area: 122.6 km2 (47 sq mi)
- Density: 1,198 /km2 (3,104 /sq mi)
Elevation (center): 67 m (220 ft)
Postal code: 41x xx
Telephone: 241
Auto: ΡΙ,ΡΡ
Larissa (Greek: Λάρισα, [ˈlarisa]) is the capital and biggest city of the Thessaly region of Greece and capital of the Larissa regional unit. It is a principal agricultural centre and a national transportation hub, linked by road and rail with the port of Volos, the city of Thessaloniki and Athens. Larissa, within its municipality, has 162,591 inhabitants, while the regional unit of Larissa reached a population of 284,325 (in 2011).[1] The urban area of the city, although mostly contained within the Larissa municipality, also includes the communities of Giannouli, Platykampos, Nikaia, Terpsithea and several other suburban settlements, bringing the wider urban area population of the city to about 220,000 inhabitants. Today, Larissa is a major commercial and industrial centre in Greece. Legend has it that Achilles was born here, and that Hippocrates, the Father of Medicine, died here.
Mount Ossa viewed from Pineios river in Larissa.
The climate of Larissa is transitional. The winter is very cold and wet, and some snowstorms may occur. The summer is warm, and temperatures of 40 °C (104 °F) may occur. Thunderstorms or heavy rain may cause agricultural damage. Larissa receives 450 mm (18 in) of rain per year.
Climate data for Larisa
Record high °C (°F) 21.8
Average high °C (°F) 9.6
Daily mean °C (°F) 5.1
Average low °C (°F) 0.5
Record low °C (°F) −21.6
Precipitation mm (inches) 29.7
Avg. precipitation days (≥ 1.0 mm) 5.8 5.8 5.8 5.0 5.3 3.5 2.0 1.7 2.8 5.5 6.5 6.9 56.6
% humidity 79.5 75.9 74.1 68.7 61.7 49.9 46.4 50.0 58.6 69.9 78.9 82.5 66.3
Mean monthly sunshine hours 104.7 117.8 157.5 213.8 266.3 307.2 337.1 320.1 247.6 171.8 126.0 101.0 2,470.9
Source: NOAA[2]
According to Greek mythology it is said that the city was founded by Acrisius, who was killed accidentally by his grandson, Perseus.[3] There lived Peleus, the hero beloved by the gods, and his son Achilles.
In this paragraph, Homer shows that the Pelasgians, Trojan allies, used to live in the city of Larissa. It is contradictory because Larissa was also the birthplace of Achilles, the sworn enemy of Trojans.
Didrachme of Thessalie.
Traces of Paleolithic human settlement have been recovered from the area, but it was peripheral to areas of advanced culture.[6] The area around Larissa was extremely fruitful; it was agriculturally important and in antiquity was known for its horses.
The name Larissa (Λάρισα Lárīsa) is in origin a Pelasgian (pre-Greek) word for "fortress". There were many ancient Greek cities with this name.[7] The name of Thessalian Larissa is first recorded in connection with the aristocratic Aleuadai family.[8]
The first ancient theatre of the city.
Middle Ages and Ottoman period[edit]
Gravure of Larissa c.1820
Inside the medieval fortres.
A street inside the fortress
In the 8th century, the city became the metropolis of the theme of Hellas.[10] The city was captured in 986 by Tsar Samuel of Bulgaria, who carried off the relics of its patron saint, Saint Achilleios, to Prespa.[10] It was again unsuccessfully besieged by the Normans under Bohemond I in 1082/3.[10]
After the Fourth Crusade, the King of Thessalonica, Boniface of Montferrat, gave the city to Lombard barons, but they launched a rebellion in 1209 that had to be subdued by the Latin Emperor Henry of Flanders himself.[10] The city was recovered by Epirus soon after.[10]
It was conquered by the Ottoman Empire in 1386/87 and again in the 1390s, but only came under permanent Ottoman control in 1423, by Turahan Bey.[11] Under Ottoman rule, the city was known as Yeni-şehir i-Fenari, "new citadel". As the chief town and military base of Ottoman Thessaly, Larissa was a predominantly Muslim city.[11] The town was noted for its trade fair in the 17th and 18th centuries, while the seat of the pasha of Thessaly was also transferred there in 1770.[11] The city remained in Ottoman hands until Thessaly became part of the independent Greek kingdom in 1881, except for a period where Ottoman forces re-occupied it during the Greco-Turkish War of 1897.[11]
Modern Greek era[edit]
The Thessalian theatre.
Alcazar park.
Ecclesiastical history[edit]
Christianity penetrated early to Larissa, though its first bishop is recorded only in 325 at the Council of Nicaea. St. Achillius of the 4th century, is celebrated for his miracles. Lequien[12] cites twenty-nine bishops from the fourth to the 18th centuries; the most famous is Jeremias II, who occupied the see until 733, when the Emperor Leo III the Isaurian transferred it from the jurisdiction of the Pope of Rome to the Patriarchate of Constantinople. In the first years of the 10th century it had ten suffragan sees;[13] subsequently the number increased and about the year 1175 under the Emperor Manuel I Comnenus, it reached twenty-eight.[14] At the close of the 15th century, under the Turkish domination, there were only ten suffragan sees,[15] which gradually grew less and finally disappeared.
Larissa is an Orthodox Metropolis of the Church of Greece and remains a titular see of the Roman Catholic Church.
Pineios river with the church of St. Achillios, patron saint of the city, in the background.
Inside the Jewish synagogue of Larissa.
1st Mucicipal District (pop. 26,035)
1. Papastàvrou
2. Saint Athanàsios
3. Alkazàr
4. Hippocrates-Pèra
5. Potamòpolis
6. Philippòpolis
7. Livadàki
8. Saint Thomas
9. Saint Paraskevi-Mezourlo
10. Neàpolis
2nd Municipal District (pop. 41,816)
1. Saint Achellios
2. Saint Nikòlaos
3. Ambelòkipoi
4. Saints Sarànta
5. Saint Konstantinos
6. Stathmòs
3rd Municipal District (pop. 30,121)
1. Lachanòkipoi
2. Nèa Smyrne-Kamynia
3. Kalyvia-Saint Marina
4. Saint Geòrgios
5. Anatoli
6. Koulouri
7. Amphithèa
4rh Municipal District (pop. 26,814)
1. Charavgi-Toumba-OKE
2. Pyrovolikà-Pharos
3. Avèrof-Sèkfo
4. Nèa Politia
5. Epiròtika
6. Anthoupolis
7. Neràida
8. Kàmpos
Community of Terpsithèa (pop. 1,290)
1. Terpsithèa
2. Argyssa
Historical population[edit]
Central square.
Sidewalk near Pineios river.
• 1889: 13,610 (city)
• 1907: 18,001 (city)
• 1907: 95,066 (prefecture)
• 1991: 113,781 (city)
• 1991: 277,973 (prefecture)
• 2001: 126,076 (city)
• 2001: 279,305 (prefecture)
• 2011: 162,591 (new municipality)
• 2011: 284,325 (regional unit)
Archaeological sites[edit]
Local specialities:
• Batzina
• Kelaidi (Κελαηδί)
• Kreatopita
• Loukanikopita
• Melintzanopita
• Tyropita
The local football club AEL 1964 FC currently participates in Football League Greece. The team became Greek Champion in 1988 and won the Greek Cup in 1985 & 2007. These titles place AEL among the 5 most important football clubs in Greece. AEL hosts its home games in the newbuild AEL FC Arena since November 2010, an UEFA-3 star rated football ground. Other important sport venues are the National Sport Center of Larissa (EAK Larissas), which includes the Alcazar Stadium and the Neapoli Indoor Hall.
Notable people[edit]
An engraving of Hippocrates.
International relations[edit]
Twin towns — Sister cities[edit]
Larissa is twinned with:
See also[edit]
1. ^ a b Detailed census results 2011 (Greek)
2. ^ "Larissa Climate Normals 1961-1990". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved January 22, 2013.
3. ^ Stephanus Byzantius, s.v.
4. ^ Pausanias, 2.24.1
9. ^ Cities and Locations of Ancient Greece. Larissa
10. ^ a b c d e f Kazhdan, Alexander (1991). "Larissa". In Kazhdan, Alexander. The Oxford Dictionary of Byzantium. Oxford and New York: Oxford University Press. p. 1180. ISBN 978-0-19-504652-6.
11. ^ a b c d Savvides, A. (2002). "Yeni Shehr". The Encyclopedia of Islam, New Edition, Volume XI: W–Z. Leiden and New York: BRILL. p. 333. ISBN 90-04-12756-9.
12. ^ Oriens Christianus II, 103–112.
14. ^ Parthey, Hieroclis Synecdemus, Berlin, 1866, 120.
15. ^ Gelzer, op. cit., 635.
16. ^ Kallikratis law Greece Ministry of Interior (Greek)
18. ^ a b c d "Twinnings". Central Union of Municipalities & Communities of Greece. Retrieved 2013-08-25.
19. ^ "Rybnik Official Website — Twin Towns". City of Rybnik. Urząd Miasta Rybnika, ul. Bolesława Chrobrego 2, 44–200 Rybnik. Retrieved 2008-11-01.
External links[edit] | http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Larissa | dclm-gs1-012360000 |
0.023003 | <urn:uuid:e1f697fd-27d9-444f-b2ee-101645b5fb6b> | en | 0.954374 | How do you like the concept for Horizon?
I love it, there is only a little I would change! 28 42.42%
I like it, but it may need some touching up. 26 39.39%
I don't like it, it needs a lot of work. 7 10.61%
I hate it, it shouldn't even exist! 5 7.58%
Voters: 66. You may not vote on this poll
Horizon, the Gravitic Anomaly
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Senior Member
This is a very thorough champion; if you want to quickly read his concept without numbers and such getting in the way, please skip to the bolded "Too long; didn't read!" section placed at the bottom of the post. If you like what you see, don't be afraid to read over the rest of the champion and tell me what you think!
Also, if you see any errors or information left out don't hesitate to point it out, as this is my first created champion. Feel free to suggest useful items or strategies, they are greatly appreciated. Comments, compliments, and criticisms welcome!
Horizon, the Gravitic Anomaly
Lore: The city of Zaun has always been known for its lenient rules on magic use and experiments in its borders. Kiefe, a powerful and innovative mage for his time, found this the perfect environment for his controversial experiments. The concept of gravity greatly intrigued Kiefe, and has often taken interest in the magical manipulation of it. During one of his experiments on live subjects, Kiefe lost control of his magic, causing a destructive blast to shudder throughout his study. Glass broke, most of the furniture shattered, and Kiefe was thrown back against the wall.
As the smoke cleared, a strange quadruped shape stood where the blast had originated. The specific animal that Kiefe had been experimenting on before the incident was a mere frog, and the figure of the odd creature seemed to most resemble that animal. Its eyes darting around the room, the creature soon set its gaze on Kiefe. He saw what must have been a malicious looking smile before hearing a croak of a laugh. That laugh was the last thing that he had ever heard, and if there is any life after death, must still haunt him to this day. The creature opened its mouth wide, a seemingly infinite abyss when looking inside of it, and ripped Kiefe off of the wall by force alone and into his gaping maw. And thus Horizon came into existence.
No one knows what concoction of magic or science that led to the mutation of such an abomination, but that never bothered Horizon. A sentient and frighteningly intelligent being, Horizon learned quickly the skills needed to interact with others both on and off the field. He never speaks much, but is renowned for his silver tongue. Horizon coined his own name after approaching the League, but it is unknown why he came and joined. Some say it's because such a monstrosity couldn't belong anywhere else, but the most likely theory is that Horizon simply loves to freely destroy everything in his path.
"I do not look forward to the day that Horizon gets exceptionally hungry." Heimerdinger, upon inspection of Horizon's arrival to the League.
Physical Appearance: Horizon has sleek black skin, with the head and body similar to that of a tree frog. His eyes are shifty and spiteful, more intelligent looking than that of a mindless animal. His spine is visible, placed outside of his skin, with his ribcage reaching down to touch his purple undersides at the longest points. The spine extends down into a long tail made completely of bone, an oddity even on a creature such as Horizon. His posture is more reptilian than that of a frog, legs outstretched like that of a lizard. Both rear and front legs are the same length. The legs below the knee are thick compared to the top half, ending in thick claws. Horizon's throat is able to expand like that of a frog, and is often used for his croaking speech or charging up powerful shots of singularities. The inside of his mouth is pitch black, seeming to absorb the light near it when open, and has no visible tongue to speak of.
Official Art: Full credit to Vaylore, who did an amazing job on this piece. Check out her thread, she has many good works!
Fan Art: Apparently, Horizon has become popular enough to denote people wanting to just randomly draw him too. Awesome!
An awesome bi-pedal rendition of Horizon made by Takatura, who also has his own art thread!
A humorous interpretation in a modern minimalistic digital art medium by CanibalAnimal.
Role: Tanky support
Damage 51 (+3.2/level. 108.6 at 18)
Health 469 (+99/level. 2251 at 18)
Mana 320 (+30/level. 860 at 18)
Move Speed 300
Armor 15 (+3.2/level. 72.6 at 18)
Magic Resist 30 (+1/level. 48 at 18)
Health Regen 1.30 (+0.14/level. 3.82 at 18)
Mana Regen 1.20 (+1.5/level. 28.2 at 18)
Attack Range 125
(Passive) Gravitic Force: As Horizon gains bonus HP, his density and the effect that his mass has on other champions is intensified. Horizon slows enemy champions that are moving away from and speeds up allied champions moving towards him based on his current amount of bonus HP. After reaching 250 bonus HP, Horizon slows enemies and speeds up allies by 5%. For every 100 bonus HP thereafter, the effect increases by 1%, capping at 20% (1750 bonus HP)
Range: 1000
Q-Densify: Target champion's density is increased, giving heightened resistance to damage or impairing their abilities for a duration. This ability works differently on allies than on enemies. When used on allies, it increases Armor and magic resistance as well as giving them an aura that's the same effect as Horizon's passive (If an ally or enemy would be in range of both this ability and Horizon's own passive, the more powerful effect will be used). When used on enemies, it forces them to have a casting time on all their abilities equal to .2 seconds and are unable to use item actives or summoner spells for the duration.
Cost: 40/50/60/70/80
Cooldown: 15/14/13/12/11
Range: 800
Bonus MR/Armor: 20/35/50/65/80 (For allies)
Gravitic Pull Effect: 5/10/15/20/20% (For allies)
Ability duration: 4/4.5/5/5.5/6 seconds
W-Gravity Field: The target location's gravity is multiplied drastically, crushing and briefly stunning enemies caught in the area. The effects of the alteration linger, reducing attack speed of recovered champions for a time. This skill hits the center of the area at a point, then expands to the maximum diameter of the area over a period of one second. A dark, pulsating line will circumvent the area's edge to mark the maximum area of the skill.
Cost: 50/65/80/95/110
Cooldown: 16/14.5/13/11.5/10
Expansion time: 1 second
Range: 600/300 diameter
Stun time: .5 seconds
Attack Speed debuff: 15%/20%/25%/30%/35%
Attack Speed debuff duration: 2/2.5/3/3.5/4
Damage: 80/125/170/215/260 (+0.5 per AP) Magic damage
E-Void Wake: Horizon drastically decreases his mass for a second and dashes forward, the space of the area behind him collapsing and leaving an untraversable void that pushes enemy units out of the area and damages enemies that he runs into.
Cost: 70/80/90/100/110
Cooldown: 18/16.5/14/12.5/11
Range: 600
Void width: 75
Void duration: 2/2.25/2.50/2.75/3
Damage: 90/135/180/225/270 (+0.5 per AP) Magic damage
R-Singularity Shot: Horizon fires a singularity that explodes on impact with terrain or reaching maximum range, dealing magic damage to surrounding enemies. Additionally, the singularity will carry with it the first enemy champion it passes over: suppressing them for the duration and stunning them briefly if they are pushed into terrain.
Cost: 150/165/180
Cooldown: 120/100/80
Range: 1500
Enemy travel cap: 1.5 seconds (900 units)
Shot speed: 600
Stun duration: 2/2.5/3
Damage: 100/200/300 (+1.2 per AP) Magic damage
Strategy: Horizon naturally has a lot of health, making him adept at charging into the middle of a battle and altering the field in favor of his allies. He does this by his mere presence with his passive, as well as having several forms of CC and access to a wall with a long range to fill his role.
Recommended items:
Chalice of Harmony: This item gives some early and well-used MR and killer mana regen. This is a great early item, but when end game comes along or if the game is extended a little too long so that your slots are all full, don't be afraid to swap this out with a better item, as the mana regeneration is not as helpful when using some of the other recommended items (Or when building mana regen heavy)
Mercury Treads: These are the perfect boots for Horizon, as they let him absorb CC better for his team as well as add more MR to make him tankier.
Banshee's Veil: Every stat that this item gives is put to great use. Health gives Horizon more time to take damage as well as power up his passive, mana lets him use his support abilities more frequently, The Magic Resist is well well used and the passive is just awesome.
Frozen Heart: Providing a massive armor and mana bonus, as well as cooldown and a 24/7 debuff that has great synergy with your skills? This is one of the best items to get for Horizon that doesn't increase his health.
Sunfire Cape: This items gives a decent amount of armor and health, as well as that sweet PBAoEDoT (I love acronyms). This item just screams out for champions that want to be right up in the action, which fits Horizon's style.
Warmog's Armor: Probably one of the best items for Horizon when taking into consideration pure meatiness. That health bonus is great on any tank, and Horizon uses it and then some when taking his passive into consideration. This item lets Horizon quickly reach his passive's maximum effectiveness.
Uses for moves
-Horizon's Q, Densify, is a multi-use skill that is both used to stop an opponent in their tracks and for turning any allied champion into a tank. Densify gains effectiveness very quickly with levels, and so it is a great tool to level quickly when laning with a champion that is either under heavy harassment from the enemy or is naturally squishy, as well as having more presence on your passive's overall effect. Forcing an enemy to spend more time using abilities can shut down an escaping champion, especially ones that rely on Flash, letting an allied champion or turret snag the kill more easily. This also lets Horizon more easily place his other skills, further debilitating an enemy's effectiveness on the field.
-Gravity Field is Horizon's W, and is his main harassing skill. The wide area can easily debuff groups of enemies, as well as provide a solid amount of base damage. The cooldown is a crippling feature, so the skill needs to be quickly leveled if planned to be used constantly. Gravity field is as much a defensive tool as an offensive one, and is great at dealing with enemies that bolster a powerful auto-attack. The stun time is not much, but is reliable at momentarily pausing an enemy champion, which can mean the difference between securing a kill or saving an ally. The wide area is also great for teamfights, easily debuffing a majority of enemies in one hit.
-Void Wake, Horizon's E, is a long-ranged dash skill. The wall left behind is a useful tool for cutting off escaping or advancing enemies, especially when coming in from an angle. The nature of the skill itself leaves a hole where Horizon ends up, so it is impossible to create a sealed wall between two other walls (such as Anivia's wall of ice when used to cut off whole paths of a jungle). It is, however, great at funneling an enemy into a longer path and making them more susceptible to attacks from turrets and allies, as well for more easily placing Horizon's other skills to further this effect. The dash is also an excellent chasing tool, considering its range, although Horizon's lack of hard damage can make it hard to take an an enemy alone unless they are weakened. It is also equally effective at escaping, not only making a large distance between yourself and your pursuer, but also creating a wall that can make chasing even more difficult.
-Horizon's ultimate is Singularity Shot. This skill is used to shut down a single enemy, either stunning them for a long duration or completely removing them from the area if placed correctly. The stun can let yourself and an ally punish a flanked enemy when pushed into a wall early on, or even get pushed into turret fire if lucky. This skill can also be used defensively to take out a single pursuing enemy; which can possibly lead to a counterattack if the odds are in your favor. Late game, during teamfights, this can also be used to turn the tides around by taking an enemy away from the battle (hopefully for a long duration, as the effectiveness of the skill depends entirely on positioning). This ult takes a bit of skill to use the way you might intend, and Horizon's other abilities can be used to place himself at the right angle to land a strategic shot.
Being a heavy tank, Horizon relies on not taking damage, but by also having the mana to be sure and provide efficient debuffs against the enemy. With this in mind, a 0/23/7 build seems the best. All damage reducing masteries, along with ones that grant health, are used greatly on Horizon. The 7 points in utility are for Expanded Mind and Meditation, and an extra point. In the defensive tree, make sure to get Veteran's Scars, and max out all the bottom tier masteries as well as Indomitable, Evasion, and Honor Guard (of course pick up Juggernaut).
A 0/9/21 build is very viable as well, as you are still able to get Veteran's scars and 6/3 Armor/MR from the defensive tree. In the utility, you want to focus on mana regeneration and gold generation, with some points in experience boosting and cooldown.
Flat HP Quintessences, Flat HP Marks, Flat Armor Seals, and Flat Magic Resistance Glyph give Horizon added defenses and a boost to his passive. This gives him powerful early game tankiness, which makes up for the lack of items early on.
Quotes/Animation: Horizon speaks with a deep, dull croak in his voice. Besides this, his speech is almost eloquent in nature, although a bit slower than most.
Upon selection:
"There will be nothing left."
"I will crush them."
"With haste"
"Their screams, they sound pleasant"
Horizon lets out a deep laughter
Horizon croaks.
"I will pluck you right off the ground."
"Your mass won't even satiate me."
"I'm getting...hungry."
Horizon stands still save for the slow swaying of his body and tail. Periodically, he will stop moving and puff up his chin for a second.
Horizon moves much like that of a lizard, his legs low to the ground and his tail moving side to side as a counterbalance. He has his mouth slightly open, in what can only be described as a smile.
Keeping his legs still, Horizon lunge forward slightly to bite, his head moving slightly to the side each time. On a critical hit, the bite will exude a purplish aura that fades quickly.
Horizon opens his mouth wide and bobs his body up and down slightly to a rhythm, also swaying his body every other bob (most notably his tail).
Taking a few steps back, Horizon then quickly scuttles to his original position and opens his mouth wide while craning the front part of his body upward. A dark, purplish aura exudes from his mouth and slightly around his body.
Horizon stands still and simply smiles, opening and closing his mouth to mimic what would be smacking his lips.
After starting what would be a croak, the note is then sustained while Horizon's body quivers, eventually and suddenly collapsing in on himself to leave a faint purple cloud that slowly fades.
Too long; didn't read!:
Concept: Horizon is a tanky support, who excels at stacking health and shutting down enemies with many forms of CC. He does his best in the midst of battle to dish out his powerful debuffs across an entire team.
Passive: As Horizon gains bonus HP, his density and the effect that his mass has on other champions is intensified. This increases the movement speed of allied champions moving towards him and slows enemy champions moving away from him based on his bonus HP. (Bonus health is health gained from sources such as items, runes, and masteries)
Q-Densify: Target champion's density is increased, giving heightened resistance to damage or reducing their ability to move for a duration. This works differently on allies than on enemies. Allies effected by this ability have their Armor/MR increased. Enemies effected by this ability cannot use items or summoner spells, and abilities have a very short casting time increase.
R-Singularity Shot: Horizon fires a singularity of immense gravity that drags the first enemy champion it hits with it along its shot path. The attack and any champion caught with it will continue to move forward until it hits an unmovable object (Such as a wall or a turret) or reaches 900 units traveled, dealing damage. The enemy cannot move or activate any abilities while they are under the effect of Singularity Shot. The champion hit by this ability is only stunned if they hit an unmovable object.
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Senior Member
November 2, 2011
-Changed passive ratio from 1%/25 bonus HP to 1%/75 bonus HP. This lets the passive still have a considerable effect on the battle field without being completely overpowering.
-Changed range on R from unlimited to 2500, and removed AD scaling. This lets the attack still have a significant impact when positioned correctly, but won't cause cross-map pulls. Increased base damage from 100/225/350 to 100/250/400.
-Added lore! Critique on this is welcome as well
-Gravity Field bonus damage reduced from (+0.8 per AP) to (+0.2 per AP) Attack speed debuff increased from a flat 20% to 15%/20%/25%/30%/35%. This will let Horizon to rely on debuffs rather than hard damage, and will provide a good defence for the team from any attack oriented enemies at higher levels.
-Void Wake now scales with AP instead of AD, and is reduced from (+0.5 per AP) to (+0.3 per AP). Cooldown reduced from 19/17.5/15/13.5/12 to 18/16.5/14/12.5/11; a 1 second reduction for all levels. This serves the same purpose as the change to Gravity Field, interchanging damage for functionality.
November 3, 2011
-Added a basic strategy section with recommended items; will most likely be expanded soon.
-Added extra effect to passive, giving AP as a percentage of bonus HP as well as its original effect. Changed name of passive to Gravitic Pull to Gravitic Force to better fit this new effect. Added range value.
-Densify changed from having a flat armor/MR buff and movement speed debuff to having varied effects depending on the target. Allied champions now have half of the debuff that cannot reduce movement speed below Horizon's passive percentage, and twice the armor/magic resist buff. Enemies now receive half the magic/armor resist buff and twice the movement speed debuff. Armor/magic resist values decreased from 20/30/40/50/60 to 10/20/30/40/50. Movement speed debuff values changed from 20/22.5/25/27.5/30% to 10/15/20/25/30%. This is a substantial buff to the ability, but compares well to other buffs and debuffs as it balances out with fairly minor beneficial/negative effects.
November 4, 2011
-Reworded passive slightly for better clarity.
November 8, 2011
-Edited passive to remove a buff to the enemy that sped them up when moving towards Horizon, and changed the ratio of the passive from 1%/75 bonus HP to 1%/100 bonus HP to help balance it out. Also removed the AP scaling from the passive, as it is unneeded.
-Replaced Rod of Ages with Banshee's Veil in the recommended items list. I feel that Banshee's Veil achieves the same goal as Rod of Ages, and replaces the ill-scaling AP with magic resistance and a wonderful passive.
-Changed the W, Gravity Field, to have a more unique area of effect. Instead of hitting the entire area of effect after a short delay, the skill now hits the center of the area instantly and expands outwards over a period of one second. This sets it apart from other skills with a circular AoE.
-Added to the Strategy section to include uses for Horizon's skills; check 'em out!
-Also added a rune/mastery section. Input and other strategies also appreciated.
November 10, 2011
-Passive changed from increasing a flat 1% per 100 bonus HP, to increasing 2% that reduces by .1% for every accumulative 100 bonus HP, ending at 21% with 2000 bonus HP. This gives the passive a bigger impact on earlier game play while adding a concrete limit to how powerful it can become.
-Densify changed from giving Armor/Magic Resistance and a speed debuff to both allies and enemies, to only buffing allies and debuffing enemies. Lowered values from a max of 100 Armor/MR (what would have been 25 for enemies) to max of 80 at level 5. Changed the effect when used on enemies by severely reducing the movement speed debuff (that stacks with Horizon's passive, providing a maximum of 36% when under the effect of the passive, and 15% when not) as well as adding a new effect; enemies are forced to channel for .2/.4/.6/.8/1 second to use champion and item abilities. This makes the ability more unique, so that it is a CC unlike other champions.
-Increased diameter of Gravity Field from 250 to 300.
-Changed Void Wake to deal Magic damage instead of physical. Reworded description slightly for flavor.
-Changed Horizon's ult in the following way: Range decreased from 2500 to 1800, Damage reduced from 100/250/400 to 100/200/300, Channel time removed, Stun now only activated when the enemy hits a solid object. Reworded description to include shot behavior and added a shot speed of 400 to better clarify the effect. This, hopefully, better clarifies the effect and makes it a little less powerful.
-Created a "Too long; didn't read" section at the bottom of the post so that people are not forced to read a wall of text to know the concept of the champion
November 14, 2011
-Increased the damage of Gravity Field and Void Wake both by 40. From 70/110/150/190/230 to 80/125/175/220/270 and 80/120/160/200/240 to 90/135/285/230/280. This makes up for the pathetic AP ratio that Horizon has, so that he has a bit more 1v1 power.
November 15, 2011
-Updated the mastery section for season 2! Big changes; the new masteries greatly benefit Horizon this time around.
-Updated format with quote tags; hopefully it'll be a bit easier to read, although I kept the "tl;dr" section
-Added a superfluous Quotes/Animation section, hopefully adding a bit of depth to his character. Also added a provocative quote at the end of the lore.
November 18, 2011
-Reduced forces channel on Densify from .2/.4/.6/.8/1 seconds to a flat .5 seconds. Increased movement speed debuff from 15% to 20%. This gives a little more leeway to enemies while still providing a considerable debuff and accomplishing its goal of disrupting burst casters.
-Reduced range on Singularity Shot from 1800 to 1500, increased bullet speed from 400 to 1000, decreased stun time from 1/2/3 seconds to 1/1.5/2 seconds. This severely reduces the amount of time that an enemy is removed from battle, making it a bit more fair.
December 18, 2011
-Added artwork, awesome stuff!
-Changed ratio on Gravitic Pull to something simpler. Instead of increasing by 2%, then 1.9%, etc, it now increases a flat amount at 250 bonus HP and more for every 100 bonus HP afterwards. This raised the cap from 21% slow to 25%. The range was reduced from 1200 to 1000 to compensate.
-Densify: Removed slowing effect on enemies, as Horizon already slows with his passive. Replaced with an effect that prevents effected champions from casting summoner spells or using item effects. Changed the forced channel to a flat .2 seconds, as 1 second punishes burst casters way too much. Changed from forced channel to casting time, to clarify that the abilities cannot be interrupted. Changed ability duration from a flat 5 seconds to a scaling 4/4.5/5/5.5/6. This is a buff, and scaling makes things more balanced. Added an effect for allies that are effected; a scaling ability identical to Horizon's passive. This is a small buff, but makes it unique compared to other similar abilities.
-Gravity Field: Raised AP ratio from .2 to .5. This will give Horizon builds other than pure AP, and along with the cooldown and mana cost brings it closer to damage that is similar to other tanky AP users. Reduced base damage from 80/125/175/220/270 to 80/125/170/215/260 to compensate a bit and make the numbers nicer.
-Void Wake: Raised AP ratio from .3 to .5, for the same reasons as Gravity Field, as well as decreasing the base damage from 90/135/185/230/280 to 90/135/180/225/270
-Singularity Shot: Updated description to be more understandable, as well as increasing the AP ration from 1 to 1.2. With the updated AP ratios, Horizon can function both as a hard tank/support and an AP damage/support, although his AP ratios are much smaller than other mages.
-Small updates to descriptions, masteries, runes, etc from patches and such.
May 16th, 2012
-Changed Singularity's shot range from 1800 to 1500. Increased shot speed from 400 to 600 (or a 2.5 second travel time). Also created a travel cap for when the shot contacts a champion to 1.5 seconds. This gives a maximum travel distance of 900 units despite how far the shot initially traveled before hitting the champion. This gives a more consistent effect and won't lock down enemies for an insane amount of time if caught in melee range.
-Reduced the maximum slow from Horizon's passive from 25% to 20%. The formula remains the same, making the maximum amount of bonus health effecting the passive to be at 1750, down from 2250. This makes Horizon's late game presence slightly less powerful. Horizon's Q has been changed to reflect this.
-Reduced Horizon's E dash distance from 700 to 600 units.
-The art links actually work now! Go ahead, click 'em!
June 2nd, 2012
-Changed the damage on the Singularity Shot from 100/200/300 (+1.2 per AP) Magic damage to 150/250/350 (+.8 per AP) Magic damage.
-Reduced cooldown on Gravity Field from 16/14.5/13/11.5/10 to 14/12.5/11/9.5/8. This is Horizon's main source of damage, and should be taken advantage a bit more frequently.
-Slight change to recommended items section.
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Senior Member
Actually looks pretty nice, but 2 things seem a tad strong to me
1) The passive-If it's bonus HP, it really needs to be like 1%/75 or something... getting a free 6% slow from a ruby crystal is kind of ridiculous, considering that it will add up very quickly
2) Unlimited range on the ult. I think it should have a limit something slightly shorter than tf/panth's tele range, because then if you get ganked in a top/bot lane you could shoot someone all the way across to the other side of the map
This is, however, a very well made champion. The synergy is very nice and it's a cool theme to work with ^^
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Senior Member
Thank you, SeventhStorm! There aren't enough support champions nowadays, and I wanted to help that here.
1) The reasoning behind the powerful passive is that I wanted Horizon's presence to be an extreme alteration of the field around him, both positively and negatively. In giving a negative effect I thought I could get away with increasing the overall effect of the passive. I'll see what other people think about it, but I forsee that the passive will be reduced in the future.
2) I think that's a fair change. It'll prevent crazy cross-map moves yet still get the point across of taking an enemy almost completely out of a teamfight when positioned correctly. 2500 range seems reasonable, yes?
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Senior Member
agree with SeventhStorm
passive: from just runes I got around 300hp = 7.5% slow
I don't want count WARMOG ARMOR! -> could turn him in BLACK HOLE :-)
mb increase ratio?
don't know about R distance, mb if unlimited range then in should at least highlight impact spot (as Kog R)
In R: Damage: 100/225/350 (+1 per AP)(+1 per bonus AD) Magic damage
Remove AD ratio?
but concept pretty interesting! Why not!
could you help with mine, read V3.0 (first version from top)
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Senior Member
You've got a good point there. Warmogs would make the ability considerably broken in its currant state, especially when stacked on itself. The ult works like Ashe's ult; a skillshot that continues forward. Though the unlimited range is just a little too much, without providing much added functionality.
Thank you for the input! I'll look at your champ tomorrow, as I've got to get some sleep for the night.
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Senior Member
Bump for added lore, will be adding physical description soon! Don't be afraid to give your comments, criticisms, and suggestions. I love 'em.
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Senior Member
One more note
~Might want to reduce the AP Ratio on his W/R, and then give E AP scaling too. It gives him a lot more item synergy (ROA, Rylais) because there aren't really any good hybrid tank items. However, with the high AP bonus on W/R you might see him built as a nuke support caster, which i don't think was your intention
edit: :O
he's a frog
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Senior Member
Good point. I'll be updating his attacks to reduce scaling, focus on AP, and add a slight buff to non-damaging effects to center around the fact that he isn't meant for damage.
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Senior Member
After snooping in Leaguecraft abit
Lowering his mana pool by 20-30 at level one and then increasing the growth by 2 or 3/level and increasing mana regen to 2.3-2.5 might be nice
But it's probably fine as it is, just chucking an idea out there
He is a pretty solid champion. Really like him. =)
1234511 ... 12 | http://forums.na.leagueoflegends.com/board/showthread.php?s=&t=1437704 | dclm-gs1-012470000 |
1.000003 | <urn:uuid:9c4b67c6-d875-4a3d-8ac3-300a1c704152> | en | 0.978909 |
The short and spoiler filled answer is: not much at all. The laws of physics would require both to have an infinite amount of mass and energy, but would not allow their velocities to change, so in theory they would simply just pass right through each other. Yawn. No catastrophic universe-ending explosions or anything like that, which is probably for the best. [YouTube] | http://gizmodo.com/5978933/what-would-really-happen-if-an-unstoppable-force-met-an-immovable-object?tag=science | dclm-gs1-012560000 |
0.021428 | <urn:uuid:abc5c77e-2a8e-4101-8abd-e726ab3a916d> | en | 0.960475 | A Man and his Virtual Dragon, Against All the Malicious Code in the World
Being a non-player character in someone else's virtual world can be a pain — especially when some of the monsters won't stay dead. Tobias Buckell's story "A Game of Rats and Dragon," published in Lightspeed Magazine, takes a lot of the cliches of augmented reality and virtual gaming, and adds a really neat spin — what if people became attached to their virtual sidekicks, in a kind of owner/pet relationship? And who's to say that a virtual creature can't be a better friend and companion than most people?
Overton is an NPC who hunts "rats," or leftover bits of malicious code, inside a steampunk MMARG — and it turns out that the rats are getting smarter and tougher to kill. Here's the beginning of "A Game of Rats and Dragon," based on Cordwainer Smith's classic story "A Game of Rat and Dragon":
A Man and his Virtual Dragon, Against All the Malicious Code in the WorldS
Moonlighting as a non-player character was a hell of a way to earn a living. Never made much sense to spend all that time garbing up in a virtual uniform that matched gamespace, but Overton took pride in the details. So getting punched in the stomach by someone so caught up in an augmented reality fantasy they couldn't tell real from script, that left him in a foul mood. All the man had to do was ask the right questions, get Overton's responses, and move on.
Read the rest over at Lightspeed, or in Buckell's new book Mitigated Futures. | http://io9.com/5964468/a-man-and-his-virtual-dragon-against-all-the-malicious-code-in-the-world?tag=books | dclm-gs1-012600000 |
0.960174 | <urn:uuid:b2ed37ed-a1b1-4aaf-b98a-476e3783c88e> | en | 0.971046 | In your house, which has more germs - the toilet seat or the kitchen sink?
Surprise! It's the sink, but that doesn't mean you shouldn't wash your hands after going. Turns out germs from raw meat linger in the sink and on the kitchen sponge, making them ickier than the toilet. | http://kidshealth.org/PageManager.jsp?lic=238&ps=320 | dclm-gs1-012640000 |
0.037103 | <urn:uuid:e5b49792-4efb-4424-bc4e-ff8394cb30e6> | en | 0.961198 | July 20, 2006
Linebacker could be mystery
The biggest mystery going into pre-season camp and into the 2006 season is how will the linebackers perform? The Bruins graduated all three their three starting linebackers and due to mitigating circumstances the unit was less than spectacular to begin with.
A new and improved defensive line will go a long way in helping make the linebacker chores easier.
Who could forget seeing the undermanned defensive line being blocked into linebackers making it almost impossible for the linebackers to make plays near the line of scrimmage.
The Bruins went out and hired a tough, intense linebacker coach in Chuck Bullough. He brings a tough no nonsense sensibility to the table.
Bullough, like all the rest of new defensive coaches has NFL experience. All of them repeated the mantra that their guys will play hard.
If the season started tomorrow Air Force Academy transfer junior Christian Taylor (6-0, 225) would probably get the nod at middle linebacker.
| http://lsu.rivals.com/barrier_noentry.asp?script=%2Fcontent%2Easp&cid=563162 | dclm-gs1-012720000 |
0.030169 | <urn:uuid:37146ac8-9e65-4a27-8e00-1df7b504aa32> | en | 0.966628 | While it is being floated as a replacement for a cancelled New Jersey Transit train tunnel into Penn Station, the Bloomberg administration's plan to extend the No. 7 subway line to New Jersey would benefit groups that didn't have as much to gain from the rail link.
New Jersey residents with jobs on the East Side of Manhattan could take the No. 7 train straight to Grand Central Station, slicing their commute times. Queens residents would have an easier trip to Newark-Liberty International Airport, while New Jerseyites could take the subway directly to buses that go to LaGuardia International Airport.
Then there are the sports fans. New Jersey-dwelling Mets fans would get a one-seat ride from Secaucus to Citi Field in Flushing. And Queens-dwelling Giants and Jets fans could hop a subway to Secaucus, then connect with a shuttle trains to the Meadowlands football stadium.
Of course, Mayor Michael Bloomberg's administration is only exploring the subway extension, the cost of which it pegs at $5.3 billion—about half the cost of New Jersey Transit's Access to the Region's Core tunnel.
New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie killed the tunnel late last month, saying his state couldn't bear the risk of potential cost overruns.
New Jersey Transit has greatly increased the number of trains into Penn Station in recent years, but the current tunnel can't handle much more. Building a new tunnel to a terminal adjacent to Penn Station meant essentially doubling down on the same strategy, just adding more trains.
Extending the No. 7 subway train is something very different. It would directly hook New Jersey into the huge New York subway system, bypassing Penn Station.
It could have a big effect on Manhattan. The subway extension would make it easier for the masses of northern New Jersey to get to the big parcels slated for development on Manhattan's far West Side.
It could also provide new life for development in areas like Queens's Long Island City neighborhood, which saw a building boom before the real estate bubble burst but has stagnated since the recession. It would suddenly be five subway stops away from New Jersey.
"If it's as inexpensive as the city believes it is, it's a phenomenal plan," said Steven Spinola, the president of the Real Estate Board of New York.
There's no money immediately available for the No. 7 proposal. Metropolitan Transportation Authority Chairman and Chief Executive Jay Walder said Wednesday that he's focused on making sure the megaprojects his agency is already working on—the extension of the No. 7 train to the Javits Center is among them—get finished. He said the MTA didn't get involved in the plan being circulated by the city until Tuesday afternoon, hours before it became public. The legalities of running a New York City subway across state lines are complex. And New Jersey officials haven't been involved in the planning.
"Obviously, anything we can do for another transit connection is exciting, but the devil's in the details," said James Simpson, the New Jersey transportation commissioner. "I think it's a grand idea, but it would be nice if somebody from New York called New Jersey and let us know, if people are serious about a project like this."
Despite all that, a subway link to New Jersey continues to be a dream of transit planners—and they insist that it's not an impossible one. Officials on both sides of the Hudson River have made clear that the need for improved mass transit between New York City and New Jersey remains, despite the end of the ARC tunnel project.
"This is not an unreasonable idea in the absence of ARC," said Jeff Zupan, a senior fellow at the Regional Plan Association. "It shouldn't be just dismissed as somebody came up with a harebrained idea."
Many of the northern New Jersey mayors gathered in Atlantic City for the annual New Jersey League of Municipalities convention were intrigued by the proposal. Access to jobs in Manhattan is a crucial issue for their constituents.
Adam Schneider is the mayor of Long Branch, on the Jersey Shore. His town is designing a ferry project for commuters to Manhattan, but said a subway connection for riders leaving the town on the New Jersey Transit line would be helpful.
"I saw it and I thought, what a good idea," he said. "The tunnel I had mixed feelings about. It's a lot of money, it didn't seem all that well planned and all that well designed, but you need public transportation that has been ignored for so long."
—Eliot Brown contributed to this article.
Write to Andrew Grossman at [email protected] | http://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB10001424052748704648604575620933372695448?mod=_newsreel_4&mg=reno64-wsj&url=http%3A%2F%2Fonline.wsj.com%2Farticle%2FSB10001424052748704648604575620933372695448.html%3Fmod%3D_newsreel_4 | dclm-gs1-012930000 |
0.399859 | <urn:uuid:939667c8-31ad-446b-93ad-987b3148f27b> | en | 0.921015 | Seeing Ourselves in a Grain of Sand
All the molecules in our bodies have roots in the formation and maturation of the earth. Sam Kean reviews Neil Shubin's "The Universe Within."
Jan. 11, 2013 3:10 p.m. ET
Science can really deflate you. You think human beings are special? Well, crows can use tools, chimps can paint, and Neanderthals had bigger brains. Heck, octopuses can open jars. Is Earth special? Not really. Astronomers have found well more than a thousand planets orbiting distant stars, and they will probably find a "mirror Earth"—a rocky doppelgänger with liquid water—within the year. Surely, though, the universe itself is unique, almost by definition. Afraid not. Physicists now routinely invoke the "multiverse" with its bazillions of parallel universes to explain how space-time works. As Neil...
Available to Subscribers | http://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB10001424127887323936804578227662261445542 | dclm-gs1-012960000 |
0.026649 | <urn:uuid:28a7211d-9e92-42b9-8344-88a684f99213> | en | 0.954119 | Republican Grassroots Trust Establishment Over Themselves
The Best Signs from Yesterday's Tea Party Rally
(Photo: Patrick Caldwell)
Tea Party
Will Marco Rubio Win Latino Votes? Probably Not.
(Gage Skidmore/Flickr)
Americans Want Out of Afghanistan
(Flickr/The U.S. Army)
Most Voters Aren't Stupid
(Flickr / Columbia City Blog)
During the February 22 Republican primary debate in Arizona, moderator John King of CNN set up a question about global instability and the president’s ability to affect gas prices by noting that “the American people often don't pay much attention to what's going on in the world until they have to.” The next day, Politico media blogger Dylan Byers flagged the question, describing it “as a comment that warranted explanation” even though it was “not necessarily wrong.” Later that day, King sent Byers a statement defending his question, claiming that he “did not ‘suggest’ and
A Decision Is Coming
A crowd of protesters outside the Supreme Court on the first day of ACA hearings (Photo: Patrick Caldwell)
The Supreme Court opened hearings today on the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act—PPACA if we're going to be technical—but more commonly known as Obamacare. The six hours slotted for oral arguments are spread out across three days, and while the constitutionality of the individual mandate is the main issue at stake, there will be a host of other topics discussed, ranging from severability (whether the rest of the law can stand if the mandate is struck down) to whether Congress was within its bounds when it redefined Medicaid eligibility to include swaths of new people currently uninsured.
Newt Just Wants to Help TV Networks
(Flickr/Gage Skidmore)
The Attack that Will Stick to Romney
Making The Most of $36 Million
Karl Rove might end up with the bulk of that money (Flickr/Sachyn)
Dems Want Obama to Hurry Up His Evolution
Like Paul, I'm convinced that any candidate who doesn't support marriage equality will instantly be disqualified as a plausible Democratic presidential nominee following Obama. Acceptance for same-sex marriage is growing rapidly across all ideological divides, and is particularly pronounced among liberals. In an alternative reality where the Democrats had an open primary in 2012, Obama's "evolving" stance on same-sex marriage would no longer pass muster in the Democratic base.
A House Race To Keep an Eye On
(Flickr/Iowa Democratic Party)
With 435 spots at stake every two years, it can be hard to keep track of all the important House races. After a round of redistricting, experts are still trying to figure out the new political maps and how they might favor one party or the other.
One race to keep a close eye on is Iowa's Fourth Congressional District, which swallowed up the Fifth District (it was contracted out of existence because of a decrease in the state's population). Republican Representative Steve King, a favorite among the Tea Party and former best buddies with Michele Bachmann, is the incumbent in the race. He'll face off against the well-known and respected Christie Vilsack, wife of Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack; Tom Vilsack is a former governor of Iowa.
No Way Out
(Jamelle Bouie/The American Prospect)
Sunshine Dystopia
By blocking efforts at equal pay and electoral voices, Florida legislators aren't instilling much hope in the conservative brand.
Had enough of Republican presidential candidates spinning vague ideas for America’s future? In the Florida state house, Republican legislators are being far more concrete with their plans. Rather than focusing on laws to support working families and small business growth, Florida Republicans are hell-bent on protecting big businesses and discouraging participation in our democracy.
Mitt Romney Feels the Illinois
(Jamelle Bouie/The American Prospect)
The Javelin Takes Down a Saint
Secret Service names, while irrelevant for the actual election, are always a good source for a little amusement. In 2007 Barack Obama was designated the "Renegade" as he sought to takedown "Evergreen"—the name given to Hillary Clinton back when she was first lady. Gerald Ford's "Pass Key" seemed to presage his early departure from the White House. George H.W. Bush's "Timberwolf" seems a little rough and tumble for the demure president. Personally I'm preferential to the evocative "Rawhide" that Reagan went by. | http://prospect.org/topic/elections?page=14 | dclm-gs1-013010000 |
0.191362 | <urn:uuid:1a2d6d7b-3c51-4d44-ae66-290a444c12b0> | en | 0.930023 | Forgot your password?
Comment: Re:Infinite (Score 1) 181
by KrimZon (#42087713) Attached to: What Nobody Tells You About Being a Game Dev
Pi still contains local repetitions - after about 200,000 trees, you reach a tree that looks like a 3, then a 1, then a 4, then a 1, then a 5 then a 9 (but the next one is a 7.)
Identical repetition isn't that much of a problem compared to everything just looking kind of similar. Same sort of trees, same sort of hills, and so on.
Comment: Typical (Score 1) 497
by KrimZon (#41419679) Attached to: Hotmail No Longer Accepts Long Passwords, Shortens Them For You
Here are some excerpts from the notes I took when creating accounts for various places. None of them are for Slashdot:
"Registration truncated the password and then emailed it to me."
"The password form said to use 8 to 6 chars, but seems to accept 20."
"Not a valid password (must be 6-12 characters, contain at least one letter, at least one number and no punctuation, symbols or spaces)"
"Passwords can't exceed 16 characters and causes a 'system error' when it contains non-alphanumeric characters. All this shit just for *****. Is it worth it?" UPDATE: It wasn't.
"Kept throwing a strange error. It turns out it wanted to be alphanumeric."
"Please use letters and numbers only."
"Can't exceed 10 characters in password."
"Truncated the password to 13 characters and failed to accept the full password."
Comment: Re:Dead on. (Score 1) 470
by KrimZon (#34816802) Attached to: Is Mark Zuckerberg the Next Steve Case?
Not with OpenID. Instead of friending people you just mutually enable each others OpenIDs and add a link back to their CMS for your convenience. Your own CMS could then aggregate all your friends' feeds. There could even be sites that host your CMS for you as is already done with blogs.
Instead of forcing everybody on to one social network site they'd all be inter-linked, with no need to keep moving every few years to stay on the same network as your friends.
Comment: Re:Complicated install process? (Score 1) 98
by KrimZon (#32261972) Attached to: How PC Game Modders Are Evolving
It was a humourous reply to the parent post:
I never knew doubleclicking an icon and clicking "Next" a few times was a complicated and difficult install process.
YOU srsarer stupids and idiot fuckhead shitface stupid dyumb dunbassw,k stupid cuntface.
It's also a good point - there are people who post like that in FPS gaming forums.
| http://slashdot.org/~KrimZon | dclm-gs1-013080000 |
0.478412 | <urn:uuid:8b9c10d4-6ad2-4d06-b891-cdc80ffd605b> | en | 0.968663 | Forgot your password?
Comment: Re:When are the bank runs going to happen? (Score 1) 698
by PingPongBoy (#46413021) Attached to: Bitcoin Exchange Flexcoin Wiped Out By Theft
How well does anyone know their banker or financial advisor?
Comment: Re: Vive le Galt! (Score 1) 695
by PingPongBoy (#46350001) Attached to: Mt. Gox Gone? Apparent Theft Shakes Bitcoin World
Madoff is an excellent example of why handing your money to an individual or small group (just like the ameteurs at Mt. Gox) to keep in your trust is an awful idea. Real banks, the ones with experience not losing all of your money or that are regulated and insured by the U.S. gov't, by comparison, are stable, secure, and at least reliable enough for an economy to run on.
I am suggest, merely hinting, that if someone has earned a reputation for significantly earning vastly better returns compared to the average, and if you have millions to invest, pay him to tell you how he is doing what he is doing.
Comment: Re:Vive le Galt! (Score 1) 695
by PingPongBoy (#46340087) Attached to: Mt. Gox Gone? Apparent Theft Shakes Bitcoin World
I'd argue Bitcoin could be as legitimate a currency as anything else, but the problem is that it's pegged to nothing. It's value is entirely defined by being a get-rich-quick scheme. Sure, there are plenty of people playing similar games with legitimate currencies, but they're not the ones defining its value because those currencies are still tied to more tangible things.
Even real currency seems to be as ephemereal as digital currency. If bank software tragically moved the decimal place or truncated my savings account balance I could lose practically everything. If someone nefarious creates a substantiating transaction or stole/destroyed the computer, it would be even harder to counter.
Wealth has become a measure of the amount of trust and confidence that people have in each other, beyond the measure of economic accumulation. Wealth indicates how much potential there is. It is losing more and more exactness or precision as more and more people are focused on the pace that they can aggregate their own riches.
Theoretically if this trend is to continue, there would be more instances of disputes and less certainty of what the truth is. There have already been a phenomenal amount of scams. It's a little like Russian roulette with a really large number of empty chambers.
To counterbalance this fuzziness, people will have to build their ability to convince other people to transact goods and services despite the degraded certainty of the value of a dollar. This goes beyond a credit rating. Perhaps people will have to build greater defensive positions, of course, at significant personal cost.
Bitcoin is/was to some degree a "test" of how well the world would operate with a novel monetary system disconnected from authority. The idea seems practical enough, though the implementation was flawed. Even though many computers around the world validated transactions, the need for a central server as well as higher performance computing makes Bitcoin useless to the masses and ultimately limits the potential for owners of Bitcoins.
Comment: Re:Employed (Score 1) 712
by PingPongBoy (#46306545) Attached to: Are Bankers Paid Too Much? Are Technology CEOs?
No. His salary was only $1 – which by the way has one of the highest tax rates. His compensation was in the 100s of millions, mostly via stock options which has one of the lowest tax rates. What I want to know is why I can’t be paid in low tax stock options?
You don't want to be paid in stock options anyways. The stock isn't something you can liquidate until it appreciates. If you get paid in stock, the company will see all this stock being sold at high volumes in the market so you can pay for your living expenses. The high volumes of stock will probably make people nervous about paying you high amounts per share, and your bosses wouldn't like the share price to be stuck at a low.
So if you actually believe in your employer, buy the stock with your pay. That's not always a good idea either. People should diversify their acquisitions instead of keeping all their wealth in one area. If you are just one minion in a huge company, and you're already leery because you think your CEO is overpaid, why would you trust him enough to boost his stock value by buying more of the company? Most people would invest their hard earned money in a different sector.
Comment: Re:tl;dr (Score 1) 712
by PingPongBoy (#46306345) Attached to: Are Bankers Paid Too Much? Are Technology CEOs?
How about offering him 50 mil instead and keeping on 700 workers,
OTOH, if those 700 workers are making no profit for the company at all, they should be transferred to profitable positions or laid off regardless of CEO pay.
OTOH you need a real sumbitch in order to chop hundreds or thousands of employees and perhaps still keep the company alive, and these guys don't come cheap.
Comment: Re:tl;dr (Score 1) 712
by PingPongBoy (#46306289) Attached to: Are Bankers Paid Too Much? Are Technology CEOs?
Not really. If you took every dime the CEO of McDonalds made last year, and divide it among the burger flippers employed by McDonalds, it comes out to exactly $8.14 per *year* for each of them.
McDonalds employs a *lot* of burger flippers.
You forgot to mention that is based on the burger flippers staying with the job until the age of 65.
Comment: Re:Lame (Score 1) 108
by PingPongBoy (#46306029) Attached to: Sochi Drones Are Shooting the Olympics, Not Terrorists
Similar, unauthorized dromes could be reloaded with light and bring it near the crowds or athletes from well outside of any reasonable security perimeter.
That's how competitive it is at the top. Winning is about using any advantage you can get away with, whether it's doping, corrupt judges, or a load of light.
You know, there's a different angle to think of here. Drunken boxing would probably be a fun Olympic sport to watch.
Comment: Re:And this is why (Score 1) 124
by PingPongBoy (#46240729) Attached to: Why P-values Cannot Tell You If a Hypothesis Is Correct
No, all researchers should have be able to pass graduate level statistics courses.
Yes, I realize that most of us would be back at flipping hamburgers or worse, end up going to law school. But to understand what you're doing, you really need to understand statistics.
Einstein was basically a very good statistician.
The null hypothesis is that the world would not be a better place if researchers had such advanced training in statistics.
For example, there was no physical evidence favoring relativity for years after the theory was created. Qualification for research work should be intelligence not ability to do statistics.
Comment: Re:California (Score 1) 374
by PingPongBoy (#46123237) Attached to: California Regulator Seeks To Shut Down 'Learn To Code' Bootcamps
OK, so a civil suit. Sure, you get a trial two to three years from the date of filing the case, because several times your scheduled trial date got bumped to make room for rapists' prosecutions and those take precedence. If you try to do it yourself, you'll almost certainly lose. There are outlier pro se litigants, but mostly, they lose.
The corollary is that if no value was obtained after paying $15,000 the most expeditious allegation is rape.
Comment: Re:California (Score 2) 374
by PingPongBoy (#46123187) Attached to: California Regulator Seeks To Shut Down 'Learn To Code' Bootcamps
If you're charging someone $15000 for a 10 week course, and promising jobs at companies "like Facebook and Google," you probably need to fall under some sort of regulation and compliance.
If you're charging $15k a head, and you're whining about the undue burden of a "hefty" $50k fine, then you have what, 10 clients?
An unregulated school could well be a startup that has cash flow issues due to debt, low exposure, uncertainty, etc. Any extra expense even a fee notoriously regarded as a fine could be a real setback.
Comment: Re:California (Score 1) 374
by PingPongBoy (#46123137) Attached to: California Regulator Seeks To Shut Down 'Learn To Code' Bootcamps
So it may be deduced from your lawyerly insight that there is no economic basis of regulating a hitherto unregulated school. It is safe to assume that anyone smart enough to believe themselves able to benefit from education would be able to protect themselves from schemers. I suspect that the government was not keen to be involved even in this case. The difficulty of litigation was probably the reason for a reluctant regulator to step in.
I've been to some courses offered by private educators. The bang for the buck was not great, and I wouldn't have gone to one of these except my employer wanted us to go. A couple of weeks at this place was enough to pay for a year of university tuition, all for something I could have found out from a manual. I actually would have preferred to be at work.
So if anyone is paying with their own money, there would have to be compelling evidence that the rewards justify the means. People being people, some people may tried these schools and felt hard done by and complained after failing to be refunded.
The way to have an unregulated educational system might be fairly simple though. Let the school provide loans, and if the education is not up to standard the loans will not be paid. Typical students quail at the thought of debt but if these schools live up to their advertising, the business model ought to be successful.
Comment: Re:North Korea (Score 1) 222
by PingPongBoy (#45969231) Attached to: Doomsday Clock Remains at Five Minutes to Midnight
Looking at the Doomsday Clock graph over the years there is a cyclic pattern. A gradual decline to doom is suddenly followed by a sharp rise, as though collectively the world recoils. But the forces for and against war and destruction are not instant, but rather take years of lead time. The process is much like the forces underlying earthquakes. Plates are moved by deep forces and sometimes they stick and unstick, but sometimes they get stuck long enough to build up enough energy to release violently. The cyclic ripple of the clock as well as the earthquake analogy suggests that a more detailed interface should also be compiled to show decisions and actions that work for and against war.
1 Sagan = Billions & Billions | http://slashdot.org/~PingPongBoy | dclm-gs1-013090000 |
0.03174 | <urn:uuid:5caf9e91-04f5-4da5-86f5-a6958660439d> | en | 0.964396 | Forgot your password?
Submitted by Hugh Pickens DOT Com
+ - Russians Suspected Of Uroburos Spy Malware->
Submitted by judgecorp
Link to Original Source
+ - Mark Shuttleworth blasts OSS FUD
Submitted by Anonymous Coward
An anonymous reader writes "In a Google+ posting, Mark Shuttleworth, founder of Ubuntu and Canonical, announces that Ubuntu is sticking with MySQL in the upcoming Trusty Tahr (14.04) release. In response to a followup question from ZDNet's Steven Vaughan-Nichols, Shuttleworth offers some pointed comments on the OSS FUD culture: "As for phobias, the real pitchforks have been those agitating against Oracle. I think Oracle have been an excellent steward of MySQL, with real investment and great quality. Appreciating and celebrating that doesn't detract from our willingness to engage elsewhere. I think the tendency to imagine conspiracies and malfeasance is one of the sadder aspects of OSS culture. Don't feed it.""
Comment: Classic Unix desktop (Score 1) 1
by plasticsquirrel (#46379853) Attached to: CDE 2.2.1 is released.
Great news for anyone who is interested in classic Unix desktop software. For many years, CDE was the standard Unix desktop environment, but one that was always missing from Linux and BSD. Having CDE as open source brings one of the last few pieces of proprietary software into the free Unixes, and it's nice to see that developers are hard at work fixing bugs and improving portability. Congrats to the CDE team for this release.
+ - CDE 2.2.1 is released.-> 1
Submitted by idunham
Link to Original Source
+ - Income Inequality Through Assortative Mating: Marry Up->
Submitted by retroworks
The Economist http://www.economist.com/news/... notes, " The economic incentive to marry your peers has increased. A woman with a graduate degree whose husband dropped out of high school in 1960 could still enjoy household income 40% above the national average; by 2005, such a couple would earn 8% below it." And in Slate, http://www.slate.com/articles/... Matthew Iglesias puts it in terms a nerd can related to. "She likes Doctor Who; I like Star Trek...But one thing about us is pretty similar: We both went to fancy colleges full of people with high SAT scores. And in that regard, we’re pretty typical." Perhaps "Natural Selection" is the best explanation for rising college tuition, and increasing student debt."
Link to Original Source
Comment: Nobody is saying that this is "news" (Score 3, Insightful) 49
by plasticsquirrel (#46365009) Attached to: Yes, You Too Can Be an Evil Network Overlord With OpenBSD
This is an article helping people understand more about tools that ship in OpenBSD, and how they can be used in neat ways. Maybe you don't find anything informative or interesting, but I did and many others may too. Computing is a broad field, and not everyone has exposure to these networking tools. This is the sort of thing that should be on Slashdot, rather than "Why aren't there more female computer science majors so we can drive down wages?" type of "news items."
Comment: Re:Simpler answer: It was a con (Score 4, Informative) 160
by plasticsquirrel (#46292685) Attached to: Another Possible Voynich Breakthrough
You may want to read the article before jumping to conclusions. The authors have identified many of the plants and animals as those of the New World, including specific breeds of cattle introduced from Spain, animals like the Ocelot, and others. Their study is very thorough, and it includes study of texts they have found with similar scripts and languages. Their conclusion is that it came from 16th century Spain, and was written in an Aztec language by natives who had been educated by the Spanish (and their evidence for this is quite convincing). From the conclusion of the research:
Comment: Soulskill and Timothy (Score 1) 252
I wrote to Timothy some of my recommendations in this comment), and it seems that some major ones have been addressed -- including the layout and amount of text that is visible. I don't know if that was in response to what I wrote, but either way I appreciate it. At this point, fixing Beta must be the most thankless job on Earth. ;-)
One other big recommendation I have is to not show pictures by default (icons are okay). Often these images are not directly related to the article, so they are just there to add some color to the screen, at the expense of the article text itself. (1) Maybe it's asking too much for the pictures to simply "go away" if they are unnecessary, but I think that would be positive. (2) Another option might be to default the users who are not logged in to see pictures, while default the readers who logged in to seeing just the text. The idea would be if you are not logged in, you're a peon who enjoys colorful irrelevant pictures, whereas if you are logged in, you just want to read the article. (3) Another possibility, the simplest, would be to resize these thumbnails to be smaller, so they intrude less on the article text. Ideas #1 and #3 would be the simplest approaches.
I think addressing the image thing would be a big improvement to Beta, and is one of the major things at the heart of what all the protest is about. Basically, that Slashdot as a technical site is about text, not just a slideshow of pretty pictures. Slashdot can keep pictures, but they should be resized appropriately since they are not really the point of the site (just colorful distractions).
+ - ReactOS crafts to perfection with release 0.3.16->
Submitted by jeditobe
Another user visible change is a new network card driver for the RTL8139, allowing ReactOS to support newer versions of QEMU out of the box. Release images can be found in the usual spot here.
Several video demonstrations of popular software work were made — Office 2003, Photoshop CS2, OpenMPT.""
Link to Original Source
Submitted by KingofGnG
Link to Original Source
+ - LLVM & GCC Compiler Developers To Begin Collaborating->
Submitted by Anonymous Coward
Link to Original Source
Comment: Feedback for Timothy (Score 4, Insightful) 176
I was reading this review of Slashdot Beta made last October, which shows a variety of screenshots and also has explanations from Timothy in it.
Honestly, I was impressed by at least some of the reasoning, and I can see how some changes would actually be positive. The problem, though, is that not all the changes are good, and it's far too much at once. There is a potential to lose what is special about Slashdot including its moderation system. They need to examine Beta and see and what needs to change for it to be accepted by the Slashdot community. Off the top of my head:
1. Less whitespace, fewer pictures: Slashdot is all about the text and what the community writes here. It needs to be clear and easy to see a lot of information at one time. How many times do we have to say this? Just change the fucking CSS already.
2. The moderation system needs to either stay the same or change only slightly. Major changes are going to disrupt the community and the flow of the discussion. Nobody wants Slashdot reduced to +1 and -1 like this is Facebook and we're all retards posting pictures of hamburgers and ugly babies.
3. It would be nice if someone from Dice had the balls or the ovaries enough to make a formal apology to the community about how this has been handled. This isn't all Timothy's problem, and he shouldn't have to take all the heat. The future direction of Slashdot is the responsibility of Dice and Alice, so they should be responding and taking responsibility.
4. Stop forcing everyone to switch over and stop forcing redirection until the actual site is finished. To do otherwise is confusing and disrespectful. Wait until you have a finished product.
5. Do a better job explaining everything to the community and respecting the community. Hell, we would be doing a lot of this work for you and making recommendations for you, but Beta was forced on everyone without proper feedback (not to mention the fact that Beta is still unusable and broken).
Here's a real and serious recommendation for Timothy if he wants Beta to eventually succeed without disrupting the Slashdot community: do redirections one day out of the week, and on that one day, have a story posted by Timothy asking the community for feedback -- one day each week for experimentation ("Slashdot Labs Day"). Then for the next 6 days, they can fix the site, while readers continue to use the classic interface. Keep doing that until the big problems in Beta are ironed out and the community is halfway satisfied with it. That is seriously a simple and reliable way that they could fix this and make people happy again. You can take that one to the bank. Unfortunately I don't know if they have the sense to do so because they haven't accepted feedback very well and they haven't kept in contact with the community.
Comment: Re:Boycott, vote up anti-beta submissions (Score 1) 112
by plasticsquirrel (#46185119) Attached to: Australia's Bureau of Meteorology Dumps Water Data Project
I'm pretty sure "Slashdot Headquarters" consists of a few cubicles with a few underpaid admins. Dice Holding Company's headquarters are probably much nicer, but I doubt that there are many employees there either! I'm willing to bet that there are just enough to get by and make profits by dismantling websites and genericizing acquisitions according to an unimaginative formula that they believe will help them make net profits in the long run.
1 Sagan = Billions & Billions | http://slashdot.org/~plasticsquirrel/ | dclm-gs1-013110000 |
0.046954 | <urn:uuid:6149dd11-bab6-44f8-a392-d73c4c81e660> | en | 0.959959 | Varsity Teams: 22
Intramural sports: 22
Famous Alumni:
Johnny Rodgers,
Mike Rozier
Extra credit for:
28 Straight
Bowl Appearances
The Nebraska weight room is the envy of every other athletic department. It stretches over 30,000 square feet deep within the catacombs of Memorial Stadium. This mecca of muscle and might, the largest weight facility on any campus, is the foundation of Nebraska athletics. It is used four times a week by virtually every varsity athlete and is why, as strength coach Boyd Epley puts it, "Nebraska has its reputation for being a power football team."
Cornhuskers fans, among the nation's most sports-crazed, gave Nebraska more than $700,000 toward the construction of the weight room in 1981 and an expansion in '90. "It shows you how seriously people take their athletics in Nebraska," says Epley. Since the state has no pro sports teams or other major universities, there's nothing around to threaten the fans' fidelity, especially to the football team. That's why 73,650-seat Memorial Stadium has been sold out for every game since 1962, why close to 50,000 fans are expected at this Saturday's spring game, and why the Cornhuskers' media guide is annually a best-seller at the campus bookstore. (Keep in mind one other fact: Some 93% of the students are Nebraskans, an unusually high percentage even for a state school, and they have been following the Huskers all their lives.)
photograph by Ted Kirk
The lucre that the athletic department generates doesn't all get put back into varsity sports. Nebraska's massive recreation center, which houses a student weight room larger than some varsity weight facilities in the Big 12, was financed by private donations and a $2 surcharge on football tickets. At the rec center you can always find a decent hoops game on one of the eight courts, but come May the crown jewel of the place will be a 42-foot-tall climbing wall.
The university lies just north of downtown Lincoln, a 1950s kind of place. There isn't a lot to do in town, which helps make club and intramural sports popular and football Saturdays sacred events. The place to be before a game is Barry's Bar and Grill, where the favorite libation is tomato juice and beer. The tailgating scene around the stadium is relatively tame, and the campus fraternities are officially dry (wink, wink). Perhaps that explains why Nebraska fans may be the best-behaved fans at any big-time football school. Win or lose, the folks in the north end of the stadium give a standing ovation to the opposing team as it heads to the locker room after the game. The ovation the Cornhuskers crowd gave Bobby Bowden's Florida State team after an 18-14 Seminoles win in 1980 so moved Bowden that he wrote an open letter to the fans that appeared in the Lincoln Journal-Star. "I have never seen people with more class than I saw at Nebraska," wrote Bowden. "The Nebraska fans, players, cheerleaders, band, officials, coaches, etc., gave me living testimony of what college football should be all about."
Lincolnites follow the Cornhuskers with an intensity that is hard for out-of-towners to comprehend. "There is absolutely no separation between town and gown," says Michael Steinman, associate dean of the arts and science college. "University athletics play about as prominent a role in Lincoln as is imaginable." No fewer than 66 businesses in town use Cornhusker, Husker or Big Red in their titles. All of these enterprises are trying to associate themselves with a glorious tradition: In the last 20 years Nebraska's football team has won two national championships; its men's gymnastics team, eight; its women's track team, three; and its women's volleyball team, one.
School officials are quick to give credit. "It's really the fans that make sports special at Nebraska," says associate athletic director Don Bryant. "With only 1.5 million people in the state, sporting events at the university become the events of the year. And that, in a nutshell, is why Nebraska is unique."
| http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/features/1997/jockschools/topten9.html | dclm-gs1-013140000 |
0.072265 | <urn:uuid:091f0632-6467-47e3-9f90-5564bde0af89> | en | 0.810538 | Take the 2-minute tour ×
Im trying to access the org.testng.reporters.XMLReporter from my Java code. I am writing code with eclipse plugin and I am new to testNG.
I have a simple class with a @BeforeSuite, @AfterSuite and 1 @Test (Just as a demo) I thought I could simply add Reporter.getOutput(); to my @AfterSuite method which looks like it returns a list but it is always null. I assume I need a listener but im not sure where or how to add it.
My end goal is to access the XML results that get generated in a file by default to write to my own test DB I have created I can parse the XML since its generated by default I would rather do it all in code.
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2 Answers
up vote 0 down vote accepted
I'm not sure what you're trying to do. If you want to access the generated XML, why not do this in a SuiteListener? Or even in a process that gets run after TestNG has finished?
share|improve this answer
I guess thats my question I am not sure how to do this is a suite listener. – ducati1212 Aug 30 '11 at 20:43
The results in the generated XML file contain the exact info I want to store. I was starting to write a XML parser that got the results file from disk after a test ran and parsed it into my DB format. I would much rather be able to do that in my test code rather than reading the file. – ducati1212 Aug 30 '11 at 20:53
Either you parse the XML or you create your own SuiteListener (or better, IReporter) which will receive the result of the entire suite in Java. From there, you can do whatever you want. – Cedric Beust Sep 1 '11 at 16:17
add comment
To add a suite listner you have to follow these step. 1. Create a class implementing ISuiteListner.
public class PlatformSuiteManager implements ISuiteListener {
1. Add the listener to the testng.xml or if you are running a through maven surefire add listner to the xml.
For TestNg.xml suite add following tag to indicate a listner
<listener class-name="com.example.PlatformSuiteManager" />
<listener class-name="com.example.MyMethodInterceptor" />
For sure fire add following under configuration tab
If you need to do a report listner you have to implement IReporter
public class PlatfornReportManager implements IReporter {
public void generateReport(List xmlSuites, List iSuites, String s) { //Implementaion }
I think this answers how to add suite listner and how to add report listner.
Note that report listner is called at the end of the suite.
Please make a sound if this is not clear to you
Please answer me to generate report using default listener. tell me default listeners of TestNG
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Your Answer
| http://stackoverflow.com/questions/7248364/testng-xml-reports-from-code | dclm-gs1-013220000 |
0.489541 | <urn:uuid:12683465-96bc-47d4-b3f8-c4dff24d7458> | en | 0.935027 | View Single Post
Starfleet Veteran
Join Date: Jun 2012
Posts: 2,375
# 12
04-24-2013, 12:02 PM
Just because it's Linux doesn't mean much - there are linux builds for almost every CPU you can imagine, but programs aren't automatically compatible with all of them.
Issue is Wine isn't a full fledged emulator, only an API. It still requires a native x86 environment to run on. The name is a recursive acronym for "Wine is not an emulator." Winelib does exist for ARM, but it's extremely limited on what can and can't run since most binaries require an x86 environment - you can run Minesweeper (as long as it's not the Windows XP or newer versions), and most things you'd compile in Visual Basic, but other programs need to be compiled to run with Winelib on ARM.
Those Windows XP installs require an x86 emulator, which destroys performance pretty bad - you're basically getting about 10-25% of the equivalent processor power into the copy of Windows you're emulating. That's enough to run Windows 95 pretty well, but Windows XP just barely limps along, the emulated CPU doesn't technically meet XP's minimum CPU requirement.
There is a Windows 8 RT build that runs on ARM processors, and you can load it into some very high end android tablets if you get your hands on it or pay too much for a Surface tablet (not Surface Pro, which is full fledged Windows 8 with an x86 processor), but it can only run Windows executables compiled for ARM environments, so again, x86 locks you out.
Surface Pro, like I said, full Windows 8 and a compatible processor. There's been persistent rumors of an x86 Ubuntu tablet for the last few months, and if it ever materializes Wine on that will be an option.
tl;dr: Wine's not feasible for the next decade easily, but Surface Pro is an option.
Last edited by hevach; 04-24-2013 at 12:24 PM. | http://sto-forum.perfectworld.com/showpost.php?p=9435221&postcount=12 | dclm-gs1-013250000 |
0.037451 | <urn:uuid:11e34300-6a66-4dd4-9b00-b7c2310ac888> | en | 0.956687 |
Next Story
Minority Report was an enjoyable action flick, but it may hold the blame for getting the idea stuck in our collective heads that 3D gesture control is the next frontier for computing. The Kinect from Microsoft helped further this idea around as well, with a pretty good (though highly limited regarding needed space, applications, etc.) gesture experience. But a lot of startups and other companies are chasing this carrot – and it begs the question of whether there’s even a carrot to chase.
Maybe the most headline-grabbing of those going after the gesture control birdy is Leap Motion. The company raked in lots of pre-order interest for its device, which uses infrared tech to track finger and hand movements in 3D space and them map those to controls for apps on a computer. But then it arrived, and the reality was nothing like people had imagined, even after the device delayed its release for an extended beta to amp up the consumer user experience.
Leap Motion had good reason to go back to the drawing board: there’s a huge risk with this kind of device because when you aren’t just blown away by a device like this, it ends up in a drawer and no one ever uses it again. Unfortunately for the company, that’s likely the fate of a lot of their controllers, I realized after a couple of weeks of using one.
Early reviews were not very kind to the Leap Motion, but really a lot of them may have been over-generous. The controller is impressive enough during its demo when it’s showing you the finger points and hand model skeleton its detecting, but already it’s apparent that the detection is finicky. The controller is finicky in its appraisal, and requires your hands to occupy a sweet spot relative to the gadget itself to work really well.
Even when you’re in that zone, the problems don’t end. How each app uses gesture input varies, and things like web browsing with it are a definite pain. In the end, the fact is that on balance you get more frustration than pleasure out of the experience, and that’s not good for long-term adoption.
The experience of Leap Motion is flawed enough that it makes me wonder whether gesture control is actually something that it’s even possible to get right. Minority Report painted an idealized picture of how that might look, but it is, after all a work of fiction, and think about what the Tom Cruise character is actually doing in many of those scenes; wouldn’t it be easier to work with a traditional multimonitor setup and keyboard and mouse to accomplish the same thing?
There are a lot of people looking at gesture control right now, including Waterloo’s Thalmic Labs with its MYO armband, the new Haptix Kickstarter, and pmdtechnologies from Germany with their CamBoard pico. Microsoft is also refining and improving upon its Kinect for the upcoming Xbox One console.
Gesture input is a tempting area of focus, since it has clearly been a focus of lots of imaginative work for speculative and science fiction. Kinect and Wii showed us that large groups of people could enjoy that kind of device interaction, but those are in very specific contexts. Even if executed well, I’m not sure any solution is going to be anything other than a niche curiosity – we’ll probably see input take other, unexpected courses of evolution instead. They MYO and others could still prove me wrong (and I hope it does), but if you’ve got a farm to bet, I wouldn’t bet it on a gesture control revolution. | http://techcrunch.com/2013/08/18/3d-gesture-control-is-an-area-of-focus-on-innovation-we-likely-dont-need-or-want/ | dclm-gs1-013270000 |
0.075436 | <urn:uuid:fcdee56d-dfed-4ddd-a9bf-ffec72a22d99> | en | 0.947982 | President Calderon moves to legalize drugs in Mexico
Immigration alert! The face of immigration is about to change rapidly, and not because President Obama is pushing forward bold policy to protect Americans inhabiting our nation’s back door from Mexican drug cartels. Felipe Calderon, Mexico’s president, is aggressively moving forward legalized access to drugs on the streets of Mexico.
American farmers are already inundated along the border with the cartels and illegal immigrants. They certainly don't need these unwelcome aliens coming across drug-infested, armed and dangerous as well.
Obama apologizes again
Why is the president of the United States apologizing to President Calderon of Mexico about an Arizona law that enforces federal laws curbing illegal Mexican immigrants?
President Obama should be castigating President Calderon over the conditions in Mexico that encourage these illegals to cross the border. The Mexican government should be working with the American government to prevent illegal immigration and enforce immigration laws. This might have the spin-off benefit of contributing to the defeat of the drug lords that informally rule much of Mexico and sell illegal drugs in the U.S.
Miss Oklahoma’s simple declarative sentence
‘Bring it on!’
OK, incumbents, all you defenders of the status quo: As the angry political earthquake shakes your terra unfirma, you can quake behind the gates of your communities or you can step out and boldly go where some have only dared to, with the challenge to BRING IT ON!!!
*Forget the lack of Protestants on the Supreme Court. Isn't in time the president nominated someone who is an active atheist? BRING IT ON!!
*And speaking of presidential choices, shouldn't he select as Defense secretary an openly gay person ... a lesbian at that? BRING IT ON!!!
Who is Tim Bridgewater? Bad news for Romney.
Time to get a job, Al Sharpton
Here we go again. Someone somewhere is playing the victim card, and the Rev. Al Sharpton is there to somehow pretend he’s a victim too. The latest country-trotting for Sharpton involves a trip to sunny Arizona to feign utter outrage over the state’s enactment of tough new immigration laws.
I’m not here to argue the merits of the state law. Even the Arizona Legislature just last week had to tweak the measure to ensure it was doing what lawmakers intended without violating constitutional rights. But Al Sharpton? Again? Didn’t I see him at the local Dairy Queen last week? And just before that, on HBO with Bill Maher?
Immigration reform compromise
The new law in Arizona should be seen less through the prism of politics or constitutional law and more through the lens of national psychology. It really is a cri de coeur, or a cry from the heart.
The law may seem punitive or intrusive from the ACLU’s perspective. But as I have said before, desperate times require desperate measures.
You only need to glance over the border and see the situation that is unfolding in Mexico to understand that the people of Arizona are panicking that the drug war, like a swarm of killer bees, is coming to a location near them.
Immigration bill: Bad politics for everyone
The Hill's A.B. Stoddard looks into whether the Obama administration could take up the issue of tax reform once the Senate moves on to immigration, an issue that will most likely split the two parties even more than financial reform.
Arizona law awakens the sleeping giant for Democrats
Under the new Arizona immigration law, if the same conduct is done by whites and Hispanics, the whites will never be stopped and asked for their papers, and the Hispanics very often will be. This law should be thrown out by the courts and pre-empted by national legislation. It guarantees abuses that are an outrage to our nation. It will awaken the sleeping giant of the Hispanic vote that will be politically transforming and powerfully helpful to Democrats. | http://thehill.com/blogs/pundits-blog/immigration?page=5%2C20 | dclm-gs1-013290000 |
0.525733 | <urn:uuid:e7764936-ac65-42b6-b874-e35f75de41f4> | en | 0.940865 | [[caption-width-right:301:Features a "Juke Box Hero" who is "Urgent"ly "Waiting for a Girl Like You"]]
->''For the science-fiction novels, see {{Literature/Foreigner}}''
A British-American rock band originating in TheSeventies and TheEighties, Foreigner was one of several HardRock bands (along with with groups like Music/{{Journey}} and Music/{{Survivor}}) that gained fame in the [[ArenaRock AOR]] scene during the early 1980s. The group's mainstays were English guitarist Mick Jones (not [[Music/TheClash that one]]) and American lead vocalist [[FaceOfTheBand Lou Gramm]], with [[LoadsAndLoadsOfCharacters a rotating cast of other musicians]]. Since Gramm's departure in 2003, Jones is the only founding member still with the group.
The group had it's greatest success with a string of seven multi-platinum albums between 1977 and 1987, and had hit singles with songs including "Cold as Ice", "Juke Box Hero" and the ballads "I Want To Know What Love Is" and "Waiting for a Girl Like You". While members have come and gone, the band continues to tour today, often sharing the stage with fellow AOR stars such as Music/{{Journey}}, Music/{{Styx}} and Music/{{Chicago}}.
!!! "Trope Box Heroes!":
* ArenaRock
* GratuitousFrench: During the fade-out of "Girl on the Moon", the background vocalists can be heard singing "Fille sur la Lune" (the literal translation of the song's title) twice.
* HotBlooded: ''Check it and see! I've got a fever of a hundred and three.''
* IceQueen: "Cold as Ice"
* {{Instrumentals}}: "Tramontane," from ''Double Vision''.
* IntercourseWithYou: "Hot Blooded," "Urgent"
* LighterAndSofter: It began with one song from ''Double Vision'', and then their 80s albums became much softer than their older 70s recordings.
* PowerBallad: They recorded several. "I Want to Know What Love Is" is a particularly famous example.
** That song has lately become a BlackSheepHit or OldShame for the band, as they've admitted to wishing they never recorded it at all.
* RecordProducer: Starting with ''Head Games'', Mick Jones produced all of the group's albums in collaboration with another producer (most famously, Mutt Lange co-produced the number one album ''4'').
* RedOniBlueOni: By all accounts, Lou Gramm was Hot Blooded while Mick Jones was Cold As Ice.
* RhymingWithItself: From "Hot Blooded":
--> You don't have to read my mind
--> To know what I have in mind.
* RockStarSong: "Juke Box Hero"
* SelfTitledAlbum: Their 1977 debut. | http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/folderizer.php?target=Music.Foreigner | dclm-gs1-013350000 |
0.155112 | <urn:uuid:0f7455cc-f469-4458-ac82-236475510b58> | en | 0.9569 | Wiki Headlines
main index
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Visual Novel: W~Wish
"Senna, we can make pleasent memories anytime anywhere."
"You don't remember them because they are the memories that you need to forget Onii-chan.."
"Everything that Senna did... she did for my sake..."
W~Wish~ (pronounced Double Wish) is about a boy, Junna Tōno (遠野潤和, Tōno Junna), who has a twin sister named Senna Tōno (遠野泉奈, Tōno Senna). He is an Ordinary High-School Student at Sakurahama Private High School happily living with his twin. However, in the past, a traffic accident deprived him of his parents and his memory. Junna survived the accident and since then, he lived only with his sister alone in a house. Senna and Junna support and rely on each other, and due to this Senna is very fond of her Onii-chan.
Junna's present life with Senna at the same high school is so pleasant that he can forget his severe past. However, Junna begins to recall the memories he lost in the accident. He enjoys the happy and pleasant days, but he is tossed by his past, his present, and his future.
Then one day a girl transfers named Haruhi Inohara (井ノ原春陽, Inohara Haruhi) who claimed to be his childhood friend but later as his younger sister who he suddenly remembers. Who is his actual sister, Haruhi or Senna?What is the truth hidden in his memory?
Adapted from a Princess Soft Visual Novel, it consists of 13 half-length episodes which aired alongside Final Approach (also from Princess Soft) during the "Princess Hour."
W~Wish~ provides examples of:
White Album 2Visual NovelX Blaze Code Embryo
This Ugly Yet Beautiful WorldAnime of the 2000sWindy Tales
Permissions beyond the scope of this license may be available from
Privacy Policy | http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/VisualNovel/WWish | dclm-gs1-013370000 |
0.208343 | <urn:uuid:855d1313-2a7f-4fb0-b6aa-76a36ebaeb7c> | en | 0.848815 | Take the 2-minute tour ×
The command
ls .*
when run gives as output the following :
• All the files in the current directory starting with a . (hidden files)
• All the files in the hidden directories present in the current directory
• All the files in the current directory
• All the files in the parent directory
Why does the command
ls *.
not display :
• All the files in the current directory
• All the files in the parent directory
Reason I am thinking so is : The regular expression *. should match both . and .. So ls should be run on both and thus the output which I am expecting should be displayed
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2 Answers
up vote 4 down vote accepted
It's because * doesn't match files starting with a . by default. Consider the following directory:
$ ls -la
total 8404
drwxrwxrwx 2 terdon terdon 8105984 Dec 31 13:14 .
drwxr-xr-x 153 terdon terdon 491520 Dec 30 22:32 ..
-rw-r--r-- 1 terdon terdon 0 Dec 31 13:14 .dotfile
-rw-r--r-- 1 terdon terdon 0 Dec 31 13:14 file3.
Let's see what each of the globs you used expands to:
$ echo .*
. .. .dotfile
$ echo *.
$ echo *
file1 file2 file3.
As you can see, the * does not include files or directories starting with . so both ./ and ../ are ignored. The same thing happens with your ls example. In bash, you can change this with the dotglob parameter:
$ shopt -s dotglob
$ echo .*
. .. .dotfile
Other shells behave differently, for example csh:
% echo .*
. .. .dotfile
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Great explanation – X Tian Dec 31 '13 at 11:45
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The rule for filename expansion have a special case for . as the first character in a filename: it must be explicitly matched (i.e. the pattern must contain a starting ., or . after a /). Otherwise these files are not candidates.
This is why your first version does pick up filenames that start with ., but the second doesn't. * doesn't match . as the first character of a filename.
POSIX Shell Command Language describes it as:
If a filename begins with a period ( '.' ), the period shall be explicitly matched by using a period as the first character of the pattern or immediately following a slash character. The leading period shall not be matched by:
• The asterisk or question-mark special characters
• A bracket expression containing a non-matching list, such as "[!a]", a range expression, such as "[%-0]", or a character class expression, such as "[[:punct:]]"
It is unspecified whether an explicit period in a bracket expression matching list, such as "[.abc]", can match a leading period in a filename.
Your shell might have options to change this behavior. Bash has this for instance (Filename expansion):
Note that these are not regular expressions. .* as a regex would match anything at all (including nothing). *. would be ill-formed.
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Colombia's Colonial Charm
Day 1: Arrive Bogotá, Colombia | City of Contrasts
Arrive in Bogotá, where you are met and transferred to your hotel. In this city of contrasts, skyscrapers stand side by side with old single-story houses, and cars share modern expressways with mule carts.
JW Marriott Hotel Bogota
Day 2: Bogotá | La Candelaria
Explore the well-preserved historical colonial quarter of La Candelaria. Pause at Plaza de Bolivar for photos of Congress Palace, the Cardinal’s Palace and the colonial church of El Sagrario. View a display of the world’s greatest collection of pre-Hispanic Indian gold crafts at the Gold Museum. Take a break with coffee and pastries before stopping to see the contemporary art collection at the Fernando Botero Museum. Afterward, head to Cerro de Montserrat for spectacular views and lunch. Later, visit the statue of the Fallen Christ, a famous site for pilgrimage. Gather this evening for cocktails and a festive welcome dinner.
JW Marriott Hotel Bogota | Meals: B L D
Day 3: Bogotá | Salt Mine Wonders
Drive to the small colonial town of Zipaquirá and explore the extraordinary Salt Cathedral, where religious sculptures and cavernous pools are hewn from salt mine tunnels under the Halite Mountains. Tour the city’s historic main plaza before continuing to scenic Cajica, a delightful Colombian town nicknamed “the stone fortress.” Enjoy a traditional lunch and this vibrant community’s panoramic views; then return to Bogotá, stopping to visit the little town of Usaquen, known for its quaint, Spanish-colonial style of architecture.
JW Marriott Hotel Bogota | Meals: B L
Day 4: Pereira | Heart of the Coffee Triangle
Fly to Pereira, located in Colombia’s best-known coffee production region, to visit an authentic working coffee plantation — the Hacienda Venezia. Learn about coffee culture and the production process, and then savor the aromatic brew at a tasting session.
Hotel Sazagua | Meals: B L D
Day 5: Salento/Cocora National Park | The Wax Palm
Drive to beautiful Salento, a typical paisa (coffee-region) town known for its bahareque architecture, and stop for a caffe latte demonstration at Cafe Jesús Martín. Enjoy a Colombian-style lunch, and then head into Cocora National Park by local Jeepao (Jeep parade) to see the wax palm, Colombia’s protected national tree.
Hotel Sazagua | Meals: B L D
Day 6: Pereira | A Special Breed of Excitement
After breakfast, travel to a Colombian Paso horse farm to learn about the art of training these magnificent animals. Return to Pereira for an afternoon and evening at leisure.
Hotel Sazagua | Meals: B L D
Day 7: Cartagena | Walk the Walled City
Board a morning flight to Cartagena, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and set out with an architecture expert on a walking tour of the 500-year-old walled city. Wander the streets of the Badillo neighborhood that lead to the old shopping malls along the docks. Bask in the romantic atmosphere and balmy climate that helped inspire the writings of beloved Colombian author Gabriel García Márquez. Later, sip on champagne as you enjoy a relaxing carriage ride.
Hotel Sofitel Santa Clara | Meals: B L D
Day 8: Cartagena | Rum and Chocolate
After breakfast, explore the city’s historical monuments. Drive to the 17th-century Convent of La Popa for beautiful views of the city and the bay. Continue to San Felipes Fort and stop at Las Bóvedas, once a dungeon, now home to shops and boutiques. After lunch, sample an assortment of authentic Colombian rums and quality chocolates led by an international sommelier. Your evening is at leisure.
Hotel Sofitel Santa Clara | Meals: B L
Day 9: Cartagena | Cocktail Cruise and Farewell
This morning, embark on a gastronomic tour led by a personal chef who takes you to a local market to gather the fresh ingredients needed to prepare the typical regional dish that will become your lunch. This colorful experience was designed by a highy-regarded local chef and restaurant owner and was once featured on a popular television culinary program. Your time is then free until this evening, when you embark on a sunset cocktail cruise of the bay that takes you to Club de Pesca and your farewell dinner.
Hotel Sofitel Santa Clara | Meals: B L D
Day 10: Depart Cartagena
Meals: B
| http://www.abercrombiekent.com/travel/?fuseaction=dsp_itinerary&tid=5924 | dclm-gs1-013430000 |
0.050695 | <urn:uuid:879a0511-653d-4d72-88d8-76cb054494c0> | en | 0.981253 | comments_image Comments
Excerpt: 'Body Piercing Saved My Life'
A brief foray into the not-so-seedy underbelly of the Christian rock scene.
One of the funny things about being a rock journalist is that you quickly find out that the most restricted areas of venues are usually dumps. Dressing rooms, tour buses, and the wings of a stage are all stark exceptions to the glamour we assume cossets our rock stars.
Switchfoot's trailer at the Cornerstone [Christian rock festival] was no exception. The stairs swayed ominously as you entered, and the interior was a spartan, wood-paneled reminder that this room would be someone else's home tomorrow. Some of the band members sat on aluminum chairs talking on their cell phones; others perused the card table piled high with snacks courtesy of well-wishers from earlier days: JON, TIM, CHAD & JEROME, WE'RE SO PROUD OF YOU! GOD BLESS YOU! read a note affixed to a cellophane-wrapped plate of cookies.
The group's manager introduced me to the fellows in the band, and I had a few moments of amusing banter with guitarist Andrew Shirley, who offered to tell me "the truth about these guys." And then, suddenly, I was whisked into an adjoining room where Foreman was sitting in a folding chair.
Immediately, I sensed this interview wasn't going to go well. Foreman was anything but hostile, but he was maddeningly vague about his relationship with the festival and Christian music. Keyboardist/guitarist Jerome Fontamillas had told me he'd been to Cornerstone 13 times, but Foreman kept trying to steer away from questions about his own history at the festival with nonanswers like, "I dunno. It's a unique experience."
Then, I asked if this was the only Christian event Switchfoot played.
He lowered his eyes.
"You have to be -- the thing is, when you're talking about Switchfoot, you're talking about music that we've fought really hard to keep out of boxes," he said.
"I'm not interested in 'proving' you guys are a Christian rock band," I told him. "But this is a Christian festival."
"That's the thing," he replied. "If we're gonna stay out of the box, we're gonna have to be very conscientious of what everything is saying. Even opening up for Kid Rock (which they had done earlier that year) says something. Like everything in life, any relationship is a compromise. But where we're at right now, we're fortunate enough to pick the shots, and this is one of the festivals that, for the most part, it's a lot of people that are, you know, searching spiritually. It's actually a bunch of people that want to see the world change for the better. I don't know, that's important to me."
Later, he told me that most of the kids at Cornerstone "can relate to being treated by how they look, and maybe they can band together and be part of changing that."
Now, I'm willing to grant him a bit of room on the idea of Cornerstone being filled with "spiritual seekers" rather than Christians who were stuck in their ways. The crowd here was young, and fire and brimstone was definitely at a minimum. But I'd never seen such a clean-cut crowd in my life. For every punk kid with piercings or tattoos, there were ten who looked like they'd come straight off the set of "Everwood." Overwhelmingly below 20, well-scrubbed, fresh-faced, and good-natured, if anything, these were the kids school administrators wished all their students looked like.
Foreman's insistence that Switchfoot came to Cornerstone to connect with these radicals was beginning to sound more and more like cognitive dissonance. Especially in light of the fact that the same summer, Switchfoot played at two other Christian festivals and showed up for the Dove Awards -- the Christian Grammys -- where they took home three statues. It's easy to understand why Switchfoot would want to avoid being known as a Christian rock band, but they also seemed to want to have it both ways.
Later on, as Switchfoot played, Foreman introduced his songs using terms not entirely unfamiliar to the crowd. "This is about the war that goes on inside," he said, introducing "Ammunition."
"I'm burning for something beyond what we have in a physical sense" led into "On Fire."
"You can never get comfortable here," he told the audience after finishing "The Beautiful Letdown," with its gospel music-like chorus "I don't belong here."
The concert, like Switchfoot's records, was terrific. But I had to wonder how Foreman could play his cards so close to his chest and still achieve the connection he repeatedly told me he longed for with his audience.
Reprinted with permission from "Body Piercing Saved My Life: Inside the Phenomenon of Christian Rock" by Andrew Beaujon (Da Capo Press, 2006).
Andrew Beaujon is a music journalist and the author of "Body Piercing Saved My Life." | http://www.alternet.org/story/36472/excerpt%3A_%27body_piercing_saved_my_life%27 | dclm-gs1-013460000 |
0.106933 | <urn:uuid:fdb82db0-3b06-44f2-a9d5-524347f3fb6b> | en | 0.967783 | Update coming that will make signal appear to be better
Verizon Galaxy Nexus signal strength
It's not every day that smartphone users want to be lied to. But in the case of signal strength, we'll apparently make an exception. Verizon has told Computer World that in the case of the Verizon Galaxy Nexus, the LTE signal is being received and reported accurately. Too accurately, actually. So accurately, in fact, that if you appear to have a worse signal and more 3G/4G bouncing with the Galaxy Nexus, it's probably because your other LTE phones weren't as accuate as the Galaxy Nexus.
So, as Verizon told Computer World, it will make the Galaxy Nexus report signal strength a little less accurately as to ease our minds and be more in line with its other LTE devices. And so long as the phone at least appears to have a better connection, we're apparently OK with it.
This isn't an unprecedented move -- Apple did pretty much the same thing with the iPhone 4. While we're not disputing that things have appeared to be a bit off -- our own Verizon review unit definitely has appeared to be more wonky than our other 4G devices -- there's probably a little bit of the internet microscope at work here, too. Verizon (and every other carrier) is always working on improving connection, even after a phone is released. It's why we see new radios in updates all the time.
Anybody want to put money on what the next bug of the week is going to be?
Source: ComputerWorld
More: Verizon Galaxy Nexus forums
There are 66 comments
bold1193 says:
First lol
sproketz says:
I'm going to take a wild guess and say that because this is a Google Nexus phone aimed at developers it's reporting the signal correctly.
Other 3rd party phones we are used to are probably doing what Apple did with their signal strength software and jacking up the signal a bar so you think you're getting more than you are.
icebike says:
I doubt it has anything to do with precise signal strength. This problem has always been around.
When do you drop 3G and just go back to Edge? As soon as 3G signal gets weaker than Edge?
WRONG: You stay on 3G as long as signal strength is adequate, and drop to Edge only when you can no longer hold 3G.
And you don't go back to 3G until it is SIGNIFICANTLY stronger than Edge, and has been for a while.
The idea is to minimize switching. Because switching is disruptive. Its probably way more disruptive to Verizon because they are completely different Radios.
Verizon appears to be swapping radios too soon, and wanting to blame someone else. They need to stay on LTE till it won't work, then drop to 3G and stay there until LTE is again strong and steady, instead of bouncing back and forth. They simply need to lengthen their dwell interval and stop jumping back and forth.
Actually, in the case of WCDMA on AT&T, WCDMA drops down to EDGE when about half of the requested data doesn't come back. If you lock your phone into WCDMA only mode, you will always see faster data speeds and the entire system will work better, as WCDMA and EDGE have the same J/S failure point.
The only reason why carriers drop down to EDGE is because there is too much traffic on the WCDMA channel, making any new connections impossible. The fallback is designed to support a large number of users in one area, or to provide legacy coverage from an older network.
In terms of going back to WCDMA, that time is all in the firmware and differs from phone to phone(although you can change it in your firmware if you really know what you're doing. There switching takes more power on the UE end of things, using more power and reducing your battery life.
The entire LTE thing is a completely different beast, as Verizon hasn't upgraded all their towers to LTE yet. A lot of the handover stuff will be sorted out once Verizon fully upgrades its network.
There are advantages and drawbacks to setting specific handover times, and I feel that the Galaxy Nexus preforms quite well in that regard.
RaiderWill says:
You can't imagine the laughter I'm getting from this "Half-Baked" joke of a phone with my Droid Charge parts in it.. My EP4D Radios work just fine Thank You.. What a ripoff product!.. $800-900.00 (Off Contract + Tax & Accessories ) for this.. Really?
Blazing ( Laughing & Connected! ) on my 1,300 mhz Droid Charge.. Awaiting a *Real SuperPhone* KAL-EL....
hoosiercub says:
I <3 it when trolls, specifically you, have no idea what you're talking about.. the inside of the gnex has about as much in common with the charge as it does a stack of pancakes.
Happy holidays
sfreemanoh says:
mmm...pancakes... *drools*
threepio says:
Sorry for everyones complaints, but I have full bars of 4G at my office and 3-4 at my house with the Gnex. I am satisfied.
Rigelian says:
Sounds like you share the same office and home that I do. Full bars at my office and 3 to 4 at home. You're not stalking are you?
Wicket says:
I get 3-4 in between home and work.. 1 at home sometimes and none at work :(
glassmanstan says:
I knew it! It's all in my head (or perhaps I'm going deaf).
smooth3006 says:
This happened on the nexus s 4g i believe. Maybe google willsmarten up next time and have htc make the nexus.
MazoMark says:
After spending $12.5 billion on them, I think Motorola has the inside track.
Happened on the Nexus One as well. In fact, every new phone seems to have network issues when they first come out. It's how well, and how soon, they get fixed that matters.
gtg465x says:
Or maybe Google will smarten up and go back to releasing unbranded GSM versions here.
Delayed release? Verizon's fault. Bad press from bloatware and restricted tethering? Verizon's fault. Poor battery life? Because of Verizon's non-integrated radio approach to LTE. Complaints of less bars than other phones? Because Verizon has been lying with every other phone and people got used to it.
Meanwhile, the GSM version released everywhere else is getting high praise all around while the Verizon version flounders.
Regardless of what's being said here i know exactly what i saw on my Lg Revolution before purxhasing my Galaxy Nexus. I get great 4g LTE sevice everywhere except home when my device falls to 3g with always zero to 1bar of service at always -120dBm 1asu. I have never seen LTE 4G service inside my home yet since purchase last Thursday. My Revolution at showed LTE servuce at 2bars but switched often between 4g and 3g as well as 1x. This is just wierd..
MazoMark says:
Sounds like you have weak 4G and 3G signal inside house - that's why Revolution jumps between all three and your GN shows weak signal on 3G. Might want to think about investing in a network extender to boost signal.
icebike says:
Or replace that Aluminum Siding they sold him in the 70s.
squiddy20 says:
What you apparently fail to realize is that your LG Revolution was reporting the wrong signal all along. Your shiny new Galaxy Nexus is reporting the ACTUAL signal strength you are getting. And if your home is made of concrete, brick, steel, or aluminum, it greatly affects signal strength. I guess people who need to be shown how to use modern day technology don't understand even the most common sense things. How sad.
orlanka says:
I now have no signal. No network. Um, pretty sure it's not the phone.
orlanka says:
Signal is back after a reboot. Called Verizon tech. They said they have been issues since 2am last night but that they are rolling it back out now. Told me to pull the sim for a few seconds and that should help. I am not sure how that fixes anything but the phone is now back on and still 2 bars. I'm only 30 minutes west of St Lou so shouldn't be an issue.
On a side note, since I bought the phone at the store, this is the first time I have ever taken off the battery cover. Scary taking it on and off. Really surprised at how flimsy they would make it on a developer phone considering battery pulls may be a common fix for things. Then again, I am not a developer and this is my first Nexus so nothing to compare it to except my old DInc.
Azaurath says:
Um. Its actually really not that fragile. This video is for the SII but its cover is just as thin.
orlanka says:
I'll take their wor...er.., video for it as I am not going to test it out.
Rigelian says:
I've been taking it off and on a lot. I'm a heavy user and I have a backup battery. After you get use to it you realize nothing is going to break and all is good.
gtg465x says:
It's not fragile. Same backing material on my Galaxy S II. I am a developer and have taken the back off probably a thousand times (no joke). Still as good as the day I bought it.
BKVic says:
I dont know much but I do know that I drive about an hour and fifteen min to and from work and I never lost the siganl with my Droid X while streaming Slacker. My GNex lost it 3-4 times Mon and Tues and of course there was nothing this morning.
I live in a rural area. My dx had 1+ bars all the time. My gn reports zero bars AND PROVIDED ZERO SERVICE. AFTER 3 DAYS OF ZERO HOME SERVICE I RETURNED IT AND BOUGHT THE DROID RAZR. I'M SURE IT WAS ALL IN MY HEAD..
gtg465x says:
Yeah, we aren't as impressed.
milesmcever says:
DO YOU YELL AT YOUR FRIENDS TOO? I have to say my nexus works better than my HTC Thunderbolt and Motorola Bionic, but remember I could buy another one tomorrow and it work totally different. I've always been a moto fan when it came to cell service but my gnex just took the lead.
moosc says:
If u go to mydroidworld u can fkash the newest radios and bootloader thanks to P3droid.
Bob61 says:
Maybe it's all in the bars.... I just picked up a Nexus, I'm showing 2 bars but signal strength is show as -93dBm, inside my house in interior room. Calls on the phone sounded great, I asked those I talked to how it sounded and they said it was fine. Who knows.
Fillyo says:
So its official, HTC Thunderbolt has a better radio than the Nexus, because this thing drops out or drops to 3G all freaking day, my Thunderbolt didn't do that.
Depressing, aint it?!?
aergern says:
Yeah, and there were like 9 radio updates between May 2011 and ... oh .. LAST week when yet another dropped as part of that update they pushed. I mean SERIOUSLY .. my TB had some BIG issues with 4G and it's radios when I got it in May. So you can't TALK trash and compare because GN = New Shiny while the TB = is old and patched. ;)
I have both the Thunderbolt from day 1 of its release and the Galaxy Nexus from day 1. I recall when I first got the Thunderbolt it having all kinds of connection issues. There are even videos of it on my youtube account from way back then (wow, 9 months, LOL). It took three different radio flashes to finally make the thing stable, but it was a miserable device (connection-wise) the first month or two. I'm willing to give Sammy a bit of time to fix it if there really is a radio issue...
...and I think there really is because side-by-side testing my Thunderbolt gets 5 bars but the GN only gets 2. Okay, it's just the signal indicator, they say; I don't buy it. If I lay both phones side-by-side on top of my aluminum MacBook Pro, the Nexus loses all signal, including voice and can't place a call, but the Thunderbolt maintains its 5 bar connection.
It's just strange, I even commented on this the moment I got it the first day. I didn't think anything of it at the time, but I'm not sure it's THE CUSTOMER's fault Verizon. I know Moto might have better radios than Sammy, but still I went from a Droid Charge to the GNEX and so I have some Experience with Samsung. I always had 3-4 with my Droid Charge and it never dropped to 3g at my house, with the Gnex, I have 0-1 4G bars and it’s constantly dropping to 3G. I think there is more than meets the eye with this one Verizon. If my Droid Charge is now reporting the 4G strength but is instead displaying 1X CDMA or even 3G, then why has this never been a big issue before.
majiklantrn says:
Damn you mifi, Thunderbolt, Rezound, and Razr for lying to me!
I came from the thunderbolt and droid razr and the first thing i notixed was poor 3g strength and dropped data and calls... Its not the customers Verizon.
XavierMatt says:
I dont want to see a lie. Not only do I always have 4G my speeds are always great.
NordicNinja says:
I can't comment on other Android's, this is my first one, but using the GSM/HSPA+ GNex at home I am at times completely losing my signal and being dropped from service. If I move around the room it comes back. My place is notably bad for having spotty cell reception as I live pretty close to a big rock wall, but my last phone (a Bold 9700) never had issues with completely losing the connection.
Vetdoctor says:
Apparently phonearena was confused too. I guess Verizon will set them right. Maybe a couple of guy's named Vinnie will drop by and explain their error.
stkman7733 says:
I have a Bionic and GNex...my Bionic keeps 3-4 bars ALL the time and I can put my Gnex right beside it and maybe get 2 bars...mostly back in forth from 1-2 on 4g signal. Nice try Verizon but um try again!!!!
hoosiercub says:
Moto has always inflated their signal strength. My friends with. DROID X's would always pick at me over the weak signal bars on my Incredible til we speed tested right next to each other and I always came out on top with my de-throttling script and such on CM7.
Signal bars are there for the sake of piece of mind. They mean a whole lot of nothing in the real world. Its all dependent on environment to regulate how strong the radio frequency is in your location.. big aluminium building? Not so much.
No question Anandtech needs to really understand the truth....http://www.androidpolice.com/2011/12/19/this-is-why-your-verizon-galaxy-...
vinny jr says:
There is no excuse for this lousy quality on a phone that took so long to put together. The techs who spent months doing their homework should all be fired. I didn't buy the new Nexus because I just wasn't too thrilled about some of the choices about the so called LandMark phone. No SD card is complete bull shit I don't care how the so called know it alls want to spin it. Just bull shit. I know the camera isn't terrible but come on, all the new phones, even Samsung's GS2 has a better camera and Google decided on a cheaper camera. Just those two features along with a screen that is just a little too big for me turned me to buying a better piece of hardware and flash the ICS Rom on it myself. I own several of the past Nexus phones and I am just bull shit over this.
radgatt says:
So basically, the Nexus has been reporting accurately. If a phone has a -107dBm it shouldn't show having 2-3 bars. It should only show 1 bar. They are going to update the phone to show 2-3 bars when it should only show 1 bar??? This is dumb, in my opinion. There is a problem with data going in and out, I agree to fix that, but I don't agree with being lied to and saying that I have 4 bars when I should have 1-2 bars. Verizon is giving in to the customers complaints because customers stating they used to have 4 bars on their old phone but now only have 1-2. I hope that when they do this update they have an option to go into the settings and change it back to how it shows the signal strength. This would be a way of Verizon messing up the nexus if they do this. Fix the data issues but don't do anything to how the signal strength is displayed. Lastly, everyone should know by now that the dBm and not the bars is the true way of telling you if you have good signal strength. It would be funny if Verizon updated this phone to show us having 3 bars with -95dBm when it reality it should show 1-2 bars with that dBm. I urge Verizon to be smart when they do this update.
Forget bars, ever since last Thursday my SGN had a -120dbm and no data (except an occasional 1x sniff) where my Thunderbolt was giving me -92dbm and solid 3g. I took it back to Verizon and tried out another one with the same results (both in the store & at home). I am fighting beck the tears as I am now a Thunderbolt user again. I hope & pray they actually fix the things so I can get one again b/c I loved it!
ro1224 says:
I remain mystified why anyone would buy a phone that doesn't offer signal where they live or work. We spend most of our time in these two places so should we at least have SOME signal there? I left Verizon when they couldn't provide a signal at my home and I have never looked back since. 25 years later they still DON'T provide any signal. At work we have signal from all four carriers. Well I hope that Verizon improves its network, but tweaking the phone to ARTIFICIALLY "improve" signal is just another chapter of smoke and mirrors, that can be chalked up with those annoying inaccurate (read: intentionally misleading) coverage maps.
Davest says:
This makes me really angry. I had a Bionic for over two months, and was always able to get a 4G signal at my home. I exchanged it for a GNex, and I can *never* get a 4G signal at my home. It's that simple. I don't care how many bars it shows, or what the dbm numbers are. All I know is that one phone would give me 4G connectivity, and the other won't.
craigrn16 says:
I have had no signal issues so I have to agree with Verizon on this one. I get 3g and 4g when I am suppose to get it and my sisters Thunderbolt shows more bars but yet I am still able to download pages faster than hers. People calm down.
LangHoo says:
My download speeds are great (25Mbps+) and so is my call quality. If someone lives in an area with crappy service on their Nexus they should get something else. I also don't spend all day staring at the signal bars or dbms pretending I know what is good or not based on some other phone.
Davest says:
So, because you're not having an issue, no one is?
nkd says:
Thank you for reporting this and verizon better fix this. Me and my friend at work both have same issues. It is not the bars it is not damn speed. It is the reliability of the signal. Going to 3 bars to none and than dropping data all together? really verizon? It happens 4-5 times a day.
Coming from a razr I can tell the difference. One of my friends still has his razr, pulls out his phone and bamn -80dbm and I pull out my phone it is at a lousy -100dbm, really? Yea its in my head. I don't even care about the dbm, just stop the 4g drop outs. Razr never did that, if I am in 4g area painted in bloody red color, I better have 4g.
LangHoo says:
Here we go again with people comparing signals on different phones that are measuring different signals.
If you are having a problem, you should just take the GN back and get something else.
Davest says:
He's not comparing different signals - he's comparing 4G on a RAZR to 4G on a GNex. I agree that you can't compare a 3G signal to a 4G signal...that's not what he's doing. I'm in the same situation...I went from a Bionic to a GNex, and I'm never able to receive a 4G signal at home now, while I always could with the Bionic.
The larger issue, though, is why do you care? If you're not having a problem, great...congratulations. Why does it bother you so much to hear that others of us are having issues?
gwtx2 says:
I had this same problem with a 3G phone. Would have three bars and several times a day it would just drop the data and switch to 1X. With the Gnex, I don't see this happening when on 4G nor do I see it happening when the phone is set to 4G off.
MazoMark says:
I've been watching this whole discussion unfold as I try to decide if I want to spring for a GN. While I am sure there is a group of people who have a legitimate signal problem, based on what I've read on this and other sites, I think the majority of people are just plain throwing a hissy fit because they are confused about how to interpret the signal strength information this phone reports in comparison to other phones.
I think most people have to take a deep breath and remember this phone has only been out a week. If you can't live with it, take it back and get something else. Life's too short to have a coronary over a phone.
Jambanc says:
Just another throttling ploy 2 get people 2 take their gnex back and buy a droid line phone. Think about it they didnt even want 2 release the dam thing!
craigrn16 says:
Good point.. I never looked at it that way. It makes complete sense.
paul_704 says:
Sitting here at work and figured I would look to see what my phone is reading, I'm at a downtown Boston location and I am getting
-88dBm of LTE with two bars showing on my HTC Rezound.......that doesn't seem like false advertising to me. I hope Verizon fixes this problem for all the GN people out there, I think it's a great phone and just needs some tweaking to get it right.I gave my son my old Thunderbolt and got the Rezound for myself and both are working well with no signal issues at all and I have to say the Rezound is the best phone I ever owned. Hang tight people I'm sure their working on a fix to make the GN a great phone that it is.
dacp283 says:
The Nexus is the problem not Verizon. If you don't like it get rid of it. End of story. Blaming verizon for the pos nexus is just ridiculous.
Synycalwon says:
You can put lipstick on a pig.....
This is most likely a hardware issue just like the GSM volume bug (due to poor shielding). Like that issue, may be it can be fixed via software, but both of these problems speak to quality of hardware! Unacceptable! Wonder what other bugs may be lurking?
drinks says:
On my GN, it's not so much as switching to 3g, but the signal just dropping out all together. Last night at dinner, my friends bionic was at 4 bars, functioning perfectly while my gn could not lock on any signal.
Davest says:
Exactly. I've seen quotes from Verizon execs saying that this is simply an issue of how the signal is being reported. While that may also be an issue, the bigger issue is that a lot of us are unable to pick up a signal at all, while other 4G devices have no problem in the same location.
Trun says:
So wait, "reporting signal TOO ACCURATELY."
So they are saying it's our fault their signal quality is low because the Galaxy Nexus is reporting signal too accurately?
I'm confused here. Maybe it's because I'm not a Verizon employee or something.
bonito13 says:
well i received my nexus Wednesday.about 11am. about 1 pm i tried to activate it with no success. called Verizon, an after about 40 minutes we finally got it to activate. As the crow flys i am about 1100 feet from Verizon's tower. I had one bar of service with 3g for about 2 minutes. Then i lost 3g and have not got it back since even after talking with tech for over an hour. Two droid x's on my plan with my nexus and they all have great 3g service. No 4g lte in my area till spring. I had enough, i just called and reactivated my old droid x. Good luck all | http://www.androidcentral.com/verizon-galaxy-nexus-signal-strength-its-not-us-its-you | dclm-gs1-013480000 |
0.275821 | <urn:uuid:901fcf8a-b459-4072-a812-dc6a6ec3bc12> | en | 0.957022 | 1: Learn to develop your own film
2: Learn to print your own photos in the darkroom, or if you don't want to do that, get a GOOD film scanner and learn to use it.
3: Practice. A lot. Years of practice are needed to get really good. Its worth it. Don't be stingy about film, waste a lot of it, its not really waste, its practice and if you learn from your mistakes you will get very good.
4: Learn to get perfect exposure every time, it makes a big difference in your image quality. Either use an incident meter like 2f/2f suggested or learn the zone system and use a spotmeter.
5: The true speed of a black and white film is not what is marked on the box. Different developers affect the speed of the film, and you may need to use a lower or higher speed if your light meter is not in agreement with the meter used by the manufacturer to determine speed. Test your film. | http://www.apug.org/forums/viewpost.php?p=1138328 | dclm-gs1-013500000 |
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10 Plays Quiz | One Week Quiz A
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One Week Quiz A
Name: _____________________________ Period: ___________________________
Multiple Choice Questions
1. "Ion": Whose idea is it to have Ion adopted by Xuthus?
(a) Ares.
(b) Apollo.
(c) Hermes.
(d) The priestess.
2. "Ion": How is Xuthus described?
(a) A learned man.
(b) A stranger.
(c) A barbarian.
(d) A non-Athenian.
3. "Hippolytus": For what reason does Theseus think his wife has killed herself after reading and misunderstanding her note?
(a) Sadness.
(b) Guilt.
(c) Remorse.
(d) Shame.
4. "Iphigenia among Taurians": What do the Taurians perform for their goddess?
(a) Plant sacrifice.
(b) Human sacrifice.
(c) Animal sacrifice.
(d) Food sacrifice.
5. "Iphigenia among Taurians": Which goddess appears and prevents the king from killing Iphigenia and Orestes?
(a) Athena.
(b) Hera.
(c) Aphrodite.
(d) Artemis.
Short Answer Questions
1. "Ion": What does Creusa put with the baby boy?
2. "Ion": After Hermes' introduction, where does the play start?
3. "Iphigenia among Taurians": Where will Iphigenia take the two men to clean them and help them escape?
4. "Iphigenia among Taurians": Where does Iphigenia think her brother is when she is going to release one of the men to take a message to him?
5. "Ion": Which god is Xuthus's father, Aeolus, the son of?
(see the answer key)
This section contains 199 words
(approx. 1 page at 300 words per page)
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Under a Cruel Star: A Life in Prague 1941-1968 Test | Mid-Book Test - Hard
Heda Margolius Kovaly
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Mid-Book Test - Hard
Name: _____________________________ Period: ___________________________
Short Answer Questions
1. What are the living conditions in the ghetto?
2. Where are the camp inmates staying when Kovály and her acquaintances decide to escape?
3. After wandering Prague looking for help, where does Kovály find herself doubting her faith in God?
4. Surviving the initial selection at Auschwitz, Kovály is assigned what work?
5. What is the apartment like that Kovály is assigned?
Short Essay Questions
1. Describe the mass meeting Kovály attended in 1967.
2. What happens to Kovály's family at Auschwitz?
3. Who is arrested in November 1951 and how does it affect Margolius?
4. What is contained in the note that Ruda sends Kovály after she settles in his apartment?
5. What happens economically in Prague shortly after the war's end?
6. At the beginning of the book, what does Kovály say shapes her life?
7. What does Kovály realize by attending Communist Party meetings?
8. Why is Communism appealing to the Czech people after the war?
9. What does Kovály say many industrialists are unaware of during the war?
10. Why do Kovály and her friends decide to try to escape the camp guards?
Essay Topics
Discuss the struggles that Kovály faces. How does she overcome these obstacles? Are the struggles similar to others in Czechoslovakia? If not, why is she experiencing them?
Discuss the motif of fear and terror in "Under A Cruel Star." Of what is Kovály and the citizens of Czechoslovakia fearful? How is their fear conveyed to others? How does Kovály experience the fear of others? How does this fear affect her? Who is terrorizing Czechoslovakia and why? How are they spreading terror?
Discuss the theme of ostracism in "Under a Cruel Star." How is Kovály ostracized throughout the narrative? Why is she ostracized? How does this ostracism affect her life?
(see the answer keys)
This section contains 808 words
(approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page)
Under a Cruel Star: A Life in Prague 1941-1968 from BookRags. ©2009 BookRags, Inc. All rights reserved.
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0.025233 | <urn:uuid:d68f8281-804a-480e-9fde-dceefb6298e2> | en | 0.890575 | The Boston Globe
Globe 100
Innovators | Medicine
Biologist tests the boundaries of fertility science
Jonathan Tilly, OvaScience
Jonathan Tilly may go down in history as the scientist who rewrote conventional wisdom about a woman’s biological clock.
Tilly, a Harvard Medical School researcher, was initially investigating why reproductive cells sometimes die in the ovaries. Along the way, the founder of OvaScience Inc. discovered that stem cells in ovarian tissue could form new eggs or be used to rejuvenate a woman’s existing eggs — a finding that could increase the chances of older women having babies.
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0.021383 | <urn:uuid:544fda4b-854b-40bc-8c65-9f17a90463e4> | en | 0.95412 | Only in America would a waitress say "have a fantastic day" and mean it.
Only in America would a waitress say "have a fantastic day" and mean it. Photo: Alamy
You've gotta love travel. You've gotta love visiting foreign countries and discovering things you would never get the chance to see at home.
That's what makes the world great, these differences. It may sound like travellers are poking fun when they shake their heads and say, "Only in America", or, "Only in China", but really, it's a compliment. You've got something that no one else in the world possesses – that's something of which to be proud. Well, mostly.
To celebrate these unique features, here are a few of my favourite "only in" moments. (I should also point out that there will inevitably be exceptions to all of these rules, which I'd love to hear about.)
Only in ... America
Will someone in the hospitality industry tell you to "have a fantastic day" and you'll actually believe they mean it. Only in America do you have to choose between "white, multi-grain, wheat, rye, sourdough, bagel, English muffin or biscuit" before someone will bring you breakfast. Only in America are guns considered a fundamental human right. Only in America do gyms have escalators.
Only in ... Japan
Do you receive a message of apology when a train is two minutes late. Only in Japan can you drink in a bar built for a maximum of four customers, served by bartenders dressed as manga characters. (Oh, and most of the bottles of spirits sit on the bar all night, unattended.) Only in Japan can you safely leave your handbag outside a restaurant while you go in and order. Only in Japan can you eat sumptuously from a convenience store.
Only in ... Brazil
Will you find people enjoying "comida por kilo", a smorgasbord-type meal where plates of food are charged by how much they weigh. Only in Brazil will you find a traditional, conservative society where people wear practically nothing to the beach.
Only in ... Vietnam*
Will you see an entire family of five riding on one scooter. (*Actually, you'll find this in a few South-East Asian countries, but most often in Vietnam.) You'll also see live pigs on scooters, huge bits of building equipment on scooters, entire T-shirt stalls on scooters ... You're getting the idea.
Only in ... Scotland
Do they think it's a good idea to deep-fry Mars Bars. And slices of pizza. Only in Scotland are men forced to wear skirts without underpants. Only in Scotland does the Coca-Cola Company not own the country's number-one-selling soft drink: Irn Bru.
Only in ... Ethiopia
Do they use a completely different system of time to the rest of the world. Each 24 hours is divided into two 12-hour periods, one of day, one of night. Day begins at our 6am (when their clock is at 12), and ends at our 6pm (when their clock is back at 12 and night begins). Makes sense when you think about it.
Only in ... Canada
Do weather forecasters "call for" rain or snow. "They're calling for four inches tomorrow." They are? Who are they calling? God? Wayne Gretzky?
Only in ... Russia
Is smiling at strangers considered bad form; but leopard-print mini-skirts and knee-high boots are considered good form. Only in Russia is a bottle of vodka ordered with dinner like it's a fine wine.
Only in ... India
Is a wobble of the head considered an accurate, viable form of communication. What does it mean? Yes? No? Welcome? I'm not sure? I wish you'd go away? As far as I can tell it means all of those things, and probably several more.
Only in ... China
Is progress so frighteningly fast that you might wake up to find a new 30-storey building was erected across the road last night. Only in China will communism be widely embraced – until you try to buy anything from anyone. Only in China will you be constantly amused by "Chinglish" translations like, "If you have any trouble, please feel free to hang your employees." (Er, that's an error, right?)
Only in ... Italy
Will train workers be striking, buses won't turn up, national monuments will be randomly closed, garbage won't have been collected in a couple of weeks, and no one will bat an eyelid. But if you add one tiny extra ingredient to the carbonara everyone will go mental. Only in Italy are envelopes not sold at the post office.
Only in ... Albania
Will you find McDonald's that's not McDonald's. It's called Kolonat, and it looks like McDonald's, it tastes like McDonald's, but it's... Kolonat. There's also "AFC", a fried chicken joint that is a bold rip-off of Colonel Sanders' better known franchise.
Only in ... Dubai
Can you go skiing in the desert. And play golf.
Only in ... Thailand
Does riding a scooter, despite the fact you've never ridden a scooter, seem like a good idea. Only in Thailand will you be hit on by more lady-boys than actual ladies. Or actual boys. Only in Thailand will you find that politicians are universally despised, but the royal family is universally revered.
Only in ... Australia
Will you find friendly, laidback people who have strict rules and laws covering just about everything. Only in Australia will you consider thongs as formal footwear. Only in Australia do we eat the animals on our national coat of arms. Only in Australia do we consider AFL to be a proper sport. Only in Australia do people pride themselves on giving everyone a fair go, without actually giving everyone a fair go. Only in Australia will you find anyone who knows that the way to spell Woolloomooloo is "sheep-toilet-cow-toilet".
What are your favourite "only in" moments from your travels? Post your comments below | http://www.canberratimes.com.au/travel/blogs/the-backpacker/fifteen-things-that-couldnt-happen-anywhere-else-20140225-33fbz.html | dclm-gs1-013710000 |
0.024624 | <urn:uuid:e1e1f90d-8049-41b0-8131-271fdd5ed083> | en | 0.978373 | Relatives of Noah Pozner, a 6-year-old killed in the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting, are calling on the White House to support new federal laws aimed at giving police an early warning of possible attacks and penalizing gun owners whose weapons are obtained by a dangerous person.
The family is also calling for mandatory nationwide school lockdown drills, federal grants for school security upgrades and the development of an emergency response team of mental health professionals that would be available immediately after profoundly traumatic events.
"In Noah's memory, we are determined to make a difference," the family wrote in a memorandum provided to the Courant late Sunday.
The recommendations in the eight-page document represent the views of Noah's mother, Veronique; her brother, Alexis Haller, a lawyer in Washington State; and other maternal relatives. The family said the recommendations were preliminary and that they intended to submit additional proposals.
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"We recognize that no single law or reform will prevent targeted school shootings," the family wrote. "However, by enacting a wide range of reforms, federal, state and local governments can make our children much safer in schools.
Under the proposed "Sandy Hook Reporting Law," anyone who was aware of a "grave and imminent threat of serious physical harm" by an individual with access to a firearm or powerful explosive device, would be required to notify law enforcement within 24 hours. The family said the proposal was based on research showing that in past school attacks, the perpetrators' plans or ideas were typically known by others.
"Like child abuse reporting laws did fifty years ago, the Sandy Hook Reporting law seeks to change our culture's mentality with regard to reporting individuals who pose a violent danger to others," the family's proposal states. "All citizens need to begin accepting the responsibility of preventing a mass shooting, and all citizens need to help law enforcement identify imminent threats."
Under the "Sandy Hook Firearm Safekeeping Law," the owner of a gun would be guilty of a misdemeanor if the weapon came into the possession of a person who had been diagnosed with a mental illness and was "reasonably believed to pose a danger to others," or any person who is reasonably believed to pose "a grave and imminent danger of serious physical injury or death to others."
The proposal includes more serious penalties for the gun owner if the dangerous individual discharges the firearm, and calls for a mandatory five-year minimum prison term for the gun owner if anyone is physically harmed by the gun.
The family noted that Adam Lanza, the gunman who killed Noah along with 19 other children and six adults at the school, used weapons that belonged to his mother, whom he also killed.
"If the shooter's mother had survived, we believe that she should have been subject to criminal prosecution," the Pozner family wrote. "With gun ownership comes responsibility. The owner of a firearm has the obligation – an obligation to each of his or her fellow citizens – to ensure that the firearm is not accessible by an individual who poses a danger to others."
In addition to the criminal penalties, the family said the federal government should fund security reviews and upgrades at schools. The family said it was reluctant to propose specific changes for every school, but said funding should be available for a wide variety of security improvements that local officials deem appropriate, possibly including security cameras, metal detectors, bulletproof windows or random sweeps for weapons.
The Pozners are also calling for uniform national standards on school lockdown drills, which they said should be mandated at any school where they aren't currently conducted.
"Just like every school is mandated by law to have fire drills, every school should now be mandated to have lockdown drills as well," the family wrote.
Lockdown training should also be provided to all substitute teachers, the family wrote. Noah's classroom was led by a substitute the day of the shooting and while another educator was also in the room, the extent of the substitute teacher's training in lockdown procedures is unclear.
Lastly, the Pozners are calling for a system of immediate grief counseling for the families of victims of mass tragedies. They proposed a national telephone number for families to call, as well as a pre-selected group of mental health professionals who would be dispatched to the location of traumatic events.
The proposals will be considered by the White House's task force on gun violence, led by Vice President Joe Biden, who has said he wants to have a package of recommendations ready by Tuesday.
The Pozners' recommendations come a day before relatives of other victims are expected to join with members of a group called Sandy Hook Promise to announce their plans for improving school safety. | http://www.courant.com/news/connecticut/newtown-sandy-hook-school-shooting/hc-newtown-pozner-family-gun-recommendations-20130113,0,6388703.story | dclm-gs1-013770000 |
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Salary at venture-backed tech companies is a topic that is not talked about often, but I’d like to shed some light on it because I believe it is more important than most people acknowledge. Ideally, management teams are driven by a desire to solve a problem and change the world for the better and salary is of minimal importance.
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Spring Integration
Written by: Soby Chacko
Featured Refcardz: Top Refcardz:
1. Search Patterns
2. Python
3. C++
4. Design Patterns
5. OO JS
1. PhoneGap
2. Spring Integration
3. Regex
4. Git
5. Java | http://www.dzone.com/links/salary_at_venturebacked_companies.html?ref=up-details | dclm-gs1-013840000 |
0.128634 | <urn:uuid:8e49aead-265d-4a54-a649-73ff2fd74d20> | en | 0.980958 |
The federal police force said it provided the robot. Its statement added that 100 federal police, marines and local officers were still guarding the area.
Eibenschutz said a farmer was being checked at a hospital after showing signs of radiation exposure. The man, who lives in the nearby farming town of Hueypoxtla, told authorities that he handled the material after finding it in the field and started feeling sick soon after.
The cobalt-60, which was from obsolete medical equipment used in radiation therapy, was being transported to a waste facility by a truck that was stolen at gunpoint early Dec. 2 when the driver stopped to rest at a gas station in Hidalgo state.
Two days later, authorities found the truck abandoned in neighboring Mexico state. The thieves had removed the cobalt-60 from its protective container and left it nearby in the field about a kilometer (a half a mile) from Hueypoxtla, a town of about 4,000 people. Officials have said the material posed no threat to the town, saying it was dangerous only in close proximity.
On Monday, a federal judge ordered five people held for 40 days under a form of house arrest pending possible charges.
Four of the detainees are suspected in the theft of the truck and the fifth was allegedly a possible buyer of the stolen vehicle, said an official with the Attorney General's Office, who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak to the media.
The farmer exposed to radiation is not a suspect in the case, authorities said. | http://www.eveningsun.com/nation-world/ci_24697794/cobalt-60-still-sitting-mexican-cornfield | dclm-gs1-013880000 |
0.075534 | <urn:uuid:22df09ee-b0da-4c4e-a623-e99df4acd7c4> | en | 0.803029 | Leather tote
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in my pocket, Lígia Rocha, ochla, and 12 other people added this photo to their favorites.
1. aliherred 2 months ago | reply
Where did you order those leather tags from?
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0.573929 | <urn:uuid:13bf2784-800c-496d-a9bf-74a86d720681> | en | 0.857815 | What kind of dog is Ammy supposed to be?
#1DarksteelPosted 2/2/2013 1:37:12 PM
Random question. She an Akita?
#2sbn4Posted 2/2/2013 1:37:43 PM
I hear she's actually a wolf.
"No man should fight any war but his own."
#3ice_phoenix_Posted 2/2/2013 1:38:48 PM
Okami can mean both "god" and "wolf" in Japanese, I think
I freeze people then I melt them into water and drink them. <3
#4RagingRicansPosted 2/2/2013 1:39:23 PM
She was originally design to be a basset hound....
PSN: RagingRicans. "Rican's who rage are spicy chalupas". - Fictional Hispanic man.
#5MaroziPosted 2/2/2013 1:40:28 PM
Amaterasu is a wolf. 'Okami' parses to 'Great-God' (With the o-prefix denoting size or greatness, I am not sure which) while 'Ookami' is just 'Wolf'.
#6askinywhiteguyPosted 2/2/2013 1:45:04 PM
She's a wolf.
As to what specific kind of wolf, some people speculate that she's a White Alpha Wolf due to the manner in which she urinates.
#7RoccoRedPosted 2/2/2013 1:50:06 PM
Wolf. Mainly because Okami is a pun that could mean "god" or "wolf".
Though she acts as the Dog Zodiac which the thirteen brush gods reference.
Xbox: KeroTenu
PSN: Omagiri_Dragon
#8BreakerDoorManPosted 2/2/2013 1:50:41 PM
'Fraid so, broseph.
#9ZekiraPosted 2/2/2013 11:42:30 PM
#10MK9_ProdigyPosted 2/3/2013 12:15:30 AM
shes a boston terrier | http://www.gamefaqs.com/boards/637240-ultimate-marvel-vs-capcom-3/65348169 | dclm-gs1-013980000 |
0.077243 | <urn:uuid:082ebbd1-af6d-4461-99f0-f956c0e0dce6> | en | 0.942469 | Question from Shin_Fuma
Asked: 5 years ago
What's the real name of the main character?
Can anyone tell me?
Top Voted Answer
From: Fayt127 5 years ago
As mentioned above, there is no "true" name for the MC. If there's ever a manga made about this game, that would be where the name would come from.
Some people suggest calling him Abel, because, for some of the ending routes, you find out that the MC is the reincarnation of the biblical Abel
Rated: +3 / -1
This question has been successfully answered and closed
Submitted Answers
There is no true real name for the main character
but it should be considered Abel u'll understand wen u play the game
Rated: +0 / -1
It's the name you want it to be for it never hints that the MC's name is anything else than the name you give it.
Rated: +0 / -1
The real name for main character is Abel
Rated: +0 / -0
I guess he's called abel cause he is a-bel :)
Rated: +0 / -0
If you choose the Naoya ending, you will find out that the main character's real name is Abel.
Rated: +1 / -0
I named my Hero "Heero Ryuuzo"
But yea, he has no real name, but he's the reincarnation of Abel.
Rated: +0 / -0
Rated: +1 / -1
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| http://www.gamefaqs.com/ds/954869-shin-megami-tensei-devil-survivor/answers?qid=99025 | dclm-gs1-014030000 |
0.034282 | <urn:uuid:f465682b-44e0-4518-b556-46b6518331cf> | en | 0.957895 | Better ways to get the job done
Ergonomic tools ease the strain of outdoor work
The New York TimesJuly 26, 2013
As we planted, a neighbor strolled by, grinning. "Growing some deer food?"
It was farmageddon. Or armagardden. Or hell.
In recent years, though, I heard enough about the virtues of ergonomic gardening tools that I thought it might be worth another shot. But first, I talked to a trio of gardening specialists: Barbara Pleasant, a gardening author and contributing editor to Mother Earth News; Pam Ruch, who managed the test gardens for Organic Gardening magazine; and Bruce Butterfield, research director for the National Gardening Association.
My question: Is the buzz surrounding ergonomic gardening tools just noise, or have there been legitimate innovations? Their answers could put some fresh veggies on my family's table this summer (if the deer don't get to my new garden first).
"When I started gardening 30 years ago," Pleasant said, "hand tools had wooden handles that rotted and splintered, and the only hoes we had were designed to chop cotton. Are today's lightweight tools with easy-to-grip handles better? Yes, they are."
The first such tool that bears mentioning is the only one that all three panelists went out of their way to rave about: the Cobrahead weeder and cultivator, manufactured in Cambridge, Wis. The business end of the tool looks like a longshoreman's hook but with a flare resembling a cobra's hood. It comes in two versions, for close work and for standing work.
Pleasant said she's "gotten kind of dependent on it."
Butterfield said it's the most efficient tool for taking out weeds, "and it's built like a Russian dump truck, so it won't break."
Ruch acknowledged that the conventional handle doesn't exactly scream "ergonomic" in the era of molded, rubber-coated instruments. "But it's the best all-around tool for the garden, because you don't use a twisting motion," she said. "You're kind of punching it into the soil, so you're using your arm muscles rather than your wrist, which is a real area of vulnerability."
Ruch favors bypass pruners, as opposed to anvil pruners, for their ease of use. "And everybody loves Felco pruners," she said. "You can buy spare parts for them, which is great. But Bahco pruners seem to stay sharper longer, and I've never lost a part on them. I may be switching my allegiance."
Bahco and Fiskars sell pruners with front handles that rotate toward you when you squeeze them, further reducing hand and wrist strain. (I tried Bahco's Professional PXR-M2 and the Fiskars PowerGear pruner.) Fiskars last year added a gel pad to the PowerGear pruner for additional comfort, and it still weighs less than the Bahco PXR-M2.
The Corona ComfortGel 3/4-inch bypass pruner, meant for smaller jobs than the Fiskars and Bahco models I tested, felt lighter than both, and although its ComfortGel handle didn't rotate, it was quite nice to hold.
Pleasant and Ruch recommended the Transplanter Pro by Radius. It's akin to a shovel and features a circular handle and a narrower blade. Radius also builds a line of hand tools for the garden, including a scooper, weeder, transplanter, cultivator and trowel, each with a curved handle.
Perhaps no tool epitomizes the old one-size-fits-all approach to gardening tools as much as the shovel. Ruch said she had heard good things about, but had not tested, the HERShovel designed for women.
The shovel weighs about 4 pounds and comes in three sizes. I'm 6-foot-2, and the large version worked fine for me; I liked the handle as much as the one on the Transplanter Pro, and both were considerably better than my old dinosaur shovel.
After hauling two huge tarps filled with forsythia branches and a wheelbarrow filled with about 75 pounds of roots, I assembled the stand-up garden (from Gardener's Supply) in about 30 minutes.
A Gardener's Supply representative said to avoid using soil in the stand-up garden because it tended to compress too much. The company instead recommends coir, which is made from the discarded husks of coconuts and lasts three or four harvests.
If you choose a stand-up garden for ergonomic reasons, bear in mind that coir comes in bricks that must be soaked and broken up before using. In my case, that meant soaking roughly 35 bricks, weighing 1.4 pounds each. That's before you add the weight of the water (about 7 pounds a brick). So for my stand-up garden, I moved about 280 pounds of material, in multiple batches, over a two-hour span.
For hauling, Butterfield suggested the Ames True Temper Total Control wheelbarrow, which has round handles and was introduced in 2010. I was doubtful until I noticed my hands using most of the handle surface while carting and dumping. Then I was sold.
I planted tomatoes, peppers, beets, carrots and lettuce (yes, I know it's late for that) and loved that I barely had to bend to plant, and I'll barely have to bend to harvest.
Come to think of it, neither will the deer.
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0.045536 | <urn:uuid:083a9f9f-3e50-4f51-a5c2-984f8da0a423> | en | 0.981358 | By and bye, Adrian Peterson, others in NFL come tantalizingly close
"Guys really did not want to lose in his first game back and heading into the playoffs," Luck said. "To get a win I think means the world to him."
Pagano certainly wasn't downplaying the emotions of the moment.
"There was a lot of high-fiving, a lot of dancing, a lot of hugging going on and a lot of celebrating," the coach said after emerging from the locker room. "There's a lot to celebrate right now."
Not for everyone, that's for sure. According to multiple reports, Philadelphia fired Andy Reid on Sunday night, cutting ties with the league's longest-tenured coach after 14 seasons. The clock probably has struck midnight for Norv Turner in San Diego, Pat Shurmur in Cleveland, Romeo Crennel in Kansas City and Chan Gailey in Buffalo.
Shurmur, after a 24-10 loss to Pittsburgh, stuck to bottom-line coach-speak when asked about his future: "We really did not win enough games and we're not competing next week. I was never really worried about [next season] and I have no regrets."
Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers called it "tough" to contemplate Turner's not being the team's coach.
"You've played quarterback for a guy for 102 games," Rivers said. "That's a lot of time spent. A lot of fun, a lot of hard work, plenty of disagreements and aggravations. It's hard. Other than my dad, I don't know that there has been a coach that you've had so much respect for and trust for. Six years is a long time."
The Eagles suffered a 42-7 humiliation at the hands of the New York Giants, whose too-little-too-late effort failed to earn them a trip back to the playoffs. That marks the seventh consecutive year the defending Super Bowl champion will not win a first-round playoff game the following season.
"It happens that way," said Giants defensive lineman Justin Tuck, whose team finished 9-7. "I've been 10-6 and not made the playoffs. You've got to win the ones you're supposed to. That's why the division games mean so much. If we'd won the division games, we'd still be in the driver's seat."
Heading into Week 17, all of the AFC playoff participants had been decided. Those finales were all about seeding.
But the NFC picture had yet to come into full focus. So before Dallas and Washington squared off Sunday night for the NFC East crown, the NFC West had to be determined.
San Francisco claimed that division title with a 27-13 win over Arizona. Seattle won at home too, picking up a 20-13 victory over St. Louis.
"It was a lot harder this time around to get it," 49ers safety Donte Whitner said of securing the week off. "We were the target this year and got everybody's best shot. To come out and still win our division and have the opportunity to get a first-round bye is tremendous."
We're No. 1
Kansas City lost Sunday but also won. Sort of.
The Chiefs finished 2-14, assuring themselves of the top pick in April's draft. Unlike last year, when Luck and Robert Griffin III were selected first and second, there isn't a quarterback worthy of the top pick.
The early indications are that teams drafting in the top five will be looking to bail out of those spots to get better value slightly later in the draft.
Jacksonville also finished 2-14 but was edged by Kansas City based on the strength-of-schedule tiebreaker.
Mile High expectations
In another season, Peterson would be a shoo-in to be named the league's most valuable player and comeback player of the year. | http://www.latimes.com/sports/football/nfl/la-sp-farmer-nfl-week-17-20121231,7923212,5289811.column?page=2 | dclm-gs1-014160000 |
0.291433 | <urn:uuid:588a4af1-f0d1-4260-a7dd-419dc7338951> | en | 0.943522 | New! Read & write annotations
Sittin' by myself in the summertime, when the heat is burnin' down
Watchin' the golden crops in the field just growin' without a sound
I was a boy raised in the country and it's still a part of me
And you see no matter where I go it's a beautiful memory
Rise with sun at the break of day, lookin' out my window
It's the same as yesterday
Sittin' under an old oak tree, pickin' my guitar in the shade
That old tree spreadin' over my head is the closest friend I made
Just me and some lonely wooden music, floatin' through air
The grass is rustlin' and the birds are singin' and my heart don't have a care
Still another day finds me in the fields, sweat is soakin' up my ragged clothes
But I'd rather work than steal
Watchin' the sun settle down over open Texas land, looking at the cattle and the horses runnin' wild as they can
Life was different in the old days, you just get a day's work done
When you were finished workin' in the fields, there was chores at home to be done
I was always hearin' music, always wanna play me some
As a full-time friend or the way to ease the end of a woman that swayed me some
Hearin' those tunes always had a way of soothin' out my soul
When times got hard and work got slow it was music that kept me whole
Sun beatin' down through the trees, gets so hot bring a workin' man to his knees
Part of my heart, part of my soul, part of a melody
Hands are clappin' and people swayin' in simple harmony
When you finished workin' in the fields there was chores at home to be done
Late in the evenin' on the front porch when the sun is settin' in the west
Me and the boys pass around the bottle and sing what we like best
Sing about our wives, sing about our children, singin' out the Delta blues
We're simple folks and we like it that way, got nothin' left to lose
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0.107953 | <urn:uuid:365d3db1-c0d7-469d-b108-67c6b5d4305e> | en | 0.932149 | Gods And Monsters - I Am Kloot
Generally favorable reviews - based on 15 Critics
Critic score distribution:
1. Positive: 8 out of 15
2. Negative: 0 out of 15
1. This time, [Bramwell] transcends that reference [to Robyn Hitchcock], with angular arrangements and a darkly romantic wit that's all his own. [26 Aug 2005, p.61]
2. 83
Eventually it hits you just how godlike catchy these banalities are. [Aug 2005, p.103]
3. It’s all rather marvellous.
4. 80
Where Kloot's self-titled second had moments of glowing, maximalist production, here the sound is pared back. [May 2005, p.106]
5. Thinking-person's Britpop. [Oct 2005, p.166]
6. Admirers will likely crown Gods and Monsters the band's best yet, while the lilting chorus of the single, Over My Shoulder, might make even the unititiated cock an ear.
7. No BIG message here; I Am Kloot simply made a good, heartfelt rock record and, without sounding like they had to try too hard, pulled it off.
8. Though on the whole, Gods And Monsters is a lesser record than I Am Kloot, what it lacks in great songs, it gains in stylistic advancement.
9. After two albums of post-Britpop mediocrity, Manchester trio I Am Kloot kick things up a notch (or think they do), and suffer from bipolarity and an ambition that outstrips their ability.
10. 60
A charming composite of Damon Gough's homespun insight and Edith Piaf's anguish. [May 2005, p.106]
11. 'Gods And Monsters' isn't a bad album, merely average which is a real shame.
12. This diverse album's eerie ambience and astute songwriting more than compensate for its periodic uneventfulness. [Oct/Nov 2005, p.145]
13. Bramwell strings together fine, grabbing lyrics, but he's become too enamored of his literary bent, trying to pack together poetic devices that head off to nowhere.
14. While the bulk of Johnny Bramwell's songwriting attempts to match the gothic fairground swirl of their new sound, the best tracks... remain the most straightforward and acoustic. [May 2005, p.112]
15. 40
Consider this follow-up one step back. [#69, p.98]
User Score
Generally favorable reviews- based on 9 Ratings
User score distribution:
1. Positive: 2 out of 3
2. Negative: 0 out of 3
1. martynp
May 15, 2006
2. matta
Jan 19, 2006
This album is criminally underrated. I really don't get all of the 40 scores from so many reviewers. This album is catchy and poppy but at the same time manages to be very clever and even complex at times. It's not one of the very best albums of 2005, but it's still one of the top 50. Full Review »
3. BenJ
Jun 1, 2005
Whilst this has very good production, song-for-song it doesn't match their earlier albums, and many songs lack strong melodies and John Bramwell's usually more literate lyrics. Quite disappointing overall. Full Review » | http://www.metacritic.com/music/gods-and-monsters/i-am-kloot/critic-reviews | dclm-gs1-014220000 |
0.306941 | <urn:uuid:84834f09-348c-4027-8dd9-8c501ea11f76> | en | 0.967401 |
"It should punch you round the face, with a little kiss after", oh you reckon, Jamie Oliver?
(224 Posts)
Katiekitty Thu 29-Nov-12 18:39:16
Jamie Oliver's BBQ sauce recipe.
Fuck off Jamie.
LRDtheFeministDude Sun 02-Dec-12 11:46:49
I imagine exhalting bollocks would be quite painful actually, kickass, it's true.
Can I say something?
If he'd been talking about someone's husband (or wife) who 'should' punch them then kiss them, he would have been talking literally about domestic violence. Advocating it, in fact (that is what the grammar is doing in the sentence).
If he's talking about sauce, he's using an image. It is not possible to take an image 'literally'. We are all taking it metaphorically. Some of us are offended by the metaphor and others are not. We all know it refers to the sauce, and none of us think it refers literally to DV. However, there is no way to interpret this phrase without understanding that, as a metaphor, it refers to violence followed by 'a little kiss'. This is an image that is strongly suggestive of DV.
KatieSantaPawskitty Sun 02-Dec-12 11:22:29
He was using powerful imagery. It means different things to different people.
To me, the 'punch' and 'kiss' evoked DV.
I know it is unfathomable to a lot of posters here, but also it's very apparent to many as well.
BoneyBackJefferson Sun 02-Dec-12 11:20:37
"4. If you still want to insist on its literal, out-dated meaning, then do you really think that shoving someone in the back side with your foot is the same as punching them in the face? Really? The two are the same? Would you like to volunteer to experience both and see if they both feel the same?"
I would hope that if a partner kicked someone up the arse then it would be taken in the same way as being punched in the face as both would be assault.
Nancy66 Sun 02-Dec-12 11:18:18
yeah - except he was talking about a BBQ sauce not someone's husband.
KatieSantaPawskitty Sun 02-Dec-12 11:16:47
Yep, it's a cookery show.
All the more ignorant of the producers, script writers and JO's PR team to let such a crass statement be bandied about so casually.
Nancy66 Sun 02-Dec-12 11:03:59
it's a cookery show....
jidelgin Sun 02-Dec-12 11:01:53
Didn't he tour the country in one series in a caravan/mobile pub dinner venue rig called The Cock n Cider or somesuch? Bit sleazy n crass!
YouCanBe Sun 02-Dec-12 08:55:37
It was a crass and misguided comment.
CindySherman Sun 02-Dec-12 07:50:17
It's a really nasty, loaded expression and it was written by someone for him to say. It wasn't an off the cuff remark!
I will not become immune to this shit like so many others. Good on you OP for putting this out there. I actually want to write and complain.
seeker Sun 02-Dec-12 07:13:50
I think it's fascinating that even now people think these programmes are just good ol' Jamie chatting away off the top of his head to a single camera like some sort of home movie. There will have been editorial meetings, script meetings, compliance meetings.......And everything he says will have been a conscious decision by someone. And the decision will have been taken that using an image that can only - despite the beat efforts of theProfessionally Unoffended- have been drawn from domestic violence made Jamie look edgy and no end of a lad. Which says something unsettling about how people view domestic violence, doesn't it? And even if it wasn't a conscious decision, the fact that nobody said "Hmm- not sure about that image, Jamie, best not" is just as unsettling.
kickassangel Sun 02-Dec-12 06:21:40
But flimflam it wasn't that JO just chose something out of thin air. It was scripted by writers and media professionals. It wasn't a mistake. It was a deliberate choice of words.
That's the problem.
FlimFlamMerrilyOnHigh Sun 02-Dec-12 04:31:42
Before I was on MN, I wouldn't have thought twice about this metaphor, but now I'm a little better educated on DV etc, I think it was unfortunate and misjudged. But I doubt JO was aware of the connotations, so it was a poor choice of words, but with no malice intended.
Loveweekends10 Sun 02-Dec-12 04:14:10
I watched it. Didn't pay any attention to his description of BBQ sauce ( which I think people are overreacting to) but got wound up by the marketing of uncle bens rice.
Liked his curry recipe though.
kickassangel Sun 02-Dec-12 03:44:59
how would someone 'exalt' a bollock (or two)?
anyway - those of you asking about my name.
1. Points covered earlier about some phrases being so hackneyed they no longer carry any real emotion. The DV ref is very much a current and rl example, which 'kicking ass' hasn't been for a long time.
2. Kicking ass means to boot someone up the back side, or it did a few hundred years ago in the US. by the time Brits started using it, the modern day meaning had already been assigned.
3. Kicking ass now, and for a very long time, has meant verbally trouncing someone. I happily do that if I think someone needs it, although not often.
And if thinking that DV isn't a light-hearted topic to just throw into prime time TV makes me 'professionally offended' then I will happily own that phrase. It isn't tiring to notice something then point out that it is a crass comment. It seems that noticing something, jumping through some pretty tortuous linguistic and mental hoops, then denying that you haven't, before sticking your head in the sand and pretending that referencing DV on prime time TV ISN'T stupid/crass/offensive etc would involve a whole load more effort. If you are one of the professionally unoffended brigade then you must be exhausted, going round all day looking for things to ignore or defend instead of just seeing it for what it is.
If you've never come across the meaning of the 'PYRTFWALKA' then just give thanks that you are in ignorance of what that phrase means, the kind of life that women live through when caught in relationship like that, the way that even talking about it can be a trigger to those who have experienced it. Don't try shutting people up who want to point it out. Why would you do that? Do you want DV language to become part of everyday life? Do you want us all to become enured to the horrors of DV? Do you want perpetrators to be able to hide behind 'everybody does it - even people on the TV talk about it?' IS that the society that you want? Because however much people have pretended that language doesn't matter - it does.
LRDtheFeministDude Sat 01-Dec-12 21:47:49
I should probably explain I don't literally think the bollock is a symbol of power. sad
I don't even exhalt it, not very often anyhow. sad sad
And I'm not sure the sisterhood is (whisper it) an organization of people with membership badges who have the power to chuck people out.
LRDtheFeministDude Sat 01-Dec-12 21:46:27
I thought I was being humourous and ironic too. sad
GetAllTheThings Sat 01-Dec-12 21:43:05
I think Tiggy is being humourous and ironic LRD.
Which makes your post somewhat also.
LRDtheFeministDude Sat 01-Dec-12 21:24:27
Oh, I'm sorry, was I meant to be exhalting the noble and mighty bollock as the symbol of power it is?
Gosh, my bad! blush
I sure do hope the sisterhood don't chuck me out for that failing.
TiggyD Sat 01-Dec-12 21:21:03
"or somesuch bollocks."?!
You're using bollocks as a synonym for rubbish! It's mostly men who have bollocks! Please don't put men down like that.
And please don't blaspheme.
LRDtheFeministDude Sat 01-Dec-12 21:08:32
I know, it's almost like we're taking things literally, or reading imagery, or somesuch bollocks.
It's a struggle to understand how we can be both reading too much, and too little, into this image, so I conclude, my god, we're damn good at this.
(Alternatively, it's just possible the phrase is ... um ... actually fucking offensive and crass, isn't it?)
featherbag Sat 01-Dec-12 20:27:32
Dear lord, the professionally offended brigade is out in force aren't they?! Domestic violence? From this?! Don't be so fucking ridiculous!
PortoDude Sat 01-Dec-12 20:22:16
I, for one, am not desperate to take offence, I don't believe JO to be a wife beating bastard, I think it is good that people take a stand on misogynist language as we do today with racist/disablist language.
There are many phrases that people innocently quote on MN where they get jumped on from a great height. Please let the misogynisyt stuff be treated with the same disdain.
TiggyD Sat 01-Dec-12 19:56:01
Some people are so desperate to take offence they can read bad in everything.
"going over tiggy's head." Are you calling me short?
LRDtheFeministDude Sat 01-Dec-12 19:38:00
That whoooshing sound?
That's the sound of the point of the thread going over tiggy's head. wink
PortoDude Sat 01-Dec-12 17:12:05
Ah - thank you most kindly! That was just what I was thinking of!
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0.023753 | <urn:uuid:9b608ed1-8652-4fa2-9e6f-85acc86f5020> | en | 0.98485 | Convicted knight may give up honour before PM acts
By Matthew Backhouse, Claire Trevett
Former Lombard Finance director Sir Douglas Graham. Photo / Mark Mitchell
Former Lombard Finance director Sir Douglas Graham. Photo / Mark Mitchell
Prime Minister John Key will wait to see whether Sir Douglas Graham takes a further appeal against his conviction before he considers whether to strip Sir Douglas of his knighthood, and there is speculation that Sir Douglas could take the decision out of his hands by offering to surrender it.
The Court of Appeal yesterday upheld the conviction of the four Lombard directors after they failed to include important information about Lombard's position in offer documents in December 2007.
The court also added home detention to the sentences handed down to the directors, Sir Douglas, Lawrence Bryant, Michael Reeves and Bill Jeffries, also a former justice minister.
Some of those who lost money in the collapse of Lombard have called for Sir Douglas to lose his knighthood. Mr Key said such a step was "unusual" but there were international precedents and he would seek further advice once all avenues of appeal were exhausted.
Sir Douglas could not be contacted yesterday and his lawyer did not return calls. However, there is speculation Sir Douglas will give up the knighthood rather than face having it stripped from him.
Lombard collapse was one of many finance company failures between 2007 and 2009, and left 4400 investors owed $127 million. Sir Douglas was among those who lost money.
Despite the views of Lombard's victims, there was little political appetite for cancelling Sir Douglas' knighthood.
Labour's shadow Attorney-General David Parker said he would not call for Sir Graham to lose his title.
"He's a man who has done some good things in life. In some ways he is the father of Treaty settlements and he has been penalised already by the courts for this. He hasn't profited from it himself, he's not like that."
NZ First leader Winston Peters also held back, saying "I don't want to kick a man while he's down."
Auckland University Constitutional Law lecturer Bruce Harris said that if Mr Key was faced with such a decision, he was likely to consider precedents. It could also be relevant that Sir Douglas' knighthood was for his service as a Government Minister and not related to his subsequent work as a director.
"The real question is whether or not the removal is warranted. It's a question of looking at the nature of the crime, how serious it was and whether that warrants a removal. There are no clear rules on that."
The formal word for removal of an honour is 'debasement' - recommendations go to the Queen who has the power to cancel and annul the honours.
Mr Harris said it was a borderline case. In most cases where honours were withdrawn 'traditional crimes' such as murder or sexual offences were involved. "Obviously such a person is not fit to be a knight. But financial impropriety is much more difficult, it's really at the cusp of what is warranted in terms of removal."
Similar considerations are underway in the United Kingdom, where the Forfeiture Committee is currently considering which bankers will lose their honours as a result of the financial crisis, especially if those honours were for services to banking.
Former Royal Bank of Scotland chief executive Fred Goodwin was the first to lose his knighthood after he led the bank to near collapse in 2008, resulting in a £45 billion bailout. The BBC reported that it was the first time a knighthood had been cancelled for financial mismanagement - previously only convicted criminals or people struck off professional bodies had lost knighthoods.
In its decision released yesterday, the Court of Appeal said the original sentences for the four were too lenient and added home detention.
But because the Solicitor-General had not sought prison sentences, the court found the proper sentence was a combination of home detention and community work. The court will impose final sentences once it has received reports on the home detention addresses of the directors.
Roll of dis-honour:
* Albert Henry, the first Premier of the Cook Islands, lost his knighthood after he was forced to resign in a 1978 voting scandal for which he was later convicted of fraud.
* Disgraced doctor and former Christchurch Deputy Mayor Morgan Fahey was stripped of his rank as an Officer of the Order of the British Empire after he was convicted of rape, sexual violation and indecent assault in 2000.
* Queensland police officer Terry Lewis was knighted in 1986 for services to police, but lost all his honours after he was convicted on corruption and forgery charges in 1993.
* In 1994 Zimbabwe President Robert Mugabe was made an honorary Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath, but in 2008, the Queen cancelled this on the advice of the British Government.
* Former MP and prominent UK author Lord Jeffrey Archer kept his title despite convictions for perjury and perverting the course of justice in 2001. His title was considered a life peerage, rather than an honour under the Crown.
* Fred Goodwin, the former CEO of the Royal Bank of Scotland, was given a knighthood for services to banking in 2004 but stripped of it in 2012 for his role in the bank's near collapse in 2008. Was the first case of an honour being removed which did not involve criminal conviction or being struck off a professional body.
* Last month, HBOS chief executive Sir James Crosby asked to be stripped of his knighthood as an act of contrition for his role in the near-collapse of HBOS. The Forfeiture Committee is also deciding which other banking leaders will lose their honours for the banking crisis.
- NZ Herald
© Copyright 2014, APN Holdings NZ Limited
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I am certain Ovid knows this, but it's worth presenting a counterpoint. I have two rules for this situation:
• Code should be as maintainable as possible at all points in the development cycle.
• Code should do only what is absolutely necessary at the current state of the development cycle.
By maintainable, I mean that the intent of the code is evident, there is no duplication, and the names of items and any comments are sufficient so that a decent programmer can fix bugs or add features.
By absolutely necessary, I mean that there is no code that "might be used at some point in the future". If you don't need a feature now, don't pay for it yet. If you're writing an IRC client, don't add a web browser until it's absolutely necessary.
The not-so-subtle difference is that I argue to put off taking advantage of the possibility of modularity until you actually need to re-use a function or an object elsewhere. It's hard to convince me to invest in something that doesn't have an immediate benefit.
In reply to Re: Linear programming is bad by chromatic
in thread Linear programming is bad by Ovid
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More like this: british airways, british and the city.
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allydesign • 1 year ago
BRITISH AIRWAYS (Best): It's not often that you hear an airline say "don't fly" - but that is exactly the tagline of a campaign launched by BA to get Londoners to stay in the city during the games. Travel industry points = 0. Living up to being England's National airline = priceless.
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BRITISH AIRWAYS (Best): Fact - almost all international athletes need to fly into London ... so why not create a huge image of a British athlete along the flight path to Heathrow to remind competitors that they are entering your home turf. Welcome to London, Olympians!
#savethesecret (Best): In response to details of the Opening Ceremonies being leaked, British director Danny Boyle softly helped launch a Twitter campaign with the hashtag #savethesecret to encourage people to keep mum about what will happen - so we can all enjoy it in real time. Request accepted.
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Cary Panel Nixes Baseball Stadium Idea Officials Say Stadium Doesn't Fit in with Community
Article excerpt
Byline: Anna Johnson Daily Herald Staff Writer
A baseball stadium does not belong in Cary, task force members agreed Tuesday night.
After residents voiced concerns about potential traffic, lights and noise, the Cary Park District's Hoffman Park Task Force, unanimously voted against allowing a baseball stadium in Hoffman Park.
"Cary is a small, well-kept community that holds together...I don't think this (a stadium) fits into the community," said task force member Dan Voelz.
About a month ago, a representative from a group of local investors proposing the creation of a semi-professional baseball team in McHenry County approached the task force about the possibility of building a 5,000-seat ballpark on the 270-acre Hoffman Park property.
Now that the task force shot down the proposal, investors will most likely have to look elsewhere in the county.
"I respect their (the task force) opinion," said Gill Gulbrandson, a Cary resident and McHenry County baseball team supporter. "But I feel it would be a good usage to the west of the property. … | http://www.questia.com/library/1G1-72744962/cary-panel-nixes-baseball-stadium-idea-officials-say | dclm-gs1-014620000 |
0.054754 | <urn:uuid:7be5344f-7a40-4d6d-87d9-f9c298595497> | en | 0.966899 | all 1 comments
[–]cooley1990 2 points3 points ago
It's a travesty that the Kinks don't have their own star on "Hollywood Boulevard" especially when Ray Davies wrote the greatest song about it. Shameful. I bet Kim Kardashian will get one before they do. | http://www.reddit.com/r/ClassicRock/comments/1kuz6s/the_kinks_celluloid_heroes_1977/?sort=confidence | dclm-gs1-014650000 |
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[–]ebookitChief Petty Officer 2 points3 points ago
First you would have to define what 'death' means to a positronic brain based android like Data or Lore. It would have to include destroying the body and the mind/memories, because if the body is destroyed, the memories can be copied to a new body like B4, and then Data or Lore would be alive again in B4's body.
If it is not death or an execution, what is it? Possibly an attack that disables the body, even one that dismembers it. But is it possible to put that body back together and turn it back on, so it can function again? If this is the case then it is not dead or disabled or destroyed at all. It is simply turned off or in a state of suspended animation like a human might be placed into. So that Lore can be reactivated and then stand trial if this is the case. It is basically like an android jail to be deactivated and put into an 'off' mode and disassembled and put into storage.
Now if Data destroyed Lore's memory and destroyed the body, then it would be an execution and Lore is now dead. How can you reactivate Lore if there is no body left to activate and all of his mind is deleted and destroyed so it cannot be fully recovered.
[–]gettinsloppyin10fwdEnsign[S] 2 points3 points ago
But what if they have no intention of ever reactivating Lore? Surely, if he could be reactivated but is never reactivated, that's more than a prison sentence? If a human was put into stasis and never brought out of it, would you consider that a prison sentence or what is essentially a death sentence? We're never given any reason to believe Lore is ever reactivated. | http://www.reddit.com/r/DaystromInstitute/comments/1e5b91/was_lores_deactivationdismantlement_an_illegal/c9x52u1?context=3 | dclm-gs1-014660000 |
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[–]RWN406TJ 0 points1 point ago
I was just looking at that smittybilt stinger today for my TJ! It looks awesome. You have confirmed my decision to purchase my own. Any negatives about it? Did you have to purchase a winch plate or does it have it already?
[–]S7DZTJ[S] 0 points1 point ago
Im pretty sure you need a winch plate. I had one but i was looking at it in store and it didnt look like it had one built in. The only negative i read online was some guy hit a van at 25 and he was suprised when the stinger bent lol.
[–]asadog1990 YJ 1 point2 points ago
They don't call it Shittybilt for no reason.
[–]xndrxwTJ 1 point2 points ago
Agreed. If you plan on crawling around the mall go far it. If you plan on seeing use on trails avoid it. The welds are not good, the paint is horrible, and the metal is cheap. I have their old version of this bumper. I will be swapping it for a real bumper shortly.
[–]1TONcherk 1 point2 points ago
You forgot the biggest negative of them all, its imported. A real shame since there are countless companies making bumpers like that right here and are reasonable priced.
[–]WallyMetropolis 0 points1 point ago
Any recommendations for alternatives?
[–]asadog1990 YJ 2 points3 points ago
I have a metalcloak front bumper and I love it. Completely customizable, made in California by a small company that prides itself on fantastic customer service and a product so good it advertises itself.
[–]WallyMetropolis 0 points1 point ago
This looks awesome, thanks.
[–]xndrxwTJ 1 point2 points ago
Metalcloak, poison spyder, tnt, genright, nates 4x4, etc. Really there are tons.
[–]JudgeWhoAllowsStuffJK 0 points1 point ago
Something has to give. Would you rather a bent stinger, or a fucked up bumper?
[–]S7DZTJ[S] 0 points1 point ago
Eactly. And I have never had a problem with smittybilt. Maybe Im not going hard enough...
[–]JustEmptyEveryPocketTJ 4 points5 points ago
If there is one thing I've learned on the various Jeep forums I frequent, it's that there is always someone there to complain if you mention something on the cheaper end of the scale. Trust me, my lift is (mostly) rough country and boy do they love to complain about it while i enjoy a lifted truck for half the price. Lol. With that said, the smittybilt stinger is not intended for use as an actual stinger bumper. That doesn't matter unless you're into some really serious rock crawling though. I think it looks cool and I've been thinking about one myself. Keep on jeepin on brother.
[–]Somedamnusername 0 points1 point ago
What is the point to having a stinger bumper? Something to protect the winch in case of a collision?
I never really considered getting one for my TJ so I don't really pay too much attention to em
[–]S7DZTJ[S] 0 points1 point ago
My understanding and Im a newer Jeeper is they are for roll overs. I also see alot more protection of the front ends critical components. I was also considering the SRC bumper but ended going with the stinger due to it not having light mounts, and Ive never seen one in my area but Ive seen a few SRC bumpers. I didnt really get it for roll protection. Someone correct me if Im wrong on their purpose.
[–]asadog1990 YJ 0 points1 point ago
They were originally made by the arctic guys so they don't get eaten by crevaces. Nowadays they are most common on rock crawlers and are used for protection in an endo situation on a steep descent. On a proper height stinger you should be able to run a string from the point of the stinger to the top of your windshield frame without having anything block it.
Here is a proper use of a stinger. There are probably a few videos of this floating around but I was too lazy to research into it. | http://www.reddit.com/r/Jeep/comments/1oyhmr/new_bumper_on_the_tj/ | dclm-gs1-014670000 |
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[–]chimpfunkzFuck my Finals, I want 25c Beer 19 points20 points ago
I disagree;
On a whole, when someone posts a question like "I am debating between X and Y school" or the kind of questions where they are looking for a specific answer or a narrow question, there is always good discussion and good replies, sometimes even by professors/advisers.
On the other hand, when I see a super generic question, like the one you mentioned, are a little annoying. There wasn't a specific question, or really a question at all. He asked what was possibly the most generic question of all. And I'll be honest, that does make me a little angry; It just shows either a lack of effort into the college hunt (really, you should have a good idea or at least some idea about UIUC) or just blatant laziness.
the fail rate is very high for people who don't know how to use google or other search functions
This is the "attack" you mentioned, unless it got edited. To me, that isn't really an attack, but more of a "why didn't you use the search feature or read the sidebar."
And as for the "Incoming Freshman" page, Sure, some of the information is 2-3 years old, but some of the information doesn't change year to year. This is only a year old. And here is another. The information from those threads aren't changing radically year to year. Amazingly, some things about UIUC, such as the social scenes and whatnot. It isn't that the campus doesn't change, it's that most of the changes are very gradual, and not noticable after 1 or 2 years. I've had friends who graduated 5 years ago tell me things that still apply, things don't change drastically year to year.
tl;dr when people ask super generic questions, people don't like it because of the mentioned "freshman" page. Actual questions are answer very well.
[–]uuuc[S] 14 points15 points ago
Disclaimer: I am not supporting posts like I am choosing between these X schools, prove your worth!, which I've seen in the past.
[–]TaikongXiongmaoAlum, Linguistics 2 points3 points ago
I'd be more than happy to take new suggestions for the Incoming Freshman post. I want to point out that when that post was made, we were getting posts like that one yesterday almost every other day, and it was getting ridiculous. February is when acceptances roll out if I remember correctly.
I'm all for people asking questions, I just think you should put in some research first so you can ask specific questions. I'll gladly answer "What's it like to live in an LLC?" but not so much "What do you think about UIUC?" That question has been asked and answered before, and I know we like to think that new students mean changing attitudes, but information from a year ago? 3 years ago? Still pretty relevant. A lot of those people still go here.
Everyone is free to answer questions if they want. I'd recommend everyone help edit our wiki. It could really use more information, especially in the dorm section :)
[–]GezzySingerAlumna, Music 2 points3 points ago
Maybe we could make a sticky post or something for incoming freshman questions. It can link old threads and sidebar stuff, but also give them opportunity to ask specific questions and keep it all in one place. Would that be a way to make everyone happy? Just an idea.
[–]NegatedVoidIn California where it is warm! :P 0 points1 point ago
I'm more than happy to stick a post during the correct time of year, and I'd be super appreciative of anyone willing to work on a wiki page or the content for a post.
[–]alwaysrevelvant 0 points1 point ago
That would be awesome around now or in march. I was admitted to UIUC recently and have a multitude of questions but have been slightly afraid to ask them.
[–][deleted] ago
[–]riboflavinstems 0 points1 point ago
[–]Lemonpad 5 points6 points ago
Just wanted to say thank you to you and the others who gave me really good advice on choosing between CompE and CS. As an incoming freshman, I was pleasantly surprised by the number of helpful responses!
[–]AssassinAragornCobaaaaaaaaalt 1 point2 points ago
I got a lot of information about UIUC through asking on this sub when I was still an incoming freshman, and although I asked some commonly asked questions, I still got answers, and people were super friendly and helped me out tons with the questions I had. It was really helpful, and I appreciated it tons. I agree with you.
[–]curiosityshop. 4 points5 points ago
I'd also like to see everyone support incoming freshman when they post here. They are excited about their future at UI and want a personal perspective. I've got no problem providing that when I can (it's kinda sweet to see how excited they are), and I hope that others will, too. Sometimes I think that whatever actual question the incoming freshmen post, what they really want in part is to connect with people on campus, to feel like they are included, welcomed, and almost already here with the rest of us. These posts may be as much emotionally driven as information driven. At least, I can imagine that I might do that if I were there age looking forward to such a big change, challenge, adventure.
For subreddit participants who don't want to talk to incoming freshman, it doesn't take much to just skim the post title and skip reading the post. Maybe the moderators can add a tag or something to make that easier.
One thing I also know from personal experience: For years after graduation, Illini are going to come across other Illini all over town, the state, the country, and the world. We are literally everywhere. I hope we will all continue to have a feeling of connection and support for one another. That begins here and now, with how we treat each other online and how we welcome new members (incoming freshman) to our community.
[–]myhandsarebananasillini 0 points1 point ago
Also even for the biggest college subreddit, /r/uiuc isn't super active. It's not like there are a bunch of super interesting posts getting pushed down because of people's questions.
[–]dirty_mikeandtheboys 0 points1 point ago
This is a great college
[–]worthbeads 0 points1 point ago
Why does anyone care? | http://www.reddit.com/r/UIUC/comments/1ymb2o/about_incoming_freshman/ | dclm-gs1-014680000 |
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[–]Ril0 -3 points-2 points ago
Surprised you haven't been down voted yet. There was a thread a while back explaining why minority scholarships and things like that are even around while I don't agree with them really they are there for a reason.
this thread | http://www.reddit.com/r/atheism/comments/1ri6al/atheists_take_irs_to_court_over_preferential/cdntcdj | dclm-gs1-014690000 |
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[–][deleted] 13 points14 points ago
they did something they like to make their happiness increase.... and you're going to judge them and shit on them because it's not to your liking
unfuck yourself | http://www.reddit.com/r/gaming/comments/17q00y/who_else_thinks_these_controller_mods_look_like/c87y9lo?context=3 | dclm-gs1-014700000 |
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[–]TheDrDisgusto 1 point2 points ago
I'm not really too confident in the bottom of the order, but yeah, maybe we can do it. Let's not jinx it. I'm not superstitious but I'm not taking any chances. | http://www.reddit.com/r/motorcitykitties/comments/1e6j11/happy_mothers_day_game_thread_cleveland_indians/c9xfw12 | dclm-gs1-014710000 |
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[–]zip117 2 points3 points ago
You're right, there is one main one main procedure for doing HPDs in SAS called PROC MCMC, which comes with a very detailed 286 page user's guide with lots of examples and graphics. Everything that the procedure does is well documented through equations and references to peer-reviewed literature.
This single procedure, which accounts for most of the bayesian capabilities in SAS, is compared to a single R function in this article. The comparison cannot and should not be made.
I'm tired of these ridiculous adversarial comparisons between these two programs. The SAS system is designed first and foremost for high volume data processing, on zSeries mainframes for instance, and second for business analytics. It is excellent, high-quality software for this purpose and there is nothing comparable. DATA step programming is somewhat unwieldy compared to the R language for general data management, but feels completely natural when you need high-throughput I/O. See: Program Data Vector (PDV).
R is an excellent general technical computing environment. Setting aside the statistics capabilities for a moment, the closest comparison would probably be MATLAB. With few exceptions, it is an in-memory application which gives you a lot more flexibility to manipulate your data with matrix/vector operations, for applications like raster image analysis. One downside is documentation - very few packages come with high-quality cohesive documentation as SAS procedures do. You often only find out how a package works through a mix of reference manuals, vignettes and source code.
Different programs for different purposes. I use both almost every day and gladly pay for both: by contributing packages to CRAN, and by paying license fees to SAS for their expertise in high-throughput data processing. | http://www.reddit.com/r/statistics/comments/1aomgd/rs_2012_growth_in_capability_exceeds_sas_all_time/c905mmt | dclm-gs1-014720000 |
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[–]searchingforthetruth 0 points1 point ago
what gets me is that the reason cost of printer ink is so high is basically, all the printer makers are in a implicit collusion with each other and there is absolutely nothing that governments can do about it because there are no laws to deal with this kind of situation. | http://www.reddit.com/r/technology/comments/102mcn/the_cost_of_printer_ink/c69w6kg | dclm-gs1-014730000 |
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[–]pullandbl -1 points0 points ago
Can somebody explain me why Jaina asked Varian to kill (?) Horde leader in Alliance version of cinematics. He changed his mind when saw that Vol'Jin is new leader. Isn't she is a friend to Thrall? I don't get it.
[–]sidewalkbutts 6 points7 points ago
Being that Thrall appointed Garrosh as Warchief before he left, she feels that he is directly responsible for Garrosh's current rampage. She also seriously hates the Horde now, and Orcs in particular.
[–]pullandbl 2 points3 points ago
I didn't played for a year, so probably miss this part of the storyline. Thank you.
[–]Farronthedeuce 6 points7 points ago
It was mostly in the book. Where Garrosh bombs her city, Theramore and she goes full beast mode on hating the Horde. | http://www.reddit.com/r/wow/comments/1p2toj/if_you_click_these_banners_in_vale_of_eternal/ccydm10?context=3 | dclm-gs1-014740000 |
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A girl who was kidnapped 7 months ago in Spain has turned up alive in the depths of the Amazon rainforest by kangaroos18in worldnews
[–]FetidFeet 0 points1 point ago
TIL to always ask for money up front when selling children on the black market.
/u/0ZE tries to get a free chair. /u/Haworth_Inc isn't having any of that biz. by robotortoisein SubredditDrama
[–]FetidFeet -1 points0 points ago
That analogy is a bit of a stretch.
[–]FetidFeet 3 points4 points ago
Is exploiting a bug in a website to get thousands of dollars of product for free a crime?
Question for those that dislike the Postal Service (USPS): if the founding fathers thought it was a good idea for the government to run the postal service, why is that idea no longer valid or good? by blueskies21in PoliticalDiscussion
[–]FetidFeet 1 point2 points ago
About 70% of the Postal Service's shortfall is due to the prepayment retiree health fund ( They would still be having significant issues simply due to the fact that First Class mail declines in volume almost every year combined with the fact that it has some fairly significant mandates from the US government.
Newsweek publishes an article claiming to have identified the founder of bitcoin. /r/bitcoin drama ensues, including discussion of doxxing the Newsweek reporter... by drdramain SubredditDrama
[–]FetidFeet 1 point2 points ago
I'm sure there are some in the bitcoin community who are psychologically incapable of reaching the "acceptance" stage.
Dev on C4 Engine’s PS4 Exclusivity: Microsoft Never Responded With Slightest Bit of Professionalism by whatwhatinthebutt01in Games
[–]FetidFeet 2 points3 points ago
Counterpoints on NES:
• Rush'n Attack
• Lion King
• Ghosts 'n Goblins
• Fester's Quest
• TMNT
That's just off the top of my head of games I grew up with.
Tipping drama in /r/dogecoin when people tip the victims of Gox: Is it malicious to throw pennies at a men who lost millions? by billpikain SubredditDrama
[–]FetidFeet 34 points35 points ago
"I told you so."
The four most delightful words in the English language.
Why are so many environmentalists against nuclear power? by blueskies21in PoliticalDiscussion
[–]FetidFeet 1 point2 points ago
Nuclear has similar GHG emissions to renewable/sustainable electricity generation technologies, and it's FAR less than fossil fuels. I'm not sure where you heard otherwise. In cradle-to-grave analysis, Nuclear is about 20 times better than Coal in terms of GHG.
Look at the chart on page 2. The NREL guys are some of the best in the world at Life Cycle Assessment, and I trust their analysis.
The TSA “saw” my Bitcoin and wanted to count it by [deleted]in nottheonion
[–]FetidFeet 8 points9 points ago
I think what he is saying is that the pins look a lot of coins when run through the x-ray machine. People do attempt to smuggle gold that way.
[–]FetidFeet 29 points30 points ago
This is like traveling with 10 lbs of flour in ziplock bags and then getting mad when the TSA thinks you're a drug mule. You're not allowed to carry huge amounts of cash internationally without declaring it. They saw a bunch of what appeared to be currency, and investigated it. Once they figured out that wasn't the situation, they let him go. Granted, TSA inspectors make a lot of dumb errors, but this is one of the more trivial I've seen.
"Dude, it's juice. Get over it." Drama in /r/pettyrevenge over drinking a kid's juice box. by aub51zzzin SubredditDrama
[–]FetidFeet 6 points7 points ago
When he starts hiding all the discarded juice boxes in the crawl space. Midnight runs to the grocery store after he's already had 4 juice boxes and there's none left. Showing up to work with purple lips. Pretty soon he's homeless standing outside a day care trying to bum juice boxes off parents who are picking up their kids. Pretty soon the family has an intervention and throws him in rehab. He gets clean, but tells himself "I'm pretty sure I could stop at just one box. Maybe just on Thanksgiving," while nervously rubbing his 60 day JA coin between thumb and forefinger.
Teacher cries because a student names 9 angels. Can confirm, am other kid. by ollismithin thatHappened
[–]FetidFeet 21 points22 points ago
Angels - 9 Punctuation - 0
Using the CBO's minimum wage report as a lens for viewing media bias. by ThatGuyFromOhioin PoliticalDiscussion
[–]FetidFeet 0 points1 point ago
Yes, I probably should have chosen my words more carefully given I do modeling for a living. In this case, it's probably fair to assume that the median, mean, and mode for the probability distribution of outcomes is so close as to not make a difference in what we take away from the analysis.
I mean, if someone comes to me and says their curve looks like (~0, -100k, -200k) with a SD of 100k, my mind is going to file that under "pretty damn close to a normal distribution.")
The orgrimmar map is so frustrating by WaterChestnut3in hearthstone
[–]FetidFeet 123 points124 points ago
This is a slap in the face to all their customers.
[–]FetidFeet 6 points7 points ago
No they didn't. The confidence interval was minimal increase to -200,000 with an expected value of -100,000 for the $9.00 scenario.
New Study: Internet Trolls Are Often 'Machiavellian Sadists' by thinkpeoplethinkin TrueReddit
[–]FetidFeet 3 points4 points ago
Hey butthead, why don't you make like a tree and get outta here!
Don’t buy the hype of a robot-driven ‘jobocalypse’.Technology can bring us better jobs, but we must ensure that benefits are shared by everyone by Irma28in Economics
[–]FetidFeet 4 points5 points ago
It's interesting that you brought up architects. A couple architects I've talked to have bemoaned the way the internet has made it much easier to find thousands of designs online which can then be purchased inexpensively and built with little customization. The effect is a "commodification" of their skills.
I suspect, though, the real problem is the slow construction market and the fact that more degreed architects are being churned out by schools than job openings are available. (
What's a fact that's technically true but nobody understands correctly? by thlabmin AskReddit
[–]FetidFeet 2 points3 points ago
I don't think anyone read this question correctly. It's supposed to cover things that have much more complexity than a superficial examination / understanding would imply. Instead, everyone is just posting things people are often completely wrong about.
The Games Industry Doesn't Have a Citizen Kane, It Is Citizen Kane by iFlashiein Games
[–]FetidFeet -2 points-1 points ago
Ha, me neither. Fortunately I can buy the EA games I enjoy (Madden, FIFA) and skip the dogs. It's not like I am buying a subscription to all the games EA publishes in a given year.
Total Biscuit finally snaps. Fingers are pointed, jimmies are rustled, but more than anything it's just kind of sad. by ironyalwaysin SubredditDrama
[–]FetidFeet 1 point2 points ago
I totally agree with many of the things you said about his interactions with fans. However, what he's saying isn't unique. Many, many "internet personas" over the years have come out and said that getting so much hate mail each day is demoralizing. And these are folks of all types of temperaments. You could be the nicest, most disarming guy, but you're still going to get crazies coming out of the woodwork sending you hate mail. I can't even imagine the kind of stuff politicians get, given that about 50% of the public regularly and emotionally disagrees with their opinions.
Robert Reich: America has forgotten its 3 biggest economic lessons. by nomanoidin TrueReddit
[–]FetidFeet 0 points1 point ago
While I truly believe that income disparity is a problem for "fairness" reasons, I'm not sure that his central argument is true. The concept that income disparity leads to poor economic growth in the US is pretty murky.
1945 - 1973 had 3.3% average population-corrected GDP growth, and the exact same 3.3% from 1982 to 2007. Around 1980-1982 is really the point when income gains for the top 5% started drastically diverging from the median household, hence the reason for that time period being chosen.
Is there a reason beyond the TeaParty's advertised core values that give them a bad rap? by ScuttlingLizardin PoliticalDiscussion
[–]FetidFeet 2 points3 points ago
The fundamental problem with the Tea Party is that it is a populist movement that evolved into a reactionary movement. We could argue all day long on whether they're right, but the concept that "government should be a smaller part of Americans' lives" is a popular one.
The problem is that this concept attracted a lot of ultra-conservative cranks who happen to be ultra-conservative on social issues too. As a result, the Tea Party quickly dove to the right, rather than to the middle. As far as demographics go, there's just a lot more people who are fiscally conservative/socially conservative than fiscally coservative/socially liberal. That balance of power eventually turned the Tea Party into a de facto far-right party whose membership is not necessarily aligned with it's stated principles.
Obama has delayed the employer mandate, again. Should he delay the health care mandate for individuals? by teddiliciousin PoliticalDiscussion
[–]FetidFeet 0 points1 point ago
One thing some people are not aware of is that the Individual Mandate has really lousy enforcement options for the government. The IRS is tasked with enforcement, but the law specifically prevents them from garnishing wages. They have an option to put a lien on property when it's sold, but that really only applies to property owners who probably aren't the target of the individual mandate anyways. Most importantly, lying about your coverage allows you to get your refund immediately, and you are protected from criminal charges.
In a thread about cosplay, one redditor in /r/pics has some choice words for "nerds" who "play pretend." by TheLadyEvein SubredditDrama
[–]FetidFeet 7 points8 points ago
Is "acting the part" required for cosplay? I went to PAX once and practically zero of the folks dressed up were role playing. When I think of the word, it means to ME dressing up as a character that's popular in geek/nerd culture and standing around getting your picture taken with random people. | http://www.reddit.com/user/FetidFeet | dclm-gs1-014750000 |
0.042974 | <urn:uuid:0ab18a25-6455-4665-bbb6-e9d5f7b4171b> | en | 0.990059 | Officers credit training in Ohio shooting response
ANN SANNER Associated Press Published:
Officer Matt DeLisa said many students and staff were helpful in allowing them to secure the school. He was among the 50 police officers, firefighters and other first responders honored Wednesday afternoon by the Ohio Legislature. The group also met with Gov. John Kasich and his Cabinet members behind closed doors.
"The students acted tremendously," DeLisa said. "As far as, you know, chaos going on and screaming and yelling -- there was nothing like that."
State lawmakers praised their efforts and stopped during their voting sessions to give them standing ovations during their visit to Columbus.
"There are always those who come forward and do, not just their duty, but make the extraordinary effort to see to it that those who are in danger are protected," House Speaker William Batchelder said before representatives stood for a moment of silence.
"That fraction of a second, you're waiting to hear; it's training," DeLisa said. "We've been through that before ... but then you just react."
He said that two years ago, law enforcement officers in the county took part in a school shooting drill at Chardon.
DeLisa said that they never encountered the shooter but that officers didn't know initially where he was.
Lefelhoc, who has been a Chardon patrolman for almost a year, said he has occasionally been assigned to do special shifts at the school since the shooting.
"We're not there for any type of therapeutic reasons other than just being seen," he said. "Being there makes them feel more comfortable."
Prior to the shooting, students would shy away from uniformed officers such as him, Lefelhoc said.
Now, he added, "it's turned into they're thanking you." | http://www.the-daily-record.com/ap%20state/2012/03/28/officers-credit-training-in-ohio-shooting-response-1332970011 | dclm-gs1-014900000 |
0.020913 | <urn:uuid:ba358062-7391-4527-93f2-19de78ed4809> | en | 0.938686 | Whoa, no backpedaling here, eco-gym rat! Coventry University student Da Feng has designed a one-seat self-contained car, power generator and workout system called the GYM just for you. Fitness freaks can pedal to their destination, switch off the power and begin rowing, bench pressing or stepping to generate the power they need to get back home.
The GYM concept car provides a great incentive to work out. Or you can just walk.
Implications - In reality, if you are looking for a great way to squeeze a little extra time for exercise into your daily routine, the GYM is the perfect gadget. With this kind of intense pedal power you can bet the calories will be burning every which way! | http://www.trendhunter.com/trends/bike-extras-pedal-your-way-there-but-row-back | dclm-gs1-015020000 |
0.046383 | <urn:uuid:7b8ce4ce-0a65-4061-aa1e-9da54c5eba17> | en | 0.986436 | Donald Trump, Miss California Carrie Prejean
"Miss California has done a wonderful job, that was her belief," Trump tells Fox News. "It wasn't a bad answer, that was simply her belief."
Sympathizing with Carrie Prejean, Trump adds that she was "a bit unlucky" to get the question from the openly gay Perez Hilton. "She was going to get killed" no matter how she answered it, the mogul says.
One topic Trump doesn't side with Prejean on is her belief that her un-PC statement cost her the crown. Prejean was first runner-up to Miss North Carolina Kristen Dalton.
"I am very honored that she won," Trump says. "She really did a fantastic job." | http://www.tvguide.com/News/Donald-Trump-Defends-1005444.aspx | dclm-gs1-015050000 |
0.274133 | <urn:uuid:f311972f-4975-497e-b6f0-52a85fc72171> | en | 0.864595 | First: Mid: Last: City: State:
Dawn Quaas
Log on to USA-People-Search.com if you require immediate access to a specific Dawn Quaas. When you initiate a search, our website will provide all the vital data for anyone who is named Dawn Quaas, as well as their age, home address, and any other public records data.
There are many people named Dawn Quaas. In order to zero in on the right Dawn, make sure to key in all the information you have, such as known aliases or past addresses. Any extra data, including email addresses and phone numbers, can also be found on USA-People-Search.com. If you are not able to identify the right Dawn, you can browse through the list of search results below and pick out the correct Dawn Quaas.
Name/AKAsAgeLocationPossible Relatives
1. Quaas, Dawn M45 Marion, IA
Alburnett, IA
Cedar Rapids, IA
QUASS, TODD A (age 44)
View Details | http://www.usa-people-search.com/names/p/Dawn-Quaas | dclm-gs1-015080000 |
0.274221 | <urn:uuid:ec7a3d6f-55d0-4fe3-96b6-d3a8cdfcc81a> | en | 0.887837 | First: Mid: Last: City: State:
Roseann Zimmerman in Narvon, PA
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Name/AKAsAgeLocationPossible Relatives
1. Zimmerman, Roseann Narvon, PA
View Details | http://www.usa-people-search.com/names/p/Roseann-Zimmerman-Narvon-PA | dclm-gs1-015090000 |
0.021249 | <urn:uuid:1710ffd6-cd44-4c20-9cbe-f7a7e1186079> | en | 0.976308 | Skip the Shoes, and Change the World
Women, you've been challenged. By skipping the next shoe purchase at Payless and instead sending that $26 to a political candidate, you could forever change politics. "They need to start enjoying that pleasure instead of pinched toes," says Democratic fundraiser Susie Tompkins Buell, the founder of Esprit clothing. The idea was suggested by the Woman's Campaign Forum in a new report that found women to be poor political donors. "What if you could change the world for the price of a pair of shoes? Women can," says the report. Consider: The average pair of shoes costs $26.75, and if women gave up one purchase in 2006 to a candidate, they would have donated $1.3 billion. "If we think about all the women who are buying shoes at $50, $100, $500, the power is enormous," adds the report. | http://www.usnews.com/news/blogs/washington-whispers/2007/06/17/skip-the-shoes-and-change-the-world | dclm-gs1-015110000 |
0.030532 | <urn:uuid:869e9d0a-61ae-47dd-b786-ab6c7bd2f2e2> | en | 0.965432 | Obama's Job No. 1: Create Jobs, Strengthen the Economy
In his State of the Union address, Obama laid out his proposals for creating jobs.
Regarding energy, Obama called for a new generation of "safe, clean nuclear power plants" in the United States, some carefully planned offshore oil and gas development, continued investment in biofuels and clean-coal technologies, and legislation to limit climate change.
He pledged to continue working to overhaul the healthcare system but didn't clarify how to break the logjam that has stalled compromise in Congress. He said he accepts a share of the blame for not explaining what an overhaul would do and for leaving many Americans confused and worried about the pending legislation. He said many Americans desperately need reform in order to gain adequate coverage, eliminate abusive practices by health insurers, and hold down healthcare costs. "I will not walk away from these Americans," he told an assembled joint session of Congress in the House of Representatives, "and neither should the people in this chamber."
He also supported a program to increase U.S. exports and open global markets to U.S. goods, and a plan to increase funding for education. And he called for ending the military's "don't ask, don't tell" policy regarding homosexuality in the armed forces in order to allow gay people to serve openly in the military.
He called on members of Congress to post all earmark requests on a single website before the legislators vote, to inform the voters of "how their money is being spent."
Toward the end of his address, he repeated his plan to end the Iraq war and called for a continued effort to fight terrorism. But clearly, strengthening the domestic economy is Obama's Job 1.
• See a slide show of 10 Obama green job winners.
• See photos of the Obamas behind the scenes. | http://www.usnews.com/news/obama/articles/2010/01/28/obamas-job-no-1-create-jobs-strengthen-the-economy-?page=2 | dclm-gs1-015120000 |
0.187798 | <urn:uuid:1cf16cee-914d-4655-93ac-cabc2c3fd59c> | en | 0.929067 |
Feral Dragon (CR +Varies)
*Editor's Note
The challenge rating adjustment for this template is very approximate. Losing spellcasting and all abilities other than breath weapons will have a much greater impact on older dragons and ones that rely more on spellcasting so consider this carefully when applying this template.
Seemingly all scales, wings, fangs, and claws, feral dragons exist as pale reflections of true dragons. Some are actually cousins of true dragons, in the same way that apes are cousins to humankind. Others are degenerate descendents of dragons as they existed in an older age. Rapacious and voracious, feral dragons are awful carnivores that hunt beasts and sentient creatures alike. They love bright, shiny objects and often devastate caravans and entire settlements to steal even small amounts of treasure.
Like true dragons, feral dragons come in several hues, both chromatic and metallic, and can breathe great gouts of fire, ice, acid, or other energy. Though they are fully as perceptive as true dragons, they lack the intelligence and spellcasting ability of their more advanced cousins.
Creating a Feral Dragon
“Feral dragon” is an inherited template that can be added to any true dragon (referred to hereafter as the base creature). A feral dragon uses all the base creature's statistics and special abilities except as noted here.
Challenge Rating*: A feral dragon's challenge rating equals its racial Hit Dice divided by 2 or the base creature's CR –4, whichever is greater.
Alignment: Usually neutral, but feral dragons often grow closer to the base creature's alignment as they age and gain Intelligence.
Armor Class: The feral dragon's natural armor bonus is equal to the base creature's –2 (minimum +0). If the base creature had no natural armor bonus, this feature of the template causes no change.
Special Attacks: The feral dragon loses all the base creature's supernatural and spell-like special attacks except its breath weapons. It also loses the ability to cast spells. It retains all the base creature's other special attacks.
Special Qualities: The feral dragon loses the base creature's damage reduction and spell resistance (if any), and all its supernatural and spell-like special qualities. It retains all other special qualities the base creature had.
Abilities: Str +4, Dex –4 (minimum 1), Con +4, Int –15 (minimum 1), Wis –4 (minimum 1).
Skills: Recalculate the feral dragon's skill points for its racial Hit Dice according to the following formula (6 + new Int modifier) x HD. Then spend its skill points afresh, using Dragon type guidelines for class skills.
Feats: A feral dragon has the same number of feats as the base creature does, though they should be chosen with an eye toward which ones are most useful with its diminished abilities.
Treasure: Double standard.
Using the Feral Dragon Template
The feral dragon template was designed to give players the chance to fight big dragons at lower levels than normal. Both players and GMs can use these creatures to enjoy dragon slayer scenarios akin to those in European myth and popular culture. Feral dragons are still tough monsters for their CRs, but characters facing them can worry more about how dangerous a combatant their foe is and less about whether or not it uses scrying to learn their plans and prepares to use spells against them. | https://sites.google.com/site/pathfinderogc/bestiary/monster-listings/templates/feral-dragon-cr-varies | dclm-gs1-015270000 |
0.111548 | <urn:uuid:f9dc23c7-bf19-44fe-af6c-4b723f69c180> | en | 0.991359 | CW—Chapter 9
Dean sat flipping through the journal, but Sam could tell he wasn't really reading anything. Sam had spent the better part of an hour trying to not be obvious about the fact he'd been watching Dean.
His brother's face was that passive, neutral expression that made Sam think Dean was absorbed in some inner conversation with himself. He was sitting on the bed, seeming relaxed, but the tension that hung in the air Sam could part with his fingers. He didn't have to guess much to know what Dean was contemplating or why there was the tension.
"I'm sorry." The words blurted out of Sam's mouth before he thought much about them.
Dean glanced up, genuine surprise and curiosity on his face. "About what?"
"That I didn't tell you. That it even happened…that I'm—"
Bristling and sitting straighter Dean's face turned to anger. Pointing at Sam he snapped out, "If you say because you're half demon I'm beating the crap out of you right here and now."
Sam shut his mouth and stared at the end of his bed.
"Why didn't you just tell me, Sammy?"
Shrugging, Sam had no ready answer for that one, and about a dozen reasons lined up in his head. None of them really explained anything. The truth was there was one and only one reason. "I was…I didn't know…it scared me."
"I traded my soul for your life, Sam. I've put you above everyone and everything. Maybe you could have given the guy who raised you and knows you better than anyone a tiny, little bit of credit?"
Okay, now didn't that just bite?
"Don't you get it by now there are some things I just don't give up on? I'll never give up on?" Dean asked quietly.
Sam nodded. In retrospect his fears and keeping what he knew from Dean seemed stupid. It had certainly been unnecessary and caused him much unneeded grief and sleepless nights.
"Is there anything else, Sam?"
Picking at the sheet Sam shook his head, "I don't think so."
Dean laughed at that. "I've sort of lost track myself." His voice and face softened. "I'm not giving up, Sam. Not ever, for any reason. I don't care what you think was done, or how bad it is. You're the only brother I've got and I'm not giving up. That's a promise."
Sam swallowed around the lump in his throat. He didn't know what to say, or even if there was anything to say. It didn't matter; speaking wasn't going to happen for a few minutes.
"I found something." Dean held the Colt's journal up facing out so Sam could see what was on the page Dean had opened it to.
He had to blink a few times to clear his vision while his eyes skimmed the entry and his brain homed in on some key words. Lawrence, Kansas, John, Mary. Sam sucked in a breath and looked up, meeting Dean's clear, steady eyes.
"I don't know if I want…if I can…"
"I don't know if I can't," Dean said softly and set the book down on his bed beside his leg.
Sam's eyes followed the movement then went back to Dean's face. This time his brother's expression was open and readable. Dean wanted to know, he wanted to see his parents and know what brought them together with Jake and Ben Colt. Dean wanted it very much, but he'd give it up for Sam. Yet another thing in their lives Dean would give up for Sam, do it willingly and without regret or malice.
Not this time. Not anymore.
Sam leaned over, fingers brushing over the old, worn leather for a few seconds before he took firm hold of the book, leaned back against the headboard and opened it to the page Dean had shown him. "I think we can." He watched Dean rustle around for a few minutes, getting more comfortable. "Dude! Why don't you just stand up, turn around three times and make a nest?"
Dean tossed a pillow at him, which Sam caught and chucked right back.
"I'm comfy now."
Snorting, Sam cleared his throat, took a swig of water, propped the journal on his bent knees and began to read.
July 1, 1977 Lawrence, Kansas
"I'm getting too old for this crap." Jake mumbled for the third time and shoved against the car door, one hand inside turning the not so agreeable steering wheel. "She's definitely getting too old for this. Will you put your back into it?" The final words were snapped at Ben.
Huffing, Ben ignored Jake's sour mood. He wasn't in such dandy spirits himself and if he didn't keep his mouth shut the two of them were going to end up yelling at one another. It wasn't his fault the car had broken down and it wasn't his fault it was so damn old getting parts took some sort of act of Congress, God being their second choice.
Jake stopped long enough to wipe one arm across his forehead. Of course when he stopped, the car stopped and Ben tripped up the back end, sprawled over it for a few seconds before nearly ending up on his butt.
Ben barked out a, "Hey!" when Jake turned to him, Ben silently chastised himself for not engaging brain before mouth. "It's not my fault."
"I know," Jake said softly and settled on the running board. "This is one heavy-ass car."
Straightening, Ben leaned back, then stretched side to side. "Sit tight, I have an idea."
"Where are you—?"
"Just give me a minute, I'll be right back." Ben called over his shoulder as he jogged down the street.
The back of the repair shop Ben spotted was open, a fan in one end blowing warm air through the large, damp space inside. "Hey. Hello? Anyone home?" Please let there be someone here before I have a damn heart attack pushing that car.
"Can I help you?" A kid, maybe twenty to twenty-five appeared from under one of the newer, smaller, more gas efficient cars. He wiped his hands on a rag that didn't do much other than move the grease around his hands and smiled at Ben.
"Yeah, I hope so. I've got a car…"
The kid glanced around at the garage full of cars in various states of repair, "Me too."
Sighing, Ben pinched the bridge of his nose between thumb and forefinger, why did everyone feel the need to drench him in sarcasm? "I have this car…it's the size of a very large Sherman tank and weighs about three times as much."
The kid nodded, "We should probably use the flatbed then."
A few minutes later Ben was climbing into the passenger side of the flatbed truck. "I should probably warn you, it's my brother's car and I think he believes he gave birth to it."
Suddenly the kid brightened, huge grin splitting all over his face. "She must be a great car!"
Before the truck even pulled up next to the Chevy Master and the kid beside him exhaled a sharp, "Schweet car!" Ben knew he'd become invisible and marveled once again at how the generation gap snapped shut when two guys found common ground in an old car.
Ben managed to coax Jake out of the repair shop and head to a nearby diner telling Jake he needed to let the kid work on their car in peace. "We'll find the money, we always do." Ben said between bites of BLT.
"We're all too old for this." Jake mumbled.
"Speak for yourself." Ben grinned and poked Jake's shin with his toe.
"Naw, seriously, Benny. We follow the trail and it dies. Every time it's getting harder and harder to pick up on Yellow-Eyes. You want to be doing this when you're seventy? Because I sure don't. We have to find it. We have to stop it and I'd sure like to do that before I die."
"You're nowhere near dying," Ben said quietly.
Jake's eyes softened, "I know. You know what I mean."
"Look, we did everything we could and we've done a lot of good things along the way. Maybe it's time we just let it go. There're others, Singer, others we've met who are far more spry than we are and with more ambition. Let them have a crack at it too. Our turn is over."
Jake shrugged, threw down some money on the table and nodded. "Let's go check out the car."
The kid—Ben made a mental note to ask his name—was sitting at a dirty desk, writing on a piece of paper when they got back to the garage. He looked up and smiled at them with kind, dark eyes. "I have a quote for you. It'll take a few days to order parts, some aren't easy to come by."
Ben peered over Jake's shoulder at the paper the kid handed him. Jake's hand shook and Ben saw how his face fell. Hand on Jake's shoulder, it suddenly hit Ben hard, this was their home and it might have to be left behind. "Would we be able to store it here for a bit? That's a lot of money for us right now."
"Yeah, I figured it was. I'd be happy to look after her for a bit for you."
"I brought you some lunch, John." A female voice ended in a sharp gasp, "Schweet car!"
Ben's chin dropped to his chest, it was some sort of gathering, had to be. Ben turned to see a girl, about the same age as the mechanic kid. She had long blond hair and fair features which contrasted sharply with his darker hair.
"We're going to store her here for a bit," John said.
"Oh, cool." She handed a bag to John without taking her eyes off the car, pacing around it and peering in the windows. Stopping near the rear passenger window, she arched one eyebrow. "Are you a photographer?"
"I am," Ben said.
"We're getting married in a few days and no one to take pictures. July fourth weekend is popular I guess and we didn't book anyone in time."
Ben nudged Jake's arm, they looked at one another. Jake grinned suddenly. "Don't suppose you'd trade some wedding shots for some car repairs?"
The girl looked over at her fiancé.
John nodded, "I think we could work something out. You get your car fixed, Mary and I get some pictures."
"Schweet." Ben shook John's hand. Not only were they keeping their car, they'd get to go to the wedding of a couple of sweet kids by the name of John and Mary.
John slid his arm around Mary's waist, smiling down at her before giving her a kiss and then nodded to one of the offices. "I'm going to take my lunch in the back."
She gently caressed his arm, a look of unspoken understanding and excitement passing between them at their good fortune, before he took his leave. "I'll be right there," she replied.
John raised a hand to both Ben and Jake. "Call the shop when you find a place to stay, I'll keep you updated on the progress."
Mary watched her fiancé duck back into his office and then turned back to the two of them, crossing her arms and hitching a hip up against the desk John had been sitting at before. "You two hungry?" she asked.
"Just ate, ma'am," Ben nodded toward the direction of the diner.
"Sounds like you need a place to stay," she said, looking once again to the car. "Been on the road long?"
Jake straightened his hat and went to the trunk to get their bags. "You could say that," he snorted as he ducked beneath the trunk lid.
Ben gave her a quick, apologetic look and shrugged. "A while."
Mary's eyes continued to gloss over the car, eyes narrowing a little in thought, head tilting in curiosity, especially when Jake hauled out two bags, talismans hanging from the leather straps. Her lips thinned, the smile there waned into a sadness Ben couldn't place…until he saw her run a hand though her hair, tucking a wayward blond strand behind her ear, the charm bracelet visible against her slender wrist. Sigils and talismans and marks of protection clanked together along the circlet. Nothing you could find in some common jewelry shop either. Iron and silver, brass and tiger's eye, all the charm shapes wards against the supernatural.
The tools of a hunter.
"Nice talisman," she said, nodding to Jake's bag, subtly calling him and Ben out. "You have been on the road a long time."
Ben tipped his chin toward her wrist. "Been hunting a long time," he said. "You ever hunt, Miss—?"
"Campbell," she said, sad smile reflecting now in her big eyes. "And…yes. Not anymore. Not now."
The nervous way she looked back to John's office made Ben understand to some degree the reason her arms had come to cross over her chest, her demeanor becoming more guarded.
"Did you…" she pushed away from the desk, "ever meet Samuel or Deanna Campbell?" Her voice shimmered a bit as though she was both scared and hopeful.
Jake had returned to stand beside Ben and shook his head. "No. Like to keep it just the two of us," he said. "Tried to steer clear of other company, 'less we need the help. Family?"
She huffed, shaking her head. "Parents. And your philosophy sounds almost exactly like my father's." For a moment her smile returned full before she looked away, eyes glistening. "They're dead. And I'm done."
"I'm sorry," Ben replied.
"I have John," she said, voice stronger, but the slight bob of her throat gave away her pain. "I'm gonna have a family someday and they'll know nothing of that life or of what's out there…" Her eyes locked with Ben's then moved to Jake's. "And people like you two make that possible. You make this world safer. No one really knows what sacrifices are being made…but I do. Thank you."
Ben looked over at his brother and saw the tiredness seem to ebb from his eyes in that moment. And then, suddenly, like they'd been talking about the weather or the latest ballgame, Mary's face brightened as she shrugged, the pain brushed from the soft lines of her face, returning the youthful features.
"If you go down Banker Street toward the north of town, there's an Inn, friend of mine works there." She looked one last time at the camera in the backseat, grinning. "Tell June, Mary sent you. She'll be able to help you out. And thanks for doing this; you don't know how much this means to John and me."
Ben watched her leave to join her fiancé, only able to shake the sadness he felt for her with the hope of what she had spoken. She had made a choice. One Ben never made. This life was for the called and he understood the need to get out. It was just never in him to leave. It was never in either of them, Jake or him. When their time was up, when it was time to lay down arms, they would know.
Now wasn't that time.
Ben shook his head. "I wish them luck."
Jake was silent a moment, then re-shouldered his bag. Ben noticed that he'd stubbornly chosen the heavier one. "Me too. Now let's go before I fall over." Another 'I'm too old for this crap' fell from his lips as he turned and headed for the Inn, Ben following, shaking his head.
Three days later the Chevy was working like she was brand new. They had their 'home' back and they got to go to the wedding of a couple of sweet kids by the name of John and Mary.
Those were the last words written in the journal. There were no more entries after, just empty, blank and worn pages that Dean trailed his thumb over, muscles working against the tightness of his own throat.
To be that close to them, to his mother and father, to see the lives they were trying to make for themselves, to hear the way his mother thought about their future, a family that would never touch the life of the supernatural…his gut tightened and an ache built. The anger he'd felt toward her began to abate toward sadness, then churn sickeningly into a fated hopelessness.
He been livid at his father for the deal he'd made to save Dean's life, and had then turned around and done the very same thing to save Sam's. He would do it again in a heartbeat, and that was why this hurt so damn bad. Their mother, even if it had been unwittingly, had given up the one person Dean had given his soul for. Sam was carrying the burden of the blood in his veins, the curse he owned no matter what Dean said, and in that moment of learning that he had followed in his family's footsteps, Dean felt hollowed out.
His whole life he'd pictured his mother a certain way. The faded photographs and the even more faded memories of a four-year-old were all he'd had to hold onto. And from them he'd resurrected some semblance of an idea of what she'd been like and who she was…
And in these two days that image had been torn apart…
He knew what it was like to hold the body of someone you loved, to give up your soul for them; and it was the only way he'd seen at that moment to save Sam. There'd been no other choice, no other way after he'd carried around the months of pain from hurting Sam and from being torn open by his father. The frustration of being choice-less, that mark, he now felt deeply embedded in their family line.
He knew his mother's pain and at the same time that did little to calm the sting of choices the she'd made.
I'm here, Sam. So are you. We got nothing but each other and whatever we have to do to deal with this thing, all this crap, we will. We'll do it together.
"She was beautiful." Sam's voice was tired, weighted. "They looked…happy."
She sold me out. She didn't even know me.
"She had no idea what she gave up when she made that deal." Dean cleared his throat, the sting lessoning, loosening the stiff muscles. "God, she was a hunter…" He breathed in disbelief, still struggling to wrap his head around that one. It gave a whole new meaning to 'the family business'. "She thought she could escape. She wanted whatever family she had as far away from this life as possible. She wanted us to live lives we never got to live…She had no idea…"
Dean's eyes settled on Sam's, which were unsuccessfully trying to hide beneath his bangs.
"I know…"
"But I did…" Dean rubbed at his lips, letting that roll over him and through him. Sam lifted his head, eyes deepening with understanding.
I did…
"I wasn't going to let go, Sam. Not of you. She had no idea what she gave up, but I knew exactly what was worth my soul."
The ghost of a smile pulled at the corner of Sam's mouth, his eyes glassing over. He nodded slowly, pulling his knees up into his chest.
"You woke up, Sam. I came back from Hell. And our supposed family curse…I don't believe in it. Only real curse is that you're stuck with me, Sammy," Dean smirked.
Sam huffed out a short laugh, shaking his head. "Goes both ways, Dean."
Dean nodded. "Damn straight."
We're going to be okay, Sammy.
Sam relaxed a little, releasing a shaky breath and taking in a stronger one, as though he had overheard Dean's thoughts and was in agreement. Dean felt the tension inside himself, the coiled ache in his gut lessen. After bringing Sam back last night he'd tried to deal with the anger at the truth inside himself knowing the last thing Sam needed was for him to fall apart. But it was lessening in the wake of knowing that through all of this—through all the demons and deals, through all the trade-offs and trials—they were still there.
He still had his brother.
There was a moment of silence between them, before Sam laughed a little into his knees, causing Dean to lift his eyes from the journal and arch a brow.
"What?" Dean inquired.
"So, you're named after our grandma," Sam snickered. "Deanna."
Dean threw his pillow at Sam, the journal slipping from his lap and landing on the spine, opening on the floor.
"You're lucky I've got a bad leg." He'd damn near killed himself on it last night. Though, if Sam tried anything again, he'd damn-well make that leg work.
"Dean…" Sam said, eyes now fastened to the floor and the open journal. There was a photo sticking out between the pages. It was of their parents. On their wedding day…
Sam reached down and picked it up, and Dean watched his throat move in a bout of emotion.
"I looked through that thing…cover to cover…" Sam breathed.
"But we never saw the last entry either," Dean reminded him.
"I want to meet them," Sam replied quietly.
"Who? Mom and Dad when they were that age? We kinda just…"
"No," Sam shook his head, setting the picture down on the bed-stand as though he was afraid it would crumble to dust in his hands. "Jake and Ben."
"Bobby, hey, it's me," Sam held his cell in the crook of his neck, while he stuffed more of his clothes and Dean's into a duffel, not paying attention to whose was whose. They'd sort it out on their own when they got to Ohio, or when Dean found himself swimming in the wrong shirt. "Dean's doing better, and I got some rest. We're heading to Ohio. I know you're coming out to meet us now, but head for Cleveland, okay? Call me when you get this, I'll tell you where we're staying."
Sam snapped the phone shut and tossed the duffel to the door before knocking on the bathroom door.
"You're not trying to look better for your prom date. We're just going to find two dudes, Dean."
He heard the shower curtain shink against the metal rod as it was ripped back violently.
"Be nice to the damn cripple," Dean bellowed, and something that sounded like a wadded up towel thunked against the door.
Sam laughed, the sound only slightly gravely, his lungs getting stronger after a night of sleep. "Hurry up, or no coffee."
The threat was met with unintelligible mutterings behind the door.
The box Dean had purchased at the yard sale sat on Sam's lap, his arms hung over the corners, hands dangling loosely as he watched the scenery roll by. Every time Dean glanced over at him, Sam met his sometimes concerned, often questioning expression with a small, soft smile, the one reserved for big brothers only. The fact Sam didn't ignore him surprised him, Sam thought.
He fingered the items, picking one up, staring blankly at it then putting it back. He'd been doing that for the past half hour and he knew Dean's worry was ramping up bit by bit with each passing mile.
Focusing more on the contents of the box and less on his brother, Sam picked up a newspaper clipping of a weather report, the city and date caught his eye. Lawrence, Kansas, May 1, 1983. A place he had connection to and history in, yet other than brief trips through a few years ago, no memory of.
"You want some more coffee?" Ben swung off the picnic table bench, stood and stretched.
"No." Jake sat hunched over the table, papers and maps sprawled in front of him, he'd barely glance up when Ben spoke.
"Hey, take a break for five minutes."
Straightening and leaning back a bit, Jake surveyed the small park surrounding the table. A group of three or four small children and two women were nearby enjoying the day and taking advantage of the swing set. "How are we going to find a six month old baby, the right six month old baby in this city? How many women do you suppose are pregnant right now?"
"Well, the kid has to be six months old before the end of this year, so, technically we only have to worry about the ones born before June first."
The vile glare Jake aimed at him made Ben smirk and fake a cringe. His witty retort was cut off by a football hitting the table and bouncing through their papers making everything flutter and scatter.
" 'm sorry." A small voice stopped them both from lunging and grabbing at the papers. "Can I have my ball back?" Large hazel-green eyes peered at them from under fair-haired bangs.
Ben grinned at Jake's surprise when a small hand tugged on his sleeve. Blinking down at the kid Jake nodded and retrieved the wayward football. "Quite an arm you got on you there."
The little boy, maybe four or five nodded and grinned brightly at them.
"I'm so sorry." One of the women Ben had seen earlier near the swing set had both hands on the boy's shoulders now and was moving him away. "He didn't bother you did he?"
"Na, we're just discussing his football career." Jake smiled and Ben saw the woman, probably thirty years younger than him nearly melt from Jake's charm.
"Do I have to stay at your house all night?" The little boy cranked his neck backwards to look up at the woman.
"Yes, you do. Your mom and dad will be gone for the whole night. But you know what, Dean? When you go home you'll be a big brother." Taking Dean's hand in one of hers and his football in the other the woman smiled at them then headed back to the group near the swing set. Dean turned around and waved at Jake, who waved back.
"Well," Jake sighed, "We know who it's not."
"That kid's not involved. He's obviously well over six months old."
Ben snorted a laugh. "I'm going for more coffee."
"You want to stop for coffee?"
Sam jerked straighter and pulled his gaze from the box to Dean. "What?"
"Coffee, want to take a break and get some coffee?" Dean's eyes narrowed when Sam let the piece of newsprint slip from his fingers and drop back into the box. "You okay?"
"Ya-yeah, I'm fine."
Dean guided the Impala to an off ramp. "Uh huh."
They found a small diner off the highway and coffee turned into a lunch stop. Sam climbed out of the car, box tucked under one arm.
"You bringing that in?"
Sam nodded and fell into step beside his brother.
Shrugging, Dean held the door open for him. "I thought you outgrew the security blanket thing a few years ago."
There was a sign reading Please Seat Yourself, so Sam flipped Dean off and headed for the first vacant table. He slipped into a chair and set the box carefully on the chair next to him as Dean settled across the table and snatched up a menu. Rummaging through the box, he glanced up when Dean poked his forearm with the corner of one of the menus. "Just order me something. You should know what I like by now."
Dean quirked an eyebrow at him, shrugged and went back to reading his menu.
"What was the name of the uncle who paid for Mom's grave?"
Dropping the menu far enough to look over its top edge at Sam, Dean blinked at him. "I dunno. Dad just said an uncle. It's not like I could ever question him on details about…well anything, but particularly that. Why?"
Sam extracted a small slip of paper from the box and held it between two fingers, turned so Dean could see. Swallowing hard, his brother's face went blank as he reached across the table and took the scrap of paper from Sam.
"You've got to be kidding."
"How would they even know?" Sam took the paper back and returned it to the box.
"Well, obviously they, or at least Jake did, if he paid for our mother's grave and headstone."
"I wonder if we did meet them. We've met a lot of people, Dean."
Dean shrugged, "Maybe, I think we'd remember. I'd definitely remember the car."
"Jake, you do know Twinkies and DingDongs aren't a food group, right?"
"And cheese curls are?"
"Hey," Ben held up both hands in mock defense, "at least there's cheese in them."
"You go right on believing that little brother." Jake was talking to him, but his attention was on something farther down the aisle of the small store they'd stopped off for some supplies. He grabbed another handful of Twinkies and tossed them into the cart Ben shoved along in front of him.
Ben's eyes skipped to the far end of the aisle and landed on what must have caught Jake's interest.
"Do you believe how late people let their kids wander around by themselves?" Jake mumbled. He headed for the next aisle over.
"Maybe their parents are in the store too?" Ben followed behind Jake, once they were around the corner Jake stopped part of the way down the aisle, reaching up for a box of pasta but looking a few feet to his right at two little boys.
"Then why are they price comparing?"
"I don't know. I've never had kids, why do you ask me these things?" Tossing both hands in the air, Ben grabbed a few more things off the shelf and tossed them into the cart.
Jake snorted but didn't answer. The smaller of the two boys walked in their direction, looking for something. He stopped when he nearly collided with Ben's legs and ran one hand through his hair. Peering up at Ben, then Jake he mumbled "'cuse me," and snatched a few cans of spaghetti before ducking away.
"It's okay." Jake grinned down and Ben felt a stab of pain. His brother truly loved children and took any opportunity to interact with them. Which, Ben was sure was going to get the two of them arrested at some point.
The boy's eyes skated to their cart. "Those are my brother's favorites, but we need to get other stuff instead." He pointed to the Twinkies. "I'm seven today."
"Well, happy birthday." Jake grinned.
The older of the two boys appeared behind his brother and slid one arm across his shoulders. Ben swallowed the lump in his throat down, remembering how many times his own big brother had performed that same maneuver on him. "C'mon, Sammy, we have everything." He nodded curtly to Jake and Ben before steering the younger boy away towards the cashier. As he was paying he glanced over, Jake's eyes met his for the briefest instant before he hustled his brother outside.
Ben quietly followed Jake to pay for their own purchases. He couldn't help feeling an odd sense of déjà vu or whatever. Maybe it was the older of the two boys had the same coloring as his own brother, dark blond hair, greenish-hazel eyes, and though the kid couldn't have been more than eleven or twelve he sported a solid, athletic build. Somehow the idea he'd just seen in the man who was his brother and this boy he didn't even know two people cut from the same cloth.
Grabbing one of the packs of Twinkies out of their bag, Ben sprinted out the door. "Hey! Kid!" When the two boys turned to him he threw the packet across the small parking lot. The younger of the two caught it, jumped up and down a few times and smiled brilliantly, his face breaking into dimples when he turned and offered it to the older boy. Ben was back inside the store before either child could return his gift.
"You going to eat that?"
Sam's arm got a rough poke with the blunt end of Dean's fork. "Huh?" His gaze slipped down, a plate of food sat in front of him and he hadn't even noticed it being set there. Or Dean ordering their meal for that matter. "Too much cold syrup, made me spacey." Sam answered Dean's question before it was asked. He was offered a dubious look, but his brother ate and didn't ask any more questions.
Sam put the box in the back seat as they pulled out of the diner's parking lot and back onto the highway. Dean's sidelong glances in his direction didn't slow down one bit, however. When they pulled off to refill the tank a few hours later, Sam clicked on his small flashlight, twisted around and routed through the box some more, determined to find some clue as to what happened to Jake and Ben Colt.
There was a small, folded piece of paper tucked into one pocket of the old camera bag, Sam freed it, unfolded it carefully and read. He felt more than a little guilty when Dean popped his head in the window to ask if Sam wanted anything from inside the station store and Dean found him sitting there, tears dripping down his cheeks.
"Dude," Dean snapped, making Sam jump. "Do not try to tell me this is from too much cough medicine."
"Can we…? Not here, please?"
Dean leaned against the car but didn't get inside. "What has been with you today?"
"What if they're dead?"
Swallowing, Dean didn't answer. His lips pressed together in a fine line. Moving out of Sam's line of vision for a minute he heard the chink and clunk of the gas nozzle being removed from the car and replaced. Dean tapped the roof of the car a few times, letting him know he was heading inside to pay. Back out a few minutes later Dean slipped silently into the car. Driving a few miles down the road Dean pulled the car off in a small park. Shutting down the engine he glanced over at Sam expectantly.
Sam handed him the paper. "It's dated two-thousand-three. I can't tell by the handwriting which one wrote it, but then this is thirty years after the journal ended," he said quietly.
Dean took the offered paper and read it. Sam watched the emotions, all too familiar to them both, rolled over his brother's features.
He knew rereading the letter was only going to make him feel worse, but Sam couldn't help himself. He wished he could figure out which of the brothers had written it. The handwriting was close to that of Jake's in the journal, but not the same. There had been a few things written by Ben and his handwriting had been very similar to his brother's.
I've tried everything, tried calling in every favor I could think of, but nothing. After everything we've been through, it's not the kind of evil I ever thought one of us would die from. Bone cancer is insidious and I hate I can't do anything but watch my brother's life waste away. The doctors say a year, if we're really lucky. What I wouldn't do to stop it. I've even tried calling Yellow-eyes, I'd gladly give my own soul so stop this. But I guess Yellow-eyes has other things keeping him busy these days. He's not answering.
Sam slid down until his head rested against the seat and wondered, yet again, what sort of place they'd find when they reached the address that was their destination.
Ben pushed through the diner door, ducking the bell out of habit. He glanced around, there were a few empty tables, but he headed to the counter. Lunch was take-out today.
"Hey there, it'll be up in a minute." The pretty blonde behind the register smiled at him and poured him some coffee, nodding to one of the stools at the counter. She retied her pony tail and moved closer to where Ben sat. "How's Jake today? He couldn't come with you?"
Shrugging, Ben sipped his coffee. "We're heading out in a day or so. Going back to Ohio."
"Leaving sunny Palo Alto for Ohio?"
"Well, when you put it that way, Jess," Ben laughed. He sighed, "time to head home I think. What's new with you?"
Jess leaned over the counter. "I met a boy."
Nodding, "His name is Sam. He reminds me a lot of you actually. Our second date is tonight."
Ben snorted, "That might not be such a good thing." He dropped the money on the counter for the bag of food one of the cooks brought out. "You know how to get a hold of me, if this Sam of yours misbehaves, I'll break his kneecaps." He tapped the counter as he stood up, grinning. "We're leaving tomorrow, we'll be sure to stop by."
"You'd better," Jess called after him before turning to help other customers.
Sam pushed himself straighter and took a look around. It was dark, there were a few stars out. He had the oddest sense of making this trip before, and dismissed it as imagination and lack of sleep. "You want me to drive for a while?"
"Na. There's a motel coming up. Let's just crash there for the night." Dean's quiet, firm tone left no room for dispute. Sam had been off the entire day and he knew his brother was worried.
While Sam gathered their things to take inside for the night, Dean went to the motel office and paid for their room. He was on his phone when he came out, nodding to the room a few doors down from where they'd parked. Dean took one of the duffels from Sam, finished his call and closed his phone. "That was Bobby. He got the message and will meet us there tomorrow."
Jake pushed slowly out of bed. They'd just crossed the Ohio border and he knew one of them would be finishing their trip alone. He sat on the edge of the bed, breathing in the night air and letting his eyes adjust to the lower lighting before heading to the bathroom. The trip from California had taken longer, but then they weren't as young as they'd once been and driving cross country wasn't as easy as it once was.
Ben turned restlessly in his own bed, but didn't wake up. Jake watched him sleep for a few minutes. He eased down on the edge of Ben's bed and gently wrapped his fingers around Ben's wrist, knowing in the morning just one brother would wake up.
Sunset Memorial Park, North Olmsted, Ohio…
Billy Gareau had worked here since his college days, now he was the head grounds keeper at this cemetery. He'd seen lots, but nothing touched him nearly as much as the day one man came to bury his brother. He'd known the names Jake and Ben Colt, of course, since his dad had worked with Jake in the Cleveland Police department many years ago. His father said Jake had gone nuts, taken off and dragged his younger brother with him. Billy wasn't so sure he didn't believe the stories his dad told of what Jake claimed to have seen. Strange things went on in cemeteries and he was in one day and night on a regular basis.
Maybe Jake Colt hadn't been the crazy one.
He'd checked on the guy every day when he took lunch, the remaining brother who came to visit a grave religiously for three years. Sometimes he'd talk to the guy. Billy had been married and divorced twice, yet here was a man who'd lived his life with a brother and they never once gave up on one another. There was a message in there somewhere, Billy was sure.
What he found this day didn't surprise him one bit. He knew he'd have to take care of this sooner or later and about a year ago had simply offered to make sure things were done however this guy wanted. The coroner would be here soon, after all the proper paperwork Billy would do as he'd promised and have the man he found hunched dead over his brother's grave today cremated. He didn't get what the small packet of herbs and salt was for, but he'd put that in with the body. People had asked for odder things.
"This is it?" Dean stopped the car and nodded out the window.
"That's the address." Sam's heart fell, he was afraid this is where they'd find the Colt brothers.
"Which way?" Guiding the car through the front gates of the large cemetery, Dean glanced sideways at Sam.
Wordlessly Sam pointed to the road leading to the right. It wasn't a long drive, a few minutes through immaculate grounds. The sun shone down brightly on freshly cut grass and flowering shrubs. Finally, they found the marker they'd been searching for.
Climbing from the car, Sam stretched in the sun and scanned the section of cemetery. "Which one do you think died first?" He pulled his lower lip between his teeth for a few beats.
Dean turned and leaned both arms on the roof of the car. "I don't think it matters, Sammy. Whichever way it went it was the end for them both. We'll find out soon enough." He pushed off the car and followed Sam off the road and onto the grass, "Hey, Sammy, what do you suppose happened to their car?" Dean jogged to catch up with him and pushed his elbow into Sam's side.
Sam snorted, rolled his eyes and shook his head as he walked over the grass, reading grave markers, chanting a continuous I love my brother in his head.
They stood in silence before two bronze plaques near an oak tree, staring at the names etched there in reverence. Even Dean was quiet, becoming more still than Sam could ever remember him being. They hadn't even spent this much time at their own mother's grave. Dean had never seen the point of standing where there was no body. He'd scoffed at visiting a headstone that had been put up by someone they didn't even know.
And now that they did, Sam wondered what Dean was thinking now. Like too many times in their lives, his brother's expression gave away nothing.
Sam had already accepted that they were gone. He'd known before they got much closer to their destination that the address wasn't residential. It didn't lessen the ache of disappointment in his breast. He'd wanted to meet them, even if he had spent the past few days in their shoes. Everything dies...
He sighed, shuffling a little, before kneeling down to touch the plates before they left, moving unconsciously in a gesture of respect and remembrance. There was no way to tell who went first, no dates were beneath their names, and he knew Dean was right. It didn't matter who went first...It would have been the end for both of them.
But not for us, Sam thought as he felt Dean move beside him, his shadow spilling over the graves. Everything dies, but not everything comes back.
His fingertips ran the edge of their names, gracing the only thing that was written on each: Brother
A deep pressure started to build behind his eyes, spreading along the bridge of his nose and bleeding back through his frontal lobe. He sucked in a breath, the grave markers shimmering in and out of vision, the beating of his heart echoing through his ears. And then there was nothing, no sight or sound, no sensation, before the deluge of images bombarded him.
Jess smiling as she poured coffee, Dean in the park when he was young and an older man giving him back his football, Sam getting a birthday present from a kind stranger when he was seven, and then he knew the ones he was seeing were Jake and Ben, the last flashes of faces and moments of Jake by Ben's bedside...
Sam lurched away from the graves, finding Dean's arm against his back, a hand at his shoulder, his voice echoing through the fog of Sam's mind, calling his name. Dean was helping him up, spinning him to face him, hands steady against his face while the rest of the world tilted for a moment. Pressing his eyes shut, Sam drew in a deep breath and re-centered himself.
Dean was there. Always there. For the first time in a long time Sam didn't feel like such a freak. For the first time in a long time, he wasn't some curse. Dean had reminded him of that by just giving a damn, by running after once again showing Sam there was nothing that could change what he was to Dean.
"'M okay..."Sam muttered before opening his eyes, finding Dean's expression saturated with concern. Sam's hand settled against Dean's shoulder, squeezing it to convey some semblance of reassurance. "'M okay, Dean. I am." He shook his head, voice breathy, throat tight. The last image of Jake and Ben causing his eyes to sting. "Really need to figure this psychic thing out...getting sick of not being able to control it..."
Dean had released him, staying close. "We will, Sam. You have my word."
Sam smiled a little, hand going to his eyes, pressing against them, the images still seared there behind his lids, reanimating as he pressed harder creating sparks of light.
"What did you see?" Dean asked. "You saw them didn't you?"
Sam's hand dropped away, eyes sliding to the bronze plaques which were glinting, catching the sun. "I got some last looks. Nothing that made sense..." He sighed deeply. "You're right, Dean. Doesn't matter how they died...they fought long and hard...and together."
Dean nodded slowly. "That's all that matters."
The soft crunch of grass beneath someone's feet caused both of them to turn in unison. Sam saw Bobby walking toward them, hands shoved deep in his pockets, ball-capped head bowed. He looked up at the two of them from under the brim, smiling weakly, eyes going to the graves.
"Always wondered what happened to them," he said quietly, coming to stand at Sam's side.
Sam had called Bobby again just outside of Cleveland, telling him the truth about where they'd been these past few days. He remembered how quiet Bobby had become, the names, Jake and Ben Colt, breathed through the phone like they were to be revered.
Bobby never knew what happened to them. Only found their car with Rufus a few years ago. Sam had asked him not to tell Dean. Sam had plans for that car and for his brother.
Bobby gave Sam a nod and removed his baseball cap, running a hand through his hair. "You two reminded me of them in a way," he sighed. "Jake always had some smart ass thing to say."
His eyes slid to Dean who huffed, ticking up the corner of his mouth in response. Bobby then nodded to Sam. "Ben always seemed to know what to do."
Bobby returned his cap and shrugged. "In hunting, family is where you find it. What you two have is rare. A gift. I'm glad I got to know them, Jake and Ben, even if it was just when I was starting out. Saved my life...You two are the only family I have now. Took what those two gave me and wanted to do the same for you. Had no idea you'd become like sons."
Sam smiled at that, and Dean clapped Bobby on his shoulder. "You're getting soft in your old age, you know that?" he asked.
"Ever the smart ass," Bobby shook his head. "Say I'm old again and I'll whoop your ass, boy."
Dean smirked.
"All I'm saying is this war is dark and ugly and suffocating...but you have each other. There will always be comrades, brothers in arms, people fighting the good fight, one generation to the next." He nodded to the graves. "Consider the torch passed."
Sam swallowed against the tightness gathering in his throat, taking in what Bobby was saying, nodding in agreement.
Bobby looked over at Dean, shaking his head. "Good to see you're not knocking on Death's door," he said.
While it was said with a joking air, Sam heard the deeper thread of concern. Bobby had to have driven there straight, no sleep, to be with them now. That or he'd discovered a way to cheat time and space.
"You're walking, too. Good sign."
"I just got back, I'm not looking to check out anytime soon," Dean said quietly, eyes sliding to Sam's with a promise. "As for the leg...I've had worse."
"Good, kid. Wanna keep you both around." Bobby threw a glance back toward his rusted out Chevelle at the entrance to the cemetery. "I'll give you two some time. There's a diner back at the street before last. Meet you there."
Sam watched him go wondering once again if he knew what he'd done for them. If he had any concept of what it meant to know he'd come all this way, even if it was to find them both well. He could see the gratitude etched in his brother's face as he stared after their friend, then slowly back to the graves.
Comrades. Brothers in arms...
There was no greater peace in Sam in that moment, as he studied his brother, then knowing that they were the next generation to fight and survive, to live and protect and overcome. They were going to fight the good fight, and there was no greater hope in Sam than in the promise that he had a brother who would fight unconditionally alongside him.
-The End-
A/N: Thank you all for reading and for the encouragement along the way! Special thanks again to our betas as well. We hope you've enjoyed this story as we've both enjoyed writing it. If you are interested, the next installment in the War Without Front series will be A Bright World by Bayre, and comes out tomorrow here: (http : // bayre. webs .com /abrightworld. htm) Remember to take out the spaces. This link won't work until July 16.
Since Jake and Ben didn't become hunters out of revenge, but more because hunting things, saving people, it made sense that their end wouldn't be a typical hunter ending.
We've loved having you along for the journey. Take care.
--Bayre & SJ | https://www.fanfiction.net/s/4897602/9/Colt-Winchester | dclm-gs1-015370000 |
0.201495 | <urn:uuid:43164c94-191b-4c9d-8185-8b43d8206ffb> | en | 0.99129 | One could say... I'm sort of addicted to Red Hood and the Outlaws. Thus, I wrote this while bored. I hope you enjoy this! I'm not sure if I love it or hate it yet...
I do not own Jason, Roy, or Kori. Or anyone else who are mentioned in this story. Well, except for any of the kids. They I made up. As well as Olivia... Oh, forget it, I don't own anything DC does.
Jason Todd was not amused.
Harper apparently thought that if they were ever going to be accepted as heroes, or even anti-heroes, by society, they had to do public services. Jason, in his time as a crime fighter, either with the Bat or otherwise, had never felt the need to volunteer for anything. When he was younger it was because Bats just did not do such things, and now It just kind of ruined the dark image he was going for.
However, Roy was very consistent with his begging for this to be done. To avoid going insane from too much time with Roy saying "please" every five seconds, Jason allowed the idiot to sign them up for some sort of project.
Thus, he found himself in some small city near Metropolis, at an.. orphanage.
Needless to say, he was not looking forward to this.
Currently, they were speaking with the oddly young and pretty woman who ran the orphanage. She had crystal blue eyes and long, straight black hair. She didn't more than a couple years older than Jason, when the normal age for this type of place was somewhere in the 50s.
"So, you three are superheroes?"
As she asked this, the woman was eying Kori's outfit warily. The question itself made Jason nearly snort.
"Well, Star used to be a hero, though she is heading back that way, I'm sort of a recovering hero, and Hood... is sort of an... anti-hero."
The tight grin on the woman's face started to shirk slightly.
"This mean what exactly?
Now slight annoyed, Jason pulled a rifle out and cocked it, causing a gasp to come from the young woman.
"I'm willing to kill, unlike 'heroes' who just throw the same scum in jail or asylums over and over again, allowing them to continue hurting innocent people."
The woman paled suddenly.
"Well... I may tell the children you are superheros. Also... Ms. Starfire, would you please change your clothes? I don't mean to be rude, but there are some very young children..."
Mumbling underneath her breath, the princess grabbed a bag from Roy's hand that held more modest clothing that the archer had tried to convince Kori she should have been wearing to begin with. Jason had agreed with Roy, but knew it was a useless gesture, so did not aid him in convincing her. She now had to change anyway, so it was completely besides the point, and it was now only Roy that wasted time on a useless argument.
It was situations like this that made Jason glad to see he had much more logic than the archer. Admittedly, that was not a very challenging goal.
As Kori left the room to change, Jason turned back to the young woman.
"If you really feel the need to lie to the kids, go ahead and tell them we're superheroes. Don't go and expect us to act as such, though. I'm no Batman, and there is no way in hell I'm Superman."
An annoyed sigh left her lips, as if she could see this was going to be a very long morning. A weak glare was sent at the rifle in Jason's hand, her blue eyes sparkling in slight anger.
"Would you at least put that gun away?"
Underneath his helmet, Jason rolled his eyes while putting the rifle back in its holster.
"Okay, lady."
A slight twitch developed in her left eye.
"Olivia. My name is Olivia."
A smirk formed on the lips of the anti-hero.
"Okay, Olivia, I put it away."
Olivia's twitch appeared to be getting worse as she cradled her forehead in her right hand.
"What exactly are planning to talk to them about?"
Roy shrugged, obviously not putting much thought into it. Jason had not wasted a second thinking about possible discussions because this was Roy's idea and thus his responsibility. Of course, the idiot planned nothing in advance...
" Normal stuff, I guess. Don't do drugs, stay in school, don't kill people or you'll end up a grump like Hood, that sort of thing."
A very fierce glare was soon resting on Roy.
"How to avoid being a grump like me is not very normal, Arsenal."
The red head shrugged again.
"Well, it is an important lesson. Every child should be taught how to avoid being like you."
Though Roy had meant this playfully, Jason completely agreed. Any child should be taught how to avoid anything even resembling his hell of a life.
It was then that Kori stalked back in, obviously uncomfortable. Despite the purple shirt and shirt were both cut extremely short, the princess obviously was not very fond of the metal platting scattered throughout of her outfit and the thigh-high purple boots. It was much less light than what she was used to, so one could easily see that she was not very comfortable in the outfit.
However, it was noticeably more modest, causing Olivia to sigh in relief.
"You three look ready to talk to them..."
Olivia stalked into the room where the children were. Upon following her, the trio saw the woman standing in front of a small clump of children, maybe 20 kids overall, ranging from about 4 to 17 years old. She had started speaking when they came within earshot of her.
"Today, we have three... two heroes and one anti-hero here to talk to you. Please be polite to our guests."
A teenage boy with long brown hair that covered his deep green eyes rolled said eyes in annoyance.
Olivia sent a warning glare at the boy. When he looked away, she stepped to the side in order to allow the children see the three fully.
Upon seeing the kids up close, Jason regretted allowing Roy to sign them up for this. The young sitting in front of him all looked hurt, broken, just completely... lost.
Exactly how he had when he was a young child. He already had trouble talking in front of people, but with these scarred children... Jason wasn't sure he could get a single word out. It brought back too many painful memories, of before Bruce found him, when he was Robin, when he found he had been... replaced...
He had literally no idea how he was going to muster a single word. Damn Roy and his dumb ideas about establishing them...
His fear was interrupted by a small hand being shot into the air. The hand belonged to small boy, couldn't be more than five years old, who was clutching a worn down Superman plushie. His raven hair just barely covered his bright blue eyes. The color was one of the brightest shades Jason had ever seen. In fact, the only brighter blue eyes he'd ever seen was Di-
Damn Roy's stupid idea that brought back unwanted memories of so called brothers...
"What's an anti-hero?"
On a normal day Jason would have answered with a bluntly truthful answer that would have mentally scarred the poor boy. However, The child was obviously already hurt. He could not bring himself to say what an anti-hero really was.
"It means I'm a little meaner than a normal hero to the villains."
Though dying down what he really did was a good idea, going that far down only brought a raised eyebrow from the teenager from earlier.
The kid was on to him. He could tell. He could tell he was lying...
Then again, it was not that hard to tell. He was literally forcing a smile on his face.
"Right. So, I'm Red Hood, the archer to my left in Arsenal, and the alien princess to my right is Starfire. We're here to talk with you kiddos, so you had better listen up."
The teen snorted suddenly, earning a glare from Jason.
"May I ask what you find so amusing?"
The kid started smirking as he moved from his position leaning against the wall into a normal standing pose.
"The fact that while the other two look old enough to have plenty of experience that might help us, you look only a few years older than me. I can tell even with that dumb helmet that you are much younger than you teammates. I really doubt you'd have much to tell us that we don't already know."
Anger started to boil up in Jason and before he even knew what he was doing, he found himself walking slightly towards the kid.
"Okay, kid. You're about 17, right?"
The boy rolled his eyes.
Jason was only a few feet away from the boy now, and his voice had a warning tone.
"Admittedly, I am not much older than you. However, since when does age show how much experience you have?"
Another eye roll occurred. This kid sure had an attitude.
"Well, naturally you learn more the longer you've been around."
This just made Jason think of his "family". All learning way too much at way too young an age. This kid was insulting him, and those he really did not want to think about, by saying that knowledge came with age. Of course, he was not upset about the insult sent at them, but he did not appreciate himself being doubted.
"I guess one could assume that, but I would have to disagree. Have you ever been sold by your own freaking mother to a complete psychopath?"
The boy's eyes widened.
"No...Were you?"
Jason couldn't answer, he was too far into his rant.
"How about replaced by someone you saw as a father? Damn, have you freaking died?"
Looking around at the shocked faces of everyone in the room, including Roy and Kori, Jason realized he may have overdone it. Plus, he revealed way more about himself than he preferred to with literally anyone.
However, he had proved his point. That was the real goal here. Now the kids all knew to not mess with him.
"That's what I thought. Still think that I don't know much more than you?"
The boy slowly shook his head. The defiance from earlier had almost vanished, but it was obviously still there.
The boy actually reminded Jason a bit of himself. A bit bitter at the world, obviously thinking he's always right, completely defiant to anyone older than him... Yeah, he was totally like Jason at that age.
"What's your name, kid?"
"Jason Marks."
...Well, that was really ironic.
"...It fits you."
Roy suddenly stepped in front of Jason with a tight grin, obviously afraid of another blowup.
"Heh... right.. Don't do drugs, stay in school, ummm... What are those other stereotypical things to say to kids?"
No one was really paying attention to Roy. A little girl with bright blond hair and clear blue eyes raised her hand, looking straight at Jason.
"Mr. Hood? How are you here if you died? The police said my mommy and daddy died, and they never came back..."
Jason swore underneath his breath. Why did he have to talk about... that? Now there would be questions that he really would not want to answer...
"Damn it... Stupid... I had a... special situation. Most people who die don't come back. My parents sure as hell didn't."
A few of the kids looked up at him slightly, and the little kid clutching the Superman toy brightened instantly.
"You're an orphan also?"
Though Jason didn't see why this was something to be excited about, he answered the young boy.
"Yeah. Arsenal here is also. In fact, you'd actually be surprised how many capes are orphans. Some of them it is even the thing that started their 'war on crime'."
Some of the other children started to brighten up as well. A few even genuinely smiled. The kid Jason stepped forward a bit.
"So, a lot of heroes are... like us?"
Despite himself, Jason smiled a bit at the hope in the boy's eyes. The kid really is so much like how how he used to be... Hoping that being like heroes would save his future... There was no way he could face the guilt of crushing that dream.
"Yeah. Real life proof that just because you don't have any parents, it doesn't mean you have literally no future."
The kids all looked so happy now. The thought of actually possibly having a life past the orphanage must have cheered them up.
The team spent about an hour more with the children. Jason was surrounded with kids asking random questions, Roy was showing a small cluster how to use a bow and arrows, and Kori was conversing with some of the teenage girls. Some of the conversation that Jason managed to hear over the near nonstop questions included asking how she kept her hair neat when it was so long, if she'd ever had any really good boyfriends (he did his best to not listen to the vivid description of Nightwing she gave, despite the fact she could not remember his name. How did she manage to remember everything but the name?), and if Jason was handsome underneath his helmet.
He tried really hard to not hear the answer to that question.
Overall, Jason actually... sort of enjoyed himself. He had not seen such pure.. hope in so long, that it was so surreal. In fact, these may have been the only children he'd spoken to in years that didn't have only crime fighting in their future.
Really, it was a nice change of pace. Maybe Roy's idea was not the worst ever.
As they left the orphanage to enter the ship parked in the alley next to the orphanage, Jason realized this may have actually been one of the archer's better plans.
Once seated, Roy turned to Jason.
"So, Jaybird, was that as much a waste of time as you expected?"
After removing his helmet, a deep scowl was sent at the archer, along with a glare obviously learned from his old mentor.
"First off, I warned you about calling me 'Jaybird'. Second, that was not... quite as bad as I thought."
Roy whooped in success while Kori lightheartedly rolled her eyes.
"I knew you would like it, Jayb- Jason. We should totally do that again! Who's up for Bludh-"
Just because Jason had enjoyed the experience, it did not mean that he would want to do it again anytime soon.
Please review! | https://www.fanfiction.net/s/8014176/1/Volunteer-Work | dclm-gs1-015390000 |
0.121694 | <urn:uuid:d4b859bd-b339-481b-9138-2f75314ad4b3> | en | 0.988033 | As promised, here is your Thanksgiving update. I hope you all enjoy this chapter.
Chapter 4: Downfall
Ichika and Houki stopped their jousting at the sound of yelling and turned around to see everypony running in terror. They took a look around and saw that the barrier was gone and King Sombra was entering the empire.
"Ichika, do you think that we have to use our IS's now?" Ichika looked at Houki and shook his head.
"We can't. Remember when you could have hit that poaching ship? The same thing applies here."
"No it doesn't! Ichika, that ship could have done nothing, so it was harmless. King Sombra could enslave all of these ponies! The only thing that you need to think is the same is King Sombra and that IS unit." Ichika looked at her, and nodded his head.
"Then we'll do it. But first, we need to find a safe place to hit him, which is what I was talking about. I didn't mean the king, I meant the crystal ponies." Ichika paced back and forth, thinking about what to do.
"Draw him out into the north. That way, no harm can be done to the ponies, or the empire." Lelouch walked over to them and they smiled. "I would like to command you on the battlefield, but I don't know any of the things that your IS's can do. Just use a flanking formation most of the time; I'm sure it will work." He walked away, but then turned his head, "I'll go get Rin and Cecilia, don't worry about it." He flew into the sky, and saw that they were all gathered near the fake Crystal Heart, which was now revealed. Crap, now Twilight really needs to get here. Lelouch flew over and got Cecilia and Rin.
"I need you two to go over to Ichika and Houki. They are at the jousting area. They'll explain everything when you get there, okay?" They nodded and headed over to the assigned area.
"Where is the real Crystal Heart?" One of the ponies asked.
"It's coming, as soon as Twilight can get it." Applejack told them.
"I think you should have said that it was getting polished." Rarity muttered to her.
"Rin, Cecilia, it's great to see you here." Ichika said as they walked over to him and Houki.
"So, what did you need us for? A performance of some sort?" Cecilia asked.
"Something like that. We need to get into our IS units and hold off King Sombra to give Twilight some time." Houki explained. Ichika, Houki, and Rin took a glimpse at their right hooves to see there IS in its sealed form, while Cecilia combed a hoof over the hair near her ear to feel her earrings. They all shut their eyes and concentrated, and in 10 seconds, they were all in there is armor.
"Okay you guys, we need to drag him over away from the kingdom first if we want to make any progress." Ichika commanded and they nodded. Although there is units were able to fly when they were humans, Cecilia and Rin were unable to fly, unlike Ichika and Houki. "It must be because you're not Pegasi. You both can go on foot, right?" They both shook their heads, but Cecilia soon figured out that she could levitate a couple of feet off of the ground. It wasn't really considered flying, but it would still get her to the battlefield faster.
"Rin, hop on my back. I'll get you there with us." Houki offered. C'mon Rin, there's no time for complaining. As much as you want Ichika to carry you, it would just be wasting time. Luckily, Rin nodded and got on Houki's back. "Do you mind…sealing your IS for the flight? It's kinda heavy." Rin smiled and did as she was requested.
"Perfect, now let's move!" They all dashed forward in the direction of King Sombra and got ready to fight. When they were in attacking distance, Houki let Rin down and they all stared at their opponent.
"I feel horrible about this. We have IS's and it's a 4 on 1 battle." Cecilia stated as they all moved over behind him. They noticed him turn around and begin following them over to the outskirts of the empire. Perfect, we have him just where we need him. Ichika thought as they kept moving away from the kingdom. After 5 minutes of travel, they thought that they were in a good area to begin fighting. Houki, Ichika, and Rin drew out their blades and held them in their mouths, ready to fight.
Cecilia watched as they got ready, trying to figure out how her weapons would work here. Everything else I have can operate, but my main weapon, the Blue Pierce, how do I use it? She felt a surge of power emit from her horn, and both her horn and the front of her right hoof glowed. When the glowing subsided, it revealed the Blue Pierce, a smaller version, but it still had the power of the normal one. She kept her distance, just like the weapon's intended purpose was, and shot at their shadowy enemy. It's a spot on hit. Although I wish I didn't do that because it's more like killing then holding back. She then looked in astonishment as her shot went right through King Sombra. What the!? Before she could even think any more about what just occurred, he darted over to her and got a hold of her with the shadows under his control. She was lifted off the ground and was being choked by the shadows. She commanded the 4 drones she had to attack, but their shots all went through and he applied a greater grip around her neck. They all watched as Cecilia's IS started to vanish, and when it was completely gone, she was thrown aside, as is she was nothing.
"Cecilia!" They all yelled out. He turned and gave the rest of them a devious smile.
"You bastard!" Out of pure rage, Rin shot her 2 Ryuhou and watched as, just like Cecilia's shots, went through King Sombra.
"I don't think long ranged attacks work on him." Houki inferred. This led Ichika to the idea to charge right towards him with his blade, the Yukihira Nigata. He performed an upward slash and saw that King Sombra split in half, and then formed into a whole again. Enraged, Ichika performed more slashes, ranging from a side-to-side slash, and from a powerful downwards slash. He looked at his shield energy and saw how depleted it was. Dammit! How do I forget that the IS runs on shield energy? He flew back to regroup with Rin and Houki.
"Ichika, are you okay? Your shield energy is halfway gone." Rin told him.
"Yeah, I'm fine. It seems that King Sombra can't be hit by any attacks." Ichika looked over at the knocked out Cecilia. "Rin, you have to take Cecilia back to the empire. I know that your IS has no special way of transportation in this form, but Houki and I are the only ones who can hold him off, understand?" She nodded, and picked up Cecilia. "Oh, and make sure to tell them that everything will be okay and that they have nothing to worry about." With that final message, Rin made her journey back to the empire with Cecilia on her back.
"So, do we just hold him of by distracting him?" Houki asked as they faced their enemy again.
"It's the best choice we got."
Lelouch worked assiduously on running most of the stands. He ran, and even sometimes flew, back and forth from food stands to game stands, and the ponies looked at him awkwardly, as if he was the only one running the entire fair. He rested on one of the stands and Rarity walked over to him.
"Lelouch, you seem tired. Maybe you should take a little break."
"Tried? I'm not tired at all. I'm just doing my best to keep everypony's spirits up before anything happens. I'm positive that Ichika, Rin, Cecilia, and Houki are perfectly executing the distraction." He heard Rarity let out a little gasp and turned around to look in her direction. He saw Rin walking over with Cecilia on her back, without her IS. They both ran over to gain information on what happened.
"Cecilia got really hurt in the battle. None of our hits seem to do anything to him." Rin told them.
"Rarity, I need you to take Cecilia into the castle and find a place for her to rest." Lelouch commanded. Rarity nodded, and picked up Cecilia. "Also, if Twilight taught you any sort of healing magic, now would be the best time to make use of it." She turned to face the castle again, and ran over to it. "So, I'm guessing that Ichika and Houki are distracting him now." Rin nodded.
"Yeah, but none of our attacks work on him, so why doesn't he just go take over the kingdom already?"
"I'm not sure. Wait, maybe that means he does have some sort of weakness that we can exploit somehow. But then again, he doesn't know anything about your IS units, so what should he be worried about?" Lelouch looked around to see the ponies that were still able to have fun here. "Rin, why don't you help us run the fair for now? I'm sure Ichika and Houki can hold King Sombra off without you." Rin smacked him on the head with a hoof. "What was that for?"
"You're calling me weak. I'm sure I can take down any enemy by myself!"
"I wasn't calling you weak at all, honest." Rin was about to hit him again, but lowered her hoof. "Good. Because you and Pinkie Pie are good friends at the moment, you should go help her. She's running the flugelhorn stand, which is that way." He pointed to his left, and she walked over there to look for Pinkie Pie. Maybe I should go check on Twilight. It sure is taking a long time to find the Crystal Heart, but that is to be expected if you wouldn't want it to be found. He decided to go check on how she was doing, and he saw Spike run past him. "Spike, wait up!" Lelouch ran over to him. "You're holding the Crystal Heart right now, right? So where's Twilight?"
"About her." Spike said in a saddened tone. "She rushed to go retrieve the Crystal Heart, but it was guarded by King Sombra's magic and now she is surrounded by a whole wall of crystals. I wanted to help her but she told me to bring the Crystal Heart back here." Lelouch ran right past him and into the castle. "Lelouch, wait!" He was already out of hearing distance, so Spike just looked around, wondering what he had to do now.
Where could Twilight be now? He looked past every room, looking for clues as to where Twilight was located at the moment. He went past the throne room, and then retraced his steps back to it when he saw a hole in the middle of it. Curious, he walked over to it and figured out that it was a stairway. Great, now I have to walk all the way down here. As much as he didn't want to, Lelouch walked down for about 10 minutes until he reached the bottom. Luckily, the door there was already open, showing that he was on the right track. Once he walked through, he looked in front of him to see more stairs.
"Are you kidding me?!" He exclaimed. Wait, this staircase leads upwards, so all I need to do is fly to make it easier. He unfolded his wings and flew upwards until the stairway ended. It revealed another room, and in the middle was a circle of black crystals. "Twilight, are you in here?" He shouted.
"Lelouch, is that you?" From an opening in the crystal circle, Twilight looked through it and saw Lelouch. Remembering what Spike told him, he ran over to the crystal and tried talking to her.
"I came here to get you out, but I don't think it's possible at the moment." He told her, noticing that the crystal took over most of the surrounding area.
"Now that you're here Lelouch, I want to apologize for what I did when you were trying to help find the Crystal Heart. I learned that this whole empire mattered more than me passing Princess Celestia's test."
"That explains why Spike has the Crystal Heart." He heard crying from Twilight and looked at her. "Is something wrong?"
"I've done so many things wrong to you, and you are still my friend. How? How can you do that?" Twilight had a begging tone in her voice, as if the information that Lelouch could tell her could save the world from any evil.
"It's called forgiveness and understanding. When you have those two things, it's almost as if everything wrong that's happened in your life just vanishes." He got up and headed for the stairs. "So Twilight, do we bring King Sombra back here so he can get a glimpse at the Crystal Heart?"
"Yes. That way he can be stopped and our job here should be done." Lelouch opened his wings and flew out of the window and back to the Crystal Fair. He saw Rin with Pinkie Pie and ran over to her.
"Rin, I need you to get Houki and Ichika back here now. We have the Crystal Heart and now to seal King Sombra, he needs to see it." Rin nodded and went into her IS armor.
"I'll be back here as soon as I can." She ran out of the empire and into the cold weather that was awaiting her. Perfect, now we can finally bring peace to the kingdom and put King Sombra to rest.
"Houki, are you okay?" Ichika asked as she took a fall from a hit by King Sombra.
"Yeah I'm fine, but my shield energy is low." Ichika looked at his shield energy and saw that it was at 50. Damn, my shield energy is low too. I hope that they've found the Crystal Heart because all Houki and I can do now with our remaining shield energy is escape If we want to come back alive. They both did their best to dodge hits that were coming at them.
"Houki, we need to play on the defensive side now. We're both low on shield energy so all we can do it dodge and stall him for more time."
"Got it." They both stopped flying and walked on the ground now for as long as they would have to withstand King Sombra. After 10 minutes of countless dodging, they saw a shadowy figure approaching them. "Don't tell me that this is some kind of backup for King Sombra." As the figure approached them, they saw that it was a pony with pink armor, and they smiled, knowing that it was Rin.
"Rin, how's Cecilia?" Ichika asked.
"She's alright. Listen, we need to go to the castle now. We've held him back long enough." They both nodded and took to the skies again. Ichika picked up Rin to ensure that they all made it back safely, just in case King Sombra had some dirty tactic while they were getting back to the empire. As they were flying, they looked back and saw that King Sombra was following them.
"Perfect. Now let's get going. The sooner we get there, the sooner this guy will vanish." They both used the rest of their shield energy to go as fast as they possibly could.
When they got back to the empire, their shield energy was at 0 and there IS's vanished. They ran over to the spot of the fake Crystal Heart and looked behind them to see King Sombra.
"King Sombra's here, run!" One pony exclaimed which gave all the other ponies the thought to run away.
"Everypony calm down!" They all looked back to see Cadence, who was now in perfect condition, thanks to the power of the Crystal Heart. "If we put all our hope and love into the Crystal Heart, we can put King Sombra to rest, so don't fret, just think positive." She placed the heart onto the pillar and they all surrounded it and closed their eyes, letting the Crystal Heart harness their power. They watched as the crystal ponies regained their crystal forms and closed their eyes. They all did the same as well, closing their eyes and still giving the whole kingdom their support. Tracks of light blue light outlines through the whole kingdom and then quickly went back towards the holding place of the Crystal Heart. A huge burst of energy discharged from the Crystal Heart, turning everypony who wasn't in their crystal form into crystal, and demolishing the dark crystals, and King Sombra himself. A beautiful aura emitted from the Crystal Heart and scattered all around Equestria. They all opened their eyes to see the spectacle that happened to the empire, and to themselves.
"We're crystal ponies now!" Rarity shouted in joy, observing her new manestyle and crystal coat.
"So this is what it's like to be a crystal pony? It seems that the girls have it better." Ichika commented, noticing that even though they had a change in their coats as well, the girls had the extra change in their manes. Twilight watched them all from above the castle and smiled. Good job all of you, especially you Spike. We could never have done this without teamwork. She made her way back outside to meet with the rest of her friends.
"Twily! It's good that you're safe. When Spike told me about where you were, I was starting to get worried, but you know Cadence and I never doubted you all for a second." He told her. They walked into the castle to get a view from the balcony of the improved kingdom. "Well, the Crystal Fair is still going on, so you all should go out there and keep running it, but try to have fun as well." Cadence and Shining Armor both smiled at them, and they headed back to the Crystal Fair.
After 20 minutes of running the festival, the Ponyville group decided that it was time for them to go back home. Once they passed the border between the Crystal Empire, and the cold Arctic, they all noticed that they all reverted back into their normal forms.
"Our beautiful manes and coats!" Rarity and Cecilia both exclaimed in sorrow. They all laughed and headed for the train to get back to Canterlot. Shining Armor noticed that Twilight looked sad, so she walked over to talk to her.
"Why so down? You saved the empire from total destruction, so can't you be a bit happy?"
"I am happy, but I don't think that I'll pass Princess Celestia's test now. I was supposed to save the empire, but Spike seemed to do all the work. He was the one who brought the Crystal Heart to you all while I just sat down, trapped. Both Cadence and Shining Armor's expressions turned into looks of sorrow. They got to the train station and began boarding the train.
"Well, I guess we'll see you all sometime soon. It was great to meet you Ichika, Rin, Cecilia, and Houki, and we both hope that you can get back to your world safely." Cadence told them. Twilight was the last to board the train and Shining Armor placed a hoof on her back.
"Hey, if Princess Celestia fails you, just tell me. I'm sure Cadence and I can work something out because you shouldn't fail." Twilight looked at his brother and gave him a hug.
"Thanks BBBFF. You should came back and visit sometime soon."
"I don't think we can at the moment, but if the chance ever rises, you can count on it." Twilight boarded the train, and it began its motion towards Canterlot. She grouped with her friends after she let out a final wave to her brother and Cadence.
"Twilight, do you really think that you'll fail just because you didn't bring the Crystal Heart?" Fluttershy asked her.
"I don't know. I hope I don't, but I really have the feeling that I will." Pinkie Pie ran over to her and lifted her face up to form a smile. Pinkie Pie seemed to always make anypony smile, no matter what the situation. Ichika, Houki, Rin, and Cecilia made their own conversation about wondering if they would make It back to Japan or not.
"I love it here. Maybe we should stay here for a little break." Cecilia recommended.
"I know that it sounds great and all, but I really think we need to get back right away. I'm sure they are wondering where we all are. Who knows how much they could be worrying about us?" Houki countered. Lelouch decided to walk over and wonder what they were talking about. Once he was thoroughly explained about the topic, he joined in.
"If only you all had the same situation as me. I think I really have no choice but to stay here anyways. I know Twilight has a spell that can bring you back home, but it's your call. You can either stay here or go back. The problem is that each decision has some negatives attached to them, so either way you win and lose." He explained.
"What do you think we should do?" Ichika asked him.
"I think that you should go back home, and I don't meant that in a mean way. Unlike me, you actually have it so that if you go back, it won't feel as though your presence there is weird. And like you said, they are probably worrying about you." They both talked in a small circle, wondering what they should do now. Once they broke away from each other, they looked at Lelouch.
"We all agreed to stay here for 1 week. You don't think that's too long of a stay, right?"
"Not at all. I mean, you all did save the Crystal Empire, so it does seem like a way to reward yourselves." The train came to a halt 15 minutes later, and Twilight let out a sigh. "Don't worry about it Twilight, just try explaining it and I'm sure Princess Celestia will understand." Lelouch told her as they walked out of the train. They all walked with her until the got to the front of the castle, which is where they waited for her until she got her results.
Twilight walked into the castle as quiet as she could, sadness still lingering around her thoughts. She saw Princess Celestia with her back turned and Twilight let out a small cough to make her presence noticeable. She turned around and gazed at Twilight with a smile.
"Twilight, what's wrong? You seem depressed."
"Princess Celestia, if you want to fail me, just fail me now and get it over with. I failed your test, and I know it." Tears glistened in her eyes, and Princess Celestia looked at her.
"Twilight, I don't know what you're going on about. You saved the Crystal Empire."
"I didn't. It was all Spike and the others. I just sat there, trapped inside of a room."
"Twilight, you learned a lesson in self-sacrifice during that journey. You knew that even if the test did call for you to save the empire by yourself, you would do the right thing and make somepony else do the job. I'd say that you deserve a passing grade." Twilight looked up at her and wiped her eyes.
"So…did I pass?" She sniffed. Princess Celestia nodded and Twilight jumped in the air. "Oh thank you Princess Celestia!" She gave her a hug to show her gratitude.
"You're welcome. Now you probably need to run outside and tell your friends the good news." Twilight wiped her eyes again and made a run for the castle entrance. She walked out of the door and all her friends stared at her.
"So, how was it?" Houki asked.
"I…Passed!" She exclaimed, and they all cheered. "It seems that all I had to do was really save the empire, no matter who did it. It was a lesson of self-sacrifice, that's what the Princess told me." Twilight took the lead of the group. "Now let's get going. We've been through a lot today, and even though it's still a bit sunny, I think we all need to go to bed." They all let out yawns and then laughed and boarded the train to get back home.
So, now that all the main stuff is over, I can now get more creative with this. I was thinking about making each Chapter a episode in MLP, so the next Chapter revolves around Too Many Pinkie Pies. Do you think I should do this? I was planning to do it, but not for all the time because then I would have to wait a week to type every chapter. ~Geasswolf Out | https://www.fanfiction.net/s/8708869/5/My-Little-Pony-Bonds-Beyond-Worlds-Turn-5 | dclm-gs1-015410000 |
0.023763 | <urn:uuid:db82d469-04a4-4799-81d5-fe18d686ffea> | en | 0.923794 |
Posts Tagged ‘censorship’
Big Name Websites Protest SOPA
Mediabistro Course
How The Stop Online Piracy Act Could Impact Journalists
Sounds pretty scary, right? The SOPA hearings started in the House today, and that’s why today has been declared American Censorship Day. Numerous companies and websites are attempting to raise awareness about SOPA in an attempt to “save the Internet” and hopefully block the passage of the law. But so far, according to Techdirt, the odds are stacked 5 to 1 in favor of passing the bill.
SOPA has many implications for casual Internet users, but for journalists the repercussions of SOPA passing could be immense. Here are a few ways in which the passage of SOPA could impact journalists and their organizations.
Read more | https://www.mediabistro.com/10000words/tag/censorship | dclm-gs1-015450000 |
0.026229 | <urn:uuid:c29c4dcb-4828-4220-9219-05f32a1aef46> | en | 0.975375 | x barack obama
x israel
CNN 29
English 147
Set Clip Length:
. >> with a counter attack. >> president obama said he believes in redistribution. >> also the fallout from the anti-american violence in the middle east. >> was their intelligence prior to this attack? if not, why not? >> advice from mike russell. >> i said relax. just be one of yourselves. >> mitt romney has become the 2012 elections man of constant sorrow. ever since "mother jones" published a video in which he appears to write off half the country last may well talking to donors in florida. scott brown and republican george allen. >> you said nearly half the country see themselves as victims? >> no. i love very positively peacoat you disagree with governor romney? >> i have my own point of view. >> my guess would be george allen wished he did not have to answer questions like that. >> i think he did not answer questions like that. the reason that statement was so bad is because it was mitt romney is point of view. pcs nearly half the country as moochers who want a handout from government. he does not understand why they don't just borrow from their parents or take money from their trust funds. h
in the book those democrats this is a very critical study of the obama leadership all of the sources were democrat. tell us about that decision. >> guest: some of the politics longtime technical people in the defense department or the intelligence services and so on but for the most part these are people that worked alongside the president in one capacity or another in the white house and we need federal agencies in the house of congress to see him up close. what i discovered much to my surprise is this illustration is losing by rivalries, those in tend disagreement in this administration much life the reagan and the nixon administration but much unlike the last bush administration which was very corporate in its cultural field. there wasn't a lot of fighting. the bush memoirs haven't been that some might be. this administration is very different. there is a lot of confusion and frustration. and the administrations, the culture of the administration reflects, so you have obama, someone that comes across the people that know him as a sort of movie and indecisive, sensitive, someone that ha
a nu obama echoed the themes a couple of days ago.he white pushed in to on such a high battered with public ul the speechics. isermbr. when hurts to haf people perhaps it question is tre as he wats of applause. i'm assembly members? was that public audience? l, we're trying ide with the palestinians, brought in delegations. they may have needed tickets for this and te, of theefore netanyahu had year. this time came equipped to back and both the received several roun usg up we do know that president obama is suppodo phone call with the i want to bring zakaria. ll what in the world might that be like? to say to netanyahu in that >> well, the lot. they just spent an hour talking a couple of days ago. i think it was netanyense that they talk a lot. they work together. there's a lot of intelligence cooperation. i don't think it's particularly friendly. but they see eye to eye on many of the issues involving iran. don't is on whether the united states needs to draw a bright line a very clear line as to when tliger an trigger amer strike. effect to single th
is something we're looking at. secondly, i am president obama's proposal is a tax credit for companies to bring manufacturing back or invest back in the united states in communities and create jobs and proposed a 20% tax credit for those types of companies. why do you cut the corporate tax rate across the board? my argument for that is i don't think right now that either my law firm was investment bank of wall street needs that. i say let's target to areas that are in economic growth. so i am sympathetic to taxiing if they can be tied to accountability for companies to actually invest in other communities and create jobs. okay, last question. >> i'm wondering about tax incentives. on the other side, wouldn't it be okay -- i guess that's not quite the right word, to tax the imports? so that it discourages imports and encourages the local benefactor? >> that's a big debate about how much protectionism we should have as a country. my view is that the competition is fair, i think americans can compete and we should not be -- we should not be discouraged competition. the question is what happens at
president obama has been indecisive unconflicted throughout much of his presidency and many victories can be credited to someone else. this is about an hour. >> host: rich, congratulations on your new, "leading from behind: the reluctant president & the advisors who decide for him." first, tell our viewers how and why he decided to write the book. >> guest: when i sat down and said it wanted to write a book without adjectives. i think there aren't a lot of anti-obama books out there. i didn't want to be either one of those books. i want to read a book to describe it as to what i thought was the most important question, the most interesting question anyway. let's look at barack obama a character. he is the guy that is very public thank you to the experience. his entire place is that the law professors like turn, the committee table in the illinois statehouse during various meetings, but he's never the guy in the front of the room deciding, making the hard calls. he is various little management experience, suddenly he's in the most managerial job in the world. president of the united states
him now, eliminated. and what is president obama going to do about this, not meeting with world leaders, not meeting with israeli prime minister netanyahu? this is when president obama says israel is one of our best friends in the region, just one. instead, he's yacking it up on daytime talk shows like "the view" and while there he refused to call the libyan attack on our embassy an attack of terrorism. tonight we'll look at one more sign of the weakness of this amateur president instead of a world leader. >>> also this evening, the battleground now shifts. new numbers now out shows mitt romney gaining ground on middle class families, a 14-point lead over president obama. romney's now making the point that his middle class tax cuts will give much more take-home pay to middle class folks. douglas holtz eakin walks us through the numbers. >>> a punch line at last night's emmys but it is true. american liberals are being brainwashed by hollywood, and hollywood is being brainwashed by obama. we're going to reveal how one network's primetime show shilling for obama care. first up thi
with obama. what do you do? mitt does not have a rose garden. >> charles, you write that in the wake of what is happening in the middle east, romney's "un willingness to go big is simply astonishing." >> it was a great opening this week, with embassies of flame, the ambassador killed, writes -- riots -- that is a collapse of the four-year policy on the middle east. rather than make a serious speech connecting the dots and talking about exactly that, the collapse of the policy or the result of a naive approach to tyrants in the region, he does want to drive-by shot, which was accurate, but it was only one, and then he gives a speech to the clinton global initiative about reforming foreign aid, for god's sake. that is a huge opportunity missed. the core problem is this un willingness to go large and bait and tackle the big issues, which if he did, he could win, but he seems reluctant to do it. >> nina? >> i will not take on charles on the merits of these arguments, although i agree that a major foreign policy speech -- i don't think it would have changed things, but it would make him look like
imagine -- just reverse this. any conservative says about this obama or -- >> it's out of the question. >> bill: what if they said it about islam? >> oh, well, that's totally out of bounds. absolutely out of bounds. >> bill: limits on free speech. >> the other thing, i would ask nor reid, do you think it's appropriate to do an interview with pimp with a limp? >> bill: exactly. that's all the time we have left. get-'s next. see you tomorrow night. >> greta: tonight do you have a job? that's great. you're so lucky. there's probably still parts of your that you don't like, but you do them anyway. why? because it's your job. you agreed to do it. so what's with the president not meeting with world leaders this week? it's his job. he's the president. even if he doesn't like meeting with them, he should be doing it. it's his job. >> provided in today's "new york times" where you have a obama campaign official quoted anonymously saying that in this campaign season, the president can't afford to be taking the time to be doing a series of these meetings, and there was the quote -
we have been saying this all along on "the five." thereon the obama administration trying -- listen to the obama administration thighing to spin the story -- trying to spin the story. they were aware of this by september 12. pay careful attention the dates. >> there is no justification, none at all for responding to no information toolence. suggest that it was a pre pre-planned attack. it's not a reaction to the 9/11 anniversary that we know of. >> this was not a preplanned, premeditated attack. >> eric: all right. here is president obama tuesday. >> there are no words to excuse the killing of innocence. there is no video this justifies an attack on an embassy. >> eric: kimberly, now we know that the obama administration labeled at it terrorist attack, so they could release intelligence in the area. but for better part of two weeks they have been denying it was terrorism and blame it on the movie. is there ever a reason for the president of the united states to lie to the american people? >> kimberly: no, there is not. in this particular situation it was glay grant. flagrant. if the
, and that it was the work of a specific group related to al-qaeda and its affiliate in that area. >> obama sends his surrogates out to lie about the -- about the cause and the nature of the attacks. obama created a conspiracy theory, and coordinated a campaign of deceit to distract from the truth that affects our national security. >> the thing that's disturbing about this is the naivete of an absolute fundamental ignorance of the -- of warfare. look, this was an attack on its face. >> this is turning into something not short of banghazigate. what's going on here? why are we not being told what happened to these four americans? >> the administration is living in a fantasy world. first they insist it wasn't a terrorist attack. then they say they can't whether it was or not, so the fbi completes an investigation, which it hasn't begun. >> this is a cover-up in the middle of a campaign, a cover-up related to the security of the united states of america, relating to the depths of four brave americans. >> if you're applying intelligence and common sense, the fact is this clearly was a terrorist attack. >
because the obama campaign continues to use this against him. they have a new ad out in ohio this morning that uses that 47% comment against him. >> alex, romney went again after president obama for not meeting with benjamin netanyahu. mitt romney said he should be more specific about his own foreign policy, and listen to. >> well, let's see what i've done since i came into office. i said i'd end the war in iraq. i did. i said that we'd go after al qaeda. they've been decimated in the fatah. that we'd go after bin laden. he's gone. so i've executed on my foreign policy, and it's one that the american people largely agree with. so, you know, if governor romney is suggesting that we should start another war, he should say so. >> alex, what's he trying to do there? >> well, first i think what the president is trying to do is, you know, there's been a very consistent critique of his performance on foreign policy from the right, that the obama administration has not been supportive enough of allies like israel, has not been assertive enough with iran. what obama's trying to do is claim a sort
. and this is not a fact that is lost on our president mr. obama stumping there yesterday. >> i still believe in you. and if you keep on believing in me, i want you to register to vote by october 9th. i want you to start voting next tuesday, october 2nd. >> so paul steinhauser joins me now from washington, d.c. paul, let's go right back to iowa. everything begins in iowa. and we've got a recent poll that shows president obama has a seven point lead in iowa. so here's the guess. he wants to gets a many early votes in the bank in that state as possible and then move on with his person and his money. >> exactly. everybody knows iowa's that first state that votes in the primary and you caucus calendar and it's family us for that. it was the state that gave president obama -- senator obama his first victory. and he won iowa four years ago in the general election, considered a battleground state. both campaigns really going after it. four years ago goi, 545,000 iowans cast ballots early. and that was almost double what they did eight years prior. so early voting is important in iowa as it is in a bunch of
and white college graduates and working class voters voted in 2008. minorities 80/20, obama. white college graduates a four-point deficit, and the right hand column you see how much demographic change we have just in the last four years based on current population survey eligible voters. according to be sedated, we've seen an increase of three points in the share of eligible voters were minority's and a decrease of three points in the share of voters who are white noncollege or working class. that's quite a lot of change in a short period of time. let's just think a bit about what these figures mean, the figures from 2008 and the figures for today. even though it looks like the minority vote usher should go up, let's just say it does not. but let's say that obama gets again the 80% of the minority vote he got in the 2008. let's get nearly loses white college graduates by four-point. it means that you actually be competitive in this race, mitt romney would have to get double john mccain's margin of 18 points among the white working class in this election. that's youth turnout doesn't change
to preventing iran of achieving a nuclear weapon and president obama echoed the themes a couple of days ago. however, i don't think the white house and the u.s. wants to be pushed in to on such a high profile stage battered with making a public ultimatum of red lines to iran so the speech is out. used graphics. netanyahu, former ambassador. when you listen to dozens of speeches in the room, never hurts to have some props with you. they do it in congress a lot. >> i think for a lot of people perhaps it worked. one question is, as he was speaking there were some bursts of applause. i'm curious, were those assembly members? was that public audience? who would that have been? >> reporter: well, we're trying to figure out but i think the delegations, especially here israel and a little bit with the palestinians, brought in extra people with the delegations. they sat way in the back. they may have needed tickets for this and think israel may have felt a little, well, they rallied from the last year when abbas of the palestinians and spoke just before netanyahu had huge standing ovations last year
to a person of the opposite sex. that is the section of the law that president obama has declined to defend. at the house, they have created the bipartisan legal adviser group that is during the defense of these laws since the administration has advocated its role in defending it. -- has abdicated its role in defending it. there are several cases that have petitions for the court to decide amongst. the first one, probably the front runner, is a combination case of massachusetts nurses the department of human services. -- massachusetts vs. the department of human services. the equal protection clause violates the defense of mayor jack -- or the defense of marriage at-the people protection clause because there is no rational basis for it does not pass scrutiny. the idea of which level of scrutiny it must pass is a question. but they are happy to argue both. this case is interesting because justice kagen was involved at the district court level during her confirmation level where it came out. her office had been involved in the internal discussion of the strategy of the case, so she will be re
shot. and resonate with voters. my predictions -- romney will repeat his claim that obama cut $700 billion from medicare. during the primaries, the republicans used to claim that obama funded his health-care plan with $500 billion in cuts. how did it balloon to $700 billion? a simple explanation. the congressional budget office is in a new estimate based on a different and later 10-year time line. republicans decided to pick the biggest number possible. medicare -- spending is not being reduced. $700 billion -- that comes from the difference over 10 years between anticipated medicare spending, what is known as the baseline, and changes the law makes to reduce spending. medicare -- spending is not being reduced. $700 billion -- that comes from the difference over 10 years between anticipated medicare spending, what is known as the baseline, and changes the law makes to reduce spending. the statement -- that is mostly come out of health care providers, not medicare beneficiaries. the medicare actuary has raised significant doubts as to whether any cuts would take place. they are actu
the obama administration daily over this. he's even, you know, shown the opposition leader said three days ago, he said and asked the rough question in the parliament saying to netanyahu, the prime minister, whom do you want to get rid of, the iranians, mahmoud ahmadinejad or american president barack obama? is it more relevant to have good relationship with them, with americans or it's more relevant to make a point and to bully them every day? and he kept on asking these rough questions to the prime minister who's seen even in israel endorsing mitt romney. >> well, let me pick up on the angle. the domestic situation in israel and affects the relations with the united states and the iran situation because you have netanyahu clearly hasn't said this but clearly we can all say he prefers mitt romney to be president and actions and words probably designed to help romney. on the other hand, you have barack the defense minister trying to help obama with the public words and statements. >> i think brack -- >> how will that dynamic be affected by the november election result here? >> i don't thin
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. ♪ love me do >> reporter: david wright, abc news, los angeles. >> makes you feel old that they had no idea, the beatles. makes you feel good, they still caught the beat. they still. look. look, the comeback album. look at us, baby. >> look at that, wow. [ mother bear ] you're not using too much are you, hon? [ female announcer ] charmin ultra soft is so soft you'll have to remind your family they can use less. it's made with extra cushions that are soft and more absorbent. plus you can use four times less. charmin ultra soft. how can the dishwasher do its job ? adding finish power up to your detergent brings your dishwasher back to life. dishwasher buildup, cloudiness, spots, even tough stains-- gone ! so don't give up. add finish power up. wow ! see the difference. >>> welcome back, everybody. time for "the mix." of course, all the talk this week since the debate is about everyone, favorite bird, big bird. >> superstar, big bird. he sent out some interesting texts. he was the star when mitt romney said he is not going to borrow anymore. he would consider cutting funding to pbs, wh
the toilet. he spent 32 years inside the los angeles district attorney's office. >> and he prosecuted dozens of death penalty cases. >> we did, and not just prosecuted them, but convicted most of them. he's since changed his mind about giving felons the ultimate punishment and death penalty cases are too expensive and knows from personal experience, there is a lot of room for error. killing people is a huge responsibility and the criminal justice system isn't always perfect. >> it's not, unfortunately. we're dealing with human beings, so there's fallibility. >> and he's supporting prop 34 which would eliminate the death penalty in california. opponents say he's advocating letting hundreds of killers and rapists off the hook. >> these people are literally the worst of the worst. >> mcgreggor scott a former u.s. attorney and spokesman for the no on 34 campaign. he says californians shouldn't have to pay for the extra incarceration of life in prison. >> the taxpayers will be housing and providing medical care for these worst of the worst inmates. >> the critics are asking why you would pay any
. >> officially opens? >> october 12, in new york and los angeles. and will expand nationwide after that. >> thank you for being here. go check it out. a good one. we'll be back. we'll be back. um, hello. these ugly stains are ruining my good looks and style. and good luck using that cleaner. excuse me, miss ? he's right. those are tough hard water stains, and that cleaner's not gonna cut it. truth is, 85% of us have hard water and many don't even know it. you need lime-a-way. lime-a-way is specially formulated to conquer hard water stains. it's 4 times more effective at removing lime scale than the leading bathroom cleaner. see the lime-a-way difference or your money back. ♪ ha-ha-ha-ha-ha >>> some say president obama's performance in wednesday night's debates were no laughing matter, but there are some men who would disagree with that. >> they are esteemed pundits of political humor, icons of late night laughter and a lack now at what they had to say. >> he just told the moderator who works at pbs, i'm going to throw your ass out on the street, old man! you -- not only you, but all of those fr
. that suspect now is in custody. >> california commuters experiencing deja vu in los angeles, again, shutting down part of busy interstate 405 for repairs. this stretch is expected to re-open tomorrow morning. >> listen to this story, high school football fans cheering on a bullied teenager in michigan. the 16-year-old girl taking the field as part of the homecoming court although she was originally nominated as a hoax by a bunch of bullies. people even came from neighboring towns to show their support. good for her. >>gregg: she is my hero. i love that. that is a great story. good for her. >> let's talk about the presidential debate. we are just days away from the first one on wednesday. our campaign insiders back, john leboutillier, pat caddell, and doug schoen. pat, you prepareed jimmy carter for the debate in 1980 and mondale in 1984. talk to us about the debates, the challengers have an advantage, is that true? >>guest: the vehicle for challengers, particularly they need to answer a question. in 1960, sergeant john kennedy when i explored it i assumed that kennedy had beaten nixon decisi
des moines. they both join us now from los angeles. our first question to you is why? why do this? why go out as a fake voter and make this documentary? >> well, first of all, i wouldn't wall it a documentary. we made this film. in an election season we see how polarized politics is in the u.s. we wanted to have a conversation about, you know, the gap between campaign trail rhetoric and people like janeane from des moines. >> you look at these swing states and it's well documented. people in campaign rallies with hidden cameras, ambush reporters. you've got lots and lots of coverage from inside and outside the campaigns. what does your film, if it's not a documentary then, a mockumentary. what does it show that people weren't getting from all other forms of media covering the election? >> where is this gap between the campaign trail rhetoric from politicians and everyday reality of people like janeane. we really wanted to explore, you know, what would happen if somebody like janeane, a conservative, had to face the contradiction in her life? the story, she basically losing everything.
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0.023691 | <urn:uuid:6cfbb2fb-e7d3-44c6-bcbc-91f64efba587> | en | 0.983496 | Philly's 'Runway' star is already a winner
PHOTO: BARBARA NITKE Philly's Dom Streater watches backstage at the "Project Runway" finale, with mentor Tim Gunn.
Posted: October 18, 2013
* PROJECT RUNWAY. 9 tonight, Lifetime.
* REIGN. 9 tonight, CW57.
IF DOM Streater wins the 12th edition of "Project Runway" tonight, she'll be the first Philadelphia designer to take the prize - or even make it to the finals - since Jay McCarroll won in 2005.
But that's not why I'm rooting for the 24-year-old Moore College of Art & Design grad in a competition that admittedly was decided more than a month ago.
If Dom, as "Runway" fans know her, is a source of local pride, it should be because she's been modeling behavior we're not used to seeing on "reality" TV, acting like a grown-up on a show that can't seem to stop casting for conflict, if not actual crazy.
And so her big moments haven't involved tantrums or tears, but triumphs, including a jacket-and-jumpsuit outfit two weeks ago that had guest judge Emmy Rossum snatching the jacket off the model. (Philly-based fashion bloggers Tom and Lorenzo wrote that the ensemble, which didn't win but guaranteed Dom a spot in the finals, was "easily the most high-fashion look all season" and maybe in several seasons.
As someone who watches "Runway" for the creative stuff, I'm often turned off by the whining - and occasional bullying - but this season was heated enough that "Runway" mentor Tim Gunn complained to the New York Times that "the level of anger and acting out and grumpiness was really beyond the pale."
Through it all, though, Dom came off as sane, pleasant and even-tempered, responding well to criticism and letting her work do most of her talking.
"I kind of, like, made a decision before I got there that I really just needed to be true to myself, but also make sure that I focused primarily on my work. Because that was the reason that I was there," she told me this week.
"I do agree with Tim on [some of the behavior]. It was very, very dramatic to the point where it was kind of laughable. It was bizarre. I guess that was one of the reasons that I was on the sidelines a lot. Because I was just kind of astonished. It was like watching a car wreck. Like I couldn't look away and I couldn't believe what I was seeing, either."
It was worse, apparently, than we knew: "The editing is very, very kind," she said.
Unable to find a job in design after graduation, Dom's been working in animal care at the University of Pennsylvania and occasionally hostessing at Silk City (where Gunn met with her and her family in last week's episode), while designing on the side.
"Yes, [animal care] is kind of a bizarre tangent from fashion design," she said, but "it's easy for me to get a job because I have a lot of experience in it."
Her goal, though, remains the same: "I eventually would like to be designing and running my own label, based in Philadelphia."
Whether or not she wins tonight, it's hard to believe that her life's not about to change, even if that means an employer being smart enough to hire a talented designer with her kind of attitude.
"It's great, the response I've gotten from fans and the requests for commissions and . . . the exposure that I've gotten from being on the show, and I'm so grateful for it," she said.
"I knew coming into it that it could be a possibility, that I could get far enough where . . . I won't have to do animal-care work anymore, and I could actually design for a living. It's looking pretty good for me at this point."
Unlikely 'Reign' events
Care about fashion but not "Project Runway"?
There's always "Reign," the new CW drama most likely to inspire its own line of prom dresses.
I was the kind of weird teenager obsessed enough with Mary, Queen of Scots (here played by Adelaide Kane), to have welcomed a TV show about her youth in 16th-century France.
Especially one with Megan Follows (yes, "Anne of Green Gables") as Catherine de Medici.
But the CW doesn't make shows for the likes of me.
No need then to list all the historical whoppers, which range from made-up or reimagined characters to renaming Mary's ladies-in-waiting. (Confusingly, they were all named Mary and known as "the four Marys," but in "Reign" they're Greer, Kenna, Aylee - and Lola.)
Some may get worked up by a scene, toned down from the original pilot, in which one of the young ladies masturbates in a dark corner of the castle before the French king comes along to offer a hand. But it's perfectly in keeping with a show that displays no faith at all in viewers' ability to imagine life before Miley Cyrus.
Phone: 215-854-5950
On Twitter: @elgray | http://articles.philly.com/2013-10-18/news/43148406_1_tim-gunn-fashion-design-kind | dclm-gs1-015600000 |
0.030256 | <urn:uuid:c48c0001-89a0-47a4-9dda-9eb25979aa12> | en | 0.954671 | By Nirmala Menon
Canada’s International Cooperation Minister Bev Oda.
OTTAWA–With Bev Oda stepping down from government, speculation is picking back up about the possibility of a cabinet reshuffle by Prime Minister Stephen Harper.
There have been rumors of a cabinet shuffle for a few weeks now. Mr. Harper has re-jiggered his Conservative party government five times since taking power back in 2006, but hasn’t done so since winning his first majority back in May 2011. It’s a convenient time for announcing a reshuffle–with parliament not due back from its summer break until September. Read More » | http://blogs.wsj.com/canadarealtime/tag/harper/ | dclm-gs1-015800000 |
0.019455 | <urn:uuid:6cecc8ac-851c-4167-82bd-52e0d2743ec8> | en | 0.969219 | Positive Diagnosis-An Update on Tates & Tidbits on T-Bone
**Please be advised this post is graphic in some area**
Part 1 of this story can be found HERE
Part 2 of this story can be found HERE
Part 3 of this story can be found HERE
Part 4 of this story can be found HERE
Part 5 of this story can be found HERE
So it has been almost a month since the last update on this LONG story about Tates being sick and I want to first thank my lovely readers for your continued thoughts and prayers and inquiries about how Tates is doing. It really means the world to my family to have your support. I have been trying to get caught up on blog reviews/giveaways and have not had nearly as much time to write personal posts like I have wanted to and I apologize for keeping those of you that have been following this story hanging.
Within 36 hours of being home I got a call from the surgeon’s office informing me that one of the cultures they had taken during the colonoscopy was positive for Clostridium Difficile Colitis (c-diff). Finally we had a positive 100% definite diagnosis! Now to find out what the heck c-diff is and how do we treat it. After speaking with the nurse on the phone further and doing some research I found out c-diff is a (super bug) bacteria that is resistant to most antibiotics. There are currently only 2 antibiotics being used to treat c-diff (metronidazole [flagyl] and vancomycin). C-diff can’t be killed with soap or hand sanitizer (alcohol based or not), it is only killed through bleach and prevented through antibacterial soap hand washing when you come in contact with an infected person’s poop. Yep I said poop! So this brings up the question of how the heck did Tates get it? The other main way to contract c-diff is if you are on strong antibiotics as your natural probiotics are killed and your immune system becomes susceptible. Well Tates hasn’t been on any antibiotics for over 11 months so he didn’t get it that way, and he hasn’t been around anyone that has it (that we know of) and has definitely NOT been around anyone’s poop so we are clueless how he got it, I don’t think we will ever know.
So how do we treat this? We start a 10 day round of flagyl (antibiotics) and I also have him taking some probiotics (the mom in me does this, the Dr. didn’t order it) and try to keep Tates hydrated as one of the symptoms of this illness is the horrible bloody phlegmy diarrhea I mentioned several times before. Tates appetite has seriously declined and he isn’t eating much at all however this is expected with the stomach cramps so Dr.’s aren’t worried however as the mama to this little guy that typically eats nonstop I am constantly worrying about it. Flagyl is a pill that the pharmacist crushes up and mixes with water (I think?) to make into a liquid for Tates to take and it tastes horrible, he does not want to take it at all let alone 3 times a day for 10 days. It completely sucks having to hold your little one down, pinch their nose and squirt medicine down their throat.
Next step of treatment, kill this bacteria everywhere in my home. The only way to do that is clean sterilize every square inch of our apartment (this is when I am grateful we have a small apartment verses a house). Through more research I find out ‘L’ brand does not kill this bacteria however ‘C’ brand does so I head to my members club to buy out their stock of pre-moistened sanitizing wipes and paper towels. As I mentioned before we have to use anti-bacterial soap for all hand washing (we normally don’t use it) and are told not to use our regular towels when washing our hands but instead to use paper towels as a n extra precaution for reduced risk of spreading the bacteria. I also have to pick up bleach because everything Tates tushy has come in contact with must be bleach washed in hot water twice and dried on high heat to kill the bacteria. Bath towels, changing pad covers (I will share our awesome changing table with you all sometime soon!) and cloth diapers and all cloth diapering accessories (more on that later) all have to be sterilized.
So there goes the hope to get him back in cloth (at least for awhile) like I wanted to do right after getting home from the hospital. Now we have to use disposable wipes too, yuck. And I have to buy disposable gloves for each diaper change too. This sucks and I am not even the sick one, my poor little guy is miserable on top of this all.
Every surface has to be wiped down with wipes and showers are sprayed with bleach solution, laundry done (double time) with bleach and hot water and there is no information (that I can find yet) on how long this bacteria even lives outside the body. I have talked to the CDC (center for disease control) and they refer me to my local health department where I am not given an answer either. So basically I am sterilizing non stop.
It took me a week (literally) to get our stash clean. After everything was washed I stuffed, folded and assembled our precious fluff and tucked them into a plastic tote and closed the lid. Oh how I can’t wait to get that tote open and on my Tates tush!
After the flagyl has run its course we wait until Tates has his next poop and I have to take it to the lab and get it tested. I dropped off his poop on Friday at 4:45pm and by 9am on Saturday morning we are talking with the hospital physicians on call and they are advising us that he isn’t going to be treated anymore because he isn’t having explosive diarrhea and he would just have c-diff. Wait what? I don’t think so, and what about getting back into cloth diapers? The Dr. advised we call the GI surgeon’s office Monday to get clarification on the diapers.
Monday morning I am on the phone with Laura (our surgeon’s nurse that has become familiar with our situation as she was in his colonoscopy and is the Dr’s right hand gal) and she corrects the misunderstanding, Tates will still be treated only with a different medication this time but for 10 full days. She advises me that the vancomycin (antibiotics) needs to be followed by a 2 week double dosing of a specific brand of probiotics (the most expensive) then he will need to be seen by the surgeon for a followup. She advises me not to use the cloth diapers until we get this cleared up.
We have to wait almost 36 hours to get this prescription filled because nobody in the state had the needed ingredients on hand and it isn’t normally a liquid formulation. It is a pill however Tates can’t swallow pills so the pharmacist has to call around the state to find someone who can teach her how to make it. She offers to transfer the prescription to a pharmacy down the street that makes it all the time but doesn’t charge insurance rather you pay up front and get reimbursed by your insurance. I say OK, we need this medication. She calls back and informs me that the cost is $1,500. We don’t have it so we wait for it to get filled from our regular pharmacy, the good news is they can flavor it so I don’t have to hold Tates down, plug his nose and squirt it in and pray he doesn’t spit it out like I had to do with the flagyl.
Within days of starting the new antibiotic Tates seems better, Praise GOD! Once he completes the antibiotics and starts the probiotics he seems to slide back into the diarrhea and appetite loss and fussy behavior.
I call Laura and ask if we should have another lab test done to see if he is negative as the followup appointment is near and I want to get back into cloth diapers. She says yes and orders the test via faxing the order to the lab.
It takes me 3 attempts to get this lab test. The first attempt I show up poop in hand and the lab is closed for lunch, the second attempt the very next day poop in hand and the lab has misplaced the faxed Dr’s orders. 3rd attempt is finally successful and I wait to hear back from the office. It is killing me so I call Laura and leave her a message, within the hour the Dr. calls back. Right when I answered the phone and heard his voice instead of Laura’s my heart sank. I know Tates has to be positive if the Dr. is calling. I am right, he is still positive. In less than a week Tates is being seen for his followup so Dr. says put him back on the probiotics double dose until he sees him in person.
My heart is broken, I feel like a failure of a mom. What am I doing wrong? Why won’t this bacteria die? I am so depressed and defeated feeling and all I can do to not cry is get mad, until the kids go to bed and then I cry….why is this happening to us? Why won’t it die? Why can’t my baby be healthy and back to normal?
Monday morning office visit and after several questions, examining Tates and talking about the precautions we have been taking at home the Dr. wants to give one last shot at vancomycin and double dosing probiotics together and tapering the vancomycin. If that doesn’t work the rest of the family will get tested to see if we are positive and just have no symptoms (this is very rare).
On the way home we drop off the prescription to the pharmacy and are told (just like the first time we had it filled) that it will take at least 24 hours to make because the ingredients aren’t stocked and are special ordered.
The next day I get a call from the pharmacist explaining she was reading the medication insert and realizes that the liquid form is only good for 96 hours (4 days) and after that there are no studies showing how potent the medication is and can be un-effective (and the maker confirms this). WHAT?! Why wasn’t this caught the first time we are prescribed this medication? I am LIVID, I call Laura and explain the situation telling her the pharmacist has advised me I will have to either mix the medication myself or get new medication every 4 days and want to make sure that sounds right to her. She wants to research it and call me back.
Laura researches and talks to the hospital pharmacy and is advised that the pills are not supposed to be crushed and mixed with rather there is a vancomycin powder that should be used and they can fill it within a few hours. This formulation (the correct one) will be fine for the entire tapered dosage. I tell her thank God I called her and we are going to get the correct formulation. The first round of it is now believed to have been basically ineffective, kinda like taking your medicine for a few days then stopping. We make the half hour trip to the pharmacy and are starting the antibiotics tomorrow.
We have been advised to re-sterilize the entire apartment and are actually going even further than before, bleach spraying all carpet, stuffed animals and clothing and bedding (again). All toys and hard surfaces are going to be wiped down and bathrooms and sinks will be wiped down daily. Anyone want to come help?
Tates is doing better on and off with his eating, maybe a bit of picky toddler in there :). He is trying some new foods and we are loving that. Still no cloth diapers.
We have had a nice cloth diaper stash, I can honestly say I hit stash euphoria. We had over 70 diapers and some fabulous wipes and wet bags. The sterilization process killed lots of them, they fell apart (literally). The ones that did survive I have been now advised to destroy them as I am told nobody can be positive they are truly bacteria free. I am at a hard decision about this….when Tates is bacteria free do I dare risk exposing him with the chance the diapers are infected? Or do I pray sterilizing them again will work?
I have a few review diapers that are unworn and some wins that I have received set aside for when we get back to cloth (someday?). I also a planning a huge cloth diaper event when this wonderful day comes and there will be sponsored giveaways!
In other family news, Tates still hasn’t talked however he has had 1 speech therapy appointment and is starting to sign more, I am so thrilled at this! Poor T-Bone broke his foot while messing around (dang boys!) just days before school started and had to have his schedule rearranged and start a new school in a special shoe which stinks and he is very unhappy about.
Thanks for your continued prayers and I promise to be quicker with updating you all in the future.
1. C-diff is horrific to deal with and difficult to get rid of. (I used to work in nursing home where new patients would have it from time to time) Sounds like you are doing everything you can to get rid of it!
2. Janelle,I am so glad you understand! It is horrible! I have to start over today bleach washing everything~clothing, bedding, changing table covers and wiping down hard surfaces. I think his toys are going to be hard because you don't want your kids playing with bleach smelling stuff but I have to kill this thing, ugh!
3. Oh my goodness! that is terrible, I cant even imagine! I would have the same feelings as you! sorry you had to go through that!! glad to hear he is feeling better though :)
4. My heart breaks for little Tates…and his mommy too. I too worked in a nursing home and C-diff is NOT an easy bacteria to kill. You are all in my positive thoughts for a full recovery soon. {{HUGS}} to you all!
5. Ever feel like just leaving everything you own, startin all over in a new house?! :O) I feel like that when I see my laundry pile everyday! On a serious note! So glad you know what is going on and that something is happening to fix it now! Praying for you all! Keep my up to date!
6. Katie~ I think I have smelled enough bleach that my brain cells are dead! LOL!
7. I have had C dif and I know how painful it is. Poor baby. I hope he feels better soon.
8. MG, what did you do to finally get rid of it? Am I missing something?! I am going extreme and bleaching all our clothes, bedding, towels, carpet, EVERYTHING!
9. Omg dear I'm so sorry :(
10. Oh my goodness! You have my sympathies, that is awful. I would have to say I would throw away the old stash of cloth diapers instead of running the risk of re-exposure. That stinks though, that is a lot of money down the drain. I am sorry you have had to deal with this. I cannot imagine having to deal with all this scary craziness. You will be in my prayers.
1. [...] however if you are a long time reader of mine you may remember me sharing Tates experience with a deadly bacterial infection which lead him to be hospitalized several times, have surgery and eventually a long road of [...]
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0.239435 | <urn:uuid:e3ed9580-ceca-4f6d-94e6-398a1f813969> | en | 0.979568 | Abdul Hamid Baba
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Abdul Hameed Masho Gagar.ماشوگاگر
Died circa 1732
Residence about 14 km from Peshawar City on Kohat Road
Ethnicity Pashtun
Known for Pashto Poetry
Religion Islam
Abdul Hameed Mashokhel (Pashto: عبدالحميد ماشوخېل - also known as Abdul Hamid Baba), was a Pashtun poet and Sufi figure.[1]
Abdul Hameed Masho Gagar was born in the second half of the 17th century at Mashu Gagar, a small village controlled by the Kudrizi branch of the Mohmand clan, a Pashtun tribe. Hameed travelled to Peshawar, where he undertook his education, and became a priest. At this point, Hameed was a man of considerable stature among intellectuals, and students from a number of surrounding districts came to receive instruction from him.[2]
Hameed's poetry was written primarily in the Pashto language. His poems generally had a moral to them, and were often tinged with tones of contempt for the world and its lack of virtue. The morals of his poems were based on Sufism, as a large proportion of other Muslim poetry was. Hameed's poetry was popular even in Persia, where he was dubbed "Hameed the Hair-splitter". Hameed's major works, Love's Fascination, The King and the Beggar and Pearls and Corals have all been translated into English.[2]
Hameed's exact death date is not known, but it is thought by those in his home village that he died around the year 1732. He died in the same house that he had lived in for most of his life.[2]
1. ^ "18th century Sufi poet’s grave in ruins". The Express Tribune.
2. ^ a b c "Abdul Hameed Baba". Dawatan.com. December 29, 2006. Retrieved January 27, 2011.
Further reading[edit] | http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abdul_Hamid_Baba | dclm-gs1-015970000 |
0.681622 | <urn:uuid:e150c14a-09b2-49fa-99af-3b4e1667c419> | en | 0.808153 | Take the 2-minute tour ×
It can be on fitness, sports or just plain daily life.
Everything I hear and know about ectomorphs is:
• They struggle to gain weight (be it fat or muscle) and they tend to lose the gains easily.
• They have small bones, putting them on the "weak side" of the spectrum and at a higher risk of ostheoporosis.
• They tend to have low fat levels, so it's harder for their body to regulate its temperature.
So it seems that people with that body type (including me) "lost the game" in the gene pool and are screwed for life. Can anybody shine a light on me and tell me if there's any good thing of being like this?! :(
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Struggling to gain fat can be an advantage no? Many diseases are linked to obesity. – Mew Oct 3 '12 at 0:47
You can have little fat on your body, and very high cholesterol levels. Clogged coronary arteries will kill you a lot quicker than a "pooch." – Grohlier Jan 7 '13 at 0:14
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3 Answers
Ectomorphs automatically win when it comes to long distance running and rock climbing, as well as any other sport where being light is an advantage. Being unable to gain weight easily means strength gains are almost entirely without a matching weight gain. That's great if you want to keep your own weight low while getting stronger. Also, a lot of designers only make clothes for ectomorphs, if you're fashion conscious that's an advantage too.
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+1: there are absolutley badass sports that smaller athletes excel at. Distance running, cycling (especially up steep hills), rock climbing. You don't have to be built like a powerlifter to do ALL sports (although some level of strength training is usually beneficial). – DavidR Oct 4 '12 at 17:36
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Chris made a very good comment on your question. I have the same body structure like yours is. I found some advantages of being an ectomorph.
1. You can eat whatever you want; till it's just a matter of increasing fat on your body due to your eating habbits.
2. You will never have to struggle to lose weiht.
3. You have fewer chances of getting affected by those problems that mostly arise due to obesity. (As It's said).
Also you can gain weight if you are consuming proper nutritions. Gaining weight is not mission impossible.
Hope that makes sense.
Accept yourself as you are.
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Because the english wikipedia is pested by bad references (mostly third class fitness sites that oversimplify the whole thing) I will cite from the German Wikipedia (with translation by me).
Diese Idee ist heute medizinisch widerlegt. Das Konzept taucht heute fast ausschließlich im Fitness-Bereich auf, um ein dem Körpertyp angepasstes Trainingsprogramm zu erstellen. Die Begriffe und umsomehr die dahinterstehende Theorie sind aus heutiger Sicht mehr als fragwürdig; wissenschaftlich relevant sind sie nicht.
This idea is medically refuted nowadays. The concept only comes up with fitness relation to create a training program customized to the body type. The term and even more the theory behind it are more than questionable from a present-day perspective; they are not scientifically relevant.
In der Humanbiologie allerdings werden die Körperbautypen zur Beschreibung des individuellen morphologisch-anatomischen Aufbaus eines Menschen genutzt. Die Bestimmung des Typs erfolgt dabei über die Messung der Breite der großen Gelenke (z.B. Knie) und Einsetzung in eine Formel.
In human biology, however, these body types are used to describe the individual morpologic-anatomic structure of an individual. The typing is done by measuring the size of the big joints (eg knee) and inserting them into a formula.
So, as Moses commented, these types are still in use.
Die Einschätzung nach Körperbautyp wird insbesondere in der Sportmedizin angewandt, um ein angepasstes Trainingsprogramm zu erstellen.
These classifications by body type are used especially in sports medicine to create a personal training plan.
But however:
Die heute gebräuchlichste Form der Somatotypbestimmung geht auf Heart und Carter A Modified Somatype Method von 1967 zurück [...]
The method used today dates back to Heart and Carters A Modified Somatype Method from 1967 [...] [link included by me]
Although I had to completely rewrite my answer, my main point is still valid. But I have to modify it a bit:
What most of the fitness sites tell you is still crap. They give you a checklist and you have to check for certain features, and then they put you inside one class and make you believe that you have all of those features that are tied with it, this a bad oversimplification in my eyes.
Which features are measured today?
Körperhöhe, Körpergewicht, Hautdickenmessung an vier Punkten, zwei Umfangsmessungen an Extremitäten und zwei Knochenbreitenbestimmungen.
Height, weight, skin thickness at four points, two circumference measurements on limbs, two bone width measurements.
And the most significant part is that there are not only the three extreme types but far more:
Die meisten Menschen [weisen] Merkmale aller drei Typen auf. Man unterscheidet in der Sheldonschen Typologie etwa achtzig Untergruppen. Die Fettanspeicherung, der Muskelaufbau und der Skelettbau sind dabei eng korreliert.
Most people show signs of all three types. Sheldons typologie know around eighty subgroups. Fat-storing, muscle development and skeletal structure correlate closely.
So what can you learn from this?
You are probably not an extreme type, but even if you are a complete ectomorph by the definition of sports medicine, you wont gather muscle mass as fast as other people but you will excel in endurance activity.
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You'll need to make it more substantial than that. :) – Dave Liepmann Oct 3 '12 at 19:03
@DaveLiepmann I guess you were talking about this question here in your comment in the other question, right? I already edited the NYtimes stuff in. Maybe I'll find another paper on somatotypes, too. – Baarn Oct 3 '12 at 19:11
I was...I guess I got a little mixed up. :) This is better than the first version. +1 – Dave Liepmann Oct 3 '12 at 21:43
-1. You are confusing physiology and psychology. The general principle of body types (endo-, ecto-, and mesomorph) is universally accepted. The "theory" and "quackery" come from the late Dr. Sheldon's attempt to correlate somatotypes with human temperament and intelligence. It is the attempt to bridge somatotypes with psychology that is considered quackery, not somatotypes themselves. – Moses Oct 4 '12 at 19:36
@Moses you were right, I have completely revamped the answer. – Baarn Oct 4 '12 at 20:32
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