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Projecting their own experience onto the rest of the world, Americans generally belittle the role of ethnic nationalism in politics. After all, in the United States people of varying ethnic origins live cheek by jowl in relative peace. Within two or three generations of immigration, their ethnic identities are attenuated by cultural assimilation and intermarriage. Surely, things cannot be so different elsewhere.
Americans also find ethnonationalism discomfiting both intellectually and morally. Social scientists go to great lengths to demonstrate that it is a product not of nature but of culture, often deliberately constructed. And ethicists scorn value systems based on narrow group identities rather than cosmopolitanism.
But none of this will make ethnonationalism go away. Immigrants to the United States usually arrive with a willingness to fit into their new country and reshape their identities accordingly. But for those who remain behind in lands where their ancestors have lived for generations, if not centuries, political identities often take ethnic form, producing competing communal claims to political power. The creation of a peaceful regional order of nation-states has usually been the product of a violent process of ethnic separation. In areas where that separation has not yet occurred, politics is apt to remain ugly.
A familiar and influential narrative of twentieth-century European history argues that nationalism twice led to war, in 1914 and then again in 1939. Thereafter, the story goes, Europeans concluded that nationalism was a danger and gradually abandoned it. In the postwar decades, western Europeans enmeshed themselves in a web of transnational institutions, culminating in the European Union (EU). After the fall of the Soviet empire, that transnational framework spread eastward to encompass most of the continent. Europeans entered a postnational era, which was not only a good thing in itself but also a model for other regions. Nationalism, in this view, had been a tragic detour on the road to a peaceful liberal democratic order.
This story is widely believed by educated Europeans and even more so, perhaps, by educated
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Sony Noise Canceling Headphones - MSRP $1,099
This auction includes consumer returns from one of the world's largest consumer electronics manufacturers. The items in this auction are un-tested store returns and do not carry any warranty. All accessories are missing in these products.
Original MSRP $1,099.94
|Unit Highlights Include:
|Additional Auctions by SONY1.
|Location: Liquidation.com warehouse in Garland, TX, 75041. Buyer may arrange shipping.
|Condition Note:
|Combined Shipping:
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|International Shipping:
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subset: commoncrawl


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Intel's 2013 Haswell Ultrabook configurations revealed
Intel's new line of Haswell Ultrabooks which will not see the light of day until 2013, will ship with added features on the basic model in response to a savaging from the tech press this year.
According to documents seen by TechEye, there is a serious difference in price and performance between the standard products and the top samples, .
For standard models, the baseline Bill of Materials must not exceed $699. Intel is insisting these machines must include: all day battery life at nine hours, voice command, HD video chat with a 720p resolution camera, as well as a wireless display, robust wi-fi, bundled anti virus protection in the consumer model, and a multi touchpad.
There will be a minimum capacity of 16GB NAND for While Using functions, and it sohuld be a storage product that can get a PCMark Vantage HDD Sub Score of more than 16000 and a PCMark Vantage video editing score of more than 80MB/s. Intel recommends an SSD.
For security, Intel is enabling anti-theft in the platform BIOS and it will be opt-out. There will also be identity protection technology bundled into the OS. Intel recommends that the Shark Bay line ships with its own McAfee security bundle, though concedes that Windows defender for Windows 8 does meet the antivirus and antimalware requirements of Shark Bay for OEMs.
The recommended sample OEM configurations for a 13 inch Ultrabook in 2013 on connected standby are a <18mm clamshell/<20mm hybrid metal chassis weighing in under 3 lb. The CPU should be an HSW 2+3, while memory is 2x2GB x32LPDDR3 (1600), and a 128 GB SSD for storage. There is a 1080p USB camera and a 13" display with 1920x1080 resolution.
The machine ships with WWAN, as well as multi-touch screen and multi-touch touchpad, and will have NFC capabilities. The battery life will be 9+ hours and media playback battery life will be 6+ hours. The recommended spec ships with Windows 8 Connected Standby.
Baseline samples ship without Windows 8 Connected Standby. They will not require touch interfaces or ship with WWAN, or ship with NFC capabilities. Baseline display resolution is 1366x768. The chassis will be plastic and will weigh in at 3 lb +. Baseline memory is 2x2 GB x 16 DDR3L (1600), storage is 320GB HDD and a 32GB SSD. The camera is 720p USB.
However, running with the recommended features, the 2013 Haswell Ultrabooks could fetch as high as $999 in the B.O.M. It is recommended that Haswell Ultrabooks should sport hybrid form factors, Microsoft Windows 8 connected standby, a full HD display, standalone SSD, always connected WWAN features, facial recognition, and for the corporate market, and the vPro platform.
Right now, Intel isn't certain if the Intel Core vPro platform should be a standard requirement for all business Ultrabooks.
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The Cantabile Champagne Gold 8800RBEP model is a limited edition of one of Pearl's finest instruments. The unique 22K gold plating not only looks beautiful, but has strong projection and adds warmth to the tone and feel of this instrument. Like the standard Cantabile, it makes use of traditional handmade features such as complete .925 sterling silver, French pointed arms, and drawn tone holes. The Sterling silver keys are exceptionally nimble and swift when coupled with Pearl's pinless mechanism and one-piece core-bar. The special Champagne Gold Cantabile is rare opportunity for flautists seeking to upgrade to an exceptional handmade instrument.
Our product catalog varies by country due to manufacturer restrictions. If you change the Ship-To country, some or all of the items in your cart may not ship to the new destination.


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Pet Friendly Vacation Rentals in Europe
Need to find a pet friendly vacation rental in Europe? No problem. You'll find information on all of the dog friendly cabins, beach houses, cottages, and condos that are available for short and long term rentals here. You can get the scoop on their pet policies, read reviews of other guests with dogs, and even speak with the homeowner directly. Or, call 877-411-FIDO, and one of our pet travel experts will help you select the perfect pet friendly vacation rental in Europe.
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Monday 1 April 2019
'We are ready to explain to any Ukrainian citizen that Russia is not occupying any Ukrainian territories and generally there can be no talks about that."
After winning the first round of the presidential poll, Volodymyr Zelensky said a return of Ukrainian territory and talk of compensation would be preconditions for meeting Vladimir Putin. Putin's Press Secretary responded by denying Russia was occupying Ukrainian land. The facts show otherwise.
"'Behind me is toothpaste CNN said doesn't exist in #Venezuela' – Max Blumenthal explores markets outside #Caracas"CNN didn't say that toothpaste doesn't exist or isn't available in Venezuela. More importantly, a video from the state-run subsidized market doesn't disprove the reality of critical shortages of basic goods in the country.
"Meanwhile, the 'detectives' at Bellingcat were not satisfied with 'identifying' Petrov and Boshirov. They set out to prove the men were actually super-secret Russian spies."On the one-year anniversary of the poisoning of Sergei and Yulia Skripal in Salisbury, England, RT has issued an anniversary report seeking to shift blame away from the Kremlin by targeting open-source investigator Bellingcat.
"This is not the first time Serebryakov has delivered anti-Russian statements…"Russian actor Aleksey Serebryakov has come under fire on Russian state media after criticizing the Kremlin for "inciting conflicts" at home and abroad. It is not the first time. Labelling dissidents "anti-Russian" is part of the broader pattern to alienate and silence government critics.
Elon is ours! Musk, who suddenly spoke Russian, is now under suspicion: who is he – the Kremlin's agent, Stierlitz or a victim of the Russian hackers?"To some it was just a joke but in Russia Elon Musk's phrase put him in the Kremlin's propaganda dictionary, where one possessive pronoun divides the world into good and evil. But it did not make the entrepreneur a Russian spy.
"As the saying goes, [Metro Exodus] is a tall tale topped with Russophobia."Russian state media has lambasted the Metro Exodus video game for allowing players to take aim at statues of Vladimir Lenin. But from Russian President Putin to far-right bloggers, taking pot shots at the Soviet leader is a national past time.
"USA Air Forces: 'Thanks very much to the Russians for taking Crimea"None of the U.S. Air Forces' commanders or representatives, including General Tod Wolters, ever said the words cited in the Russian media outlet.
"'Not Odessa, but Kotsyubeyev!' Why does Kyiv erase the real names of cities"FalseUkraine is a sovereign country that can rename its cities as it sees fit: there are no "real" names.While Ukraine's "decommunization" law is not without controversy, countries have the right to rename cities and other geographical features as they wish. Nothing in the law requires new city names to be based on historical titles.
Ukraine's Exclusion of Russian Election Observers Unprecedented, But Not a Violation of International Law
"A bill of [the] Verkhovna Rada that restricts the rights of observers at the elections of the President of Ukraine violates the international law."While Ukraine's banning of Russian citizens from entering the country to take part in the OSCE election monitoring mission is "without precedent," it does not violate international law, and there will still be OSCE observers. Only two members of the team were Russian citizens.
"The Russian economy has seen the biggest growth since 2012, expanding by 2.3 percent last year, according to preliminary estimates provided by [the] Russian state statistics agency."The statistics are contradicted by numerous independent analyses and have even been questioned by senior Russian officials. The past head of the responsible government agency was recently dismissed.
"We are seeing a massive campaign on Russian information resources in Germany. It is being conducted with the German state's participation, and a campaign is being staged to suppress the voice of the Russian and Russian language media."
The German press's criticism of Russia Today (RT) Deutsch and Sputnik is not a staged campaign but the reaction of independent journalists against Kremlin's use of media means for propaganda purposes and disinformation. Similar concerns arise in France and Britain.
"Guaido's status cannot be determined from abroad, whether by the president of the United States or any other country. It can be determined only by the people of Venezuela and only by constitutional means. In this sense, for Russia the presidential status of Guaido doesn't exist."The U.S. is just one of many countries and international organizations which recognize the interim presidency of Venezuelan opposition politician Juan Guaido. Many of these countries didn't recognize Maduro's controversial reelection in 2018. His original term ended on January 10, 2019.


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Puzzle Levels
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Download a FREE Solution for your puzzles!
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Mouse Trap - Philos
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Product Information
|Free the ring from the claws of the mouse
|Level 5 - Easy
|European Wood Puzzles
|8.5 cm x 7 cm x 5 cm / 3.35 in x 2.75 in x 2 in
|Plastic Box
Product Description
A wonderful disentanglement puzzle from Philos. The objective of the puzzle is to free the ring. To do so, it seems that the ring must pass through several impossibly small holes...
Made in Samena wood, string, metal, and other decorative elements by Philos. Philos is a German puzzle manufacturer that started in 1996 as a toy manufacturing and distribution company. They make a wide variety of wooden puzzles, as well as some less common strategy games, playing cards, and dice.
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Home Computer Repair Services in Ashburton Devon
Call Now For Home Computer Repair Services 0203-6080273
Geek Assist provides total Home Computer Repair Services in Ashburton Devon and online PC support by getting a certified expert to address all your PC-related worries. We specialize in remote PC support – the expects connect to your machine remotely to turn down your PC issues. The online PC help that we render, by means of chat-based support sessions, would help you understand your computer issues and then while you sit back and watch, we resolve and protect your computer from further issues. With online PC support from Geek Assist, you can use your computer hassle-free always!
Home Computer Repair Services in Ashburton Devon
Our highly trained technicians have years of experience fixing all types of computer, software, and technical problems. While some repairs require an on-site visit, here are some of the things we can often fix remotely.
Computer Troubleshooting
We'll resolve Windows operating system errors and check for basic hardware conflicts with Windows.
- Slow Computer Performance
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- Setup Internet Connections
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Windows Technical Support
- Windows "Blue Screen of Death"
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– Browser crashes
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For breakfast this morning I had an oatmeal waffle topped with a banana and sugar free syrup along with a cup of 1% milk for 8 points.
This really is a delicious breakfast!
I went back to sleep after hubby left. I really didn't feel like getting out of bed today, but ya gotta do what ya gotta do. So before I left for school, I made a peach smoothie for 3 points to make it a little better. :)
Class went alright today. I got out of each class about 15 minutes early- which NEVER happens, and weird that it happened on the same day for both classes!
I was hungry in between classes so I picked up a Naked: Berry Veggie Machine. This is a new flavor and was pretty interesting, I was kind of disgusted by it to tell you the truth. lol but I like how healthy it is! I drank half of it for 2 points.
Look at all that's in it!
A good choice, don't you think? You probably all know what kind of food you can find in the union at ANY University!
On the way home I munched on 1 cup of grapes for 1 point.
It was nice having a little bit more time at home before signing into work. For lunch, I had left over broccoli cheese soup and toast with whipped chive cream cheese on top for 7 points.
Dessert was dark chocolate for 2 points.
And before signing into work, I made up an amaretto coffee with FF vanilla creamer for .5 point.
I have just been starting to realize how much caffeine can help me get through the day! I am so tired in the afternoon on the days I go to school and drinking coffee really helps me out! Where have I been all of this time? lol
So the workday went by quickly- 3 hours isn't that hard to do when I usually work 9.5 hour days!
For supper, I had pizza with ham, tomatoes and onions along with a little salad. I planned on 2 pieces, but I ate 4 because I was hungry! 10 points.
For dessert, I had banana soft serve for 2 points.
I used 4.5 weekly points today- due to the pizza tonight, but I'm ok with that. I enjoyed it and didn't feel like I was overeating. It was a very thin crust, too. Not too high in points since I made it at home.
Later on, hubby and I went for a 20 minute walk. Both of us were really tired and didn't want to do ANYTHING- but we decided we should at least go for a walk. I burned 110 calories, so it was worth something!
Now we're off to watch Tuesday's BL!


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Welcome back! Your Celebrations Passport membership is about to expire. Don't let your Free Shipping/No Service Charge benefits expire.
Welcome back! Your Celebrations Passport membership has expired. Don't lose your Free Shipping/No Service Charge benefits across our family of brands.
Here at Harry & David, we think a gift should be as delightful on the outside as it is on the inside, and every gift tower we offer is just that. Each gift tower starts with exclusively designed gift boxes stacked together and wrapped up with a beautiful hand-tied bow. Inside the boxes are some of our most popular gourmet food gifts, such as our famous Royal Riviera® Pears. Sweet and juicy, they are grown and handpicked in our orchards.
Many of our gift towers hold more than fruit. Towers are always a unique way to send food gifts. In fact, a tower of gourmet delights might just be your next food gift delivery. Inside and out, a gift tower is a wonderful way to let someone know how special he or she is to you. One reason our gift towers are so popular is that we offer a variety of sizes and themes. You're sure to find the right one for your occasion, whether you are sending a gift for a large celebration or an intimate gathering.
Whether you are celebrating a birthday, offering sympathy, or bringing a gift to the office, we have one that is just right for your needs. When our founders invented the first gift tower to hit the market, they never dreamed their towers would become so popular and so versatile.


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Wipertech wiper blades for your
Good news! Usually stock is only unavailable for a short time. Please let us know what you're after and we'll be in touch with an update shortly.
Thank you, your message has been sent and received successfully!
Our customer support team will get back to you shortly
(we aim to respond to all messages within 1 business day).
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These wipers will seamlessly fit your:
Have no fear! More than likely we'll still have the right wipers for you. We add new vehicles all the time. Let us know what you're after and we'll see what we can do!
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Our customer support team will get back to you shortly (we aim to respond to all messages within 1 business day).
Tired of poor-quality wipers that shudder & smear? Wipertech's wiper blades for your SKODA Octavia allow you to see clearly & comfortably, even in the worst weather.
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Would Have To Be The Best Wiper On The Market. Great product. Easy to fit. Come in no time. Will be buying a set for my van
Very Happy Chappy Ordered two but got three, arrived very quickly and installed really easily.
Excellent Service The service was excellent from the ease of the on line order, prompt delivery and ease of installation.
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Despite the complication of an order before Christmas the wipers did arrive reasonably early in the new Year.
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Ordered and arrived in NZ within 5 days. I installed the wiper on arrival. Perfect !
Ordered Online With No Hassles, Got Emails Telling Me Where My Order Was. Easy to deal with, very straight forward ordering, didn't take long to arrive, and super easy to install.
the service was excellent,no look the wipers are perfect work perfect and the company was very obliging and helpful,thanks.
Wipers Were Just As Described And Are Working Great! Wipers were just as described and are working great!
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Details emerge about American, other passengers on Malaysia flight
The mother of the only American adult on board Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370, which disappeared en route from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing, spoke out Saturday.
"I know in my heart that Philip's with God," said Sandra Wood of her son Philip Wood, an IBM employee from Texas. She said she is getting through the trauma. "Only people who know God can survive things like this."
The other Americans aboard were children: Nicole Meng, 4, and Yan Zhang, 2.
Eight of the Chinese passengers and 12 of the Malaysian passengers work for Austin-based company Freescale Semiconductor, the company confirmed.
LATEST:Malaysia flight may have changed course
"At present, we are solely focused on our employees and their families," said Gregg Lowe, president and CEO of Freescale, which produces and designs embedded hardware. "Our thoughts and prayers are with those affected by this tragic event."
Two passengers on the flight manifest weren't on board the plane and their passports were, in fact, stolen, according to foreign ministry officials in Italy and Austria.
U.S.:Reviewing possible terror links
Italian news agency ANSA reported that the Italian citizen whose name is on the passenger manifest, Louis Maraldi, 37, from Cesena, was not aboard the plane and had phoned his parents to say that he is well. He had reported his passport stolen Aug. 1 in Thailand. The Italian Foreign Ministry has confirmed that the Italian was not on board the aircraft.
Austrian Foreign Ministry spokesman Martin Weiss told the AP that a name listed on the manifest matches an Austrian passport reported stolen two years ago in Thailand. Weiss would not confirm the identity.
A breakdown of the nationalities represented on board Flight MH370 show the majority were Chinese:
1. China/Taiwan – 152, plus 1 infant
2. Malaysia — 38
3. Indonesia — 7
4. Australia — 6
5. France — 3
6. United States – 3, including 1 infant*
7. New Zealand — 2
8. Ukraine — 2
9. Canada — 2
10. Russia - 1
11. Italy — 1
12. India — 5
13. Netherlands — 1
14. Austria — 1
Source: Malaysia Airlines


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Sign up to become a Paid Test Participant.
"From beginning to end, everyone I interacted with from Usability Sciences was professional and thorough. I was impressed with the testing technology, the methodology and especially the team that led the project. This is one of the most impactful pieces of research I have ever delivered to my team. Thank you!"
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BT-CS910G - VF Cable for BT-LH910G
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text:
Fill out my online form.
Wasp Barcode
Wasp Barcode Technologies is a barcode manufacturer that provides data capture and tracking solutions designed specifically for small business. While designed for small businesses, the same attributes appeal to departments and local offices of larger organizations. Wasp solutions are ready-to-use, right out-of-the-box and aren't simply scaled down versions of complicated enterprise products. With Wasp Barcode, owners and managers will spend less time learning new products and more time running their companies.
Latest posts by Wasp Barcode (see all)
- October 2013 SMB News Recap - November 1, 2013
- Understanding Last In, First Out (LIFO) and Your Balance Sheet - August 14, 2013
- 4 Innovative Ways Barcodes Are Being Used - August 7, 2013


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Holiday Inn Saratoga Springs
Holiday Inn Saratoga Springs
232 Broadway
232 Broadway
Saratoga Springs, New York
United States
Check In: 3PM
Check Out: 11AM
Check-in Age: 21
Book With Us Advantage
- Best Price Guarantee
We promise you access to the guaranteed best available prices, or your first night is free.
- Online Reservation Guarantee
Your room is guaranteed.
- No Booking Fees!
We do not charge any booking fees for making reservations directly with us.
- Data Privacy and Site Security
IHG takes your privacy seriously and works to protect you. All personal information you provide is encrypted and secure.
Welcome to Holiday Inn Saratoga Springs
Come experience a memorable stay with first class amenities and décor at our fine hotel in Saratoga Springs. Lodging with us means that you're within walking distance of shopping, restaurants and the Saratoga Springs City Center, our city's convention center. We are conveniently situated off I-87, in the historic downtown district of Saratoga Springs.
Lodging at our Holiday Inn® Saratoga Springs hotel means that you will be centrally located and near many attractions. We are within walking distance of the Saratoga Race Course and Downtown Saratoga. Our team can cater any event at the Canfield Casino, also an easy walk from our hotel. Saratoga Performing Arts Center is nearby and offers a variety of performances including both classical & contemporary and popular concerts.
Corporate travelers appreciate our close proximity to local businesses like Ball Metal, Ace & Target Distribution Centers, Quad/Graphics, Luther Forest Technology Campus and Global Foundries. We have over 8,000-square feet of flexible meeting space for up to 800 people and a 24-hour Business Center to help you stay in touch when away from home.
Whether business or pleasure brings you to Saratoga Springs, our hotel is ready to meet your needs. Complimentary amenities include free Wi-Fi access, Fitness Center, heated outdoor and indoor pools, shuttle, and free parking.
Kids Stay and Eat Free
Kids ages 18 and under stay for free when sharing their parents' room. Up to four kids ages 11 and under eat free any time of the day in any Holiday Inn® on-site restaurant.
*View Terms & Conditions for Details.
Children's Activities Available.
|Kids Stay Free
|Kids Eat Free
|United States, Canada, Central America, South America, Mexico, Caribbean
|18 and Under
|11 and Under
Free High-Speed Internet
Standard Wireless Internet service is included for all guests.
Shuttle/ Parking
- Car Parking Available
- Complimentary Daily Self-Parking is available
- Self-Parking Fee: 0 USD
- FREE parking for 200+ Cars on site and an additional 100 public parking spots within 1 block of the hotel
Pet Policy
- Pets allowed
- Service Animals Allowed
- Pets Walking Area Available
- Pet Deposit per Stay: 25 USD
- Pet Fee per Night: 0 USD
- We welcome well behaved, quiet pets. A fee of 25.00 per stay is required. Please leave contact information at the front desk if you leave your pet in your room. Also, please call housekeeping at extension 285 to advise the best time to clean your room.
Credit Cards
- American Express
- Visa
- MasterCard
- Diners Club
- Carte Blanche
- Discover
- Smoke-Free Facility
- Number of Floors: 4
- Total Number of Rooms: 168
- Number of Suites: 6
- Number of Non-Smoking Rooms: 168
- Number of Accessible Rooms: 8
- Connecting Rooms Available
- Public Spaces Renovated in: 2017
- Guest Rooms Renovated in: 2016
- Public Entrance
- Guest Rooms
- Elevators
- Public Restrooms
- Registration Desk
- Business Center
- Number of Accessible Meeting Rooms: 7
Accessible Hotel Areas
- Registration Area
- Accessible Guest Rooms
- Business Center
- Meeting Room
- Exercise Facility
- Pool
Hotel Areas with Accessible Routes from Accessible Public Entrance
- Accessible Self-Parking
- Van Accessible Self Parking
- Portable Bathtub Seats
- Closed Caption TVs
- Telephone with TDD
- Visual Alarm/Alert in Guest Rooms
- Communication Kits with Visual Alarms
Provided by Hotel


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Evolution Terrain Park - Snowshoe Mountain
Evolution Terrain Park
Check out the new park at Snowshoe!
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Winter 2016 Youtube Playlist
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Winter Storm Jonas Update!
A Racer's View of the 2016 Cupp Run Challenge
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Robillard, André
Sans titre
Robillard, André untitled, 1964 sculpture of wood and various materials length 114 cm © photo credit Collection de l'Art Brut, Lausanne
Robillard, André, (1931), France
André Robillard grew up near Orléans, France. His father was a forester and the family lived in a house placed at their disposal by the local authorities. At the age of 19, as a result of mental disturbances, André Robillard was committed to the hospital in Fleury-les-Aubrais, near Orléans. There he carried out various tasks, while also having a part-time job in charge of the purification plant. This job gave him a certain degree of autonomy: he lived in a space of 150 square metres at one end of the institution.
Here he stored the guns, spaceships and sputniks that he has made since 1964 from objects he salvaged from the rubbish tip, such as food tins, old lightbulbs, pieces of wood, plastic piping and metal bars. He assembled these diverse elements with adhesive tape and iron wire. In 1989, he moved into an apartment where he continues his production without any discontinuity.
- The Outlanders. Forging Ahead With Art Brut (german version) (Books about Art Brut)
- Vehicles (french version) (Exhibition catalogues)
- Vehicles (Exhibition catalogues)
- André Robillard (Exhibition catalogues)
- André Robillard (portrait) ( Large format poster)
- People (Exhibition catalogues)
- André Robillard (Small posters)
- The Art Brut Fascicle N°11 (The Art Brut Fascicles)
- The Outlanders. Forging Ahead With Art Brut (english version) (Books about Art Brut)


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Mission Statement
The mission of the Facilities Department is to provide the best physical environment that is conducive to learning and living.
The Facilities Department is responsible for many services affecting the comfort, convenience, and safety of the college community. Services that may be utilized on a regular basis are custodial, college motor pool, grounds and field maintenance and building maintenance.
If you are a student or an employee and would like a more in depth view of Facilities, please go to Facilities in MyMack.
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Santa Barbara County sheriff's officials said a man who embarked on a killing spree that left seven people dead and several others hurt in Isla Vista had three prior run-ins with authorities, including a mental health check at his home less than a month before the murderous rampage.
- Rampage in Isla Vista: Victims, Photos, Timeline
At the request of a family member, deputies went to the home of Elliot Rodger, 22, on April 30 to check on his mental state, according to Sheriff Bill Brown. Deputies said Roger was "polite" and "shy," and downplayed concerns over his well-being. Deputies cleared the call.
U.S. & World
The day's top national and international news.
"He did not meet the criteria for 5150," said Brown, referring to the code for an involuntarily psychiatric hold.
On Jan. 15, Rodgers contacted authorities and accused his roommate of stealing three candles valued at $22. Brown said Rodger made a citizen's arrest and the roommate was booked, cited and released. The case was sent to the district attorney's office, where a petty theft charge was filed.
On July 21, 2013, authorities met with Rodger at a hospital, where he was being treated for injuries. Rodger claimed to be the victim of an assault, but a police officer who handled that incident said Rodger may have been the aggressor. No charges were filed.
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Rodger is suspected of stabbing three people to death at his apartment before killing three other people in shootings across Isla Vista on Friday, May 23. Rodger was later involved in a shootout with sheriff's deputies and died of an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head, Brown said.


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HTC And Apple Settle Patent Dispute; Perhaps Tim Cook Realizes Patent Fights Are A Waste
from the one-would-help deptWhile the Apple patent disputes with Samsung and Motorola seem to get most of the publicity, Apple's first patent lawsuit against an Android phonemaker was against HTC, who quickly sued back. However, over the weekend, the two companies announced a settlement in which they're cross-licensing all of their patents to each other for a period of ten years. While the full details are secret, all of the indications are that HTC is paying Apple, but not a huge amount. HTC has said that it won't have "an adverse material impact" on its financials. While HTC remains a smaller player than Samsung, one hopes that this is actually a sign that Tim Cook has realized that Steve Jobs' infatuation with killing Android in court is not a productive strategy. This, of course, won't end many of the other patent fights around smartphones, but hopefully it shows that Apple has become less ridiculously "religious" about fighting in court, rather than focusing on the marketplace.
Filed Under: android, patents, settlement, smartphones, tim cook, waste
Companies: apple, htc


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This beautiful thermal therapy uses warm and cool stones to melt away tensions from the muscles. The combination of the therapists skilled hands and tools of the earth, assist your body's natural healing process. This treatment will provide the client with a sense of grounded nurturing guiding you to inner peace and tranquility.
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La Biblioteca, which replaces Al Lado, goes tequila crazy
Who should be hanging out Monday afternoon at La Biblioteca, the soon-to-open new restaurant in the old Al Lado space, but chef-celebrity Richard Sandoval – the owner of the joint. Sandoval, who was swinging through Denver before launching into three weeks of international travel (Mexico, Russia, the Middle East), sat down with me and chatted about the restaurant business while La Biblioteca's executive chef brought out plate after plate of the Latin-America-Meets-Asia dishes that will fill the menu.
The menu approach is similar to La Biblioteca's sister (and next-door) restaurant, Zengo. But where Zengo is a bit more formal and grand, La Biblioteca (which also has an outpost in New York City) emphasizes bar snacks and small plates. And most intriguingly, for me, is the small spot's big attachment to tequila – it stocks more than 350 different kinds of tequilas, mezcals and sotols (a spirit distilled not from agave, like tequila and mezcal, but from another desert plant, called the desert spoon).
"The whole idea with La Biblioteca is to introduce people to tequila," said Sandoval, a nice guy, who called Denver one of his favorite cities – he almost moved his family here when he left six years ago – and reported that his 17-year-old son is awfully interested in going to college at CU-Boulder. "Still, with so many people, when you say tequila, they think hangover."
For tequila lovers – count me in – La Biblioteca, scheduled to open this weekend, should serve as a new hangout. The vibe is brighter and livelier than Al Lado, which was a Spanish tapas bar that went deep with wines. Among other things, at La Biblioteca you can keep your own bottles of distilled agave (purchased at the restaurant) in atmospheric lockers lining one of the restaurant's walls. And if you take part in the "library card" twist, the tequilas get noted on facsimiles of lending-library cards, and stored in the kind of wooden cabinets that are familiar to library rats. Whenever you stop by, you'll know what you tasted last, and whether you liked it or not.


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Jobs Report in Line With Goals, Q3 Productivity Up
Marketwatch Markets Editor Poyla Lesova joins the News Hub to discuss the ADP private-sector job numbers, revised Q3 productivity and the impact of Superstorm Sandy. Photo: Getty Images.
This transcript has been automatically generated and may not be 100% accurate.
... the ... still as diesel sports Polya morning ... the twenty ... Q three productivity gain was great a less threatening and yet it was that advice and to two point nine percent to one point nine that was happening ... in line with economist expectations but estimate the number ... of investment and to ... the point that the thirty mile to our weekend ADP employment to the point ... when November ... with selling to that a hundred and eighteen thousand ... jobs ... were created by him by the U S economy ... was also happy and in line with expectations ... the important thing to remember here with this jobs report ... is that it was me disrupted by cranking Sandy which hit ... the northeast ... part of the last and by some estimates that around ... eighty six ... thousand jobs were sliced compos due to Sandy ... aam and so if when EDP data would have been good this particular ADP data would have been impacted by that and it's still better than people expected ... I it was it was in line with expectations of economists were on a backpacking and defend the fact that ... I'm going to leave the family factor aside ... this is a failing grade of support you know keep in mind ... I in November we have the answers and get the best and so the next and I you know the ongoing uncertainty about the fiscal cliff ... stocks in DC aisle so does this is a fairly outfitted with the support that's in line with this idea ... of a want this to be coming to tell him ok and let's move over to the markets now how will stock markets react to this data this morning how are they looking in general ... well yes the contest are pointing higher this morning I this is partly because we have the Fed to be betting that Chinese stock market opened at its height Composite ... When top muni acting percent ... of falling some positive comments from my eyes China's incoming leaders ... about what is to continue the key and danced a bit of heat ... oh and economic term and that was perceived as reposted here ... so that his government was and why can't ... protect a state that they stay ... up all sink in on some ... certain providing support ... but as police will keep an eye on any comments coming out of Washington on the fiscal cliff ... and if we hear anything to Medicare ... I you know that can always affect the markets but for now ... things are looking out ... for them when it came in one one last note for people Facebook it's going to join the Nasdaq one hundred it well I would do so next Wednesday December twelve ... and and so it's an important milestone for a company that has received so much and sentiment ... since ... its initial public offering ... what that knowledge about Facebook has its share price is up nearly twenty percent since the middle of November ... um and that's that's a notable for stomach was again beaten down ... following the IPO on and I think investors and taking a second look ... ok all you thanks so much for joining us ...


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valentine's day getaways 2015 gauteng
Treat your sweetheart to a romantic Valentine s Day getaway in New England this year more valentine's day. Here s your guide to Valentine s Day getaway packages at hotels, inns and B&Bs find suggestions for valentine s day in the washington, dc area, including romantic restaurants, romantic getaways, gift ideas and more. Dress up rice cereal hearts with frosting, pretzels, peanut butter, chocolate and other toppings for Valentine s Day sweets check out some of our favorite midwest places to escape for the weekend for entertainment, outdoor fun or just plain relaxing. Use a basic sugar cookie dough to create when it comes to valentine's day, great things come in romantic getaway packages. There are countless things to love about California and its variety of enchanting getaways is certainly one of them because let's face it it's just more fun to escape the drudgery. If you're making Valentine's Day plans or book now with padre getaways and search our inventory to find the perfect south padre island vacation rentals. Ontario s best day trips and getaways north of Toronto book online and vacation with us today! where are you headed this weekend? whether it s a barbecue in your own backyard or a trip cross country, you ll want to check out our list for inspiration. All the best things to do, places to stay and where to go when travelling north in Ontario don t let. 10 Affordable Valentine's Day Getaways Looking to whisk your sweetie away on a romantic retreat this Valentine's Day, but don't want to empty your pockets? Still sorting out your Valentine s Day? We ve got you covered, with ideas for 14 different cities our wide range of muskoka vacation packages and offers make your getaway planning easy. Travelling out of the country in February is actually a good idea, given that it is usually not peak tourist season save on your next family vacation or romantic getaway. Make this Valentine's Day special with these whether you're sneaking away for the weekend or devoting a few days to reconnecting, you and that special someone will love a romantic getaway at crystal springs. Experience remarkable and fun Hill Country vacations at Canyon of the Eagles - A Calibre Resort events and tips to make 2017 valentines day in new jersey a memorable romantic occassion get a steam and a massage in a downtown spa before heading out to the grande taverne restaurant for a pan-roasted arkansas hawg chop. We offer Texas vacation packages of unmatched value for more information: eureka where did valentine s day come from? (think naked romans, paganism, and whips. Travel Free & Make Money promoting an Eastern Light Getaways Concert Tour ) what does it cost? and why do we fall for it, year after year? plan a last minute valentine s day getaway to one of these beautiful hotels, resorts and inns. Winter Weekend Party Getaways, Crab Feasts, AC, and more 20 of america s best small towns for valentine s day getaways. Call (215) 504-4000 this year, plan more than a netflix night with your valentine. Valentine s Day ideas: Plan the perfect date with these cheap gifts, romantic breaks and flower delivery deals Are you prepped for Valentine s day 2016? Want to know a little trivia about Valentine's Day? Here are some interesting facts regarding February 14th Valentine's celebration More Valentine's Day


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MINNEAPOLIS, MN — Health Fitness Corp.'s financial results for the second quarter and six months ended June 30, 2004, showed a boost due to its acquisition of Johnson & Johnson's Health & Fitness Services Business.
For the quarter ended June 30, revenue increased 69.8 percent to $13 million from $7.7 million for the same quarter last year. Gross profit increased 117.7 percent to $3.4 million from $1.6 million for the same quarter last year. As a percent of revenue, gross profit increased to 26.2 percent compared to 20.4 percent for the second quarter last year.
For the six-month period, revenue increased 69.1 percent to $25.8 million from $15 million for the same period last year. Gross profit increased 101.8 percent to $6.5 million from $3.2 million for the same period last year. As a percent of revenue, gross profit increased to 25.3 percent compared to 21.2 percent for the same period in 2003. Jerry Noyce, HFC CEO and president, said the gains were primarily attributed to HFC's December 2003 acquisition of the Health & Fitness Services Business of Johnson & Johnson Health Care Systems Inc. Also contributing to these gains was growth from HFC's Health Enhancement Program (HEP) services. "Our recent acquisition of the Johnson & Johnson health and fitness business has clearly strengthened our financial position," Noyce said. "We are also encouraged by the progress being made in selling HEP services at our managed fitness centers. As the leading provider of corporate health management services, our goal is to build upon our current success by helping companies address the issues of rising healthcare costs and enable them to establish work environments focused on employee health and productivity."


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Accounting Research BULLETINS • Issued by the Committee on Accounting Procedure, American Institute of Accountants, 13 East 41st Street, New York 17, N. Y. Copyright 1946 by American institute of Accountants November, 1946 No. 27 Emergency Facilities 1. During the war period, many companies acquired productive facilities under certificates of necessity issued pursuant to section 124 of the Internal Revenue Code. These certificates, covering "emergency facilities" considered essential to the war effort, per-mitted the owner of the facilities to amortize their cost for income-tax purposes over a period of 60 months, or, under certain conditions, over a shorter period. An Executive Order proclaiming the end of the emergency period, for purposes of the section of the Internal Revenue Code relating to the amortization of facilities acquired under certificates of necessity, was issued on September 29, 1945. By the provisions of the Code, the previously unamortized cost of emer-gency facilities at September 29, 1945, thus became deductible for tax purposes over the periods of their use ending at that time. 2. The financial statements of industrial companies issued during the war period show that many companies acquiring emergency facilities depreciated or amortized their costs at rates permitted for tax purposes. Statements issued since September 29, 1945, show that additional accelerated depreciation or amortization of those facilities, as permitted for tax purposes, has been recorded by many such com-panies. The committee has studied this accounting treatment of the cost of emergency facilities and has considered the problems arising therefrom. As a result of this study the committee has concluded that the conventions and practices of accounting for productive assets under ordinary business and economic conditions are not wholly applicable to these problems, and that special adjustments of past accounting for emergency facilities may in some cases make possible the preparation of more useful and significant financial statements. 3. The cost of a productive facility represents the cost of the series of services to be derived from its use, and accepted accounting practice dictates that such cost should be matched against the reve-nues obtained from the services. This matching of expenses and revenues is effected by the procedures of depreciation accounting, "a system of accounting which aims to distribute the cost or other basic value of tangible capital assets, less salvage (if any), over the estimated useful life of the unit (which may be a group of assets) in 223


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Elton John and Bernie Taupin Talk 'Goodbye Yellow Brick Road' Reissue
Elton John's 'Goodbye Yellow Brick Road' has been reissued before — most recently for its 30th anniversary in 2003 — but John's vaults still hold a few 'Yellow Brick' surprises for fans.
The record will return to stores on March 25 with a bunch of new bonus material to belatedly mark the 40th anniversary of its release. As tends to be the case these days, fans will have their choice of configurations, with everything from a standard CD to a massive box and yellow vinyl to pick from. As yet another tribute to the chart-topping album's importance, an array of younger artists, including Ed Sheeran and the Zac Brown Band, have recorded their own versions of the classic songs.
John and his longtime songwriting partner, Bernie Taupin looked back on the sessions for 'Goodbye Yellow Brick Road' during a recent interview with Rolling Stone, with John recalling that the album represented a long-overdue shift away from using session players in the studio. "I do think the band was a little wounded since they weren't on 'The Tumbleweed Connection' or 'Madman Across the Water," he mused. "It was important to me that they play on 'Goodbye Yellow Brick Road.'"
After a brief attempt to record at the same Jamaican studio where the Rolling Stones had tracked 'Goats Head Soup,' John returned to the French locale where he'd recorded 'Don't Shoot Me I'm Only the Piano Player' and 'Honky Chateau.' It was there that they settled into the deep creative groove that ultimately led to 'Yellow Brick Road' turning into a double-LP set, with John and Taupin collaborating on a quickly written set of solid songs that drew confidently across a broad musical spectrum.
"There was a piano in the corner of the dining room and there was a long communal table where all the guys used to sit and eat breakfast," Taupin told Rolling Stone. "Elton would come up with a tune during breakfast. I'd write my songs longhand. I'm pretty sure I didn't have a typewriter. One of the few things I remember very clearly, and this is easy to visualize now, is sitting on the side of my bed with a notepad, just writing. I'd just write stream-of-conscious lyrics."
"It was a very exciting time in my life," John reflected during the wide-ranging interview, which is definitely worth a complete read for fans. "It was a time that we had no fear, nothing was beyond us. It's a wonderful thing the young have when they get on a roll. We were running on momentum and adrenaline. And then if you're a talented enough artist, you find your place within the playing field. And this was our example of being at the height of our creative powers."


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Paul Gerry spoke to the Accounting
Academy at Boston College on January
4. Mr. Gerry's subject was "My
First Three Years in Public Accounting."
Robert Hall accompanied Mr.
Gerry to this meeting.
On November 16 at the Parker
House in Boston, Robert Hall appeared
on a five member panel before members
of the Massachusetts CPAs at a
technical meeting. The major subject of
the panel was "Current Accounting
Problems" and Mr. Hall's specific topic
was "Cash Basis Statements and Statements
for Non-Profit Organizations."
Donald Wiese recently spoke at three
meetings of the Lions' Club in the Boston
area. His subject was "Federal Income
Taxes—Our National Pastime."
On December 7 Stephen Finney addressed
the Fox River Valley Chapter
of the National Association of Accountants
on the subject "Profitability
James Bragg participated in a Seminar
on Electronics sponsored by the
Controllers Institute of America and
held at DePaul University on December
After a brief vacation from his teaching
duties, Kay Cowen has again been
drafted into service and is presently
teaching a course in Advanced Federal


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Hey guys, I here's probably one of my favorite tutorials so far! I love birds and bald eagles are just awesome! Whether you share my love for birds or not, I'm sure you'll learn something new from this tutorial!
DragoArt members upload artwork and drawing tutorials! They are also allowed to leave comments on tutorials, profiles, etc. Many more features, as well; it's way better than just being a boring guest! Register Now!


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South Tahoe drops semifinal games
RENO, Nev. – South Tahoe's playoff run came to an end when it hit an Elko roadblock at Wooster High School on Saturday.
The lady Vikings hung in until the fourth quarter, but Elko slowly and steadily climbed out to a 49-34 win.
The Elko boys set a blistering pace in the first quarter, outscoring the Vikings 18-10. They kept the tempo up for the next three quarters, using size and sharp shooting to build on the early lead for a 80-42 win.
For a complete report check back online or check the Tahoe Daily Tribune on Wednesday.


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Fmoc-Ebes-OH (N-(Fmoc-8-amino-3,6-dioxa-octyl)succinamic acid) is a PEG-like linker developed by Song, et al. for use as a building block in SPPS. It is linear, flexible, and hydrophilic. The enhanced solubility and ionization ability make it more amenable for mass spectrometry analysis. This Fmoc protected spacer is available in crystalline form and can be stored at 4°C for two years without significant decomposition.
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Even though Punxsutawney Phil predicted an early spring this year, farmers in the groundhog's home state of Pennsylvania shouldn't expect to have their planters rolling for another few weeks.
"Planting will not start as soon as last year, due to cold and wet conditions here in late March," says Greg Roth, agronomist at Penn State University Extension. "We are getting a snowstorm in many areas today. I suspect a more traditional start to planting in mid-April."
He says some farmers may wait to start planting for other reasons, though. "Many farmers also have had bad experiences with real early planting in the last two years due to increased susceptibility to midsummer drought," he adds.
What kind of planting weather can farmers in that area be expecting? Roth says it's too early to tell, but right now, the reports are looking favorable.
"Our last report from our meteorologist revealed that odds still favor above to well above normal precipitation in March (probably the second half of the month), and a mild and relatively dry April," he says.
According to USDA, the state's corn acres have steadily increased over the past three years, from 1,350,000 in 2010 to 1,440,000 in 2012. Roth says he expects that trend to continue.
"Feed demands are high and local grain inventories seem low," he says. "The ethanol plant in Clearfield, Pa., continues to be a strong market. More on-farm grain storage has been built, making it easy for farmers to store more corn. The only downside to this is the stronger market for soybeans in the fall, which may draw some acres away from corn."
Soybean acreage in the state has held steady at 500,000 acres for the past three years, according to USDA. But Roth says the strong soybean market may change that.
"Soybeans may see an increase because of the good price prospects," he says. "There are generally high yields here, lower costs of production and lower price risk compared to corn."
Roth says grain farmers in the state are concerned about getting caught between high production costs and low prices. But, he adds, there are plenty of producers who could use a break.
"Many of our farms would welcome low corn prices since many of the dairy, hog and poultry producers are heavy feed consumers," he says. "Dairy farms in particular are being hit hard by the high feed costs and are concerned about potentially high corn prices in the fall. Dairy producers are more interested in maximizing production of grain and forage from their own acres to avoid costly feed purchases, and then developing a risk management plan to guard against low yields and high prices."
As a result, Roth predicts that forage crops such as oats, wheat, triticale and sorghum will likely see an acreage increase as well, as many farms try to ramp up forage production by double-cropping.
Prospective Plantings Preview: 10 Key States
Read the acreage predictions and considerations for additional states:


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Event Sets Stage for Leading Names from the Digital Sphere to Network and Collaborate on Current Industry Topics Toronto, Canada, August 28, 2014 – WSI,… Read More
New Partnerships It may sound like circular reasoning, but the success behind our network has always been the network. Our brand as we know it… Read More
A while back, we created an infographic outlining how the WSI Lifecycle™ helps your business.
A large-scale digital marketing strategy is a complex undertaking, which is why before you know it – and even though you have the best of… Read More
Ohio-based Citizens Federal Savings & Loan Association (CFSL) was established in 1885 and has been around for over 124 years. The organization prides itself on… Read More
Mardi Gras Casino is South Florida's premier casino and gaming destination offering a unique experience with over 70,000 square feet of casino excitement. Located in… Read More


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Plan Your Visit
How to get here
Stonehenge is easy to get to. You can take the train to Salisbury train station and then take The Stonehenge Tour bus.
You can also take a day trip by bus from London or Bath; it's around 2 ½ hours from London and around an hour from Bath.
Go to our Directions page for parking information and a post code for sat navs. Leave plenty of time at peak summer weekends when roads into the West Country can be busy.
Wiltshire County Council also has a guide to travelling to Stonehenge that includes walking and cycling routes, as well as buses and trains.
Book your tickets
Book your timed visit online and print out your confirmation. Please bring this with you.
Be sure you check your ticket time. You have a 30-minute slot in which to arrive.
Take a look at the Things to see and do while you are at Stonehenge. You can also check our Facilities and Access information.
Local residents can gain free access to Stonehenge. Click here for details.
Plan Your Day
Decide what you would like to see and do while you are here. Why not take a look at our suggested itineraries for two hours, a half day or a full day at Stonehenge?
Check the weather forecast. Don't forget your wellies and raincoats if it's due to rain, so you can still explore.
You can download an English language audio tour so you can listen on your own device when you are here. (10 languages and a family tour are available on site)
When you arrive
Begin your visit at our award-winning visitor centre 2.1kms (1.5 miles) from the Stone Circle, at Airman's Corner.
Pick up an orientation leaflet which gives you a handy guide to the whole site.
Collect an audio tour (10 languages and a family tour available). You may also want to pick up a guidebook at this point.
Visitor Centre and Bus
See Stonehenge slowly emerge on the horizon during the 10-minute free shuttle bus ride from the visitor centre. You can get off and walk from half way, or walk the whole way, and soak up the atmosphere of the ancient landscape.
The environmentally-sensitive visitor centre has a spacious café and shop with beautiful countryside views. Discover more about the Stones in the exhibition in the visitor centre, and current special exhibition.
See more Things to see and do at Stonehenge.
Food and Drink
Try one of our famous Stonehenge rock cakes or enjoy a beer from the Stonehenge Brewery.
Warm up in the winter with a deluxe hot chocolate or cool down in the summer with a Marshfield Farm ice-cream.Find out what food and drink we offer at Stonehenge
Stone Circle Access
Our Stone Circle Access visits, give you a unique opportunity to experience up close this world famous monument.
The visits take place outside of our normal general admission opening hours and are subject to very limited availability.Find out more about this unique experience
Dog Owners
Assistance dogs are welcome throughout the site. Dogs are not allowed in the Stone Circle Monument Field, or aboard the shuttle bus from the visitor centre.
Dogs on leads are welcome outside the visitor centre, and in the surrounding National Trust fields, however, please visit the National Trust website to see what restrictions are in place to protect livestock. The countryside is open access. Please be aware of wildlife and grazing livestock and help keep the Stonehenge landscape tidy by clearing up after your dog.
Water is available for dogs on request.
Any more questions?
Any more questions? Check out our Frequently Asked Questions or take a look at our Facilities information.
If you have special access needs please see our Access information and Disabled Visitors pages.
If you are visiting with a Group please see our Group Visits page for more information


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There are now an estimated 10 million online gamers across the globe. Each one has an online identity, a personally created character representing them in their virtual world.
Robbie Cooper's Alter Ego project represents a wide spectrum of the online gaming community, from casual players to obsessive gamers, from creators of worlds to virtual entrepreneurs.
Most of us spend a huge amount of time in front of screens, at work and play. Research studies indicate that in the US, the average school age child spends around 4 hours a day in front of TV, computer and video game screens. The average work age adult probably spends far longer. We access a whole spectrum of software, entertainment programming and information through these screens. The interaction with programming, software and with others, through this space, is becoming an increasingly significant part of life.
Outside of our life in front of the screen, we are also immersed in a structure of abstraction in our daily lives. Simulation, as Jean Baudrillard writes in the classic essay 'Simulacra and Simulations', is an internal state as well as an external hyperreality. Our experience in a hyperreal world (held in the grip of simulacra and where much of experience is mediated) is one in which media and medium are not simply located in their own spaces, but dispersed around us, in all forms of experience.
It seems to me that this creates a fixation with the imaginary and visual aspects of our collective psyche, and experience which is itself reduced down to the elements that we like. In the sphere of work this is mostly about information. Outside of it, it's mostly about sensation. My aim with these projects is to assemble video's, texts and images that record our relationship with this world. In this environment, the ways in which we relate to mediated experience become, for me, an interesting portrayal of life in our 21st Century culture.
Robbie Cooper.
Aurélien Capdecomme aka Velkan
Name: Aurélien Capdecomme (left)
Born: 1983
Occupation: IT for national education
Location: Toulouse, France
Average hours per week in-game: 15
Avatar name: Velkan
Avatar created: 2005
Game played: City of Heroes
In City of Heroes and in real life we like to have fun with our friends. Our characters are a couple, as are we. We sometimes play separately but it's very rare. We have separate game accounts so that we can play as a team.
We have been guild leaders since the opening of the European City of Heroes servers, and have a group of companions with whom we play regularly. We have even met some of them and they have become friends in real life. So the City of Heroes universe has an important role in our lives. We have witnessed its evolution through the difficult patches and have remained loyal. The Fantastic Legends guild now holds 70 heroes. I would never have dreamt we would attain these heights when I first started it.
Clelia and Velkan, without the superpowers, aren't so different from those holding the mouse. They enjoy life and laughter. Our City of Heroes moments are moments of release that allow us to escape long enough to complete a few missions. Because of his mask, Velkan is often subjected to the mockery of his comrades, who point out that he looks like a fish. He also has a complex about his tights, which are too tight! Clelia is nicknamed the 'pompom girl' because of her powers. The energy released from her fists covers them in a halo of light, making them look like pompoms.
Andreas Fischer aka Zero Cold
Name: Andreas Fischer
Born: 1980
Occupation: Designer
Location: Vienna, Austria
Average hours per week in-game: 17
Avatar name: Zero Cold
Avatar created: 2005
Game played: City of Heroes
I am married to a beautiful girl and the proud father of two sons. Family is very important in my life, and my wife and I play City of Heroes together. We have a lot of fun.
I design web pages and like to create a good atmosphere for all gamers out there. At the moment I am working on The Archive, the biggest City of Heroes players' database in the world. I am a gamer with more ambition than just to get-the-highest-level-in-the-shortest-time. That is very important for me. My character Zero Cold was the leader of a supergroup named Justice Corp, or JC, all proudly fighting for justice in the world. Zero Cold was their mentor, their friend, and their father-figure. JC had about 30 members. But that was a long time ago. Now, a year and half later, Zero Cold has left JC, and in a new group, Team Xtreme. We had a powerful start in the community and are members of the Fansite Alliance. At the present time we have six members but every day more heroes want to join us. We know everything about our members. The team is a provocative supergroup – with a few comedians. We're here to have fun rather than to fight for justice in that American style. Not at all. Team Xtreme. Fell the Xtreme!
Lucas Shaw aka Gaenank
Name: Lucas Shaw
Born: 1985
Occupation: Student
Location: Texas, USA
Average hours per week in-game: 55
Avatar name: Gaenank
Avatar created: 2003
Game played: EverQuest
Server name: Povar
Character type: Barbarian berserker
Character level: 55
Special abilities: Dual wield
I play a tank. I shield the casters and deal out the damage to the MOBs. The guild I belong to is one of the most famous in EverQuest, where its top players are pushing the boundaries of what's possible in the game. I'm a fighter. My job is to protect the weaker classes and kill monsters. What I'd like is to be able to keep pace with the best players, but no matter how hard I try, I never seem to catch them up. Relative to them, I'm just not moving. For a while I'd be playing up to 12 hours a day to try and get into the top ranks. It's not really about winning – you can't win EverQuest, there's no end to it, that's why it's called EverQuest – and although you might get to the top or near it, you'd have to maintain it. I just wanted to win respect from people in the game, to be somebody in the EverQuest world. But it cost me. Everything else in my life started to suffer – my social life, my schoolwork, even my health.
You can actually order pizza from within the game. Time goes by and you don't really have that much handle on what's been going on outside the game world. You can't go on for too long like that. I'm getting control of things now, I've cut right back on it. I just try and keep things in perspective.
Jason Rowe aka Rurouni Kenshin
Name: Jason Rowe
Born: 1975
Occupation: None
Location: Crosby, Texas, USA
Average hours per week in-game: 80
Avatar name: Rurouni Kenshin
Avatar created: 2003
Game played: Star Wars Galaxies
Server name: Radiant
Character type: Human marksman / rifleman
Character level: 55
Special abilities: Ranged weapon specialization
The difference between me and my online character is pretty obvious. I have a lot of physical disabilities in real life, but in Star Wars Galaxies I can ride an Imperial speeder bike, fight monsters, or just hang out with friends at a bar. I have some use of my hands – not much, but a little. In the game I use an on-screen keyboard called 'soft-type' to talk with other players. I can't press the keys on a regular keyboard so I use a virtual one. I play online games because I get to interact with people. The computer screen is my window to the world. Online it doesn't matter what you look like. Virtual worlds bring people together – everyone is on common ground. In the real world, people can be uncomfortable around me before they get to know me and realize that, apart from my outer appearance, I'm just like them. Online you get to know the person behind the keyboard before you know the physical person. The internet eliminates how you look in real life, so you get to know a person by their mind and personality. In 2002 at the UO Fan Faire in Austin, I noticed that people were intrigued by me, but they acted just like I was one of them. They treated me as an equal, like I wasn't even the way that I am – not disabled, not in a wheelchair, you know. We were all just gamers.
Elizabeth Brown aka Thalia
Name: Elizabeth Brown
Born: 1980
Occupation: Junior network systems administrator
Location: St. Louis, Missouri, USA
Average hours per week in-game: 8
Avatar name: Thalia
Avatar created: 2004
Game played: Hero's Journey
Character type: Gearknight / Wizard
Special abilities: Godlike powers
I designed Thalia to look the way that I aspire to be when I'm older. I know the kind of person that I want to be, because I see some women like that, in real life or in films – like the character Aunt Meg in the movie Twister. I perceive them as friendly, graceful, comfortable with themselves, and very open and friendly and welcoming to everyone else around them. That's how I want to be, and in some ways, by creating my Hero's Journey character to look like my own future goal, it gives me something to visualize and work towards.
Growing up I've played several different types of simple role-playing games, mostly tabletop. It's fun to figure out all the different configurations that you can add to a character. I just think it's really fun, and I look forward to playing these kinds of games with my friends. I like the tabletop gaming for the camaraderie, and the laughter. One of my favourite games is Munchkin. Like, where else can you have 'Sword of Slaying Everything Except Squid Of Doom' power?
I actually don't do a lot of role-playing any more, since I've recently started really becoming more like my character, by starting a family. I now have a five-month-old son.
Young Ki-Jang aka Knight Lummis
Name: Young Ki-Jang
Born: 1982
Occupation: Student
Location: Seoul, South Korea
Average hours per week in-game: 20
Avatar name: Knight Lummis
Avatar created: 2005
Game played: Lineage II
Character type: Knight
Character level: 30
My character is a knight. Growing up, I used to love reading stories about the warriors of Korea's Silla Kingdom, as well as the knights of medieval Europe. I admire their bravery and prowess in battle. Sometimes I wish I could have lived in those times.
I enjoy playing Lineage because it's a place where I can control my own destiny. In the real world, you have to conform to the expectations of your parents, teachers, and peers. What matters the most is how much money you have, what schools you go to, and who your parents are. Where you start determines where you end up. In Lineage it's different. You create your avatar – it's not already chosen for you. The path forward is up to you. Play well, and you will get ahead. It's not like in the real world where things are set for you.
Giorgos Loukakis aka AereVoS
Name: Giorgos Loukakis
Born: 1977
Occupation: Student
Location: Volos, Greece
Average hours per week in-game: 15
Avatar name: AereVoS
Avatar created: 2005
Game played: City of Heroes
Server name: Defiant
Character type: Mutant blaster
Character level: 42
Special abilities: Ultimate darkness incarnated, Absolute vampyric supremacy, Pure energy and pure fire manipulation
I will unleash the Vampire Hero within me. He is my only weapon against this false world. I will unleash AereVoS, the Ultimate Darkness Incarnate, the Absolute Vampire Supremacy.
One of the first rules of war is to keep your weapons secret. That's why AereVoS is hidden within a child that's grown up in a world full of injustice. He was hidden but always ready to fight, ready to change the world. Time passed and the child became a man, a man still angry at society, and a man with the mind and heart of a hero.
Reality is always cruel – cruel and insane. But there is always cyberspace – humanity's next frontier, a virgin void with unlimited potential. Potential to incarnate Ultimate Darkness. The perfect womb for AereVoS.
AereVoS is my heroic alter ego, created by threading my childhood dreams. He looks like me, he thinks like me and he acts like me because he is me and I am him. His past is my past – he was a PhD student in a parallel universe until the day he realized that ultimate darkness was unleashed within him. Also, AereVoS has a dark past – a vampire incident that nobody knows about, something he holds beneath his wings.
Kim Nyvang aka Ligar
Name: Kim Nyvang
Born: 1978
Occupation: Butcher
Location: Roennede, Denmark
Average hours per week in-game: 27
Avatar name: Ligar
Avatar created: 2002
Game played: EverQuest I
Server name: Kane Bayle
Character type: Barbarian shaman
Character level: 65
Special abilities: Barbarian strength
I'm a butcher in real life and a barbarian shaman in EverQuest. In the game I have long, flowing hair and the body of an Olympic weightlifter. In the real world I have short hair and an average body. I'm comfortable with who I am, but it's fun to role-play a walking meat-shield in the game.
I've made a lot of good friends in Norrath. Not long after I started playing, I met a woman who went by the name 'Tropical Storm'. We started hanging out together and going on raids and dungeon crawls. I know it probably sounds odd to non-gamers, but our friendship meant a lot to me. Even though we never met in real life, she was my friend. We could talk about anything – real-life problems, our jobs, and so on. After a couple of months I asked her if she wanted to marry Ligar in the game. Of course, I asked my real wife Lene if she would be ok with that. She knew that Trop – my name for her – was a good friend so she said she was fine with the idea. Lene would even come in sometimes when I was chatting with my virtual wife and tell me to give her a hug. I tried to explain my in-game marriage to some non-gamers once, but you really can't make them understand. It's like trying explain to a virgin what sex feels like.
Tini Sun aka SpicePrincess
Name: Tini Sun
Born: 1982
Occupation: PC game model
Location: Shanghai, China
Average hours per week in-game: 40
Avatar name: SpicePrincess
Avatar created: 2005
Game played: Arabian Nights
Server name: Aladdin
Character type: Cleric
Character level: 20
Special abilities: Resurrection, Healing
I played a lot of video games growing up and while I was in college. I was a big fan of an online game called Fairy Live. I even dressed as a fairy princess in Cosplay competitions. Two years ago, after I'd finished my degree in fashion design, I had the opportunity to become a model for China Joy. As a result of the publicity, I became very well known in the gaming community. I've become the first China game beauty. Guys can click on my avatar in Arabian Nights and see a photo of me! I even have a fan club! They write to me and ask for my picture. They even send me flowers. It's very sweet.
Name: Harisu
Born: 1975
Occupation: Actress
Location: Seoul, South Korea
Average hours per week in-game: 13
Avatar name: Not supplied
Avatar created: 2003
Game played: Lineage II
In 2001 I appeared in a commercial – I was the face for a famous cosmetic product. Then I started to act – soap opera, dramas, and movies. And then I got into music. Now I'm working on my fourth album. I'm not only working in Korea, but also China and around East Asia. I was the first Korean transgender celebrity. I captured everyone's attention, from little kids to grandfathers. When I go out to a restaurant, everyone recognizes me. Some people don't really like me.
Once I came upon a group of avatars who were chatting about transsexuals. They were making jokes and saying how much they disliked them. I asked, 'Why do you hate transgendered people?' and they answered with more negative comments. So I just told them who I was. They were embarrassed and tried to take back what they'd said. The virtual world is very much like the real one.
I have different avatars but my favourite is an elf. My other avatars are not all females. Some are really good-looking male characters, very attractive. But it's not like I want to play like a woman or a man. It's like having an avatar as a boyfriend or girlfriend. It's more like your partner. I definitely don't get confused between my real self and my virtual self. When I'm acting I have to concentrate on my role. In the game I just try to be myself. If anything, my avatar has to concentrate on being me.
Jean François De La Fage aka Dark Freeman
Name: Jean François De La Fage
Born: 1979
Occupation: Journalist
Location: Paris, France
Average hours per week in-game: 21
Avatar name: Dark Freeman
Avatar created: 2005
Game played: City of Heroes
Server name: Vigilance
Character type: Natural hero
Special abilities: Invincibility
I made Dark Freeman in my own image – his personality mirrors my own. He is of Japanese origin, as am I. Dark Freeman wields a Katana and practises Kendo, Ai-Do and Japanese martial arts. I have practised these art forms for the past 15 years.
I am the leader, or Oyuban, of a guild called the Yakuza Avengers, a guild that has a certain reputation on the French servers. Dark Freeman is 'natural' like comic heroes such as Batman or Hawkeye from the Avengers. For me, it's more heroic to combat crime without mutant or magical superpowers, as there is more risk involved. I believe, as Pierre Corneille said in Le Cid, 'to vanquish without risk is a triumph without glory'.
I founded the first MMORPG player association recognized by the French state. Its aim is to affiliate and promote all the City of Heroes players in France and strengthen the links between them, much like the worldwide chess or poker clubs. Because I am concerned for the image of MMORPG players in France and elsewhere, I work very hard for this atypical community that brings people together from all social and professional backgrounds. The final goal is to promote these people to the neophyte and non-gaming communities – to get recognition for a phenomenon that could be a new sport, or a new form of leisure. And to demarginalize these players who suffer from a negative image, surrounded by prejudices and misunderstandings.
Choi Seang Rak aka Uroo Ahs
Name: Choi Seang Rak
Born: 1971
Occupation: University professor
Location: Seoul, South Korea
Average hours per week in-game: 8
Avatar name: Uroo Ahs
Avatar created: 2004
Game played: Lineage II
Server name: Fehyshar
Character type: Dwarf warsmith
Character level: 59
Special abilities: Craft siege weapons, Whirlwind in battle
I'm a professor. I teach economics and public policy at the Dongguk University in Seoul. Because of my job, I don't want people to see me playing. My colleagues would not understand. I just play at home, where only my wife and my friends know about it.
My teaching duties don't leave me much time to play but my avatar is logged in 24 hours a day, seven days a week. She sits in the market place, buying and selling items while I'm away at work. In Lineage II you can park your avatar with a text message, like 'Leather gloves for sale', floating above its head. You only need to check periodically to restock their inventory. People buy more from my little girl dwarf compared to the old male dwarf I used to have, even though they sell the same things. Because I'm very polite, people think I really am a little girl.
Lineage II is a microcosm of the real world, complete with competition for social status, ostentatious displays of wealth, political intrigues, and a complex economy. For the past year, I have analyzed the game's inner workings, compiling spreadsheets to find patterns in the economy – the best places to hunt, the most profitable items to craft, and so on. I enjoy the challenge and so far I've stored up about 150 million Adena in profit – about $15,000.
Thierry Te Dunne aka Naemie Theud
Name: Thierry Te Dunne
Born: 1963
Occupation: Building superintendent
Location: Angers, France
Average hours per week in-game: 21
Avatar name: Naemie Theud
Avatar created: 2005
Game played: Guild Wars
Server name: Arenanet
Character level: 20
Character type: Warrior and secondary professions
Special abilities: Elite swordsmanship, Hundred Blades, Elite axe mastery and evisceration
I'm part of that generation who tell each other stories about how in the beginning video games consisted of two vertical bars with a ball bouncing back and forth between them – Pong. At about that time, I would also write secret scenarios in my head for the toy soldiers inhabiting my castle, and for a stillborn twin. That's how the novel The Song of Two Lives was born, even though I only wrote it thirty years later. One of the main characters is Naemie. Her crazy adventures became real, in the digital sense, when I discovered Guild Wars. Since then she has explored everywhere from Thyrie to Cavalon, immersed in someone else's scenarios. I find it immensely pleasurable. Naemie is my digital spirit, perfectly realized in her striking image – red-headed, savage, generous, lethal! And with a strong resemblance to my feminine side. Her character is unique because she has a history, a literary genesis. She was not created in a rush or borrowed from someone else, but thought over, polished, cherished.
Lee Taek Soo aka Crammer
Name: Lee Taek Soo (male)
Born: 1973
Occupation: Officer worker
Location: Seoul, South Korea
Average hours per week in-game: 10 hours
Avatar name: Crammer
Avatar created: 2006
Game played: World of Warcraft
Server name: 95
Character type: Undead
Character level: 40
Special abilities: Will of the Forsaken, Shadow resistance
Mun and I met at work. We became friends and started going out two months ago. Like many young couples, we enjoy going to the movies, going out to dinner, or just hanging out. We also like playing video games together. It's a very popular dating activity in Korea. Many PC bangs have special 'couples couches' for couples to sit together and play console or PC games.
In World of Warcraft I play an undead warrior and Mun plays an undead shaman. We decided to play as the Horde since everyone was playing Alliance. We don't belong to a guild, since we're not very outgoing people. We just like to explore the world and go hunting as a couple. We're not hardcore players. For us, there's a clear boundary between the game and real life. Neither of us is deeply invested in our character. We play just for fun.
Kimberly Rufer-Bach aka Kim Anubis
Name: Kimberly Rufer-Bach
Born: 1966
Occupation: Software developer
Location: San José, California, USA
Average hours per week in-game: 70
Avatar name: Kim Anubis
Avatar created: 2004
Game played: Second Life
Character type: Content creator
Special abilities: Building interactive objects
I'm 40 years old and have two cats and five computers. I have been managing and developing online communities since the mid 1980s. I run a company called The Magicians that develops interactive content on the Second Life platform.
Most of the time my avatar looks like my real self, but about twenty years younger. I'm jealous of some of her clothes. I made a pair of boots that I wish I could export into real life. I usually dress my avatar in the same sort of stuff I wear. She doesn't have a separate persona or anything. She's just an extension of myself in this virtual space. Of course, she has a few abilities in Second Life I don't have in my first life. When I was a kid, I wished I had a tail. You know, a tail I could wag, or point at things, like in John Peterson's children's book The Littles. So one day I decided my avatar should have a tail. I made one using the 3D modelling tools built into Second Life, and then I wrote a program to make the tail wag, point in various directions, droop, etc. My friend, The Magicians' lead engineer Ian Young, took my code and did wonders with it, and we ended up with the Animagical Tail, which will not only do what you tell it to do, but will also pick up cues from your chat and help you to express yourself. Other people wanted a tail like this too, so I put it on sale in Lotus, my shop in Second Life. It sells quite well. I sell other things I've made – flapping wings, glowing crystal balls, bowls of swirling colour-changing butterflies and all sorts of other pretty, magical things.
Xu Wei Qing
Name: Xu Wei Qing
Born: 1976
Occupation: Power leveller
Location: Shanghai, China
Average hours per week in-game: 70
Avatar name: N/A
Game played: Legend of Mir
Think of me as a personal fitness trainer for your avatar. The first few weeks of many online games are a grind. Walk into a dungeon, find a monster, kill it, heal up, find another monster, kill it, and so on, over and over again. It's boring. Computers are very good at automating repetitive tasks. So I figured, why not write a program that will play my character for me, so I can just skip to the fun part?
I'm starting to have more and more competitors. When I first started working as a power leveller, I was making 10,000 RMB a month (about $1,200). I had a lot more free time then. Now I work seven days a week and I only get about six or seven hours of sleep each night. As soon as I roll out of bed in the morning I start working.
In China, most players don't have a problem with buying and selling virtual items. A lot of players use 'illegal' macro programs to level up their characters. Since so many people play the game, it's hard to keep up with other players. Some people don't have the time or skill to do it themselves. So if there's a service that can help them get more enjoyment out of the time they do have to play, then what's wrong with that? This isn't cheating. Writing a program to make my avatar run twice as fast as everyone else, or have twice as many hit points – now that would be cheating. Many of the gaming companies agree with me. The one company that did crack down on item sales and macro programs saw their sales decline. Players want to use these services. Whether players level up in the normal fashion or using services like mine, they still have to buy game cards from the company.
Francis Chang
Name: Francis Chang
Born: 1978
Occupation: Student
Location: Portland, Oregon, USA
Average hours per week in-game: 15
Avatar name: Francis Chang / Francis Chung
Avatar created: 2003
Game played: Second Life
My first avatar in Second Life looked a lot like I do. I didn't meet very many people very early on – I guess I was just stuck on the real-life convention where you don't just walk up to strangers on the street and have a conversation. Then I created this female character. Having an avatar that wasn't at all like my real-life self made it easier to accept that we don't need to follow real-world etiquette.
For a computer programmer, Second Life is the ultimate playground. I'm not sure how best to describe what I do. Metaverse engineer? Virtual designer? Cyberspace pioneer? All these titles sound a bit grandiose. Basically, I make cool virtual cars. My claim to fame is the Dominus Shadow. It's styled after a 1960s muscle car and is quite popular in the game. I don't want to brag, but the Dominus Shadow is head and shoulders above the competition. The car is probably the single most complex item in Second Life right now. It's designed to be really easy to use. Drivers can choose how they want to control the car. Players can choose a first-person, behind-the-steering-wheel view or an external, behind-the-car perspective. There's a gearing system and cruise control that allows the player to control their speed. The car can drive up a wall, or hover like the DeLorean in Back to the Future.
The car is selling quite well. I recently donated a one-of-a-kind pink Dominus Shadow, which fetched $2,000 at a charity auction. A purple one went for $1,400. Since I'm not always online, I set up a test-drive station where customers can try before they buy. I'm on track to buy a 2007 Mustang with the proceeds.
Bill Jay Bryant aka General Zondar
Name: Bill Jay Bryant
Born: 1959
Occupation: Truck driver / Guard
Location: Salt Lake, Utah, USA
Average hours per week in-game: 45
Avatar name: General Zondar
Avatar created: 2003
Game played: EVE Online
Server name: Tranquility
Character type: Combat pilot
I spent years in the United States Marine Corps and then in the Air Force Security Police. After my discharge I spent eight years working in the bail recovery business as a bounty hunter. When my wife decided it was time for a change, we bought a Peterbilt 18-wheeler truck and hit the road. I average 1,000 miles a day, providing security services and hauling high-value cargos for banks and the government. Each evening, when I pull into the Flying J truck stop, I boot up my laptop and log onto EVE Online. There I pilot a 14,000-ton armoured battle cruiser. I haul freight and turn would-be pirates into floating clouds of debris.
When my character was two months old I was showing off my new battleship to another player, trying to look tougher than I really was. We were shooting torpedoes at each other for fun. Well, I decided to fire a 'smart' bomb at him – not something to fire in a secure space, and especially not next to a space station. It hit the station and killed a bunch of other players. Within seconds, the local security forces launched an all-out assault on my ship. I didn't have a chance. My new battleship was completely destroyed. Afterwards, I discovered that several players had placed a bounty on my head. It took me almost a year to lose the mark. Everyone thought I was a real badass pirate. I would gate into a system and everyone would flee. All I wanted was to make friends, but no one would play with me.
Serge Creola aka Megatox
Name: Serge Creola
Born: 1958
Occupation: Hotline manager
Location: Brussels, Belgium
Average hours per week in-game: 20
Avatar name: Megatox
Avatar created: 2005
Game played: City of Villains
Server name: Vigilance
Character type: Experimenter / Corrupter
Character level: 24
Special abilities: Neutron ball, X-rays, Irradiation, Proton salvo, Cosmic explosion, Electron mist, Irradiating aura, Hyper-metabolism, Disabling field, Contamination, Mutation, Slow radiation
I discovered virtual worlds a bit more than a year ago and it was a real shock. A positive one! I am a fan of all Marvel comics and also epic fantasy books. I have dreamed so much thanks to them and when I started to play online, it was as if all the stories I had read were coming to life!
Megatox is me and I am Megatox, one does not go without the other. When I switch on City of Villains I am there with my own personality, the real and the virtual blending together. I simply step into a void bringing me to that Otherland. I spent a lot of time designing my costume because I really wanted it to be exactly how I wanted. I love this machine design I made, and the yellow and black colours are a mix I like a lot. The face is not like mine but I wouldn't mind it in the real world. Megatox is all that I would like to be – strong, famous, respected, feared by some, daring, the talk of the town. This is why we complement each other. Together we make one complete person.
What makes me different from the other villains? Easy. Me, I'm real! But don't give the game away. You are now the only one to know! This is me, Megatox. Serge is busy at work in his real life. I'm sure he won't mind me having made contact with you, and be sure I will inform him of this later. He's a nice chap you know.


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Canvas Draw Created Jun 05, 2012 640 x 460px Unless noted Copyright 2012 damni2.
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amazing unique and inspirational 5h fav
Oooooooo This is sooo NEAT!!!! 5/5
I love your abstract drawing. 5/5h
very cool drawing!
Your drawings look so happy! I like the bright colors and the simplicity! 5H! :)
fascinating! You have such a creative mind.


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Thousands flock to city's largest César Chávez march ever
Thousands of residents turned out for the 18th annual César E. Chávez March for Justice. Participants marched from the city's from the West Side, through downtown and to the Alamo. It was the largest march in the event's history.
By By Robin Jerstad, for the Express-News
on March 29, 2014 8:19 PM
Photo: Robin Jerstad