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Germany's 2020 wind target as set out in its National Renewable Energy Action Plan (NREAP) totals 45.75GW — 10GW offshore, and the rest from onshore. By 2015, wind capacity is expected to reach 34.8GW, of which 2GW will be offshore.
By the end of last year, Germany's capacity had reached 27.13GW — 92MW offshore and 27GW onshore, showing a 550MW shortfall on the expectations of the National Renewable Energy Action Plan, set out two years ago for the European Commission. The plan proposed a starting point of 27.63GW for 2010, of which 27.53GW would be onshore, and 150MW offshore.
To get back on track and achieve the 2020 target, wind energy needs to grow at an average of just over 1.8GW/year, of which just over 50% is expected to be offshore. Average annual growth of wind energy in Germany over the five years to 2010 achieved this level of progress, but offshore played only a small role, which will now need
to expand.
Although offshore wind has barely left the starting blocks, the action plan expects it to develop at a faster rate now than onshore wind. Onshore's expected annual rate of growth of 822MW is only around half that achieved over the past five years.
"Through the last decade, the Renewable Energy Act has proved itself a very stable instrument for expansion of renewable energies, and this needs to continue if we are to achieve the NREAP targets," says German wind energy association BWE. Renewables projects must continue to take priority in network connection and in electricity feed-in as well as transmission and distribution. The annual modest decrease in renewable power feed-in tariffs must continue as set out in the country's renewables act, BWE stresses. The federal states also need to make new areas available for onshore wind, it adds. BWE is carrying out a study into the potential of onshore wind, to be published in April 2011.
In contrast, 10GW offshore by 2020 looks ambitious, not least because of the financing problems that arose during the economic and financial crisis that began in mid-2008, says BWE. Offshore wind has also suffered delays caused by the challenges of siting large wind projects far out to sea in deep water to avoid the marine protection areas stretching along most of Germany's North Sea and Baltic Sea coasts.
There is optimism, however. "We believe the 10GW offshore can be achieved," says Ronny Meyer, managing director of Bremen wind energy agency WAB. "If you look at how onshore wind energy has developed from zero to where it is now and apply this to the offshore sector, then it can be done. It's ambitious but realistic — but only if the framework conditions are right. Without some adjustments to current conditions, we'll only reach 6GW or 8GW."
The first of these conditions is that the "sprinter bonus" needs to be available for a longer period, says Meyer. This additional payment to encourage faster development expires in 2015. Without an extension, many offshore wind stations will not be economically feasible and so will not be built. The return on investment has to be right, he stresses. "After all, we are in competition with other countries such as the UK.
"Currently, the return on German offshore projects is about 7%. Returns are not only higher on offshore investment in the UK but also on other infrastructure investments, where returns can reach 11-12%. Companies will put their money in these rather than in German offshore projects unless returns on offshore wind investment are attractive."
Second, Germany does not yet have the required port capacity to install offshore wind stations, points out Meyer. Incentives are required to get the ports properly equipped, be it through financial guarantees, grants or cheap loans, he says. While he admits that some of Germany's offshore wind stations could be built from the UK or Dutch ports, he believes working from German ports would be beneficial.
A third issue is the electricity transmission network, which needs to be expanded rapidly to take up offshore wind power and deliver it to the busy urban centres in middle and southern Germany. "We don't have a ten-point plan to speed progress but, most importantly, all parties — including local citizens affected by new cable projects — need to get around the discussion table. If they don't participate, ensuing court appeals will tend to slow progress even further," Meyer says.
Finally there is the issue of connecting offshore wind stations to shore. The cable cost is rolled over to electricity customers in network usage charges. Germany's regulator, the federal network agency, aims to keep costs low, reducing the return on investment and the incentive for transmission system operators to build. Although the creation of clusters of offshore stations to be connected by a joint cable link to shore will help, progress on cables is still slow, says Meyer. "We need an investment incentive for construction of the cables to counter the regulator's emphasis on keeping costs to a minimum," he warns.


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In the News
Confronting Evil, Embracing Life
"Confronting Evil: Interdisciplinary Perspectives," sponsored by the Mahindra Humanities Center at Harvard was about the rhetoric and psychology of evil, what it is like to witness it, and how society should respond to it. The conference featured panelist and Radcliffe Fellow Gazmend Kapllani, a novelist who grew up in the state-terror regime of Iron Curtain Albania.
Harvard to Offset Federal Tax Burden for Employees in Same-Sex Marriages
Charles Curti, director of human resources at the Radcliffe Institute, shares a new University benefit provding $1,500 per year to employees who extend health care benefits to their same-sex spouses, to help offset the federal taxes that same-sex couples are required to pay under federal law.
Engaging in a New Community
The Harvard Gazette announces innovative international scholar Tamar Herzog has been appointed the Monroe Gutman Professor of Latin American Affairs in Harvard University's Faculty of Arts and Sciences (FAS). She also will become the Radcliffe Alumnae Professor at the Radcliffe Institute for Advanced Study.
Borders, Books, and the Balkans
Clinging to Crevices, E. coli Thrive
New research from Harvard University helps to explain how waterborne bacteria can colonize rough surfaces—even those that have been designed to resist water.
Why Sing a Poem?
A new article on the Samuel Coleridge-Taylor's musical setting of Paul Laurence Dunbar's poem "A Corn Song" appears in the inaugural issue of J19: The Journal of Nineteenth-Century Americanists. Here, the author of the article, Tsitsi Jaji, discusses how she came to sing it as part of her scholarship.
"All Things Considered" Considered
"All Things Considered" Host Talks Radio, Competitive Media Culture
Millions of Americans hear her voice on the radio each week, but members of the Harvard community had a chance to see National Public Radio reporter and "All Things Considered" host Melissa J. Block '83 speak in person at the Radcliffe Institute.
Following the Story
Cohen Granted Tenure at Harvard Law School
The Harvard Crimson reports Radcliffe Institute fellow I. Glenn Cohen will ascend in the ranks of Harvard Law School's faculty this summer as its newest tenured professor, bringing with him expertise on the legal aspects of healthcare and bioethics.

subset: commoncrawl


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Mobility WordPress Theme for Web and iPad
Full WordPress 3.0, 3.1, 3.2, 3.2.1, 3.3.1, 3.3.2, 3.4 and 3.4.2 Compatibility!
Mobility is an iPad-ready WordPress theme with finger sliding capabilities and a custom drag-and-drop gallery admin.
Both the regular and iPad versions have seven color options and the choice between a single or three-way JavaScript slider on the homepage. The iPad version can switch between portrait and landscape mode upon rotation.
Mobility's custom theme options simplify creating and editing key components of the website, including the homepage slider, color options and social links.
Theme Features:
iPad Version:
- Single or three-way JavaScript slider
- 7 color options: blue, black, dark blue, green, purple, red and steel
- Custom drag-and-drop gallery admin panel in WordPress
- Finger sliding to navigate categories and content
- Switches between landscape and portrait mode upon rotation
- Ajax contact form
Web version:
- 7 color options: blue, black, dark blue, green, purple, red and steel
- Homepage with:
- Option of a single or three-way JavaScript slider
- Sticky posts
- 3 page templates:
- Blog
- Archives
- Gallery
- Choice of single slider, three-way slider or lightbox gallery on the gallery pages
- Sidebar with Archives, Categories, Blogroll and Meta sections
- Custom theme options help you easily set up:
- Color options
- Contact form
- Social links
- Homepage slider
- Gallery style on the gallery template
- Supports Contact Form 7 plugin
- Multi-level navigation menu
- Detailed documentation with screenshots
Release History
Version 2.2 – 2011/07/18 – Updated to WordPress 3.2.
Version 2.1 – 2010/10/14 – fixed an issue with iPad version not displaying the 3 way slider correctly.
Version 2.0 – 2010/10/12 – updated to support WordPress 3.0.
Version 1.0 – 2010/05/15 – inception!


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HDD Pictures of Cherry Blossom Curtains to Beautify the Home
Cherry blossom curtains can be the favorite curtain with the cherry blossom as the accessories which are used in the curtains. The cherry blossom becomes the favorite style for the curtain to create the beautiful curtain that is used to beautify the home window. You can choose the home part that you will apply with the curtain. The design is so wonderful and interesting because the cherry becomes the popular images that are on the curtain.
Cherry Blossom Curtains to Give the Different Nuance
The special cherry blossom is used in the curtain to decorate the home. The home will look beautiful and nice using the cherry blossom into the curtain. It is so cute cherry so that many people like it so much. The cherry blossom will be the special curtain images which can you use to design your home in every part of windows in your home. The window will look nice when it is applied with the cherry curtain.
Cherry Blossom Window Curtains for Nice Home
The various colors of cherry curtain will be the best choice image to get the best one. The cherry will be good choice to make your home nice with using the curtain. Many curtains in cherry blossom that can be used, this curtain will make the special view in your home. The best curtain with cherry images can be selected with the great color like pink, red, blue, yellow and many other colors which can be combined with the curtain.
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Pictures of asian cherry blossom curtains is created to be the inspiration of for you. This image was published on May 27, 2017 and published by Shelby Angela this is fall into the category Home Design and Plans, the size of image is
570 x 566
and this post has 20 related images. If you have any questions please Contact Us. Hope it could inspire you, our beloved reader in abetterbead.com, back to article please click Cherry Blossom Curtains to Beautify the Home.
Here we have 20 great photos about Cherry Blossom Curtains to Beautify the Home. We hope you enjoyed it and if you want to download the pictures in high quality, simply just click the image and you will be redirected to the download page of Cherry Blossom Curtains to Beautify the Home.


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Topic: NPD
Love is blind: NPD says Android customers are so committed that exploding Note 7 did little to help Apple
12/29/2016, 08:12 am
Like loyalty to a political party or hometown sports team, smartphone users are extremely passionate about their choices -- a commitment that led many customers to stick with Samsung, despite the disaster of its downright dangerous Galaxy Note 7.
Conventional watch sales slide after Apple Watch launch, NPD says
08/07/2015, 09:08 am
American sales of conventional watches fell by the steepest amount in seven years during the month of June, a decline linked in part to the debut of the Apple Watch, market research firm NPD Group said on Friday.
Fitness tracker users are older & richer, early smartwatch adopters mostly young men, survey finds
01/06/2015, 10:01 am
With a glut of fitness trackers and smartwatches being introduced this week at CES ahead of the launch of the Apple Watch, a new survey finds that current wearable devices attract very different types of users based on their primary functionality.
iPhone 6 launch led to record accessory sales of $249 million in two weeks
10/10/2014, 09:10 am
The debut of the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus wasn't just a boon for Apple's bottom line, as accessory makers also benefitted greatly from the debut of the new, larger iPhone models, according to the latest data from the NPD Group.
Apple's Macs rack up more than 1/4 of back-to-school PC sales in 2014
09/24/2014, 09:09 am
The Mac's share of the lucrative back-to-school shopping season continued its upward trajectory this year, as data released on Wednesday indicates that some 26.8 percent of the personal computers sold in the U.S. between Independence Day and Labor Day bore Apple's logo.
Overall tablet sales shrink for the first time as Apple continues to dominate mobile computer market
05/28/2014, 09:05 am
Worldwide sales of tablet computers declined by nearly 5 percent in the first quarter of 2014 -- the first such fall since tracking began -- but Apple's iPad maintained its dominant mobile PC position with nearly twice the market share of the closest competitor.
NPD predicts wearable device hype will quickly cool off by 2016
05/22/2014, 01:05 pm
While wearable devices are the tech industry's most hyped category for 2014, market researchers at the NPD Group predict that the market will begin to slow down quickly, contracting by 2016 before returning to more moderate growth.
NPD: Only one-third of US households have Internet-connected televisions
05/15/2014, 09:05 am
Despite the increasing popularity of streaming set-top boxes, gaming consoles, and so-called "smart TVs," just 42 million of America's 115 million households have televisions that can display content from the Internet, suggesting significant room for growth for Apple TV.
Touch panel makers face falling revenue thanks to faltering touchscreen PC sales
04/28/2014, 12:04 pm
Despite rising overall sales, manufacturers of touchscreen components are set to feel the squeeze in their bottom line as more players enter the market and shipments shift toward lower-margin parts for tablets and smartphones.
Revenue from mobile device displays to surpass televisions for first time in 2014
04/15/2014, 09:04 am
Display manufacturers will make more money in 2014 from the screens found in mobile phones, tablets, and laptop computers than those in television sets for the first time as consumers increasingly demand higher-quality displays in mobile devices, according to new data.
Apple's iPhone led 2013 US consumer smartphone sales with 45% share - NPD
02/20/2014, 09:02 am
With more than 120 million smartphones sold in the U.S. in 2013, Apple's iPhone accounted for nearly half of those, taking a 45 percent share in its home market last year, new data released by the NPD Group on Thursday reveals.
Tablets expected to make up 75% of the mobile computing market by 2017
02/06/2014, 10:02 am
Traditional notebook PCs are expected to be outsold by tablets three-to-one within the next three years, less than a decade after Apple kicked off the post-PC revolution with the iPad.
Apple's iPhone now represents 42% of smartphones owned in the US - NPD
01/16/2014, 11:01 am
The launch of the iPhone 5s and iPhone 5c helped propel Apple to a market leading 42 percent of smartphones owned in the U.S. in the fourth quarter of 2013, leading Samsung's 26 percent share, according to the latest data from the NPD Group.
Apple's iPod continues to lead an ever-shrinking market of portable media players
12/19/2013, 08:12 am
For the dwindling segment of consumers who are either not interested in having an app ecosystem on their music player or for whom raw capacity is the paramount concern, the iPod remains the overwhelming favorite, according to new data provided to AppleInsider.
Apple TV, Roku in two-horse race for set-top streaming domination
12/17/2013, 08:12 am
As rumors of an Apple-branded television set begin to die down, the company's extant living room foray --�the Apple TV set-top box --�is quietly posting strong sales and impressive growth, new NPD data shared with AppleInsider reveals.
Apple's US Mac sales see strong 29% holiday growth
12/16/2013, 04:12 pm
Domestic Mac sales were up 29 percent in the first two months of the current holiday quarter, benefitting from an iMac shortfall that plagued Apple during the same quarter a year ago.
Touchscreen PCs expected to take 11 percent of 2013 notebook shipments
11/26/2013, 10:11 am
Apple has famously compared convertible Windows tablets to combining a toaster and a refrigerator, but competitors are still increasing their output of touchscreen notebooks in hopes of turning around slumping PC sales.
Apple & Samsung drive 55% increase in mobile display revenues
08/26/2013, 10:08 am
The popularity of Apple's iPhone 5 and Samsung's Galaxy S4 smartphones has driven a boom in revenues for display manufacturers, according to a new report from NPD DisplaySearch.
Mac sales on pace to slide 5% in Apple's September quarter
08/19/2013, 04:08 pm
As the larger PC market continues to struggle, Apple, too, has seen its Mac sales decline year over year � a trend that is on pace to continue in the current September quarter.
Smartphone buyers warming up to trade-in programs as Apple is rumored to offer its own
08/05/2013, 05:08 pm
As Apple rumored to be considering a retail trade-in program to lure more iPhone shoppers to its retail stores, a new survey has found that trade-in programs may help sway customers' loyalty.


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this week has been difficult. pat and lill and grae have all been on separate trips, so esmé and i have been on the verge of tears ever since they left. and by verge, i mean everything makes us cry. i'll tell you some stories later.
but here's one that's sticking to me right now.
one of the things i adore about pat is that he believes in certain things. whatever those things may be, he is full-on confident. but i'm a waverer. and waverers like me really enjoy the company of full-on confident gentlemen.
i ask him sometimes if there's a heaven. and he says yes. and i say but how do you know? and he calmly answers i just know in a tone that does not invite wavers and calms me like nothing else in the world. so, for at least a few days, i worry less about that one thing and more about whether we would all live through a tsunami. and that conversation goes pretty much the same way.
the other day, my neighbor's grandfather-in-law died. he was apparently one of those old-school lovely men. the kind who made his mark on his family's hearts, which is always a nice thing to hear. a good life, lived well. all we can ask for in the end, yes?
she said they had been chatting just days before and he was fine. plus adorable.
at one point, he mentioned his wife who had died the previous year. i saw her yesterday, he said. she told me to get my hat because we're going for a walk.
and that was that.
it's my favorite story of the week. there aren't that many words in it, but it still made me cry and fill up with wonder and wonder less all at the same time.
you can borrow it if you're waverers, too. xoxo.


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The best of Croatia
* Subject to availability.
Staterooms & Suites
There are no staterooms available for booking. Please contact our cruise advisors.
Fourth ship in this superb series loyal to the PONANT spirit, Le Lyrial like her sisterships embodies the subtle alliance between luxury, intimacy and wellbeing which is PONANT's signature. The elegance of her exterior and interior lines and her intimate size (only 122 staterooms and suites) make this a rare and innovative yacht on the cruise market.
Interior Design
We have been inspired by the destinations we visit and decided to create a subtle variation around a palette of blues. Ranging from the luminous delicate grey-blue of the Polar ice to splashes of the vivid turquoise blue found in Mediterranean coves, it also includes the blue light of the future pole star.
Port of call & excursions
VeniceEmbarkation 29/08/2017 from 16H00 to 17H00 . Departure 29/08/2017 at 18H00 .
Proud and eternal, Venice has reigned on its lagoon ever since the 6th century. You may think you know this city before even setting foot here. You will inevitably fall in love with the charm of the innumerable treasures of the Serenissima: Saint Mark's square, the basilica, Doges palace, the Grand Canal and the gondolas. Yet, secret Venice is also waiting for you to explore its little interlacing streets and canals, to ramble through its squares and to push open the doors of its churches. The city's extraordinary heritage shouldn't stop you from enjoying a glass of Spritz and a few tramezzini.
30 August 2017 – KorkulaArrival 30/08/2017 early afternoon. Departure 30/08/2017 evening.
This harbour town has a very special location, presiding on a spur on the north-eastern coast of the island of Korçula. The ramparts in its medieval district provide perfect vantage points over the Pelješac peninsula. To get there, you can take the monumental staircase in the Revelin Tower. Another way is to climb the steps in the shade of palm trees from the MorskaVrata (Marine portal). As you make your way through the little streets, you'll see the bell-tower of Saint-Mark's cathedral rise above you. This landmark will help you locate the house where Marco Polo was born. The island also has some of its own famous wines like the red Plavac and the white Posip.
31 August 2017 – SibenikArrival 31/08/2017 early morning. Departure 31/08/2017 early morning.
Located at the heart of central Dalmatia, Sibenik is proud of its pure Croatian architecture, unlike its neighbours which were founded by the Romans. Behind its walls, along its steep narrow streets with their almost Italian charm, the old town has conserved a prestigious built heritage of churches and palaces dating from the 15th and 16th centuries. The magnificent Cathedral of Saint James is one of the emblematic sites of the city. The remarkable ornate frieze of 71 sculpted portraits of women, men and children, illustrates the successful merger of Gothic and Renaissance art.
31 August 2017 – SplitArrival 31/08/2017 midday. Departure 31/08/2017 evening.
On the Dalmatian coast, the town of Split offers cultural visits in a seaside atmosphere. Close to the seafront shaded by palm trees, the historical centre listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site, boasts a unique building: the Diocletian's Palace. Here you will explore its galleries, courtyards with carved columns, as well as a former mausoleum converted into a church, namely Saint Domnius Cathedral. If you get peckish, stop off at a terrace in the Pjaca, the main square in the old town, where you can try a palacinka, a kind of pancake topped with melted cheese.
1 September 2017 – DubrovnikArrival 01/09/2017 early morning. Departure 01/09/2017 late evening.
Emblem of the Dalmatian coast, Dubrovnik is magnificently positioned on a rocky spur. History is sovereign here, in this ancient city, now a listed UNESCO World Heritage site. You will perhaps be surprised by the proportions of La Placa, the central drag through the city. The sheer width of it can be explained by the fact that it straddles a former lagoon. The elegant houses along La Placa are built in the legendary travertine stone. At Pile gate, you will be greeted by the statue of the patron saint of Dubrovnik, and you can admire the coastline as you walk along the ramparts. But what's inside Fort Saint John, adjoining the outer walls? A maritime museum and an aquarium featuring rare fish from the Adriatic.
2 September 2017 – KotorArrival 02/09/2017 early morning. Departure 02/09/2017 evening.
Situated in one of Montenegro's most beautiful bays, the medieval city of Kotor is a small town full of charm, truly imbued with the traditions and stories of another time. Built between the 12th and 14th centuries, this village, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, has preserved many historical monuments from this epoch. During your stop, be sure to admire the impressive castle that dominates the town, and let yourself fall under the charm of its maze of small streets and intimate squares on which folk festivals featuring magnificent colourful costumes are often organised.
3 September 2017 – HvarArrival 03/09/2017 early morning. Departure 03/09/2017 late afternoon.
Off the coast of Split, Hvar will surprise you by its traditions that haven't changed since Antiquity. The country's oldest town, Stari Grad, is here on this Dalmatian Island. The town nestles by a cove on the north-west coast, surrounded by dry stone wall structures on the Stari Grad plains. These have been designated a UNESCO World Heritage site because they were built in the time of the Ancient Greeks. From these parcels of land come wines and olive oil manufactured manually. In the upper part of town, it is possible to discover hams and cheeses made by local producers. The picturesque village of Vrisnik is also a good place to try some of local produce.
4 September 2017 – PulaArrival 04/09/2017 early morning. Departure 04/09/2017 midday.
The Pearl of the Adriatic, lying at the southern tip of the Istrian Peninsula, Pula is undoubtedly the most Roman of all Croatian towns. Some of the greatest pages in history were written here, as the breathtaking ancient remains testify. Take your pick exploring the amphitheatre, the Twin Gates, the Gate of Hercule and the triumphal Arch of the Sergii. Stroll through the busy lanes in the old town, enjoying the warm welcome of the locals, and perhaps you will be tempted to try the famous Kvarner scampi or Istrian ham.
4 September 2017 – RovinjArrival 04/09/2017 early afternoon. Departure 04/09/2017 evening.
Rovinj is located in Istria, a region bordering Slovenia. This becomes apparent as you walk through its old cobblestoned town. There are many monuments of Venetian influence here. If you study the Balbi arch, you will see the winged lion, symbol of Venice. The bell-tower erected beside Saint Euphemia Cathedral was designed like the bell of St. Marc in Venice. From the top of the tower, you can scan the entire historical district. To absorb its quaint atmosphere, take a walk in the ochre and sepia-coloured streets leading to bustling squares and terraces shaded by canvas awnings.
VeniceDisembarkation 05/09/2017 at 07H00 .
Proud and eternal, Venice has reigned on its lagoon ever since the 6th century. You may think you know this city before even setting foot here. You will inevitably fall in love with the charm of the innumerable treasures of the Serenissima: Saint Mark's square, the basilica, Doges palace, the Grand Canal and the gondolas. Yet, secret Venice is also waiting for you to explore its little interlacing streets and canals, to ramble through its squares and to push open the doors of its churches. The city's extraordinary heritage shouldn't stop you from enjoying a glass of Spritz and a few tramezzini.
The information below is current but subject to change at any time without advance notice from government authorities. Please consult your respective government agencies for visa and health information.
Passport valid for at least six (6) months beyond the completion of your trip. Passport must contain at least two completely clear, blank, unused visa pages for each visa required, not including any amendment pages. Visa pages with stains or ink from other pages in the passport are not usable. Guests who deviate from the scheduled embarkation or disembarkation port should research the foreign entry requirements for the port country. Due to government regulations, regrettably, PONANT will have to deny boarding to any guest who fails to obtain the appropriate travel documentation for this trip.
Pre/Post & Overlands
Before your cruise
28/08/2017 – Venice, on your own (2 days/1 night)
29/08/2017 – Panoramic transfer in Venice98.00 AU$ **
29/08/2017 – Punta della Dogana Exclusive visit of the 2017 exhibition of Damien Hirst240.00 AU$ **
After your cruise
** Prices per person, based on double occupancy


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Shipping Policy
All of the items on this Web Site are subject to the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR), and export is strictly prohibited without authorization or a license issued by the U.S. Department of State's Directorate of Defense Trade Controls.
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All warranty items will be handled between the buyer and the manufacturer.
Black Rifle Works Ltd. does Not warranty other manufacturers items.


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Friday, February 7, 2014
Watching the Olympics
No that 's I am watching the Olympics. Hope Canada does well. I started using a breviary app. Say prayers , morning, day ( one of the day ones ) and evening and night.
Posted by Puff the Magic Dragon at 4:35 PM
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Scripture to keep in mind
Six things there are, which the Lord hateth, and the seventh his soul detesteth: [17] Haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, [18] A heart that deviseth wicked plots, feet that are swift to run into mischief, [19]A deceitful witness that uttereth lies, and him that soweth discord among brethren. [20] My son, keep the commandments of thy father, and forsake not the law of thy mother. ***Cf:Douay-Rheims Proverbs 6: 16-20
I declare that I have no intent to acknowledge, distribute or encourage anything contrary to Sacred Scripture, Sacred Tradition and the teachings of the Roman Catholic Church and the Apostolic See. I submit myself and all the contents of this blog to the judgment of the Church.


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What Is It Really?
Isoprinosine (inosine pranobex) is an old drug that has been extensively studied and used in many countries for herpes, genital warts, influenza, melanomas, other tumors, hepatitis B, and a rare brain inflammation in children caused by the zoster virus (subacute sclerosing panencephalopathy). No one really knew how it worked (not that it always did) until someone noticed that it seemed to be boosting people's immune response, perhaps by helping the body recognize that it was under attack. When the AIDS crisis struck, it was one of the first drugs evaluated.
The Theory Behind Isoprinosine
Isoprinosine does not have any effect on HIV itself. Instead, it has been reported to stimulate various T cell, and other immune cell functions in both test tube and clinical studies. However, the way it does this Ñ its mechanism of action Ñ is not known. Furthermore, the data is often contradictory. Taken as a whole, the data suggest that isoprinosine helps the cell mediated immune response, the part of the immune system responsible for destroying diseased human cells in the body (as opposed to fighting viruses, bacteria or other infectious organisms swimming in your blood). Many studies say that this immune boosting effect is modest, and the immune restoration only partial.
Clinical Studies in PWAs
The first small studies of isoprinosine reported positive results, including rises in CD4 cell counts. Larger subsequent studies did not show CD4 cell rises. One study gave a twenty-eight day regimen of two doses of isoprinosine or placebo to 63 HIV positive patients with ARC or swollen lymph glands, and then monitored these patients for a year. The study concluded that half of the patients who took 3 grams of isoprinosine had significant clinical improvement, and most had sustained increases in natural killer cells, total lymphocytes and CD4/CD8 ratios. Another study in combination with ribavirin reported no immunological benefits whatsoever. In fact, people suffered unexpected drops in their white blood cell counts. Three larger clinical studies examining isoprinosine in HIV-infected people report very conflicting results. Bad News From The Sponsor: The Newport Pharmaceutical study examined 696 HIV-infected, asymptomatic men with T cells between 200 and 400 in the United States and Britain. Half the men received 4 grams of isoprinosine per day; the other half, a placebo. After six months, no difference was seen between the placebo and isoprinosine.
Mediocre News From Italy
Another study, conducted in Italy, followed 553 asymptomatic patients. Patients were given 3 grams of isoprinosine a day, or a placebo for three months. After one year, researchers claimed that there was a slightly improved clinical condition in the people on isoprinosine. Also, their CD4/CD8 ratios were preserved better than patients given placebo. Great News From Denmark: In a Danish study 866 people with a wide range of T cells were given either 3 grams of isoprinosine per day or placebo. After 6 months, the isoprinosine group had far fewer cases of AIDS Ñ indicating that isoprinosine significantly delayed progression to disease. At the same time, however, isoprinosine had no effect on p24 antigen or any immune parameter such as T cell levels.
Making Sense of the Clinical Data
This is one of those cases where there is widely contradictory data on the drug. It is hard to just dismiss any of the above studies - although each had some flaws. A number of explanations have been suggested. One test tube study notes that a metabolite (by-product) of isoprinosine has anti-PCP activity. Participants in the Danish study took no PCP prophylaxis, and most of the patients on placebo that progressed came down with PCP. Isoprinosine may simply have kept treated patients from developing this opportunistic infection, and its benefit had nothing at all to do with immune reconstitution. Another possibility is that isoprinosine could slow progression because of its anti-herpes activity. Dosing regimens also appear to be very important with some immune modulators. Taking an immune modulator for a month, and then stopping treatment could be better than continual use, which may make your system too acclimated to respond to the drug. In many of the smaller isoprinosine studies that reported immunologic changes, people were given drug a short length of time, e.g. one month, and then monitored. One doctor in Switzerland gives his patients two months of isoprinosine followed by a wash-out period. Nevertheless, right now, it is unclear how, or if, the drug helps people with HIV. This is another drug caught in limbo - contradictory data and no on-going studies to resolve the dispute.
Other Studies of Isoprinosine Herpes, Zoster, EBV
In clinical trials, acyclovir consistently out-performs isoprinosine. But, a number of studies report that the combination is superior to either drug alone.
One small study reports positive results treating molluscum in HIV negative children.
Genital Warts
A study in 165 "heterosexual" men and women with genital warts reported that isoprinosine was more effective than conventional treatment (podophyllin or cryotherapy or electrocautery) for older warts, and conventional treatment was superior for more recent lesions. Combination therapy (1 gram isoprinosine 3 times a day for one month plus conventional treatment) increased the success rate from 41% to 94%.
Side Effects and Toxicity
Isoprinosine seems to be well tolerated. The few side effects reported included: dizziness, problems with digestion (for example, slight stomach pain and feeling full after you ate only a small amount of food), and itching. As noted above, when given with ribavirin, there was a drop in people's white blood cell (lymphocyte) counts. People who take AZT and isoprinosine together have been shown to sustain higher levels of AZT in their blood.
There is no way to know what the proper dose is. However the clinical studies thus far have examined between 1 - 4 grams per day. The Danish study used 1 gram three times a day. The tablets we distribute are 500 MG each. To take the doses used in the studies, you would take between 2 and 8 tablets every day. To our knowledge, only one study has evaluated how isoprinosine is absorbed and excreted in humans. This study demonstrated that isoprinosine doesn't stay in the body very long. To keep consistent levels of isoprinosine in the body would require fairly frequent oral doses, three or more times a day. Taking isoprinosine as an injection or an enema may deliver initially higher doses into the blood, but the body eliminates this isoprinosine just as quickly. We don't know whether the body requires consistent levels of an immune modulator in order to respond to it, but if it does, oral dosing is the easiest way to acheive this.
What We Carry
We carry isoprinosine made by Newport Pharmaceuticals. It comes in boxes of 20 tablets of 500 MG each.


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Taco Bell has confirmed reports that it is indeed testing a Cheetos Burrito.
The Cheetos Burrito is stuffed with beef, rice, nacho cheese, and, of course, Cheetos.
The chain had tested out the Cheetos Crunchwrap Slider earlier this year in Canada, but this is the first time Cheetos are being used on its products in the U.S., the company said in an email to NBC News.
U.S. & World
Tests will start mid-August in Cincinnati, and the burritos will cost $1.
This is the second Cheetos and fast food combo of the summer. Earlier, Burger King launched a Mac n' Cheetos dish.
In 2012, the taco chain debuted the Doritos Locos Taco, another fast-food and highly palatable salty snack food mash up.


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I have a specific MP4 video file that plays fine in MPlayer and VLC, but other programs on my Arch Linux box (Banshee, Gnome's Movie Player) are unable to play it. Most seem to treat it as having zero length. It also causes Gnome's Properties dialog to just display a dialog saying "Creating Properties Window" and never load.
What is it about this file that causes it to do this?


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- Making the paddle move according to the mouse position.
- Creating a computer player.
- Moving the ball.
- Making the ball bounce.
- Game Flow.
- Hiding the cursor.
- Ending the game on an Escape KeyPress.
- Keeping the controls in the right place when the form is resized.
I chose to create a tutorial on creating a Pong game as I have only seen snippets on the internet, and I thought it would be relatively hard for someone new to game design to understand how they worked. This tutorial won't require any 3D libraries such as DirectX or OpenGL, as we will be using PictureBox controls. Without any further ado, lets start creating our pong game!
1) Setting up our game room!
A vital part of any game is a place to play! Basketball requires a basketball court, boxing requires a ring (well it doesn't really but you get the picture), and this is no different. We will start by setting the Form's Size to 640x480. This will give ample playing space for a game of pong. Set the BackColor property to something nice, I chose LightSkyBlue, but again thats a personal preference thing. Set the Text property to Pong, obviously because this is a Pong game, and set the Form's name to pongMain, simply because this is the main room of the pong game.
Now, whats a room without furniture? We need to add some controls now, so add three PictureBox controls to the form. Set the Name properties to paddleComputer, paddlePlayer and gameBall. For both paddlePlayer and paddleComputer, set the Size property to 16x128. For gameBall, set the Size property to 20x20. Select all three controls, and set the BackColor to a color of your preference; I chose LimeGreen.
Now add two Label's to the Form. These will display the score of both the Computer and the Player. Name them compScoreDraw and plrScoreDraw. Set the Font property to a style you'd prefer. I chose Size 18 with Bold and kept the Microsoft Sans Serif font, but you can set it to whatever you'd like.
Now, move the controls so the form looks something like this:
Now add a timer control to the form. This will be our main game loop. Name it gameTimer, and set the Interval property to 20ms, and the Enabled property to True. Now that we have our controls and form set up, we can move on to developing the actual game.
2) Making the paddle move according to the mouse position.
Making the paddle move according to the mouse position isn't as hard as you'd think, however it requires a little bit of math (not a lot) to ignore the mouse if it is below the minimum or maximum height we want. We will want to use pongMain's MouseMove event so we can easily get the Cursor position and we won't need to be checking for movement all the time, and make good use of the .NET Framework.
Assuming you named the controls correctly, you can copy and paste the following into your code.
#Region "Move the paddle according to the mouse" ' Move the paddle according to the mouse position. Private Sub pongMain_MouseMove(ByVal sender As Object, ByVal e As System.Windows.Forms.MouseEventArgs) Handles Me.MouseMove If e.Y > 5 And e.Y < Me.Height - 40 - paddlePlayer.Height Then _ paddlePlayer.Location = New Point(paddlePlayer.Location.X, e.Y) End Sub #End Region
I like to use Region's as it is easier to browse through segments of code, and makes reading the source easier for people new to it. Breaking down the code, if e.Y (the Y position of the cursor) is more than 5 (it looks better having it more than 5) and e.Y is less than 40 (to be honest I am unsure why I needed to take 40 off, but it seemed too look right when I did so) minus the height of the paddle, then set the paddle's position relative to it's X position, but relative to the mouse's position on the Y Axis. This is how we make it follow the mouse.
3) Creating a Computer Player.
The computer player is our opposition, this is the person we want to beat. Unfortunately, the computer player we will be making is a god at pong. It would seem that it doesn't get tired or bored, doesn't rage quit quite as often as a human, so beating this player is relatively impossible. But don't fret, you can always move the code provided here into a new timer so you can adjust the difficulty by the speed of the timer. But that is something to worry about later on, now we just want to be able to play the game.
To move the computer player, we are going to want it to move according to the ball's position. Add the following code to make the paddle follow the ball. We will be using the gameTimer control we made previously when we were designing the form.
#Region "Main Timer" Private Sub gameTimer_Tick(ByVal sender As System.Object, ByVal e As System.EventArgs) Handles gameTimer.Tick 'Set the computer player to move according to the ball's position." If gameBall.Location.Y > 5 And gameBall.Location.Y < Me.Height - 40 _ - paddlePlayer.Height Then _ paddleComputer.Location = New Point(paddleComputer.Location.X, gameBall.Location.Y) End Sub #End Region
The code is almost exactly the same as the player following the mouse, rather we will be following the ball with the computer player. Well, if the ball were moving it would be following it.
Now we need to create the code to move the ball.
4) Moving the ball.
Moving the ball requires some basic mathematic skills. We will be slightly touching Cosine's and Sine for the X and Y velocity of the ball, and the speed of the ball. However, you don't require any knowledge of Cosine and Sine with this tutorial, unless you'd like to understand what you were doing.
We are going to need some global variables so we can accomplish this, so we will add these just after the Public Class pongMain declaration.
#Region "Globals" Dim speed As Single = 10 ' Ball Speed Dim rndInst As New Random() ' Random instance Dim xVel As Single = Math.Cos(rndInst.Next(5, 10)) * speed Dim yVel As Single = Math.Sin(rndInst.Next(5, 10)) * speed #End Region
speed is obviously the rate of movement the ball will be performing. The higher the faster, the lower the slower. rndInst is our object for the randomisation of the angle of movement we will be undertaking on creation. xVel and yVel are given a random angle, with a minimum value of 5 and a maximum of 9. We will multiply this value by the speed.
Now we need to add the following line of code to the gameTimer timer to move the ball.
' Move the game ball. gameBall.Location = New Point(gameBall.Location.X + xVel, gameBall.Location.Y + yVel)
Now we should have a ball that moves, a computer player that follows the ball, and a paddle that follows the mouse. Now we need a way of keeping the ball in the playing area, and bouncing it off so we can continue playing without being so rudely interrupted.
5) Making the ball bounce.
Making the ball bounce is easier than you may initially think. We need to put code in the gameTimer timer again, because we need it constantly checking if the ball needs to bounce or not.
To make the ball bounce, it is just a matter of setting the ball's position to contact the surface of the wall, and set the velocity opposite to it's current velocity. How would we set it opposite you ask? By making it negative. So hypothetically, we will be testing to see if the ball hits the wall, and if it does make it bounce off the wall. Here is how we would do this using the top wall. Note that you will need to add this to the Main Timer region, inside the timer subroutine.
' Check for top wall. If gameBall.Location.Y < 0 Then gameBall.Location = New Point(gameBall.Location.X, 0) yVel = -yVel End If
Note that we only want to invert the Y Axis as we aren't dealing with any advanced spinning physics. The ball should now bounce off the wall and continue in it's path; which is obviously what we want.
Now we will need to make the code for the bottom wall. When checking for the collision, we need to to check if the ball is higher than the form's height minus the height of the ball, and we will take off 45 to line it up.
' Check for bottom wall. If gameBall.Location.Y > Me.Height - gameBall.Size.Height - 45 Then gameBall.Location = New Point(gameBall.Location.X, Me.Height - gameBall.Size.Height - 45) yVel = -yVel End If
Now we have the ability to make the ball bounce up and down. Now that we can do this... I think it would be a good time to demonstrate how we can make the ball bounce off the paddles. It is actually relatively simpler than the form's walls, so don't worry, the head scratching is done for this section.. kinda. We will start with the player paddle. We will need to add the following to the main timer, as the main timer is for collisions and other miscellaneous tasks.
' Check for player paddle. If gameBall.Bounds.IntersectsWith(paddlePlayer.Bounds) Then gameBall.Location = New Point(paddlePlayer.Location.X - gameBall.Size.Width, _ gameBall.Location.Y) xVel = -xVel End If
This will check if the ball has intersected with the paddle object and bounce it off if it did. It is the same with the computer paddle too; the process involved is the same pretty much.
' Check for computer paddle. If gameBall.Bounds.IntersectsWith(paddleComputer.Bounds) Then gameBall.Location = New Point(paddleComputer.Location.X + paddleComputer.Size.Width + 1, _ gameBall.Location.Y) xVel = -xVel End If
Now that we have the ball bouncing, we need to add Game Flow.
6) Game Flow.
Game Flow in pong is basically, you lose if the ball goes past the paddle. When it goes past the paddle we want the ball to go back to the middle of the form, and give the winner a point, which will be displayed in the label.
In order to give the players a score, we will need two global variables indicating them. In the Globals region, add the following code so we can start using these score variables.
' The player's scores. Dim compScore As Integer = 0 Dim plrScore As Integer = 0
Now we want to do something with these variables, otherwise we would just be wasting precious memory. Add the following to the main timer, as we are checking for a collision with the left wall.
' Check for left wall. If gameBall.Location.X < 0 Then plrScore += 1 gameBall.Location = New Point(Me.Size.Width / 2, Me.Size.Height / 2) plrScoreDraw.Text = Convert.ToString(plrScore) End If
We will add one to the player's score, as he/she has scored, set the ball's position to the middle of the form and we will set the plrScoreDraw.Text property to display the player's score.
We will do the same thing if the computer wins, except we will be checking to see if the right wall has been hit.
' Check for right wall. If gameBall.Location.X > Me.Width - gameBall.Size.Width - paddlePlayer.Width Then compScore += 1 gameBall.Location = New Point(Me.Size.Width / 2, Me.Size.Height / 2) compScoreDraw.Text = Convert.ToString(compScore) End If
Now that we have this functionality, the game is in a playable state. Now to a couple of 'nice to have' features.
7) Hiding the cursor.
Hiding the cursor is probably the easiest subject we will be covering in this tutorial. Basically, we want to hide the cursor while it's in the form, but not when it's outside it. We will want to add this functionally as soon as the form is loaded, so add the following code to the class.
#Region "Hide Cursor" ' Set up the game. Private Sub pongMain_Load(ByVal sender As System.Object, ByVal e As System.EventArgs) Handles MyBase.Load Windows.Forms.Cursor.Hide() End Sub #End Region
With this done, lets move on to ending the game on an Escape KeyPress.
8) Ending the game on an Escape KeyPress.
Ending the game on an Escape KeyPress is a pretty simple task, where we will be checking if the Escape key is down and we will close the form if this is the case. We will be using the KeyDown event, so please copy and paste the following code into your class.
#Region "End Game on Escape Press" ' Escape the game when escape has been pressed. Private Sub pongMain_KeyDown(ByVal sender As Object, ByVal e As System.Windows.Forms.KeyEventArgs) Handles Me.KeyDown If e.KeyValue = Keys.Escape Then Me.Close() End If End Sub #End Region
This will add the functionality of escaping the program when Escape is pressed.
9) Keeping the controls in the right place when the form is resized.
When the form is resized, if the form is made smaller than our 640x480, the player's paddle will be lost, thus making it insanely easy for the computer to score. A free shot if you will. Now, being the human we rather this not happen to us (I'm sure there is a competitive side to everyone), so we would rather the paddle adjusted itself when the form is resized. Also, when the form is resized the the player's score may be hidden, or not situated on the screen properly. Because we'd rather have this functionality, lets add it now. We will be using the SizeChanged event kindly provided from our form, so checking if the form has been resized is easy. Add the following code to your class.
#Region "Keep the paddle and score labels in the correct position when the form is resized." Private Sub pongMain_SizeChanged(ByVal sender As Object, ByVal e As System.EventArgs) Handles Me.SizeChanged paddlePlayer.Location = New Point(Me.Width - 44, paddlePlayer.Location.Y) plrScoreDraw.Location = New Point(Me.Width - 54, plrScoreDraw.Location.Y) End Sub #End Region
10) Conclusion.
You should now have a fully functional pong game. I hope you had fun creating this game, and will have learnt something from this. Thanks for reading, and enjoy.


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Some amaryllis will bloom before they produce foliage, such as this 'Lemon-Lime'. Others do it in reverse, sprouting foliage first.
Due to their increasing popularity, there are more varieties of amaryllis available than ever before. 'Charisma' has beautifully shaded petals.
Larger bulbs characteristically produce larger and more blooms and most will eventually produce "offsets" which can be separated from the parent bulb and planted on their own. This is an extremely large Hippeastrum bulb.
To everything there is a season, it is written, and no one knows this more than gardeners. We cold-climate growers have just wrapped up the biggest one of all – summer – and have enjoyed a pretty luxurious fall. Most of us don't really look forward to the cold and gray days of winter, but at our house, we celebrate another growing season: The Amaryllis Season.
Hippeastrum, the botanical name for amaryllis, have become a familiar site at holiday time. Their gigantic flamboyant blossoms remind us of an earlier time, when the gardens were all decked out in their summer colors. As we decorate our homes for Christmas and other winter celebrations, amaryllis find a natural place among the festive trimmings.
How to plant your amaryllis bulb
Forcing bulbs, in general, is a popular activity in winter, and amaryllis is one of the easiest for this. Choose a firm bulb – the largest you can find – and plant it in a pot that's only a little larger in diameter than the bulb itself; they like it snug. Place the bulb so that one-third to one-half of the bulb is above soil level.
Put it in a location with bright light (but not direct sunlight) and watch for new growth at the top. When you see that, then you can begin to water your bulb. Make sure you don't keep it too wet, waiting until the top of the soil is dry before watering again. Bulbs kept too wet are subject to rot and this also encourages tiny black flying insects called fungus gnats.
It takes about four to six weeks for the bulb to produce a bloom, once it begins to grow. Keeping the flower in a cool location, out of direct sunlight, will make it last longer. Amaryllis are suitable to use as a cut flower, too. But what happens when the bloom has wilted and died? Do you throw it away?
After the bloom has faded
Amaryllis are inexpensive, considering the show they put on and the enjoyment they give, but it would be a shame to discard the bulb once it's done blooming. Keeping an amaryllis is just as easy as it is to bring one into flower. Simply continue to water it as long as the foliage remains green. Some varieties will give green foliage year round, but others don't. Again, refrain from giving them too much water; these South American natives like it on the dry side.
If the foliage yellows and dies, discontinue watering, store the bulb in a dry location (pot and all) and when the soil warms in the spring (over 50 F), you can plant it in the ground, where it will begin to grow again. If you're lucky, you might even get a summer bloom. Take the bulb in before frost and store it in a dry, dark location for about six to eight weeks, then start the cycle all over again for holiday blooming. Many of my amaryllis bulbs are more than five years old and are still giving me joy during The Amaryllis Season.


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Today's post is just a quick one, since I've been really busy with SimC work this week. However, it's something that is a little more immediate, namely the Sacred Shield global cooldown (GCD) bug we've been struggling with all expansion.
For those that don't stack haste, or are otherwise unaware of the bug: Sacred Shield is ostensibly a spell (it would be tough to argue that it's a melee attack). Most spells in the game trigger a hasted GCD – that is to say, the GCD length is reduced by your spell haste. However, on live servers this isn't the case, as Sacred Shield incurs a full 1.5-second global cooldown. The same bug affects two of our level 90 talents as well: Execution Sentence and Light's Hammer. I would have guessed that it's an issue with spells that are granted through talents, but curiously neither Holy Prism nor Hand of Purity exhibit the behavior.
While it's mostly a quality-of-life issue, it's extremely jarring to be cruising along with nearly 1-second GCDs and then all of the sudden hit a 1.5-second GCD with one of these three skills. It's like a sudden, poorly-marked speed bump on your rotational highway.
Unfortunately, the bug still hasn't been fixed on the PTR, at least as of build 17227.
To demonstrate, I performed the following tests on the PTR. I used my own character in protection spec, but wearing high-haste ret gear. In that gear I was able to get 32.32% melee haste and 45.55% spell haste with Seal of Insight active. At those haste levels, the global cooldown should be:
Melee GCD: 1.50/1.3232 = 1.134 seconds
Spell GCD: 1.50/1.4555 = 1.031 seconds
To get a numerical measurement of the GCD, I used Gnosis Castbars, which has a GCD monitor showing the remaining duration on the GCD. I tweaked the settings to make the text large so that we could easily see it. Then I captured a video of me wailing on a dummy with Fraps set to 60 frames per second so that I could go back and step frame-by-frame to see the maximum number Gnosis displays.
This is the annotated video showing the effect, running at 1/4 speed (15 FPS):
Slo-mo paladiny goodness.
Since it's hard to see the instant that the GCD starts even when played back at 1/4 speed, here are the observed GCD times in the video by stepping frame-by-frame:
There's clearly some delay involved between the GCD being registered and Gnosis displaying the number, as the CS casts are only being shown almost 200 ms after they're happening (i.e. the countdown timer should start at 1.134, but Gnosis doesn't get around to displaying them until 0.94). In extreme cases, it's delaying as much as 400ms (the 0.76 CS cast). But note that this is an asymmetrically distributed error – it can only make the numbers smaller, not larger. So we can be confident that the largest number we see is a minimum bound for the length of the GCD.
And it's clear from the data that Sacred Shield is an outlier. We never see a GCD time above 0.95 seconds for Crusader Strike or Judgment (melee), or above 0.90 seconds for Holy Wrath (spell). Those are consistent with what we expect after accounting for ~200 ms of display lag, give or take. But Sacred Shield is clocking in at about ~1.3 seconds. Once you include the display lag, that gives us our full 1.5-second GCD.
Also note that this cannot be a display bug, as the GCD for Sacred Shield should never be above 1.03 seconds if it was a spell or 1.134 seconds if it were affected by Sanctity of Battle. It would only ever show a time shorter than those two, not >100 ms longer.
I've also tested Execution Sentence and Light's Hammer on the PTR, and both are giving full 1.5-second GCDS:
Again, Holy Prism and Hand of Purity seem to be working properly. The highest I was able to achieve with either on the PTR was about 0.85 seconds, which puts them both solidly within "hasted GCD" territory. Less quantitatively, both of them felt like hasted GCDs when I tried to perform a full rotation.
It's clear from this testing that these three abilities aren't exhibiting hasted GCDs yet. What's not clear is, "why?" I don't think it's the result of a conscious choice on the part of Ghostcrawler & co. For one thing, treating these abilities differently than most other spells in the game doesn't make much sense. And doing so doesn't solve a significant balance problem, nor does it have a significant impact on the value of haste. And it's certainly not a deciding factor in choosing our level 45 talents. It's mostly just a minor annoyance, not a creative way to fight back against the haste machine.
No, more than likely it's probably just an oversight, especially given that Holy Prism and Hand of Purity are properly affected by haste. My guess is that the three affected abilities went through more (or fewer) iterations in the Mists of Pandaria beta, and along the way someone just forgot to flip the "GCD affected by spell haste" switch on them.
But with more paladins reaching the 50% haste mark in 5.4, this minor annoyance will become even more noticeable. So it would be a nice quality-of-life buff if it were to be fixed. Hopefully there's still time to influence that change before 5.4.


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Census 2010 public law data are available for counties, cities and Census tracts. Summary File 1 (SF 1) data, including population counts for 63 race categories and Hispanic or Latino and selected population and housing characteristics, are available for school districts. As there was no long form for the 2010 Census, there will be no Summary File 3 (SF 3) data.
Census 2010 Summary Reports
Census 2010 Downloadable Data
Census 2010 Summary Reports
Census 2010 Downloadable Data
For information regarding the dispute of 2010 Census counts, please visit http://2010.census.gov/2010census/about/cqr.php or read the Count Question Resolution Frequently Asked Questions.
For more information about NCTCOG's role in the 2010 Census, please call 817-695-9153.


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Forever Brand Ambassador Nicoline Artursson shares her winter beauty tips for cold weather.
I hope every one of you is feeling well rested and ready for an amazing year. I am excited!!! We are about to achieve extraordinary things and possibilities we could never dream of.
Let me ask you a question, how do you take care of your skin when it's really cold outside? More than usual? Less than you feel you should? Maybe you want to know how to do it better, but you're not sure how.
During these cold winter days, we might not want to put on too much makeup, which can dry out the face and make our skin dull. The key to winter skincare is moisture!
One of the fabulous things about Forever's makeup, flawless By Sonya™, is that it contains Aloe Vera, which soothes and calms the skin. Forever's skincare boasts the same fantastic ingredient to help us achieve the best results when applying makeup.
Around Christmas, I was in a wonderful winter resort in Sweden called Åre. We experienced minus degrees and when I was skiing, cold wind made it even more important to protect my skin. I found this beauty combination makes for a perfect beauty routine during a cold winter. And, you can achieve it in just seven minutes!
Step 1
First, I cleansed my face with the Sonya® Aloe Purifying Cleanser from the Sonya® Skin Care Collection. Tip: You can also use the Sonya® Aloe Deep-Cleansing Exfoliator three times a week to scrub away dull skin.
Step 2
I applied the Sonya® Aloe Deep Moisturizing Cream, and on fine lines, I added the Sonya® Aloe Nourishing Serum, which I simply adore. The smell and the texture it gives the skin is fantastic! Plus, the moisturizing cream keeps my skin smooth and moisturized all day.
Step 3
As my makeup base, I wanted something that easily evens out the skin, but still makes it look natural. I used the aloe BB crème Sandy with SPF 20. It protects your skin since there is UV factor, and also gives your complexion some color.
Step 4
I added a little Delicate Finishing Powder in Dark on to my cheekbones for some definition and the Brilliant Blush in Mia on to the apple of my cheeks, which really has that "winter pink" color to it and gives a fresh and healthy look.
Step 5
I applied the black Defining Eye Pencil right at my lash line to give extraordinary depth and to complete my natural look.
Can you believe all this takes is seven minutes? Until next time, take care of yourself and remember that beauty starts from within!
Stay Flawless
Nicoline Arturssson | Follow her on Instagram
Forever Brand Ambassador


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Guardian Finance Company
Guardian Finance Company offers a variety of competitively priced financing alternatives to consumers who may have experienced past credit problems or have limited credit. Financing programs include the purchase of indirect retail sales contracts and direct consumer lending. In addition to offering alternative financing, Guardian works with customers to help them better understand their credit and to reduce their dependence on revolving debt.
The leaders of Guardian Finance Company have decades of experience in the consumer finance industry. All Guardian associates place a strong emphasis on integrity and personalized service. Guardian Finance Company is also a wholly-owned subsidiary of Park National Corporation, a top-performing bank holding company founded on community banking values.
The first Guardian office opened in Hilliard, Ohio in May 1999 and the company continues to grow and help more customers achieve their financial goals. Since then Guardian has added offices in Heath, Lancaster, Mansfield, Springboro and Springfield.
Guardian's Chairman is Earl W. Osborne. Mr. Osborne and his family have been in the consumer finance industry for over 70 years. Prior to joining Park, Mr. Osborne was the President and CEO of The Modern Finance Company.
Matthew Marsh is the President and CEO of Guardian and prior to joining Park, he supervised the branch operations for Mr. Osborne at The Modern Finance Company. Mr. Marsh and Mr. Osborne have worked together since 1987 and give Guardian a great deal of expertise in the consumer finance industry.


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State Specific Disclosures - TexasThis is NOT insurance. Discounts are only available at participating pharmacies. By using this card, you agree to pay the entire prescription cost less any applicable discount. Savings may vary by drug and by pharmacy. The program administrator may obtain fees or rebates from manufacturers and/or pharmacies based on your prescription drug purchases. These fees or rebates may be retained by the program administrator or shared with you and/or your pharmacy. Prescriptions purchased through this program will not be eligible for reimbursement through Medicaid, Medicare or any other government program. This program does not guarantee the quality of the services or products offered by individual providers. We do not sell your personal information. Call the member toll-free number on the back of your ID card to file a complaint related to this program.
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Rifle Breathing Control
Breathing control is necessary to shoot accurately. As you breathe in and out, your chest rises and falls causing your arm to waver. Your firearm will also move, so it is important to control your breathing at the exact moment you fire.
- When you are in a shooting position, with your cheek against the stock, take a deep breath, exhale a portion of it and hold your breath while you aim.
- When your front sight is in focus and on target, squeeze the trigger.
- If you hold your breath too long, you may lose control, start to shake and your bullet will not hit your point of aim. If you run out of breath before firing, relax, take a deep breath, and try again.


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greenwichmytime needed a new logo design and created a contest on 99designs.
A winner was selected from 404 designs submitted by 60 freelance designers.
Attova is a performance led Business and Technology Services Company focusing on delivering competitive advantage to its clients within the financial markets community.
We will focus on Advanced Trading Solutions (focus on electronic trading and high frequency trading), Next Generation Data Center Optimisation and Dynamic Infrastructure ( virtualisation, cloud services, grid computing, security) to address an organisations front, middle and back office performance challenges.
We provide Advisory, Design & Implementation, Technology Adoption & Support.
We are working with a community of some of the best consultants, architects, programme managers and product speciliast in the financial markets community with the purpose of delivering immediate business benefits to our clients.
Our business model combines an understanding of technology economics with open innovation (specialist crowd sourcing) and market experience. This is what sets us apart and this 'dynamic' is important to be reflected in the company.
We ask our clients: "How performant do you NEED to be?" This then determines how we engage around our solutions focus area to give them a competitive advantage in the midst of this technology arms race towards zero latency.
Phrases that are in the mix :
Attova- Performance By Design
Market Requirements-Perform-Transform-Manage
What we do-Advisory:Design:Technology
Target audience is the worlds leading finance houses. (Established/New Ventures/Buy Side/Sell Side/Exchanges). Our clients demand the best and expect, experience, knowledge and INNOVATION. Many of them are transforming their businesses now because of the effect that automated trading is having on the industry and need to do so whilst managing cost and risk, yet applying the latest business methodolgies to differentiate themselves.
Brand: Strong/Pioneering/Dynamic/Prof
In terms of brand identity, we are looking at a web colour palette that includes
- Clean white world with carbon grey/black for copy, and light accents of neon-like light/greens to bring to life if required ( green for 'go' and efficient).
- Textures and effects are a strong focus as we want to use glass,aluminium,transparency, liquid metal, watermarks etc to achieve a clean modern feel.
Brand positioning/personality :
- As a brand we want to position ourselves as pioneering in the modern sense of the word, reflected in the use of sharp clean lines that reinforce our gravitas . The community of consultants we work with are performance technologists, and business management/performance mangement/change management specialists. Font we likehttp://new.myfonts.com/fonts/paratype/magistral/
Find out how a design contest works or learn more about our logo design services.


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STOCKTON - San Joaquin County Sheriff Steve Moore will invite the FBI to take over the recovery operation for the remains of victims connected to serial killers Loren Herzog and Wesley Shermantine, he said Tuesday.
STOCKTON - San Joaquin County Sheriff Steve Moore will invite the FBI to take over the recovery operation for the remains of victims connected to serial killers Loren Herzog and Wesley Shermantine, he said Tuesday.
Moore's statement at a county Board of Supervisors meeting followed appeals from Assemblywoman Cathleen Galgiani and the mother of a murder victim that the Sheriff's Office hand over the digging operating to the FBI, saying it is better equipped to handle the recovery effort.
The notorious killers' methamphetamine-fueled murder spree ended in 1999, when authorities caught up to the childhood friends.
Moore said he has "no problem" asking the FBI to assume all responsibility for excavating sites where Shermantine has taken FBI agents on a search for the remains of victims.
The issue of transferring the job arose after Moore proposed supervisors approve $126,000 for a contract to drill and shore a well in the Linden area. The FBI would reimburse the county 50 percent of that cost.
Those plans drew criticism from families of victims and of people who believe their missing loved ones could be the victims of Herzog and Shermantine.
Joan Shelley, the mother of JoAnn Hobson, expressed her support for an FBI takeover during a public comment period at Tuesday's Board of Supervisors meeting.
Hobson's remains, discovered recently in a Linden well after she vanished in 1985 at age 16, had been returned to her mother commingled with bones from at least three other victims, according to an independent report.
"I don't want the rest of the families to go through this," Shelley told supervisors.
Shelley sent her daughter's remains to California State University, Chico, where a forensic anthropologist found the use of large earthmoving equipment contributed to the mix of skeletal remains.
Shelley is skeptical that Moore will move forward with the request.
"I'll believe it when I see it," she said. "There's enough dilly-dallying going around."
Sue Kizer, whose daughter, Gail Marks, is thought to be a victim, worries that the Sheriff's Office might use heavy-duty equipment again. Marks' body has yet to be found.
County supervisors unanimously approved Moore's request for the money appropriation and gave Moore two weeks to try to get the FBI to assume full responsibility of excavations.
"We do want to expedite this," Supervisor Ken Vogel said.
Moore said the Sheriff's Office has been cooperating with the FBI to recover remains since March.
Prior to that, the Sheriff's Office had conducted digs in Linden and Calaveras counties.
"If they want to come in to take it over, that's fine with me," Moore said after the meeting. "If they want to assume all the costs, that's also fine with me."
Moore said the FBI is fully aware of concerns about mixed remains that arose after those digs.
He said the proposed excavation discussed Tuesday employs a different method selected by the FBI.
"I think the method selected will eliminate that concern," he said. "We're focusing on doing our job, and we take our responsibility very seriously."
Galgiani says families have been under the impression that the FBI has been fully involved already in all aspects of the case since March 2.
That's the day Moore announced the FBI's Evidence Recovery Team would be assisting with excavations.
Galgiani on Tuesday sent a letter to Herb Brown, the special agent in charge of the FBI's Sacramento office.
In that letter, Galgiani said Brown told her homicide investigations are handled by state and local authorities.
She said Brown also said the FBI might investigate serial killings if the head of a law enforcement agency with investigative or prosecutorial jurisdiction requests it, and that the FBI would pay for all aspects of the recovery effort.
Galgiani is asking Brown to verify those statements in writing.
"No one agency alone can realistically be expected to handle an excavation of multiple sites with the complication that involves multiple victims," Galgiani said after the meeting.
The FBI works with advanced technology, more resources and higher-level experts in the field, she said. And there are four more sites identified to federal authorities by Shermantine that still need to be unearthed.
"This is an unprecedented case," she said.
Contact reporter Jennie Rodriguez-Moore at (209) 943-8564 or firstname.lastname@example.com. Visit her blog at recordnet.com/courtsblog.


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Story courtesy the Collegiate Water Polo Association (David Silverman).
LOS ANGELES, Calif. - Former Harvard University assistant coach Ellen Estes Lee will be inducted in the USA Water Polo Hall of Fame on Saturday, July 7, at the InterContinental Century City in Los Angeles, Calif.
This year the induction will be in conjunction with a special send-off for the 2012 U.S. Olympic Water Polo Teams as they prepare for the 2012 Olympic Games in London, England. The evening will be hosted by Brooke Anderson and Kevin Frazier, co-hosts of CBS' The Insider. An after-party will be hosted by actress Jenny McCarthy and former NFL star and ESPN on-air personality Marcellus Wiley will also deliver an address.
Part of a special era of women's water polo in the United States, Estes Lee broke on to the scene in the late 90's as a member of the Women's National Team and a star for the Stanford University women's water polo team. Estes started in the sport at the Marin Water Polo club and followed as a two-sport star at Novato High School. She then parlayed that into a career at Stanford that saw Mountain Pacific Sports Federation (MPSF) Player of the Year honors and a National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Championship in 2002. In the meantime she played a key role on the Women's National Team as they ventured into uncharted territory, the Olympic Games. Estes earned Silver at the 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney, Australia, the first to offer women's water polo, and followed that with Bronze at the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens, Greece. She remains involved in the game today, recently as an Assistant Coach with Harvard University from 2007-09, serving on the Board of Directors for USA Water Polo and acting as the National Governing Bodies' athlete representative on the US Olympic Committee Athlete Advisory Council.
Inductees were chosen through a process that included open nominations by their peers, evaluation of their candidacy by the USA Water Polo Hall of Fame Committee, and final ratification of the committee's recommendations by the USA Water Polo Board of Directors. The Committee is co-chaired by Brent Bohlender and Chris Dorst, and includes Jody Campbell, Dion Gray, Maggie Kelly, Charles Schroeder and Collegiate Water Polo Association (CWPA) Hall of Fame member Scott Schulte.


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Java Draw Created Jul 14, 2012 640 x 460px Unless noted Copyright 2012 Carloc.
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Beautiful reflections.
Beautiful choice of colors, beautiful composition, I love it.
Phenomenal. LOVE the water. Such a splendid landscape. The colours are fabulous.
linistitor. un peisaj frumos
its so smooth and the blended is really nice +5
It is so beautiful & very nice. I like the style.
each one is better and better
WOW!! This is amazing!!!
Very soothing and pretty. I like how the sky is reflecting off the water. 5h